If you are tired of waiting for the next book in Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns & Roses book 6 have sadly been quite slow, the series' recent 10th anniversary yielding no news for curious audiences. That silence, combined with misinformation regarding the next book's title and premise, has made the long wait since A Court of Silver Flames' release all the more unbearable for fans of Maas' work, such as myself.
As a result, many readers have tried to find replacements for A Court of Thorns & Roses, which, due to the series' popularity in online book spaces, is thankfully not too difficult. The romantasy sphere has several series that contain aspects of Maas' story, from soulmate bonds to shadow daddies and sassy heroines. Some of those series, though, truly stand out from the rest as having several elements from A Court of Thorns & Roses while also simply being incredible in their own right.
8 The Empyrean Series By Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing's Main Couple Reflects Feyre & Rhysand's Romance
Violet and Xaden's love story within The Empyrean Series heavily mirrors Feyre and Rhysand's from A Court of Thorns & Roses, even if the worldbuilding and plotline are somewhat different. Violet and Xaden started as an enemies-to-lovers storyline like Maas' main couple, Violet believing that she was in love with her best friend Dain before itting her feelings for Xaden, like Feyre did between Tamlin and Rhys in A Court of Mist & Fury. Violet's sass and determination also mirror Feyre's, albeit Violet possesses a much different skillset and problems than the High Lady of the Night Court.
10 Books Like Onyx Storm To Read While You Wait For The Next Empyrean Series Sequel
Though it's impossible to fill the hole left by Onyx Storm, there are many great romantasy books & dragon-filled novels to read before the sequel.
Unlike A Court of Thorns & Roses, dragons and gryphons are the main sources of magic over the Fae, though Xaden's powers do resemble Rhysand's and Azriel's shadow manipulation and daemati powers. That more grounded worldbuilding allows the series' issues to be complex in differing ways and allows the series' main enemy to reveal themselves slower than Hybern did, resulting in many a theory after Onyx Storm regarding them and the protagonists' responses. Combining that with the molten romance and incredible side cast makes The Empyrean Series a great replacement, even if book 4 seems a long way off.
7 Quicksilver By Callie Hart
Quicksilver's Fae Behave Similarly To ACOTAR's
For those who enjoyed the devious machinations of the Fae in A Court of Thorns & Roses, Quicksilver is a necessary read. Quicksilver's Fae must rely on Saeris Fane's abilities to help them halt a war, though much like the High Lords, they also have their own plans and schemes. The political intrigue of Quicksilver truly engages readers, leaving us invested at every turn like Maas does in her series. However, that intrigue and deception do come with a few unique caveats in Callie Hart's book.
However, that intrigue and deception do come with a few unique caveats in Callie Hart's book.
The inclusion of another fantasy staple creature, vampires, adds a whole new layer to the intrigue as their motives both interweave and parallel those of Saeris and her Fae friends. The magic itself, specifically the quicksilver, also complicates things in such fun ways, as its complex rules and machinations make it both versatile and rigid. All of these factors make the updates about Qucksilver's sequel Brimstone all the more exciting and Hart's series perfect for A Court of Thorns & Roses fans who want more political romantasy intrigue.
6 The Crowns of Nyaxia Series By Carissa Broadbent
Crowns of Nyaxia's Gods Add A New Layer To Mating Bonds
While the main aspects of the series are a bit more distinct from A Court of Thorns & Roses, the Crowns of Nyaxia series added caveats to soul bonds that hit on Maas' central themes, making it a worthy read. Within the world of Crowns of Nyaxia, coriatis bonds can be made between two vampires so long as they are requested by a god first, making them hard to attain but incredibly powerful if granted. That being said, those bonds still contain an element of vulnerability and trust, allowing both series to examine the themes of reliance on others, as well as self-reliance in complementary ways.
The Debut Romantasy Novel From A Shadow & Bone Actress Is Hitting Shelves This Fall & We're Here For It
Romantasy is big business these days, but it's hard for new writers to break through and make a splash, making one fall release all the more exciting.
Other aspects of Crowns of Nyaxia hit equally close to home for fans of A Court of Thorns & Roses. The MMC of the first two books, Raihn, is reminiscent of Cassian. The MMC of the next books, Asar, shares Azriel's dark and brooding secret cinnamon roll nature, making him one of the best shadow daddies in recent romantasy books. The series also goes beyond the main storyline, its optional novella and standalone giving us more insight into the world and other characters like the latter two Maas books did, giving you plenty to read before book 4's debut in August 2025 and beyond.
5 Faebound By Saara El-Arifi
This Romantasy Series Also Centers Fae & Has A Similar Setup
Those looking for another romantasy series centered on the fae should check out Saara El-Arifi's Faebound, which currently consists of two books, with another planned. Faebound is set in a world where elves are immersed in a never-ending war, which turns sisters Yeeran and Lettle's lives upside down when Yeeran is exiled for making an error in command. The sisters embark on a journey that finds them trapped in the world of the fae, whom they believed no longer existed.
This setup feels somewhat reminiscent of ACOTAR's premise, as love blossoms between Yeeran and her enemy, despite her being captured and held against her will by the fae. There are many elements of Faebound that stand out from A Court of Thorns & Roses, though, from the sapphic romance to the bond between the fae and their obeah companions (which reads more like Fourth Wing). However, Faebound proves an immersive read with a compelling romance and great characters, and it's the perfect series to pick up while waiting for ACOTAR book 6.
4 Throne of Glass By Sarah J. Maas
Maas' Other Series Touches On The Same Themes As ACOTAR
For those who want to explore more of Maas' writing and themes but wish to stay in the romantasy sphere, Throne of Glass is a perfect series to look into after A Court of Thorns & Roses. Several aspects of Maas' series match one another, from Throne of Glass to the abilities and motives of the Fae. Yet it is the slight shift on Maas's usual themes and ideals that makes the series so fascinating to me and other readers, especially regarding Aelin herself and her overall journey.
Crescent City's Most Exciting Twist Highlighted Throne Of Glass’ Biggest Missed Opportunity
The most exciting twist from Crescent City highlighted one of Throne of Glass' biggest missed opportunities within Sarah J. Maas’ series.
Maas explores themes of duty, love, healing, and perseverance within A Court of Thorns & Roses through Feyre and Nesta, both taking on differing approaches to the darker times in their lives. Aelin's approach, though, is a compelling mix of the two and adds in her time as an assassin as well as her various losses, making her both a powerful protagonist to follow and an easy one to relate to deeply. That arc is likely why many consider Aelin one of Maas' best heroines, making it a top recommendation for fans of A Court Of Thorns & Roses.
3 The Plated Prisoner Series By Raven Kennedy
Both Series Play With Fairytale Retellings And The Tropes Within
Audiences who originally found A Court of Thorns & Roses due to its status as a retelling can find the same great subversion and expansions in The Plated Prisoner series. Gild begins the story as a retelling of the myth of King Midas, much like Maas started hers as a retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast before splitting off in new directions. Raven Kennedy does the same here, using the myth as a launch point before using the tropes to craft a new story.
The Plated Prisoner series, though, goes one step further, its darker tone and story beats allowing Auren to be more creative in her revenge and plans.
Auren's journey from prisoner to political strategist mirrors much of Feyre's arc, with both women breaking away from a controlling man and using their knowledge and individual power to take him down. The Plated Prisoner series, though, goes one step further, its darker tone and story beats allowing Auren to be more creative in her revenge and plans. It allows the series, alongside being one of many great fantasy books with more spice than plot, to match A Court of Thorns & Roses before stepping parallel to it, making it a wonderful addition to any fantasy collection.
2 Artefacts Of Ouranos Series By Nisha J. Tuli
A Completed Romantasy Series With Fae & Trials
Nisha J. Tuli's Artefacts of Ouranos series is another ideal read in the wait for ACOTAR book 6, and it's complete — meaning this romantasy series won't leave you desperate for a sequel. The first installment, Trial of the Sun Queen, sees its heroine competing in a dangerous competition dubbed the Sun Queen Trials, hoping to win the Sun King's hand in marriage. The trials will appeal to fans of Maas' Court of Thorns & Roses and Throne of Glass series, and that's not the only part of the book they'll enjoy.
Trial of the Sun Queen features fae, an enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and court politics that will pull readers into this world and keep them there. It has that in common with A Court of Thorns & Roses, and its three sequels will keep readers occupied in the lead-up to Maas' next novel.
1 The Kindred Curse Saga By Penn Cole
Diem's Rise Mirrors Feyre's While Also Being Unique
Diem from The Kindred Curse Saga reflects Feyre from A Court of Thorns & Roses, but one added element makes the story even more personal. Much like Feyre, Diem is a human woman who must venture into lands unknown in order to save her family and finds love with a powerful figure within said lands. The mystery, though, is what lets Diem's story stand apart yet be just as well done as Maas' as its personal element complicates things further.
Diem's mother is proven to be intrinsically linked to the Descended throughout the series, each new clue forcing Diem to question what she knows is real as she gets further embroiled in the Descended's world. Those twists and turns have driven the story to unique heights, making any updates on Spark of the Everflame book 4 all the more vital for fans, whose theorizing parallels Maas' fanbase. Even so, The Kindred Curse Saga's unfolding mystery makes it a perfect replacement for A Court of Thorns & Roses, even if it does result in another long wait.
- Publisher(s)
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publication Date
- 2015-05-05
- Franchise
- A Court of Thorns and Roses
- ISBN#
- 9781619634442
- Author(s)
- Sarah J. Maas
- Genre(s)
- Fantasy, Romance
Your comment has not been saved