There are few sorrows quite so peculiar as finishing the final page of A Court of Thorns and Roses and finding oneself suddenly without a magical realm to inhabit. One feels rather like a child who has been told that Neverland is closed for the season—bereft, bewildered, and desperately in need of another adventure.
Fear not, dear reader, for we have gathered here fifteen splendid tales to cure your book hangover. Each one promises the very things that made you fall so hopelessly in love with Feyre’s journey: fae courts glittering with danger, romances that set the heart aflutter, and heroines who discover they are far more powerful than anyone ever supposed.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
If you have ever dreamed of bonding with a dragon whilst simultaneously falling for a wickedly handsome enemy, then Fourth Wing shall sweep you quite off your feet. Young Violet Sorrengail arrives at a brutal war college expecting to perish—for she is small and fragile in a world that devours the weak.
Instead, she finds herself tangled in an enemies-to-lovers romance with the brooding Xaden Riorson. The tension crackles like summer lightning, and the plot twists shall make you gasp aloud. With Onyx Storm having arrived, now is the perfect moment to begin this extraordinary series.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Here is a tale that Sarah J. Maas herself has praised, and one can immediately understand why. Poppy has spent her entire life as the Maiden—veiled, silenced, forbidden from being touched or truly living. Then arrives Hawke, a guard with golden eyes and a sharp tongue.
What unfolds is a slow-burn romance so deliciously forbidden it makes one’s pulse quicken. Like Feyre, Poppy must question everything she has been taught whilst discovering her own formidable powers. The betrayals in this book are truly magnificent, the sort that leave one staring at the wall in disbelief.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Seven-year-old Jude Duarte was stolen away to Faerie after witnessing her parents’ murder. Ten years later, she has grown into a mortal young woman determined to carve a place for herself among creatures who despise her. Prince Cardan, the wickedest of the High King’s sons, takes particular pleasure in tormenting her.
Yet hatred and attraction make the most intoxicating cocktail, do they not? This series builds slowly, rewarding patient readers with a romance that burns all the brighter for its enemies-to-lovers foundation. The political intrigue rivals anything in Prythian.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Imagine, if you will, a human woman raised by the Vampire King himself, entering a deadly tournament where the prize is a wish from a goddess. Oraya has survived in a world designed to kill her through sheer cunning and iron will.
Then she meets Raihn, a mysterious vampire warrior, and their reluctant alliance blooms into something far more dangerous than any tournament. This book has been called “The Hunger Games meets vampires,” and the romance is as devastating as it is beautiful.
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Twin witches Emilia and Vittoria have always been warned about the Wicked—demon princes who embody the seven deadly sins. When Vittoria is murdered, Emilia summons the Prince of Wrath himself to help her find the killer.
What follows is a delicious slow-burn dance between a grieving witch and a demon who is far more complex than his fearsome reputation suggests. The series grows spicier with each installment, and Wrath may just become your new favorite morally grey hero.
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Described as A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Cruel Prince, this tale follows Brie, whose sister is sold to the cruel king of the Unseelie court. To rescue her, Brie agrees to steal three magical relics from the Seelie realm.
She soon finds herself caught between two dangerous courts and two princes who each claim a piece of her heart. The fae politics are delightfully treacherous, and the love triangle will keep you guessing until the very end.
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
In a world where dragons become moons when they die, an assassin named Raeve crosses paths with Kaan Vaegor, a king haunted by the loss of his great love. Their connection runs deeper than either suspects, tangled in past lives and cosmic tragedy.
The world-building here is extraordinarily original, and readers report experiencing the same magnificent book hangover they felt after ACOTAR. The slow-burn romance is full of tension and tenderness.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Elspeth Spindle harbors a dangerous secret: an ancient spirit called the Nightmare lives inside her head. When she encounters a mysterious highwayman who turns out to be the King’s treasonous nephew, she is pulled into a quest to save her mist-locked kingdom.
This gothic fantasy romance unfolds like a dark fairy tale, complete with a unique magic system and a slow-burn attraction that builds beautifully. Readers who adore atmospheric, immersive worlds will find themselves quite enchanted.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Orphan Alina Starkov discovers she possesses a power thought to be myth—the ability to summon light. Whisked away to train among the magical Grisha, she finds herself drawn to their enigmatic leader, the Darkling.
The love triangle here is fascinating because it presents a genuine philosophical choice: the allure of power versus the comfort of true love. The Russian-inspired world has captivated millions of readers and viewers alike.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
In a world divided between silver-blooded elites with supernatural abilities and powerless red-blooded commoners, Mare Barrow discovers she possesses impossible lightning powers. Hidden in plain sight as a silver princess, she becomes entangled with two very different princes.
The twists in this book are genuinely shocking, and the themes of rebellion and revolution give it a weight that lingers long after reading. It won the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Author.
Gild by Raven Kennedy
This retelling of King Midas reimagines his “gift” through a darker lens. Auren has been gilded—turned to gold—and kept as the king’s most precious possession in a luxurious cage. When war comes, she begins to question everything she believed about her captor.
This series examines themes of autonomy and self-worth whilst delivering an unforgettable romance. The Plated Prisoner series has sold over four million copies and is being adapted for television.
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are dying one by one under mysterious circumstances. Annaleigh, haunted by her dead sisters’ ghosts, investigates their deaths whilst falling for the enigmatic Cassius.
This gothic gem reimagines “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” with murder mystery and romance woven throughout. The atmosphere is deliciously eerie, perfect for readers who enjoy their fantasy tinged with darkness.
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
Persephone, Goddess of Spring, is hiding among mortals when she makes a fateful bargain with Hades over a card game. She must grow life in the Underworld—a seemingly impossible task for a goddess whose touch kills every flower.
This modern mythology retelling captured BookTok’s heart with its steamy romance and complex portrayal of both deities. The forbidden attraction between them builds magnificently throughout the series.
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
Tisaanah was ripped from her homeland as a child and has survived through wit and a touch of magic ever since. To rescue her best friend, she must apprentice with Maxantarius Farlione, a reclusive fire wielder with a tragic past.
The slow-burn romance between mentor and apprentice unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue and approaching war. Fans of Carissa Broadbent’s vampire series will find the same masterful blend of romance and epic fantasy here.
The Plated Prisoner Series Continues: Gleam and Beyond
For those who devour Gild, the series continues with increasing emotional depth. Auren’s journey toward self-discovery and true love spans five books, each more rewarding than the last. The later installments introduce a love interest who will make you forget King Midas entirely.
Finding Your Next Favorite
Each of these books offers something precious: worlds where magic crackles in the air, romances that develop through tension and trust, and heroines who grow from uncertain beginnings into formidable women. They understand what made ACOTAR so special—the alchemy of danger, desire, and self-discovery.
Whether you crave dragons or vampires, fae courts or demon princes, gentle slow-burns or immediate fire, there is a book here waiting to steal your heart. The only question remaining, dear reader, is which adventure shall you choose first?
