10 fantasy books to read if you loved ACOTAR
We all remember who we were before we read ACOTAR, and who we became after Rhysand ruined our expectations of men forever. Sarah J. Maas completely broke the internet with this series, and it’s not hard to see why. Between breathtaking fae world-building and that delicious slow-burn romance, ACOTAR is pure, unadulterated brain rot in the absolute best way.
But once you turn that final page of A Court of Silver Flames, the book hangover hits like a literal truck.
I was left scrolling through BookTock at 2 a.m., desperately looking for books like ACOTAR. Don’t worry, bestie, I’ve got you. I’ve spent months hunting down the ultimate fantasy romance recommendations that give the exact same addictive energy.
Here are 10 phenomenal books like ACOTAR that you need to add to your TBR immediately if you’re as obsessed with fae romance books and fantasy worlds as I am!
(Note: none of these are sponsored and I don’t get affiliate links)
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
If you live for the deadly trials and spicy banter of the Night Court, you’ll lose your mind over the War College in this book. It features a fierce but physically vulnerable heroine who has to survive a brutal military academy where you either graduate or die. Think high-stakes dragon rider academy meets he’ll-burn-the-world-for-her.
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
If your favourite part of ACOTAR was the glitteringly manipulative politics of the fae courts, Jude and Cardan are about to be your new obsession. This is a true enemies-to-lovers story featuring a human girl trying to survive in a lethal fae world by being smarter and meaner than everyone else.
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This book DELIVERS the ultimate slow-burn romance with a massive side of plot twists that will leave your jaw on the floor. Poppy has been locked away her whole life, but her world flips upside down when a gorgeous new royal guard enters the picture and teaches her how to fight back. Think secret identities, steamy forbidden romances. And a lot of badass swordfighting.
The Bridge Kingdom
by Danielle L. Jensen
For those who loved Feyre’s fierce loyalty and survival instincts, meet Lara: a princess trained from childhood to be a lethal spy, sent to marry the king of an enemy realm to bring it down from the inside. The tension between her and King Aren is so thick you could cut it with one of Lara’s throwing knives.
Serpent & Dove
by Shelby Mahurin
This is the forces proximity energy that ACOTAR fans crave. It’s about a witch who loves her freedom and a deeply religious witch hunter who are forced to marry each other after a very public, very chaotic misunderstanding. A louder-than-life witch meets grumpy golden-boy soldier in a cozy, magical French-inspired setting.
A Touch of Darkness
by Scarlett St. Clair
If you want less dense world-building and way more of that mythology that inspired the Spring and Night courts, this modern myth retelling is for you. It’s spicy and fast-paced, and it features a totally intoxicating version of the Lord of the Dead. Off-the-charts chemistry meets glamorous neon-lit gods, with a literal contract with the underworld.
Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J. Maas
Okay, this is a bit of a cheat answer… but if you haven’t read SJM’s urban fantasy series yet, are you even a real fan? Bryce Quinlan is a party girl turned total badass solving a murder mystery alongside a fallen angel with an attitude problem. The emotional payoff at the end left me sobbing..
These Hollow Vows
by Lexi Ryan
This is the ultimate rebound book if you’re specifically looking for a fae romance with a love triangle that will divide your heart in two. Abriana hates the fae but has the infiltrate the Unseelie court to save her sister, getting caught between two hot, morally grey princes. (Plus, am I the only one who things the girl on the cover looks like McKenna Grace??? #MovieFanCast)
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
by Carissa Broadbent
Imagine the Hunger Games, but make it entirely filled with ruthless vampires, and put a human girl in the middle of it fighting for her life. Oraya has to team up with a charming rival vampire to survive a legendary tourament, and their alliance is pure fire. Goth vampires and high body counts (in both ways) mixed with deeply emotional romances.
A Little Hatred
by Joe Abercrombie
If you loved the gritty battle sequences in ACOSF and want something a bit heavier on the epic side, this is it. It has sharp, morally grey female leads (yes, plural) who navigate a world undergoing an industrial revolution mixed with dark magic. Gritty realism and brilliant dialogue.
What are we thinking, everyone? Which of on these books like ACOTAR are you adding to your cart first?
Let me know on our socials or slide into my Instagram DMs. Tell me your all-time favourite books like ACOTAR, so I can add them to my own pile!
Happy reading!
