What to Read After ACOTAR: 10 Romantasy Books BookTok Can’t Stop Pushing
If ACOTAR flipped a switch for you, you’re probably craving more of the same energy: fae courts, enemies to lovers, high stakes magic, found family, and a romance that gets spicier as the world gets bigger. BookTok lives for that combo, and so does the fantasy‑romance corner of Reddit. Community recs from the thread include The Plated Prisoner, Kingdom of the Wicked, A Touch of Darkness, The High Mountain Court, and With Fangs and Claws, plus pointers to fantasy‑romance subs if you want to keep browsing.
Below are ten crowd‑pleasing picks that hit ACOTAR‑adjacent vibes. Check content warnings and spice levels, then dive in.
1) The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy
A Midas‑myth retelling that starts gilded and grim and evolves into a fierce, slow‑burn power reclamation with heavy romantasy beats. If you want lush worldbuilding, trauma recovery, and a heroine leveling up, start here.
2) Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy by Kerri Maniscalco
Witches, princes of sin, murder mystery, and a slow‑burn that turns decidedly hotter across the series. There’s also an adult spin‑off set in the same world, which means extra room to fall down the rabbit hole.
3) Hades x Persephone (begins with A Touch of Darkness) by Scarlett St. Clair
Modern‑myth romantasy with club‑glam vibes, bargains, and immediate heat. If you were into ACOTAR’s bargains, destiny threads, and a powerful love interest who radiates menace, this scratches that itch fast.
4) The High Mountain Court (Five Crowns of Okrith) by A. K. Mulford
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Classic fae‑court goodness with prophecy, politics, and a scrappy heroine fighting for her people. It’s essentially “give me the court intrigue and swoon, hold the filler.”
5) With Fangs and Claws (The Wolf Queen #1) by Sam Hall
Think feral courts and monster‑adjacent romance energy. It’s a fast, high‑chemistry read that still delivers training, survival, and found‑family beats.
6) The Folk of the Air by Holly Black
Mortal girl, vicious fae politics, enemies to lovers, and one of the most talked‑about couples in YA romantasy. It’s sharper, more courtly, and endlessly quotable, which is why BookTok recycles it on loop.
7) Radiance (Wraith Kings #1) by Grace Draven
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Love ACOTAR read-alikes? Watch smut brought to life on Shortbread, just like TV shows.
An arranged‑marriage fantasy that’s tender, adult, and wildly romantic. No instant attraction, just two outsiders building trust until it catches fire. A perfect palate cleanser if you want less angst and more intimacy.
8) Kushiel’s Dart (Kushiel’s Legacy #1) by Jacqueline Carey
Epic scope, intricate politics, and a central romance that’s complex, sensual, and unforgettable. Not fae, but if you loved ACOTAR’s court maneuvering and morally sticky choices, this is a gold‑standard classic.
9) These Hollow Vows duology by Lexi Ryan
Fae heists, betrayals, love triangles, and a heroine trying to out‑scheme everyone. It reads like the messy, addictive side of ACOTAR distilled into a fast binge.
10) Bound by the Viking Wolves by Shortbread
A celibate engineer falls through time into the body of a wolf-princess, trapped between three conquerors who refuse to let her slip away.
