Looking for series similar to ACOTAR that bring the same blend of magic, romance, and high-stakes emotions? Well, you’re not alone! I also recently completed A Court of Thorns and Roses and am now wandering the literary wilderness, wondering what could possibly compare! Sarah J. Maas has set the bar sky-high with her intoxicating mix of slow-burn romance, dangerous fae magic, and fiercely flawed heroines.
Well, the great news is that there are so many other fantasy series out there that deliver just as much angst, enchantment, and emotional depth. Whether you’re looking for ruthless assassins, arranged marriages with enemies, or foe-filled love triangles that mess with your heart in the best way, this list has you covered.
And if spice level matters to you? We’ve got you! From sweet slow burns to sizzling tension, here’s the lineup ranked by spice level—so you know exactly what kind of heat you’re walking into.
1. The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Cathartic and explosive
Start with Gild. Fans of super spicy fantasy romance books will adore this series, laced with trauma, empowerment, and gut-wrenching twists.. If you want to read a slow-burn inferno around how one reclaims their identity, this is it! Auren is trapped in a golden cage (both literally and emotionally)…until she learns to burn it down.
Here’s a hard-hitting quote from the book:
“Does it really matter if your cage is solid gold when you aren’t allowed to leave it? A cage is a cage, no matter how gilded.” ― Raven Kennedy, Gild
Fans of dark, spicy fantasy with morally gray characters and layered worldbuilding will find themselves completely hooked. As the series unfolds, you’ll encounter shadowy enemies, broken heroes, fierce queens, and one of the most satisfying character evolutions in the genre.
Why you’ll love it:
- A unique, glittering world filled with magic and monarchy
- Steamy, emotionally intense romance that hits like thunder
- An unforgettable heroine who rises from captive to queen
- Dark themes handled with care—and a catharsis that feels earned
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, or anyone who loves their fantasy fierce, their heroines fiery, and their love stories untamed.
2. Ruthless Fae (Zodiac Academy) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Chaotic
This is where the stakes get brutal and the spice kicks up. If you’re searching for books like ACOTAR with spice, twisted fates, and razor-sharp banter, Ruthless Fae delivers in spades. This book nails the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope and is deliciously unbearable at times!
Here’s a standout quote that perfectly captures the energy of this installment:
“You’re going to hate me, Blue. And I’m going to deserve every second of it.” — Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti, Ruthless Fae
Tory and Darcy Vega don’t want to be the heirs to the Fae throne but life has other plans for them. The book takes us into a school with ruthless elites and seductive danger. The Vega twins must survive both their enemies and their undeniable attraction to them.
Why you’ll love it:
- Enemies-to-lovers tension that simmers and scorches
- Spice that hits hard—and keeps escalating
- Morally gray love interests with serious bad boy energy
- A seductive world where trust is rare, and betrayal cuts deep
This series is seductive, savage, and wildly addictive. It’s a perfect storm of betrayal, slow-burn heat, and magical chaos wrapped in fierce sisterhood and dangerously hot rivals.
3. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Soul-melting
If you’re hunting for fantasy books like ACOTAR that deliver high-stakes drama, forbidden passion, and richly built worlds, you’ve just struck gold. It’s not just an epic fantasy, but also romantic in a steamy way. It’s sexy, bloody, emotionally deep, and completely addictive.
Here’s a quote that captures the electric chemistry:
“You’re an absolutely stunning, murderous little creature.” — Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash
Poppy, the maiden of the Gods, is meant to live her life in isolation until everything she believes begins to unravel. Her encounter with Hawke (a cocky guard with secrets of his own) set her life on fire.
Why you’ll love it:
- A slow-burn romance that detonates into full-on heat
- Rich fantasy lore with gods, prophecies, and secrets
- A strong, curious heroine who questions everything
- Sexual content that’s deeply emotional and explosively physical
Even though the book doesn’t shy away from explicit sexual content, it strikes the perfect balance of heat, heartbreak, and betrayal.
4. Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Deeply emotional, slow-burn
If you’re wondering, “Does Crescent City have spice?”—the answer is yes, but it takes its time getting there. The emotional intimacy builds up, just like the heat. This urban fantasy and murder mystery is a gut-wrenching story; it goes through a rollercoaster starting from grief to resilience to unexpected love.
Here’s a longer quote that captures the emotional rawness of this story:
“I was not ready to say goodbye. You were not ready. You were vibrant and brave and kind. You were light. And you were my friend. And it was my privilege to know you.” — Sarah J. Maas, Crescent City
Bryce Quinlan is a party animal who drowns herself in surface-level fun. But then a savage murder takes place, and she is thrown alongside Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel with a tragic and bloody past. Their dynamic is fire and friction, and over time, something deeper begins to spark.
Why you’ll love it:
- An urban fantasy with angels and demons
- A heroine who has sharp edges but a soft heart
- Romance beautifully combined with grief and redemption
- A story that blends sexual content and emotional healing
Every touch in this book will hit you harder with time, because of the layers of tension, trauma, and vulnerability. And yes, when the spice comes, it comes. Think raw, emotional, and beautifully earned.
5. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Addictive, explosive, and emotionally raw
If you’re still wondering what to read if you like ACOTAR, and are craving the same intensity (dangerous romance and a heroine who defies all the odds), Fourth Wing can be your next obsession. It’s often said that Rebecca Yarros has entered the fantasy scene like a lightning strike, and if you’re a fan of authors like Sarah Mass, you’ll devour this.
Here’s a quote that sums up what we said:
“You don’t scare me,” I whisper.
“No?” His mouth brushes my ear. “Then you’re not paying attention.” — Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
This book is set in the Basgiath War College, where it’s all about surviving. Violet Sorrengail was never meant to be a dragon rider, but it’s the only choice given to her by her ruthless mother. Enter Xaden Riorson, who’s not just lethal and brilliant but also untrustworthy. Their razor-sharp banter and unhinged chemistry will leave you wanting more.
Why you’ll love it:
- Tension of enemies to lovers
- An immersive and magical school setting
- Deep trauma, emotional healing, and sizzling chemistry
- Dragons. Politics. Secrets. Betrayals. And more dragons.
The action-packed scenes make this a fun audiobook, and if you love dragons with opinions, this one’s for you. It’s intense, passionate, and beautifully matched to the stakes and character growth. When the spice hits, it’s fireworks.
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6. Throne of Glass (Queen of Shadows) by Sarah J. Maas
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Deep and deadly
Looking for books like ACOTAR for adults that deliver on emotional stakes, slow-burn romance, and a heroine who could kill a man and look good doing it? Fourth in the Throne of Glass series, this book has everything from heart-pounding action to soul-deep relationships.
Here’s a quote that captures the fire:
“Fire-breathing bitch-queen.” — Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Shadows
Aelin Galathynius goes from being a masked assassin to a queen in exile in a shattered kingdom. To gain back her power, she has to face brutal enemies and make impossible choices. Her icy tension with Rowan Whitethorn is very explosive, fierce, and beautifully raw.
Why you’ll love it:
- A deadly assassin-turned-queen with unmatched ferocity
- Romance that feels earned, respectful, and powerful
- Found family, healing, and one hell of a redemption arc
- Political stakes, ancient magic, and sword-sharp twists
Surrounded by assassin politics to magical warfare, this book is able to capture the complexities of love, which burns with grief and guilt but eventually becomes something healing and whole. It’s empowering, gritty, and deeply satisfying.
7. Air Awakens by Elise Kova
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Slow-burn heartbreak
If you’re searching for the best books to read after ACOTAR, Air Awakens should be high on your list. If you’re a fan of forbidden love and want to see a heroine who goes from being invisible to unstoppable, this is it! In this five-book series, Vhalla, a quiet librarian, finds out she’s the first Windwalker in over a century. Suddenly, she’s thrust into court politics, ancient powers, and a war-torn empire.
Here’s a quote that captures the ache:
“You’re not nothing.” — Elise Kova, Air Awakens
Vhalla’s journey is one of identity, courage, and learning the strength of being compassionate in a world that sees emotion as weakness. The best part is the slow, magnetic, simmering connection she develops with Crown Prince Aldrik. It screams couple goals, with mutual respect and vulnerability.
Why you’ll love it:
- A librarian-to-sorceress arc with powerful personal growth
- A tortured, brooding prince who respects her strength and heart
- A romance that burns slowly but cuts deep
- Emotional themes of sacrifice and worth
Air Awakens is a deeply satisfying pick for people looking for raw character development and aching romance. It has heart, heat, and depth.
8. A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Whimsical and warm
If you’re craving books similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses, this standalone fantasy romance offers a lush escape into a world filled with magic, mystery, and unexpected love. It’s a beautiful love story of a mortal girl and immortal king with all their hidden tenderness and sweet tension.
Here’s a quote that captures the magic:
“Love is choosing someone, again and again, even when they don’t deserve it.” — Elise Kova, A Deal with the Elf King
Luella is a healer, who has spent her life ignoring ancient fae traditions, until she’s taken to the magical land of Mindscape to become the new Human Queen. Eldas, the brooding Elf King, is cold and duty-bound… at first. But they eventually navigate politics and centuries-old curses and develop a love filled with quiet gestures and mutual growth.
Why you’ll love it:
- A gentle but powerful heroine
- A brooding fae king who softens into something sweet and swoony
- Cozy castle vibes, fae magic, and romantic banter
- A story where love builds through understanding, not just heat
If you want a heartwarming emotional arc and fairytale-like feel, A Deal with the Elf King is a perfect comfort read that still delivers depth, magic, and longing. It’s the perfect soft-fantasy aesthetic, which will remind you that the strength is quiet.
9. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Tactical but tender
Looking for a series similar to ACOTAR that combines enemies-to-lovers tension, brutal politics, and a heroine trained to be a weapon? The Bridge Kingdom delivers all that and more. This will give you goosebumps because trust is earned, betrayal cuts deep and love feels like war, and victory. It’s not just smart but also emotionally gripping.
Here’s a quote that captures the heat and heartbreak:
“She was a dagger made of flesh, and the love that had been her sheath was gone.” — Danielle L. Jensen, The Bridge Kingdom
Lara, a trained spy, is sent to a rival nation as a bride. Aren, the groom, turns out to be more noble, fierce, and human than she could have ever imagined. And so, an interesting bond is formed of tension and suspicion, filled with strategy and secrets. The layers of pain, sacrifice, and hard-won intimacy make it even better.
Why you’ll love it:
- A deadly, morally gray heroine learning what it means to feel
- A ruler who matches her strength with heart and honor
- Spies, lies, and swoon-worthy tension
- A romance that thrives on vulnerability and earned trust
With razor-sharp political stakes and a romance that simmers beneath the surface of deception, The Bridge Kingdom is a fantasy you won’t be able to put down. It’s a love story where passion is power.
10. These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Fae-triangle messy
If you’re on the hunt for a fantasy series similar to ACOTAR with love triangles and morally gray characters who make very questionable choices in the name of love (and survival), These Hollow Vows is your next obsession. Think dark magic and dangerous bargains. A heroine is caught between two irresistible princes, one golden and one shadowy.
Here’s a quote that captures the chaos:
“Sometimes the love we need is the one we don’t recognize until it’s too late.” — Lexi Ryan, These Hollow Vows
To protect her sister, Brie can go to any extent, even if it means getting tangled in a game of deadly lies. Her mission ends up turning into a twisted emotional web between two males—sweet and loyal Prince Finn…and brooding, magnetic Sebastian. Since I love the drama of love triangles, I went for this one, with themes of betrayal, secrets, and heartbreak. It left me screaming!
Why you’ll love it:
- A heroine is not just bold but morally conflicted
- Two love interests that will ruin your trust issues (in the best way)
- Court intrigue, magical deception, and shocking twists
- A story that explores loyalty, identity, and choosing your own fate
This book is deliciously dramatic and emotionally sharp. The love triangle is unpredictable, and the heroine’s character is so complex, it will break your heart, and you’ll love every minute of it.
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11. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Antagonistic but tender
If you want to dive into a love story that starts with a dagger at the throat and ends with reluctant vulnerability, this is a must-read. It has magic, delicious tension, and banter. The best part? A witch and a witch hunter forced into holy matrimony.
Here’s a quote that captures the spark:
“I can’t decide whether you’re the most exasperating woman I’ve ever met or the most extraordinary.” — Shelby Mahurin, Serpent & Dove
A chaotic witch, Lou (hiding in a city that wants her dead) meets rigid Chasseur, Reid (who has sworn to kill her kind). And guess what? They end up getting married, forcefully! What unfolds is hatred turning into grudging respect. Their antagonistic but tender dynamic is electric and full of sharp edges softened by growth and sacrifice.
Why you’ll love it:
- A fiercely witty, defiant heroine who refuses to shrink herself
- A cinnamon roll in denial love interest with a code of honor and a heart of gold
- Forced proximity, magical secrets, and crackling banter
- Love that blooms despite differences—and because of them
This book is so messy yet so meaningful and will teach you how to embrace both your light and your darkness (and let someone love you through it all). A tale of magic, sacrifice, and tender rebellion.
12. The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Romance Level: Dangerous flirtation
If you’re craving Kindle Unlimited books like ACOTAR with antiheroines, morally gray love interests, and a romance built on sharp wit and sharper ambition, The Shadows Between Us is the dark fantasy you didn’t know you needed. Fans call it “Slytherin romance” because it’s all about seduction, strategy and falling in love with someone as dangerous as you.
Here’s a quote that captures the vibe:
“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.” — Tricia Levenseller, The Shadows Between Us
Alessandra has one goal: seduce the Shadow King, marry him, and then kill him to take his throne. But the problem is that the more time she spends with him, the more attractive she starts finding him. So, their story is filled with lies, admiration, and dangerous flirtation. You’ll find their chemistry sizzling and their tension intoxicating!
Why you’ll love it:
- A cunning, unapologetic heroine who owns her power and femininity
- A brooding, mysterious king literally made of shadows
- Enemies-to-lovers energy with banter and slow, simmering attraction
- Political intrigue, royal court manipulation, and hidden vulnerabilities
The Shadows Between Us is sleek, seductive, and delightfully dark. If you love romance where trust is a gamble and power plays turn into something intimate and unexpected, this is your next fantasy fix.
13. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Spice Level: 🌶️
Romance Level: Poetic and pretty
This next stop just feels like stepping into a watercolor painting; gorgeous, mysterious and a little dangerous! It’s a standalone fantasy, with magical courts and forbidden art…The romance unfolds like a soft-spoken secret.
Here’s a quote that captures the mood:
“I am an artist, and he is my masterpiece.” — Margaret Rogerson, An Enchantment of Ravens
Isobel is a mortal painter who captures the essence of souls in her art. When she paints sorrow in the eyes of Rook, a powerful fae prince, he spirits her away to answer for the insult. The kidnapping turns into an adventure, filled with illusion, danger, and quiet. Looking for a love story that is poetic and pretty? Well, this is it, with all possible mutual admiration and fragile honesty!
Why you’ll love it:
- A soft, creative heroine with quiet resilience
- A regal, cursed fae prince torn between duty and desire
- Forest journeys, shifting glamour, and dangerous fae politics
- A romance that’s tender, timeless, and filled with aching restraint
This book does not just have lush writing. It also has a timeless fairytale feel, which is perfect for readers who crave romance that’s both elegant and emotionally stirring.
14. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Spice Level: 🌶️
Romance Level: Slow and salty
This one is a sea-swept fantasy, and the banter is so deadly; you’ll love how salty it is! It’s fierce, morally gray, and some even call it a twisted version of The Little Mermaid.
Here’s a quote that captures the bite:
“Technically, I’m a murderer, but I like to think that’s one of my better qualities.” — Alexandra Christo, To Kill a Kingdom
Lira is a siren princess known for ripping out human hearts. Elian is a prince who hunts her kind. And guess what? They are forced into an uneasy alliance, which is followed by a deadly dance of mistrust and sharp words. The smoldering glances will make you sweat! The tension turns from lethal to longing…
Why you’ll love it:
- A vicious siren with a killer instinct and a hidden heart
- A pirate prince with charm, grit, and a golden compass
- Foes-to-lovers that actually earn every ounce of trust
- Swashbuckling magic, royal stakes, and oceanic world-building
To Kill a Kingdom is sharp, dangerous, and emotionally rich—perfect for anyone who likes their fantasy with blood, banter, and a slow-burn that stings before it soothes.
15. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Spice Level: 🌶️
Romance Level: Sweet and subtle
And the last one in the list is this brilliant reimagination of Beauty and the Beast. If you love modern heroines thrown into enchanted worlds with ancient curses and complex characters, this one’s for you. The best part is that emotional depth is wrapped in classic fantasy tropes.
Here’s a quote that captures the quiet strength:
“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.” — Brigid Kemmerer, A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Harper is a girl from D.C. with cerebral palsy and no time for fantasy nonsense. But when she’s pulled into a cursed kingdom, she becomes a key player in a centuries-old enchantment. Enter Prince Rhen, who is not just running out of time but also hope. What grows between them is sweet and subtle, with soft trust, mutual bravery, and the kind of love that doesn’t rush; it heals.
Why you’ll love it:
- A fierce, grounded heroine who doesn’t let anything define her
- A cursed prince with layers of guilt, charm, and vulnerability
- A slow-build romance rooted in trust, not tropes
- A blend of real-world grit and rich magical lore
This is the lowest in spice in the list, but the romance is so beautifully paced with its modern-meets-fantasy setting. A Curse So Dark and Lonely is heartfelt, immersive, and full of the kind of magic that lingers.
Finally, from deadly romance to morally gray heroines, from magical kingdoms to unexpected tenderness, the above series will take you to a fantasy world, and you’ll definitely feel like staying there! So, if you’re still haunted by the emotional stakes and sizzling tension of Feyre and Rhysand, these series similar to ACOTAR will more than satisfy your craving. So, go on, enjoy this addictive path with your new obsessions…
FAQs
1. Is the ACOTAR series complete?
No, it’s not complete. As of now, there are five published books. But Sarah J. Mass has confirmed that a sixth book is in development; possibly focusing on Elain’s arc. So while the story so far reaches a satisfying pause, the world of Prythian is still expanding. Stay tuned!
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