The 10 Best Shows To Watch if You Love the 'Court of Thorns and Roses' Books (2024)

Fans of Sarah J. Maas’ best-selling series A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR, for short) know that they’re in for a whirlwind of fantasy, political rivalry, war, and morally grey characters in the form of bat boys, shadow daddies, and lovable monsters. Sadly, the book hangover is real when the last chapter comes to an end, making it difficult to look at another series and yet wanting something similar to escape reality and get a fantasy fix. Thankfully, there are television series that have similar themes, dark magic vibes, and, of course, romance.

From the politics seen throughout Game of Thrones and Shadow and Bone to the dark magic and romance seen in Outlander and The Originals, these television series will scratch that ACOTAR itch, even if Rhysand and the rest of the bat boys are notably missing. That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of morally grey characters that wouldn’t do anything for the person they love, though! Take a look, because these shows would even have Amren sitting on the couch completely invested.

10 ‘Shadow And Bone’ (2021)

Developed By Eric Heisserer

A television adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone, as well as the story about the Crows from the duology Six of Crows, the two-season series Shadow and Bone has everything a fantasy-lover would want. In the Grishaverse, there are magic users, the Grisha who practice what is known as small science, and non-magic users. Thinking she was a non-magic user her entire life, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) is in for a surprise when she learns that she is, in fact, the long-prophesized sun summoner. This person is thought to be the answer to taking down the Fold that separates the country of Ravka. Enter the mysterious shadow daddy, General Aleksander Kirigan (Ben Barnes).

Although he can summon shadows, Kirigan is more of a Tamlin than a Rhysand. He’s the big bad known as the Black Heretic, the person who actually created the Fold and the monster that lives within, something that isn’t learned until later. The series is full of dark magic, unlikely romances, and political intrigue that keeps viewers invested in the well-being of Ravka and the surrounding territories. And who can forget the fact that another storyline surrounding the Crows is showcased, leading viewers to watch as Kax Brekker (Freddy Carter) and his gang scheme and claw their way into earning whatever money they can, no matter what.

Shadow and Bone

TV-14

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

Release Date

April 21, 2021

Cast

Ben Barnes , Jessie Mei Li , Archie Renaux , Freddy Carter

Main Genre

Adventure

Seasons

2

9 ‘Cursed’ (2020)

Created By Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler

A reimagining of The Legend of King Arthur, Cursed is told through the eyes of the young fey woman Nimue (Katherine Langford), as she is shunned by her village and chased out of town as the townspeople are massacred by religious zealots, “the Red Paladins.” Of course, she doesn’t leave before her mother, with her dying breath, hands her the Sword of Power, telling Nimue to find Merlin (Gustaf Skarsgård) and give it to him. Thus starts Nimue’s grand adventure full of dark magic, corruption, war, and finding out her destiny.

The show contains many similar themes as ACOTAR, with the main one being that of dark magic that corrupts the weilder, such as The Dread Trove made by the Cauldron. With romance, war, and leaders emerging from the shadows, Cursed is a great option for anyone who likes watching epic adventures with twists, turns, and characters who you can’t help but root for.

Cursed

Where to Watch

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Not available

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*Availability in US

Release Date

July 17, 2020

Cast

Gustaf Skarsgård , Matt Stokoe , Lily Newmark , Devon Terrell , Bella Dayne , Katherine Langford , Shalom Brune-Franklin , Peter Mullan , Daniel Sharman , Sebastian Armesto

Main Genre

Fantasy

See Also

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Rating

TV-MA

Seasons

1

8 ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011)

Created By David Benioff and D. B. Weiss

While romance isn’t really at the forefront of Game of Thrones’ plot, it has plenty of political rivalry, violence, and war. And, not to mention, dragons! Adapted from George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series, It all has to do with powerful families throughout the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros fighting for the right to rule atop the Iron Throne. But with families full of knights, honest men, manipulators, and liars, there is no telling who is going to win the deadly game and come out on top, especially when there is movement in the North and the Night’s Watch is attempting to keep White Walkers beyond the wall.

And there is also Jon Snow (Kit Harington), who, with his complicated family relationship, fighting skills, and overall broody demeanor, gives serious Azriel vibes, which is always a plus. Surrounded by stunning visuals and a complex narrative with even more complex characters, Game of Thrones is a worthy escape from reality, bringing viewers into the landscape of Westeros and leaving them to guess who is going to survive the political game when everything is said and done.

Game Of Thrones

TV-MA

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 17, 2011

Cast

Kit Harington , Isaac Hempstead Wright , Iain Glen , Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Emilia Clarke , Maisie Williams , Sophie Turner , John Bradley , Lena Headey , Liam Cunningham , Aidan Gillen , Alfie Allen , Conleth Hill , Rory McCann , Jerome Flynn , Jacob Anderson , Kristofer Hivju , Gwendoline Christie , Nathalie Emmanuel , Carice Van Houten , Natalie Dormer , Stephen Dillane , Charles Dance , Charlotte Hope , Michelle Fairley , Jack Gleeson , Richard Madden , Hannah Murray , Sibel Kekilli , Julian Glover , Brenock O'Connor , Rose Leslie , Michael McElhatton

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

8

7 ‘Outlander’ (2014)

Developed By Ronald D. Moore

Based on the books by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is full of politics, magic, war, and steamy romance. While on a second honeymoon with her husband in Inverness, Scotland, Claire (Caitríona Balfe) touches the standing rocks at Craigh na Dun and is transported back in time to 1743 and the Jacobite Rising. There, she meets the rowdy McKenzie clan and falls in love with highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). In a new place and time, Claire must figure out how to survive without being too much of a modern woman, something that doesn’t help when you’re living with superstitious people who don’t understand modern medicine and think certain things are witchcraft.

Through violence, war, enemies, and magic, Jamie and Claire fight for one another time and again. Throughout seven seasons (with the eighth and final airing in 2025), viewers watch as the two characters travel from Scotland to Paris and to the New World of America, finding themselves in the middle of historical fights and manipulative people. With chemistry that can be felt through the screen and a plot full of adventure and violence, the only thing Outlander is missing for ACOTAR fans is fae folk. Even so, this series is bound to do the trick!

Outlander

TV-MA

Release Date

August 9, 2014

Cast

Caitriona Balfe , Sam Heughan , Sophie Skelton , Richard Rankin

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

8

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6 ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ (2022)

Created By Jeb Stuart

Set 100 years after the events in the series Vikings, Vikings: Valhalla brings viewers to the beginning of the end of the Viking Age, with tensions rising between the Norsemen and the English. While there are many interesting characters fighting on land and at sea, the heart and soul of this show is arguably Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), a scorned woman seeking revenge.

Now, for ACOTAR fans who are team Nesta and Cassian, you’re bound to fall in love with the character Freydís. She spends a solid amount of time swinging a sword, taking names, and pretty much being a total baddie throughout the series, all while Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter) looks at her with heart-shaped eyes. Sound familiar? It is pretty much canon with Nesta and Cassian’s relationship, where the former trains to become a skilled swordswoman and Valkyrie while the latter just stands there in awe at her strength. Besides the relationships, Vikings: Valhalla is an epic adventure full of violence, glory, and Leif Eriksson's conquests.

Vikings: Valhalla

TV-MA

Adventure

Drama

Action

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

February 25, 2022

Cast

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson , Bradley Freegard , David Oakes , Leo Suter , Laura Berlin , Frida Gustavsson , Caroline Henderson , Sam Corlett

Main Genre

Adventure

Seasons

2

5 ‘The Shannara Chronicles’ (2016)

Created By Alfred Gough and Miles Millar

Based on Terry Brooks’ fantasy trilogy, The Sword of Shannara, The Shannara Chronicles follows unlikely heroes as they try to stop a demon army from taking over the Four Lands and destroying the universe. The heroes in question are the Elvin Princess Amberle (Poppy Drayton), a half-elf named Wil (Austin Butler before he became a Hollywood star), and Eretria (Ivana Baquero), a human raised by thieves. On a journey to save the world as they know it, the three are joined by the last remaining druid, Allanon (Manu Bennett), in an epic quest full of magic, Furies, trolls, gnomes, and evil.

With romances tied in with fighting for their lives, the trio band together to face an uncertain future and to learn of their destinies. It is a story of a made family who eventually trust one another to do the right thing and to fight alongside one another, no matter the cost. A pseudo-teen-friendly version of Game of Thrones, The Shannara Chronicles has all the fantasy elements lovers of the genre crave.

The Shannara Chronicles

Fantasy

Adventure

Where to Watch

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Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

January 5, 2016

Cast

Austin Robert Butler , Ivana Baquero , Manu Bennett , Malese Jow

Main Genre

Fantasy

Seasons

2

Studio

MTV

4 ‘A Discovery Of Witches’ (2018)

Created By Deborah Harkness

Based on The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches follows a very unlike duo – a vampire and a witch. Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a reluctant witch and historian, is thrust back into the world of magic after stumbling upon a bewitched manuscript in Oxford’s research library, the Bodleian Library. And even though witches and vampires have a long history of mistrust, she teams up with the university’s biochemistry professor and vampire, Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode), to protect the book and figure out the mysteries it is hiding within its pages.

Forbidden love and a magic book full of dark secrets? An epic vampire love story, A Discovery of Witches has fantasy drama written all over it. The series explores power and passion and how there is a very fine line between the two, as seen with how Diana and Matthew interact with one another and the dark spirits they are trying to vanquish. The show is the perfect option for those who enjoy an enemies-to-lovers trope with a little magic and morally grey intent thrown in for good measure.

A Discovery of Witches

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

January 17, 2019

Cast

Matthew Goode , Teresa Palmer , Edward Bluemel , Valarie Pettiford , Alex Kingston , Owen Teale

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

3

3 ‘The Originals’ (2013)

Created By Julie Plec

A spin-off of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals follows the original vampire family as they travel to New Orleans, Louisiana, a city they created and had to leave back in 1919. Now, upon their return, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), aka one of the best morally grey characters of the 21st century, learns that his protégée Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) has proclaimed himself king of the French Quarter, keeping tabs on all supernatural occurrences, especially witches. Under his rule, the consequence of using magic is death, something the witches want Klaus’ help to rectify. As insurance that Klaus will play nice, the witches kidnap Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin), a werewolf who just so happens to be pregnant with Klaus’ child.

The Originals is full of mysteries, schemes, and revelations that could only happen so perfectly with the backdrop of New Orleans. With a morally grey main character, forbidden romances, and betrayals, this show is perfect for anyone who enjoys a violent vampire/werewolf (hybrid) who is actually nothing more than a Golden Retriever, a supernatural war, and an unborn child who could be the downfall of everything.

The Originals

TV-14

Horror

Drama

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

October 3, 2013

Cast

Joseph Morgan , Daniel Gillies , Phoebe Tonkin , Charles Michael Davis , Yusuf Gatewood , Steven Krueger

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

5

Studio

The CW

2 ‘Shadowhunters’ (2016)

Developed By Ed Decter

Based on the best-selling young adult series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Shadowhunters follows the story of Clary Frey (Katherine McNamara), who, on her 18th birthday, learns that she is half-human and half-angel, a hybrid known as a shadowhunter. These hybrids are tasked with keeping peace in the Shadow World, a place full of vampires, fae, werewolves, and warlocks, as well as keeping demons from infiltrating Earth. Along for the ride is her love interest, Jace (Dominic Sherwood), his adoptive brother and sister, Alec (Matthew Daddario) and Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia), and her best friend, Simon (Alberto Rosende). Together, they protect innocents from evil and plot to take down Valentine (Alan van Sprang), a rogue shadowhunter and the leader of the Circle who wants to rule over the Shadow World.

The series dives into the politics and truce within the Shadow World, something Valentine wants to ruin. There are action-packed fight sequences, forbidden romances, and even love triangles and betrayals that will have viewers reaching for the books to get a more in-depth account of events after watching the series. While it is a little tamer than ACOTAR , Shadowhunters is still a fun fantasy with interesting characters and a found family who would do whatever it took to protect those they love.

Shadowhunters

Where to Watch

• stream
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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

August 1, 2016

Cast

Katherine McNamara , Isaiah Mustafa

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Seasons

3

1 ‘Arrow’ (2012)

Developed By Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg

While fantasy isn’t the main topic of conversation in Arrow, there are plenty of resurrections, magical tattoos, and superpowered people in the series. The show follows the story of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), a billionaire who gets shipwrecked on the island of Lian Yu, a remote place in the North China Sea. Stranded for five years, Oliver learns what it takes to survive and fight his way out of different situations. Eventually, he returns to his home, Sterling City, where he takes up the mantle of the masked vigilante, the Arrow. Alongside a group of close friends and family, Oliver protects his city from corruption and the criminals who try to take over.

Like ACOTAR, Arrow has a very dark and foreboding mood to it. There are constant life-or-death situations and romances that risk friendships, and while there are no supernatural beings, there are definitely powered beings. The eight-season series is the beginning of DC’s Arrowverse, which is full of shows with similar themes of good vs. evil, character growth, and the importance of family, whether it be biological or found.

Arrow

Superhero

Drama

Action

Mystery

Crime

Where to Watch

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

January 10, 2013

Cast

colin donnell , Paul Blackthorne , Willa Holland , Susanna Thompson , Katie Cassidy , David Ramsey , Stephen Amell

Rating

Seasons

8

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