13 Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Books to Read After ACOTAR
You’ve officially finished the infamous A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas.
Congratulations! And, my condolences.
Because how could you ever move on? This series had it all: an enchanting magic system, the most wholesome found family, multiple shadow daddies, and, most importantly, so many enemies-to-lovers plots it’s hard to remember which of our favorite pairs didn’t start as enemies.
Whether it’s your first read through or your 10th, there’s something special (read: harrowing) about the post-ACOTAR book hangover. Fret not, my faerie-loving friend. I am here to remind you that there are more good books in the world. Better yet, there are more enemies to lovers fantasy books to read after ACTOAR.
Consider these recommendations your cup of coffee to shake off the book hangover and get you out of that end-of-series slump, at least until we get ACOTAR Book 6 in October.
1. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
This was my follow-up series after my first ACOTAR read. It was the reminder I needed that other good books exist in the world.
The first of a three-book series, Serpent & Dove follows the story of Lou, a classically difficult FMC and witch who lives to laugh in the face of the church and its chasseurs, and Reid who, of course, is a witch-hunting chasseur.
Why You’ll Love It:
The magic system is really cool, and very different from ACOTAR so you won’t have to spend every waking moment thinking about the inner circle.
It doesn’t get more enemies to lovers than a witch and a witch hunter in 17th century France forced into marriage by the religious leader of the state.
A badass best friend. A pretty boy prince. A sweetie pie chasseur in training. The supporting characters are so interesting you almost wish the story was about them instead. Almost.
The setting?? The side characters?? The banter?? The cinnamon buns??? Trust me, you’ll get it.
2. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
The Bridge Kingdom is perfect for anyone ready to hop right back into an ongoing series. With five books already published and the final book coming out in April, you still have time to start reading with little-to-no Book 6 spoilers if you get going soon.
Lara is the daughter of a king, and one of 12 at that. She and her sisters were raised not just to take over their father’s crown, but to take over their rival kingdom of Ithicana. The strongest of the daughters is to be offered to the Ithicanian King Aren as part of a treaty between their nations, in hopes that this will end the long suffering of Lara’s people. But once Lara infiltrates the supposed nation of barbarians, she finds there’s more to the story than what she was raised to believe.
Why You’ll Love It:
A bride infiltrating a rival kingdom under the guise of peace. And a man who is quick to fall in love.
A slow burn. You know the type: you’re 80% through Book 1 and you’re still looking around waiting. But with none of that “So Lorcan did” nonsense.
Action. You know how ACOTAR was kind of slow until UTM? That is not the case here. I mean we start at a table of women trained as assassin spies. Come on.
Plus there is shockingly no fae or magic to be seen in the series, so it’ll give you something different to chew on post-ACOTAR.
3. For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
ACOTAR is largely inspired by three tales: “Beauty and the Beast,” Hades and Persephone, and Helen of Troy. For the Wolf expands on our original beloved “Beauty and the Beast” reimagining, and adds a hint of Little Red Riding Hood for good measure.
Redarys’ sole purpose in life is to be offered up to the Wolf. That’s her job as the second daughter. Red yearns for the sweet release of sacrifice since she fears her magic will be the demise of her family. What she finds instead is that there is no wolf waiting in the Wilderwood, but a man.
Why You’ll Love It:
A magic system rooted in nature and blood.
An MMC that smells like books and coffee.
It’s literally a combination of your favorite fairytales.
If you liked that ACOTAR Book 1 was basically “Beauty and the Beast” fanfiction, then you’re going to eat this up like a wolf wearing your grandma’s nightgown.
4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Childhood fans of The Spiderwick Chronicles, prepare yourselves for The Folk of the Air series. I’m convinced Pinterest was made so we could make fanart boards of Holly Black’s millionth story about faeries.
We start the five-book series with The Cruel Prince, where we meet our MC, Jude. Jude is only seven when her parents are murdered in front of her, and her and her sisters are stolen away to the High Court of Faerie. She is left to survive as a mortal in a faerie world, where humans are not only the lowest of the low, but also a necessary part of faerie society. Jude wants more than to be her overlords’ equal; she wants to be the best damn knight the realm has ever seen.
Why You’ll Love It:
Human-hating faeries and a ploy to dethrone the cruel High King.
A quest to save our MC’s family that also holds the fate of the court in balance.
A MMC that serves more Eris Vanserra vibes than Eris Vanserra himself.
Holly Black knows fae—she’s been writing about them for over 20 years. Existing Holly Black fans will love that The Cruel Prince gives us the barest whisper of a crossover. If nothing else, read it so you can scroll social media without worrying about Jude and Cardan spoilers.
5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Take a break from long series with The Night Circus. This is not a light and airy read. But that’s what makes it the perfect follow-up for ACOTAR. It has depth and magic and a darkness that makes it impossible to put down.
Le Cirque de Rêves shows up with no warning and only runs at night. Its black-and-white tents exhibit only the most exquisite and ever-changing displays—acrobats and a cloud maze and a magical carousel and a fortune teller; the list goes on and on. What circus goers don’t know is the show’s raison d’être: Le Cirque de Rêves is the stage of a magicians duel.
Why You’ll Love It:
A magic competition pitting our two beautiful and talented MCs against each other.
The intrigue of high-class after parties complete with revelers, entertainers, the wealthy, and so much velvet.
A setting you’ll wish you could experience for yourself, giving “running away with the circus” a whole new meaning.
The Night Circus is a whirlwind of whimsy, carrying you back and forth between places, timelines, and POVs. If you aren’t paying attention, you just might lose yourself. But that’s the magic of the circus, right?
6. The Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
A woman I respect once told me that The Zodiac Academy featured better smut than ACOSF. To which I responded with only a dropped jaw. But she was right.
The Vega twins live in a world where only fae are blessed with elemental magic. When Tory and Darcy discover their bloodline left them with not only fae heritage but royal titles and powers to match, they decide it’s time to fight for what’s theirs. The twins’ time at the academy is traumatic to say the least. But if you can get through the assault in Book 1, you’ll be in for a real treat with the rest of the series.
Why You’ll Love It:
This series has it all: fae, elemental magic, werewolves, vampires, dragon shifters, astrology. It’s a romantasy reader’s dream.
A recommended reading order that rivals Throne of Glass.
Smut.
Whether or not you’re ready for the full 20-book experience, Zodiac Academy is full of the bully romance Nessian fans will love.
7. A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
Lovers of Thor—and more importantly, Loki—unite! The Saga of the Unfated is the perfect post-ACOTAR read for you.
Based on Norse mythology, A Fate Inked in Blood introduces us to Freya, a warrior at heart (and by blood) bound in a miserable marriage to a fisherman. She doesn’t suffer her husband too long, though, as he betrays her almost immediately to the local nobility, sending her straight into another forced betrothal. Freya quickly finds herself in our favorite FMC storylines: learning to fight, training her magic, and being tested by the gods.
Why You’ll Love It:
An FMC who wants to kill her husband.
A mythology-based magic system.
Insta lust, viking romance, forbidden attraction.
No worries if you aren’t well versed in all things Norse mythology. You’re here for the enemies-to-lovers trope and that’s what you’ll get.
8. A Forbidden Fate by Kaven Hirning
If you read Cassian’s lines in Kaven Hirning’s voice, then you’re in for a treat. No, she hasn’t released her own Silver Flames audiobook… yet.
Our favorite ACOTAR TikToker’s debut novel, A Forbidden Fate, is the first in a three-book series following princess Idalia as she heads off to marry a foreign king in hopes that the union will save her kingdom. Idalia’s plans are quickly thwarted when she’s abducted on her travels through the mythical forest and forced to spend her journey alongside Braizen, the prince of her rival kingdom.
Why You’ll Love It:
A gods-given curse where the MCs can’t touch or else their kingdoms will perish.
Endless banter. The only thing we love more than enemies-turned-lovers is the bickering it takes to get there.
Characters you’ll care about more than the plot.
Book three, A Tormented Touch, just released in October so now is the perfect time to pick up this series. Plus, royals cursed by the gods? It doesn’t get more dramatic than that.
9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
If your favorite part of ACOTAR was the inner circle, then Six of Crows is the follow-up series you’ve been looking for.
Kaz Brekker, an infamous criminal, leads 5 other social outcasts in a quest to free a scientist held hostage in the country of Fjerda. The scientist in question created a drug that heightens magical powers, and, in the wrong hands, can lead to the demise of the world as they know it. But Kaz isn’t in it to be a hero; he’s in it for the cash.
Why You’ll Love It:
A rag-tag group of morally gray characters.
It’s actually diverse. Like for real.
A book full of men that still passes the bechdel test.
So many of our favorite romantasies follow FMCs and, subsequently, their male romantic partners. Six of Crows gives us a man to root for from the start, which I was shockingly on board with. Plus Book 2 has a map, so read this one so you can get to the good stuff.
10. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Uprooted, has everything you love about fantasy while also being unlike anything you’ve ever read.
Agnieska lives in a small town that requires protection from their local wizard. The price? A young woman, of course! Every 10 years, the wizard selects a girl from one of the surrounding towns to live with him—assumedly as his house maid—except once their time in the castle is over, they’re different and almost never return to the towns from whence they came.
Why You’ll Love It:
A dark MMC who’s serving Snape vibes and is literally named “the Dragon.”
The central antagonist is an enchanted forest known menacingly as “the Wood” that devours entire towns.
The barest mention of smut. It’s no PYHOTH, but it’ll help you come down from ACOSF.
Based on Polish folklore, this feels like a classic dark fairytale in all the best ways. And where ACOTAR ends with everything you wanted to happen, Uprooted has so many twists and turns you can’t even guess where the story will take you.
11. The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole
Nesta stans: this one is for you.
The Book of Azrael is a story of gods and monsters, and a quest to find the tome that gives its yielder control of the realm. Dianna sold herself to an evil king in order to save her sister a thousand years ago. Now, the king has sent her to retrieve The Book of Azrael, a relic that can open realms, from a man known as “the world ender.”
Why You’ll Love It:
Enemies who become temporary allies for a mission and a shared goal.
An FMC with an attitude problem.
An ending reminiscent of the last 100 pages of an SJM novel.
I hope you have money for therapy, because you’re going to need it.
12. The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Recommended by Sarah J. herself, The Prison Healer trilogy is like reading a soft porn version of ACOTAR. Except the MMC is blonde.
Kiva Meridan is the healer in the land’s notorious death prison. She refuses to get close to anyone—no one lasts long in Zalindov—aside from 12-year-old Tipp, her pseudo little brother. That is, until a new arrival lands in the infirmary who she just can’t shake, no matter how hard she tries.
Why You’ll Love It:
If you loved the bat boys then you’ll find comfort in the arms of another found family here, with members who play roles similar to our favorite inner circle.
A kingdom plagued with rebels seeking to avenge a generations-long blood feud.
A few enemies-to-friends storylines mixed in for fun.
The Prison Healer is the perfect post-ACOTAR series if you’re looking for something ACOTAR reminiscent to help with the comedown. While not exactly the same, there’s enough similarity to the SJM world that you’ll feel the warm embrace of the series as it drifts off into memory.
13. These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
I’m not going to lie to you, These Hollow Vows is not an original tale. But it’s a lot of fun. If you want a post-ACOTAR read that’s basically a mini-ACOTAR, then you’ve found your perfect match.
Abriella is a human living in a world surrounded by fae. And she hates them. This hate only grows when they steal her sister as payment for Brie’s unpaid debt. In order to ensure her sister’s safety, Brie makes a deal with the Unseelie King to steal from the Seelies, their rival fae court. When she arrives, she lands herself in a competition to win the Seelie Prince’s heart.
Why You’ll Love It:
Fae-hating FMC stuck in the middle of two fae courts. It’s the Children of the Blessed’s dream.
Tatted MMCs.
A love triangle to rival Twilight. This is not a simple “we hate Tamlin” situation.
Goodreads literally described it as “Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses.” Chances are you’re going to like this one.
Finishing ACOTAR is a life-changing experience that leaves you feeling empty and whole and ready for romance. In real life, I hope you find a normal, healthy, friends-to-lovers relationship. But in romantasyland, I hope these enemies-to-lovers recommendations keep you warm all night.
Guest post by Jacklyn Walters
Jacklyn Walters spends more time in the imaginary than the real world, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Like Belle, Jacklyn prefers to live “with a dreamy far-off look, and her nose stuck in a book.” She has always found escape in reading. Ironic, since the books she read as a teen were primarily dystopian novels. But they lit up something in her. They showed her that being a strong-willed woman doesn’t mean you’re difficult, it means you’re going to save the world.
Now her passions lie in creating and making sure others can tell their stories, too.
When she isn’t working on marketing campaigns, Jacklyn can be found exploring local parks, planning grand adventures, laughing with friends, and, of course, reading.
