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Quick answer: If you loved Queen of Shadows, read Fire, The Queen of Attolia, Seraphina and The Wrath and the Dawn. All feature intelligent, tough heroines and plots of court intrigue, with romance as a part of the story.
Queen of Shadows is the fourth Throne of Glass novel, in which Aelin returns to the capital to reclaim her throne. The books below share that mix of fighting, politics and romance, with plenty of schemes. Most are young adult, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Teen | the series starter |
| Empire of Storms | Sarah J. Maas | Teen and adult | series readers |
| Fire | Kristin Cashore | Teen | moral dilemmas |
| Bitterblue | Kristin Cashore | Teen | ruling as a heroine |
| Seraphina | Rachel Hartman | Teen | dragons and music |
| The Queen of Attolia | Megan Whalen Turner | Teen | clever plots |
| The Wrath and the Dawn | Renée Ahdieh | Teen | romantic retellings |
| Grave Mercy | R.L. LaFevers | Teen | assassin trainees |
| Truthwitch | Susan Dennard | Teen | friend-focused fantasy |
| Cruel Beauty | Rosamund Hodge | Teen | dark romance |
| The Bone Season | Samantha Shannon | Teen and adult | worldbuilding fans |
| Kushiel's Dart | Jacqueline Carey | Adult | mature epic |
| Eon | Alison Goodman | Teen | disguise stories |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | magic and war |
| Daughter of the Forest | Juliet Marillier | Adult | fairy-tale retellings |
1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
The first book follows Celaena Sardothien in a contest to become the king's assassin. Start here if you have not read it.
Best for: the series starter.
2. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
The fifth book continues Aelin's quest and brings new allies. Big, emotional and fast.
Best for: series readers.
3. Fire by Kristin Cashore
A woman with powers of mind control in a kingdom of colorful monsters is feared and desired. A companion to Graceling.
Best for: moral dilemmas.
4. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
A young queen discovers the secrets of her father's reign. Slower, but thoughtful.
Best for: ruling as a heroine.
5. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
A musician in a human-dragon peace is hiding a secret. Elegant and clever.
Best for: dragons and music.
6. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The second Queen's Thief book follows a clever thief and a ruthless queen. Smart, tricky and rich.
Best for: clever plots.
7. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
A girl volunteers to marry a murderous king. A romantic retelling of One Thousand and One Nights.
Best for: romantic retellings.
8. Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers
A girl trained as an assassin-nun serves the Duchess of Brittany. Court politics and deadly skill.
Best for: assassin trainees.
9. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Two friends with magical gifts flee a political plot. Fast, with banter and a strong friendship.
Best for: friend-focused fantasy.
10. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
A girl is married to a demon lord and plots to kill him. A dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Best for: dark romance.
11. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
A clairvoyant in a dystopian London is captured by a hidden ruling race. Dense and inventive.
Best for: worldbuilding fans.
12. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
A courtesan-spy in a land of intrigue. Lush and long, for adult readers.
Best for: mature epic.
13. Eon by Alison Goodman
A girl disguised as a boy competes to become a dragon-eye. Rich in culture and politics.
Best for: disguise stories.
14. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
An orphan discovers a rare power in a Russian-inspired land. The start of the Grishaverse.
Best for: magic and war.
15. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
A girl spins nettle shirts to free her brothers from a curse. Lyrical and folkloric.
Best for: fairy-tale retellings.
How to Choose
For more Maas, try Empire of Storms and keep reading the series. For political intrigue, The Queen of Attolia and Grave Mercy. For romance, The Wrath and the Dawn and Cruel Beauty. For lyrical fairy tales, Daughter of the Forest. For adult fantasy, Kushiel's Dart. Check age ratings, since some of these books contain mature themes. If you want an easy path, read the series in order and move on to a similar series afterward. If you want to branch out sooner, try The Queen of Attolia or Seraphina, which have more political and intellectual puzzles. Audiobooks are a good way to keep going through long books.
Related: 15 Books Like Red Queen You’ll Love: Powers, Betrayal and Royal Intrigue · What Age Is Red Queen Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Queen of Shadows about?
Aelin returns to Rifthold to rescue her friends and take back her kingdom from the king of Adarlan.
Do I need to read the first three books?
Yes. Queen of Shadows builds on earlier events.
Is Queen of Shadows a good place to start?
No. Start with Throne of Glass, since events and relationships develop across the books.
How many Throne of Glass books are there?
The main series has seven books, plus a prequel collection of novellas.
What age is Throne of Glass for?
It is marketed as YA, but later books are more mature.
Who is Aelin Galathynius?
She is Celaena's true identity, the heir to the throne of Terrasen.
Does Queen of Shadows end on a cliffhanger?
It resolves a main arc but sets up the final books.
Is there a romance in Queen of Shadows?
Yes. Aelin's bond with Rowan grows, and Aedion joins her as a loyal cousin and ally.
Is there a map?
Yes, the print editions include a map of the continent and its kingdoms.