Best Books Like ACOTAR (2026): 5 Picks
Five books like ACOTAR compared from their listings: series position, reading age, author and story checked.
At a glance
Top picks
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Finishing ACOTAR leaves a hole: fae courts, slow-burn romance, unapologetic heroines. The best books like ACOTAR scratch that itch. We compared five books by series position, reading age, author and story.
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Quick picks
Top Pick A Court of Mist and Fury: Book 2 of ACOTAR: Feyre, the Night Court and Rhysand. Check price on Amazon
Runner-Up A Court of Silver Flames: Book 5 of ACOTAR: Nesta and Cassian’s story. Check price on Amazon
Box Set Pick The Folk of the Air Boxed Set: The complete Folk of the Air paperback set. Check price on Amazon
Also Great Caraval: Caraval by Stephanie Garber, a separate fantasy series. Check price on Amazon
Also Great Shatter Me Box Set: The Shatter Me 6-book box set by Tahereh Mafi. Check price on Amazon
The picks
| # | Product | Shelf Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folk of the Air Box Set by Black | 9.8/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | 9.7/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 | A Court of Silver Flames | 9.7/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 | Caraval by Garber | 9.7/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 | Shatter Me Series by Mafi | 9.5/10 | Buy on Amazon |
Folk of the Air Box Set by Black
The trilogy plus a full-color novella in one paperback box, for a fantasy fan who wants the whole set at once.
Pros
- The main trilogy and the novella arrive in one box
- Listed grade level 9 and up suits high school readers
- 1328 pages gives a long read for a teen who likes big fantasy worlds
Cons
- 1328 pages is long for a reader who wants a shorter book
- The description mentions murdered parents, bloodshed and civil war, so preview it for a younger teen
- Reading age is marked as from customers, not stated by the publisher
Pros
- ACOTAR Book 2
- Feyre and Rhysand
- Best-selling author
Cons
- Must read Book 1 first
- 17 years and up
- Long series commitment
Pros
- ACOTAR Book 5
- Nesta and Cassian
- Best-selling author
Cons
- Must read earlier books
- 18 years and up
- Long series commitment
Caraval by Garber
Two sisters are pulled into a mysterious performance game, a fit for fantasy readers who like magic and competition.
Pros
- Book 1 of 4 is clearly marked, so the series has a clear starting point
- A stated reading age of 13 to 18 years covers the teen range
- A magic competition with a sister bond at its center, per the description
Cons
- Grade level 7 to 9 sits below the stated reading age, so check the level
- The description mentions a kidnapping and danger, so check the content first
- Part of a series, so the next books are needed to continue the story
Shatter Me Series by Mafi
Six-book paperback box set of Juliette's story, for readers who like romance in a war-torn fantasy world.
Pros
- Six novels in one box, 2608 pages in total
- Action and romance are central, per the description
- Listing states all six novels are included
Cons
- Reading age 14 years and up and grade 9 to 12 are teen levels
- The description mentions killing, war and romance
- 2608 pages across six books is a long commitment
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Compare the picks
| Book | Shelf Score | Author | Series | Reading age | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Court of Mist and Fury | 9.7/10 | Sarah J. Maas | ACOTAR Book 2 of 7 | 17 years and up | View on Amazon |
| A Court of Silver Flames | 9.7/10 | Sarah J. Maas | ACOTAR Book 5 of 7 | 18 years and up | View on Amazon |
| The Folk of the Air Boxed Set | 9.8/10 | Holly Black | Complete set | Not stated | |
| Caraval | 9.7/10 | Stephanie Garber | Caraval series | Not stated | |
| Shatter Me Box Set | 9.5/10 | Tahereh Mafi | 6-book set | Not stated |
Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.
How we scored them
The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents, value and reading age. The two Maas books lead as ACOTAR itself.
| Book | Shelf Score | Fit /35 | Contents /25 | Value /25 | Age/level /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Court of Mist and Fury | 9.7 | 33 | 21 | 20 | 9 |
| A Court of Silver Flames | 9.7 | 32 | 20 | 19 | 8 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.
How to choose the best books like ACOTAR
Stay in the series or branch out
Mist and Fury is Book 2 of 7; Silver Flames is Book 5. Finish the series before branching to Caraval, Folk of the Air or Shatter Me.
Check the reading age
Mist and Fury lists 17 years and up; Silver Flames lists 18 and up. These are adult books. Buy for the right reader.
Boxed set or single volume
The Folk of the Air and Shatter Me sets collect whole series. Sets suit completists; single volumes suit first tries. Also see our best fantasy series similar to ACOTAR and our best dark romantasy books.
Before you buy
- Check the series number: Mist and Fury is Book 2, Silver Flames is Book 5.
- Confirm the reading age: 17 and up, and 18 and up.
- For boxed sets, confirm the book count before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after ACOTAR?
Stay in the series with Mist and Fury (Book 2) and Silver Flames (Book 5), or try Caraval, Folk of the Air or Shatter Me.
Is ACOTAR for adults?
Mist and Fury is marked 17 years and up; Silver Flames 18 and up.
Which book is first?
A Court of Thorns and Roses is Book 1; these are Books 2 and 5 of 7.
Related lists
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