If you’re an avid Sarah J. Maas reader, you probably remember the high from your very first read through of Throne of Glass. And if you’re anything like me, you may share the sentiment that nothing has come remotely close to giving you that same feeling ever since.

Well, have I got some recs for you.

These books have not only taken me across well-developed kingdoms and continents, but have introduced me to new characters who have stolen my heart, as well as magic systems that left me speechless. 

If you’re hankering for something to fill the void, you need to dive into these book recs ASAP.

Which books are spicy books with TOG vibes?

The Queen Rises by Kirsten Cirpriano

I did a (rare) review on this book here since I loved it that much, and I still stand by everything I said in my review.

If TOG wasn’t quite spicy enough for you, this book certainly will be. Not to mention the incredible worldbuilding, the intricate magic system, the characters I completely fell in love with, and how freaking engaged I was reading this.

I literally could not put this book down for hours straight, and I enjoyed every moment of reading it. I highly, highly recommend this as a series that will scratch your TOG itch, while still feeling fresh and different to anything you’ve read before.

Lady of Darkness by Melissa K. Roehrich

If you loved Aelin’s whole ‘tell nobody the plan’ vibe, you’ll love Scarlett.

Also an assassin, this series follows Scarlett as she accepts a job in exchange for revenge against the fae fire prince who killed her mother. It also introduces a great cast of additional characters to follow as the story unfolds, so if you loved the multiple POVs in TOG (such as Manon, Dorian and Elide), you’ll likely eat this series up.

Which books are like TOG but with healer protagonists?

Silver Tongue by Gabrielle R Herd

Assassins? Check. Monsters? Check. Political intrigue? Check. 

If you’re looking for a vast world to escape in, a love interest that gives Prince Zuko / Bucky vibes (!!) and an adventure to fill the TOG-sized gap that’s been there since you finished Kingdom of Ash, definitely check this debut out. It follows Ceridwen, a healer who is stalked by an ancient monster that only she can see, who must hunt it down before it kills the people she holds most dear.

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

Following Arwen, a healer with a rare magical ability, this series spans three books and takes you on a rollercoaster of plot twists through different kingdoms and territories. This series will hook you with it’s solid plot line and swoon-worthy romance.

Speaking of which, if you’re an ACOTAR fan, then you kind of get the best of both worlds here since the love interest in this trilogy gives more Rhysand “shadow daddy” vibes, while also having a shape-shifter ability like Rowan. Why pick when you can have both?

Which TOG-similar books have the trainee/trainer trope?

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Carissa Broadbent is probably the only author to come close to writing like Sarah J. Maas in a sense that her stories share very similar themes, her writing style is highly engaging, her worlds vast, and her romances steamy and epic. 

If you love feminist rage, you’ll love this story following Tisaanah, a former slave who is fighting to save those she left behind when she escaped slavery. With many similarities to Aelin, the most notable being her badassery, Tisaanah is a character you’ll soon struggle to forget. And her chemistry with Max is simply… incredible.

Court of Blood and Bindings by Lisette Marshall

If you’re looking for a longer series to get lost in, this one contains 5 main books and 2 novellas. It follows Emelin, who is taken from her human family by a deadly, fae murderer after being caught wielding forbidden magic (again, subtle but notable similarities to the world of TOG here).

It turns out that her captor, Creon, needs Emelin’s magic to win at his own ambitions, and if she agrees to help him… she could free all of humanity. And so, Creon begins training her, and it’s not without plenty of banter, teasing and flirting along the way.

If you love slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, you’ll definitely love this book (if not the entire series!)

What would you add to this list? Come follow me on Instagram and let me know if you have more recs (or, if any of these recs turn out to be your new favourite read!)