21 Books Like 'Fourth Wing,' According to Librarians ...Saudi Arabia

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While there are plenty of genres to choose from when you're looking to dive into a new book, romantasy is having a major moment right now. The best part? Many viral TikTok (aka BookTok) favorites can be found on Kindle Unlimited—whether you enjoy extra elements of mythology or something that leans more into sci-fi territory. One romantasy book that has taken social media by (onyx) storm is Fourth Wing. If you've read this book (and the rest of the series by Rebecca Yarros), you know exactly why it's so popular. It truly has a little bit of everything—from a steamy romance to dragons, magic, high-stakes political situations and war. It's a true page-turner that keeps you hooked from the very beginning. I'm a huge fan of the series myself and have been not-so-patiently waiting for the next novel in the series to drop. Unfortunately, Yarros herself said it could be a while before that happens (sigh). So, instead, to scratch that itch, we asked librarians for a list of books like Fourth Wing to hold fans over in the meantime.While librarian Taylor Coonelly says that she loves this series and it's a great way to dip your toes into the world of romantic fantasy, this list will help you expand your horizons. "I do enjoy the book and series, but I think that there is a considerable amount of fantasy and 'fantasy romance' books that are underrepresented in the literary world because of the immense virality of this series on the internet," she tells Parade. "I think that people felt hooked into the relationship between Violet and Xaden and the enemies-to-lovers arc that they have throughout (not to mention the incredibly spicy scenes the characters share). During this time, #BookTok was gaining a lot of traction, and the series was picked up by popular book influencers who inspired others to read and enjoy."This may partially explain why the series went so viral, but that doesn't mean it became popular for nothing. It inspired a community of readers to dive deeper into romance stories with high-fantasy elements, and that's what this list is all about. After chatting with two expert librarians, here are 21 books like Fourth Wing to give a go that give off the same vibe. All of them are the first in a series, so they'll definitely keep you busy in the days and months to come.Related: 21 Best 'Fourth Wing' Memes

Where to even start with this one... This story weaves an intricate tale filled with politics, romance, fantasy and friendship—that's one of the many reasons why it's so popular. It's the first novel in Yarros's Empyrean series, and each novel after leaves you equally as hooked. It follows the main female lead, Violet Sorrengail, who is forced to enlist in the Basgiath War College and train to become a dragon rider, the kingdom's elite military force. "This series is an adult fantasy romance, with heavy spice scenes and portrayals of war," Coonelly shares. "While facing the physical challenges of training, and the harshness of her wingleader Xaden Riorson, Violet begins to uncover secrets about the kingdom she has vowed to protect."Librarian Alexa Carrillo adds that this story is a journey of self-discovery for the main female character. "We follow dragons, a female lead that uses her brains alongside her growing strength to face an exam that was not made for her physicality, all while she is making new friends and developing feelings for her 'enemy' [Xaden Riorson]," she says.While I don't want to give too much away if you haven't read the series yet, the above paints a good general picture of what's in store if you want to give it a go. As long as you're OK with some scenes of an explicitly sexual nature, then this is worthy of any romantasy lover's list.Related: 29 ‘Must-Read’ Magical Realism Books, According to Librarians

What Kind of Books Feel Like 'Fourth Wing'?

If you have read all the books in the Empyrean series and are looking for something to tide you over until the next book comes out, Coonelly says there are a few key things a book should have to evoke the vibe of Fourth Wing. "The three elements to focus on are an intense romance plotline, high-stakes political undertones and a magical force that binds the world created by the author (dragons, fae, etc.)," she shares.Carrillo echoes that there must be magic and intrigue to really hook you in, as Fourth Wing does. "I think world-building is a key to having a book be [similar to] Fourth Wing and, of course, dragons," she says. "They are crucial to the story and make up the magic system."While it's a little tough to find a ton of other books with dragons, lean into romance with an intricate magic system—that will still evoke the Fourth Wing vibes even if it doesn't have dragons.Related: 150 of the Most Wonderful Quotes About Reading & Books for Book-Lovers

21 Books Like 'Fourth Wing,' According to Librarians

1. 'The Bridge Kingdom' by Danielle L. Jensen

Amazon

The Bridge Kingdom is the first book in a six-book series. Carrillo loves this series for Fourth Wing readers because it's a sweeping romance with plenty of action. "[This features] a fierce female lead, political intrigue and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dynamic that mirrors Violet and Xaden's evolving relationship," she tells Parade.

2. 'Fireborne' by Rosaria Munda

Amazon

Fireborne is the first book in the young adult fantasy trilogy The Aurelian Cycle. Similar to Fourth Wing, this series also features dragon riders and is a shoo-in for readers of the series. "This one has dragon riders, academy training, political conflict and romance," Carrillo shares. "Almost a natural follow-up if you're craving more of that dragon bond and court intrigue vibe."Coonelly also recommends this book for strong Fourth Wing vibes and says it even evokes some Game of Thrones energy. "It has class family dynamics and dragon riding at the center of the story," she explains. "The story follows two orphans from different social classes competing for a spot in a dragon-riding fleet, whose past threatens their competition. The romance in this story is not as strong as in Fourth Wing, but if you wanted to see more dragon action, this is the one for you."

3. 'The Serpent and the Wings of Night' by Carissa Broadbent

Amazon

Both librarians recommend this series for Empyrean series readers. "This is a dark fantasy romance featuring a steamy enemies-to-lovers relationship between an adopted human and a ruthless vampire," Coonelly says. "The high-stakes plot of a deathly competition makes this book similar to Fourth Wing. While I didn't love the ending of this series, the vibes are action-packed and gothic in a way that might interest Fourth Wing fans."Carrillo echoes that this romance has a lot of spice to it. "[It] combines steamy romantasy with danger. It's packed with tension and slow-burn relationship energy," she shares.

4. 'A Song of Wraiths and Ruin' by Roseanne A. Brown

Amazon

Coonelly says this unique story features a lot of similar elements to Fourth Wing, including favorite tropes like enemies-to-lovers. "This young adult fantasy book is a part of an African folklore-inspired duology that I thought was incredibly complex and well-done," she adds. "The romance in this book is between a crown princess and a refugee who has promised to assassinate her, and has the added element of a deadly competition in which both characters are at each other's throats for their benefit."

5. 'The Priory of the Orange Tree' by Samantha Shannon

Amazon

If you're looking for more dragons, Carrillo says this novel, the first in The Roots of Chaos series, is definitely one to pick up. "This features epic fantasy with dragons, powerful women and political stakes," she states. "It also has deeper world-building if you want something expansive like Fourth Wing’s realm."

6. 'The Last Namsara' by Kristen Ciccarelli

Amazon

For even more dragons and a strong female lead, Carrillo says to pick up The Last Namsara, the first novel in the Iskari series. "With dragons, personal vengeance and a strong heroine, this balances fantasy adventure with emotional stakes," she continues. "A good fit for dragon fans."Related: 13 Best Audiobooks Narrated by Julia Whelan, According to Librarians

7. 'Our Vicious Oaths' by N.E. Davenport

Amazon

If you like other high fantasy elements along with your romance, like fae, Coonelly says to give Our Vicious Oaths a try. "I love both the female main character and male main character in this story, and the inclusion of a diverse fae and magic system," she shares. "This book has a romance between two strong characters that burns throughout and an inclusion of dragon-riding that creates a powerful combination for Fourth Wing readers to enjoy."

8. 'The Cruel Prince' by Holly Black

Amazon

The Cruel Prince is the first novel in Black's The Folk of the Air series. Coonelly says this is another great option featuring the fae. "The Folk of the Air trilogy has been compared to Fourth Wing for many reasons, but most popularly the different enemies-to-lovers romances followed throughout the series and the high-stakes world of Faerie," she shares. "I really enjoyed the complex political hierarchy created for this world, and find it mimics some of the same themes in Fourth Wing."

9. 'An Ember in the Ashes' by Sabaa Tahir

Amazon

This novel has been on my Goodreads list for months, and Carrillo's endorsement of it has convinced me even further that it's worth the read. "This novel features a brutal military-style world with a fierce heroine navigating deadly adversaries and emotional bonds," she states. "It's great if you loved the fight for survival aspect of Fourth Wing."

10. 'Shadow and Bone' by Leigh Bardugo

Amazon

If you ever wondered where the Netflix show came from, this novel is the source material, and Carrillo says it's the perfect option for Fourth Wing lovers. It's the first novel in TheShadow and BoneTrilogy. "It's a series that has magic schools, war looming and a powerful girl discovering strength, balanced with a sweeping fantasy world that hooks you like Fourth Wing," she shares.

11. 'The Knight and the Moth' by Rachel Gillig

Amazon

If your favorite element of the Empyrean series was the sizzling dynamic between Violet and Xaden, Coonelly says this novel is a must-read. "This first [book] in a duology (with the second book releasing in September 2026) has one of my favorite enemies-to-lovers relationships in a fantasy book I have read," she gushes. "Both characters are given individual storylines and motivations while their relationship builds in a realistic way. The banter between them is incredible, and there is an undercurrent of political power woven with magic that keeps readers hooked."

12. 'From Blood and Ash' by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Amazon

From Blood and Ash is the first novel in the Blood and Ash series, which has seven books (six are out currently) planned at this time. This first novel is one of my absolute favorites in the series because it features one of my all-time favorite book romances. It has incredible world-building, heart-melting lines, a charming main male character and political betrayal and intrigue that rivals Fourth Wing in so many ways. Coonelly also loves the book and recommends it. "While not the enemies-to-lovers romance seen in Fourth Wing, Armentrout's romance between our main character and the guard sworn to protect her is swoon-worthy," she states. "This book also features a complex and action-packed story for readers to dive into—and not to mention, vampires!"

13. 'The Ruin of Kings' by Jenn Lyons

Amazon

According to Carrillo, there's so much to The Ruin of Kings and the rest of the A Chorus of Dragons series that echoes Fourth Wing."This is a complex fantasy adventure with prophecy, political intrigue and layered characters," she adds. "Great for readers who want more dimension beyond the romance."

14. 'His Majesty's Dragon' by Naomi Novik

Amazon

If you're totally hooked on the fantasy element of dragons, Carrillo says this is another fantastic choice for Fourth Wing lovers. It's also Book One of the nine-book Temeraire series. "This is strong on dragon bonds and organized training," she explains. "If you enjoyed the mix of structured training, dragon bonding and action in the skies, this book is [that] with a slightly more militaristic tone."

15. 'The Sky on Fire' by Jenn Lyons

Amazon

While this story does feature dragons, Coonelly says it offers a different take on the element. "This story follows a nomadic main character tasked with stealing from a dragon hoard with a gang of morally grey thieves—sounds easy, right?" she shares. "I thought that this was incredibly unique as a fantasy heist story with a dragon-focused society, and [it] has a lot of the same action and world-building as Fourth Wing."

16. 'Heartless Hunter' by Kristen Ciccarelli

Amazon

I happened to pick up this book on Kindle Unlimited after I finished Fourth Wing and quickly grew to love the female main character. My only complaint is that it's only a duology series, and I wish it took more time to flesh out the world-building. Other than that, it's a great read if you love the hunter-and-hunted dynamic.Coonelly also says this is a good option for Empyrean series readers. "This book is perfect if you're looking for something to match the enemies-to-lovers vibes in Fourth Wing without the complex political fantasy subplots," she explains. "I loved the relationship between the main characters, a vigilante witch saving her own kind and a notorious witch hunter, and how it develops through the story."

17. 'Rose in Chains' by Julie Soto

Amazon

Coonelly says this first book in The Evermore Trilogy has a lot to offer Fourth Wing lovers. "This is about a young princess who is sold off to her enemy's estate after the war," she explains. "This book is a very dark and steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy that might appeal to those who wanted more from the Fourth Wing romantic plotline."Important to note that she also issues some content warnings: "This book does contain mentions of sexual slavery/human trafficking, non-consensual situations, sexual violence, and war."

18. 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien

Amazon

Coonelly says this classic book and prequel to the Lord of the Rings series offers high fantasy elements that paved the way for books like Fourth Wing. "Any good fantasy recommendation list needs to include these two classic series that inspired what the genre is today," she explains. "While there is no dragon riding, The Hobbit focuses largely on the dragon Smaug and the journey of a group of dwarves and one hobbit in defeating the dragon."She says that both series—The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings—"have incredible world-building and political conflict throughout...""And the differing forms of magic and fantasy creatures written by Tolkien are foundational for more current fantasy novels," she states. "This recommendation is more slow-paced, but a must-read."

19. 'A Deadly Education' by Naomi Novik

Amazon

If you loved the high-stakes situations created by Fourth Wing, Carrillo says this novel (the first in The Scholomance series) by Naomi Novik is worth reading next. "Set in a lethal magical school where students are expected to die, this mirrors Basgiath's survival of the fittest structure," she shares. "The heroine is powerful but underestimated, and the tension includes a slow-burn romance with a morally grey male lead."

20. 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown

Amazon

Carrillo also loves this first book in the Red Rising series. "Though sci-fi rather than fantasy, it uses the same 'deadly elite academy' structure where students are divided into faction[s] and must survive strategic, violent trials," she says.

21. 'Dire Bound' by Sable Sorensen

Amazon

This read was a personal favorite of mine last year, and it held me over until the most recent book in the Empyrean series dropped. Carrillo also loves and thinks it's perfect for those readers."Instead of dragons, [the characters] bond with wolves, and the main female lead is desperate to save her family, so she enters the Bonding Trials," she explains. "It's a deadly competition to become a warrior and gain [the] power and strength that she needs."Up Next:

Related: 25 Best Short Books You Can Easily Read in a Day, According to Librarians

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