When I wrote my beach reads book list this Spring, I had a gut feeling that Fourth Wing had the potential to be THE book of the summer. Had all the making to be THAT GIRL and look at her go! She’s out there exceeding my expectations and maybe even becoming the book of the year when it comes to hype??
(I’m assuming you agree because you are here looking for books like Fourth Wing to satiate that dragon-sized , romantasy hole in your heart. We are in this together, friends.)
I had SO MUCH FUN reading this book and, talking with other folks who were also around in the early 2010’s in the book community, we talked about how it felt so reminiscent of some of the book community fantasy/dystopian faves back then — in overall vibes and writing.
As an avid fantasy reader, I’ve read technically better fantasy (with better worldbuilding and depth) but Fourth Wing was definitely top 5 addictive reading experiences for me in a long time. And, for me, just fun/unputdownability/pure vibes is just as important!
Whether you were a fantasy veteran or newbie, Rebecca Yarros made such a fantastically addictive reading experience that was accessible to all. It was fast paced, the stakes were (excruciatingly) high and the world-building was vivid — oh and don’t let me forget the electric enemies to lovers romance this fantasy romance book gave us.
And the dragons — I’ve enjoyed books with dragons before but these ones I just fell for in all their snark and bossiness.
I had a huge book hangover after reading this one — just thoroughly enjoyed this and was on the edge of my seat yelling panicking a little bit as it neared the end (thank god we only have to wait until November for the sequel and not a whole other year).
So, if you are waiting around until Fall looking for books similar to Fourth Wing — let me help that quest.
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Best Books Like Fourth Wing
My recommendations are going to really be based on what aspect(s) you enjoyed about this book to really help find what you are looking for.
Is it the dragons? Is it just you are looking for a good fantasy romance to get addicted to after this? Did you specifically love the high stakes trials/academy stuff?
This is exactly what I do when I’m helping friends find readalikes (and I’ve already had several requests for what to read after Fourth Wing).
I want to help you find exactly what you want now that you are nursing a book hangover waiting for the sequel. So let’s get to the serious business — finding you some books like Fourth Wing.
Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
Read it if you are looking for: dragons and dragonriders, political intrigue, war, tournament/contest
The Aurelian Cycle is the recommendation I’m giving out the most for books like Fourth Wing if people are into YA books. Plus the whole trilogy is out to binge — no waiting!
It’s full of so many of the same elements that made Fourth Wing so exciting — dragonriding, an emotional connection between dragon/rider, high stakes, a contest/trial element (for the position of First Rider), revolutionaries, war, action, battles etc.
There is a romance but it’s not at all what I’d call a fantasy romance. It’s a bit more subdued comparatively to Fourth Wing.
So if you are looking for a true spicy romantasy — this might be lacking for you — but I highly recommend this one otherwise because it’s THAT GOOD and it’s not like it’s without romance either (A childhood friends to rivals to lovers story)!
Lee and Annie both lost their family to a revolution that rocked their worlds and grew up together in the same orphanage — one secretly descending from royalty and the other lowborn — becoming the best of friends.
They left the orphanage together to train in a new regime as dragon riders and have now become top riders vying for the top spot as Firstrider.
When remaining members of the former royal line rise up and reclaim what is theirs, loyalties will be tested between the two as the fight for what they believe in (and each other).
You May Also Like: Best YA Book Series
A Promise of Fire by Andrea Bouchet
Read it if you are looking for: spicy fantasy romance for adults, slow burn enemies to lovers
I’m going to be real with you that I haven’t finished this series so I can’t comment on it as a whole BUT I read the first two of these right before I had Riley and I just…never got to them. Definitely rectifying that because I am super in the mood for this series.
But you have to jump on this Greek mythology fantasy romance series — I couldn’t put it down and as soon as I read Fourth Wing I couldn’t stop thinking about this series in terms of some of the best romantasy I’ve read and it being high fantasy!
They don’t share a lot of similar elements plot-wise but if you are just finishing Fourth Wing and just craving good fantasy romance as a whole — this will absolutely satiate that craving.
It’s about a woman who has a rare power as a Kingmaker (soothsayer) and has been doing everything she can to fight this destiny and stay under the radar. That is until she’s kidnapped by a warlord who wants to use her for the safety of his newly conquered realm — a plan that she isn’t going to let come to him easily.
(I always get slightly nervous about the potential for Stockholm Syndrome in storylines like this but, after some trusted friends raved about it and addressed that aspect, I took the plunge and I’m glad I did!
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Read it if you are looking for: spicy fantasy romance, enemies to lovers, a deadly trial/competition element, an underdog story
This book had a chokehold on me and I devoured it in under 24 hours! Think Hunger Games + vampire wrapped up in a delectable spicy romantasy bow.
It’s got the high stakes of Fourth Wing (no literally only one can be standing by the end of this deadly competition) along with a really good spicy enemies to lovers and a character who is super underestimated and the ultimate underdog like Violet was. I mean, she’s a human going up against vampires who already want to kill her outside of eliminating their competition.
This is just such a good romantasy pick for fans of Fourth Wing — you’ll be just as addicted to the story of Oraya, the adopted human daughter to the current Vampire King, trying to change her fate (forever prey in the world she lives in) by entering a deadly tournament where the winner gets a wish granted by the goddess of Death — something that feels like a death sentence between the vampires who want to kill her, the deadly challenges themselves and the intriguing competition she can’t help but be drawn to despite knowing it could be her downfall.
This is an indie published book but Tor just picked it up to publish so I imagine it will get even more wildly popular!
P.S. When I read it was part of Kindle Unlimited so definitely take advantage of that as I don’t know how long that will be the case!
The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli
Read it if you are looking for: YA fantasy, dragons, less romance focus than Fourth Wing, warriors
If you were like “I want more dragon books after Fourth Wing” but don’t necessarily want/need a romantasy but don’t mind a dash of slow burn romance, check out this book (and the 2 companion books set in this world).
The main character is a notorious dragonslayer (a role she takes to atone for something that happened a long time ago) and she’s also the daughter of the King. She’s also engaged to a wretched and abusive commander who saved her life a long time ago.
So when her father offers her freedom from the betrothal — in exchange for bringing him the head of the oldest dragon and the only one said to still be breathing fire — she accepts the challenge. He’s also the dragon who scorched her city and burned her long ago.
Her quest for the dragon leads her to unravel some secrets of her kingdom and makes her question everything she thought she knew — especially that of dragons.
A really intriguing fantasy world, political intrigue, and I just loved the dragons (as well as some of the secondary characters in addition to our fierce lead).
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The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle Jensen
Read it if you are looking for: romantasy series, enemies to lovers romances, lots of political intrigue,
Back in the early/mid 2010’s Danielle Jensen’s Stolen Songbird (for good reason!) took the book blogging community by storm so when I saw people start talking about this book my interest was piqued immediately. Kindle Unlimited to the rescue again!
It’s about Lara — a princess who has been training as a warrior assassin with the goal of infiltrating the enemy kingdom by being married off to their King, gaining intel and then killing him. This will help her people as The Bridge Kingdom controls all trade and travel between land and has deprived kingdoms like the one she hails from.
But, when she gets there, everything she’s been told about the kingdom and her new husband, is not what she’s been taught or even expected. As she gets deeper in to fulfilling her mission, the more she has to wonder if she’s the hero or the villain.
If you are super new to the genre of romantasy — I definitely think it’s worth checking out Sarah J. Maas’s books as well as Jennifer Armentrout’s Blood and Ash series. I feel like most people know these books so I didn’t add them — trying to highlight some different reads for fans of Fourth Wing.
Y’all I don’t know if you some of you are in the Fourth Wing obsession trenches with me but I am HERE for some of the Fourth Wing inspired merchandise I’m seeing. I already have a sweatshirt and a candle on my list for Christmas.
FOURTH WING MERCH TO CHECK OUT:
Looking for even more fantasy romance books to read?
Check out my list of romantasy/fantasy romance recommendations!
What books do you think are books to give people looking for books similar to Fourth Wing/books like Fourth Wing? I certainly would take any good romantasy reads especially if they have dragons or some sort of trial/competition element.
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Anne says
Thank you for including Bridge Kingdom and Promise of Fire. These series are not shared enough and I dare to say they are better than Forth Wing. 😉
Jamie says
I agree!!
Judith says
Jamie! Thank you for this! I just finished Fourth Wing and googled instantly and I love that you wrote this. I ordered Fireborne first. The book hangover is seriously MASSIVE.
X Judith
Jamie says
Ah glad it was helpful! I really think you will enjoy Fireborne!! Also I’m glad you are back in my book orbit <33
Rachel says
Just finished the whole bridge kingdom series (that’s out) based on your recommendation- thank you! This was a great hangover cure 🙂
Buba says
THANK YOU SM FOR HELPING ME WITH NEW READS🫶 I APPRECIATE YOU!
Shelley says
Thank you so much for posting this! I just finished reading Fourth Wing today and the book hangover is insane!
I will definitely be checking out the books on your list to help me survive 2 months until Iron Flame arrives. (already preordered!)
Book Lore says
Very good list. Now I just have to select one of theses titles. Than you
Jamie says
Always the problem right? lol