This fantasy standalone book is perfect for fans of the A Court Of Thorns & Roses series, especially fans who miss Velaris. This series is one of the main staples of BookTok, with the story of Feyre Archeron's adventures in Prythian continuing to inspire audiences. Several books like A Court Of Thorns & Roses, as a result, try to copy some of what makes this series so unique and popular, whether it be the compelling romance, strong worldbuilding, or heart-stopping action. However, one aspect of the series is rarely ever copied by other books: the wonderful settings, including Velaris.
Velaris is the home of Rhysand in A Court Of Thorns & Rosesas well as his Inner Circle. The city's lively atmosphere, varied color scheme, good food, and citizenry help Feyre as she grows and processes her trauma, ultimately finding a home in Velaris with her new family. Though various other books have beautiful settings, the feel and joy of Velaris has not been fully recaptured. That being said, one standalone fantasy book, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, comes close through its central location, Le Cirque des Rêves.
The Circus Has Velaris' Feel Even With A Monochrome Color Scheme
Le Cirque des Rêves, or The Circus of Dreams, shares many of Velaris' charms in A Court Of Thorns & Roses, from the sense of community to some of the motifs. The beauty of Velaris is one of the reasons why the second and third books are the best in A Court Of Thorns & Rosesas Velaris is the site of both Feyre's healing journey and her romance with Rhysand. The Circus of Dreams captures many of those charms through its magical atmosphere, though it lacks the vibrant colors of Velaris by design.
While the draw of fantasy books is the worldbuilding & magic, the plots within these novels are elevated by great romances & love stories.
The circus' main devotees, the Rêveurs, still manage to find the magic enticing though, dressing in monochrome with a red accent to showcase their love of the circus and mirroring the sense of community in Velaris. The attractions, which include a star-gazing roller coaster and a memory tent based on scent, also mirror the love of stars in the Night Courtand the lavish spices the city specializes in. Lastly, the food's rich flavors mimic Sevanda's cooking, rounding out the guest's magical experience as they witness a story that shares many other details with A Court Of Thorns & Roses.
It Also Somewhat Copies ACOTAR's Romance And Magical Intrigue
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
The Night Circus features a fate-driven romance and a plot filled with intricate magical intrigue, allowing the stand-alone novel to share more than a location with A Court Of Thorns & Roses. Despite it not working exactly like A Court Of Thorns & Roses's mate trope, Celia and Marco's romance in The Night Circus is still one driven by fate, as the two play out a magical competition in the circus. The magic binds them together but gives them room to slowly fall in love organically much like Feyre and Rhysand, complicating the circus' purpose as the contest persists.
Celia and Marco, however, still manage to conquer all these complications through their love, allowing for an ending that truly makes this a perfect replacement book for the
A Court Of Thorns & Roses
series.
On the subject of the contest, The Night Circus also features magical intrigue as the two leads and their respective mentors try to tilt the scales in their favor. This causes many within the circus to get caught in the crossfire, adding tension much like the political machinations of A Court Of Wings & Ruin did for the series. Celia and Marco, however, still manage to conquer all these complications through their love, allowing for an ending that truly makes this a perfect replacement book for the A Court Of Thorns & Roses series.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
Custom image by Yailin Chacon 
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