A Court of Thorns and Roses

The A Court of Thorns and Roses series (often referred to by the online book community as ACOTAR) currently spans only (heh) four books and 1,937 pages, and the next novel in the series will not be available until January 2021. While Maas’ world building, characterizations, and plots are hard to beat, there are a number of books out there that fans of the series will still treasure for similar elements. Here are six books to get you started, some of which will lure readers into whole new and enchanting series.

(Please note that all titles are linked to in their e-book formats; most are available as physical books to place on hold as well.)

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
When Liesl’s sister is stolen by the Goblin King (who also happens to be her former playmate), she’s willing to do whatever it takes to free Käthe -- including marrying the Goblin King and becoming the Goblin Queen. The longer she spends in the Underground, the more mad she seems to become, feverishly writing music with the mercurial and austere Goblin King at her side. Even as Liesl begins to see other sides to the Goblin King, a history half-forgotten and the pressure of upholding the balance of the world weighs on her. Now she must determine whether love can win out over these challenges.

Valiant by Holly Black
Valerie hardly expects to find a home -- let alone a family -- when she runs off to New York City. But soon enough, she’s caught up in a group living in the subway’s underground. The group has secrets, she knows, and when she’s finally let in on what makes up the hub of the group, Valerie learns there’s more to the world than she realized. Now Valerie is faced with loving a maybe-monster and coming up against the changes in her new friends that are more than a little startling.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Aislinn has rules for interacting with faeries, meant to keep her safe from their tricky, malevolent ways: pretend you don’t see the invisible faeries, definitely don’t talk to the invisible faeries, and don’t give them a reason to notice you. There’s little Aislinn can do when the Summer King pins her as the queen he’s been looking for over hundreds of years. Now, no matter what she does, it seems she’s in his crosshairs, and her survival may depend on her ability to escape his attention.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Maya is far more interested in studying than marriage, especially with a curse that promises doom in the event she does marry; her father, however, is less concerned. When he decides it’s time to arrange a marriage for Maya and a number of eligible men arrive at their palace, Maya ends up finding herself Amar’s wife and Queen of Akaran. But Akaran has secrets and so does Amar; with no one but herself to rely on, Maya must discover the truth about Akaran and its ruler before whatever it is that Akaran really is destroys her and the prophecy of her curse is met.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Prince Rhen has been eighteen for nearly as long as he can remember, given season after season to break his curse by finding a girl to love him. Harper doesn’t have it so easy in Washington, D.C., either; with a dying mother, a missing father, and a cerebral palsy diagnosis that makes everyone underestimate her, a little escape doesn’t sound so bad, except when it comes in the form of being kidnapped and taken to a world where magic is real. Now, Harper comes up against her own desire to help others when she discovers Rhen and his curse while knowing she can’t force herself to love anyone. 

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Lumatere is a total loss, it seems, even years after a curse destroyed the land and its people. But when Finnikin learns from Evanjalin that the heir to the throne in fact survived, Finnikin, Evanjalin, and Sir Topher embark on a mission to retrieve him and restore Lumatere. Evanjalin is grateful for the way home, but Finnikin soon realizes something doesn’t add up and Evanjalin may be harboring secrets that put their whole mission in jeopardy. And what’s more, when he learns the truth, Finnikin will also have to face himself.