Are You Sitting There Thinking “What Do I Read Next?” We've Got You Covered with Books Like ACOTAR
A Court of Thorns and Roses has taken the world by storm. Whether it is in book recommendations or sitting on a book lover’s bookshelf, ACOTAR is everywhere. If you’ve read the book like many others and you have wondered “well what now?” Then see the book recommendations below because we got you covered for your next read.
1. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
If you’re looking for another fantasy book like ACOTAR that has romance where the character’s destinies are intertwined with one another in a political, high-stakes setting, then An Ember in the Ashes may be the perfect book to pick up next.
Inspired by Ancient Rome, under the Martial Empire, those who do not vow themselves to the Empire risk the execution of their loved ones.
Laia lives on the impoverished streets of the Empire with her grandparents and her brother. The family doesn’t ever challenge the Empire, until Laia’s brother is arrested for treason. In order to help her brother, Laia makes a deal with the rebels. They will help her and her brother if Laia spies for them in the Empire’s military academy.
At the academy, Laia meets Elias — the school’s finest soldier. However, Elias only wants to be free from the Empire. Soon, Laia and Elias will realize their destinies are intertwined and their fate will change the Empire.
2. Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Quicksilver is a recently published romantasy book that has fae and an enemies-to-lovers romance, making it a book like ACOTAR.
Saeris is good at keeping secrets. No one knows of the powers that she possesses or that she steals from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs.
When Saeris meets with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens the gate between realms and is transported to a new world. Saeris always thought that the Fae have been myths, however it turns out they are very real and Saeris finds herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict.
While treading the ice mountains, Saeris accidentally binds herself to the Kingfisher– a Fae warrior who has his own secrets and agendas. He will use her magic to protect his people, no matter the costs.
Death has a name and it’s Kingfisher of Ajun Gate. He’s the only way that Saeris will make her way back home.
3. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
I have heard that if you are a fan of Nesta and are seeking a book like ACOTAR, then you will also be a fan of the main character of the Serpent & Dove.
Louis fled her coven two years ago and took shelter in the city of Cesarine. She forstakes all magic and steals for survival. In Cesarine, witches like Lou are hunted and burned.
Reid is a huntsman of the Church. However, after a stunt pulled by Lou, the two of them are forced into a marriage full of forbidden romance.
Lou is unable to ignore her feelings for Reid, but cannot change who she fundamentally is. She must make a choice.
If you’re not convinced by the premise, then read a statement about Serpent & Dove made by Sarah J. Maas herself as she describes the book as "a brilliant debut, full of everything [she] love: a sparkling and fully realized heroine, an intricate and deadly system of magic, and a searing romance that kept [her] reading long into the night…” The perfect book to read after ACOTAR.
4. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A key component of ACOTAR is that it’s technically a Beauty and the Beast retelling. If you want a book like ACOTAR that also is a retelling, then look no further with A Curse So Dark and Lonely, which is described as a contemporary fantasy based on Beauty and the Beast.
Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, was cursed to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over again. The only way that he could be saved from the curse is if a girl fell for him. However, at the end of each autumn, he turns into a vicious beast.
Harper has never had anything easy. Her father is gone, her mother is dying, and her brother is barely holding it together. She is constantly underestimated because of her cerebral palsy. She has learned to be tough in order to survive. However, when she tries to save someone on the streets of Washington, DC, she is transported into Rhen’s world.
Harper is thrown into the curse and the beastly prince. As she spends more time with Rhen, she discovers what’s at stake. On the flip side, Rhen is becoming more hopeful. When powerful forces are against Emberfall, it’ll take so much more than just breaking a curse.
5. Serpents and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
While Serpents and the Wings of Night deals with vampires instead of fae, something about the romance set in a political setting makes it a book like ACOTAR in my expert opinion.
As a young child, Oraya was taken in by Vincent– the king of the Nightborn House. Since Oraya is a human, she never felt like she truly belonged with vampires and had to fight for her survival. Her only chance to become one of them is to enter a competition where the winner is granted a wish by the goddess.
During the competition, she makes an unlikely alliance with her rival. Everything about Raihn screams enemy. However, she finds herself unable to stay away from him.
Serpents and the Wings of Night is part of an ongoing romantasy series. Personally, I find the book to be addicting and something you can sink your teeth into (pun intended.) Making it a great option for a book like ACOTAR to read next.
6. Gild by Raven Kennedy
Gild is described as a romantasy book “with romance, intrigue, and danger, the gilded world of Orea will grip you from the very first page.” If you want a book like ACOTAR that focuses more on the romance and danger elements and that includes darker themes, then consider Gild for the next book to read. Fair warning, I personally haven’t read Gild, however it seems to be much darker than ACOTAR, so make sure to check your trigger warnings before reading.
Everything is gold. The floors, the walls, the furniture– all gold. Even including the main character. King Midas rescued her and placed her on a pedestal. She is Gold-Touched and belongs to him. She feels safe, even though she is confined, until a war and deal is struck that changes everything. Although the bars are gold, it’s still a cage.
Gild is part of a series that has twists and turns (as I have heard.) The book and series will keep you on your toes like ACOTAR.
7. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Yet another fantasy with romance and political intrigue with The Bridge Kingdom. If you especially loved that combination in ACOTAR, then this is a perfect similar book for you.
Lara is a trained warrior princess who knows two truths– the King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy and that she will be his demise.
The Bridge Kingdom is the only route through their storm-ravaged world and it enriches itself and deprives its rivals. When Lara is sent as a bride under a peace treaty guise, she is prepared to do anything to fracture the kingdom.
The more time that passes, the more she gains a deeper understanding of the war, and she begins to wonder if she is the villain or the hero. She must choose which kingdom to save and which to destroy.
8. Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
If you love fae, then consider Faebound. It is the perfect book to read if you are seeking a book like ACOTAR.
Yeeran was born on the battlefield and she knows that one day she’ll die on the battlefield. She is a warrior in the elven army and has known nothing but violence. Her sister, Lettle, is making a living as a diviner.
When a mistake occurs, both sisters are exiled from the Eleven Lands and into the woods beyond their borders. In the wilderness, they encounter the fae court, who haven’t been seen for a millennium. As Yeeran and her Lettle are thrown into the court, they begin to question their loyalties to each other, their home, and their hearts.
Faebound sounds like an enchanting romantic fantasy read, making it another romantasy series to get lost into, especially after reading ACOTAR.
9. Curse of the Wolf King by Tessonja Odette
Like ACOTAR, Curse of the Wolf King is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, except with fae and wolves. The book is part of a series, where each book is based on an enchanting retelling such as Cinderella or The Little Mermaid.
Gemma just wants to move on and forget the scandal that broke her heart. However, when she is captured by a trickster fae who holds her for ransom, she would find herself on the front page of the gossip column again, unless she can use something else to her advantage.
The human-hating King Elliot is plagued by a curse that will soon be his demise and Gemma uses that to bargain her way to freedom. All she simply has to do is break the curse by tricking someone to fall in love with him.
As the alliance is made, the schemes begin. Soon hate turns into desire, but Gemma must fight against it. When the curse is broken, Elliot will return to his true form– a wolf.
A book like ACOTAR that also has Bridgerton vibes, sign me up!
10. A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova
If you loved ACOTAR, but are interested in a similar book but that is a stand-alone instead, then may I present you with A Deal with the Elf King.
Thousands of years ago, humans were hunted until the treaty was formed. Now, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella’s village to be their Human Queen.
To be chosen for this role is seen as a mark of death in the village and Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. She has dedicated her life to becoming the town healer, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives for her.
Everything that Luella once knew to be true about her life turned out to be a lie. She is taken and forced to be the new queen to the Elf King. The magical land is pulling at her heart strings, but her home is pulling as well.
A Deal with the Elf King is a retelling of both Hades and Perspherone and Beauty and the Beast. It could be your next fantasy escape after reading ACOTAR!
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