Bestselling Romantasy Series Is The Vampire ACOTAR You Never Knew You Needed

A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of the most beloved romantasy on the market, and one vampire series that started out indie is just what ACOTAR fans need. The romantasy genre is absolutely booming, with a few big names coming out on top in terms of popularity. Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and From Ash & Blood are some of the gold-tier selections, with everything newer being compared to them.

The comparisons usually get separated by supernatural creatures. Dragon series go up against Fourth Wing, fae novels go up against ACOTAR, and most vampires books rival From Blood & Ash. This siloed approach might be logical, but it’s not always effective. It’s true that some folks choose books specifically for the species. However, others care more about the tropes, relationship dynamics, and plot elements.

If you’re an ACOTAR fan looking for other fae romantasy books, your best choices include The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, A Kiss of Iron by Clare Sager, or These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan.

For fans who don’t care about the species, the vampire series The Crowns of Nyaxia should be your next big read. Separated into interconnected duologies, the book series explores the brutal worlds of royal vampire houses, dangerous political alliances, and the romances that develop against all odds.

Political Conflict Is The Name Of The Game In ACOTAR & The Crowns Of Nyaxia

Custom Image by Casandra Ronning

Any good romantasy series cannot skimp on the fantasy aspect. The romance might be a driving force, but it exists within the framework of the fantasy world and its conflicts. Both A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Crowns of Nyaxia understand the assignment when it comes to creating a fantasy world that’s unfamiliar enough to be intriguing but familiar enough to keep readers going. Supernatural courts and politics are the foundation, and the need for power leads to backstabbing and manipulation. However, the conflict is external for ACOTAR and internal for The Crowns of Nyaxia.

The division between fae and humans creates a survival situation in ACOTAR. However, in A Court of Thorns and Roses, the separation of the human and fae world was solved 500 years ago, when the two worlds were separated. The problems start with a human in the fae’s world and escalate into a war as the fae vs. humans conflict resurfaces.

On the other hand, different Houses of vampires, which are equivalent to the different courts in ACOTAR, are vying for power in their insular continent. Human oppression remains very much in place in The Crowns of Nyaxia, and they are used as a pawn in the fight for power. Plus, the vampires feed off them despite mandates not to, making being human a more dangerous situation.

However, The Crowns of Nyaxia adds another catalyst for the political conflict with the Kejari, a battle royale series of trials. The winner is granted a wish by the goddess Kejari. It only happens every 100 years, and it just so happens to coincide with the start of the book. Of course, every House sends vampires to compete since it will give them the goddess’s favor and power.

ACOTAR & Crowns Of Nyaxia Bring The Sweet & Heat

Art by Charlie Bowater

A compelling romance is also a required component of the genre; otherwise, it’s just a fantasy story with romance, not romantasy. In this vein, A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Crowns of Nyaxia share a central enemies-to-lovers romance. The Nyaxia books are split up into duologies, and all are dangerous romances or enemies-to-lovers pairings. For the sake of comparison, though, we’ll look at the first couple introduced in the series.

The pairings involve a fierce human-turned-supernatural woman with an all-powerful love interest who fits the “shadow daddy” archetype. They might not be healthy couples by real-world standards, but they don’t have to be. It’s a romantasy, and the books are written for adults who can discern between reality and fiction.

The couples start out with a passionate hatred of each other, as both Rhysand and Raihn pose a danger to Feyre and Oraya, but they become the women’s ultimate protectors. Their unbreakable bonds lead to very sweet moments of emotional intimacy. This is a great balance to the high-stakes political situations that ACOTAR and The Crowns of Nyaxia present.

Both relationships lead to scenes of physical connection that build over time due to the couples’ slow-burn dynamic. These moments are more frequent in A Court of Thorns and Roses, contributing significantly to the character and relationship development. They are just as important to the overall story in The Crowns of Nyaxia, and the writing of those scenes is on par, if not better, than what’s found in ACOTAR.

There are also direct parallels between Rhysand and Feyre, and between Raihn and Oraya, in terms of plot points. However, I will refrain from breaking those down because it would spoil the plot, not just the basic concept and archetypes.

The Crowns Of Nyaxia’s Worldbuilding Is Better Than ACOTAR

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The most widely accepted complaint about ACOTAR is that its worldbuilding isn’t very good. Even a large portion of the fandom is willing to accept that as fact, which says something. Usually, that kind of criticism comes from the outside. It feels like A Court of Thorns and Roses’ worldbuilding exists to further a romance. However, The Crowns of Nyaxia has a very different approach.

The worldbuilding starts out pretty good and gets stronger with every book in the series, with worldbuilding questions being set up in one and answered in the next. It feels like the continent of Obitraes and its political system were created first and the romance second, rather than the other way around. Each house feels distinct from the others, and they are filled with smaller factions. There are clear hierarchies that influence character dynamics.

The magic system isn’t the best I’ve ever read, but it’s still pretty solid. Additionally, the vampires have a distinct culture that’s heavily influenced by the worship of Nyaxia. With all this in mind, The Crowns of Nyaxia fills a need for folks who prefer strong worldbuilding.

How To Read The Crowns Of Nyaxia

A Court of Thorns and Roses fans can dive into The Crowns of Nyaxia with enough similarities to appeal and enough differences to still feel fresh. If you’re interested in picking up the series, the good news is that Carissa Broadbent shared her recommended reading order, and the books are available in many formats.

The Crowns of Nyaxia can be read in release order, but they are more effective when read in Broadbent’s recommended order. Start with The Serpent & the Wings of Night, and then read the standalone Six Scorched Roses. After that, you should read The Ashes & the Star Cursed King, then Slaying of the Vampire Conqueror. Then comes The Songbird & the Heart of Stone, followed by The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk. Finally, you should dive into the Bloodborn Duet. The Lion & the Deathless Dark, the first of the two, comes out August 4, 2026. The second doesn’t have a known title or release date, yet, but it’s planned for a 2027 release (via CarissaBroadbentBooks on Instagram).

As for the formats, physical editions include trade paperback and traditional hardcover, plus a Target deluxe edition of the standalone Nyaxia novella Six Scorched Roses. The collections have slightly different covers from the individual books. Audio editions of the book are available on Audible, and the narrators do a good job. E-books can be purchased on Kindle, Nobo, and Nook. Also, The Crowns of Nyaxia books frequently pop up on Kindle Unlimited, and be sure to check your local library too!

Publisher(s)

Bloomsbury Publishing

Publication Date

2015-05-05

ISBN#

9781619634442

Genre(s)

Fantasy, Romance