If you’ve ever been enchanted by Sarah J. Maas and her bestselling series A Court of Thorns and Roses—often called ACOTAR—you probably know the irresistible pull of fantasy books that blend faeries, warriors, witches, and wizards into one gripping, epic world. I still remember my first read of A Court of Thorns and Roses; the romance, Fae politics, and the dreams that felt answered made me want more. For readers who love similar stories filled with strong female characters, delicious romances, and world-building that feels alive, there’s an entire list of novels waiting to satisfy your imagination.
Like Feyre and Rhys, many readers have discovered fantasy duologies and young adult books about dragons that give off that same incredible energy. Titles like the Red Queen book series, books like Throne of Glass, and books like Shatter Me series offer new adventures where love, power, and magic collide. Whether you find your next binge-reads through Amazon’s referral feature or from your local indie shop, there’s a whole world of YA and adult fantasy tales to dive into.
Personally, I’ve spent hours scrolling through TikTok’s algorithm and adding titles to my TBR that felt similar to ACOTAR. Each book promises that same gripping mix of romance, stars, and fierce female warriors. These stories don’t just echo the beauty of A Court of Thorns and Roses—they expand it, making you fall in love with the genre all over again. So if you’re still waiting for Elaine’s tale or wondering what to read next, this list will help your imagination soar.
Books Like ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
In a world where magic has faded and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, the story of Celaena Sardothien begins. Once a feared assassin, she is released from prison and brought to the royal castle to compete in a deadly competition against twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors. Her goal is simple—defeat her competitors, win her freedom, and become the King’s Champion. But as I read, I realized her journey was much more than a test of skill. An evil force dwells within the castle, and as people start dying horribly, Celaena finds herself in a desperate quest to uncover the dark source before it destroys the world.
What makes this book unforgettable is the web of relationships and emotions woven through the danger. The Crown Prince tries to provoke her courage, while the Captain of the Guard fights to protect her. A foreign princess offers her rare friendship, reminding Celaena what it means to have a friend again. Her fight for survival and freedom mirrors the emotional intensity that fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses crave—filled with heart, tension, and a heroine who refuses to break even when faced with the darkest quest imaginable.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
In this adult fantasy novel, Bryce Quinlan seems to have the perfect life, balancing working hard and partying through the nights of Crescent City—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and utterly alone. As the accused sits behind bars and new crimes begin, she throws herself into an investigation to avenge their deaths. I was drawn to her strength and grief, both so raw and real, that they pulled me deep into the story’s dark power and emotional heart.
Alongside her stands Hunt Athalar, a notorious Fallen angel once enslaved by the Archangels he tried to overthrow. His brutal skills and strength make him a weapon for hire, forced to assassinate enemies for those in control. Yet when a murderer begins to threaten the city, he’s offered a deal—help Bryce uncover the truth and his freedom will be within reach. As they discover the underbelly of Crescent City, their passion burns blazing and irresistible, binding them together in a story that holds everything fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses love—magic, danger, and the kind of love that can set both hearts free.
Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
In the vast realm of Allward, a creeping darkness grows, threatening to swallow the world in destruction and ash. At the edge of the sea, a small town hides Corayne an-Amarat, a girl who discovers the truth about her ancient lineage and realizes she is the last hope to save her home. Though she begins her journey alone, she soon gathers a band of unexpected companions—each with their own secrets and scars. There’s a squire torn between home and honor, an immortal warrior avenging a broken promise, an assassin once exiled and bloodthirsty, a mysterious sorceress who speaks in riddles and eerie foresight, a clever forger with a secret past, and a bounty hunter seeking to settle an old score.
Together they stand against a vicious opponent, invincible and determined to burn kingdoms to the ground with an army unlike any ever witnessed. I loved how each character brought depth and tension, forming bonds in the face of chaos—a perfect blend of courage, destiny, and defiance that fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses will immediately connect with.
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
In this dark and thrilling vampire romance, set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series, fans of Sarah J. Maas will find another story pulsing with danger and desire. Célie Tremblay, a good girl known for being kind, beautiful, and a daughter any parent would be proud of, shocks the kingdom when she defies tradition to become the first huntswoman. Even her captain and fiancé, Jean Luc, who rules the huntsmen with an iron fist, is concerned for her safety. Though her friends try to protect her from the horrors of her past, mysterious whispers haunt her steps as a new evil begins rising in Belterra, leaving bodies drained of blood in its wake.
Determined to prove herself in her role, Célie tracks a killer into the lair of Les Éternels, ancient creatures once spoken of only in nursery rhymes. There, she gains the attention of their king, a monster who hides his plans behind beautiful words and sharp smiles. As the story unfolds, Célie has new reason to fear the dark, because the closer he gets, the more tempted she feels to surrender to his deadly hunger—and her own. It’s a haunting, seductive tale that captures the same tension and passion that made A Court of Thorns and Roses unforgettable.
Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland
In this dark romantic novel, Fin, a nineteen-year-old girl, makes a daring choice when she volunteers to take her secret love’s place in her village’s Finding. Terrified yet determined, she becomes one of the chosen taken to Castle Courtsheart, a school where human students must either succeed, fail, or never survive at all. Within this deadly world, Fin vows to kill the undead and seek revenge for her mother, who was taken years ago. But the castle’s eerie beauty and its captivating inhabitants soon blur the line between danger and desire—especially when she meets Gavron, her handsome yet hostile maker, whose blood feels intoxicating and impossible to resist.
As Fin begins to discover her true identity and powers, she uncovers a trail of murders connected to a dark ritual with lethal consequences for both humans and vampires. The deeper she dives into the truth, the more she risks her life, her heart, and possibly everything she stands for. With its modern take on classic tropes, Court of the Undying Seasons is a captivating exploration of survival, love, and transformation that will enthrall every fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Dark Rise by C. S. Pacat
In London, a sixteen-year-old dock boy named Will is forced to run for his life, pursued by dangerous men who killed his mother. His quiet world shatters when an old servant reveals his true destiny—to fight alongside the Stewards, an ancient order sworn to protect humanity from the Dark King who may soon return. Drawn into a world filled with magic, Will begins intense training for a vital role in an oncoming battle that could determine the fate of all.
As London becomes threatened and old enmities are awakened, Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the fate that once destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own. The story is rich with ancient secrets, rising darkness, and the kind of emotional depth that readers of A Court of Thorns and Roses will instantly recognize—a timeless tale of courage, destiny, and light standing against shadow.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
When I first read A Curse So Dark and Lonely, I was instantly drawn to its cursed world and the powerful enchantress who doomed Prince Rhen, the eighteenth-year heir of Emberfall. Once saved by his charm, Rhen is now trapped in an endless repeat of seasons, each autumn bringing another chance to break the curse. But everything changes when Harper, a tough girl from the streets of Washington, DC, is pulled into this magical world. Living with cerebral palsy, she’s used to underestimating eyes, yet she’s stronger than anyone believes.
Her father is gone, her mother is dying, and her brother is struggling to survive, but Harper refuses to give in. As she meets the Prince turned monster, she begins to understand what’s truly at stake—not just the ruin of a castle or the destruction of a family, but the hope of broken people trying to rebuild. While forces of vicious magic threaten to finish what’s been destroyed, Harper’s courage becomes the light flooding back into Emberfall. Watching her standing tall against fear reminded me why stories like this stay with us—because sometimes, even in an enchanted land, it’s the most ordinary stranger who saves everyone.
The Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
When I first met Brie, I admired her fierce spirit—someone who refuses to bow to the Fae, no matter how dangerous their courts are. Living on the street and nearly starving, she’s forced to do whatever it takes to save her sister from a sadistic king of the Unseelie court, even if that means striking a deal she’ll later regret. Her mission? To steal three magical relics from the Seelie court. But gaining access to this world of glittering lies isn’t easy. Disguised as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, she finds her heart in danger of falling in love, a feeling that could distract her from her true purpose.
What makes Brie unforgettable is how she’s caught between two courts and must decide who deserves her trust and loyalty. The mysterious leader Finn, with his seductive charm, pulls her toward the Unseelie misfits, each with a secret agenda. Every choice she makes feels like a test of strength—resist temptation or help those who might betray her. Reading this, I felt the same struggle and thrill, the unfettered pull of destiny flooding back through every page, reminding me that sometimes survival means risking your heart for the right cause.
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
Divided by order yet united by vengeance, this story follows Iraya and Jazmyne, two witches bound by fate and fury. Iraya has spent her life locked in a cell, waiting for freedom and the moment to strike back. Jazmyne, the Queen’s daughter, hides her intention behind loyalty, unwilling to end up like her sister, dying only to strengthen her mother’s power. Their alliance is as precarious as it is necessary—a pact between sworn enemies who share a mutual goal: to take down the crown that caged them both.
As I read, I felt the tension bring their worlds closer with every day, where revenge became an intoxicating and bloody pursuit. Each spell, each choice, tested the lengths they would go to win this game of survival and domination. Nothing was certain, and that’s what made it so captivating—the balance of power, trust, and the raw fire of vengeance burning through every page.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent ten years trapped in Zalindov, a deadly prison where survival means fighting against death every day. Working as the healer, Kiva tends to the terminally ill and dangerous criminals, but her life changes when the Rebel Queen is captured and brought in barely alive. Ordered to keep the sickly woman breathing until the Trial by Ordeal—a brutal series of elemental challenges involving air, fire, water, and earth—Kiva soon receives a coded message from her family: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.”
Aware that the trials will kill the queen, Kiva risks her life and volunteers to face them herself. Each challenge pushes her closer to death, yet she refuses to give up, driven by a terrible feeling that her story has only begun. Meanwhile, an incurable plague is sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious inmate is fighting for her heart, and whispers of a rebellion brewing promise that freedom—if she succeeds—may come at a devastating cost. Reading this tale, I felt the tension of every ordeal, the weight of loyalty, and the fire of a girl who simply refuses to die.
What should I read if I liked A Court of Thorns and Roses?
If you’ve devoured A Court of Thorns and Roses, you’ll love diving into other fantasy tales filled with magic, romance, and dark secrets. Stories like The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright blend celestial magic, fate, and constellations, offering a lyrical and emotional journey across the universe. For fans of historical fantasy, Dark Rise by C. S. Pacat brings ancient evil, a chosen one, and a secret order fighting dark forces in London, full of courage, rebellion, and destiny.
If you crave an enemies to lovers twist, Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin enchants with witches, forbidden love, and a deep magic system tied to faith, betrayal, and sacrifice. Meanwhile, The Scarlet Veil, also by Shelby Mahurin, captures vampires, blood magic, and gothic danger in a haunting world where love, power, and redemption collide. Each book builds a mystical world with a strong heroine, a touch of darkness, and that irresistible pull of destiny and romantic adventure that reminds me why I fell for Sarah J. Maas’s fairy tale world in the first place.
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What is the spiciest Romantasy book?
When it comes to the spiciest romantasy books, few compare to those that make readers feel the same thrill they loved in A Court of Thorns and Roses. Titles like Gild from the Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy shimmer with gold, curse, and dark fantasy as they explore power, greed, and transformation in a mythical world. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco enchants with witches, demons, forbidden love, and a prince of hell, blending mystery, sin, and destiny. For something deeply seductive and emotionally rich, Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa weaves magic, temptation, and a bond between a siren and a fae king. Meanwhile, The Serpent & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent and Throne in the Dark by A. K. Caggiano bring fierce romance, dark magic, and danger to every fantasy series lover’s list. These magical realms filled with courage, passion, and forbidden attraction remind me why romance, adventure, and fantasy together create the perfect love story.
Who should I read if I like Sarah J. Maas?
If you’re drawn to fantasy romance filled with magic, mystery, and emotional depth, authors like T. Kingfisher, Rin Chupeco, and Susan Dennard offer worlds that capture that same spark found in Maas’s stories. I’ve personally loved how Grace Draven and Elise Kova create mythical worlds full of fae, enchantment, and romantic tension, while Claire Legrand and Hannah Whitten bring a touch of dark fantasy and destiny to every adventure. Each of these authors delivers powerful storytelling and a strong heroine that feels both fierce and real—perfect for readers craving the passion and magic of Sarah J. Maas’s work.
What genre is ACOTAR?
The A Court of Thorns and Roses series by American author Sarah J. Maas beautifully blends fantasy and romance, creating a rich tale of magic, love, and adventure. It follows 19-year-old Feyre Archeron on her journey through the faerie lands of Prythian, where power, danger, and enchantment shape her fate. Set in a mythical world full of fae, destiny, and mystery, this story highlights a strong heroine who undergoes a powerful transformation, reminding readers why this genre is perfect for those who crave passion and magic intertwined.
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