(But Way Less Talked About)
Are you still haunted by the emotional grip of A Court of Thorns and Roses? Whether you’re mourning Rhysand or craving the intricate tension of a morally grey fae realm, these dark romantasy reads will fill the void. Below are 10 spellbinding books filled with cursed towns, seductive guardians, court intrigue, and the kind of yearning that leaves you breathless. If you’re searching for books like ACOTAR, you’ve come to the right place.
Perfect for fans of ACOTAR and those looking for books like ACOTAR, these selections are handpicked to match your taste for slow-burn tension, haunting fantasy worlds, and romance that walks the edge of danger.
If you love stories filled with magic and romance, these books like ACOTAR will keep you enchanted.
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1. “Heart of the Fae” by Emma Hamm
Vibes: Cursed fae prince, healer in disguise, slow-burn romance, rich Celtic mythology.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s dangerous fae and a heroine who won’t back down.
Read if you like: Beauty and the Beast retellings, hidden identities, emotional healing arcs.
For fans of: Romantic fantasy with folklore depth and fiercely independent women.
Summary:
When Sorcha’s father falls deathly ill, she leaves behind her plague-ridden home to find a cure—and ends up making a deal with a fae prince. But this isn’t just any fae prince; he’s cursed, brooding, and exiled. Disguised as a male healer, Sorcha is drawn into a dark world of magic, secrets, and betrayal. With the curse threatening them both, love may be the most dangerous risk of all.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Mild to Moderate — slow burn, tension-filled but not explicit.
Published: 2017 | Series: The Otherworld series, Book 1
Amazon: Grab Heart of the Fae on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover | Paperback
“She came for a cure. She stayed for the truth. And maybe… for love.”
2. “A Deal with the Elf” King by Elise Kova
Vibes: Arranged marriage with a fae king, strong-willed herbalist heroine, romantic fantasy with emotional depth.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s mortal girl thrown into a magical kingdom and forced to survive on her own terms.
Read if you like: Marriage of convenience, fae courts, gentle but powerful male leads.
For fans of: Slow-burn romance, enemies-to-lovers with heart, and lush magical world-building.
Summary:
Luella never expected to be taken by the Elf King—but when he arrives to claim a bride from the human realm, she’s chosen. Her world turns upside down as she’s whisked away to Midscape and must learn to play queen to a powerful fae ruler hiding secrets of his own. What begins as a duty-bound arrangement slowly turns into something far more tender—and dangerous.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Moderate — emotionally intense with tasteful heat.
Published: 2020 | Standalone in the Married to Magic world
- Amazon: Read A Deal with the Elf King on Amazon
- BooksAMillion: Hardcover (not available) | Paperback
“A duty-bound queen. A cursed king. One slow-burning love that could save a realm.”
3. “Master of Crows” by Grace Draven
Vibes: Dark magic, tortured sorcerer, apprentice with a secret mission, sizzling tension.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s morally gray love interests and the inner war between duty and desire.
Read if you like: Dark romantasy, powerful magic users, slow-burn tension with emotional payoff.
For fans of: Beauty and the Beast dynamics with adult-level complexity.
Summary:
Martise of Nazareth is sent to spy on Silhara, a dangerous sorcerer accused of consorting with demons. But the longer she stays in his crumbling tower, the more she sees of the man beneath the menace. As they grow closer, forbidden feelings rise—but Martise’s secrets and Silhara’s own torment threaten to destroy what they might build together.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️ Medium-High — passionate and deeply emotional.
Published: 2009 (indie re-release 2014) | Standalone novel
Amazon: Get Master of Crows on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover (not available) | Paperback
“She was sent to destroy him. She never expected to save him instead.”
4. “The Falconer” by Elizabeth May
Vibes: Victorian steampunk Edinburgh, deadly fae, vengeance-driven heroine, high-speed action.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s blend of romance and ruthless survival in a magical world.
Read if you like: Fae-hunting, gadgets and grit, and emotionally scarred heroines.
For fans of: Revenge arcs, dark fae mythology, and fast-paced fantasy series.
Summary:
Lady Aileana Kameron is a high-society debutante by day and a fae hunter by night. After her mother’s brutal murder by a fae, she’s dedicated her life to tracking and killing them. But she’s also hiding dangerous secrets—including the mysterious power within her and the fae boy who’s not quite an enemy… yet. Explosive battles, secret weapons, and a slow-burning connection await.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Light — romantic tension with emotional intimacy, no explicit scenes.
Published: 2013 | Book 1 of The Falconer Trilogy
Amazon: Dive into The Falconer on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover (not available) | Paperback
“They murdered her mother. Now the fae will feel her fury.”
5. “An Enchantment of Ravens” by Margaret Rogerson
Vibes: Dangerous fae prince, artistic mortal girl, autumnal magic, romantic tension.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s exploration of the fae realm and the fragile line between beauty and danger.
Read if you like: Creatives as heroines, morally tricky fae lords, and romantic adventure.
For fans of: Standalones with lush writing and classic fae-human tension.
Summary:
Isobel is a mortal portrait artist praised by the fae for her talent—but when she paints real human emotion into the eyes of Rook, a powerful fae prince, it’s a fatal mistake. Dragged into the fae lands to face the consequences, she must survive a world of beauty, cruelty, and deception while feelings grow between her and the very creature she should fear most.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Light — romantic tension, emotional closeness, but no explicit scenes.
Published: 2017 | Standalone novel
Amazon: Read An Enchantment of Ravens on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover | Paperback
“She painted emotion. Now she’s trapped in a world that has none.”
6. “Beneath the Haunting Sea” by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Vibes: Gothic atmosphere, ancient gods, haunted seas, poetic language.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s introspective depth and magical fate-driven journeys.
Read if you like: Mythological undertones, tragic beauty, and lyrical writing.
For fans of: Quiet but emotional fantasy with romance and destiny intertwined.
Summary:
Exiled from her home and stripped of her royal identity, Talia struggles to make sense of the visions haunting her and the music echoing from the sea. When long-buried secrets and gods rise from beneath the waves, she’s caught in a legacy of prophecy, sacrifice, and impossible love. This is a story of loss, longing, and finding power in the dark.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Light — emotional closeness, light romantic elements, no explicit scenes.
Published: 2018 | Standalone novel
Amazon: Get Beneath the Haunting Sea on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover | Paperback (not available)
“The sea is calling—and it wants her blood.”
7. “Queen of the Conquered” by Kacen Callender
Vibes: Island fantasy with colonial roots, mind control magic, ruthless political games.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s themes of power, rebellion, and betrayal—but darker and more brutal.
Read if you like: Anti-heroines, morally gray plots, and revenge stories soaked in justice.
For fans of: Political fantasy with a sharp edge and heavy psychological intrigue.
Summary:
Sigourney Rose is the last surviving member of a noble house destroyed by colonizers. Armed with the ability to read and control minds, she’s invited to the royal court—not as a guest, but as a threat. As bodies start piling up and secrets unravel, Sigourney must decide how far she’s willing to go to claim what was stolen… and if vengeance will cost her humanity.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Minimal — plot-focused with intense emotional depth rather than romance.
Published: 2019 | Duology (Book 1 of Islands of Blood and Storm)
Amazon: Grab Queen of the Conquered on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover (not available) | Paperback
“She will rise from the ashes of a stolen throne—or burn the empire down trying.”
8. “The Hollow Gods” by A.J. Vrana
Vibes: Dark folklore, cursed town, dreamwalker with secrets, psychological fantasy.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s darker undercurrents and emotional trauma mixed with myth.
Read if you like: Creepy, mysterious male leads, surreal dreamscapes, and soul-deep tension.
For fans of: Dark romantasy with horror edges, emotional unraveling, and layered lore.
Summary:
When a girl goes missing in the cursed town of Black Hollow, Miya, a psychology grad student with her own history of darkness, is drawn in. There she meets the Dreamwalker—half monster, half man—who’s bound to the forest and something far more ancient. Together, they unravel decades of disappearances, trauma, and twisted fate in a haunting dance of desire and dread.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Moderate — slow-burn with high tension, intimate but restrained.
Published: 2020 | Book 1 of The Chaos Cycle duology
Amazon: Explore The Hollow Gods on Amazon
BooksAMillion: 📕 Not available on BAM – get it on Amazon instead.
“Some monsters wear smiles—and some find you in your sleep.”
9. “The Queen’s Rising” by Rebecca Ross
Vibes: Secret heritage, ancient rebellion, passion for knowledge, subtle romance.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s themes of inner strength and discovering one’s power in the midst of chaos.
Read if you like: Found family, court politics, destiny, and a heroine who isn’t defined by violence.
For fans of: Soft fantasy with rich emotion, slow unfolding plots, and elegant prose.
Summary:
Brienna has never quite fit into the world of the five passions—art, music, wit, knowledge, and history—but when she is offered a place in a rebellion against a tyrant king, she accepts. Thrust into espionage and secrets, Brienna learns that her power doesn’t come from brute strength—but from her mind, her heart, and a legacy she never knew was hers.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Light — gentle, slow romance with emotional depth.
Published: 2018 | Duology (Book 1 of The Queen’s Rising)
Amazon: Read The Queen’s Rising on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover (not available) | Paperback
“Some are born into power. Others rise to claim it.”
10. “The Iron King” by Julie Kagawa
Vibes: Classic fae court conflict, hidden royal lineage, forbidden love, and magical creatures.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s whimsical, dangerous fae world and mortal girl caught between realms.
Read if you like: Fae princes, fast-paced adventure, and hidden magic in modern life.
For fans of: Urban-meets-high fantasy with rich world-building and romantic tension.
Summary:
On her sixteenth birthday, Meghan Chase learns she’s the daughter of a fae king—and is suddenly thrown into a deadly game between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Armed with courage and guided by a trickster and a cold fae prince, Meghan must navigate a land of enchantment, betrayal, and iron-bound threats. Old-world fae meets modern edge in this foundational romantasy.
Steam Level: 🌶️ Light — romantic but YA appropriate, more about emotional connection.
Published: 2010 | Book 1 of The Iron Fey series
Amazon: Start The Iron King on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover (not available) | Paperback (special edition)
“She thought she was ordinary. The fae had other plans.”
BONUS: To Bleed a Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker
Vibes: Gothic tower fantasy, mysterious guardian, emotionally damaged heroine, slow unraveling secrets.
Similar to: ACOTAR’s intense emotional world, shadowy protectors, and forbidden feelings.
Read if you like: Rapunzel reimaginings, dark academia vibes, obsession, and mind games.
For fans of: Deeply atmospheric slow-burns with morally ambiguous tension.
Summary:
Clover has lived her life locked away in a tower, cared for and protected by a man she calls “Thorn”—but she doesn’t really know who or what he is. As her mind unravels and forbidden truths claw to the surface, the tower becomes a cage, Thorn becomes a riddle, and Clover must decide if what protects her is also what imprisons her.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️ Moderate-High — intense emotional and physical intimacy.
Published: 2021 | Book 1 of Crystal Bloom duology
Amazon: Read To Bleed a Crystal Bloom on Amazon
BooksAMillion: Hardcover | Paperback
“This isn’t a love story. It’s a study of obsession.”
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re chasing twisted fairytales, cursed guardians, or heroines discovering their buried power — these books promise to wrap you in shadows and longing. If you’re craving more dark romantasy with slow-burn love and eerie worlds, stick around — Nyxra’s Realm curates the best gothic tales for kindred souls.
Expand your reading list with these gems, perfect for fans of books like ACOTAR.
Have you read any of these? Which book should we feature next? Drop a comment or visit the blog for more curated reads.
Want more curated lists like this? Check out 10 Must-Read High Fantasy Books Like ACOTAR & Fourth Wing.
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