Are you a Throne of Glass fan? I’ve compiled the 15 absolute best fantasy books like a Throne of Glass.
This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself
I am OBSESSED with Sarah J Maas. After finishing it, Throne of Glass became an instant favourite. Wow that series takes you on a journey. If you're anything like me, then you probably couldn't stop thinking about it after finishing it. If you're looking for something similar - you're in luck. I've compiled the best books like Throne of Glass,
Whether you're looking for adventure, royals, enemies to lovers romance or fae - this post has got you covered.
For each book I've included a Good Reads Rating and trigger warning in a comparison table at the bottom of this post. I've also included a handy quiz telling you what to read next.
Sarah J Maas Fan? Some other posts you might want to check out:
This post is all about fantasy books like Throne of Glass
What book should I read if I like Throne of Glass?
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
This series has one of the best enemies to lovers romances. And I couldn't write a post on books like Throne of Glass without starting with Sarah J Maas' other books. This is has so many similar tropes such as enemies to lovers romance, adventure and the found family trope. I would recommend starting with this series before Crescent City.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It follows Feyre. She is really poor and lives with her father and two sisters. She 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.
It is a bit slow. Sarah J Maas does dump a lot of information about the fantasy world on you. But stay with it – I promise you it gets so much better. The second book is definitely the best in the series where many of my favourite characters are introduced.
Good Reads Rating: 4.19
2. Crescent City by Sarah J Maas
This is probably my #1 of Sarah J Maas' fantasy series. It has so many similar elements to Throne of Glass such as fae, enemies to lovers romance and the war of kingdoms elements. Plus it has one of the most awesome, badass main characters.
Crescent city is an urban fantasy that features a range of mythological creatures such as mermaids, fae and werewolves.
It follows Bryce who is half-fae, half-human. And she is tasked with investigating a series of crimes with Hunt Athalar – a fallen angel. But they discover some dark powers at work.
Let me tell you – I was on the edge of my chair reading this. Sarah J Maas poses a number of mysteries at the start. And this hooked me in. The book was also full of unexpected plot twists.
There is some info-dumping at the start. But the world-building is exquisite and the urban fantasy setting is developed very well. Sarah J Maas writes strong sassy female leads very well. And Bryce is an incredible main character. But all the side characters were very well developed.
If you're looking for books suitable for a younger audience- then this isn't for you. It's definitely more suited to an adult audience.
3. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
One of the top ya fantasy books like Throne of Glass is is Legendborn. It's a fast paced ya fantasy book with an action packed plot and plenty of twists and turns. It has the competition element like in Throne of Glass. It also has an awesome main character who discusses losing a loved one.
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.
You should read this if you love a strong female lead, morally grey characters or the Sarah J Maas. It also features great commentary on slavery and racism.
Good Reads Rating: 4.43
4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
If you love a fast paced fantasy romance book or a twisty plot - then you absolutely need to read the Folk of Air Trilogy. It's a ya fantasy romance trilogy featuring fae, royals and an enemies to lovers romance.
Holly Black is seriously amazing at writing a killer plot twist. The Cruel Prince and Wicked King both open with a bang and keep you hooked throughout.
The Cruel Prince follows Jude who is a human. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters and is taken to live with the fae in the woods. She grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with.
There are also only 3 books in the series. And none of them are too long. So it makes the series more manageable. It also features an incredible enemies to lovers so if you're looking for books like Throne of Glass then this is a great pick.
I love reading about the immortal fae folk in this book and how dangerous they are. If you're looking for books with immortal characters then you can check out my recommendations here.
Good reads rating: 4.09
5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
I am very passionate about this - please read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom!!
Six of Crows is like a fantasy version of Oceans Eleven. And there is so much to love about Six of Crows – magic found family and super sassy banter. The morally grey characters, criminal mastermind and enemies to lovers romance remind me of Throne of Glass.
It 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.
People rave about this fantasy duology online and it's for a good reason. It features a fast paced plot, a diverse cast and hilarious banter.
6. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Oh Ember in the Ashes is such an incredible ya fantasy book. And guess who was an emotional mess while reading this? ME!
It's a ya fantasy series with world building inspired by Ancient Rome. It also features a strong female heroine, an adventure plot and a dystopian plot.
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.
7. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
This book is so underrated! If you like Crescent City then you will be obsessed with the grumpy/sunshine wlw romance in this book.
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 characters in this book are so well developed! Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Nausicaä and Arlo have such a perfect slow burn enemies to lovers vibe.
If you're looking for an audiobook then you should definitely give this one a listen. It features a full cast of narrators which make it so engrossing!
Good reads rating: 3.83
8. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder is seriously one of the most unique retellings. It's a Cinderella retelling in a future dystopian society featuring an android It also mentions a deadly plague (sound familiar)
The main character Cinder is an android. She 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 A Throne of Glass 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.
Good reads rating: 4.13
9. Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
I am a HUGE fan of the found family trope and it was executed so perfectly in this book! The plot was also really action-packed and fast paced throughout. There were no lulls or sections that lost my attention.
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.
But then a mysterious woman comes to her rescue. And offers her the chance to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her.
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 really 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.
Good reads ratings: 4.04
10. Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Lore is perfect for any greek mythology fans out there. It's Greek Mythology meets The Hunger Games. It features a strong, female main character, a romance and a competition element. Plus it's all set in an urbam setting.
Every seven years Greek Gods are hunted by descendants of ancient bloodlines. If the hunters succeed they seize their immortality. It follows Lore Perseus who has turned her back on this world. But as the next hunt dawns, two participants seek out her help.
The plot of Lore is quite complex but it’s executed perfectly. Bracken did a great job of building the concept. I was intrigued and hooked from the first chapter.
It has a really great revenge storyline. So if you liked the revenge elements in Six of Crows then this is a great book to read.
Good Reads Rating: 3.84
11. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A Curse so dark and Lonely has one of the most BADASS main characters! The main character has cerebral palsy but she is most definitely not in need of any sympathy. It also features an adorable enemies to lovers romance.
A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Prince Rhen is the Heir of Emberfall.
Emberfall is under a curse and the kingdom is enchanted into an everlasting winter. Prince Rhen needs to make a girl fall in love with him to break the curse.
Harper has cerebral palsy. And she struggles to look after her dying mother. She tries to save a stranger and is pulled into the world of Emberfall.
The plot is really well paced and keeps you engaged throughout. It also has the perfect slow burn romance. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince or Sarah J. Maas then you should definitely read this fast paced fantasy book.
Good reads rating: 4.05
12. Bright and Pale by Jessica Rubinowski
I do not hear people talk about Bright & Pale enough. It deserves so much more hype. It's the perfect fast paced ya fantasy book for winter. It's great to curl up inside and read all day.
It follows 17-year-old Valeria. As a child, she lived near this magical mountain. One day, it unleashed a big freeze that trapped her family. Valeria is one of few survivors.
So she flees and joins the thieves guild. And she does odd jobs to get by with her best friend Alik. Until he is brutally murdered.
Or so she thinks. A year later, he turns up alive. And she is forced to lead a group on a dangerous quest back to the mountain in exchange for Alik.
The world-building was truly enchanting. It’s heavily inspired by Russian folklore. But the winter setting added another layer to it. The two gods concept was intriguing but also quite creepy.
Good Reads Rating: 3.49
13. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Children of Blood and Bone combines a fast-paced, action-packed plot with magical West Africa inspired world-building. The book opens in a world where magic has disappeared.
There used to be magic in Orïsha. Zélie remembers how powerful her reaper mother was. But one-night magic disappears and Zelie is left without hope.
She now has to bring back the magic with the help of a runaway princess. Orïsha is full of danger everywhere. But Zeéie’s greatest danger is herself.
Children of Blook and Bone has much in common with A Court of Thorns and Roses – A strong female lead and a quest. I loved Zélie instantly and the world building is enchanting.
But Children of Blood and Bone also explores much darker themes such as racially charged violence. And that makes it a really powerful read.
Good reads rating: 4.10
14. Spellhacker by M.K. England
If you looking for a book about magic or a dystopian book then you should read Spellhacker. It has so many great elements – a diverse cast of characters, a high stakes heist, criminal mastermind main character and plenty of banter.
In this world magic is a commodity and we follow a group of friends who run an illegal business siphoning it. It also features a non-binary representation and chronic illness representation.
It’s set in a world where magic ( known as maz) was once freely available. But an earthquake unleashed a deadly plague. And now maz is a tightly controlled and expensive commodity.
We follow Diz who runs an illegal maz siphoning business with her three best friends. They get offered one last massive heist that could change everything.
This book opened with such a bang. And the opening had me hooked instantly. It was fairly fast-paced throughout. It's a quick read that you could binge read pretty quickly.
If you're looking for a standalone then you should read Spellhacker. This was a well written standalone. It felt like a cross between Ready, Player One and Six of Crows.
Good Reads Rating: 3.59
15. Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie
This is one of the more recent books I've read. I love fantasy romance books. And I'm a huge fan of enemies to lovers romance. So I originally read this for the romance and fantasy elements. But there were so many other elements I loved - the friendships, strong female leads and the magical elements.
It follows Ailesse and Sabine. Ailesse is a bone crier. And Bone Crier's have a sacred duty - they alone ferry the spirits of the dead. But the Gods demand a promise of dedication. The sacrifice of the Bone Crier's one true love.
Ailesse has been preparing for her rite of passage since birth - to kill the boy she's destined to live. Bastien's father was slain by a Bone Crier and he's been seeking revenge. But now his vengeance must wait, as Ailesse’s ritual has begun and their fates are entwined—in life and in death.
I love Sabine. She has such great character growth throughout the book. And her personality is really likeable from the start. I also enjoyed the world building - the mythical bone criers, the magical bridges and the catacombs imagery were beautiful.
It does have some negatives - the romance wasn't 100% convincing. So it's probably a 3-4 star overall. But it's still a really enjoyable, easy to read fantasy book.
Good Reads Rating: 3.70
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Comparison table
Use the comparison table below to see the rating, tropes, price estimate and trigger/content warning.
Name & Author | Rating | Tropes | Content warnings | pRICE ESTIMATE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth | 3.83 | grumpy/sunshine MC, | anger, arson, blood/gore, | $$ | ||||
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black | 4.09 | Enemies-to-lovers, court intrigue, anti hero, fae | Body shaming, Slavery, Physical & psychological child abuse, Cheating, Disownment, Nightmares mentioned, Suicide (on-page) and coerced self-harm | $$$ | ||||
A Curse so Dark |
|
|
| $$$ | ||||
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir | 4.25 | Enemies to lovers, arch-enemy, heroic vow, multiple pov | Attempted rape (on-page), Blood, Child abuse | $ | ||||
| 4.13 | Enemies to lovers, cyborg, plague, royals | Blood, Discrimination, Emotional abuse, Medical experimentation (nonconsensual), | $$ | ||||
| 4.18 |
|
| $ | ||||
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas | 4.19 | enemies to lovers, chosen one, morally grey, found family, fae, retelling | violence, confinement, control, domination, rape, date-rape, sexual assault, psychological/emotional abuse, and death | $$ | ||||
Crescent City by Sarah J Maas | 4,48 | urban fantasy, enemies to lovers, morally grey, fae, found family | $ | |||||
Spellhacker by M.K. England | 3.59 | friends to lovers, heist, | Attempted murder, chronic illness, medical treatments, drug use, anxiety | $ | ||||
Gilded ones by Namina Forna | 4.04 | found family, fantasy, adventure, | toxic masculinity, an extremely patriarchal society, mentions of and discussion of rape, enslavement of characters based on color of their blood, death of main character, mind control, xenophobia, misogyny, brutal abuse of main characters and side characters, and discussion of genocide | $ | ||||
Lore by Alexandra Bracken | 3.84 | long lost friend, competition, found family | Lore features themes of sexual assault, child brides, and mentions rape/attempted rape | $ | ||||
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi | 4.10 | magic, adventure, royalty, enemies to lovers |
| $ | ||||
Bright and Pale by Jessica Rubinowski | 3.49 | long lost friends, quest, | Grief, Violence, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Murder. | $ | ||||
Bone Criers Moon by Kathryn Purdie | 3.70 | enemies to lovers, fantasy, magic, found family, morally grey | Animal death/killing · Bone removal (animals) · Captivity · Death (parental) · Hunting · Murder · Ritual sacrifices · Trauma |
| ||||
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn | 4.43 | grumpy/sunshine. chosen one, competition | Death of a parent and traumatic grief/flashbacks, alcohol consumption, mind control/memory manipulation, racist macro and microaggessions, emesis (vomiting), blood, mild gore, combat violence, mention(s) of: physical abuse, racist violence, sexual violence. | $ |
