Books like 'A King So Cruel'
Readers who enjoyed A King So Cruel by Ellie Cassidy also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy dark romance young adult from hate to love new adult dystopian
-
The Inadequate Heir by Danielle L. Jensen
Return to the world of The Bridge Kingdom in this sensuous fantasy full of romance and intrigue that is perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Silver Flames.A soldier raised as heir to an empire, Zarrah is motivated by two truths. The first is that the Veliant family murdered her mother. And the second is that her pursuit of vengeance will put every last one of them in their graves... -
Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsThere would be blood. Blood for blood. Blood to pay. An entire world of it.For the resistance in the Third Reich, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun. Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly... -
Now I Rise by Kiersten White
Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants... -
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 41 ratingsThe Traitor Baru Cormorant is an epic geopolitical fantasy about one woman's mission to tear down an empire by learning how to rule it.Tomorrow, on the beach, Baru Cormorant will look up from the sand of her home and see red sails on the horizon.The Empire of Masks is coming, armed with coin and ink, doctrine and compass, soap and lies... -
-
Counterpart by Ella Pyne
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsLeda doesn’t want to be sacrificed, but there’s no escaping a fate written in stone…In the kingdom of Viridiana, a king makes a deal with the gods; royal blood in exchange for power and prosperity. Every year, one of his children must sacrifice another to prove their loyalty to the throne and to the gods.Leda Locarno, bastard daughter of the king, has known her fate from the beginning... -
A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Selection series Kiera Cass is back with her most epic novel yet—a sweeping enemies-to-lovers standalone romance.“Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.”Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—but no amount of luxuries can change the fact that her life isn’t her own to control...Categorized as:
from hate to love dystopian new adult fantasy young adult historical high fantasy forbidden love -
Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne
A healer who cannot be healed . . .When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it’s only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she’s destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art—until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill.A soldier shattered by war . . -
Kingdom of Rebels and Thorns by Frost Kay
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLong live the rebellion.Tasked with infiltrating the palace was supposed to be an easy job. When Sage's plans go south and one of her own betrays her, she finds herself captured by the crown. The cruel prince of Aermia thinks he has won, but the devastatingly handsome rogue has no idea who he is dealing with... -
All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry
Rated: 3.84 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsFour years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family... -
The Beauty Trials by Dhonielle Clayton
Rated: 3.57 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIn this all-new novel from the world of Dhonielle Clayton’s sweeping, lush Belles series, rebellious, outspoken, fan-favorite Edel Beauregard enters the Beauty Trials―a deadly competition to find the next Queen of Orléans.Sophia, the dangerous and erratic former queen, has been imprisoned, restoring peace to Orléans... -
Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews, The Real Virginia Andrews
They were such brave children to withstand such suffering. Such clever children to escape such terror! For Carrie, Chris and Cathy, the attic was a dark horror that would not leave their minds, even while they built bright, promising new lives. Of course mother had to pretend they didn't exist. And Grandmother was convinced they had the devil in them. But that wasn't their fault... -
Seeds of Yesterday by V.C. Andrews, The Real Virginia Andrews
The final, haunting novel in the extraordinary story that has enthralled millions! The horror began with Flowers in the Attic , the terrifying tale of four innocent children locked away from the world by a cruel mother. The shocking fury continued with Petals on the Wind and If There Be Thorns . Now V.C... -
Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon
The start of a fierce fantasy duology about three maidens who are chosen for their land's greatest honor...and one girl determined to save her sister from the grave. In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame... -
Gild by Raven Kennedy
The fae abandoned this world to us. And the ones with power rule.Gold.Gold floors, gold walls, gold furniture, gold clothes. In Highbell, in the castle built into the frozen mountains, everything is made of gold.Even me.King Midas rescued me. Dug me out of the slums and placed me on a pedestal. I’m called his precious. His favored... -
-
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't... -
Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat
In this riveting sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Dark Rise, Will and his allies have survived the Dark’s first assault, but at a terrible cost.A new threat from the past is rising, and only a handful of heroes remain to fight... -
Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
Shanghai is under siege in this captivating and searingly romantic sequel to These Violent Delights, which New York Times bestselling author Natasha Ngan calls “deliciously dark.”The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution.After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath...Categorized as:
from hate to love new adult fantasy young adult historical mystery urban fantasy forbidden love -
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
He will be destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne. Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power. Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal... -
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
Witness the fate of beloved heroes - and enemies.THE BALANCE OF POWER HAS FINALLY TIPPED...The precarious equilibrium among four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire, leaving a space for another London to rise... -
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken... -
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 4 by SUOL, Gwon Gyeoeul
“When I’m with you, there’s truly never a dull moment.”The Hunt is on! Penelope heads off to the small-game area in hopes of finding a present for Eckles…only to run into a hostile bear! Armed with desperation and a crossbow, Penelope holds it off, until Callisto unexpectedly comes to her rescue...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love fantasy betrayal young adult historical magic reverse harem -
A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross
In the stunning conclusion to the Elements of Cadence duology, A Fire Endless finds the delicate balance between the human and faerie realm threatened by Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, whose defeat can only come through fire, song, and heart-rending sacrifice.East and West. Humans and Spirits. Breccans and Tamerlaines... -
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 2 by Gyeoeul Gwon, SUOL
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 34 ratings"Nothing good can come from a relationship built on secrets." Penelope's fate is looking grim, but she's got a plan: sneak out, rescue Eckles, and secure herself a one-way ticket out of death...Categorized as:
from hate to love historical dark paranormal mystery reverse harem abuse young adult -
-
Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
Beautiful Sorcha is the courageous young woman who risked all to save her family from a wicked curse and whose love shattered generations of hate and bridged two cultures. It is from her sacrifice that Sorcha's brothers were brought home to their ancestral fortress Sevenwaters, and her life has known much joy...Categorized as:
from hate to love new adult paranormal medieval fae legends & fairy tales magic historical -
Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 46 ratingsThe searing conclusion of the thrilling epic fantasy trilogy that saw a young girl trained by an arcane order of nuns grow into the fiercest of warriors...They came against her as a child. Now they face the woman. The ice is advancing, the Corridor narrowing, and the empire is under siege from the Scithrowl in the east and the Durns in the west. Everywhere, the emperor’s armies are in retreat... -
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire. Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival... -
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.And it is bait she fully intends to take... -
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
The graphic novel debut from rising star Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic, which Slate awarded its Cartoonist Studio Prize, calling it "a deadpan epic." Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson...Categorized as:
dystopian from hate to love new adult fantasy humor young adult paranormal shapeshifters -
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother...Categorized as:
new adult dystopian from hate to love young adult fantasy forbidden love war love triangle
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences

Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.