Sarah J. Maas, bestselling author of Cutting thorns and roses series, quickly became one of the most beloved authors in the romance genre. With three incredibly successful fantasy book series, it’s not hard to imagine why. Maas’s ability to create expansive fantasy worlds and build complex romantic relationships are just a few of the many reasons readers gravitate toward his works – and one of his most acclaimed is the ACOTAR series.
As Maas has not yet announced the launch of the sixth A Court of Thorns and Roses novel, readers have been searching for the perfect book to take its place. And while many popular fantasy book series have helped fill the void ACOTAR left behind – how Fourth Wing or Of Blood and Ashes–there is one Fae romance in particular that should have been the best Cutting thorns and roses replacement book on the market.
Crescent City should have been the best replacement for A Court of Thorns and Roses
The series includes many similar themes and tropes to ACOTAR
Crescent City was released shortly after Maas’s most popular series, and that should have helped catapult it as a popular replacement – especially as the wait for the next A Court of Thorns and Roses continues. However, although the series is still popular, the Crescent City the books never achieved the same number of followers or viral popularity as ACOTAR. Given that the series includes many similar themes of enemies to lovers, forced closeness, and has a powerful female main character, it can be difficult to understand the disconnect between Crescent City and its predecessor.
…Crescent City may be missing some fundamental elements that gave Cutting thorns and roses his next cult.
It’s hard to match the success of any major series, but Maas seems to have expected it – going so far as to include a crossover between his books in House of Flame and Shadow. While this helped bring the two series together in a more tangible way, many still would not consider Crescent City a suitable replacement for ACOTAR. The books share many similarities, but Crescent City may be missing some fundamental elements that gave Cutting thorns and roses his next cult.
Why Crescent City Never Reached the Heights of Sarah J. Maas’ Other Series
The characters and relationships are not as captivating as those in ACOTAR
Readers looking to pursue a similar feeling to ACOTAR generally gravitate towards fantasy or romance books that have a strong Fae storyline – and while Crescent City accomplishes this point, the story is often overshadowed by its many shortcomings. The main complaint most readers have against the series is that Crescent City heroine, Bryce, seems very unlikely compared to Feyre from Cutting thorns and roses. Bryce’s personality and motivations are difficult to follow throughout the story, making it extremely difficult for readers to feel a strong connection to her character.
The romantic element of Crescent City also struggled due to Bryce’s abrasive personality and lack of sympathy for Hunt – which may have been what caused many readers to reject the series. Where ACOTAR saw their characters supporting each other’s past traumas, Crescent City left little room for Bryce or the others to develop any kind of relationship growth. While this may not have been Maas’ intention, profoundly affects the series’ ability to compete with its other novels. Fortunately, the series is not yet complete, giving Maas more time to address these issues in future books.
It’s not too late for the Crescent City to match the popularity of A Court of Thorns and Roses
The next book in the series could change things
It is a well-known fact that Maas planned to continue both the Cutting thorns and roses and Crescent City series’ – and a new addition could help bridge the popularity gap between the two. While she hasn’t yet disclosed how many books each series will include, expanding the overall plot would help Maas create a better impression of Crescent City through its supporting characters. While Bryce and Hunt’s story is likely over, there are many characters whose stories could carry the series beyond its three books.
Maas revealed very little about what the room Crescent City it will be about the book, 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 connection to Crescent Citysupporting cast. If Maas develops the rest of the series strategically, it could potentially boost Crescent City to the heights of Cutting thorns and roses‘ success.