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12 Books Like A Court of Thorns and Roses
Faerie courts, slow-burn romance, and dark fairy tale magic: what to read after ACOTAR, sorted by what you loved most.
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Quick Picks
Pick the one that matches what you loved most about ACOTAR.
- Best for faerie courtsThe Cruel Princeby Holly Black
- Best slow burnSerpent & Doveby Shelby Mahurin
- Best retellingA Curse So Dark and Lonelyby Brigid Kemmerer
- Best standaloneUprootedby Naomi Novik
Table of Contents
Finished A Court of Thorns and Roses and still thinking about Prythian? Sarah J. Maas’s series blends faerie politics, danger, and a slow-burn romance that has made it one of the most popular fantasy series of the decade.
We’ve grouped these picks by the part of ACOTAR you loved most, from scheming faerie courts to fairy tale retellings and epic romantasy. Every pick is spoiler-free, and each one is labeled YA or adult so you can choose what fits.
Content note: ACOTAR and several adult picks include explicit romantic scenes and violence. Look for the YA tag if you prefer something tamer.
1. Faerie Courts and Dark Magic
If you loved Prythian’s dangerous courts and the pull of the fae, start with these.
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
Jude, a mortal girl raised in the High Court of Faerie, will do whatever it takes to win a place in a court that despises her.
Find on AmazonUprooted
by Naomi Novik
Every ten years a wizard called the Dragon takes a young woman from the valley to serve him. This time, he chooses Agnieszka.
Find on AmazonKingdom of the Wicked
by Kerri Maniscalco
After her twin is murdered, Emilia summons one of the Wicked, the princes of Hell, to help her find the killer.
Find on Amazon2. Slow-Burn Enemies to Lovers
For readers who live for the tension, the banter, and the long wait for the first kiss.
Serpent & Dove
by Shelby Mahurin
A witch on the run is forced into marriage with a witch hunter sworn to destroy her kind.
Find on AmazonThe Shadows Between Us
by Tricia Levenseller
Alessandra plans to court the Shadow King, marry him, and then kill him for his kingdom. Falling for him was not part of the plan.
Find on AmazonA Deal with the Elf King
by Elise Kova
A village healer is chosen as the elf king’s bride and taken to a hidden world where nothing, including her husband, is what she expected.
Find on Amazon3. Fairy Tale Retellings
ACOTAR began as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. These books give classic tales the same dark, romantic twist.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely
by Brigid Kemmerer
A cursed prince is trapped repeating the same autumn until a girl from modern-day Washington, D.C., is pulled into his world.
Find on AmazonCruel Beauty
by Rosamund Hodge
Promised from birth to the demon lord who rules her kingdom, Nyx has trained her whole life to destroy him.
Find on AmazonSpinning Silver
by Naomi Novik
A moneylender’s daughter boasts she can turn silver into gold and catches the attention of the cold, magical Staryk king.
Find on Amazon4. Epic Romantasy Adventures
Big worlds, high stakes, and a romance at the center of it all.
A Fate Inked in Blood
by Danielle L. Jensen
A woman with rare, long-hidden magic is pulled into a jarl’s quest for power and into a forbidden attraction to his son.
Find on AmazonSorcery of Thorns
by Margaret Rogerson
A library apprentice must team up with a sorcerer she was raised to distrust after a deadly act of sabotage.
Find on AmazonThrone of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas’s other famous series follows an assassin competing to become the king’s champion.
Find on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
What should I read after A Court of Thorns and Roses?
If you want more of the same series, continue with A Court of Mist and Fury. For something new, The Cruel Prince is the closest match for faerie court intrigue, and Uprooted is a great standalone with a similar dark-fairy-tale feel.
Is ACOTAR young adult or adult?
ACOTAR is usually shelved as adult or new adult fantasy because of its explicit romantic content. For a younger-reader alternative, try The Cruel Prince, Serpent & Dove, or A Curse So Dark and Lonely.
Are there other Beauty and the Beast retellings like ACOTAR?
Yes. A Curse So Dark and Lonely and Cruel Beauty are both dark, romantic Beauty and the Beast retellings.
Which book is most like ACOTAR’s romance?
Serpent & Dove and A Deal with the Elf King both feature a forced marriage and a slow-burn romance that builds from distrust.
Which book will you read after ACOTAR?
Save this list to Pinterest for your next book hangover, and see more books like Fourth Wing and fantasy books.
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