10 Fantasy Romance Books for ACOTAR Fans
Introduction
If you have just finished A Court of Thorns and Roses, you may be looking for a single book that gives you the same feeling without committing to a long series straight away. That is the purpose of this guide. It lists ten individual fantasy romance books that share something with ACOTAR, so you can pick one title and decide whether to go further.
Each entry is a book, not a series, and the list runs in countdown order, so the strongest recommendation sits at number one. Every entry includes a premise of about 150 words, the reasons the book ranks where it does, why readers and critics value it, who it suits and where to find it in the UK. Where a book opens a series, the entry says so, and you can check the rest of the series before you buy.
A useful way to choose is to read the opening chapters and see how the tone feels. Fantasy romance varies a great deal, from quick and sharp to slow and atmospheric, and ACOTAR fans often have a clear preference between the two. If a book does not grip you in the first few chapters, it may be a matter of taste rather than quality, so move on to the next title without guilt.
The books were chosen for specific links to ACOTAR. Some share a heroine who has to survive hostile courts, others a romance that grows out of conflict, a fae or fantasy setting, or a dangerous competition. Not every book matches the tone equally, and the countdown reflects how close the match feels rather than a single measure of quality.
Because this guide covers both romance and darker material, it is worth knowing in advance that several books deal with violence, abuse, grief and other heavy themes. Each entry says who the book suits, and a content note appears later in the article. Read at your own pace, and skip any title that is not right for you.
If you are new to romantasy, start with Fourth Wing or The Serpent and the Wings of Night, which are the easiest recommendations for readers who loved ACOTAR's pacing and danger. If you prefer a slow burn, try Divine Rivals or When the Moon Hatched. If you want something darker, Quicksilver is the strongest choice on the list.
Whatever you choose, take your time with the book that interests you most, keep a note of the characters you love, and come back to this page when you finish. Let's start 👇
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10. Throne of Glass: Must-Read Epic Quest
Premise: Celaena is an eighteen-year-old assassin considered the finest of her kind. After a serious error led to her capture, she is serving a life sentence in a salt mining camp. She is taken to the castle of the ruling king, where she is told she will compete to become his Champion, and winning would earn her freedom. Her future depends on whether she can win that freedom, which would let her fulfil a destiny of greatness. The story moves from the mining camp to the castle and introduces the land's history, including the period when magic disappeared after the king took power. It is fast-paced and epic in scale, and it is the first in a long series.
Why it ranks here: It is by the same author as ACOTAR and has a similar scale of world-building, so many readers move on to it next. It is a longer commitment than most picks here.
Why fans and critics value it: Fans praise the large cast, the epic scope and the way Celaena's arc unfolds across the series.
Who should read it: Readers who want a long, epic fantasy with a strong heroine and a slow-burn romance.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
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9. Divine Rivals: Must-Read Slow-Burn Rivals
Premise: Divine Rivals is set in a fantastical 1920s-style world where gods meddle in human affairs and a war between two gods shapes daily life. Iris Winnow, an eighteen-year-old journalist at the Gazette, starts out timid and grows stronger over the story. Roman Carver Kitt, a nineteen-year-old journalist at the rival Oath Gazette, begins as her professional rival and carries wealth and personal losses from his past. Without knowing each other's identity, the two become pen pals through enchanted typewriters, and their correspondence grows into a deeper bond. Iris's older brother Forest enlists in the war out of protectiveness towards her, while Thea Attwood, a war correspondent, wants to write articles that will matter. Their letters carry the story forward as the conflict around them grows more dangerous.
Why it ranks here: It is the most different pick on the list, but it has the same emotional pull as ACOTAR: a heroine who finds her strength and a romance that builds slowly.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise its unusual letter-based romance and its wartime setting, and many say the slow burn is worth the wait.
Who should read it: Readers who want a slow-burn romance and a fresh premise rather than another dark court.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
8. The Cruel Prince: Must-Read Political Intrigue
Premise: The Cruel Prince follows Jude Duarte, a mortal girl raised in the immortal realm of Faerie after Madoc, a Faerie man, takes her and her sisters from the human world. Jude wants to become a knight to gain protection and status, but she is bullied by Cardan's group for being mortal. Cardan, the arrogant prince, torments her and her twin sister Taryn with his friends. Jude is determined to find her place in Elfhame, a Faerie realm where humans are looked down on and the court enjoys violent games. When the King announces that he is stepping down and will name one of his children as heir, Jude enters a tournament to show her worth. Her performance impresses the King's chosen heir, Dain, who offers her work as a spy.
Why it ranks here: It shares ACOTAR's mortal heroine in a fae court and a love interest who begins as an enemy, which makes it a close fit.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise its political plotting and the tension between Jude and Cardan, and many say the series grows more gripping with each book.
Who should read it: Readers who enjoy a mortal heroine in a dangerous fae court and a rival who turns into a love interest.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
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7. Powerless: Must-Read Underdog Story
Premise: Powerless is set in the Kingdom of Ilya, which is divided into Elites, who are powerful, and Ordinaries, who are hunted or banished. Many Elites believe Ordinaries carry an undetectable sickness that weakens their powers over time. Each year the kingdom holds the Purging Trials, a competition among nine chosen Elites. Paedyn Gray, an eighteen-year-old Ordinary with no powers, saves the life of Prince Kai Azer, a Wielder who can sense and use other Elites' powers. Because of her silver hair she becomes known as the Silver Savior, and she is chosen to compete in the Trials, where she must pose as an Elite Psychic to survive. The premise asks what it means to be powerful in a kingdom that treats the powerless as a danger.
Why it ranks here: It fits readers who enjoyed ACOTAR's sense of a heroine who must hide who she is to survive a dangerous court.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise the underdog premise and the tense competition scenes, and many say the trials keep the pace high.
Who should read it: Readers who like underdog heroines and dangerous trials.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
6. When the Moon Hatched: Must-Read Slow Burn
Premise: When the Moon Hatched follows Raeve, a rebel assassin whose job is to carry out contracts without ever being caught. Her life falls apart when a rival bounty hunter wrecks her world, and she ends up captive of the Guild of Nobles, a group of powerful fae. Kaan Vaegor, a dragon rider, is still reeling from losing the person he loved most. In his grief he killed a king and took the dead ruler's melted crown. Driven by a restless ache he cannot shake, he follows a lead to the capital's high-security prison, where he finds Raeve locked away. The two come from opposite sides of a world where dragons, fae and royal politics are tangled together.
Why it ranks here: It suits readers who want ACOTAR's slow-burn tension and a fated romance with dragons and fae in the background.
Why fans and critics value it: Fans appreciate the gradual romance and the way the two leads' pasts are revealed over the course of the story.
Who should read it: Readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, dragons and a heroine who keeps her secrets close.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
5. The Bridge Kingdom: Must-Read Political Romance
Premise: The Bridge Kingdom follows Lara Veliant, a Maridrinian princess and trained elite warrior sent to Ithicana for an arranged marriage. Her father, King Silas, has ordered her to infiltrate and weaken the rival kingdom by marrying its king, Aren Kertell. Aren is dutiful and caring, a capable archer and fighter who agrees to the match as part of a political treaty. Lara's mission pulls her between loyalty to her family and growing feelings for him. Ahnna Kertell, Aren's sister and Watch Commander of Southwatch, distrusts Lara's intentions from the start. Serin, the Master of Spies known as the Magpie, trains the princesses and directs espionage against Ithicana. Lara must decide whose side she is really on.
Why it ranks here: It brings ACOTAR's enemies-to-lovers energy into a political setting, which makes it a strong pick for readers who enjoy court intrigue.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers often point to its political strategy, its strong female characters and the way the romance grows through the conflict.
Who should read it: Readers who love court politics and an arranged-marriage plot.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
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4. From Blood and Ash: Must-Read Fast-Paced Fantasy
Premise: From Blood and Ash is set in Kingdom Solis, a realm recovering from a war that Solis won against Atlantia. The first-person narrator is Penellaphe, the Maiden, who is due to Ascend on her 19th birthday and become part of the ruling elite. She has the touch, which lets her feel others' physical and emotional pain. Her guard and mentor, Vikter, teaches her to fight and secretly helps her ease the suffering of cursed men. Penellaphe begins to question the Ascended, including a cruel Duke who abuses her under the name of lessons. When she sneaks out in disguise to the Red Pearl nightclub, she meets Hawke, a Royal Guard who kisses her without knowing who she is. The Duke then assigns Hawke as her personal guard, and he promises to protect her.
Why it ranks here: It is one of the fastest-paced picks and shares ACOTAR's blend of a sheltered heroine's awakening and a guarded love interest.
Why fans and critics value it: Fans praise its pacing and its clear romantic arc, and it is a frequent recommendation for readers who finished ACOTAR and want more of that tone.
Who should read it: Readers who want a quick, emotional fantasy romance with a strong heroine. The book contains abuse and violence, so check the content note before starting.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
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3. The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Must-Read Deadly Trials
Premise: Oraya, a human girl, was raised by Vincent, the Nightborn vampire king, in a world ruled by vampires. She has learned that her survival depends on her strength and cunning. When the Kejari, a deadly tournament held by the goddess of death, offers the winner a wish, she enters, hoping to change her fate and gain respect. The tournament draws the fiercest warriors from all three vampire houses, and every opponent is more dangerous than the last. Early in the competition she meets Raihn, a mysterious and dangerous vampire who is both a rival and a possible ally. Their wary alliance is built on necessity and mutual distrust.
Why it ranks here: It shares ACOTAR's deadly trials and a heroine who must survive a court run by dangerous immortals, with the competition driving the early chapters.
Why fans and critics value it: Fans highlight the high-stakes tournament structure and the slow-building tension between Oraya and Raihn.
Who should read it: Readers who want deadly competitions and a rivalry that turns into a wary alliance.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
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2. Fourth Wing: Must-Read Starting Point
Premise: Fourth Wing follows Violet Sorrengail, a twenty-year-old who was meant to become a scholar among books and history. Her mother, a commanding general, orders her to join the hundreds of candidates training as dragon riders at Basgiath War College. Violet is small and physically fragile, which makes her especially vulnerable, because dragons tend to burn humans who are too weak to bond with them. With fewer dragons than cadets, many of her rivals would be glad to see her die, and others would target her simply because of her mother. The most dangerous of them is Xaden Riorson, a powerful and ruthless wingleader. Meanwhile, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, the death toll is rising, and Violet begins to suspect that the leadership is hiding a serious secret.
Why it ranks here: It is the closest match in tone to ACOTAR's fated romance, fierce heroine and high-stakes formula, which makes it the easiest recommendation on the list.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise its war-college setting, its dragon bonds and its fast momentum, and many credit it with bringing a new wave of readers into the genre.
Who should read it: Readers who loved ACOTAR's mix of romance, danger and a heroine who has to fight to survive.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
1. Quicksilver: Must-Read Dark Romance
Premise: Quicksilver is set in a harsh desert realm where water is scarce. Saeris Fane, 24, has survived by stealing and keeping her secrets. Nobody knows about her strange powers, or that she has long pickpocketed from the Undying Queen's water reservoirs. Her luck turns when she meets Death himself. The encounter reopens a gateway between worlds and pulls her into Yvelia, a frozen land of ice and snow where the Fae are real. Saeris has landed in the middle of a centuries-old conflict that could get her killed. As the first of her kind to set foot in these mountains in over a thousand years, she accidentally binds herself to Kingfisher, a striking Fae warrior with his own hidden motives. The Fae & Alchemy series begins here.
Why it ranks here: It offers the same blend of fae politics, a fierce heroine and a romance that grows out of danger, and it leans darker than most picks on the list.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise the intense romantic tension and the world of fae and alchemy, and many say the darker tone sets it apart.
Who should read it: Readers who want a darker romantasy with a stubborn heroine and a morally grey love interest.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
Why ACOTAR Fans Keep Reading Romantasy
ACOTAR fans tend to want the same things from their next book: a heroine who is tested, a romance that grows from danger and a world that feels larger than the page. Romantasy has grown quickly because it offers all three in a single package, and the books on this list show how varied the genre has become.
Some books lean into court politics, others into deadly competitions, and a few into dark romance or fae magic. Knowing which of those you enjoy most will help you pick a book that feels right from the first chapter.
How to Choose Your Next Book
Start with the element you loved most in ACOTAR. If it was the romance, try Fourth Wing or From Blood and Ash. If it was the fae world, try Quicksilver or The Cruel Prince. If it was the danger, try The Serpent and the Wings of Night or Powerless.
If you want a shorter read, choose a book that completes its story in one volume. If you want more, look for the first book in a series that already has several volumes published.
Content Note
Several books on this list deal with violence, abuse, trauma, grief and other heavy themes. Each entry says who the book suits, and reader reviews on Goodreads often describe the content in more detail. Take a break whenever you need one.
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Final Thoughts
ACOTAR set a high bar for the genre, and the ten books here show how many different routes there are from it. Start with the entry that matches the element you loved most, and let the rest of the list guide you when you finish it.
Which book are you starting with? Tell us in the comments, and let us know which fantasy romance title you would like a future guide to cover.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What single book should I read after ACOTAR?
Fourth Wing is the easiest recommendation for most readers, because it shares ACOTAR's pacing, danger and fated-feeling romance.
Are these books part of series?
Most of them are. Each entry notes whether the book opens a series, so you can decide whether to commit to more volumes.
Which book has the most romance?
From Blood and Ash and Fourth Wing are strong choices for a romance-first read, while Divine Rivals is the slowest burn on the list.
Which book is the darkest?
Quicksilver and From Blood and Ash deal with heavier themes, so check the content note before you start either of them.
Which book has fae?
Quicksilver and The Cruel Prince both feature fae or fae-adjacent worlds, though the balance of fae and other fantasy elements varies.
Which book has dragons?
Fourth Wing and When the Moon Hatched both feature dragons, and both are strong picks if dragon riders are what you want.
Where should I start with this list?
Start with Fourth Wing, which is the closest match in tone and the easiest first step into the genre.
Are the books suitable for every reader?
Not necessarily. Several titles include violence, abuse and grief, so check the content note and the entries before you start.
Are the books available as audiobooks?
Audiobook options vary by store and region, so check Amazon UK and other audiobook retailers before you buy.
Where can I see reader reviews?
Goodreads shows reader ratings and reviews for each title, which can help you judge the tone and the heat level.
Watch more with Amazon Prime. Try Amazon Prime.
More Places to Find Great Books
If you want to keep exploring, these trusted sites cover reviews, reading lists and author news: Goodreads, Wikipedia and The Guardian Books.
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