Cover of Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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Books Like “Crown of Midnight” by Sarah J. Maas

If you were captivated by the lethal court intrigue, heart-wrenching betrayal, and fierce romantic tension of Crown of Midnight, you are not alone. Readers adore its thrilling blend of deadly assassin secrets and high-stakes fantasy. Dive into our curated collection of gripping stories to discover your next unforgettable fantasy obsession.

  1. Cover of Graceling by Kristin Cashore

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    Graceling

    by Kristin Cashore

    Discover the Graceling Realm in this unforgettable, award-winning novel from bestselling author Kristin Cashore.

    Why it's similar

    Both books center on a deadly young female fighter coerced into acting as an enforcer for a tyrannical ruler while secretly working against the crown's interests. They share themes of grief, autonomy, and discovering suppressed powers.

    What's different

    Graceling functions primarily as a standalone story featuring an innate physical ability system rather than Maas's long-arc high-fantasy saga driven by hidden fae bloodlines and ancient portal magic.

  2. Cover of Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

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    Ash Princess

    by Laura Sebastian

    AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

    "Made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir" (Bustle), Ash Princess is an epic new fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.

    Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

    For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

    Then, one night, the kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: Her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

    For ten years the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

    And don't miss the thrilling sequel, Lady Smoke!

    Praise for Ash Princess, Book 1 in the Ash Princess Series:

    "A darkly enchanting page-turner you won't be able to put down."--Bustle

    "A smart, feminist twist on a traditional tale of a fallen heroine, with plenty of court intrigue, love, and lies to sweeten the deal. Good luck putting this one down." --Virginia Boecker, author of The Witch Hunter series

    "This searing page-turner is a compelling examination of the complexities of both evil and resistance."--Sarah Porter, author of Vassa in the Night

    "A dark and spellbinding epic." --Sara Holland, New York Times bestselling author of Everless

    Why it's similar

    Both novels feature a secretly royal young woman forced to perform obedience in the court of a cruel conqueror while covertly plotting acts of rebellion. The protagonists must mask their true identities and navigate dangerous courtly surveillance.

    What's different

    Ash Princess centers on an abused, politically powerless captive who relies on psychological manipulation, whereas Crown of Midnight features a renowned, physically lethal assassin executing secret missions.

  3. Cover of The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

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    The Winner's Curse

    by Marie Rutkoski

    In the tradition of Kristin Cashore and Cassandra Clare comes The Winner's Curse, a brilliant, unputdownable, star-crossed romance from New York Times bestselling author Marie Rutkoski.

    Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

    They were never meant to be together. As a general's daughter, seventeen-year-old Kestrel enjoys an extravagant and privileged life. Arin has nothing but the clothes on his back. Then Kestrel makes an impulsive decision that binds Arin to her. Though they try to fight it, they can't help but fall in love. In order to be together, they must betray their people . . . but to be loyal to their country, they must betray each other.

    Set in a new world, The Winner's Curse is a story of rebellion, duels, ballroom dances, wicked rumors, dirty secrets, and games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

    Why it's similar

    Both books emphasize the high-stakes tension of leading a double life inside an imperial palace, balancing illicit romance with covert resistance to an empire. Both heroines must hide their true loyalties from dangerous rulers.

    What's different

    The Winner's Curse focuses on military strategy, social hierarchy, and psychological games without the supernatural beings, witches, or overt magic featured in Crown of Midnight.

  4. Cover of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

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    An Ember in the Ashes

    by Sabaa Tahir

    BOOK ONE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy and 100 Best YA Books of All Time • People's Choice Award winner • Bustle's Best Young Adult Book

    “This novel is a harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human — and how hope might be kindled in the midst of oppression and fear.” — The Washington Post

    A gorgeous, collectable look for this beloved and bestselling fantasy series that “glows, burns, and smolders.” (Huffington Post). The deluxe paperback editions each feature tip-ins with exclusive character art!

    Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

    Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

    It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

    But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

    There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

    Why it's similar

    Both books explore undercover resistance against a brutally oppressive martial empire, featuring lethal combat training and the awakening of dormant, ancient supernatural forces.

    What's different

    An Ember in the Ashes utilizes dual first-person perspectives and features a grittier, darker tone, whereas Crown of Midnight centers squarely on a single protagonist amidst lavish court intrigue.

  5. Cover of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

    Cover not available

    Red Queen

    by Victoria Aveyard

    The #1 New York Times bestselling series!

    Red Queen, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series.

    Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

    To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction.

    One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

    And don’t miss War Storm, the thrilling final book in the bestselling Red Queen series!

    Why it's similar

    Both feature a young woman with extraordinary abilities who becomes entangled in violent politics and a dangerous power struggle. They share a fast-moving YA tone, romantic tension, and an emphasis on betrayal and hidden agendas.

    What's different

    Its world is more explicitly dystopian and class-divided than the palace-centered fantasy setting of Crown of Midnight. The story leans more into rebellion and social hierarchy than into covert missions and royal intrigue.

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