What To Read After ACOTAR: 8 Book Recommendations

If ACOTAR has left a Sarah J. Maas-shaped hole in your heart, the best way to fill it might just be with more Sarah J. Maas! If you couldn’t get enough of the sizzling romance in ACOTAR and the epic world-building, the Crescent City series is the perfect next read.

The series kicks off with Bryce Quinlan, who finds herself at the center of the investigation when her best friend is murdered by a demon. You’ll find themes of power, romance, loss, and a dark, gritty underworld setting.

The best part is there’s plenty more where that came from—not only has Sarah announced Crescent City 4, she also has another completed series, Throne of Glass, for you to get stuck into next. TOG is eight books long, so that’s sure to keep you occupied for a while!

If you’re craving another Beauty and the Beast retelling like ACOTAR, clear a space on your TBR for this one.

The beauty of retellings is that you can pick up different books based on the same fairytale and get a completely different take on the story.

This book stays closer to the classic tale, as a young prince is cursed to relive the autumn of his eighteenth year until he can find someone to fall in love with and break the curse. This is a retelling you definitely won’t be able to put down!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is the first book in the Cursebreaker series, and once you finish this one, you’ll be grabbing the sequel to see what happens next.

From Blood and Ash is the perfect post-ACOTAR fantasy fix, with swoon-worthy romance and an action-packed plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

From Blood and Ash is about Poppy, the chosen one in a prophecy that she knows nothing about, and her royal guard, Hawk. It’s a gripping read that’s packed full of danger, mystery, and passion, much like ACOTAR.

The world in this book is complex and well developed, making it the ideal book to get lost in.

There are a few similarities between The Cruel Prince and ACOTAR, particularly a similar magical faerie world, the relationship between three sisters, and, of course, an enemies-to-lovers romance plot with incredible tension.

This book follows Jude, who has been kidnapped by High Court Fae along with her sisters after the death of her parents. The Fae world in this book differs from ACOTAR as the magic system is slightly different and humans don’t know about the Fae like they do in ACOTAR, but I think that’s what makes this book worth reading.

The Cruel Prince is a fan favorite for a reason, and it’ll fill that Fae-sized hole left behind after finishing ACOTAR.

Ok, hear me out—what if ACOTAR had vampires?

If you enjoyed the chapters of ACOTAR that took place Under The Mountain, this one's for you. The Serpent and the Wings of Night is about the human daughter of a Vampire King taking part in a legendary, deadly tournament (think vampires competing in The Hunger Games, almost).

The stakes in The Serpent and the Wings of Night are high, the writing is gripping, and the political system Carissa Broadbent constructed is intriguing. I know you’ll be unable to put this one down.

One Dark Window is for anyone who’s looking for their next big bookish adventure with a little romance subplot sprinkled in.

This book is about Elspeth, who survived a mysterious illness as a child that left her with magic powers that she must keep hidden.

It’s got a gothic, dark vibe that makes it easy to get sucked into its immersive world. If you loved the friendship dynamic of the ACOTAR inner circle, you’ll find something similar in this book.

If after you finish this book you feel like it wasn’t enough, you’re in luck, as One Dark Window is part of a duology!

If your favorite Acheron sister is Nesta, this is the perfect next read for you, as Serpent and Dove’s main character, Lou, has very similar traits.

Serpent and Dove is the first in a series about witches and witch hunters. It’s got some of those all-time favorite tropes that are also found in ACOTAR, including enemies to lovers, one bed, a strong female heroine, and a group of friends and side characters that you’ll grow to love.

If you’re missing that angsty kind of star-crossed lover plot, make room for this series on your TBR.