10 Romantasy Series to Read After ACOTAR
Introduction
If you have finished A Court of Thorns and Roses, you may be ready for a longer commitment. ACOTAR is the first book in a series, and many readers want to know which other series will give them the same mix of romance, danger and fae-touched worlds. This guide lists ten romantasy series to read next, so you can choose a world you want to live in for several books.
The series here are ranked in countdown order, so the strongest recommendation sits at number one. Each entry gives a premise of about 150 words, explains why the series ranks where it does, describes why readers and critics value it, says who it suits and points you to where to find it in the UK. For series, the premise covers the first book, and the entry explains where the series goes from there.
A practical way to use this list is to read the first book of two or three series before you commit. Most readers can tell within a few chapters whether the tone, the heat level and the pace suit them. If one does not work, move down the countdown rather than forcing yourself through a book you are not enjoying. There is no single right choice, only the series that fits you best.
Choosing a series is different from choosing a single book. You are committing to several volumes, so it is worth thinking about pacing, tone and how much romance you want from each book. Some series here move quickly from the first chapter, while others take longer to build the relationships and the wider world.
Several series deal with heavy themes, including violence, abuse, trauma and grief. Each entry says who the series suits, and a content note appears later in the article. Read at your own pace, and remember that you do not have to finish a series in one go.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with The Empyrean or Crowns of Nyaxia, which sit near the top for their pacing and tension. If you prefer a slow burn, try Letters of Enchantment or Moonfall. The order is there to help you find a series that fits your mood and your reading time.
Whatever you choose, keep a note of the characters you love, and come back to this page when you finish the series. Let’s start 👇
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10. Letters of Enchantment: Must-Read Slow Burn Duology
Premise: Letters of Enchantment is a duology that begins with Divine Rivals. It 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, starts out timid and grows stronger over the story. Roman Carver Kitt, a rival journalist with wealth and personal losses in his past, begins as her professional rival. 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 enlists in the war out of protectiveness towards her, and the conflict around them grows more dangerous. The second book, Ruthless Vows, continues the story.
Why it ranks here: It ranks last because it is a short duology rather than a long series, and its slow-burn letter romance may not suit readers looking for constant action.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise the unusual letter-based romance and the wartime setting, and many say the duology is a rewarding, shorter commitment.
Who should read it: Readers who want a slow-burn romance and a shorter series to finish quickly.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
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9. Moonfall: Must-Read Dragon Romance
Premise: Moonfall begins with When the Moon Hatched, which 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 dragons and fae in the same story, with a slow-burn romance at its centre. It sits in the middle of the countdown because the pace is gentler than the top entries.
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 series.
Who should read it: Readers who enjoy dragons, fae politics and a slow-burn romance.
Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.
8. The Folk of the Air: Must-Read Court Intrigue
Premise: The Folk of the Air series begins with The Cruel Prince. It 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 with his friends, and she is determined to find her place in Elfhame, a 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, and she accepts a role as a spy, seeing it as her route to protection.
Why it ranks here: It shares the mortal heroine in a fae court that makes ACOTAR so popular. It ranks in the middle because the early books are slower to build the romance than the top entries.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise the 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 Series
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. The underdog story gives the series a strong hook.
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. 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 bridge for readers who enjoy court intrigue. It ranks in the middle because the politics can slow the romance.
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.
5. Fae & Alchemy: Must-Read Dark Fae Series
Premise: The Fae & Alchemy series begins with Quicksilver, which 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 where the Fae are real. Saeris has landed in the middle of a centuries-old conflict that could get her killed. She accidentally binds herself to Kingfisher, a striking Fae warrior with his own hidden motives. He wants to use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people.
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 entries 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 the series 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.
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4. Throne of Glass: Must-Read Epic Series
Premise: Throne of Glass follows Celaena, 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.
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 ranks here because the series takes longer to open up.
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 series 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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3. From Blood and Ash: Must-Read Fast-Paced Series
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.
Why it ranks here: It is the fastest-paced series on the list and shares ACOTAR’s sheltered heroine and guarded love interest. It sits in the upper half because its romantic arc is clear from the start.
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.
Who should read it: Readers who want a quick, emotional fantasy romance with a strong heroine. The series 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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2. Crowns of Nyaxia: Must-Read Deadly Trials
Premise: Crowns of Nyaxia is a romantasy series that begins with The Serpent and the Wings of Night. Oraya, a human girl, was raised by Vincent, the Nightborn vampire king, in a world ruled by vampires. 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 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, and their wary alliance is built on necessity and mutual distrust. The series continues with The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King.
Why it ranks here: It shares ACOTAR’s deadly trials and a heroine who must survive a court run by dangerous immortals. It sits near the top because the competition drives the story from the first chapter.
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.
1. The Empyrean: Must-Read Starting Point
Premise: The Empyrean series begins with Fourth Wing, which 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. Many of her rivals would be glad to see her die, and the most dangerous of them is Xaden Riorson, a powerful and ruthless wingleader. As the kingdom’s protective wards fail and the death toll rises, 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 and fierce heroine, so it sits at the top of the countdown for readers who want the nearest next series.
Why fans and critics value it: Readers praise the war-college setting, the dragon bonds and the fast momentum, and the series has become one of the most talked-about in romantasy.
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.
Why ACOTAR Fans Keep Reading Series
ACOTAR fans tend to want the same things from their next series: a heroine who is tested, a romance that grows from danger and a world that feels larger than any single book. Romantasy has grown quickly because series can build those things over several volumes, and the entries here show how varied the genre has become.
Some series 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 commit to a series that feels right from the first book.
How to Choose Your Next Series
Start with the element you loved most in ACOTAR. If it was the romance, try The Empyrean or From Blood and Ash. If it was the fae world, try Fae & Alchemy or The Folk of the Air. If it was the danger, try Crowns of Nyaxia or Powerless.
If you want a shorter commitment, look for a duology or a series with fewer volumes. If you want a longer one, choose a series that has several books already published so you are not left waiting.
Content Note
Several series on this list deal with violence, abuse, trauma, grief and other heavy themes. Each entry says who the series 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 opened a door to a crowded genre, and the series here show how many 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 once you have finished the first book.
Which series are you starting with? Tell us in the comments, and let us know which romantasy series you would like a future guide to cover.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which series should I read after ACOTAR?
The Empyrean and Crowns of Nyaxia are the closest matches for most readers, because they share ACOTAR’s pacing, danger and fated-feeling romance.
Are these series complete?
Some are complete and others are still growing. Each entry notes where the series stands, and the author’s official channels are the best place to check for new releases.
Which series is the shortest?
Letters of Enchantment is a duology, so it is the shortest commitment on the list.
Which series has the most romance?
From Blood and Ash and The Empyrean are strong choices for a romance-first read.
Which series is the darkest?
Fae & Alchemy and From Blood and Ash deal with heavier themes, so check the content note before you start.
Which series has dragons?
The Empyrean and Moonfall both feature dragons, and both are strong picks if dragon riders are what you want.
Where should I start?
Start with the first book of whichever series appeals most. The Empyrean is the closest match in tone for most readers.
Are the books suitable for every reader?
Not necessarily. Several series include violence, abuse and grief, so check the content note and each entry 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 series, which can help you judge the tone and the heat level.
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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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