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Quick answer: If you finished A Court of Thorns and Roses and want teen-friendly picks, try The Cruel Prince, Throne of Glass, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Shadow and Bone, Caraval and Divine Rivals. Each has fae or magic, strong heroines and slow-burn romance without explicit content.
Sarah J. Maas's series starts with Feyre, a huntress who is pulled into a faerie land. It is popular with teens, but its later books contain explicit scenes, and the series is marketed to adults. (The “Es” in this title is a typo in the keyword; this list focuses on teen-friendly alternatives.) The 15 books below keep the faerie courts, romance and high stakes while staying in YA territory, ages 14 and up.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 14+ | more Maas, in YA |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | 14+ | fans of faerie politics |
| The Wicked King | Holly Black | 14+ | series readers |
| Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor | 14+ | readers who love beautiful writing |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | readers who want epic fantasy |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | readers who like ensemble casts |
| Caraval | Stephanie Garber | 13+ | readers who like atmosphere |
| Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross | 14+ | readers who like letters |
| The Bone Season | Samantha Shannon | 14+ | readers who like dystopian fantasy |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | 14+ | readers who like high stakes |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | 13+ | fairy-tale fans |
| Graceling | Kristin Cashore | 14+ | readers who like independent heroines |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 12+ | readers who want action |
| Serpent & Dove | Shelby Mahurin | 14+ | enemies-to-lovers fans |
| The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken | 13+ | readers who like road-trip dystopia |
1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena, an assassin, competes to become the king's champion. Maas's YA series, with action and a slow-building romance.
Best for: more Maas, in YA.
2. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, a human girl in Faerie, wants a place at court and gets caught in intrigue. Sharp, witty and dark.
Best for: fans of faerie politics.
3. The Wicked King by Holly Black
The second book in The Folk of the Air, with Jude holding power and facing betrayal. Twisty and tense.
Best for: series readers.
4. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Karou lives between worlds and meets an angel who shakes up her story. Lush, romantic and imaginative.
Best for: readers who love beautiful writing.
5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina discovers a power that could free her land from darkness. Russian-inspired fantasy with a mysterious general.
Best for: readers who want epic fantasy.
6. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A crew of thieves tries an impossible heist. Funny, tense and full of found family.
Best for: readers who like ensemble casts.
7. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett enters a magical game to save her sister. Dreamy, twisty and full of color.
Best for: readers who like atmosphere.
8. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Two rival journalists write letters to each other while gods wage war. Warm, bookish and romantic.
Best for: readers who like letters.
9. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Paige, a clairvoyant, is captured and taken to a secret city. Big worldbuilding and a slow burn.
Best for: readers who like dystopian fantasy.
10. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia and Elias live on opposite sides of a brutal empire. Dark, fast and intense.
Best for: readers who like high stakes.
11. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder, a cyborg mechanic, is drawn into royal plots. A sci-fi Cinderella with a clear romance.
Best for: fairy-tale fans.
12. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa has a deadly Grace and works for a king until she meets a prince. Strong heroine, thoughtful romance.
Best for: readers who like independent heroines.
13. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for a televised fight to the death. Fast, tense and not about faeries, but about survival and love.
Best for: readers who want action.
14. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
A witch and a witch hunter are forced to marry. Fun, steamy in places, and fast.
Best for: enemies-to-lovers fans.
15. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Ruby, a teen with powers, escapes a camp and joins other fugitives. Fast and emotional.
Best for: readers who like road-trip dystopia.
How to Choose
For faerie courts, start with The Cruel Prince. For more Maas in a YA format, choose Throne of Glass. For epic worlds, try Shadow and Bone and The Bone Season. For romance with less heat, read Divine Rivals or Graceling. A simple plan is to pick one faerie book, one heist or adventure and one romance, then rotate. Note that Serpent & Dove and An Ember in the Ashes have darker moments, so check them for younger teens.
Related: 15 Books Like A Court of Thorns and Roses You’ll Love · What Age Is A Court of Thorns and Roses Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Court of Thorns and Roses for teens?
It is marketed to adults and later books have explicit scenes, so many parents prefer YA alternatives for younger teens.
What age is the Folk of the Air series for?
It is aimed at ages 14 and up and has violence but little sex.
Which book has the closest faerie setting?
The Cruel Prince is the closest match for faeries and court politics.
Is Throne of Glass YA?
Yes, though the series grows darker and more mature in later books.