Here’s what to listen to after Shield of Sparrows.

by Evelyn Ward

With a dedication that reads: “This book is dedicated to every woman who thought ‘wouldn’t it be so nice to burn it all to the ground?’”, Evelyn Ward weaves a dark fantasy with vibes like Crescent City and then some. In a realm full of witches, demons, vampires, and shapeshifters, witches rule the throne. Our female MC, Fey, is part of the Blades, a sworn group who protect the throne and, frankly, are a little scary in the best way. When one of the Blades is murdered, a mystery threatens the entire realm and the very system that Fey has sworn to protect. 

Make no mistake, this dark fantasy is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

by Caroline Peckham

In the wildly popular Zodiac Academy series, your star sign defines your destiny and for two Gemini sisters with fae blood, it could also mean danger. And while they’re struggling to pay rent, a mysterious professor shows up to tell them that their parents were the last king and queen of the planet Solaria. And, by the way, they need to return there to graduate from the Zodiac Academy and take back the throne. 

This is perfect if you’re looking for a fast-paced introduction to a fantasy series that’s full of tension, slow burns, angst, and more. Proceed with caution as there are eight other books, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

by Carissa Broadbent

What happens when an adopted human and a vampire form an unlikely alliance? More than likely, the adopted human will find herself drawn to said vampire due to forced proximity. While fighting in a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself. Mortal Kombat, eat your heart out.

Such is the case for Oraya and Raihn as they enter the Kejari. And as these stories tend to go, Oraya will learn secrets that turn everything she knows about her home upside down in the process. Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses will love this story filled with romance and dark magic.   

by T. Kingfisher

Kingfisher’s worlds are a deviation from the norm in fantasy, and perhaps that’s what makes them so charming and easy to read. As a bonus, both main characters are in their thirties and would rather have comfortable socks than shiny armor. Personally, I think that’s a little relatable.

Stephen and Grace are both, ultimately, lonely and broken characters who need the companionship they find in each other—Stephen after his god dies and Grace after… she witnesses an assassination attempt. Just normal things. Now the two must work together to figure out their lives and why random, headless bodies keep appearing in the city. This is for anyone who wants to take a break from dark fantasy into the realm of cozy romantasy. 

by Geneva Lee

Just your average case of one-thousand-year-old vampire meets twenty-something classical musician and can’t stop thinking about her. Tropes include fated mates, touch her and die, and forbidden love, just to name a few.

Thea has a broken heart and a life that’s been turned upside down, while Julian is under fire to marry someone and fast. When the two meet at an event, Thea agrees to be Julian’s girlfriend for a year in order to remove him from the marriage market. What could go wrong? Quite a bit, as it turns out.

by Sara Wolf

Imagine, if you will, that you’ve just murdered your father, a Duke, after learning that he murdered your mother and that his entire house played a hand in her death. This is our introduction to Synali, the main character in Heavenbreaker. To avenge her mother’s death, she intends to take revenge on the rest of the Noble houses by jousting them in their steeds, giant mech warriors leftover from a past war.

With a (very) slow burn romance and a mix of sci-fi and fantasy similar to Red Rising and Iron Widow, Heavenbreaker is unique and will keep you on your toes for the entire story.