Fourth Wing? ACOTAR? Something else?

[SadAndMushyAndComplicated]

What would you recommend? Looking for high fantasy, good plot, well-written sex to shake me out of a reading slump.

I always go back to ACOTAR but haven’t yet ready fourth wing so I’d be interested in others opinions. It’s on my Christmas list. Have you read SJM’s other series’s? The new crescent city novel is out soon…

Yes fourth wing, the 2nd in the series Iron Flame is out too.

Not read any SJM at all!

Oh wow - I’d start there then. Depending on how fast you read that should give you six months of winged being / Valkyrie / werwolf smut to work through 😬

I started with ACITAR first which if I recall is 5 books, the last being the dirtiest. (I may reread this one most). Then there’s the Celeana sardothien series, Throne of Glass, which is much longer - maybe 8-10 books? Then you’ve got crescent city which is her most recent world which as I said had the next instalment out soon. That’s the order I read them in, and I’ve reread every book except throne of glass just because the series is so bloody long and I just haven’t found the time.

Fourth wing is good but doesn’t compare to SJM in world building or writing. To be honest I don’t get the hype with it (fourth wing) and apparently Iron Flame isn’t great and was obviously written quickly to jump on the hype of fourth wing.

Mmmm I have head that too. Kind of waiting to see a copy in a charity shop or to borrow from somebody else so I don’t feel too ripped off! I felt similarly about the Atlas Six. Massive BookTock blockbuster that i found… fine. I think SJM has spoilt worldbuilders for me as, although not perfect, I get so immersed in her universes that I believe in all the ludicrous storylines!

I'm reading ACOTAR at the moment and it's like pulling teeth.

I loved the Throne of Glass series and have read it a couple of times but this is so dull it's taken me ages. Books 1-3 were compelling but not good, book 4 was pointless and I'm not really sure what's going on in book 5, it is mildly interesting but the sex scenes are awful.

Is Crescent City any good?

I've quite enjoyed the Meghan Ciana Doidge Cupcakes series, I think the first one is Cupcakes, Trinkets and other deadly magic.

It's not really high fantasy as it's modern and based here but there is a fair amount of sex with a slow burn, witches, hot vampires, hotter werewolves and dragons. It's all a bit daft but likeable characters and lots of fun.

Oohh love a recommendation - added to my basket already. Thanks!

Now this sounds fun. High fantasy isn’t a deal-breaker! I enjoyed A Discovery of Witches years ago as it felt intelligent enough not to be actively destroying my brain cells but it was the sloooowest of slow burns! Looking for something a bit spicier this time around.

The sex in Fourth Wing is less cringey than in ACOTAR/Throne of Glass.

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is entertainingly smutty, if not high fantasy!

If you like ACOTAR, it is heavily influenced by Anne bishops black jewels. I've read them all, cos I love a bit of fantasy smut.

If you think the world building in ACOTAR is good, I think black jewels surpasses it by a long way. In fact as much as I enjoyed ACOTAR, I found it hard to enjoy them as much as I wanted because the influence is so heavy!

I very much enjoyed fourth wing as entertaining fluff. I have iron flame but I was saving it for a special occasion....sad to hear it was disappointing.

I'm reading throne of glass series now. Following this thread for more recommendations as I think I've found my people. My friends keep reading improving books and don't understand my love of sexy dragons and the like.

I didn’t even finish Iron Flame and enjoyed Fourth Wing. It was tedious.

I couldn't get on with ACOTAR. Iron flame was a bit twilight but I like the world and will read the rest of the series when it comes out.

Oh I have never heard of Black Jewels - adding that to the basket too. I see discover of witches has been mentioned - I enjoyed these but I agree they were a different zone. I have quite a lot of patience, and as long as things are relatively well written I can cope with slow pace. I read the Leigh Bardugo Shadow and Bone trilogy which was good, although I started six of crows and can’t quite get into it.

I really enjoyed Perilous Times recently, by Thomas D Lee. No dragons (oh no wait, I think there was one actually!) or sexy times, but it was a good adventure involving reincarnated nights of the round table. The Burnings by Naomi Kelsey I also particularly enjoyed for a bit of history/witchiness. I have Babel sitting on the side ready to start but haven’t found the time.

@CornedBeef451 I gave up on crescent city half way through the second book. I rarely give up half way through but I was just bored!

I loved the first 2 books of that cupcake series (I’ve only read the two). I’d forgotten about it to be honest - must go look them up again.

@PenCreed loved that one.

Just read assistant to the villain and really liked it but no smut.
also read my roommate is a vampire but only thought it was ok.

@Communionmom there's loads of cupcake books now, lots of smaller series based in the same world. I particularly like the amplifier books.

Fourth Wing was pretty stupid, Acotar was much better in my opinion. I loved the Darkfever series by Karen Marie Moning