If you have finished Sarah J. Maas’s magnificent Throne of Glass series and find yourself rather bereft—wandering about in a daze, wondering whatever shall fill that Celaena-shaped hole in your heart—then I have delightful news for you. There exist, in this wide and wondrous literary world, other tales of fierce heroines who wield blades as deftly as they navigate treacherous courts.
Come along, dear reader. Let us discover your next great adventure together.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Here is a tale that has captured hearts across the realm of BookTok, and deservedly so. Young Violet Sorrengail was meant for a quiet life among books and scrolls, but her formidable mother—a commanding general—decreed otherwise. Now Violet must survive Basgiath War College, where dragons incinerate those they deem unworthy of bonding.
The dragons, you see, are rather particular about their riders.
What makes this story utterly magnificent is how Violet’s physical fragility becomes her greatest strength. She bonds with not one but two dragons—a feat unprecedented in the academy’s history. And the romance with the dangerously compelling Xaden Riorson? A delicious enemies-to-lovers slow burn that will have you turning pages well past midnight.
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
Keera is the King’s Blade—his most lethal assassin, trained from girlhood to kill without question. But she carries the names of every soul she’s taken, and the weight threatens to drown her in darkness.
When she’s sent to hunt a mysterious figure called the Shadow, Keera discovers that everything she believed about her enemies—and her king—may be beautifully, terribly wrong.
This tale offers what the heart truly craves: a morally complex heroine grappling with impossible choices, fae magic woven through every chapter, and a romance that blooms in the most unexpected soil. Melissa Blair has crafted something rather special here.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
In the kingdom of Solis, there lives a Maiden. Penellaphe must not be touched, must not be seen, must not speak freely—she exists only to await her Ascension. But Poppy, as those who love her call her, possesses a spirit that refuses such constraints.
Enter Hawke, her new guard, whose teasing manner and devastating handsomeness prove rather… distracting.
Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers a slow-burn romance wrapped in mystery and danger, with revelations that will leave you gasping. The forbidden nature of Poppy and Hawke’s connection makes every stolen moment utterly delectable.
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
In a land where three suns rarely set, young Mia Corvere witnessed her father’s execution at age ten. Now she seeks vengeance through the only path available: becoming an assassin of the Red Church, servants of the goddess of blessed murder.
But here’s the magnificent thing—Mia can control shadows. They follow her like devoted companions.
Jay Kristoff has created a world dripping with intrigue, where assassins compete for the right to serve, and betrayal lurks in every corner. The prose is razor-sharp, the heroine unapologetically ruthless, and the setting gloriously Italian-inspired. Not for the faint of heart, but absolutely for those who loved Celaena’s darker moments.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In the Seven Kingdoms, some are born with two differently colored eyes—a mark of the Graced, those blessed with extraordinary abilities. Katsa’s Grace is survival itself, though her uncle the king uses it for far crueler purposes, forcing her to serve as his enforcer.
Then she meets Po, a prince Graced with combat, and everything begins to shift.
This tale, now considered a classic of the genre, offers a fierce heroine who refuses to be anyone’s weapon. Katsa’s journey toward understanding her true power—and her wonderfully unconventional romance with Po—has enchanted readers for over fifteen years.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude Duarte was seven when her parents were murdered and she was stolen away to Faerie. Ten years later, she’s determined to earn a place in the High Court, despite being mortal in a realm that despises her kind.
Prince Cardan, youngest and wickedest son of the High King, delights in tormenting her. But in faerie courts, hatred and desire often wear the same mask.
Holly Black weaves a tale of political intrigue so deliciously twisted you’ll find yourself questioning every alliance. The romance between Jude and Cardan is complicated, messy, and absolutely magnificent.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
In a world inspired by ancient Rome, Laia is a Scholar—one of the conquered people who live in fear of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, she agrees to spy for the resistance inside Blackcliff Military Academy, a brutal institution that trains the Empire’s deadliest soldiers.
Elias is Blackcliff’s finest student, though secretly he dreams only of escape.
Sabaa Tahir crafted something extraordinary here: a dual-perspective story where both characters must choose between duty and conscience. The world is harsh and unforgiving, the stakes impossibly high, and the romance that develops feels earned in every way.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
In the criminal underbelly of Ketterdam, there exists a young man called Dirtyhands. Kaz Brekker has clawed his way to power through cunning and brutality, and now he’s been offered a heist that could make him fabulously wealthy—if it doesn’t kill him first.
He assembles a crew of six outcasts, each with their own demons and desires.
This is a found-family tale dressed in heist clothing, featuring Inej the Wraith (a spy and acrobat), Jesper (a sharpshooter with secrets), Nina (who can control the human body), Matthias (a former enemy), and Wylan (an unlikely demolitions expert). The plotting is intricate, the characters unforgettable.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
On the island of Fennbirn, every generation produces triplet queens. Each possesses a different magic: Mirabella commands the elements, Katharine survives any poison, and Arsinoe is meant to control nature itself.
On their sixteenth birthday, they must begin killing each other. Only one may wear the crown.
The premise alone is enough to captivate, but Kendare Blake delivers so much more—sisters who barely remember loving each other, political machinations behind each throne, and twists that genuinely surprise. The question of which queen to root for becomes increasingly complicated.
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
In fifteenth-century Brittany, there exists a convent where the daughters of Death himself train as assassins. Young Ismae, fathered by the god Mortain, discovers her immunity to poison makes her a most effective killer indeed.
Her assignment takes her to the high court, where she must navigate treacherous politics—and feelings for a man who may or may not be her target.
Robin LaFevers blends history with fantasy so seamlessly you’ll find yourself researching Brittany’s struggle for independence. The romance is slow and sweet, the assassin training sequences utterly compelling.
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Princess Lara has trained her entire life for one purpose: to destroy the Bridge Kingdom by marrying its king. She is a weapon, honed and ready.
But King Aren is not the monster she expected. And the kingdom she was sent to destroy may be the only thing worth saving.
This enemies-to-lovers romance delivers everything the trope promises—forced proximity, slowly crumbling defenses, and a heroine who must choose between the family that raised her and the truth before her eyes. Danielle L. Jensen excels at political intrigue wrapped in swoony romance.
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Brie despises the Fae with every fiber of her being. So when her sister is sold to the cruel Unseelie King, Brie makes a desperate bargain: she’ll steal three relics from the Seelie Court in exchange for her sister’s freedom.
To access the Seelie Court, she must pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan. Naturally, complications ensue.
This tale offers a love triangle done right—both princes are compelling, the mystery is engaging, and the faerie courts feel genuinely dangerous. Those who enjoyed the fae elements of Throne of Glass will find much to love here.
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
In the Witchlands, Safiya is a Truthwitch—she can discern lies from truth with a thought. It’s a dangerous ability that makes her valuable to emperors and criminals alike. Her best friend Iseult is a Threadwitch, able to see the invisible bonds between people.
Together, they’re simply trying to survive. The world has other plans.
Susan Dennard offers rich worldbuilding, a magic system that feels genuinely innovative, and a friendship at the story’s heart that rivals any romance. The final book in the series releases in 2025, making now the perfect time to begin.
Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep
Lady Everleigh is seventeenth in line for the throne of Bellona—essentially invisible. When her cousin massacres the royal family and seizes power, Evie barely escapes with her life.
She finds refuge with a gladiator troupe, where she begins training to become the warrior she never knew she could be.
Those who loved watching Celaena reclaim her kingdom will adore Evie’s journey from overlooked royal to fierce gladiator. Jennifer Estep delivers action sequences that practically leap off the page.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Yeine Darr is a barbarian from the north, summoned to the floating palace of Sky after her mother’s mysterious death. There, she’s named an heir to the throne—and given mere weeks to survive the deadly competition for the crown.
The palace houses enslaved gods, and one of them is darkness itself.
N.K. Jemisin’s debut upends typical fantasy tropes with its multicultural world, complex theology, and a heroine who refuses to play by the rules. The romance with the god Nahadoth is unlike anything you’ve read before—beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.
Your Next Adventure Awaits
And so, dear reader, you see that the end of Throne of Glass is not an ending at all, but merely a doorway. Beyond it lie assassin schools and dragon academies, faerie courts and gladiator arenas, poisoner queens and shadow-wielding heroines.
Each of these tales offers something of what made Celaena’s story so magnificent: fierce women who refuse to be diminished, romances that burn slowly before igniting, worlds rich enough to lose yourself in completely.
The only question remaining is which adventure shall claim you first?
Choose wisely. Or rather—choose boldly. For in the realm of fantasy, the only wrong choice is to stop reading altogether.
