Sarah J. Maas, the best-selling author of the fantasy book series under 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 the ACOTAR series.

As Maas has yet to announce the release of the sixth 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 to fill the void ACOTAR left behind—such as Fourth Wing or From Blood and Ash—there's one particular Fae romantasy that should have been the best A Court of Thorns and Roses replacement book on 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 City was 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 the next Court of Thorns and Roses continues. However, while the series is still well-liked, the Crescent City books never quite achieved the same following or viral popularity as ACOTAR. 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 between Crescent City and its predecessor.

...Crescent City may be lacking a few foundational elements that gave A Court of Thorns and Roses its 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 in House of Flame and Shadow. While this did help to tie the two series together in a more tangible way, many still would not consider Crescent City an appropriate replacement for ACOTAR. The books do share many similarities, but Crescent City may be lacking a few foundational elements that gave A Court of Thorns and Roses its 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 of ACOTAR have commonly gravitated towards fantasy or romantasy books that have a strong Fae plot—and while Crescent City does deliver on this point, the story is often overshadowed by its many short-comings. The main complaint most readers have against the series is that Crescent City's heroine, Bryce, comes across as very unlikable compared to Feyre from A 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.

The romantic element of Crescent City also 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. Where ACOTAR saw its characters ing one another's past traumas, Crescent City left little room for Bryce or the others to develop any sort of relationship growth. While this may not have been Maas' intention, it deeply 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 the A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City series'—and a 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 of Crescent City through its ing 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 the fourth Crescent City book will 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 to Crescent City's ing cast. If Maas develops the rest of the series strategically, it could potentially boost Crescent City to the heights of A Court of Thorns and Roses' success.