11 Young Adult Fantasy Books Like Throne of Glass

Did you love Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas? Here are 11 more young adult fantasy books like Throne of Glass to check out!

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas is one of the most popular young adult fantasy series. The final book, Kingdom of Ash, was published in 2019 but fans are still raving about her books.

Throne of Glass follows the story of Celaena Sardothien, an eighteen-year-old assassin. She’s serving a life sentence in jail for killing hundreds of people when Captain Chaol Westfall shows up and offers her a deal.

In exchange for being released from prison, she must compete to become the King’s Champion. Should she succeed, she will then have to serve the King as his personal assassin. Thus begins an epic seven-book high fantasy series.

If you’re wondering what books to sink your teeth into after the Throne of Glass books, look no further. I’ve compiled a list of 11 books like Throne of Glass which are by female authors like Sarah J Maas and feature kick-ass female heroines.

And if for some reason you have arrived at this post but have not read the series yet, check out my reviews of books one and two here first:

Throne of Glass Book Review
Crown of Midnight Book Review
Throne of Glass Quotes

If they don’t manage to convince you that you need to read this series ASAP, then perhaps the fact that a Throne of Glass TV series entitled “Queen of Shadows” has already been optioned by Hulu will.

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Books Like Throne of Glass

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

If you loved Throne of Glass then you’re really, really going to love A Court of Thorns and Roses. It’s Sarah J Maas’ second young adult fantasy series and is widely acknowledged to be much better than the Throne of Glass series.

RELATED: The Best A Court of Thorns and Roses Quotes

This series centres around Feyre, a human girl and hunter, who is stalking a doe to feed her starving family. Noticing that a wolf is also after the doe, Feyre kills the wolf, not realising that the wolf is actually a Faerie in disguise.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is good but the second book in the series, A Court of Mist of Fury, is the book that really turns people into Sarah J Maas fans.

Buy A Court of Thorns and Roses: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Admittedly, The Cruel Prince has more in common with ACOTAR above than it does with Throne of Glass but it’s one of the best young adult fantasy series out there.

The Cruel Prince starts with two mortal girls, Jude and Taryn. They are brutally ripped from the mortal world when their mother and stepfather are murdered and they’re sent to live with their mother’s ex-husband and the father of their half-sister.

Turns out he’s a pretty powerful faerie.

The human pair try to fit in with the other faerie children but they don’t quite fit in and they’re picked on mercilessly.

Don’t feel too sorry for them, however. Sweet little Jude and Taryn are long gone by the end of this novel and you’re left with a cast of pretty despicable characters.

Not all is as it seems in faerie land and The Cruel Prince has a dark edge which reminded me of Sarah J Maas’ books. There’s plenty of political intrigue, backstabbing and betrayal making it a series like Throne of Glass.

READ MORE: The Cruel Prince Book Review

Buy The Cruel Prince: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is another YA fantasy series that dominated the YA book scene upon its release. Similar to Throne of Glass, Red Queen centres around palaces, princesses, magic and political unrest.

Aveyard has created a world divided by blood. Those with red blood are common, whilst those with silver blood are typically born with some sort of magical power.

Mare is an ordinary red blood who begins life as a servant in the Silver Palace. However, it soon becomes apparent that she is no ordinary red blood.

It seems a genetic mutation means that whilst she was born a red blood, she too has powers thought only possible of silver bloods.

Fearing her powers, the palace concocts a story to tell the world that Mare is actually a long-lost Silver princess, thus hiding her true identity.

From the inside, Mare joins a resistance group who are fighting to bring the Silver bloods down.

Read my full review of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard here.

Buy Red Queen: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a Cinderella retelling and the first in the Lunar Chronicles series. It is more science fiction and dystopia than fantasy but deserves a place on this list because it centres around a kick-ass heroine as well as princes, balls and royal intrigue.

Cinder is a sixteen-year-old cyborg living in New Beijing. She’s seen as a technological mistake by most of society but being a cyborg has also made her the best mechanic in the city.

Her impressive skills are known all around and they attract the attention of none other than Prince Kai.

In her desperate attempt to please him, her young sister, a human girl, becomes exposed to a deadly plague that has swept the Earth for a decade.

Cinder’s mother then “volunteers” Cinder for plague research, something that no human has ever survived. But in doing so the scientists discover something very special about Cinder, something people would kill for.

Caelina Sardothien has been loosely likened to Cinderella by Sarah J Maas herself so it makes sense that a Cinderella retelling would make it onto this list.

Both protagonists are orphans who lead difficult existences but each has a unique set of talents that are highly sought after.

I don’t want to reveal spoilers for either series but the hidden identities of both Cinder and Caelina also tie these two together.

Cinder is one of the best fairytale retellings out there with such a unique setting and universe and I’d highly recommend it.

Read my full review of Cinder by Marissa Meyer here.

Buy Cinder: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

If you loved the subplot about the Ironteeth witches in Throne of Glass, then The Witchlands series is for you.

Truthwitch follows the story of Safiya and Iseult, best friends and fierce witches, as they try to save their homeland from destruction.

In their world, some people are both with a magical ability that gives them abnormal capabilities.

Iseult is a Threadwitch meaning she can sense the bonds between different people. Safiya is a Truthwitch meaning she can tell whether someone is telling the truth or lying.

This ability is incredibly rare and Safiya tries to keep this hidden as it might attract unwanted attention from those who’d use her to do ill.

Safiya and Iseult always manage to land themselves in trouble and they find themselves on the run. They’re being hunted by a deadly Bloodwitch who is able to control other people.

The two girls part ways so as to throw him off and then, in a chance encounter, Safiya makes a reluctant ally of Prince Merik. Merik then helps the two girls in their flight from the Bloodwitch, still hot on their heels.

Truthwitch is a book I expected to be good but it actually turned out to be great. There’s magic, politics, war, romance and some amazing female protagonists.

These aren’t the kind of witches that sit stirring a cauldron and chanting incantations, these are fighters with unique powers who have the power to tip the balance between good and evil.

The action is dynamic and there are plenty of plot twists that will have you flipping pages like nobody’s business.

However, the best thing about the Truthwitch series is the sisterly bond between Safiya and Iseult. It’s an epic female friendship and we need more of them in literature!

It’s this intense bond between the witches that reminded me of the Ironteeth clan which appears in the later Throne of Glass books.

Also by Susan Dennard is Something Strange and Deadly, a paranormal romance.

Buy Truthwitch: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh is a book that exceeded my expectations by far.

It’s an Arabian Nights retelling with a unique premise. King Khalid is feared by all his subjects and his murderous reputation is known by all.

Every day he marries a different girl and by morning she is dead.

Shahrzad’s best friend is his latest victim so she takes the rash decision to volunteer as his next bride. She intends to seek vengeance and punish the boy-king for inflicting such a horrible fate on so many young women.

On her first night in the palace, she begins to tell Khalid a story, and her story is so enrapturing that he spares her life and requests to hear more of the story the next night.

This continues night after night and the two begin to develop feelings for each other.

But Shahrzad is conflicted. How could this man be the same king who murdered so many women before her?

There’s more to King Khalid than the rumours suggest and Shahrzad has to struggle with her growing feelings whilst trying to get to the bottom of it all.

Meanwhile, there’s a secret rebellion rising against the King and it’s led by people from Shahrzad’s past.

This book ticked all the boxes for me: well-developed, lovable characters coupled with a complex and intriguing plot.

There are plot twists and secrets and I was racing to the end to find out how it all slotted together.

The romance is subtle and you’re really rooting for this pair who by all accounts and histories should not be together but somehow seem to just… work.

Buy The Wrath and the Dawn: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian 

The Ash Princess, Theodosia, was only 6 years old when her country was ransacked and her mother, the Queen, was killed.

Since then she has lived as a ward of the new Kaiser, a cruel man who keeps Theodosia alive to serve as a warning to any of her remaining people not to rebel.

She is frequently whipped and forced to wear a crown made of ash at formal gatherings.

Ten years pass in this way and Theodosia has resigned herself to leading a trapped existence as the Kaiser’s pawn.

But then a boy from her childhood pops up and rebellion sparks in her. She learns that she still has loyal people who are willing to fight for their young Queen. And a plan is formed.

Ash Princess is another young adult fantasy book with a strong female lead that’s set in a palace. There are fancy gowns, hidden plots, a hint of romance and a good dose of betrayal too.

Much like Celaena, Theodosia is a lost princess who is secretly rebelling for her people from the inside. She has been horribly mistreated and over the course of the novel, we see her turn from a young lady resigned to her fate to a veritable Queen.

Theodosia is forced to make hard decisions for the good of her people, most of whom are now enslaved in the mines. Of course, there’s also an element of romance and, like in Throne of Glass, it involves a prince that Theodosia really shouldn’t be falling in love with.

The first story was a tad predictable but there was a fun plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. And I’m intrigued about what happens in book 2 which is always a good sign!

Buy Ash Princess: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

I’m not going to pretend like I wasn’t first drawn into Rebel of the Sands because of the cover, because I was. I mean, look at it!

Rebel of the Sands is set in the desert nation of Miraji where mythical beasts still roam in the remote areas. Rumour has it that djinn perform magic in the shadows too. It’s a tough place for mortals to grow up, especially if you’re poor, orphaned or female, and Amani Al’Hiza is all three.

Amani refuses to accept her lot in life and sneaks out of her uncle’s house to attend a gunslinging contest. She’s a girl with perfect aim and the prize of 1000 coins could be her ticket out of Dustwalk. There she meets Jin, a foreigner on the run.

Whilst Amani had often dreamed of the deadbeat town she lives in, she never imagined it would be on the back of a mythical horse with a boy she’s just met. So begins Amani’s transformation into a truly kick-ass heroine.

She’s a tenacious girl, fighting against the prejudiced system in her home county. Women have no rights so Amani disguises herself as a boy in order to escape Dustwalk and her uncle’s control. She is feisty and reckless and you’ll be rooting for her from start to finish, just like Celaena Sardothien.

What’s more, the world-building in Rebel of the Sands is wonderfully detailed and this story is a curious cross between a Western and Aladdin. It’s not until the second half of the story that things get really interesting, but stick with it, it’s an explosive start to a new trilogy.

Read my full review of Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton here.

Buy Rebel of the Sands: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Like Celaena, Graceling‘s main character, Katsa, is graced with an unparalleled ability to kill. She’s an expert with every kind of weapon but could even kill a man twice her size with her bare hands.

If you’ve read any kind of fantasy novel you’ll know that that’s exactly the kind of fighter every tyrant King wants under his thumb.

And, unfortunately, Katsa has been forced to be her uncle, King Randa’s, mercenary since she was eight years old.

Prince Po comes to her uncle’s Kingdom and she ends up sparring with him. In doing so, she realises that he must be graced too and is in fact graced with fighting skills. The two strike up a friendship and eventually Po helps Katsa run away from her uncle’s influence.

Katsa is the epitome of a strong, independent woman and makes for a great heroine. She’s clear about the fact that marriage and playing happy families is for her and Po respects that.

The romance here is blended into the action and drama in a way that neither overpowers the other and the balance is just right.

NB. This is one for older teens (wink wink), another reason why Graceling is a book like Throne of Glass.

Buy Graceling: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo is one of the top authors like Sarah J Maas and has written a number of hugely popular and bestselling young adult books. Shadow and Bone is her debut novel and introduces us to the Grishaverse, a world with legions of fans.

Alina Starkov has led a relatively uneventful existence until her regiment is ambushed and she is forced to save her best friend’s life.

Then a dormant power reveals itself in Alina, a power that could help Alina liberate her country from war. She’s sent to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite, but not all is as it first seems.

Royal intrigue, elite training, dark secrets and a touch of romance – you can see why Shadow and Bone is a book similar to Throne of Glass.

Plus, Grishaverse is coming soon to Netflix so you’ll want to get your hands on a copy soon!

Buy Shadow and Bone: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

The Kingdom of Primoria is divided into eight kingdoms, four Seasons and four Rhythms. Sixteen years ago, the Kingdom of Winter was attached by Spring all Winterians enslaved.

All, that is, apart from eight refugees. These eight Winterians have stayed in hiding, biding their time, waiting for a suitable moment to bring the kingdom back to power.

Meira is one of the eight and has lived her whole life as an orphaned refugee. She is a trained fighter and fiercely loyal to young King Mather, who also happens to be her best friend.

When they get word of a lost amulet that can help restore Winter to power, Meira doesn’t hesitate to go after it, despite warnings against this. She then finds herself embroiled into the world of magic, politics and war.

Whilst Snow Like Ashes gets off to a slow start, if you stick with it you will be rewarded with fantastic world-building and an intricate new fantasy realm to get lost in.

The concept of the eight different kingdoms inspired by seasons and rhythms is wonderful and Sara Raasch writes about each with such deft skill that your mind can’t help but picture what they’d be like.

The history of each kingdom and their magic plays a big role in the story and these elements are expertly weaved in with the character-driven elements.

The world-building is definitely the best thing about this series as I must admit I did not warm to the characters in Snow Like Ashes as I did with the characters in the other series on this list.

I did not find Meira to be particularly likeable as her rash decision made her seem hot-headed and immature. However, if you like detailed fantasy worlds, political power plays and plot twists then you will enjoy Snow Like Ashes.

Buy Snow Like Ashes: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes is a story of power battles and political espionage inspired by Ancient Rome. The two main characters are Laia and Elias, one a slave, one a soldier.

Laia’s family are ripped away from her at the beginning of the story and she winds up becoming a spy for a resistance movement. In exchange, the rebels agree to help free her brother, who has been accused of treason.

Laia is sent to the palace to be the Commandant’s servant and she is treated brutally by her mistress.

It turns out that Elias is the Commandant’s birth son, though she shows little care for him. He is forced to compete in a series of trials, the winner of which will be crowned Emperor, though he has no desire to take on this role.

Whilst at the palace, Laia and Elias cross paths and Elias helps Laia get out of trouble on a number of occasions. This complicates things as the pair have conflicting loyalties and as the plot unfolds it turns out not is all as it first seemed.

There are lots of twists and turns as you try to figure out the true intentions of all the different parties and if anyone is in fact “good” and, of course, there’s a smidge of romance thrown in too.

Buy An Ember in the Ashes: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

And that concludes my list of books to read if you loved Throne of Glass! Sarah J Maas helped propel this genre of storytelling into the spotlight and there are many other similar fantasy series out there (with more popping up every day!).

For more inspiration, check out these:

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
The Traitor Prince by C J Redwine
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

And what not to read? I’d heard that the series The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and The Selection by Kiera Cass were also similar to Throne of Glass.

However, I’m afraid they both fell short for me and were not at all on the same level as Throne of Glass so I cannot recommend either.

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If you liked this post, check out:
Throne of Glass Book Review
Crown of Midnight Book Review
Throne of Glass Quotes
A Court of Thorns and Roses Quotes
A Court of Mist and Fury Quotes
Books Like The Hunger Games
26 Best YA Fantasy Books to Read
15 Young Adult Fantasy Series to Read
22 Teen Romance Novels to Read
45 Book Lover Quotes

Laura

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.

[This article was first published in 2020 but updated and improved in 2021]