We’ve all been there: You just finished an incredible, emotional, exquisite five-star read and now it’s over. Welcome to the book hangover (it’s awful, I’m so sorry you’re here).
Finishing the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” (ACOTAR) series leaves many readers desperate for more. What is it that makes this fantasy romance series so good we can’t put it down? Is it the world building? The badass characters? The forbidden romance trope and spicy scenes? Or maybe it’s the touch her and die energy that’s threaded throughout each novel.
But now that you’ve finished “A Court of Silver Flames” and you’re caught up with the series (well, for now), what comes next?
The way I see it, you have two options once you finish the ACOTAR series. One, you start right back at the beginning and just read them on a loop forever. Or, you can check out one of these fantasy romance books and find your new favorite obsession.
Here are the best books like A Court of Thorns and Roses:
1. “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas
The most logical thing to do once you’ve finished ACOTAR is to start working your way through the rest of the Sarah J. Mass Universe.
Start with the Throne of Glass series, an 8-book series that follows Celaena Sardothien, a deadly assassin who is competing for a shot at freedom. Honestly, I thought I loved Feyre the most until Celaena came into my life. You’ll fall in love with this character.
You’ll find a lot of info out there about the reading order of Throne of Glass—when I tell you there’s DRAMA in the BookTok world for what order is best!
People have opinions on when to read “Assassin’s Blade,” which is a prequel. And some people swear by reading “Empire of Storms” and “Tower of Dawn” at the same time, since they take place simultaneously. There are guides for starting and stopping points in these two books that will have you tabbing your books with 100+ sticky notes.
For the most emotional storytelling (and ease, TBH), simply read the books in the order they were released. It’s what SJM herself recommends, after all:
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Assassin’s Blade
Heir of Fire
Queen of Shadows
Empire of Storms
Tower of Dawn
Kingdom of Ash
2. “House of Earth and Blood” by Sarah J. Maas
After you’ve finished ACOTAR and Throne of Glass, you can start “House of Earth and Blood,” the first in the ongoing urban fantasy Crescent City series that follows half-human, half-fae Bryce and a fallen angel, Hunt.
Going from the lands of flowing rivers and riding on horseback in ACOTAR to a large city with smartphones and nail salons can feel a bit jarring, but you’ll find the same adventure, romance, and world building you’ve come to love from SJM. These books are dense and definitely more complicated than ACOTAR, but if you stick with it, the payoff is so, so worth it.
3. “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
It’s nearly impossible to scroll BookTok without seeing someone recommend “Fourth Wing”—and for good reason!
Violet was planning for a quiet first year at Basgiath War College—well, as quiet as war college can be—as she trained to be a scribe. But her mother (the commanding general of the army) orders her into the Riders Quadrant. Now instead of spending her days surrounded by books, she’s fighting for her life trying to bond a dragon, train to be a dragon rider, and dodge the attempts on her life by fellow cadets.
Xaden has no reason to trust or like Violet—in fact, she should be Public Enemy Number One. But when he develops a vested interest in her survival, he starts to train her to make her strong enough to survive the Riders Quadrant and the war that rages outside their country’s protected wards.
“Fourth Wing” is the first book in the Empyrean Series and the sequel, “Iron Flame," is out now. The next book, “Onyx Storm,” drops in January 2025, so now is the perfect time to dive into this enemies-to-lovers fantasy series!
4. “Quicksilver” by Callie Hart
Saeris lives in the barren, desert wasteland of Zilvaren known as the Third and over the years she’s gotten good at picking pockets and sneakily thieving from the reserve of the Undying Queen.
When Saeris accidentally binds herself to Kingfisher, the dangerous (and dangerously hot) fae warrior, she finds herself in a land that’s far more threatening than the one she left behind.
When I say this fantasy romance is a must-read, I mean it! As an added bonus, it’s on Kindle Unlimited, so if you already pay for that, this book is basically free (girl math!).
5. “The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black
Jude was just a kid when her parents were killed and she and her sisters were captured and brought to live under the ruling of the High Court of Faeries. Despite nearly a decade in this world, the faes still haven’t accepted her due to her human status.
Faerie prince Cardan hates humans, Jude included. If Jude wants to secure a place in the High Court, she has to go up against Cardan to prove herself.
Just keep in mind that unlike ACOTAR, this young adult series doesn’t have open-door spice.
6. “From Blood and Ash” by Jennifer L. Armentrout
As the Maiden, Poppy is forced to live in solitude and she is not happy about it. She’d rather be on the front lines, fighting back against the forces that took her family, but instead she’s bound by duty to ensure she’s found worthy by the gods.
When she’s assigned a new bodyguard, Hawke, things take an interesting turn (listen, life as the Maiden is really boring!). With every hour spent together, Poppy becomes more and more agitated, fighting against the guardrails of her duty and questioning the stories she’s been told.
7. “Wings of Winter” by Dipsea
“Wings of Winter” features Rowan, a fae prince, and you (that’s right, you’re the main character in this story—a true fairytale!). The story picks up the night before The Gleaning, a Hunger Games-esque tournament between mortals and immortals alike (it’s giving Feyre Under the Mountain). Since you’re a human up against magical creatures, Rowan feels a protective pull to you (and he’s beyond irritated about it).
If you’re intimidated by the deadly tournament, you don’t let it show. You’re a human but you can hold your ground! But as The Gleaning rages on, Rowan’s protective presence is like a constant shadow.
This captivating high fantasy audiobook is told across 13 chapters, and will have you on the edge of your seat. Once you’re done, get a behind-the-scenes look at how Wings of Winter came to life!
8. “The Bridge Kingdom” by Danielle L. Jensen
When Lara is given the chance to wed King Aren, the monarch of an enemy kingdom, she jumps at the chance. She’s trained her whole life to take him down, and now she has the opportunity of the century to hatch a plan from the inside.
But once she’s behind enemy lines, Lara begins to question everything she thought she knew about the war and this rival kingdom. She swore to hate—and kill—the king, but every day spent together has her wondering if everything she thought she knew is wrong.
The first four books in this addicting series are out now with two more planned for the future.
9. “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo
Kaz may be a criminal prodigy but even he can’t pull off this next heist alone. He assembles a ragtag team of fellow teenage criminals to help him and the six of them band together (despite their differences) to take on the deadly task in front of them.
Told through multiple points of view, this story has characters that are so deep and complex. Combine that with the jam-packed plot and you’ve got a perfect read!
When you finish, be sure to pick right back up with “Crooked Kingdom,” the second in the fantasy book duology. This series is set in the same universe as Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series, but you can absolutely read it as a standalone.
10. “The Serpent and the Wings of Night” by Carissa Broadbent
As a human raised by a vampire king, Oraya is used to being the odd woman out. Still, she’s determined to make a name and place for herself in this world, so she enters the Kejari, a deadly tournament.
Oraya has plenty of enemies in this tournament, but her best shot at survival is to form alliances (keep your friends close and your enemies closer). To increase her chances of survival, she strikes a deal with Raihn, one of the most dangerous and powerful vampires in the game. But while Oraya has sworn her alliance to Raihn, learning to trust him is another thing entirely.
This fantasy novel is the first in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, and is the perfect antidote for your ACOTAR hangover.
11. “Powerless” by Lauren Roberts
Paedyn is Ordinary and in the kingdom of Ilya, that’s not just an insult—it’s illegal. Determined to stay out of the spotlight, she poses as a Psychic in the kingdom of Elites to try and blend in.
When she unknowingly saves the life of one of the kingdom’s princes, she’s “rewarded” by being thrown into the Purging Trials, a competition designed to showcase the talents of the Elites. With everything on the line, can Paedyn fool everyone and survive?
Find more fantasy romance favorites on Dipsea, the app for original spicy audiobooks and more!
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