What makes Fourth Wing special?

The mix: a physically underestimated heroine at a deadly dragon-rider academy, an enemies-to-lovers conflict with a high spice level, and a cliffhanger that forces you to keep reading. Fans chase that same combination of academy setting, rivalry and romance in the follow-ups.

Which book is closest to Fourth Wing?

The closest reads share dragons and an academy setting: „A Fate Inked in Blood“ by Danielle L. Jensen for the Norse-flavoured epic scale, and „Zodiac Academy“ by Caroline Peckham for the school rivalry. If you mainly loved the dark attraction, reach for „The Serpent and the Wings of Night“.

Do I have to read these series in order?

Yes, almost all of them are ongoing series with cliffhangers, just like the Empyrean series. If you prefer self-contained stories, look specifically for standalones or duologies instead of five-book epics.

Are these books as spicy as Fourth Wing?

The range is wide. Maas and Armentrout sit close to Fourth Wing, while Broadbent and Hart get noticeably more explicit. If that matters to you, check the spice level and content notes before buying.

Books Like Fourth Wing: 12 Romantasy Reads for After

Why „Fourth Wing“ hit so hard

Rebecca Yarros didn't just write a bestseller with „Fourth Wing“ – she delivered a blueprint. Violet Sorrengail, underestimated and yet unbreakable, has to survive the deadly Basgiath War College, caught between rivals who want her dead and a love interest who might be one of them. That formula of enemies to lovers, academy rivalry, dragons and a brutal cliffhanger is exactly why the series exploded on BookTok.

The good news for anyone already done with „Iron Flame“: the market is full of books that push each of those ingredients even harder. The trick is finding the right one – and for that you need to know what hooked you in the first place.

If you loved the dragons and the academy setting

1. „A Fate Inked in Blood“ – Danielle L. Jensen

Norse mythology, a shield-maiden with hidden power and a political game for a throne. The closest match for Fourth Wing's epic scale if you love combat and high stakes.

2. „Zodiac Academy“ – Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

The academy series for everyone who loved the competition at Basgiath: two sisters, a magical school, four arrogant „Heirs“ and a bully-romance conflict that stretches across many books. Guaranteed to eat your weekend.

3. „The Bridge Kingdom“ – Danielle L. Jensen

A princess trained as a weapon is married off to the enemy king – and falls for the very man she was sent to destroy. Enemies to lovers in its purest form, with espionage instead of dragons.

If the enemies-to-lovers tension got you

4. „A Court of Thorns and Roses“ – Sarah J. Maas

The classic there is no way around. Faerie courts, a mortal huntress and a love story that reinvents itself across the series. If you only read one book from this list, make it this one – it shaped the entire genre.

5. „From Blood and Ash“ – Jennifer L. Armentrout

A chosen maiden, a guard who awakens her desire, and a world full of secrets and betrayal. A slow burn that pays off, plus worldbuilding that grows with every book.

6. „Quicksilver“ – Callie Hart

A thief, an arrogant fae warrior and a journey through a dangerous world. The viral newcomer for readers who loved the banter and friction between Fourth Wing's leads most of all.

7. „Powerless“ – Lauren Roberts

In a kingdom that has cast out people without powers, a powerless heroine falls for the very prince meant to hunt her down. Accessible, romantic, an ideal softer entry point.

If you want it darker and spicier

8. „The Serpent and the Wings of Night“ – Carissa Broadbent

A deadly vampire tournament, a human adopted daughter of the goddess of death, and a rival who becomes an ally. Atmospheric, brutal, romantic – the book for anyone who wanted Fourth Wing a shade darker.

9. „Haunting Adeline“ – H. D. Carlton

Noticeably harder and firmly in dark-romance territory: read the trigger warnings carefully. For readers who want the obsessive, dangerous attraction and know what they are getting into.

10. „Kingdom of the Wicked“ – Kerri Maniscalco

Witches, a demon prince and an investigation in a Sicilian-flavoured setting. Morally grey love interest, atmospheric backdrop, comfortably mid-level spice.

If you need a break from the drama

11. „Assistant to the Villain“ – Hannah Nicole Maehrer

The charming counter-movement: a young woman takes a job as the villain's assistant – and falls for him. Humorous cozy romantasy with low spice, perfect against the book hangover after an intense series.

12. „Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries“ – Heather Fawcett

A prickly scholar studies faeries in a snowbound village. Quiet, warm, clever – for those moments when the next world-saving quest can wait.

How to find your next book with confidence

Three questions get you to the right title faster than any blurb:

Trope or setting? If the rivalry gripped you, filter for enemies to lovers. If it was the school, search „academy romantasy“.
How much spice? Everything from clean to explicit is out there – reviews and content notes are your friends.
Series or standalone? The big hits are multi-book epics with cliffhangers. If you don't want to commit, look specifically for duologies.

A tip from publishing practice: the best defence against the next reading slump is to deliberately slot in something lighter or a different genre after an intense series – otherwise no book stands a chance against that last cliffhanger.

Want to keep exploring? Start with our guide on what romantasy actually is, or browse the full Orbita catalogue for your next read.

Books like Fourth Wing: 12 romantasy reads for after.