Love your spicy fantasy romance books and you just finished A Court of Thorns and Roses and don’t know what to do with yourself? We’ve all been there. ACOTAR blends fae magic, swoony romance, and plenty of spice—and once you’re hooked, you’re hooked. Luckily, there are plenty of other fantasy romance novels that bring the same mix of world-building, found family, and open-door passion.

Here are 10 spicy fantasy romance books to fill the ACOTAR-shaped hole in your TBR.

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🌙 More Fae Romance

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The Bridge Kingdom — Danielle L. Jensen

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriage, political intrigue
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: A sharp heroine forced into a marriage alliance with a rival king, filled with danger, betrayal, and sizzling chemistry.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️

Deal with the Elf King — Elise Kova

Tropes: fae royalty, reluctant queen, magical bargain
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: If you want more fae rulers and magical bonds, this is a perfect entry. The romance is sweet but open-door enough to keep things steamy.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️

🖤 Morally Gray Heroes

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Zodiac Academy — Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Tropes: academy romance, bully romance, found family, why-choose (reverse harem)
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: If you loved the fae politics, slow-burn tension, and morally gray characters in ACOTAR, this series cranks up the drama with deadly trials, celestial magic, and a romance that doesn’t stop at just one love interest.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ to 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (heavier spice develops mid-series)

From Blood and Ash — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Tropes: forbidden love, chosen one, bodyguard romance
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: Poppy’s world is dark and full of secrets, and Hawke is as morally gray as they come. Addictive world-building + plenty of steam.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Kingdom of the Wicked — Kerri Maniscalco

Tropes: witches + demons, enemies-to-lovers, gothic fantasy
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: Emilia’s hunt for her sister’s killer leads her into the world of the Wicked Prince of Wrath. Broody hero + gothic romance = perfection.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️

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🔥 Epic Fantasy + Spice

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Fourth Wing — Rebecca Yarros

Tropes: dragon riders, military academy, found family
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: Violet’s journey at Basgiath War College delivers danger, morally gray heroes (hi, Xaden), and a romance subplot that crackles with tension.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️

The Serpent and the Wings of Night — Carissa Broadbent

Tropes: vampire fantasy, deadly competition, slow-burn romance
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: A competition to the death, a forbidden alliance, and a romance that’s equal parts tender and feral. If you loved ACOTAR’s intensity, this one’s for you.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

The Plated Prisoner Series — Raven Kennedy

Tropes: myth-inspired, why-choose romance, morally gray magic
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: A dark reimagining of King Midas with rich world-building and increasingly spicy books as the series progresses.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️+

🌌 Why-Choose Fantasy

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Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac — Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Tropes: academy romance, found family, reverse harem
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: If you liked the intense bonds and group dynamics in ACOTAR, this dark why-choose romance takes it to the next level.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️+

What Lies Beyond the Veil — Harper L. Woods

Tropes: fae + magic, forbidden love, dangerous bargains
Why ACOTAR fans will love it: Atmospheric, dark, and full of fae intrigue with a romance that doesn’t shy away from heat.
Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ Closing Thoughts

ACOTAR might be the gateway fantasy romance, but it’s far from the only one. Whether you’re craving more fae courts, morally gray heroes, or epic fantasy with dragons and vampires, these spicy reads will keep your TBR stacked.

✨ Want to dive even deeper into Sarah J. Maas’s worlds? Check out my complete Sarah J. Maas Reading Order guide for ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City, including spice levels and where to start.

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New to spice? Start with our Spicy Romance Glossary or explore Starter Books.

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