If A Court of Thorns and Roses dragged you back into reading and now you’re standing in front of your shelves like, “Okay, what now,” welcome to The Gilt List. This list is for readers who loved ACOTAR’s fae courts, trauma, magic, and messy romance, but don’t want to just reread it forever and a day or pick up a book that feels like someone lightly photocopied Prythian and changed two names.
All of these are fantasy romance and romantasy books like ACOTAR, but with their own thing going on like different worlds, different magic, same “oh crap, I’m emotionally compromised” energy.
New Sarah J. Maas Books Announced (2026–2027)
- Sarah J. Maas recently confirmed she’ll be releasing three new books, with the first expected in roughly 7 months and another around 10 months later. Like…Hello?
- While details are still limited, there’s some tea…people are thinking more Crescent City crossover possibilities, and that Night Court storylines will continue.
- If you’re rereading the series while waiting, these fantasy romance books like ACOTAR will scratch the same itch. Leave a comment on how they differ, or your speculations for other readers, please!
Takeaways! What to read after ACOTAR
If your attention span has left the building, and whose hasn’t at this point, here’s the quick version:
- Closest overall vibe to ACOTAR (romantasy, trauma, courts, slow burn): From Blood and Ash, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Crescent City
- More fae courts and political scheming: The Cruel Prince, A Deal with the Elf King
- More slow-burn emotional devastation, less spice: Serpent & Dove, Divine Rivals (if you’re okay with vibes-adjacent)
- If you want ACOTAR-level romance but better structure/prose: The Serpent and the Wings of Night, House of Earth and Blood
- If you want something shorter / lower commitment: The Shadows Between Us, A Deal with the Elf King
You can scroll for actual breakdowns, spice levels, and “read this and then skip that” notes so you don’t waste your money.
| If You Loved ACOTAR For… | Read This | Spice | Series or Standalone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma, courts, slow burn | From Blood and Ash | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ | Series |
| Darker stakes, sharper writing | The Serpent and the Wings of Night | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ | Series |
| Complex worldbuilding, grief | House of Earth and Blood | 🌶️🌶️ | Series |
| Fae politics, power games | The Cruel Prince | 🌶️ | Trilogy |
| Cosy fae king, lower commitment | A Deal with the Elf King | 🌶️🌶️ | Standalone-ish |
| Enemies to lovers, banter | Serpent & Dove | 🌶️🌶️ | Series |
| Emotional depth, beautiful prose | Divine Rivals | 🌶️ | Duology |
| Villain energy, fast and fun | The Shadows Between Us | 🌶️ | Standalone |
| Court intrigue, portal fantasy | A Fate of Wrath and Flame | 🌶️🌶️ | Series |
What kind of book is ACOTAR, really?
Let’s admit it: ACOTAR is a…lot. There’s so much going on in that series you almost need a map to follow it.
At its core, A Court of Thorns and Roses is:
- Fantasy romance or romantasy – magic, fae courts, war, plus central romance
- Trauma and healing arc – especially in later books
- Strong focus on found family and inner circle dynamics
- Slow-burn-ish relationships that get more intense as the series goes on
- On-page spice, particularly from book two onward. If you know you know.
So when we say “books like ACOTAR,” we’re not just looking for “also has fae.” We’re looking for:
- Emotional arcs and healing
- Political and magical stakes
- Romance that feels woven into the plot, not glued on
- Some level of spice, even if it’s on the lower side
If that’s the feeling you’re chasing, you’re in the right place, coz I’m about to help you find the next best thing.
Which books feel closest to ACOTAR’s “trauma, courts, and slow-burn” bit?
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Feel
Chosen maiden locked in a role she didn’t choose, secretive guard, crumbling religion, and a “wait, everything is a lie?” (well, duh).
Spice
🌶🌶🌶 – on-page, dramatic, and frequent.
Why it’s like ACOTAR:
- Human(ish) heroine caught between duty and desire.
- Big, messy world where gods, prophecies, and politics all collide.
- That same catchy reading quality.
Read this if:
You want something bingeable, dramatic, and heavy on the romance and twists, and you’re not here to nit-pick every worldbuilding choice.
Skip this if:
You need tight plotting and immaculate prose. This is a vibes-first, brain-off-good-time read. If good structure is needed you’ll probably DNF.
What readers say about From Blood and Ash
- The first chunk is a slog any many beg that you get through it. Think info dumps, new terms, and it feels like nothing is happening yet.
- The worldbuilding can feel like fantasy word salad at times (Ascended, Craven, Atlantia… okay??), and some readers stay confused.
- Poppy is very love-or-hate. For real, either you vibe with her bold, stubborn, consequences-be-damned thing… or she makes you want to scream.
- Hawke is the reason many people keep turning pages. He’s flirty, protective, “I’d burn the world” vibes, and yes, the tension and spice is doing the most heavy lifting to be lifted.
- The plot twists aren’t always shocking—some readers call them predictable—but it weirdly doesn’t matter once the pace finally picks up.
- Biggest consensus? If you push past the slow start, it turns into a bingeable, dramatic, spicy train you can’t stop watching crash.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
by Carissa Broadbent
Feel
Human girl adopted by a vampire god-king, death tournament, enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, and a world that feels sharper and darker than Prythian.
Spice
🌶🌶🌶 – slower burn, then surprisingly intense.
Why it’s like ACOTAR:
- Powerful, morally grey love interest with an actual inner life.
- Big emotional beats, found-family threads, and high stakes.
- Romance that grows during high-risk, life-or-death situations.
Read this if:
You liked the emotional punch and romance of ACOTAR but wanted something a touch more polished and intense.
Skip this if:
You’re very spice-averse or don’t like vampires at all. This leans dark and bloody.
What readers say about The Serpent and the Wings of Night
- Oraya is not a “woe is me” FMC. She’s the human who’s like yeah okay cool, let me just survive in a pit full of immortal murderers. Her sarcasm? Fun.
- The romance is slow-burn in the best way. The kind of dawning moment where you think… oh no I care …OH NO I CARE.
- Raihn is charming and annoying and hot and slightly babygirl and you will either adore him or want to throw him at a wall (affectionate).
- Vincent. SINGLE DAD ENERGY. Grumpy, stubborn, terrifying, and somehow the most emotionally devastating character in the whole book. People were in literal tears over this man.
- The last chunk goes fully crazy with plot twists, betrayal, what the actual fuck just happened, staring at the wall for 20 minutes after finishing.
- For some the worldbuilding is a bit surface-level or familiar if you’ve read a lot of romantasy. Those sick of the new adult romantasy trashy genre theme did not like this.
- The modern dialogue and heavy swearing pulls a few readers out of the fantasy setting.
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House of Earth and Blood
(Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Feel: urban-ish fantasy city, angels, demons, shifters, murder mystery, grief, and a slow-burn partnership that builds into something very intense.
Spice: 🌶🌶 – present but not constant; the emotion is heavier than the steam.
Why it’s like ACOTAR:
- Same author, obviously, but more complex worldbuilding and deeper exploration of grief and healing.
- Strong focus on friendships, found family, and chosen connections.
- Long, emotionally loaded storyline that feels like being dragged through it with the characters.
Read this if:
You want the emotional weight and relationship depth of later ACOTAR books, with more intricate worldbuilding.
Skip this if:
You’re not in the mood for a big, slow-building brick of a book. This one demands a bit of patience.
What should you read if you want more fae courts and scheming?
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
Feel: mortal girl raised in the fae world, court politics, cruelty, and a prickly, morally messy relationship with a fae prince.
Spice: 🌶 – tension and dark flirting, but low on-page sexual content.
Why it’s like ACOTAR:
- Dangerous fae courts where no one is safe and everyone lies.
- Themes of power, ambition, and what it means to belong in a world that doesn’t want you.
- Romance that’s slow, sharp, and not remotely straightforward.
- A badass female lead who can’t watch injustice.
Read this if:
You loved the court intrigue and dangerous fae side of ACOTAR more than the spice, and you don’t mind a more YA-leaning tone.
Skip this if:
You’re only here for high spice and explicit scenes. This is more about tension and political games.
A Deal with the Elf King
by Elise Kova
Feel: mortal girl unexpectedly chosen as bride to the Elf King, seasonal magic, cosy/cottagecore-ish moments with underlying duty and sacrifice.
Spice: 🌶🌶 – some on-page heat but not relentless.
Why it’s like ACOTAR:
- Bargain-marriage with a powerful fae ruler.
- Slow warming between strangers forced into proximity.
- Strong seasonal atmosphere and a clear romantic arc.
Read this if:
You want something that feels like ACOTAR distilled into a shorter, standalone-ish package with less drama and more comfort.
Skip this if:
You only want sprawling, multi-book epics. This wraps up much faster.
What if you liked the romance but want less chaos and a bit more craft?
Serpent & Dove
by Shelby Mahurin
Feel: witch forced into marriage with a witch-hunter, enemies-to-lovers, Catholic guilt, curses, chaos in a French-inspired fantasy world.
Spice: 🌶🌶 – moderate, a few key scenes.
Why it scratches the same itch:
- Big, angsty romance at the centre of things.
- Themes of prejudice, faith, and identity.
- Banter, meddling magic, and some genuinely emotional beats.
Read this if:
You liked the emotional mess of ACOTAR but want something slightly tighter and with a fun witch/witch-hunter dynamic.
Skip this if:
“Religious guilt” and “awkward boys who need to grow up” aren’t things you’re in the mood for.
Divine Rivals
by Rebecca Ross
Feel: wartime rival journalists writing letters to each other without knowing who’s on the other end, gods at war, grief and tenderness.
Spice: 🌶 – low, more emotional than physical intimacy.
Why it scratches the same itch:
- Deep emotional connection built through shared vulnerability.
- War backdrop, loss, sacrifice, and choosing love anyway.
- Writing quality that’s a bit cleaner and more lyrical than a lot of TikTok-core romantasy. You’ll be highlighting a lot.
Read this if:
You want the emotional intensity of ACOTAR with less chaos, less fae drama, and more grounded, human-feeling stakes.
Skip this if:
You strictly want fae courts and high spice. This is adjacent vibes, not a 1:1 fae replacement and is more industrial and medieval.
What if you’re in your villain/“everyone here is awful” era?
The Shadows Between Us
by Tricia Levenseller
Feel: girl decides to woo the king, marry him, and then kill him; discovers she might actually like him. Villain x villain energy, light and fast.
Spice: 🌶 – low, but the energy is unhinged.
Why it’s like ACOTAR:
- Morally grey (or fully morally questionable) leads.
- Court plotting, political schemes, and power plays.
- Romance that feels like learning to let someone in.
Read this if:
You want a standalone with villain energy, good banter, and a tidy little arc you can finish in a couple of nights and love a dark female lead.
Skip this if:
You want a slow, deep, trauma-heavy story or a very detailed magic system. This is lighter and more fun.
A Fate of Wrath and Flame
by K.A. Tucker
Feel: a thief from our world pulled into a fantasy kingdom, body-swapped into someone else’s mess, political intrigue, enemies-to-lovers with a fae-ish king.
Spice: 🌶🌶 – present, not the main event.
Why it’s like ACOTAR:
- Normal-ish girl dropped into magical, political disaster.
- Slow, suspicious relationship that inches toward something deeper.
- Court, conspiracies, and “you have no idea what you’ve just been dropped into” vibes.
Read this if:
You want more court intrigue, slow-burn romance, and a modern-angle entry point into a fantasy world.
Skip this if:
You’re not into portal/other-world fantasies or you want a fully wrapped-up story; this is a series.
Quick list… fantasy romance books like ACOTAR at a glance
For when you just want titles:
- From Blood and Ash – high spice, dramatic, messy, gods and prophecies.
- The Serpent and the Wings of Night – dark tournament, vampires, intense slow burn.
- House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) – urban fantasy, grief, angels, big emotional payoff.
- The Cruel Prince – cruel fae court, political games, low spice.
- A Deal with the Elf King – cosy-ish fae king marriage, standalone feel, medium spice.
- Serpent & Dove – witch marries witch-hunter, banter and angst, moderate spice.
- Divine Rivals – war, letters, emotions, low spice, beautiful writing.
- The Shadows Between Us – villain x villain, court intrigue, standalone, low spice.
- A Fate of Wrath and Flame – portal fantasy, fae-ish king, political scheming, medium spice.
You don’t need to read all of them (unless you truly want to derail your life). Pick based on which part of ACOTAR you actually liked.
Want more romantasy recs that don’t waste your time?
If this list helped even a tiny bit, you’ll probably like my email list. I send:
- What I actually read (including DNFs)
- A few “read this / maybe library this one” notes
- Extra romantasy and spicy fantasy recs that never make it onto the blog
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Frequently asked questions about fantasy romance books like ACOTAR
If you want the closest emotional hit to ACOTAR, I’d start with:
– From Blood and Ash – if you want more dramatic, high-spice romantasy
– The Serpent and the Wings of Night – if you want darker, sharper stakes
– House of Earth and Blood – if you want more complex worldbuilding and similar emotional weight
Choose based on whether you care more about spice, darkness, or worldbuilding.
Yes. For more fae-heavy fantasy romance, try:
– The Cruel Prince (and the Folk of the Air series) – cruel fae politics and scheming
– A Deal with the Elf King – fae king marriage-of-convenience, shorter and cozier
– A Fate of Wrath and Flame – fae-ish king, political intrigue, portal fantasy
They’re all different flavours of fae chaos, so pick the one that matches your tolerance for cruelty, angst, and series length.
If ACOTAR didn’t quite work for you but the idea of fantasy romance did, try:
– Divine Rivals – gentler, beautifully written, less fae court drama
– Serpent & Dove – witch x witch-hunter, more banter and religious tension
– The Serpent and the Wings of Night – if you liked the romance but wanted darker, tighter writing
You can also browse my romantasy book recommendations page to find something that matches your mood without being tied to ACOTAR at all.
ACOTAR is solidly romantasy:
– Romance is central to the plot, not just a side quest.
– The emotional and romantic arcs are as important as the war and magic.
– There’s clear on-page spice, especially in later books.
If you liked ACOTAR, you’ll probably like being in the romantasy section of The Gilt List more than the “pure fantasy” shelves.
It’s similar in energy but different enough to feel fresh, think different world, different magic system, different author voice. Where ACOTAR leans into fae mythology and court politics, From Blood and Ash builds around gods, prophecies, and a crumbling religion. The addictive, bingeable quality is very much the same. If you’re worried about it feeling like a copy, it doesn’t per se, it just scratches the same itch through different means.
Most ACOTAR alternatives are series, but if you want something contained The Shadows Between Us is a true standalone with villain energy and court intrigue, but a much lighter feel than ACOTAR. A Deal with the Elf King functions as a standalone even though it has companion books. Divine Rivals is a duology with a satisfying enough midpoint that book one feels complete. If no cliffhangers and no series commitment is your priority, head to the standalone romantasy list for more options.
Divisive question, and many may disagree, but The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the most consistent answer from readers who loved ACOTAR’s emotional core but wanted tighter prose and more deliberate worldbuilding. Divine Rivals is the pick if you want genuinely lyrical writing, you’ll highlight plenty of quotes, Rebecca Ross is doing something different with language than most romantasy authors. Both deliver emotional payoff without leaning as heavily on chaos and volume.
From Blood and Ash is the highest heat pick on this list, it’s explicit, frequent, and dramatically staged. The Serpent and the Wings of Night builds slower but delivers open door heat that lands harder because of the tension preceding it. If ACOTAR book two and three spice levels are your benchmark, both of these will satisfy. If you want something at or beyond that level, the spicy standalone romantasy list has dedicated high heat picks.
KU availability changes constantly as authors move between indie and traditional publishing so always check the Amazon listing directly before you commit a borrow. A Deal with the Elf King and some of Elise Kova’s backlist have historically been KU eligible. The rest of this list is predominantly traditionally published and unlikely to be in the programme. For confirmed KU picks, the dedicated KU romantasy list on The Gilt List is the safer starting point.
You’re looking for the brooding, powerful, secretly devoted love interest archetype. The Serpent and the Wings of Night has Raihn who is the closest match in terms of that combination of dangerous exterior and genuine emotional depth. From Blood and Ash has Hawke who has that same “something is being hidden and it is going to destroy me” quality. A Fate of Wrath and Flame has Zander who has the cold, strategic exterior over something far more complicated underneath. All three deliver on that specific type.
You want a heroine who starts constrained or underestimated and grows into someone genuinely formidable. The Serpent and the Wings of Night‘s Oraya is raised in captivity and has everything to prove. From Blood and Ash‘s Poppy is locked into a role she didn’t choose and slowly dismantles it. The Cruel Prince‘s Jude is mortal in a world that considers her lesser and refuses to accept that framing, she’s pretty spunky. Three very different heroines, same core arc.
House of Earth and Blood! The friendships and found family dynamics in Crescent City are the most developed of any book on this list and rival the inner circle of ACOTAR’s later books. From Blood and Ash builds a strong found family thread as the series progresses. If the inner circle and chosen family element of ACOTAR was as important to you as the romance, Crescent City is your next move.
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