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ELEMENT-MATCHED RECOMMENDATIONS · 12 BOOKS · AFFILIATE LINKS MARKED

Books Like City of Lost Souls: 12 reads that hit the same way

YA Fantasy 🌶️ 1/5 DarkEpicRomantic

The City of Lost Souls book hangover is real, and scrolling through "readers also enjoyed" lists isn't going to cut it. We read City of Lost Souls, tagged every mood and trope that made it click, and hunted down books that match on the things you actually cared about — not just "it's also YA Fantasy." Dark energy? Check. Possession? Check. That can't-stop-reading pacing? We've got you.

City of Lost Souls
🌶️ 1/5 534 pages
Full guide →
MATCHED BY ELEMENT

What did you love most?

We broke down City of Lost Souls into the elements that made it hit — and found books that match each one.

The Romance That Rewired Your Brain

Smoke in the Sun

The dark and epic and sacrifice that made City of Lost Souls unforgettable? Smoke in the Sun channels that exact energy. 401 pages of dark, romantic that'll fill the void.

❄️ 0/5 401 pages YA Fantasy

For the Throne

If City of Lost Souls's dark and epic and sacrifice energy had you one-clicking at midnight, For the Throne delivers the same rush with a fantasy twist. Hannah Whitten knows exactly what you're craving.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 480 pages Fantasy

The Fates Divide

The Fates Divide hits the same dark and epic and sacrifice notes that made City of Lost Souls impossible to put down. Veronica Roth brings dark and epic to every page.

❄️ 0/5 448 pages YA Science Fiction

The Darkness That Felt Like Coming Home

Gods & Monsters

You loved City of Lost Souls for the dark and epic and sacrifice? Gods & Monsters is your next obsession. Same emotional frequency, different story — and Shelby Mahurin might just become your new auto-buy author.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 608 pages YA Fantasy

Greywaren

Looking for more dark and epic and sacrifice after City of Lost Souls? Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater is the book your TBR has been begging you for. Clean read with all the feels.

❄️ 0/5 400 pages YA Fantasy

Steelstriker

You loved City of Lost Souls for the dark and epic and sacrifice? Steelstriker is your next obsession. Same emotional frequency, different story — and Marie Lu might just become your new auto-buy author.

❄️ 0/5 368 pages YA Fantasy

The Heat That Left You Breathless

Eidolon

You loved City of Lost Souls for the dark and epic and sacrifice? Eidolon is your next obsession. Same emotional frequency, different story — and Grace Draven might just become your new auto-buy author.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 406 pages Fantasy Romance

King of Sword and Sky

You loved City of Lost Souls for the dark and epic and sacrifice? King of Sword and Sky is your next obsession. Same emotional frequency, different story — and C.L. Wilson might just become your new auto-buy author.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 528 pages Fantasy Romance

A Fire in the Flesh

If City of Lost Souls's dark and epic and sacrifice energy had you one-clicking at midnight, A Fire in the Flesh delivers the same rush with a romantasy twist. Jennifer L. Armentrout knows exactly what you're craving.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 640 pages Romantasy
OUR TOP PICK

If you read one book from this list, make it this one

Smoke in the Sun

The dark and epic and sacrifice that made City of Lost Souls unforgettable? Smoke in the Sun channels that exact energy. 401 pages of dark, romantic that'll fill the void.

❄️ 0/5 401 pages DarkRomanticEpic
QUICK PICK

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FAQ

Common questions

What books are similar to City of Lost Souls?

Based on mood, trope, and pacing analysis, the most similar books to City of Lost Souls include Smoke in the Sun, For the Throne, The Fates Divide. Each matches on specific elements like dark and epic that made City of Lost Souls resonate with readers.

What should I read after City of Lost Souls?

We recommend starting with Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh — it shares City of Lost Souls's core Dark energy while bringing something fresh to the table.

Is City of Lost Souls part of a series?

City of Lost Souls is a standalone novel. You can jump right in without reading anything else first.

What is the spice level of books like City of Lost Souls?

City of Lost Souls has a spice level of 1/5. The recommendations on this page range across spice levels — each one is labeled so you can find your comfort zone.

Are there books like City of Lost Souls but with less spice?

City of Lost Souls is already a low-spice read (1/5). Most similar books on this page have comparable heat levels.

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How these recommendations were matched

Every "Books Like" page on Sort By Cravings is built from element-level matching — not surface genre tags. We compare mood profiles, trope density, pacing, heat levels, and emotional tone across our entire library of 12 profiled books to find reads that match on the things that actually matter to readers. Read our editorial standards.

📚 Updated: March 2026 12 recommendations matched