Do you ever finish a fae fantasy book and instantly feel lost, wondering what magical world to escape into next? You’re not alone. Fans of Sarah J. Maas know the ache of turning the last page of ACOTAR or Throne of Glass and thinking, what now? That’s why I’ve put together this ultimate guide to the best fae fantasy books that capture the same enchanting pull of fairy worlds, romantic tension, and dangerous magic.
Whether you love dark fae politics, slow-burn romances, or fairy-tale retellings with a twist, this curated list will help you refill your TBR with some of the most beloved fairy books in the genre. And yes. I’ll also show you how my own book, Coded Life, fits naturally alongside these fantasy must-reads, especially if you crave something fresh after the big names.
Let’s dive into the fae courts, dark forests, and unforgettable romances.
Why Fae Fantasy Books Are So Addictive
The world of fae fantasy books offers readers something more than just magic. They’re filled with dangerous bargains, intoxicating courts, impossible love stories, and tests of loyalty. Sarah J. Maas popularized this blend with A Court of Thorns and Roses, but she’s far from the only one weaving these enchanting worlds.
Fans keep returning because:
- Fae represent the unknown and untamed side of fantasy.
- Romances in fairy stories often lean into forbidden, slow-burn tension.
- They allow readers to explore themes of freedom, rebellion, and identity.
This makes them the perfect genre for readers who never quite got over ACOTAR — or who are hungry for something just as powerful but a little different.
Must-Read Fae and Fairy Books After Sarah J. Maas
Each of these titles is a must for fans of Sarah J. Maas. I’ve also compared them to Coded Life, so you can see how my story fits into this magical ecosystem.
1. The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan
If you’re searching for a fast-paced, romantic fae series, this one is a gem. With magical guardians, forbidden romance, and secrets that unravel, it scratches the same itch as Maas’s books.
Connection to Coded Life: Just like Violet in Coded Life, the heroine grapples with living under strict rules that control her destiny. Both stories mix romance and rebellion, making them perfect back-to-back reads.
2. Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black
Holly Black is the queen of dark fae books, and Tithe is a perfect example. The gritty, urban-fantasy edge makes it feel raw and dangerous, with fairies that are as cruel as they are alluring.
Connection to Coded Life: Both books feature heroines who discover hidden truths that shatter their perception of the world. If you love Kaye’s plunge into the faerie world, you’ll be equally intrigued by Tiffany uncovering the secrets of her sterile, science-driven society.
3. Valiant: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black
This one continues Holly Black’s fae themes with bold heroines, complex choices, and dark settings. It’s less about glitter and more about grit.
Connection to Coded Life: Tiffany’s journey echoes this theme of surviving in a system stacked against her, showing how love and courage grow in unlikely places.
4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A whimsical yet haunting fairy tale, Stardust is a classic that blends humor, magic, and romance. Its fae characters remind us that fairies are never quite what they seem.
Connection to Coded Life: While Stardust is more whimsical, both books share the theme of stepping into a world beyond the rules, where love and danger go hand in hand.
5. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
This lyrical book is a modern fairy tale filled with strange landscapes, whimsical characters, and deeper truths beneath the whimsy.
Connection to Coded Life: Both explore what happens when young women break away from expectations to chart their own course, with magic and danger waiting at every turn.
6. Coded Life by Fanni Donath
But why Coded Life by Fanni Donath?
If you’ve ever lost yourself in Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses or Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince, you already know the irresistible pull of fae fantasy books: lush worldbuilding, forbidden love, and the sense that one wrong choice could unravel everything. But here’s the truth what keeps readers hooked isn’t just the fae courts or fairy bargains. It’s the deeper thread: rebellion against oppressive systems, slow-burn romance that makes your chest ache, and the courage to defy a world that wants you silent.
That’s exactly where Coded Life comes in. While it’s set in a dystopian society rather than a fae kingdom, it carries the same emotional DNA that makes Maas and Holly Black so addictive. Tiffany, the heroine, lives in a sterile world where creativity is forbidden, and no one survives past fifty. When she discovers a little boy has been erased from memory itself, she begins unraveling a truth that could change everything. Even if it means losing the boy she secretly loves.
For readers who crave slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance, Coded Life delivers the same kind of tension you felt between Feyre and Rhys or Jude and Cardan. For those drawn to the forbidden magic of fae tales, it offers a twist: instead of dark courts, creativity itself is the outlawed magic. And for those who thrive on dangerous secrets and rebellion, Tiffany’s story will feel like stepping into a brand-new fae court, only sharper, deadlier, and hauntingly relevant.
If fae fantasy books are your safe escape, Coded Life is your next unforgettable read. A story that proves the magic of love, rebellion, and memory is just as powerful as any faerie bargain.
6. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
This Russian-folklore-inspired fairy tale blends icy landscapes, mythic creatures, and a strong heroine who defies her society’s rules.
Connection to Coded Life: Tiffany, like Vasya, lives in a world that wants to silence her spirit. Both books explore what happens when someone dares to rebel against suffocating systems.
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Probably the closest match to ACOTAR fans, Holly Black’s Folk of the Air trilogy is all about fae politics, betrayal, and dangerous attraction.
Connection to Coded Life: While Coded Life doesn’t feature fae courts, it shares the intensity of political tension, forbidden love, and deadly secrets. Tiffany’s sterile society is every bit as dangerous as Jude’s faerie court.
📌 Extra Reading Order for Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince Series
- The Cruel Prince
- The Wicked King
- The Queen of Nothing
8. The Wrath & The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
A lush retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, this is more about romance and survival, but fans of Maas will love the lyrical writing and strong heroine.
Connection to Coded Life: Both heroines face deadly secrets and fight to outwit powerful forces while slowly falling for someone they shouldn’t.
9. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Though not strictly a fae romance, Tolkien’s influence on fantasy makes The Hobbit essential. Its forests, magic, and sense of adventure resonate with fairy-tale energy.
Connection to Coded Life: Like Bilbo, Tiffany is thrust into a world of danger she never asked for, and along the way she finds courage she didn’t know she had.
10. House of Fae and Mist
This newer fae series mixes romance, adventure, and secrets. Pinterest loves “reading order” pins for this one.
📌 Reading Order Pin:
- House of Fae and Mist
- House of Shadows and Flame
- House of Stars and Storms
Connection to Coded Life: Both stories explore forbidden attraction and the tension between power and vulnerability.
11. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
This standalone fae romance is atmospheric and filled with lush writing. It’s ideal for ACOTAR fans who want more romance-driven fairy stories.
Connection to Coded Life: Like Isobel, Tiffany is forced to make impossible choices in a world where expressing creativity can mean death.
A fierce heroine, fae enemies, and steampunk Scotland. This series blends historical and fantasy elements in a fresh way.
Connection to Coded Life: The blend of old and new mirrors Tiffany’s society, where sterile science hides age-old truths.
12. These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Full of betrayal, romance, and fae politics, this duology is perfect for fans of love triangles and twists.
Connection to Coded Life: Like Brie, Tiffany learns that what she’s told isn’t the full truth, and love complicates her mission in unexpected ways.
13. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Part of the Iron Fey series, this classic YA fae fantasy mixes human and fae worlds with romance and danger.
Connection to Coded Life: Both books explore what happens when human lives intersect with forces that want to control or erase them.
14. The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long
This standalone fae romance has haunting forests and dangerous love.
Connection to Coded Life: The theme of beauty hiding danger resonates strongly with Tiffany’s journey in a seemingly perfect world hiding deadly secrets.
15. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
A modern fairy tale with fae princes and hidden danger, this book perfectly captures why readers love Holly Black.
Connection to Coded Life: Both stories mix coming-of-age, romance, and the courage to confront the truth, no matter how dark.
Fae-Adjacent Fairy Tale Inspired Reads
Not every magical read features fae directly, but these books carry the same enchanting, atmospheric vibes:
- The Witch and the Vampire – Francesca Flores
- Silver in the Bone – Alexandra Bracken
- The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea – Axie Oh
- Nettle & Bone – T. Kingfisher
- The Drowned Woods – Emily Lloyd-Jones
- The Dragon’s Promise – Elizabeth Lim
- The Butcher of the Forest – Premee Mohamed
- A Study in Drowning – Ava Reid
Connection to Coded Life: Like these books, Coded Life plays with fairy-tale themes: memory, identity, forbidden love. But gives them a dystopian twist.
Bonus: Fae-Focused Series to Add to Your TBR
- The Folk of the Air Trilogy (Holly Black) – fully fae-focused.
- Shades of Ruin and Magic Series (Meg Xuemei X) – a darker, romance-heavy fae fantasy.
Opposing Opinion: Do We Really Need More Fae Romances After Sarah J. Maas?
Some readers argue the fae fantasy romance market is oversaturated. After all, how many dangerous fae princes and mortal girls can we possibly read about?
But here’s the counterpoint: tropes are beloved because of their resonance. Every author adds a unique twist, whether it’s a new world, an unexpected romance arc, or a cultural myth inspiring the magic. That’s why readers come back again and again.
In fact, my own book Coded Life uses dystopian elements (forbidden creativity, memory erasure) while still carrying the emotional pull of slow-burn romance and rebellion – showing how fae tropes and fairy-tale energy evolve beyond ACOTAR.
FAQs
Q: Is Coded Life a fae fantasy book?
A: Not exactly. It’s YA dystopian fantasy, but it has the same magical pull, forbidden romance, and world-defying rebellion that fae fans love.
Q: Which book should I start with after finishing ACOTAR?
A: If you want more fae politics → The Cruel Prince.
If you want lush writing → An Enchantment of Ravens.
If you want something fresh → Coded Life.
Q: Are fae books always romances?
A: Not always, but most popular fae fantasy books include romantic subplots because love and danger pair so well together.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving more fae fantasy books after Sarah J. Maas, this list should keep your TBR stacked for months. From Holly Black’s dark courts to Margaret Rogerson’s lush standalones, each book brings something unique to the fairy genre.
And if you’re ready for something new that still carries the romantic tension, dangerous secrets, and world-shattering stakes you love, try my book Coded Life. It’s perfect for fans of ACOTAR who are ready for a story about forbidden creativity, friendship turning into love, and the cost of remembering when the world wants you to forget.
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