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Books like Throne of Glass
Lethal heroines, royal intrigue and a slow reveal of who they really are.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
A young woman with a killing gift works as a king's enforcer until she decides to choose her own path.
+ A strongly drawn heroine and a satisfying slow-burn romance handled with real awareness of power and boundaries.
− The worldbuilding is generic and sometimes incoherent, and every character is a privileged member of the nobility. (summed up from The English Student)Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, with court politics and a romance that builds slowly.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
An orphan discovers a rare power and is pulled into a royal army's dangerous games.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
A commoner with a forbidden ability is hidden inside a palace full of enemies, with betrayals and rebellion.
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Science fiction rather than fantasy, but Maas fans often like its stubborn heroine, training arc and found family.
+ Palpable mood in the dogfights and a surprisingly thorough exploration of cowardice and bravery for a YA adventure.
− A formulaic cycle of battle, death and crisis, with a bland supporting cast whose deaths rarely land. (summed up from The Harvard Crimson)
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