25 Insanely thrilling books like Crescent city

Recently updated on November 29th, 2024 at 04:52 pm

Confession time – I am Sarah J Maas trash. If House of Sky and Breath also left you with a massive book hangover then this is the post for you. This post is all about books like Crescent City.

This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.

Light it up! Crescent City is one of my top fantasy reads.  Once you get past the first few chapters  it’s almost impossible to put down. With it’s engaging characters, intriguing mystery and urban worldbuilding.

And if you’re anything like me, then  you also had some serious Sarah J Maas withdrawal once you finished Crescent City.  So, I’ve compiled the best books like Crescent City – perfect to cure a book hangover!

Spoiler alert – this post does contain spoilers for House of Sky and Breath. If you haven’t read Crescent City 2 then read with caution.

Let’s see the best books like Crescent City

What should I read if I liked Crescent City?

I browsed the r/suggestabook subreddit, Facebook groups and polled Instagram users to round up a list of the absolute best books like Crescent City   I’ve also read and loved each of the books recommended on this list! Here are the top books like Crescent City:

• Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
• A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
• Angel’s blood by Nalini Singh
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
• Darkfever by  Karen Marie Monig
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Keep reading for more in depth information on each book. 

Best Books like Crescent City

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

I couldn’t start a post about books like Crescent City without recommend Sarah J Maas’ other books.  If you enjoyed  the writing style in Crescent City then I highly recommend Throne of Glass.

While it’s aimed at a younger audience, there is a lot in common with Crescent City. And it becomes more grown up later in the series.

Celaena Sardothien is imprisoned in a horrific prison called Endovier. She is an assassin. And one day she is summoned by the Prince to fight in a competition. The winner will become the king’s personal assassin.

Celaena is a sassy, badass main character. Perfect if you liked Bryce. It also  features an incredible slow burn, enemies to lovers romance.

Similarities to Crescent City

slow burn enemies to lovers, strong female main character, mystery, fae, morally grey character

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

If you enjoyed Crescent City then you have  to  read The Court of Thorns and Roses series. The ending of Crescent City – House of Sky and Breath hinted at a potential crossover between the 2 books. It’s also perfect if you enjoy Sarah J Maas’ writing style.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Feyre has to hunt to care for the family. One day she sees a deer and can’t resist killing it to sell. But it was actually a faerie she murdered. And the owner comes to kidnap her to live at the castle as punishment.

If you enjoyed the romance elements in Crescent City then you’ll love this trilogy. It has one of the best enemies to lovers romances. If you liked the found family elements in Crescent City then you’ll also love this book. The found family trope is executed particularly well.

Similarities to Crescent City

slow burn enemies to lovers, strong female main character, fae, morally grey characters, found family

3. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

 If you’re a fan of Crescent City you definitely need to read a Dark and Hollow Star.  There are so many similarities. It’s an urban fantasy with fae, queer main characters and an enticing mystery. It also has a seriously adorable wlw romance.

A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans.  Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.

The urban fantasy vibes in this novel feel very similar to Crescent City. It features supernatural creatures in a city and a mystery to solve. Plus, Nausicaä is a sassy badass – perfect for Byrce fans.

Similarities to Crescent City

grumpy/sunshine dynamic, morally grey, slow burn enemies to lovers, urban city setting, multiple mythical creatures in one city

4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

If you liked the morally grey characters, city setting and found family elements in Crescent City then you should read Six of Crows. It doesn’t contain fae and it is more ya fantasy. But it has an excellent slow burn enemies to lovers romance, magic and a compelling mystery.

Six of Crows is like a fantasy version of Oceans Eleven. We follow six teenagers living in Ketterdam. Kaz Brekker, a criminal prodigy, is one of the teens. He is offered a deadly heist for a huge payout.

But it’s an impossible heist. And Kaz will need all the help he can get to pull it off. So he assembles five other teens to help him.

This features an incredible group of friends, perfect if you enjoyed the group in Crescent City.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters,  found family, enemies to lovers romance, city setting

5. The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

The Prison Healerr has a strong main character, plot twists and the found family trope. Plus it also has an endorsement from Sarah J Maas. Perfect for Crescent City fans.

The Prison Healer is set in a ruthless death prison called Zalindov. It follows Kiva who is a prisoner there. As Prison healer, she is charged with keeping the seriously ill Rebel Queen alive long enough to go through the Trial by Ordeal.

The writing style reminds me of Sarah J Maas  and in particular Crescent City. It contains an intriguing mystery and excellent plot twists. Plus it features an excellent enemies to lovers romance.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters,  found family, enemies to lovers romance, grumpy/sunshine, strong female main character.

6. The Guild Hunter Series – Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh

If you enjoyed the relationship between Hunt Athalar and Bryce then you’ll love this adult fantasy romance.  I picked this up because Sarah J Maas listed Nalini Singh as an author she enjoys. And  I was not disappointed!

We follow Elena. She’s a vampire hunter and she knows she’s the best. But the Archangel Raphael hires her for a job. And failure is not an option – even if the task is impossible.

There are so many similarities between Crescent City! A dark urban fantasy with angels and vampires. It features a romance between an angel and someone not quite human. It even references wings a lot!

If you’re looking for a fantasy romance book like Crescent City then you will love this book.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters,  found family, enemies to lovers romance, grumpy/sunshine, strong female main character, angels, vampires, urban fantasy

7. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Fans of Crescent City will love Daughter of Smoke and Bone. This urban fantasy features an enemies to lovers romance with an angel.  

We follow Karou. She has 2 lives which she has always managed to keep balanced. On one hand, she’s a seventeen year old art student living in Prague. On the other hand, she runs errands for a monster. 

But then black hand prints start appearing on doorways. Scorched there by winged creatures. And Karou must choose between the safety of her human life or war. 

If you’re looking for books like Crescent City then this is a great choice. Particularly if you’re looking for books with angels. This book features angels and an urban setting.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters,  found family, enemies to lovers romance, angels

8. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Legendborn is perfect for Sarah J Maas fans. It features a hidden world of magic and secret societies. The writing style is reminiscent of Sarah J Maas. 

It’s a fast paced ya fantasy book with an action packed plot and plenty of twists and turns.

Legendborn follows Bree Mathews. After the death of her mother, she wants to avoid family memories. So, she joins a residential program for gifted high school students.

But then she witnesses a magical attack on her first night. A flying demon feeding on human energy. A Mage tries to wipe her memory. But he fails. And instead Bree unlocks new memories of her mother’s death.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters, urban setting, magic,

9. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

When researching recommendations for this blog post, DarkFever was easily one of the top recommendations on Reddit.

 And after reading this dark fantasy book I can see why. It’s an urban fantasy featuring fae and vampires. It also has a morally grey dark haired male love interest and a sassy human protagonist. 

We follow Mackayla. She lives a relatively normal life until her sister is brutally murdered. She journeys to Ireland in search of answers. 

I loved this and I understand why Crescent City fans would enjoy this. It has many similar tropes when compared to Crescent City – fae, strong female main character, morally grey. 

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters, urban setting, Fae, vampires,

10. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder is more sci-fi than other books on this list. But this fantasy is set in a modern city and features an enemies to lovers romance.

The main character Cinder had an accident when she was younger. And she now has a cyborg hand and ankle. But the world she lives in shuns androids.

She meets and falls in love with the Prince. But she can’t tell him that she’s an android.

This one of the most enthralling ya fantasy books. It features so many intriguing elements: an enemies to lovers romance, androids, a deadly plague  and an evil queen. You’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens.

If you’re looking for books like Crescent City then  you need to read this one.  Especially if you’re a fan of retellings like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince or a Curse so Dark and Lonely.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters, urban setting, mystery, magic, enemies to lovers romance, royalty

11. Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

One thing Sarah J Maas writes exceptionally well is a badass heroine. And if you’re looking for more books with strong female main characters then you’ll love this one. It’s a fantasy with a cast full of strong women and the found family trope is executed perfectly.

It follows 16-year-old Deka. She lives in a village where all the girls undergo a blood ceremony. If their blood runs gold – they are impure.

Deka has lived in fear of this ceremony. And on the day – her blood runs gold. And Deka must face consequences worse than death.

There is so much to love about this book. The found family trope works really well. There was so much diversity in the army of Alaki. The magic system was intriguing and the world-building was excellent.

This book is not for everyone – it has a lot of violence. Please check the trigger warnings before reading

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters, found family, strong female characters, magic, mythical creatures

12. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I’m recommending An Ember in the Ashes as it includes an incredible enemies to lovers romance and a strong heroine.

It has one of the BEST slow burn enemies to lovers romances. Perfect if you’re looking for books like Crescent City.

An Ember in the Ashes opens with Laia. She has found an illegal sketchbook belonging to her brother.  The empire comes and takes away her brother. So she must locate the resistance and go on a perilous mission to save him.

The book opens with a punch and it’s fast-paced throughout. The opening makes you really emotionally invested. Laia goes to extraordinary lengths and becomes a slave in order to save her brother. There is so much at stake that it leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters,  enemies to lovers romance, strong female main character,

13. Malice  by Heather Walter

Malice is incredible. You’ll love the dystopian world building, morally grey main character and grumpy/sunshine romance. It also features fae in a city.

Malice is set in a Kingdom called Briar. Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse.

The book follows Alyce – the dark grace. She was left abandoned in Briar from a dark kingdom. The dark magic that runs in her veins abhors residents in Briar.

Except for Princess Aurora who accepts her. And she encourages Alyce to accept herself.

This book is almost a cross between Wicked and The Hunger Games. But with fae. The world building is darkly magical. And the residents of Briar reminded me of the residents of the Capitol. I LOVED the depiction of the Imps and goblins in Misrule. Plus both books reference fae.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters,  strong female main character, fae

14. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

One of the most popular books on this list. The writing style is perfect for Crescent City fans. It features an enemies-to-lovers romance and a badass heroine.

We follow Violet Sorrengail. She was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant and live a quiet life among books. But the commanding general – her mother – orders Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become elite dragon riders.

But Violet is smaller than everyone else, with a brittle body. And with fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. 

The writing style in this book is perfect for Sarah J Maas fans! If you haven’t read this, you need to pick it up.

Similarities to Crescent City

morally grey characters,  strong female main character, enemies to lovers romance

15. The Serpent and The Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Did you enjoy the romance between Hunt and Bryce? You’ll love this book. It features an incredible enemies-to-lovers romance.
We follow Oraya, the adopted daughter of the Nightborn vampire king. She carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

This is a fast-paced, addictive read full of plot twists. The shorter trials paired with the longer mystery, kept me hooked until the very end. It features a human trying to survive in a dangerous city full of vampires. Ideal for Crescent City fans.

Similarities to Crescent City

City setting, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers romance, strong female main character

16. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

From Blood and Ash is a popular pick for fans of Sarah J Maas. It features a compelling enemies to lovers romance.

We follow Poppy. She was chosen from birth to usher in a new era as the Maiden. And her life has never been her own.

The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched or looked upon or spoken to. And never to experience pleasure. But she would rather be fighting back evil than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. 

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders. So when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard, enters her life. Destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. 

An enemies to lovers romance, a strong female main character and its new adult. A great choice if you’re looking for books like Crescent City.

Similarities to Crescent City

Spice, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers romance, new adult

17. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

This is more historical fantasy, but it features an excellent enemies to lovers romance paired with a mystery.

A high fantasy with a unique magic system, a gothic atmosphere and a romantic sub-plot.

In Blunder all magic comes at a price. We follow Elspeth. She touches a magical providence card and is possessed by the Nightmare.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. 

One Dark Window was marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance but it’s much more than that. This is a must-read for fans of gothic fantasy books.

Similarities to Crescent City

Mystery, plot driven, enemies to lovers romance

18. Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Are you searching for a book with fae and romance? Then you’ll love Faebound.

Yeeran is a warrior in the elven army and has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future.

When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven lands, they are both forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the impossible: the fae court.

The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world – torn between their loyalty to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts…

Similarities to Crescent City

Fae, mystery, plot driven, slow burn romance

19. A Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

An urban fantasy with a slow burn romance and spice. Ideal for Crescent City fans.

We follow Diem Bellator. She lives in a world colonized by the gods and ruled by the Descended, their cruel offspring. She yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

Similarities to Crescent City

Magic, romance, slow burn romance

 20. The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

The Hurricane Wars is an exquisite fantasy with a sizzling enemies to lovers romance. It also has tons of angst and a sassy, strong female lead. Ideal for Sarah J Maas Fans.

All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, Talasyn has found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire’s shadows.

Prince Alaric, the emperor’s only son and heir, has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire’s rule with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, Alaric has never been bested. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. In a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.

Similarities to Crescent City

Magic, mystery, strong female lead, enemies to lovers romance,

21. Powerless by Lauren Roberts

The main character in this book is ideal for fans of Bryce. A sassy, snarky street thief. She must survive in a city as an ordinary mortal.

We follow Paedyn. She lives in the Kingdom of Ilya. Only the exceptional, powered Elites belong in the Kingdom. These powers were gifted to them by the Plague. Those born Ordinary are banished to preserve an Elite society.

This makes Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity.

When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites’ powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks.

Similarities to Crescent City

Enemies to lovers romance, strong female lead, urban fantasy, magic

22. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalo

Did you enjoy the romance in Crescent City? This fantasy has an incredible enemies to lovers romance. Plus, it has an intriguing mystery to solve.

We follow Emilia. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are witches living secretly among humans. One night, Emilia finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief.

Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked—princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems.

Similarities to Crescent City

Enemies to lovers romance, strong female lead, mystery, magic

23. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Searching for urban fantasy books? Magic Bites is the book for you. It features a main character similar to Bryce.

Magic Bites is the first book in the Kate Daniels Series. It’s an Urban Fantasy where rogue mages cast spells and leave all kinds of paranormal problems in their wake. 

Kate Daniels is a  down on her luck mercenary who makes a living cleaning up magical problems.  

But when her guardian is murdered, she embarks on a quest of justice. And it draws her into a power struggle between two factions in Atlanta’s magic circles.

If you’re searching for urban fantasy enemies to lovers books then this is a great pick.

Similarities to Crescent City

Enemies to lovers romance, urban fantasy, strong female lead

24. The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole

This is darker in tone than Crescent City. But this features a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance ideal for Crescent City fans.

A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Eoria to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she does what Kaden asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her.

The characters in this book are incredible. The main characters are excellent with hilarious banter. And I loved the morally grey heroine. But the side characters are also well-developed.

Similarities to Crescent City

Enemies to lovers romance, morally grey characters, strong female lead, fast pace, smut

25. City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edward

City of Gods And Monsters has lots in common with Crescent City. This is an urban fantasy with an incredible inner circle. We also follow a human trying to survive in a city of magical beings.

We follow Loren Calla, an ordinary human. She is struggling to survive in a city catering tot he needs of vampires, werewolves and other supernatural creatures.

She escapes abduction at the hands of a DarkSlayer (supernatural bounty hunter). One of her friends is taken in place. And the abductors are demanding a random: Loren’s life in exchange for her friend’s safe return.

 Loren will do whatever it takes to get her friend back—even if it means accepting help from Darien Cassel, the leader of the Seven Devils, the most feared Darkslaying circle in the city.

Similarities to Crescent City

urban fantasy, enemies-to-lovers romance, inner circle,

This post was all about books like Crescent City

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