12 Fantasy Books You Need To Read If You Like A Court Of Thorns And Roses

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Sarah J. Maas' "A Court of Thorns and Roses" (aka "ACOTAR") series has taken over the world, especially on BookTok. The fantasy series book readers can't stop buying from Amazon follows teen huntress Feyre Archeron on her dangerous adventures and romances in the faerie world of Prythian. There's even a Hulu TV series based on the novels on the way, which is little surprise considering Maas' series has sold a whopping 13 million copies at the time of writing, according to Daily Mail. And this book train is showing no signs of slowing down. In October 2026, Maas dropped "A Court of Splintered Harmony," the sixth book in the series, which Variety claimed sold a huge 1.7 million copies in a single day. Now that's impressive.

TikToks have flooded in from fans who devoured "A Court of Splintered Harmony" in mere days (or just one day, in some cases) and now have an "ACOTAR"-shaped hole left on their e-readers and bookshelves. But don't stress if you're one of the readers longing for more mysterious romantasy (that's fantasy mixed with romance). We've compiled the best fantasy books and series that you need to read if you're a "A Court of Thorns and Roses" fan, which will tide you over until Maas drops the seventh "A Court of Thorns and Roses" book, "A Court of Forgotten Melody," in 2027. And long after, for that matter.

If you're a "A Court of Thorns and Roses" fan, chances are you've already heard of "The Empyrean Series" by Rebecca Yarros. The romantasy saga contains "Fourth Wing" (the 2023 Goodreads Choice Award winner for Readers' Favorite Romantasy), "Iron Flame," (Goodreads' most read romance book of 2026 so far) and "Onyx Storm" (2025's Goodreads Choice Award winner for Readers' Favorite Romantasy). Each book contains several ""ACOTAR"-esque fantasy elements, which may explain why the mega series has seen similar success to Sarah J. Maas' books, selling more than 12 million copies according to The New York Times. Similar to "ACOTAR," the books featuer a strong, young female protagonist, Violet Sorrengail. She attends the magical Basgiath War College and, thanks to her very insistent mom, becomes a dragon rider — despite her reluctance to enter such a dangerous world. The story is packed with magic and romance (her primary love interest is the handsome Xaden Riorson), which Violet has to contend with amid a raging war that threatens her and the school at every turn.

One Goodreads user compared "Fourth Wing" to "ACOTAR" with a dash of "Divergent," "Game of Thrones," and "The Hunger Games" thrown in. "Except with actual speaking dragons who were so sassy, sarcastic, snarky, and just so cute," they wrote. Another compared Violet and her love interest Xaden's romance to Feyre and Rhys' dynamic in "ACOTAR," writing, "There's the slow burn tension, forbidden relationship tropes, and enough banter to make you smirk while the world burns around them."

"Starside" by Alex Aster is another strong romantasy novel with an enemies-to-lovers trope that "A Court of Thornes and Roses" fans — or specifically fans of Feyre Archeron's dramatic love story — will appreciate. In this book, we meet Aris, who lives in a world split into a mortal side and a magic side. When the gates between the two worlds open (as they do every half century) Aris, a mortal, sets about avenging the death of her parents, who were killed by a goddess years ago. But she'll have beasts and non-humans to deal with — not to mention the attention of the king's guard Harlan Raker.

"This was a rocket-speed rollercoaster of a story with literally nothing but action from the first page to the last. I haven't been this enraptured with a romantasy since 'ACOTAR,' and I think it surpassed even that," wrote one impressed Goodreads user. Another compared the mythical novel to "Quicksilver," "Fourth Wing" and "ACOTAR" in a four-star review. "Starside" is particularly perfect for those looking for a new fantasy series that isn't a huge commitment, as there's only one book to read at the time of writing. The second installment, "Stormside," is expected in April 2027.

The mysterious fantasy "Child of Shivay" by J.R. Cathers  shines the spotlight on the relationship between fairies and mortals, much like "A Court of Thornes and Roses." Shivaria is a strong, female assassin with a dark mission to kill the Feyn King. But she's faced with a serious decision when she realizes everything she thought she knew may not be true after all. Similar to "ACOTAR," this romantic fantasy immerses us in a world of faes where magic rules all. It also has a romantic plot that builds over time, much like Feyre Archeron's relationships.

One Goodreads user highlighted the similarities between both "Child of Shivay" and "ACOTAR" in a four-star review. "Fae and bargains. Dangerous creatures roaming the woods. A plot that unravels oh so slowly, step by step. And a sizzling romance that feels all-consuming," they wrote. In another Goodreads review, a reader shared, "This book has [...] 'ACOTAR' vibes in terms of the found family and learning the truth about the world, people and events through a starting point of ignorance/lies." The book is the first in the "Veils of Terr" series, with the second book, "Beast of Brax," set for a 2027 release.

In "The Poison Daughter" by Sheila Masterson, which also follows the enemies to lovers storyline, our young protagonist Harlow Carrenwell lives in a world of vampires. She harnesses an incredible power too — everyone she kisses dies soon after their lip lock. In this dark romance with a magical twist, Harlow is an assassin by day (at her parent's instruction), but at night she chooses to use her power to give abusive men what's coming to them. When she kisses Henry Havenwood though, the man chosen to be her next husband, she shockingly discovers he's immune to her supernatural abilities. This book has all the mysterious magic and slow burn romance you get in "A Court and Thorns of Roses," but with a darker and lethal edge.

"I haven't been the same when it comes to fantasy since the 'ACOTAR' series & this book brought me right back to fantasyland. I absolutely LOVED this book," wrote one Goodreads user. Another noted the novel is a little spicier than Sarah J. Maas' series in the romance department, so keep that in mind before reaching for this romantasy if you're looking for something more PG.

"Alchemised" by SenLinYu, a 2025 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romantasy, focuses on Helena Marino, a prisoner in a fantasy world who's experiencing memory loss. She has no idea what's happened to her or her world, Paladia. In the hopes of bringing her memory back so her alchemist powers can potentially be realized, she's sent to live with the High Reeve, a brutal  necromancer who shows new mercy to anyone. It's up to Helena to learn his secrets to protect herself and stay alive. Helena being locked up for a crime she didn't mean to commit will mark a familiar start to "A Court of Thorns and Roses" fans, as will Helena softening to her captor.

"I honestly loved reading this book. I haven't felt a high reading since reading 'ACOTAR' for the first time. I loved the background of the magic, how the world is built and the different guilds, characters, alchemy that surrounded this book," one Goodreads review stated. Another Goodreads reviewer also compared "Alchemised" to "ACOTAR," but claimed the writing made SenLinYu's release a more demanding and complex read than Sarah J. Maas' release. "If you're even slightly into fantasy, do yourself a favor and read this. NOW," they said.

The "Powerless" series by Lauren Roberts (made up of "Powerless," "Reckless," and "Fearless") focuses on young female protagonist Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary in the magical kingdom of Ilya. This trilogy is another romantasy that makes use of the enemies-to-lovers storyline, similar to "A Court of Thorns and Roses." Paedyn grapples with being banished from her kingdom to make room for the prestigious Elites, who have special powers. Determined to survive in such a harsh world, she sneakily blends in by posing as a psychic. She then finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials, where Elites show off their powers. But, of course, she doesn't have any. Much like Feyre Archeron in "ACOTAR," she needs to learn important skills quickly to avoid dying in a brutally magical world. There's also a slow burn romance between Paedyn and Kai, which is sure to give "ACOTAR" readers flashbacks to Feyre's romantic life.

"I can safely say I haven't enjoyed another fantasy book this much since I read 'ACOTAR!'" wrote one Goodreads user of the first book, "Powerless." Another reader wrote in a five-star review, "The slow burn of the slow burns – and I loved it. This book made me feel the same things as 'ACOTAR' did." "Powerless" is also a novel we recommended reading after "Fourth Wing" for more romantasy fun.

The "Blood and Ash" series (including "From Blood and Ash" and "A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire") by Jennifer L. Armentrout has six books that delve into Poppy's intriguing life. In the first, "From Blood And Ash," we meet Poppy in her fantasy kingdom filled with hungry vampires. Until it's Poppy's day of ascension to rule the kingdom, it's forbidden that she be spoken to or looked at. When she meets a guard named Hawke though, he changes her life forever when he forces her to question everything — despite the fate of the kingdom still resting firmly on her shoulders. Poppy and Hawke's rollercoaster romance is sure to remind "A Court of Thornes and Roses" readers of Feyre Archeron and Tamlin's complicated relationship, while Poppy's angst against an unfair magical system is equally familiar.

One Goodreads user wrote of "From Blood and Ash," the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award winner for Readers' Favorite Romance, "I definitely think that fans of the 'ACOTAR' series will love this book and you're going to fall in love with Hawke." Another compared the book to "ACOTAR" and Stephanie Meyers' hugely successful "Twilight" saga. "They had the same addictive quality which makes readers devour their books," they wrote.

For "A Court of Thornes and Roses" fans who want a little more fairy action back in their lives, try Shaylin Gandhi's "Hunted by the Fae King's Shadow." The fantasy romance focuses on Aethrolian princess Sariah. She's a human, but she's unexpectedly chosen as the bride of a fae king. The only way to escape the fate of marrying a man she doesn't love and being forever under his powers is to survive a maze and break the curse. But when Sariah starts to feel the walls closing in on her, much like "A Court of Thorne and Rose'"'s Feyre Archeron did in Prythian, she has a serious decision to make that could change her life. The book is part of the "Immortal Hunters" series, which is made up of five standalone fantasy stories at the time of writing.

With a mix of fae culture, fantasy, romance, potentially deadly magic, and a strong female protagonist, it's little surprise "Hunted by the Fae King's Shadow" has drawn comparisons to "ACOTAR." "When 'ACOTAR' meets 'Shield of Sparrows,'" wrote one Goodreads user. "If you enjoy dark romantasy, fae, slow burn romance, dangerous trials, and strong character growth, I highly recommend picking this one up," wrote another Goodreads reviewer. 

"The Bound to the Shadow King" series by Felicity Heaton contains "Wolf Caged," "Wolf Hunted," and "Wolf Crowned" at the time of writing (the fourth book, "Rites of Shadow and Frost," is due in 2027). It's a collection of fae and wolf shifter (two of the most important ingredients in the "A Court of Thornes and Roses" books) romantasy novels. Saphira is a wolf shifter, who's left devastated in "Wolf Caged" when she's rejected by the mate she believed she was supposed to be with. She then finds herself sold off as a prisoner to the nasty King Kaeleron, the rule of the Shadow Court, which shares loose similarities to Feyre Archeron's imprisonment and her becoming beholden to Tamlin.

"The world-building was beautifully done, detailed without being overwhelming and the inclusion of multiple courts gave it a vibe reminiscent of 'ACOTAR,'" wrote one Goodreads reviewer in reference to "Wolf Caged." A second reader pointed out the continued similarities to "ACOTAR" in the second book, "Wolf Hunted," writing, "This is a must read for anyone who's a fan of the 'ACOTAR' series. A dark fantasy with fae, wolves, action and that perfect amount of spice." 

The "Crowns of Nyaxia" series by Carissa Broadbent is made up of five books at the time of writing, including "The Serpent and the Wings of Night" and "The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King." The dark romantasy books bring readers into Oraya's mysterious world of vampires and humans. In the first installment, "The Serpent and the Wings of Night," we meet a human named Oraya who's the adopted daughter of a vampire king. She decides to enter the Kejari tournament to prove herself — but that means being around Raihn, who threatens her whole life. He's one of the most dangerous vampires Oraya knows, and he's one of the most handsome too. But can romance really blossom under such life-or-death circumstances? Much like "A Court of Thornes and Roses," this romantasy deals with cross-species romances that could easily turn deadly in a mysterious fantasy world.

"Love the series 'ACOTAR?' [The 'Blood and Ash' series]? 'Hunger Games?' Pick this up right now. I promise you won't even regret reading it, it's so so worth it," wrote one Goodreads user, who added, "It stayed consistent, intense and action packed." Another noted, "If you're an 'ACOTAR' fan, I think you'll see a few similarities between Raihn and Rhysand. They're both charming, sexy, persistent, winged, hard to read, and easily slips into different roles/characters. And if you love Rhysand, you'll fall in love with Raihn."

The "Shield of Sparrows" series (which contains "Shield of Sparrows," and "Rites of the Starling") focuses on Princess Odessa Cross, aka Odza. She becomes a warrior and wife following one horrific day that seals her fate and future — much like the way Feyre Archeron's destiny was chosen for her. In the following books, which explore five different kingdoms, Odza deals with being hunted by monsters while falling in complicated love.

One Goodreads user gushed of "Shield of Sparrows," one of the best romance books of 2025, according to reviews, "I've finally found another romantasy worthy of a full 5 stars—i've been searching for something that could hold its own next to 'ACOTAR' and ['Throne of Glass'] & this book absolutely delivered." A second confirmed, "If you loved 'ACOTAR' and 'Fourth Wing,' you will love this." "Shield of Sparrows" was a 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Readers' Favorite Romantasy. The series has a third book on the way too, with "Seven and the Swift" due in 2027.

Callie Hart's "Fae & Alchemy" series has two books at the time of writing ("Quicksilver" and "Brimstone"), which joined multiple "A Court of Thornes and Roses" books to make up Goodreads' top 15 most read fantasy books of 2026. The stories are perfect for those who love romantasy combined with the magic and mystery elements of "A Court of Thorns and Roses." "Quicksilver," which was nominated for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Readers' Favorite Romantasy category, is centered on Saeris Fane, a pickpocket with serious powers she has to keep underwraps. One fateful day, the strong protagonist meets Death (aka Kingfisher) and accidentally opens a long-closed portal that leads to different realms. Soon, Saeris finds herself trapped and in the middle of a long fae war. She and Kingfisher don't exactly get along at first, but they soon forge an unexpectedly close bond. This novel has the magic, love, and fantasy fans have to come to love from "A Court of Thornes and Roses," but it contains more violence and adult scenes than the more family friendly "ACOTAR" series.

One Goodreads user described "Quicksilver" as the love child of "ACOTAR" and "The Serpent and the Wings of Night" by Carissa Broadbent from the "Crowns of Nyaxia" series. Another drew deep similarities between the Sarah J. Mass series and "Quicksilver"'s romantic storyline. "Did this book kinda feel like a copy-paste of ACOTAR?? Yes. Was it also its own unique, magical, vampy, romantic, spicy adventure?? Also YES," wrote another. "If you loved 'ACOTAR,' this one needs to be on your list," they added. A third novel is set for release in 2027.

To ensure "A Court of Thorns and Roses" fans would like the books on our list, we only chose fictional tales that fall under the romantasy genre and had a strong female protagonist with similarities to "ACOTAR"'s Feyre Archeron. We also only included books that had been compared to "ACOTAR" (which is Spotify's most-streamed audiobook of all time, by the way) by at least one Goodreads reviewer to better understand why fans of the series were likely to enjoy them.