Books Like ACOTAR that Are Full of Fantasy and Romance

I’m a pretty big fan of Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series, and I know I’m not alone. Thanks to SJM (at least in part), the fantasy romance genre has exploded in popularity, leaving many readers craving more magical worlds and swoony relationships. But it can leave you feeling a little lost wondering what books to read afterward that will give you the same magical feeling.

And so, I’ve spent countless hours scouring bookstores and online recommendations to find the best books like ACOTAR, and I’ve discovered some real gems.

In this post, I’ll share my top book recommendations if you loved ACOTAR as much as I did. We’ll explore everything from dark fantasies with morally gray characters to epic quests in magical realms. Get ready to add some new favorites to your TBR pile!

Disclaimer: The below romantasy book recommendations contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one. Full disclosure here.

Top Three Picks

Let’s get to the point with my top three picks: Each of these books captures that magical ACOTAR feeling in its own unique way. Whether you’re in the mood for assassins, vampires, or elemental magic, these stories will scratch that itch and leave you wanting more.

These gems will sweep you off your feet and into fantastical worlds filled with romance and adventure.

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas- Fierce assassin heroine

2. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent.- Dark fantasy, vampire vibes

3. Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole – Slow burn high fantasy

Now I’ll break the rest of the article down into recommendations based on what you’re looking for in an ACOTAR-like book, whether it’s books by the same author, giggle-inducing high fantasy, or dark forbidden romances.

SJM Books

Where better to find ACOTAR vibes than by reading other works by the same author? Her other series are packed with action, romance, and complex world-building that keeps me hooked. (Be sure to check out my ultimate Sarah J Maas reading guide for more information about the Maasiverse!

Throne of Glass

The Throne of Glass series is easily my favorite by SJM. It follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin who becomes the king’s champion. The series starts as more of a YA fantasy but grows more mature and epic as it progresses.

You will love how Celaena develops from a cocky young assassin into a powerful and responsible queen. The magic system and fae elements reminded me a lot of ACOTAR. There is no shortage characters and swoon-worthy love interests!

Crescent City Series

The Crescent City books are SJM’s venture into urban fantasy, and although I don’t like them as much as her other two series, they are solid books. They’re set in a modern world with smartphones and nightclubs, but also angels, demons, and other supernatural creatures.

The main character Bryce teams up with a notorious fallen angel named Hunt Athalar to solve her best friend’s murder. I loved the mix of mystery, action, and romance. The world-building is incredibly intricate and immersive.

Swoon-Worthy Romantic Fantasy Books

I’ve found some truly delightful romantic fantasy novels that don’t really have fae or enemies-to-lovers, but will have you grinning from ear to ear and even kicking your feet in glee all the same. These books are perfect for those who love a slow-burning romance that builds up the tension beautifully.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig: A Tale of Dark Magic

You won’t be able to put this book down! It’s set in a gothic kingdom plagued by a magical mist, where our heroine Elspeth – plagued by a creature known only as the Nightmare – teams up with a mysterious outlaw. Their chemistry is off the charts, but they have to navigate dangerous secrets, dark magic, and deadly magic.

The slow burn between Elspeth and Ravyn is mwah – chef’s kiss! Their banter is witty and charged with tension. I loved watching their relationship develop as they faced increasingly perilous situations.

Rachel Gillig’s writing is atmospheric and immersive. She weaves together romance, unique magic systems, and political intrigue masterfully. If you’re looking for a fantasy romance that’ll make your heart race, this is it! The sequel, Two Twisted Crowns is a masterpiece also (arguably even better!), making it one of my favorite fantasy duologies of all time.

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

I was completely captivated by this epic fantasy romance. It follows Tisaanah, a former slave who becomes an apprentice to a powerful mage and joins a heroic band of legendary warriors.

The romance between Tisaanah and Maxantarius is a slow burn that’ll leave you rooting for them. Their interactions are filled with tension, and respect, and they have a total grumpy/sunshine vibe that evolves slowly and beautifully throughout the story.

Carissa Broadbent’s writing is gorgeous. She creates a rich, complex world with high stakes and compelling characters. I appreciated how the romance is woven into a larger narrative of power, freedom, and self-discovery.

This book has it all – action, magic, political intrigue, and a swoon-worthy romance that’ll stay with you long after you finish reading.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer follows the life of Lazlo Strange, a young librarian obsessed with the lost city of Weep. His dreams are haunted by blue-skinned gods and mysteries untold, captivating you from page one.

This is a “love at first sight” romance book, which is normally not my favorite trope. But it is done so well here, I can almost gaurantee you will get the ACOTAR feeling reading Lazlo and Sarai’s story.

Taylor’s writing makes this dreamworld come alive. Her prose is spellbinding, drawing you in with descriptions so lush they blur the line between reality and fantasy and make Weep feel both familiar and strange.

As you read you’ll meet characters with secrets hidden deep, a world that pops off the page and twists that make you question morality. It’s such a breath of fresh air and one of my favorite books of all time.

A Darker Shade of Magic

Okay, I have to preface this with a disclaimer: The Shades of Magic trilogy is not romantic fantasy, per se. In fact, in this first book there is very little romance. But the romantic suplot that is in it – particularly in the second and third book of the series – is so good that I had to include it on this list.

Kell and Lila are one of my top five favorite fictional couples of all time, and gave me the same giggly feeling as ACOTAR did. The way their relationship develops throughout the series is perfect if you like a slow burn romance that takes place in a unique, fun-to-read-about world.

Read the full review for more of my thoughts on this series!

ACOTAR Similar Books with Enemies to Lovers and Forbidden Romance

The sizzling tension of forbidden love and enemies turned lovers is irresistible. I’ve found some fantastic books that scratch that itch, combining swoon-worthy romance with high-stakes drama.

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

I loved this slow-burn fantasy romance. The enemies-to-lovers develops slowly and the slow burn adds depth and complexity so the emotional and romantic tension between the characters feels real and fun.

Penn Cole’s writing is engaging and although the plot was familiar to other books I read, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.

As the first book in a debut series this seems to be setting up for future books (which to be fair I haven’t read yet). There’s plenty of room for character growth but some readers may find themselves wanting more romance payoff.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

The author compares this book to Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Scarlet Pimpernel and it’s a good comparison. The plot is about a young witch named Rune who’s being hunted for who she is. She takes on the alias The Crimson Moth to rescue other witches.

On the other side is Gideon, a witch hunter sent to capture and kill The Crimson Moth. Rune needs information from Gideon and Gideon suspects her of being the elusive Crimson Moth but has no proof. So they find themselves in a game of cat and mouse where each is trying to uncover the other’s secrets.

It’s an enemies to lovers and I was hooked from the beginning. I read the whole thing in one day!

Heartless Hunter is YA but for the more mature end of that spectrum, and that shows in the writing. The prose is smooth and if you like well-written young adult fiction for adults then you’ll enjoy this.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

This dark fantasy romance, which is the first book in the crown of nyaxia series, is like The Hunger Games with vampires. The main characters are from opposing factions, making their attraction taboo and dangerous.

It strikes that perfect balance between romance and plot, and I was on the edge of my seat as the main characters navigated political intrigue, deadly trials, and the looming threat of a dark power. The slow-burn romance is top-tier, with lots of emotionally charged moments building to a crescendo.

Broadbent excels at creating complex characters with firey chemistry. (You’ll notice more than one of her books is on this list!)

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing has action, romance and dragons so it’s a must-read for fans of all three. The story follows Violet (aka Violence), and her journey as a scribe-turned-dragon rider.

The romance in Fourth Wing is pretty hot, the tension between the characters is palpable in every interaction. Unlike some books where romance is secondary to the story, here it’s central to the plot and drives much of the character development and emotional stakes. The chemistry between Violet and her love interest is off the charts and their relationship adds to the action-packed story.

War is also a big part of the story with battle scenes that will pull you right into the thick of it. These scenes are written with so much intensity you’ll feel the chaos and stakes of each fight.

I’m not going to lie, the writing style has a “fanfiction” feel to it but it’s addictive. After all, it’s got a a great blend of excitement, romance, and adventure and has nearly as huge a following on BookTok as ACOTAR itself.

Representation is a strong point of the book, weaving a variety of characters into the story without feeling forced or tokenistic.

The non linear structure and multiple POVs might be tough for some readers but I felt it added to the mystery and world building. This one is a must-read!

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Book one of The Fae & Alchemy series, Quicksilver, was practically written for SJM fans. If you loved Maas’s sassy Bryce Quinlin and Aelin Galathynius, you’ll feel right at home with Quicksilver’s FMC Saeris Fane, a 24-year-old thief who lives in a desert world with two suns, little clean water, and a tyrannical, undying Queen who is intent to keep her people oppressed.

Before long, our feisty heroine finds herself in a magical fae world of winter that is the opposite of everything she knows. Here she meets Kingfisher, your typical tall-dark-and-broody fae warrior.

Banter and chemistry ensue. Kingfisher is very Rhysand-like, although the interaction between he and Saeris reminds me more of the Nesta and Cassian dynamic. It’s not quite as slow-burn as ACOTAR either.

One thing that sets ACOTAR books apart from other romantasies is that the plot is as strong as the romance. And Quicksilver accomplishes this just as well; the writing and plot are engaging and for that, it’s worthy of the 4+ star rating it has on Goodreads.

Final Thoughts

I hope this list of books like ACOTAR has helped you top up your TBR list! There’s nothing quite like diving into a captivating fantasy world filled with magic, romance, and adventure.

Whether you’re in the mood for fae, witches, or other supernatural beings, these recommendations should scratch that itch. I love how many of these stories feature strong heroines coming into their own power.

Don’t be afraid to try something new! While these books share similarities with ACOTAR, each one offers its own unique twists and turns. You might just discover your next favorite series.

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