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Books Like ACOTAR — 7 Must-Read Picks

What makes A Court of Thorns and Roses work: immersive fae world, a heroine who is both vulnerable and fierce, a love interest who is dangerous but magnetic, and romantic tension that builds across multiple books. These 7 books share at least one of those qualities — several share all of them.

Already read it? → See our full ACOTAR review for spoiler discussion and series reading order.
Fourth Wing book cover
Pick #1

Fourth Wing

Rebecca Yarros • 2023
The book most often named alongside ACOTAR as the defining romantasy of its era. Same enemies-to-lovers intensity, same unputdownable pacing, and a world with its own rules and dangers. If you burned through ACOTAR in days, you'll do the same with Fourth Wing.
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From Blood and Ash book cover
Pick #2

From Blood and Ash

Jennifer L. Armentrout • 2020
A Maiden — sheltered, forbidden, destined for sacrifice — and the guard who was never supposed to want her. Jennifer L. Armentrout writes with the same addictive, tension-filled prose as Maas. The world is original, the slow burn is exquisite, and the series grows darker with each book.
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The Cruel Prince book cover
Pick #3

The Cruel Prince

Holly Black • 2018
Holly Black is the queen of fae fiction, and The Cruel Prince is her masterwork. A mortal girl fighting to survive in a world that sees her as disposable, a love interest who is genuinely cruel (at first), and fae politics that are beautifully vicious. The series is shorter than ACOTAR but just as satisfying.
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Throne of Glass book cover
Pick #4

Throne of Glass

Sarah J. Maas • 2012
Same author, but a completely different world and protagonist. Celaena Sardothien is one of fantasy's most compelling heroines — a legendary assassin who is also deeply human. If you want more of Maas's world-building and romantic tension, this six-book series delivers it at an even larger scale.
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An Ember in the Ashes book cover
Pick #5

An Ember in the Ashes

Sabaa Tahir • 2015
Not fae, but the same combination of a brutal power structure, two protagonists on opposite sides, and impossible romantic tension. Set in a world inspired by Ancient Rome, with a level of violence and consequence that makes the romance feel genuinely earned.
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A Touch of Darkness book cover
Pick #6

A Touch of Darkness

Scarlett St. Clair • 2019
A retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth with the same dark romance, morally complex love interest, and addictive prose style as ACOTAR. The romance between Persephone and Hades carries the same push-pull tension as Feyre and Rhysand.
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Caraval book cover
Pick #7

Caraval

Stephanie Garber • 2017
A magical world with its own rules, high stakes that feel personal, and a slow reveal of who can actually be trusted. Garber's prose is lush and atmospheric in the same way as Maas — immersive, slightly dark, and impossible to read slowly.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ACOTAR book is the best?

A Court of Mist and Fury (book 2) is almost universally cited as the series highlight. It's the one that converts ACOTAR readers into die-hard fans — the world expands dramatically, the romance shifts completely, and Rhysand becomes one of fantasy's most compelling love interests.

Is ACOTAR a YA series?

It starts with YA elements but becomes increasingly adult from book 2 onwards. By A Court of Mist and Fury, the content — including explicit romance — is firmly in the adult fantasy category. Most booksellers now shelve it with adult fantasy rather than YA.

How many ACOTAR books are there?

Five published as of 2024: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames. More books in the world are planned. See our ACOTAR series reading order for the full guide.

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ACOTAR Series Reading Order Books Like Fourth Wing All Book Recommendations