I still remember the first time I read A Court of Thorns and Roses years ago after a friend recommended the series to me. I was expecting it to be identical to other generic romantic novels I’d read in the past, so I took my time getting through the first book.
A few days later, I’d caught up and read the first four novels before buying the fifth when it came out. I’ve also since read Sarah J. Maas’ two other series and plan on keeping up with any new releases. Let’s say I’ve become a fan of Maas’ work over time.
Since being introduced to ACOTAR, I’ve been curious about how other series compare to it and what unique twists they introduce to stand out among the crowd. Let’s check out some of the best books that are reminiscent — or very similar to — A Court of Thorns and Roses that you can start reading right now.
10. Throne of Glass / Crescent City – Sarah J. Maas
While this may sound like a no-brainer, I would be doing Sarah J. Maas a disservice if I didn’t mention her two other popular series, Throne of Glass and Crescent City. Like ACOTAR, they’re both set in a world full of Fae, romance, and a bit of spice to make their respective stories a little more interesting. Don’t worry; they all have crucial differences to make them stand out.
As the first in Maas’ fantasy romance series, Throne of Glass is very similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses. While it’s also a high fantasy novel series mixed with romance, there are also elements of mystery right from the get-go. The books progressively focus more on the overall conflict in the kingdom of Adarlan and how the main character, Calaena, deals with it.
Of the three series, this is the one I had the hardest time getting into but became the most absorbed in as I read the last few novels.
Crescent City’s world, on the other hand, is far more technologically advanced and reminiscent of our world. Although magic and otherworldly beings are still the focal point, with the main protagonist, Bryce Quinlan, being half-Fae, half-Human, it feels more familiar with the presence of modern-day technology and slang. This series also explores other species beyond humans and Fae, with several of the main cast members being shapeshifters, angel-like beings, and more.
It’s also the… let’s call it spiciest of the three series. If that’s what you’re here for, then you’ll have no shortage of that. I’m still getting through the third book, but if you like ACOTAR, you’ll want to sink your teeth into this one, too.
9. The Kingdom of Crows – Olivia Wildenstein
If romance and Fae politics are your favorite parts of ACOTAR, The Kingdom of Crows is right up your alley. Like A Court of Thorns and Roses, this story is full of intricate world-building, interesting character development, and mysteries within the main plot that continue to evolve throughout the series.
The story follows Fallon, a half-Fae, half-human girl living in a world where halflings are considered low-class. Despite this, she has the power to communicate with animals, including a whole lot of crows. One crow, in particular, made me laugh quite a bit while reading the series. I’ll admit to thinking the female lead was slightly aggravating at times, especially with her inability to notice red flags. Still, the story as a whole was more captivating than I expected.
Outside of this, the series has many similarities to ACOTAR and Maas’ other works without feeling like a copy. There’s even plenty of romance, which is what we’re all here for.
8. Dark Court Rising – Bec McMaster
Continuing the theme of Fae-centered stories is Dark Court Rising. While most stories on this list have some sort of conflict, Dark Court Rising jumps into it immediately within the first book, with our female lead, Iskvien, directly tackling the conflict between her mother, the Queen of Thorns and ongoing war. While she’s offered as the object of peace between the queen and Thiago, the Prince of Evernight, this quickly evolves into a romance that balances sweetness and spice.
That’s where a good chunk of the fun is in this story. Rather than a slow-burn romance that can take a while to enjoy, this story progresses through it quickly. Let’s just say even the most seasoned romance readers can feel a slight blush from some of the scenes in these books.
If you want a romance story with dark elements and fast-paced action that’s still enjoyable without feeling rushed, the Dark Court Rising series is definitely for you.
7. Crowns of Nyaxia – Carissa Broadbent
Taking a break from Fae stories is The Serpent and the Wings of Night, a story that’s, admittedly, more fantasy-themed Hunger Games than A Court of Thorns and Roses. Nonetheless, it takes everything that makes ACOTAR enjoyable and changes things in a way that makes it different but equally, if not more, captivating.
Although I enjoyed plenty of aspects about the Crowns of Nyaxia series, I can narrow it down to three main points: the characters’ personalities, complex world-building, and the romance being a subplot rather than a focal point. Everyone in the story, especially the main character, is interesting in their own way and makes me want to learn more about every one of them, while the gradual world-building feels worthwhile without being rushed.
If you enjoy romance but don’t necessarily want it to be the book’s main point, Crowns of Nyaxia is definitely worth checking out.
6. Blood and Ash – Jennifer Armentrout
Let’s take another step away from Fae politics and universes by talking about vampires instead. Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout immediately takes an interesting turn by having our main character, Poppy, be a maiden who questions her identity. Over time, she realizes that being a maiden kind of sucks sometimes, and part of this journey is her figuring out what she truly wants. I’m all for character development, and there’s a whole lot of that in this series.
As for similarities with A Court of Thorns and Roses, they are less noticeable than other series on this list, but the parallels are certainly there. Like ACOTAR, you get a solid mix of romance, political conflict, and fantasy elements to make Blood and Ash’s story enjoyable. A few very specific points in the book almost felt like exact copies, but I won’t spoil what they are. Nonetheless, they didn’t take away from the experience, and I’d still recommend this series if you’re curious about what ACOTAR would be like with vampires instead of Fae.
5. Kingdom of the Wicked / Prince of Sin – Kerri Maniscalco
Kingdom of the Wicked and Prince of Sin are both a wild ride. Mixing in elements of the seven deadly sins, Kingdom of the Wicked follows a murder mystery story of Emilia, a witch who discovers her twin sister has been killed and tries to uncover who the culprit is.
Although Prince of Sin is in the same universe, it’s completely separate from KOTW’s story and has an entirely new cast of characters. Rather than following a murder mystery story, you follow the tales of various Princes of Sin embodying, well, the seven deadly sins. Kerri Maniscalco’s page for this series describes it as Bridgerton in Hell, and I couldn’t agree more. Admittedly, the similarities between these series and ACOTAR aren’t as apparent as others on this list, but I’d still recommend them as solid romantic fantasy stories.
Of these two series, I preferred Prince of Sin over Kingdom of the Wicked. They’re both separate storylines, so you can skip to Prince of Sin and have no trouble following along, but you’ll miss out on some story and returning character context if you do. Regardless, they’re both great series with a mix of alluring characters, romance, and supernatural elements to make both stories unique. Prince of Sin is also particularly heavy on spicy scenes, which, although unsurprising, was interesting to read.
4. The Bargainer – Laura Thalassa
The Bargainer is another darker romance series that, although it has parallels to A Court of Thorns and Roses with the existence of Fae and Otherworldly conflicts, has its own unique presence in how it delivers its story.
The story follows Callypso Lillis, a young bead-wielding Siren who meets a peculiar man initially known as the Bargainer. As the name suggests, he is your go-to when you need a favor, and it just so happens that our female lead does. Considering this is a romance-fantasy book, the events after aren’t too surprising.
What is surprising is how this story unravels these plot points. Right away, the premise is intriguing, and the way the books shift between the past and present makes its storytelling much easier to understand. I’ll also admit to liking the characters in this book more than a few others on this list, but that’s mainly because the male lead reminds me of Rhysand from ACOTAR.
3. The Shepherd King – Rachel Gillig
If you like romance mixed with Gothic fantasy, I’ve got an interesting entry for you. The Shepherd King series is a duology about our female lead, Elspeth, suffering from inner turmoil caused by a highwayman she unexpectedly meets and a condition known as the Nightmare.
Although the romance isn’t at the forefront as much as other series on this list, it’s certainly there, and rather than detracting from the story, it highlights Elspeth’s struggles further.
It’s also rare for the second book of a series to be better than the first, but The Shepherd King manages to pull it off. I was already impressed by the first, and the second sealed the deal as being a top pick for me. I also enjoyed how the books tackle magic through Providence Cards and saw it as an interesting concept I’d never seen before when I first heard about this series.
2. The Powerless Trilogy – Lauren Roberts
The Powerless advertises itself as a story that’s perfect for Sarah J. Maas fans, and oh boy, it sure is. Although it definitely has similarities to ACOTAR, I would say it’s more like Throne of Glass with the power dynamics between the female lead and main love interest, political struggles, and the main character’s mysterious secrets. It also feels a lot like the Hunger Games, which I’m noticing is a surprisingly common trend with these series.
In The Powerless, we follow the POV of Paedyn, an ordinary person surrounded by the Elites. Being an Elite is so important in the Kingdom of Ilya that Ordinary folks are doomed to be banished or killed, with Paedyn risking her life by pretending to be a psychic. Her life gets flipped on its head when she saves the life of one of Ilya’s princes, eventually leading to a complicated game of cat and mouse.
This story is all about forbidden romance, numerous plot twists that were unexpected and unsurprising, and the female lead’s struggles with surviving on the streets before the main plot unfolds. There are more layers to The Powerless than you’d expect, and although I had a hard time getting into it initially, the latter half got me.
1. The Folk of the Air – Holly Black
Last but not least is The Folk of the Air, a story that focuses more on the political side of the Fae than its romantic side. Even within the first book, we immediately see how dark this story gets as we’re introduced to Jude, a girl who witnessed her parents get murdered and her sisters get abducted at just seven years old. As a human herself, she has to struggle with navigating the High Court of the Faerie to save her sisters, leading to a journey to uncover palace intrigue, survive in a court that hates humans, and deal with Prince Carden, a wicked and cruel Prince.
Although Faerie Court politics and conflict are at the forefront of The Folk of the Air’s plot, there’s still some romance mixed in. It certainly isn’t the story’s focal point, and you won’t find much spice, but the lead-up to its eventual romance is satisfying. If you’re a fan of romance-fantasy novels but want a story that’s more focused on world-building and character development, The Folk of the Air is another worthwhile grab.
