Finished ACOTAR? These 8 Fantasy Romance Books Should Be Next

Few fantasy series have influenced modern romantasy as much as Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses. The series combines dangerous fae courts, powerful heroines, complicated relationships, political intrigue and increasingly steamy romance.

Finding another series that delivers everything readers love about ACOTAR is difficult. Some fantasy novels capture its enemies-to-lovers tension, while others offer immersive magical worlds, deadly competitions or morally gray love interests.

The eight books below resemble ACOTAR in different ways. Because not every recommendation has the same level of romance or spice, this guide also explains what each book shares with Sarah J. Maas’ series and what readers should expect before starting it.

Books Like A Court of Thorns and Roses

1. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

If the dangerous politics of Prythian’s fae courts were your favorite part of ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince is one of the best books to read next.

Jude Duarte is a human girl raised in the High Court of Faerie after the murder of her parents. Surrounded by immortal beings who consider humans weak, Jude becomes determined to earn a place in their world. Her ambitions repeatedly bring her into conflict with Prince Cardan, the youngest and cruelest son of Faerie’s High King.

Holly Black’s novel is filled with betrayals, manipulation, political schemes and characters whose motives are difficult to trust. Jude is ambitious, flawed and willing to make ruthless decisions to gain control over her life.

The relationship between Jude and Cardan delivers intense enemies-to-lovers tension, but readers looking specifically for explicit romance should adjust their expectations. The Cruel Prince is a young adult fantasy with plenty of chemistry but very little on-page spice.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: Fae courts, a determined human heroine, political intrigue and a dangerous enemies-to-lovers relationship.

Spice level: Low.

2. Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Saara El-Arifi’s Faebound offers an immersive fantasy world shaped by conflict among elves, fae and humans.

The novel follows Yeeran, an elven warrior exiled from her homeland after making a devastating mistake, and her younger sister Lettle, a diviner who follows her into the wilderness. Their journey brings them into contact with the fae, a mysterious people the elves believed had disappeared long ago.

As the sisters become trapped in the fae court, they uncover secrets that could alter the future of their world. The story mixes political tension, family loyalty, magic and sapphic romance.

Like ACOTAR, Faebound uses a hidden fae society to expand its heroine’s understanding of her world. Its mythology and cultural conflicts give the novel a distinct identity, making it a good choice for readers who want familiar romantasy elements in a new setting.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: A dangerous fae court, forbidden relationships, magical revelations and heroines caught between competing loyalties.

Spice level: Moderate.

3. A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

Readers drawn to Feyre’s transformation from vulnerable outsider to formidable fighter may find plenty to enjoy in Melissa Blair’s A Broken Blade.

Keera is the King’s Blade, a feared spy and assassin forced to serve the kingdom that conquered her people. When she is ordered to hunt a mysterious rebel known as the Shadow, the mission leads her toward secrets about the rebellion, the kingdom and her own past.

Keera is a morally complicated protagonist who carries the psychological cost of everything she has done to survive. Her relationship with the Shadow develops alongside a larger story about colonialism, oppression and resistance.

The combination of a skilled heroine, romantic tension and hidden identities makes A Broken Blade a natural recommendation for ACOTAR fans who prefer the darker and more political side of fantasy romance.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: A powerful heroine, a mysterious rebel, morally gray decisions and romance built around distrust.

Spice level: Moderate.

4. Crier’s War by Nina Varela

Crier’s War replaces traditional fae with Automae, artificial beings who have taken control of the human population, but its emotional and political conflicts should still appeal to ACOTAR readers.

Ayla is a human servant determined to avenge the death of her family by killing Lady Crier, the daughter of a powerful Automa ruler. After Ayla becomes Crier’s handmaiden, however, hatred begins to give way to a more complicated connection.

The novel builds its sapphic romance gradually, using the relationship between Ayla and Crier to explore power, prejudice, identity and rebellion. Both characters are trapped by the societies that shaped them, even though they occupy very different positions within that system.

This is a particularly good recommendation for readers who enjoyed ACOTAR’s shifting loyalties and emotional tension but do not need explicit romantic scenes.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: Forbidden romance, political rebellion, divided loyalties and a slow transition from enemies to something more.

Spice level: Low.

5. Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana

For readers who want a cozy magical premise combined with danger and romance, Lore of the Wilds offers an inviting entry into a fae-controlled world.

Lore is a human living in a village trapped beneath a magical curse. When the ruthless fae offer her an opportunity to help her people, she must enter an enchanted library that the fae themselves cannot access.

Inside, Lore searches for knowledge that could protect her village. Her discoveries pull her into a larger mystery involving magic, hidden motives and romantic complications.

The magical library gives the story a distinctive atmosphere, while its fae characters and romantic plot make it accessible to readers searching for books similar to ACOTAR. It is especially suited to anyone who wants romantasy with a slightly softer, more whimsical setting.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: Fae rulers, forbidden magic, romantic tension and a human heroine entering a dangerous magical world.

Spice level: Moderate.

6. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone is another strong choice for readers who enjoyed watching Feyre discover the extent of her power.

Alina Starkov is an orphan and soldier in the kingdom of Ravka. During a dangerous journey through the Shadow Fold, she reveals an extraordinary ability that may be capable of destroying the darkness dividing her country.

Alina is taken to the royal court and trained as a member of the Grisha, Ravka’s magical elite. There, she attracts the attention of the Darkling, a powerful and mysterious leader whose interest in her may not be as straightforward as it first appears.

The novel focuses more heavily on young adult fantasy and the chosen-one storyline than on romance. However, its magical training, dangerous attraction and struggle for control should feel familiar to ACOTAR readers.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: A heroine discovering hidden powers, an alluring but dangerous man, royal politics and an expansive fantasy world.

Spice level: Low.

7. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Of all the books on this list, The Serpent and the Wings of Night may be the closest match for readers seeking ACOTAR’s combination of action, romance, danger and spice.

Oraya is the adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king. To prove herself in a world where humans are treated as prey, she enters the Kejari, a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death.

Surviving the competition requires Oraya to form an alliance with Raihn, a dangerous vampire from an enemy house. Their partnership is built on mutual need, but distrust gradually develops into attraction.

The deadly trials create immediate stakes, while Oraya and Raihn’s slow-burn relationship provides the emotional center of the story. It is dark, addictive and romantic without abandoning its larger political conflict.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: A deadly competition, forced alliances, vampires, enemies-to-lovers romance and a powerful heroine fighting for survival.

Spice level: High.

8. The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

Readers who valued ACOTAR’s world-building and court politics should add The City of Brass to their reading lists.

Nahri is a con artist surviving on the streets of eighteenth-century Cairo. Although she does not believe in magic, one of her schemes accidentally summons Dara, a mysterious djinn warrior.

Dara takes Nahri to Daevabad, a legendary city governed by powerful djinn families. Once there, Nahri becomes entangled in ancient rivalries, religious divisions and political conflicts that stretch back generations.

S. A. Chakraborty creates an intricate world in which history, identity and power influence every relationship. Romance is present, but it does not dominate the story. This is the best choice on the list for ACOTAR fans who want complex politics and immersive world-building more than explicit romance.

Why ACOTAR readers may enjoy it: A hidden magical world, court intrigue, complicated alliances and characters divided by duty and desire.

Spice level: Low.

Which Book Like ACOTAR Should You Read First?

The right recommendation depends on which part of A Court of Thorns and Roses you enjoyed most.

Choose The Cruel Prince if you want ruthless fae politics and intense enemies-to-lovers tension. Start The Serpent and the Wings of Night if you want deadly trials, an addictive romance and more spice.

Readers interested in elaborate fantasy worlds should try The City of Brass, while A Broken Blade is better suited to those who want assassins, rebels and morally gray characters. For sapphic fantasy romance, begin with Faebound or Crier’s War.

If you want a younger, less explicit fantasy about a heroine discovering magical powers, Shadow and Bone is the most accessible option.

Are All These Books Spicy?

No. Although ACOTAR is frequently associated with spicy fantasy romance, several books on this list prioritize romantic tension over explicit scenes.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the strongest choice for readers specifically looking for a spicy romantasy. Faebound, A Broken Blade and Lore of the Wilds include more mature romantic material, while The Cruel Prince, Crier’s War, Shadow and Bone and The City of Brass are comparatively low-spice.

Including different heat levels makes the list useful for readers who love ACOTAR’s atmosphere and characters but do not necessarily want the same amount of explicit romance.

Final Thoughts

No fantasy series offers an exact replacement for A Court of Thorns and Roses, but these books capture many of the qualities that made Sarah J. Maas’ series so popular.

They feature dangerous magical societies, powerful heroines, forbidden relationships, political betrayals and romances complicated by conflicting loyalties. Some are darker, some are less explicit and others place greater emphasis on world-building, but each offers something likely to appeal to ACOTAR readers.

For the closest overall match, start with The Serpent and the Wings of Night. For fae politics, choose The Cruel Prince. If immersive world-building matters most, read The City of Brass.

Whichever book you choose, all eight can make the wait for another journey into Prythian a little easier.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook