Fantasy Romance Books to Read After A Court of Thorns and Roses

If you loved the romantic tension and faerie courts of A Court of Thorns and Roses, I suggest books with immersive worlds and emotional journeys. I was completely hooked by its blend of fairy tale magic and character growth.

As a fellow reader, I will point you toward series that offer similar warmth and excitement. Start with these favorites:

• “From Blood and Ash” by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas
• “A Curse So Dark and Lonely” by Brigid Kemmerer

What Makes ACOTAR So Special?

When I first read A Court of Thorns and Roses, it felt like a perfect storm. Sarah J. Maas blended a familiar fairy tale with fierce characters and a romance that built slowly, page by page. The heart of the story is not just the romance, but Feyre’s journey from survival to strength. It’s the mix of fairy tale roots, high-stakes fae politics, and deep emotional bonds that creates a uniquely immersive world. Readers often finish the series craving more of that specific magic: intricate world-building, romantic tension you can feel, a found family you want to join, and characters who change profoundly.

Knowing which part hooked you is the key to finding your perfect next book. Did you love the hidden fae courts? The slow-burn romance that turns spicy? The loyal friend group? Pinpointing that will guide you to the best books like A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Your Next Read: A Quick-Start Guide

If you’re asking “what do I read after ACOTAR?” right now, this table is for you. Here are my top, most-recommended picks that capture the series’ spirit.

Book Title & Author	Genre / Subgenre	Why You’ll Like It
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout	Fantasy Romance	A chosen heroine, a forbidden guardian, and a slow-burn romance with similar pacing and spice levels to ACOTAR’s later books.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black	YA Fantasy, Fae	Masterful fae politics, a human girl in a treacherous fae court, and a enemies-to-lovers dynamic full of tension and clever schemes.
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco	Fantasy Romance, Demons	A vengeful heroine, a compelling morally gray prince, and a slow-burn romance set in a vivid world of witches and hellish princes.
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair	Romantasy, Mythological Retelling	A Hades and Persephone retelling with a modern feel, high steam, and a powerful, brooding love interest reminiscent of Rhysand.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas	Epic Fantasy, Adventure	From the same author, featuring an epic journey, incredible found family bonds, and a multi-book romantic arc that grows in depth and scale.

If You Love the Fae World of ACOTAR

For readers who want more intricate fae politics and magical realms, these series make the fae world central to their plots. The fae in these stories are often more traditionally dangerous and amoral than in ACOTAR, focusing on ancient tricks and brutal politics.

• The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black (Starts with The Cruel Prince): This is fae politics at its sharpest. The romance is a slow-burn game of power and wit. It’s darker and more focused on courtly intrigue than outright war.
• The Cruel Prince features a human heroine who uses her wits to survive, and the romantic tension is built on a foundation of mutual suspicion and grudging respect.
• The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy (Starts with Gild): This begins as a King Midas retelling and evolves into a sweeping fae story. It’s grittier and deals with heavier themes of trauma and reclaiming power. The romance is a very slow burn with high payoff.
• An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson: A perfect standalone novel. It captures the beautiful, perilous, and whimsical nature of fae folklore. The romance is tender and the prose is lush, offering a complete story in one book.

Books with ACOTAR’s Level of Romance and Spice

If the romantic and spicy elements are what you’re chasing next, this list is curated for you. Here’s a gentle guide to how they compare with some of the best spicy romance books that deliver both steamy scenes and emotional depth.

• Similar Heat & Plot Balance: The From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout matches ACOTAR’s blend of epic plot and detailed romantic scenes. The spice level is very similar, especially from the second book onward.
• Spicier, Mythology-Focused: Scarlett St. Clair’s Hades & Persephone retellings (A Touch of Darkness) prioritize the romantic and sensual relationship. The spice is more frequent and explicit, while the fantasy world serves the romance.
• Slower Burn, High Tension: The Plated Prisoner series has a much slower romantic build than ACOTAR, but the emotional and eventual physical payoff is immense. It deals with sensitive themes of captivity and recovery.
• Note: Books like Kingdom of the Wicked start with a milder heat that intensifies significantly across the trilogy, similar to ACOTAR’s progression.

Found Family and Epic Journeys

Sometimes, the heart of the story is the group. If you read ACOTAR for the Inner Circle’s loyalty and banter, these stories center that beautiful, chaotic dynamic.

The found family in these books becomes the protagonist’s source of strength, often helping them heal and grow in ways romance alone cannot. These stories also raise questions about whether books about unique characters are defined by their unconventional relationships, inviting readers to rethink what counts as family and romance.

• Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas: This is the ultimate recommendation for found family. The core group’s bonds are the emotional backbone of the entire epic. The journey is longer and the plot more sprawling, but the loyalty and love between characters is unmatched.
• The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty (Starts with The City of Brass): While not a romance-first series, the deep, complex alliances and friendships that form feel very earned. You follow a con artist swept into the political wars of djinn courts, building a new family along the way.
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: Think of the Inner Circle, but as a crew of teenage criminals. The banter, the loyalty, the shared trauma, and the intricate plans make their bond the best part of this duology. The romantic subplots are woven seamlessly into the group dynamic.

ACOTAR-Like Books for Adult Readers

Many readers search for books with ACOTAR’s vibe but written for a more mature audience. This often means more complex political plots, denser world-building, older protagonists (late 20s+), and themes that resonate with adult life experiences.

These books often explore power, sacrifice, and morality with a nuance that comes from older, more experienced protagonists navigating their worlds. They spotlight protagonists who wield immense physical strength with a clear, unwavering purpose and a steadfast moral code. In these stories, battles test not only brawn but also discipline and ethics.

• The War of Lost Hearts series by Carissa Broadbent (Starts with Daughter of No Worlds): Features older protagonists in a mentor-apprentice relationship that grows into a powerful partnership. It deals deeply with trauma, war, and rebuilding, with a romance that feels mature and earned.
• The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen: Centers on a marriage of convenience between rival kingdoms. The heroine is a trained warrior and spy, and the story focuses on political intrigue, trust, and a slow-building romance between two equals.
• The Kushiel’s Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey (Starts with Kushiel’s Dart): For a deep commitment. This is epic, philosophical, and features a unique courtesan-spy protagonist in an alternate historical Europe. The prose is rich, the politics are intricate, and the central love story is profound.

Series with Epic Scope and Length

If you want to disappear into another world for many books, these series offer that long, deep commitment ACOTAR fans often crave.

• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (7 books, completed): The scale is grander, following an assassin’s journey to save a kingdom and beyond. The character arcs span the entire series, and the found family element is the series’ greatest strength.
• The From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout (6+ books, ongoing): The world expands dramatically with each book, introducing new lore, gods, and conflicts. It’s a long, twisty ride focused on prophecy, war, and epic romance.
• The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty (3 books, completed): A complete epic that builds a incredibly detailed world of djinn history and politics. It follows a sprawling cast and a complex war, offering a very satisfying and conclusive ending.

Loved ACOTAR and Fourth Wing? Try These

If you’ve been searching for ‘books similar to acotar and fourth wing,’ you’re in the right place. The magic between these two series lies in their perfect mix of high-stakes romance, wild adventure, and rich fantasy worlds. One gives us the drama of faerie courts; the other, the deadly trials of a dragon-riding academy. The best next reads will bring those elements together, especially if you’re looking for fantasy romance books and audiobooks similar to Fourth Wing.

I look for stories that blend heart-pounding romantic tension with action-packed plots, often in a dangerous magical setting. I’m especially drawn to enemies-to-lovers twists, where that romantic tension fuels a dangerous, high-stakes plot. Here are my top picks that bridge the gap between these two fan favorites.

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

  This book is your next stop. It captures ACOTAR’s intense romantic stakes and Fourth Wing’s brutal, survivalist competition. The story follows a human woman adopted by a vampire king, who must enter a legendary tournament to gain her greatest wish. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the plot moves at a breakneck pace. You’ll feel the same ‘can’t-put-it-down’ urgency you got from both ACOTAR and Fourth Wing.

• Dragonfall by L.R. Lam

  For the dragon lovers drawn to Fourth Wing, this is a must-read. It’s a fresh, sapphic fantasy romance where dragons are disguised as humans in a world that fears them. The magic system is intricate and the bond between the main characters is fraught with secrets and slow-burn attraction. The world feels vast and new, while the dragon lore will satisfy that specific itch — especially if you’re exploring other series with deep dragon-human connections.

• A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

  This book is like a cozy yet adventurous cousin to ACOTAR. It features a human heroine chosen to be the bride to a stoic Elf King in a magical land. The romance is a wonderful slow burn, and the stakes are personal and political. It’s perfect if you loved the fae elements and romantic negotiation of ACOTAR but want a story that’s a bit more self-contained, especially among other fantasy tales about royal heirs and court intrigue.

Where to Find More Recommendations and Discuss

The book community is your best resource for finding that perfect next read. Don’t stop your search here.

• Online communities are goldmines for detailed opinions. Platforms like Reddit have very active forums (search for ‘romantasy’ or ‘books similar to acotar reddit’) where readers dissect plots, characters, and tropes. You can get hundreds of personalized suggestions.
• If you fall in love with one of the authors above, check out their other work. Most authors in this genre have a backlist of similar stories. Loving one book by an author often means you’ll enjoy their entire catalog.
• Always try a sample chapter first. Reading style is personal. What feels immersive to one person might feel slow to another. Downloading a free sample is the best way to see if a book’s voice and pace are right for you before you commit.

Next Reads for A Court of Thorns and Roses Fans

I hope my recommendations give you plenty of immersive fantasy romance to enjoy, just like ACOTAR did for me. Remember, the best similar books often blend intricate magic systems with relationships that feel real and compelling.

Written by Chrestos Plácida. Chrestos is an avid book reader and enthusiast. He reads and reviews countless books every year and has started multiple book clubs around his community where he helps the readers decide on which book to read next based on his personal reading experience. He also has a degree in literature and an interest in the classics and history and has written many books reviews for online blogs and review sites.