Authors Similar to Sarah J. Maas: Best Book Picks

Finishing A Court of Thorns and Roses and feeling the book-hangover? Sarah J. Maas has sold over 75 million copies worldwide, blending fae lore, romantic tension, and fierce heroines. This guide maps the authors and series that scratch the same itch — whether you’re after spicy fantasy, epic world-building, or a strong female lead.

Sarah J. Maas books sold worldwide: Over 12 million copies ·
ACOTAR series ratings on Goodreads: Average 4.5 stars (over 2 million ratings) ·
Top recommended similar author on Goodreads: Rebecca Yarros ·
Number of authors listed on Maas’ Goodreads similar page: 20+ ·
Most discussed alternative on Reddit: Jennifer L. Armentrout

The table below summarizes key facts about authors similar to Sarah J. Maas, based on reader data and publisher information.

What to read if I loved ACOTAR?

Top series similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses

• Fourth Wing (Rebecca Yarros) is the most frequently suggested read-alike, per Goodreads data and Entangled Publishing’s marketing for romantasy fans.
• A Soul of Ash and Blood (Jennifer L. Armentrout) is praised for a writing style that Reddit fans call “pretty identical” to Maas.
• The Cruel Prince (Holly Black) delivers the faerie-court politics and forced-proximity tension ACOTAR fans love.

These three share the DNA of ACOTAR: a mortal protagonist thrown into a dazzling, dangerous fae world, with romance that simmers before it burns. Amy de la Force, a BookTok analyst, calls ACOTAR “probably the best-known romantasy series” and notes its Beauty and the Beast retelling structure.

Why readers enjoy these alternatives

• Each series features a heroine who grows from vulnerability to power — the same arc that defines Feyre Archeron.
• The romantic subplots are central, not secondary, with “enemies to lovers” beats that Maas popularized in the genre.
• World-building is expansive: Yarros builds a dragon-riding war college; Armentrout crafts a pantheon of gods and fae; Black weaves the treacherous Faerie realm of Elfhame.

What other books are similar to Sarah J. Maas’ style?

Authors with comparable narrative tone

• Victoria Aveyard — Red Queen series delivers the same pacing and plot twists, with a heroine discovering supernatural powers in a divided kingdom. Goodreads rates it 4.1 stars across 1.5 million ratings.
• Sabaa Tahir — An Ember in the Ashes blends romance and high stakes in a Roman-inspired empire; Goodreads gives it 4.3 stars.
• Elise Kova — Air Awakens series mirrors the elemental magic system Maas uses in Throne of Glass. Goodreads shows 4.2 stars.

Key stylistic elements: romantic tension, fae politics, multi-POV

What unites these authors with Maas? First, romantic tension is the engine of the plot — not a side dish. Second, fae or fae-adjacent societies with intricate court politics (Aveyard’s silver-blooded elite, Tahir’s Scholars, Kova’s magic-wielding Tower). Third, many use multiple points of view, a technique Maas adopted in later books. Wikipedia’s entry on romantic fantasy notes that Maas and Yarros’ commercial success in the 2010s “led publishers to create imprints focused on the subgenre.”

The comparison table below shows how these authors stack up on romance level and world-building depth.

The pattern: authors who combine a high-stakes fantasy world with a romance that drives the narrative. The trade-off for readers is spice level — Yarros and Armentrout are explicit; Black and Aveyard keep it off-page.

Who are Sarah J. Maas’ favorite authors?

Authors Maas has publicly recommended

• Leigh Bardugo — Maas has cited the Grishaverse author as an influence, and the two share a fanbase that crosses over in reader-created lists.
• Holly Black — Maas publicly recommends Black’s faerie-centric novels; Bookshop.org’s list of Maas’ favorite books includes titles by both Laini Taylor and Holly Black.

Influences on her own writing

Maas has acknowledged the impact of Tamora Pierce (her Immortals series is a classic romantic fantasy on Wikipedia’s romantic fantasy list) and Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke & Bone). Courtney Leigh, an author and fae-romance commentator, notes that “Maas is the name most readers think of when they think of fae in modern romance,” but her own reading habits show she admires authors who also build deep fantasy worlds with romantic cores.

What to read after Sarah J Maas and Fourth Wing?

Next-level spicy fantasy series

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Carissa Broadbent) — a vampire-hybrid romance with a tournament structure. Goodreads readers rate it 4.4★.
• Trial of the Sun Queen (Nisha J. Tuli) — fae trials with a morally gray love interest. Goodreads shows 4.2★.
• Kingdom of the Wicked (Kerri Maniscalco) — slow-burn demon romance with Italian settings.

Authors bridging the gap between Maas and Yarros

If you finished Empyrean and want something that feels like both Maas and Yarros, try Grace Draven (Radiance) or Katherine Arden (The Bear and the Nightingale). Both combine lush prose with romantic fantasy grounded in folklore. Entangled Publishing explicitly markets some of its titles as “perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.”

Which Sarah J Maas series to read first?

Reading order within Sarah J. Maas’ universe

• Throne of Glass (publication order: 2012–2018) — often recommended as an entry point for epic fantasy readers. The series spans eight books and follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin with a hidden destiny.
• A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015–2021) — better for romance-first readers. The first book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling; later books expand to multi-POV and higher spice levels.
• Crescent City (2020–2024) — a modern fantasy setting with angels and tech; should be read after the other two series because it contains crossover spoilers.

Entry points for new readers

Maas’ official reading guide states: “Each of her series is listed in order of publication and readers can start with the first book in any of the three series.” For most fans, the advice is simple: pick the series whose premise excites you most. If you want romance, start with ACOTAR. If you want sprawling fantasy, start with Throne of Glass. If you’re a modern fantasy fan, jump into Crescent City.

Sarah J. Maas series at a glance

The table below provides specifications for each of Maas’ three series.

The three series share a connected multiverse, but each stands alone. Bloomsbury, Maas’ publisher, notes that she “has sold over 75 million books worldwide.”

What’s confirmed — and what’s still unclear

What readers are saying

“Jennifer L. Armentrout’s style is pretty identical to Sarah’s. If you liked the Blood and Ash series, you’ll feel right at home.”

— Reddit user in r/SarahJMaas

“The Goodreads ‘Members Also Liked’ section lists Rebecca Yarros, Callie Hart, and others as similar authors to Sarah J. Maas. It’s the first place I go for recommendations.”

— Goodreads community, based on algorithmic data

“If you loved Maas’s fae courts, try Holly Black. Her Folk of the Air series has the same political scheming but less explicit romance.”

— Amy de la Force, BookTok commentator

For the reader who has devoured everything Maas has written, the search for the next author is about finding the same emotional stakes: a heroine who rises from nothing, a love interest who challenges her, and a world that feels rich enough to live in. The authors listed here deliver on those fronts, even if the spice level or POV structure varies. The implication is stark: if you loved ACOTAR’s romance-first fantasy, Yarros and Armentrout are your safest bets. If you prefer the epic scope of Throne of Glass, Aveyard and Tahir are closer matches. For the reader in New Zealand or beyond, the choice comes down to what you want next — more heat or more world-building — because the genre has expanded to offer both.

For those who want to dive deeper into her worlds, a comprehensive Sarah J. Maas book order guide can help you navigate the series.

Frequently asked questions