If you’ve finished ACOTAR and want that same mix of romance, danger, court politics, and emotional intensity, you’re not alone. The best follow-up depends on what you loved most: the fae world-building, the slow-burn relationships, or the high-stakes fantasy adventure.
This guide to what to read after ACOTAR highlights books and series that can satisfy different kinds of ACOTAR readers, with quick notes on tone, themes, and why each one may be a good next step.
What to read after ACOTAR?
If you want the closest reading experience, look for fantasy romance with strong world-building, dangerous magic, and emotionally driven relationships. The best post-ACOTAR picks usually include fae or mythic settings, high tension, and a balance of plot and character development rather than romance alone.
Why ACOTAR leaves such a specific reading gap
Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series blends several reader pleasures at once: fairy-tale retelling, epic fantasy, court intrigue, and a romance arc that grows alongside the larger conflict. That combination can be hard to replace with a single book.
Many readers finish the series wanting more of the same atmosphere: lush settings, morally complicated characters, and relationships that develop through conflict, trust, and sacrifice. If that’s your experience, the books below are chosen with those expectations in mind.
What readers often miss most
- Romantic tension that builds over multiple chapters or books
- Fae or magical worlds with political factions and court dynamics
- Strong heroines who change through trauma, power, and choice
- Series momentum that makes each installment feel bigger than the last
Best books and series to read after ACOTAR
1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
If you want to stay with the same author, this is the most natural next step. Throne of Glass begins as a more assassin-focused fantasy and gradually expands into a larger epic with magic, kingdoms, and a wide cast of characters.
It is less romance-centered than ACOTAR at the start, but it offers the same sense of scale, emotional payoff, and interconnected world-building. Readers who enjoy seeing a heroine grow across a long series often find it especially rewarding.
2. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This series is a strong choice for readers who want romance-forward fantasy with secrets, danger, and a heroine pulled into a hidden world. It has a fast pace and a dramatic, high-stakes tone that many ACOTAR fans find familiar.
It leans more heavily into romantic suspense and revelation-driven plotting, so it may appeal most if you liked the emotional intensity and cliffhanger energy of Maas’s series.
3. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
For readers drawn to fae courts, political maneuvering, and sharp-edged tension, Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince is a natural recommendation. Its atmosphere is colder and more cunning than ACOTAR, but the faerie setting is richly developed.
The romance is more restrained and the tone more dangerous, which makes it a good fit if you prefer intrigue, rivalry, and morally ambiguous characters over softer emotional warmth.
4. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
This series combines fantasy, romance, and enemies-to-lovers energy in a way that may appeal to ACOTAR readers who especially enjoy relationship tension. It centers on a witch and a witch hunter forced into proximity, which creates immediate conflict.
The world-building is different from Maas’s fae courts, but the balance of banter, danger, and emotional stakes makes it a satisfying choice for readers who want chemistry as much as magic.
5. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
This standalone novel is a good option if you want a shorter, more contained fae story after a long series. It offers a romantic fantasy atmosphere, a magical world, and a fairy-tale feel without requiring a major time commitment.
Because it is a standalone, it works best for readers who want the mood of ACOTAR without committing to another multi-book saga right away.
6. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
This series mixes dark fantasy, mystery, and romance, with a heroine navigating a supernatural world full of secrets. Its gothic tone and infernal mythology set it apart from Maas’s fae setting, but the seductive danger may feel familiar.
If you liked the sense of hidden rules, forbidden attraction, and escalating revelations in ACOTAR, this is worth considering.
7. A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
For readers who want mythic energy and a strong romantic thread, this newer fantasy romance may be appealing. It draws on Norse-inspired elements and follows a heroine caught in power struggles shaped by fate, gods, and political pressure.
It is especially suited to readers who like series with a serious emotional core and a heroine forced to navigate both duty and desire.
8. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
This novel offers a moody, gothic fantasy atmosphere with a distinctive magic system and a slow-building romantic thread. Its tone is more eerie and folkloric than ACOTAR, but it shares a sense of enchantment and danger.
It may appeal if you liked the darker side of fantasy romance and want something a little more atmospheric and less court-driven.
How to choose the right next book
Not every ACOTAR reader wants the same thing from the next read. Some want more fae politics, some want a stronger romance focus, and some want a heroine who feels equally vulnerable and powerful.
If you want the closest match
- Throne of Glass for the same author and a long-form fantasy arc
- From Blood and Ash for romance, secrets, and high drama
- The Cruel Prince for fae courts and political tension
If you want a different flavor of fantasy romance
- Serpent & Dove for banter and enemies-to-lovers energy
- One Dark Window for gothic atmosphere
- An Enchantment of Ravens for a shorter standalone read
If you want a more mythic or darkly romantic tone
- Kingdom of the Wicked for supernatural mystery
- A Fate Inked in Blood for fate-driven conflict and mythic stakes
Themes ACOTAR readers often want to find again
One reason ACOTAR resonates so strongly is that it combines fantasy spectacle with intimate emotional arcs. The books below echo those themes in different ways, even when their settings or magic systems differ.
Power and transformation
Many of these stories center on heroines who are reshaped by trauma, choice, or hidden strength. That theme is central to ACOTAR, where identity is never fixed and power often comes with a cost.
Desire and trust
Romantic tension in this genre often depends on whether characters can trust one another after betrayal, secrecy, or fear. If that push-and-pull was one of your favorite parts of ACOTAR, prioritize books with slow-burn relationships.
Found family and loyalty
Another major reason readers stay with Maas’s work is the emotional pull of chosen bonds. Several of the recommended books include friendship groups, alliances, or protective circles that echo that same appeal.
A quick reading order suggestion
If you want a practical path rather than a long list, try this order based on what you liked most in ACOTAR:
- Throne of Glass if you want another Sarah J. Maas series first
- The Cruel Prince if fae politics were your favorite part
- From Blood and Ash if you want more romance and cliffhangers
- One Dark Window if you want a moodier, more gothic turn
- An Enchantment of Ravens if you need a standalone palate cleanser
Final thoughts on what to read after ACOTAR
The best answer to what to read after ACOTAR depends on whether you want more romance, more fae intrigue, or more epic fantasy. If you want the closest emotional and stylistic match, start with Throne of Glass, then branch into other fantasy romance series that emphasize tension, magic, and character growth.
For more reading ideas, you may also enjoy what to read if you like Sarah J. Maas and how Sarah J. Maas’s books connect.