I just finished consuming the entire Throne of glass and the entire Acotar series and now I’m suffering from the Sarah J Maas hangover, realizing there is no more.
What books dragged you out of the post ACOTAR slump? What other series kept you just as enthralled? Is there hope after the hangover? 😂
This book is not a cure for a hangover. This is taking another shot the morning after only to feel even emptier once that ride is done. It’s soo good guys
I second this! So good
I‘m on Iron Flame now!
Anyone else feel like Fourth Wing blatantly copied parts of ACOTAR? I don’t want to post spoilers but the similarities are a bit too many to be coincidental.
All those type of books basically use the same beats and arcs
Haha I felt this so bad. Still so good tho
I read FW immediately before ACOTAR and FW definitely borrows a lot from ACTOR. But I also think this happens a lot within genres and I think FW has a ton of improvements.
Yes! I read FW first and ACOTAR to try and cure the hangover. I kept thinking 🤔 I’ve read this before…
Haha that’s how I’m feeling but reverse! Read ACOTAR first and then during fourth wing I was like… wait…
I feel like all the fantasy books I read are the same, but in different fonts. Like, they’re all running around in the same realm, but different continents. 😂
Acotar was actually my fourth wing hangover read!! It’s so good
The premise is so stupid, but I'm not laughing anymore. Rn I'm anxiously awaiting Onyx Storm...
Crescent City is an obvious follow-up.
Honestly, I had to change genres. I’m reading the Silent Patient right now. It’s the only one I’ve been able to make progress in.
I just finished ordering the first Crescent city book on Amazon. The fact that there is only 3 books makes me anxious that I’m going to be back in withdrawals by the end of next week 😅😂
They’re LONG
I hope they will be the fix I need. After finishing KOA in 24 hours, I truly feel like I’m hungover after that. If I go back to something the size of the first 2 tog books, I’ll go insane
I just finished the first one. The first 100 pages or so took me a lot to get through, there was so much story building and it just felt slow. But after that, I could not put it down! I finished it last night and woke my husband up because i went from bawling my eyes to shrieking for joy - multiple times lol. Starting book 2 today and very much looking forward to it! I thought the first CC was fantastic.
Not anywhere near as good as the other two series though unfortunately
I use Crescent City to help me fall asleep. Can’t get more than like two pages without dozing off lol
No hate to anyone who likes them, I just find myself so bored
For real! Soooo boring
I went from ACOTAR to From Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire and it hit the spot
Agreed! Read all of FBAA. Need to read FFAF!
And then the entire back catalogue of JLA which is....extensive
Omg, yes! I’m not sure how much I’m going to read. I did buy Fall of Ruin and Wrath though. 😆
I loved Fall of Ruin and Wrath! Might be her best yet
It’s my reread after ACOTAR every time!! Like I first read ACOTAR right around late fall 2019. Finished it in 2 days. (Keep in mind Silver Flames wasn’t out) and loved it. I feel out of reading due to a stump. I read few books. Now I reread ACOTAR in 2021, then discover FBAA and now I have to read it after or else I get into a slump!! Then I finally read TOG (couldn’t get through it at all kept dnfing after the first 5 pages) finally pushed through it and fell in love and finished it in like 5-6 days. Then I started to read CC and finally when the latest book came out I finally got to read Silver Flames. (It was whiplash from the huge pov change and I just couldn’t for a while) and finally read CC3 when it released. It has been a journey!! Now I can’t wait for more FBAA
Fourth wing!
Fourth Wing and Iron Flame for a different author but similar-ish vibe then Crescent City after that
Crescent City for sure!! It’s so good
{The serpent and the wings of night} {One dark window} {Fourth wing} {The witch collector}
Currently reading {caraval}
Came here to recommend serpent and the wings of night!!! So goooood
Crowns of Nyaxia is so good. I’m excited for the next book
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Rating: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: vampires, magic, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, high fantasy
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Rating: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, mystery, new adult
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: enemies to lovers, fantasy, magic, war, military
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks
Rating: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: fantasy, magic, witches, enemies to lovers, high fantasy
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Rating: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: fantasy, young adult, paranormal, arranged/forced marriage, mystery
None, it’s been a year and only re reads hit even a little bit of the same 😞😞😞
r/fantasyromance has a lot of great rec threads in general, I recommend jumping there if you haven’t checked.
Like others here, I moved quickly to CC, Fourth Wing, CL Wilson (“The Winter King”), spent some time going through Wheel of Time, and Jeanine Frost (haven’t picked up a vampire romance in years and so far I LOVE the “halfway to the grave” series). I also really liked “She who became the Sun” by Shelly Parker-Chan and “Master of Crows” by Grace Draven. Currently on “Rhapsodic” by Laura Thalassa and I like it, it’s fun.
Tbh I’m struggling with Throne of Glass; I really don’t feel invested in any of the characters even though I like the world and writing way more than ACOTAR or CC.
I read Aotar first and throne of glass second, and I also found throne of glass a lot harder to get into. I had heard so many good things about the series so I forced myself to push through it. I really struggled with the first few books though. I think I got to heir of fire before I started to really latch onto certain characters and even then, it wasn’t the same level of “if you kill Cassian I’ll riot”
Totally feel this. I actually really like Manon, but the POV shifts are too abrupt and lengthy for characters I care less about, so it’s been a struggle to stay invested in her story. I know some people hate the pacing of CC but I actually like it for that reason - you don’t live too long in some people’s POVs.
Ah! One other rec for a silly spicy fae read - “A Court of Sugar and Spice” by Rebecca Kenney - it’s a spicy retelling of the Nutcracker and it is RIDICULOUS at times lol. But well written.
The sequel is sitting on my library holds list but I can’t wait to get into it.
Also one additional rec: The Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop. Let’s just say SJM heavily, I mean HEAVILY borrowed from this one.
I felt the same about TOG and gave up after Queen of Shadows. Then I picked it up again a few years later and this time started with the prequel. That helped a lot! I was a bit more invested after that.
Daughter of no worlds by carissa broadbent. Actually read it before ACOTAR, but the world building and romance definitely measure up.
This series is soooooo good
From Blood And Ash, Flesh And Fire and The Plated Prisoner series' pulled me right out of that hole.
Plated Prisoner is underrated! The first book kind of sucks but the rest of the series is 5 stars
I almost DNF'd the first book because everybody was insufferable but I powered through and was hooked on the second. Waiting for the next one is a killer.
I wish!! I could not get past how bad the first book was even if people say the story picks up in books 2-3! Writing is so poor and auren is insufferable!
Yess loved seeing Aurens journey loved this series ❤️
I’m reading the first book right now…it’s so, so bad but I’m super curious about where some of the world building is going, I’m going to have to read more to find out? Ugh! 🤷🏻♀️
I read CC after ACOTAR, but I read One Dark Window to get out of the SJM slump. I wasn’t obsessed with it but it has a completely different vibe which helped me get out of the slump!
I recommend The Serpent and the Wings of Night. To me it has similar vibes to ACOTAR but it’s still different enough to stand on its own.
Not books but podcast really cured my hangover
YES! Flights of Fantasy podcast is my fav. They recount all the details, which helps me debrief and keep the book alive
I also like LPN Deep Dives!
YES!! They need to do a Crescent City Deep Dove now 👀
Fantasy Fangirls podcast has my heart! They do deep dives on fourth wing, iron flame and have started on the acotar series. Chefs kiss
Zodiac academy!!! I am just as if not more obsessed with this series as I was acotar
I’ve heard really good things about Zodiac Academy. That’s on my TBR. I just wanna finish the books I have first before dedicating myself to a long series like that. I want to read {A Daughter of No Worlds} and {Haunting Adeline} as well as getting a Fourth Wing reread in before {Onyx Storm} comes out.
Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
Rating: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, possessive hero, alpha male, suspense
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: fantasy, high fantasy, young adult, paranormal, magic
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, magic, fantasy, grumpy & sunshine, high fantasy
It definitely is a commitment!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when you get to it :)
Crescent City for sure!!
I’ve gone back to Jane Austen and Philippa Gregory, with some non-fiction thrown in.
Not sure what I’m going to do when I finish those 🤷🏻♀️
Lisa Kleypas?
I’ve not come across her, I’ll Google! Thanks!
I read Manacled and am now on Fourth Wing. Loved Manacled and loving Fourth Wing!
Ugh Manacled 😭 I read that book a year ago and still think about it daily
Fourth Wing and Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series- not the same but still so fun!
Reading Crescent City but I really don’t like it LOL
Only thing that has come close so far is Fourth Wing.
The Fae Isles series so far!
YES! YES! YES!! This is my favorite series!!!!
I’ve literally never been this obsessed with a story, which is wild bc I was crazy obsessed with ACOTAR and TOG. I just started the second book where
Omg just wait, it gets better and better, book 4 was a perfect ending for Em & Creon, I might need to reread again now
Fanfiction from Ao3 😂
I read acotar, cc and tog in that order. One dark window is a 2 book series which i love and helped but I still can't stop thinking about tog.
This is my path right now and good material makes my heart sing. I’m on CC1 and eager to get to ToG.
One dark window is amazing!!!!! 🤩
I read it that way too and I am so glad that I read TOG first because I can’t get over it. I loved the whole series and I want to reread it right now but I just have such a large TBR list that i want to save it for when I have a slump in reading or something.
If you don’t mind urban fantasy, the Crossbreed series by Danika Dark is a series I’d absolutely recommend! It immediately took me out of that hangover phase, plus I felt that the characters in it overall were more likable compared to Acotar
The Farseer series by Robin Hobb, I’m still on Assassins Apprentice! SJM is a fan of Robin’s work, she thanks her by name at the end of Crown of Midnight. It’s clear SJM was inspired by her.
I immediately re-read ACOTAR after I finished but then went on the Fourth Wing. I didn't love it as much as ACOTAR but it does scratch the itch.
After Fourth Wing I read ToG. I finished a few weeks ago and am having trouble moving on.. I'm debating whether or not I have the capacity to re-read ToG before moving on to CC.
IDK what I'm going to do after CC but have found this thread helpful - thank you for posting!
I’m still deep in the universe right now, but am already planning an extraction via my other hyperfixation: Neil gaiman.i figured stardust would be the easiest slide out since it’s also a fairy tale
Rhapsodic (the bargainer series) on Kindle unlimited was what I read after and it hit
I really enjoyed will of the many (unfortunatly not a FMC) because of the magic system and same with One Dark Window (yay FMC!). Second all the fourth wing recos.
I’ve been wondering about The Will of The Many. Is there any romance in it?
Minimal. Friendship and a little love interest
It’s crazy to say, but after reading these two series, I actually reread twilight, it’s not in the same realm at all, but it’s actually kind of nice to read something as juvenile as that compared to these really plot heavy books lol. I remember being halfway through eclipse and I was like wow the most they do is hold hands. This is kind of crazy lol. It’s funny to go from a book where romance and physical intimacy is very big and requires multiple pages and then go to twilight where Bella’s losing her shit over kissing Edward for a second longer than normal.
omg this!! I’m only reading A Court of Frost and Starlight now and I’m already struggling to read as much as I normally do because I know I’m getting nearer to the end and I’m not even remotely ready😭😭
The Witch Walker series is SO GOOD, it’s not complete, but love it. I also adore the To Bleed A Crystal Bloom series and When The Moon Hatched
The Plated Prisoner series is doing well. I had to push through the first half of the first book though. They’ve gotten much better.
{Fourth Wing} & {Iron Flame} I remember reading {Fae of Snow & Ice} after finishing TOG and Acotar and I enjoyed it. My newest obsession is {Atonement of the Spine Cleaver} though! And I started the first book in the {Blood & Steel} serie. I'm 50% in and I like it (I don't think it's going to be a 5* but its good!)
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: enemies to lovers, fantasy, magic, war, military
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, military, war, new adult, magic
Atonement of the Spine Cleaver by F.E. Bryce
Rating: 4.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, magic, competent heroine, independent heroine, enemies to lovers
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
Rating: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: fantasy, magic, high fantasy, enemies to lovers, take-charge heroine
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Fae of Snow & Ice by Krista Street
Rating: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: magic, fantasy, length-medium, fae, paranormal
Currently reading when the moon hatched very good
Fourth wing & iron flame is soooo good. The 3rd book in the series of 5 comes out Jan 2025
Trying out fourth wing!!
Just finished When the Moon Hatched by Sara A. Parker and really enjoyed it. It’s my first read after finishing the Maas-verse and it definitely helped my book hangover.
Obvious follow up would be Crescent City! Of course I like fourth wing as well, but I’m finishing up with Spark of the Everflame and it quickly became a favorite of mine! Also try: From blood and ash The plated prisoner series The witch collector
Zodiac Academy
I re read them again. To get it out of my system. Then I surrendered to the idea that maybe there wasn’t going to be anything better for a while… but I read Bridgerton series after. It was a different genre so hard to compare.
A court this cruel and lovely series! And Zodiac Academy.
Nothing.
There is no cure.
There is crescent city still
I developed an unhealthy Dramione fanfic addiction 🤭
The Graceling series by Kristin Cashore! It’s young adult so there’s not a lot of stream but there are romantic elements and the world and magic systems are developed beautifully.
The Broken Bonds series. It gave me a new kind of hangover.
Wheel of Time!
I’m reading Fourth Wing right now!