Love this video so much like ughhh so many faves and immediate books now put on my tbr! But I honestly don't think people who support sjm are valid shes incredibly problematic in her pro-israel stance or her use of the death of Breanna Taylor to promote a court of silver flames. I truly think it's important to bring attention to these harmful actions of an author who has a deep impression on the book community to reduce that, as it has hurt many black, palestinian and other people of color.
Haven't read any Sarah J Maas but still loved this 😅 I always wondered if I was missing out by not reading them but some of these recommendation seem like better options for me.
This is the exact video I needed! It’s also funny that I just watched that video you mentioned from Hannah literally like yesterday and was thinking someone should make a video about what to read after ACOTAR since that’s why I clicked on her video 😂
Your story with SJM books is very similar to mine! 😅 I used to love them when I was younger but as the series progressed they got worse and worse. I haven’t picked a book by her in ages. I didn’t even finish reading ToG, I just couldn’t take any more of her ultra alpha male fae, the heteronormativity and her homophobia. (Not to mention thinly veiled racism in both series.) Safe to say she is no longer an author for me.
Thanks for these recommendations! I like ACOTAR for the utter garbage that it is ("garbage" said as lovingly as possible lol) but I love to see fantasy with more "substance" but also written by women. I don't love romance but I do like a good romantic subplot. Daughter of the Moon Goddess has been on my list for a while, and I'm so glad to add these other books to my TBR!
You potentially would like pretty anything from Robin Hobb--romance definitely is not a main focus in her work. Her series are primarily medieval-ish fantasy!
'daughter of the moon goddess' is my favorite retelling ever. i don't care for love triangles because there's always one obvious winner or everyone is stupid but sue lynn tan made me enjoy it 💖
I've tried reading all of 2 SJM series and rage quit both somewhere around book 1-2. I'm a big reader but her choices and I just do not vibe. Glad ppl enjoy her and that she got more ppl reading again but...yeah. She's not for me 🤷♀️
Thank you for highlighting diversity and inclusion!! I have definitely added a few new books to my TBR, I am always trying to add books by authors of color and also stories which illustrate the diversity of the human experience. ❤ thank you!
I read the whole ACoTaR series, even buying the novella (the rest were library books). I was never SUPER into the series the way other people were, it was just average enough to keep me reading, but I wouldn't have been heartbroken over having to stop, if that makes sense. I skimmed through most of the last book, though. 😅 Honestly, I realized early on that I didn't like the direction the series was going (literally everything after the first book), but just kept reading for the sake of it, I guess? There are definitely better books out there with a similar premise. It just always seemed weird to me that people either worshipped the series and held it to the highest regard or considered it the scum of the earth and complete trash. I was fully middle of the road 'meh'. 😂
Are these meant to be comps to her books? They seem very random. Carissa Broadbent is a good alternative. I love Ninth House but it’s not a TOG/ACOTAR comp
They are meant to be book recs to expand your taste beyond her books and books that are essentially the same thing! Key word being "reformed" sjm readers
I’ve never read SJM books but I came here for fantasy recs in general and you definitely delivered! I love the diversity of the list and your explanations for each book. Thanks for the recs! :)
This title ate so badly, I have a similar experience with SJM books, subscribed! Thanks for the amazing recs, felt proud to already have read some of them 🫶🏼
Glad to see someone admitting SJM being enjoyable but that there much better books out there, that are not as hyped, but better written and thought through ❤️🩹
