After years of romantasy dominance, A Court of Thorns and Roses still sits near the center of the genre’s gravitational field, and that pull may get even stronger now that Sarah J. Maas has officially confirmed ACOTAR 6 for October 27, 2026, with ACOTAR 7 following on January 12, 2027.
That also means a familiar problem has returned: what do you read when you want the same mix of dangerous fantasy, addictive romance, high emotional stakes, and immersive worldbuilding?
The best books after ACOTAR are not necessarily copies of it. Some lean harder into enemies-to-lovers tension. Some bring darker magic systems. Some trade faerie courts for dragons, witches, assassins, or cursed kingdoms. But all of them scratch some part of the same itch.
Here are 10 books to read after A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
If finishing ACOTAR has left you wanting more Sarah J. Maas, this is the most natural next step. Throne of Glass is less built around fae romance at the start, but it offers the same long-form satisfaction: a charismatic heroine, escalating stakes, and the pleasure of watching a fantasy series grow into something much bigger than its opening premise.
This is also one of the most repeatedly recommended books for ACOTAR readers, which makes it an easy editorially defensible inclusion. It is the obvious choice, but in this case the obvious choice is earned.
Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Some readers do not want “books like ACOTAR.” They want more of Sarah J. Maas specifically. Crescent City answers that need with a more modern, urban-fantasy texture while keeping the emotional intensity, the addictive pacing, and the big-romance energy that made ACOTAR so hard to quit.
It is a particularly good pick for readers who came to ACOTAR for the feeling as much as the setting. Different furniture, same architect.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
If what you want next is danger, attraction, and a fantasy world that pushes its heroine to the brink, Carissa Broadbent is one of the strongest names in the field. The Serpent and the Wings of Night throws readers into a deadly tournament wrapped in vampire politics and survival logic, which gives the romance a far sharper edge.
This one keeps appearing in current ACOTAR-adjacent recommendation lists for a reason. It delivers the same kind of high-stakes emotional compulsion without feeling like a pale imitation.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
This is the recommendation for readers who want a more distinctive atmosphere. One Dark Window is gothic and strange in a way that immediately separates it from more generic romantasy. Its nightmare-inflected magic system gives the whole book a haunted texture.
If ACOTAR made you hungry for mood as much as romance, this is one of the smartest books to pick up next.
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
For readers who specifically want to stay in the fae-court lane, These Hollow Vows is one of the cleanest handoffs available. It has rival courts, dangerous bargains, romantic tension, and that same sense of being pulled between glittering beauty and real menace.
It is also one of the titles that keeps surfacing in romantasy recommendation ecosystems aimed at ACOTAR-shaped reading appetites, which makes it especially useful here.
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
One of the best ways to avoid repeating another romantasy list is to change the flavor without losing the appeal. The Scarlet Veil does that beautifully. It swaps faerie glamour for gothic vampire seduction and gives readers a heroine drawn into a much darker supernatural orbit.
Epic Reads explicitly recommends it for Sarah J. Maas fans, and that makes sense. The overlap is not in the setting but in the emotional engine: danger, desire, and a romance that feels slightly perilous.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Because ACOTAR itself begins by playing with Beauty and the Beast, another fairytale-rooted fantasy is an easy fit here. A Curse So Dark and Lonely works because it keeps that familiar romantic scaffolding while giving it a more accessible, fast-moving YA shape.
It is ideal for readers whose favorite part of ACOTAR was the fairytale-to-romantasy transition rather than the later sprawl of the series.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
If you want banter, chemistry, and a fantasy romance built around mutual hostility, Serpent & Dove is a strong pivot. A witch and a witch hunter forced into marriage is the kind of setup that practically writes its own tension, and Mahurin is good at making that tension playful without draining it of danger.
This one suits ACOTAR readers who want the romance dial turned up but still need enough fantasy machinery to make the world feel alive.
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
This is one of the newer titles that keeps surfacing in current romantasy recommendation culture, and it makes sense why. It goes big on yearning, mythology, spectacle, and emotional intensity, all things ACOTAR readers reliably respond to.
If your ideal follow-up read is dramatic, immersive, and completely uninterested in being modest, this is one of the better modern options.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
For readers who want something a little sharper and more recent, Heartless Hunter is a compelling final pick. It plays with dangerous attraction, hidden identity, and the thrill of two people circling each other under hostile conditions.
It also has the advantage of feeling current without being flimsy. If your ACOTAR hangover is really a craving for tension, pursuit, and romantic friction, this is an excellent next book.
Final thoughts
The mistake after ACOTAR (or any beloved series) is assuming you need a perfect replica. Most readers really want one of four things: more Sarah J. Maas, more fae or fairytale energy, more danger and gothic atmosphere, or more addictive romantic tension. That is why the best follow-up books do not all resemble Sarah J. Maas in the same way.
If you want the clearest Sarah J. Maas handoff, start with Throne of Glass or Crescent City. If you want darker tension, go for The Serpent and the Wings of Night, One Dark Window, or The Scarlet Veil. If you want fae intrigue and fairytale energy, These Hollow Vows and A Curse So Dark and Lonely are strong places to start.
And, with the next ACOTAR books now on the calendar, that reading gap suddenly looks a lot more manageable.