Cover of Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

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Books Like “Kingdom of Ash” by Sarah J. Maas

Still reeling from the breathtaking battles, fierce heroines, and heartbreaking sacrifices of Kingdom of Ash? If you crave more high-stakes epic fantasy filled with sprawling worlds, loyal found families, and relentless rebellions, your journey does not have to end here. Explore these powerful stories to discover your next unforgettable read.

  1. Cover of A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

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    A Sky Beyond the Storm

    by Sabaa Tahir

    BOOK FOUR IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES

    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!

    Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?

    Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...

    The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.

    By his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.

    Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory—or to an unimaginable doom.

    And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life—and love—he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save—or destroy—all that he knows.

    Why it's similar

    Like Kingdom of Ash, this book serves as an epic, multi-POV series finale centered on a brutal continental war against an ancient, supernatural tyrant where characters endure deep trauma and make heavy personal sacrifices. Both conclude expansive fantasy narratives anchored by found-family bonds and magical battles.

    What's different

    Its worldbuilding is drawn from ancient Rome and Middle Eastern folklore rather than European fae mythology, and the story maintains a grimmer, faster-paced tone with less emphasis on romantic subplots.

  2. Cover of Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

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    Rule of Wolves

    by Leigh Bardugo

    Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!

    Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fantasy!

    See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone -- Season 2 streaming now!

    Discover what comes next for the daring rogue Nikolai in the riveting sequel to King of Scars from #1 bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo.

    The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.

    The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

    The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

    King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.

    Why it's similar

    Both novels conclude high-stakes fantasy sagas using multiple perspectives to chronicle a desperate war where monarchs, soldiers, and magic-wielders unite their disparate factions against an overwhelming dark power. They share themes of loyalty, redemption, and the burden of leadership.

    What's different

    Bardugo's setting integrates early 20th-century industrial technology like tanks and firearms alongside magic, emphasizing espionage and statecraft over high-magic battlefield clashes.

  3. Cover of The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

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    The Priory of the Orange Tree

    by Samantha Shannon

    The New York Times bestselling "epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of Game of Thrones" (Bustle).

    NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY:
    AMAZON (Top 100 Editors Picks and Science Fiction and Fantasy) * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY * BOOKPAGE * AUTOSTRADDLE

    A world divided.
    A queendom without an heir.
    An ancient enemy awakens.

    The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction--but assassins are getting closer to her door.

    Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

    Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

    Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

    Why it's similar

    Both books feature sprawling, multi-POV high fantasy worlds facing an apocalyptic threat from an ancient evil, requiring divided realms, powerful queens, and magical warriors to form alliances. They share themes of female empowerment, political duty, and deep companion bonds.

    What's different

    As a standalone novel, it resolves its expansive narrative within a single volume and features a more measured, lore-dense pacing compared to Maas's fast-moving serialized climax.

  4. Cover of Lightbringer by Claire Legrand

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    Lightbringer

    by Claire Legrand

    The incredible conclusion to the Empirium Trilogy that started with the instant New York Times bestsellers Furyborn and Kingsbane! This series is perfect for those looking for books for teen girls and is also one of the best fantasy series for adults and teens!

    Two queens, separated by a thousand years must face their ultimate destinies.

    Queen Rielle, pushed away from everything she loves, turns to Corien and his promises of glory. Meanwhile, whispers from the empirium slowly drive her mad, urging her to open the Gate. Separated from Audric and Ludivine, she embraces the role of Blood Queen and her place by Corien's side, determined to become the monster the world believes her to be.

    In the future, Eliana arrives in the Empire's capital as a broken shell of herself. Betrayed and abandoned, she fights to keep her power at bay--and away from Corien, who will stop at nothing to travel back in time to Rielle, even if that means destroying her daughter.

    But when the mysterious Prophet reveals themselves at last, everything changes, giving Rielle and Eliana a second chance for salvation--or the destruction their world has been dreading.

    An epic fantasy with female protagonist, the Empirium Trilogy has captured the hearts of many and Lightbringer concludes this beloved teen fantasy series.

    Praise for Furyborn:

    A BuzzFeed Most Anticipated Title of Spring 2018 A Goodreads Most Anticipated Title of Spring 2018 A Bustle Most Anticipated Title of Spring 2018 "A must-read."--Refinery29 "A series to watch."--Paste magazine "Visionary."--Bustle magazine "One of the biggest new YA fantasies."--Entertainment Weekly "Empowering."--BuzzFeed

    Why it's similar

    Both books operate as climactic, high-stakes final installments where young, magically powerful heroines confront apocalyptic forces and prophecy to save their kingdoms. Each weaves together multi-perspective storylines filled with sacrifice, elemental magic, and intense battles.

    What's different

    Legrand employs a dual-timeline narrative spanning a thousand-year gap rather than a strictly linear progression, anchoring the plot in cosmic mythology and cosmic horror elements.

  5. Cover of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

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    Oathbringer

    by Brandon Sanderson

    "Dalinar Kholin's Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified. Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar's blood-soaked past and stand together--and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past--even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization."--Dust jacket.

    Why it's similar

    Both feature massive, war-driven plots in secondary worlds, ensemble casts with intersecting storylines, and climactic battles against ancient, supernatural forces threatening the world.

    What's different

    Oathbringer is more epic-adult in scope and density, with intricate worldbuilding, philosophical themes, and slower, more introspective pacing than the more romance-forward, YA/NA tone of Kingdom of Ash.

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