Sarah J. Maas, the best-selling author of theA Court of Thorns and Rosesseries, has quickly become one of the romantasy genre’s most beloved authors. With three incredibly successfulfantasy book seriesunder her belt, it’s not hard to imagine why. Maas' ability to create expansive fantasy worlds and build complex romantic relationships are just a few of the many reasons readers gravitate to her works—and one of her most highly acclaimed is theACOTARseries.
As Maas has yet to announce the release of thesixthCourt of Thorns and Rosesnovel, readers have been searching for the perfect book to take its place. And while many popular fantasy book series have helped to fill the voidACOTARleft behind—such asFourth WingorFrom Blood and Ash—there’s one particular Fae romantasy that should have been thebestA Court of Thorns and Rosesreplacement bookon the market.
Crescent City Should Have Been A Court Of Thorns & Roses' Best Replacement
The Series Includes Many Similar Themes And Tropes To ACOTAR
Crescent Citywas released on the heels of Maas' most popular series, and this should have helped catapult it as a popular replacement—especially as the wait for thenextCourt of Thorns and Rosescontinues. However, while the series is still well-liked, theCrescent Citybooks never quite achieved the same following or viral popularityasACOTAR. Given the series includes many similar themes of enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and has a powerful female main character, it can be hard to comprehend the disconnect betweenCrescent Cityand its predecessor.
…Crescent Citymay be lacking a few foundational elements that gaveA Court of Thorns and Rosesits cult following.
Matching the success of any major series is hard to accomplish, but Maas seems to have expected this—even going as far as to include a crossover between her books inHouse of Flame and Shadow. While this did help to tie the two series together in a more tangible way,many still would not considerCrescent Cityan appropriate replacement forACOTAR. The books do share many similarities, butCrescent Citymay be lacking a few foundational elements that gaveA Court of Thorns and Rosesits cult following.
Why Crescent City Never Reached The Heights Of Sarah J. Maas' Other Series
The Characters And Relationships Aren’t As Captivating As ACOTAR’s
Readers looking to chase a similar feeling to that ofACOTARhave commonly gravitated towards fantasy or romantasy books that have a strong Fae plot—andwhileCrescent Citydoes deliver on this point, the story is often overshadowed by its many short-comings. The main complaint most readers have against the series is thatCrescent City’sheroine, Bryce, comes across as very unlikable compared to Feyre fromA Court of Thorns and Roses. Bryce’s personality and motivations are hard to follow throughout the story, making it extremely difficult for readers to feel a strong connection to her character.
Crescent City’s Bryce Is Missing 1 Thing That Makes Other Sarah J. Maas Heroines Great
The Crescent City series is a lot of fun but its protagonist Bryce Quinlan has one flaw that makes her less popular than other Sarah J. Maas heroines.
The romantic element ofCrescent Cityalso struggled due to Bryce’s abrasive personality and lack of sympathy towards Hunt—which could have been what caused many readers to dismiss the series. WhereACOTARsaw its characters supporting one another’s past traumas,Crescent Cityleft little room for Bryce or the others to develop any sort of relationship growth. While this may not have been Maas' intention, itdeeply affects the series' ability to contend with her other novels. Thankfully, the series is not yet complete, giving Maas more time to address these issues in future books.
It’s Not Too Late For Crescent City To Match A Court Of Thorns & Roses' Popularity
The Next Book In The Series Could Turn Things Around
It is a well-known fact that Maas has planned to continue both theA Court of Thorns and RosesandCrescent Cityseries'—anda new addition could help to bridge the gap in popularity between the two. While she has yet to disclose how many books each series will include, the expansion of the overall plot would help Maas create a better impression ofCrescent Citythrough its supporting characters. Although Bryce and Hunt’s story is likely over, there are plenty of characters whose storylines could carry the series further than its three books.
Maas has disclosed very little as to what thefourthCrescent Citybookwill be about, but the character she chooses to focus on will likely impact the rest of the series' popularity. However, unlike Bryce, many readers feel a stronger attachment toCrescent City’s supporting cast. If Maas develops the rest of the series strategically, it could potentially boostCrescent Cityto the heights ofA Court of Thorns and Roses’success.
