Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thrones and Roses†series is well on its way to becoming a cult classic in the book world — at least for fans of the “romantasy†(romance plus fantasy) genre. Maas has confirmed the series is incomplete, promising at least three more books in the “ACOTAR†universe. The wait has been a torturous one for fans, with the most recent release, A Court of Silver Flames, being published in 2021. While impatient readers could curse the Mother and Cauldron for the holdup, taking a note out of noted smut fan Nesta Archeron’s book might (shockingly) be a healthier coping mechanism.
While the fan base anxiously awaits news of the next installment of the Night Court’s adventures, cozying up with this list of thrilling romantasy books just might take the edge off all that pent-up angst. Chase the high of the “ACOTAR†universe by delving into these thrilling, twisty, and salacious stories that will have you going just as feral as the all-consuming tales of Prythian.
The “Throne of Glass†series, by Sarah J. Maas
Maas isn’t just revered for her “ACOTAR†series — she’s proved herself to be at the forefront of faerie fantasy worlds with several other romantasy sagas that fans speculate may or may not have overlapping plots. Maas’s first foray into the genre was with her debut novel, Throne of Glass, in 2012. The story follows young assassin Celaena Sardothein as she attempts to win her freedom from a ruthless king who rules the land — and discovers a mysterious evil lurking in the castle that might just end them all. The “TOG†series is comprised of eight books, extending your stay in the author’s romantasy universe (dubbed the “Maasverse†by fans) a while longer.
The “Crescent City†series, by Sarah J. Maas
Months before releasing the final book in the “TOG†series in 2018, Maas revealed she was developing a third romantasy saga: the “Crescent City†series. The first installment of the incomplete three-book story, Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood, follows half-fae, half-human Bryce Quinlin and fallen angel Hunt Athalar. The two must work together to hunt down the vicious demon that is on a murder spree in the city — with Bryce’s closest friends being among the victims. While seeking out the illusive murderer, Bryce and Hunt discover something much darker lurking within the city — a monstrous power that could destroy everything, including their burgeoning passion for one another. The third installment was recently published in January, so it’s top of mind for Maas’s most passionate fans!
The “Four Horsemen†series, by Laura Thalassa
If you’ve devoured the “Maasverse,†keep the depressive book-mourning phase at bay with Laura Thalassa’s “Four Horsemen†series. The four-book tale chronicles the apocalypse of the Four Horsemen: Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. Thalassa’s first installment, Pestilence, follows the titular horseman as he carries out his mission to end humanity at the orders of God. But when Sara, a young firefighter, shoots Pestilence down as he spreads disease through her town, he takes her prisoner while continuing his journey across North America. While traveling together, Sara desperately tries to keep Pestilence from wiping out humans across the continent — and Pestilence reckons with the fact that humanity might still be worth saving after all.
The “Shadow and Bone†series, by Leigh Bardugo
The first book of Leigh Bardugo’s “Shadow and Bone†trilogy follows Alina Starkov, an orphaned refugee whose country has been ravaged by the Shadow Fold: a dark realm containing brutal monsters with an insatiable taste for human flesh. When Alina’s regiment is attacked and her best friend is gravely injured by the beasts of the Fold, she discovers a staggering power that’s been quietly lying within her — a power that not only saves her friend’s life but may also be the missing element needed to set her nation free. When the leader of the kingdom’s element-wielding Grisha, the legendary Darkling, learns of Alina’s newfound abilities, she’s forced to train as a warrior of the magical legion. But the secrets of the kingdom — and the Darkling — set Alina on a path of discovery that threatens everyone she loves, along with the future of her entire nation.
The “Red Queen Collection†series, by Victoria Aveyard
Comprised of five books, Victoria Aveyard’s “Red Queen†collection begins with its namesake novel that details a world divided into Red-blooded commoners and Silver-blooded elite born with supernatural gifts. When Mare Barrow, a poor Red-blooded thief struggling to survive in a rural village, is brought upon the Silver court by an unlucky twist of events, she discovers she has a power of her own — one that shows itself in front of the noble court. The king of the Silver, desperate to cover up the narrative-destroying apparition of Mare’s abilities, forces her to play the part of a lost Silver princess, betrothing her to one of his sons. Mare puts her life on the line as she acts as a spy for the Red’s rebellion group, but the longer she lives among the Silver, the more her heart reckons with all she thought she knew.
The “Empyrean†series, by Rebecca Yarros
Perhaps the biggest breakout romantasy series since Maas’s “A Court of Thrones and Roses†is Rebecca Yarros’s BookTok-breaking “Empyrean†series, beginning with Fourth Wing. Forced to attend a war college for dragon riders who aspire to join the elite force known as the Navarre, small and “fragile†Violet Sorrengail must compete with other cadets for a coveted spot in the legion’s ranks. While fighting to stay alive among unforgiving dragons and bloodthirsty Navarre candidates — including Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless among the Riders Quadrant — Violet begins to suspect her kingdom’s leadership is hiding a grave secret as war grows, protective wards fail, and death runs rampant.
The “Kingdom of Fire†series, by Jessica Cluess
A Shadow Bright and Burning, the first installment of Jessica Cluess’s “Kingdom of Fire†trilogy, follows Henrietta Howel — the first and only female sorcerer of her time. To save her friend’s life, Henrietta is forced to reveal her power to her city’s rulers. While she believes she will be executed for her ability to control fire, Henrietta is instead invited to train among the royal court’s all-male sorcerers. Christened as “the chosen one†and charged with saving her people from terrible demons who torture and murder, Henrietta discovers she is not, in fact, the chosen one. Despite her realization, the flame-wielding sorceress decides to commit to a dangerous game of deception to unearth the sorcerers’ secrets and save her city — and the sorcerer she comes to love.
The “Beautiful Quartet†series, by Renée Ahdieh
Twilight girlies rejoice: Renée Ahdieh’s “Beautiful Quartet†series follows a forbidden romance between human Celine Rousseau and vampire leader Sébastien Saint Germain. The first of the four-book tale, The Beautiful, chronicles Celine’s journey as she flees life as a dressmaker in 1870s Paris for the safe haven that is New Orleans — a city that Celine seeks out despite it being ruled by the undead. Joining the sisterhood of the Ursuline convent, the young woman finds herself fascinated by the New Orleans underworld run by Sébastien — and by the undead leader himself. But when one of the convent’s sisters is found dead in Sébastien’s lair, Celine is forced to ignore the spark between herself and the vampire while she harbors suspicions about his involvement in the recent murder spree plaguing women in the city — and conceals her own horrible secret.
The “Hades x Persephone†series, by Scarlett St. Clair
If you’re a Greek-mythology buff, Scarlett St. Clair’s “Hades x Persephone†saga is a must-read. The seven-book series begins with A Touch of Darkness, a modern retelling that follows the Goddess of Spring as she relocates to New Athens under the guise of a mortal. Persephone’s hopes for a new start as an unassuming human journalist are dashed when she plays a round of cards at a dangerous nightclub with the God of the Dead himself. Hades, who has established himself as the kingpin of a gambling empire, loves to make impossible bets — and his enchantment with Persephone finds the pair entering a bargain that wages the goddess’s unrealized powers to create life against her freedom. Persephone must generate life in the Underworld if she wants to remain free, and she must fulfill her side of the impossible bargain while battling an unadvisable attraction to the powerful and enigmatic Hades.
The “Gods and Monsters†series, by Amber Nicole
Amber Nicole’s unfinished “Gods and Monsters†series begins with The Book of Azrael, and honestly, that should be reason enough for “ACOTAR†stans to dive into the series. When Dianna desperately begged the universe to save her dying sister, her plea was heard by a cruel human turned beast. While Kaden spares Dianna’s sister, she is expected to do his bidding in return. Upon his request to retrieve an ancient relic, Dianna searches for the Book of Azrael long ago hidden by deadly creatures — and gets captured by Liam, a reclusive king once known as the World Ender. Though Liam has neglected his responsibilities as king for millennia, he must reemerge as the powerful leader he once was, while working with Dianna to prevent an old enemy from razing the world as they know it.
The “Crowns of Nyaxia†series, by Clarissa Broadbent
The Serpent and the Wings of Night, the first installment in the “Crowns of Nyaxia†series by Clarissa Broadbent, follows Oraya — the adopted human daughter of a vampire king, living among vampires who would love nothing more than to kill her. To secure her safety in the ruthless society, Oraya is forced to enter the Kejari, a tournament of bloodshed in which the most brutal warriors of the kingdom’s three houses fight for survival and dominance over the rest. To outlast the competition, Oraya forges an unlikely alliance with the vicious vampire killer Raihn, who is a known enemy of her father and her most deadly competitor. As an unexpected romance develops between the two and unrest grows in the kingdom, Oraya learns nothing is as she believed it to be — and her enemies are closer than she knew.
The “Blood and Ash†series, by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Jennifer L. Armentrout’s “Blood and Ash†series received a glowing endorsement from Maas herself when the first of six books, From Blood and Ash, was released. Protagonist Poppy was chosen at birth to fulfill the role of the Maiden, an untouched savior who must wait for the day of her ascension to right the wrongs of the world. Warring with her personal desires and the expectation of duty, Poppy’s precarious commitment to fulfilling her alleged prophecy is further tested when she meets Hawke, a guard charged with ensuring her ascension. While distracted by a forbidden attraction to Hawke, a fallen kingdom begins to stir, hell-bent on violently reclaiming what they believe to be theirs. As the threat of vengeance draws ever closer, the world Poppy knows just might turn on its head in the most life-shattering way.
The “Of Flesh and Bone†series, by Harper L. Woods
Readers who love faeries more than any other fantasy creature should look to Harper L. Woods’s “Of Flesh and Bone†series. The first installment, What Lies Beyond the Veil, is set in a world that was once dominated by fae but has kept them separate from humans for 400 years — sound familiar? While they may have been safe from the wicked creatures, human life has been nothing more than a destitute battle for survival for centuries. When the protective veil between human and faerie lands shatters, the fae begin marking humans they intend to hunt — Estrella included. The human harvester flees her village, and while she’s running for her life, she meets fae-marked Caellum. They continue their desperate escape together, and while Caellum is first charming and alluring, Estrella begins to question his true motives as the threat of the fae looms closer than ever.
The “Kingdom of the Wicked†series, by Kerri Maniscalco
The first book of Kerri Maniscalco’s four-part “Kingdom of the Wicked†series follows twin sisters Emilia and Vittoria. The women are witches living among humans, concealing their true nature in the name of survival. But when Vittoria is found dead and desecrated, Emilia’s need for answers and vengeance eclipses all else. Desperate to avenge her sister, Emilia is willing to do anything it takes, including using forbidden dark magic. While on her bloodthirsty quest, Emilia meets one of the princes of hell, Wrath. Though he claims to have been sent by his master to find the murderer who killed Vittoria and other women in the area, trusting Wrath may be a grave mistake with the potential to set Emilia on a destructive path.
The “Witch Walker†series, by Charissa Weaks
The Witch Collector, the first of Charissa Weaks’s “Witch Walker†quartet, is another tale of revenge in the name of sisterhood. After Raina Bloodgood’s sister is taken by Alexus Thibault, the Witch Collector, to forever remain with the immoral Frost King, her sole mission in life is to slay both the collector and the king. But when the chance for revenge on Alexus comes, Raina is forced to let her grudge fall to the wayside to prevent her sister — and the entire empire — from being claimed by a bigger enemy. As she works alongside the Witch Collector, Raina realizes what she believed to be true may be a lie and Alexus may not be the villain she thought him all along.