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Quick answer: If you loved A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, try The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco, Uprooted by Naomi Novik and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, or ACOTAR, mixes faerie courts, fairy-tale retellings, found family and one of the most famous slow-burn romances in fantasy. Once you’ve finished the series, it’s hard to know where to go next. The books below share its fae politics, morally gray love interests and lush magical worlds. Some are steamy adult romantasy and some are young adult, so we’ve noted which is which. Pick the one that matches the part of ACOTAR you loved most.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love A Court of Thorns and Roses
Readers fall for ACOTAR’s lush faerie courts, its fairy-tale bones and Feyre’s transformation from a starving huntress into someone who claims her own power. The second book, A Court of Mist and Fury, is many fans’ favorite for its found family, the Night Court and one of the most talked-about romances in fantasy. The series also deals honestly with trauma and healing, which gives the romance real weight.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about A Court of Thorns and Roses: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | YA fantasy | Fae politics and enemies to lovers |
| From Blood and Ash | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Romantasy | Forbidden romance |
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Romantasy | Danger and banter |
| Kingdom of the Wicked | Kerri Maniscalco | Romantasy | Sexy, dark princes |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Fantasy | Fairy-tale magic |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Fantasy | More Maas |
| The Night and Its Moon | Piper CJ | Romantasy | Fae and found family |
| A Shadow in the Ember | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Romantasy | Gods and destiny |
| Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik | Fantasy | Fairy-tale retellings |
| The Shadows Between Us | Tricia Levenseller | YA fantasy | A scheming heroine |
| Caraval | Stephanie Garber | YA fantasy | Dreamy magic |
| Once Upon a Broken Heart | Stephanie Garber | YA fantasy | Bargains and heartbreak |
| A Deal with the Elf King | Elise Kova | Romantasy | Fae bargains |
| Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood | Sarah J. Maas | Romantasy | Maas fans |
| The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden | Fantasy | Folklore and atmosphere |
1. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A mortal girl raised in Faerie schemes for power against a wicked prince. It’s darker and twistier than ACOTAR, with romance kept to kissing.
2. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A maiden chosen by the gods falls for her guard, and nothing is what it seems. It’s addictive and steamy, with a big fan following.
3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
A fragile cadet enters a deadly dragon-riding college and falls for her enemy. It’s fast, funny and very popular with ACOTAR fans.
4. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
A witch summons a prince of hell to avenge her sister. The Italian setting and slow burn make it a favorite.
5. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
A village girl is taken by a cold wizard to serve in his tower, and the corrupted Wood threatens everything. It’s a beautiful, standalone fairy tale.
6. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Maas’s other series follows an assassin and grows into an epic with fae characters and big romance.
7. The Night and Its Moon by Piper CJ
A girl raised in a hidden orphanage learns she’s connected to the fae. It’s a romantic adventure with a devoted following.
8. A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A prequel in the Blood and Ash world follows a princess destined to kill a god. It’s steamy and full of lore.
9. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
A moneylender’s daughter bargains with a cold fae king in this rich take on Rumpelstiltskin.
10. The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
A girl plans to seduce and kill the Shadow King, but he has plans of his own. It’s a fun standalone.
11. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Two sisters enter a magical, dangerous game. It’s whimsical and romantic, perfect for younger readers.
12. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
A girl makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts. It’s set in the Caraval world and full of swoony tension.
13. A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova
A herbalist is chosen as the elf king’s bride. It’s a cozy, romantic standalone.
14. Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Maas’s modern urban fantasy follows a half-fae woman investigating murders. It’s long, steamy and connected to ACOTAR.
15. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
A girl in medieval Russia protects her village with help from household spirits and a frost demon. It’s atmospheric and lovely.
How to Pick Your Next Read After ACOTAR
- Loved the fae? Try The Cruel Prince or A Deal with the Elf King.
- Loved Rhysand? Kingdom of the Wicked and From Blood and Ash have similar love interests.
- Loved the fairy tale? Uprooted and Spinning Silver are beautiful retellings.
- Reading for a teen? Caraval and The Cruel Prince are YA.
- Want more Maas? Throne of Glass and Crescent City are connected to her universe.
- Check content notes. Many adult romantasies are explicit.
Related: what age A Court of Thorns and Roses is appropriate for and books like Fourth Wing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after ACOTAR?
Try The Cruel Prince, From Blood and Ash, Fourth Wing or Kingdom of the Wicked.
What is a YA book like ACOTAR?
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and Caraval by Stephanie Garber are YA fantasies with fae and romance.
Is there a book like ACOTAR but less spicy?
Uprooted by Naomi Novik and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden have fairy-tale magic with little or no explicit content.