Born in New York City on March 5, 1986, Sarah J. Maas is best known for her incredible fantasy world-building and her penchant for creating epic adventures in her published works so far.
She gained success during her teen years after publishing her first novel online. Since then, her success has quadrupled, and she has a huge digital following all over the world.
Renowned for her grand writing style and clever plot twists, Sarah J. Maas is considered to be the most successful author in the high fantasy genre right now (If you like high fantasy genres, check out Books Like The Poppy War).
Maas has a huge and rich bibliography of books set in the fantasy genre, some of which are tailored for YA audiences, and others for more mature readers.
She is recognized for her A Court of Thorns and Roses series (affectionately nicknamed ACOTAR by her dedicated fans), her Throne of Glass series, and her Crescent City series, each of which stands out as firm favorites in the high fantasy genre.
Sarah J. Maas continues to publish books and has a loyal and dedicated fan base eagerly awaiting her next work. Due to high demand, and a dedicated global audience, A Court of Thorns and Rosesis now being developed into a television show for Hulu.
If your interest is piqued by high fantasy novels that feature themes like those in any of Sarah J. Maas’s writings, we think you’ll enjoy the work of similar authors, including Leigh Bardugo, Jennifer L Armentrout, and Victoria Aveyard.
Books By Sarah J Maas
Throne Of Glass
Sarah J. Maas published her first novel, Throne of Glass, in 2012 when she was aged just 16.
This remains one of her most popular young adult books and is a brilliant opening statement to the story of the deadly but beautiful protagonist, Celaena Sardothien, on her quest to win her freedom.
There are 8 books in the series that were released between 2012 and 2018. These are as follows:
After roaring success with Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas switched her attention to a new series. A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first book in the series of the same name, was published in 2015.
It follows the story of a huntress named Feyre and how her life completely changes after being imprisoned in her enemy’s kingdom. This was swiftly followed by the remainder of the books in the series, which are:
This series is Sarah J. Maas’s first trip into the realm of new adult fantasy but still features many of the themes we know and love from her other works.
The series follows a half-Fae, half-human called Bryce Quinian as she tries to save her city and avenge the murders of her friends.
The events start in House of Earth and Blood (2020) and continue in House of Sky and Breath (2022). There are future books planned for this series but no release dates yet.
Themes: loss, love, alienation, corruption, romance, control, power and injustice, and class divisions.
Authors Like Sarah J. Maas
Since we have now established who Sarah J. Maas is and the types of books that she writes, we’re ready to dive in and show you some authors that promote very similar book styles (see also “Authors Like Yasmine Galenorn“).
Leigh Bardugo
Much like Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo is another prominent young adult fiction writer focusing heavily on fantasy. She is best known for her Grishaverse work, named after elite magical soldiers (Grisha) that populate her books.
Bardugo has been actively writing since releasing her debut novel, Shadow and Bone, in 2012. This was the first installment of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy and went on to become a Number One New York Times bestseller.
The following books, Siege and Storm (2013) and Ruin and Rising (2014) achieved equal levels of success.This trilogy focuses heavily on magic and world-building, courtesy of Bardugo’s writing style, which draws in an audience from the get-go.
As a result of incredible writing and loveable characters, the events of the Shadow and Bone trilogy have been adapted for television in partnership with video streaming giant Netflix.
Pros
Unbelievable and highly immersive world-building that makes reading an absolute breeze.
A beautiful and almost effortless writing style.
Cons
The plot can feel a little convoluted at times.
Themes: class division, coming of age, power, ambition, and love.
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Jennifer L. Armentrout has been consistently publishing her work since 2011 and has (as of this article) written over 50 books.
Her work consists primarily of young adult romance (If you like stories with young adult romance themes, check out the works of Authors Like Huntley Fitzpatrick), paranormal, and also fantasy novels, yet she has recently published some suspenseful adult romance novels under the pseudonym of J. Lynn.
Armentrout is best known for her recent high fantasy work From Blood and Ash (2020) which, thanks to a significant following on social media, has proven to be a hit with fans of the genre all over the world. This was the first installment in the series.
The story follows the story of Poppy, a young woman forced into a life of seclusion until her Ascension, and how she overcomes adversity to forge and follow her destiny.
It hones in on the themes of loneliness, alienation, and corruption — themes that also feature heavily in much of Sarah J. Maas’ work, especially Throne of Glass.
The writing features great world-building that can be attributed to Armentrout’s detailed writing.
Strong characters that are all pretty interesting to dissect.
Cons
Some triggering themes including harm or abuse may not be suitable for all readers.
Themes: loss, abuse, romance, corruption, strength, and magic.
Victoria Aveyard
Another author that has produced similar work to Sarah J. Maas is Victoria Aveyard. This American author focuses on fantasy and young adult fiction and also dabbles in screenplays (If you like stories with fantasy and young adult fiction, check out Books Like The Dark Artifice).
This series focuses on the life of Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old girl, who possesses powers way beyond her Red-blooded status. The Silver-blooded individuals in society live in fear of Mare’s status and power.
As a result, Mare is practically imprisoned in the Royal Silver court, transitioning from a simple Red-blooded commoner to a royal captive.
If you enjoy reading Sarah J. Maas’ high fantasy novels, you should also check out Victoria Aveyard’s Realm Breaker(2021)and Blade Breaker (2022), two installments of the Realm Breakerseries.
Corayne an-Amarat, the last of an ancient lineage, is sent on a deadly quest to protect the whole realm against an evil force by a lethal assassin and a mythical immortal.
Pros
The writing for these recommendations creates a richly imagined world with plenty of addictive plot points.
Characters are well thought out and always add something to the story.
Cons
Lots of characters to keep track of that can sometimes become a little overwhelming.
Themes: control, power and justice, love and betrayal, freedom, and loss.
Final Thoughts
If you are a fan of the writing style and subject popularized by Sarah J. Maas, we think you will thoroughly enjoy the work of Victoria Aveyard, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Leigh Bardugo.
Not only do they write in the same high fantasy genre but they all focus on writing headstrong female protagonists with an equal desire for freedom and adventure.
Aside from being high fantasy-focused, these writers all have one thing in common: an impeccable ability to create a believable world with characters we simply cannot help but love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are All Of Sarah J. Maas’s Books Young Adult?
Yes, all the fantasy books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City series are suitable for a YA audience.
What Is The Longest Sarah J. Maas Book?
The longest-ever book Sarah J. Maas has written (so far) is A Court of Silver Flames, the fifth installment of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
