Finished Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and staring at the wall? These twelve share the formula that hooked you - deadly stakes, slow-burn romance and worlds worth the immersion - ranked roughly by how close they fly to the dragon.
Editor's Picks
- The Cruel Prince - wicked fae court politics
- Divine Rivals - the tender, literary one
- Caraval - the game you can't trust
01A Court of Thorns and Roses
A huntress kills the wrong wolf and is taken to the fae lands. Where the romantasy wave began - if you somehow skipped it, start here. Book two is where readers commit.
02Throne of Glass
An assassin competes for her freedom in a glass castle. Maas's other juggernaut - eight books of training-arc, tournament and slow-burn payoff. Commit to book three before you judge it; the series changes shape considerably.
03From Blood and Ash
A Maiden bound for the gods falls for her guard. Fourth Wing's closest cousin in heat and momentum - the series readers binge next. Long series, so pace yourself accordingly.
04The Cruel Prince
A mortal girl claws for power in the treacherous fae court. Wicked politics, wickeder prince - enemies-to-lovers at its sharpest. A tight trilogy rather than sprawling saga.
05Divine Rivals
Rival journalists connected by enchanted typewriters, writing into a war. The tender, literary end of the wave - and many readers' favourite. The pick for readers who want the romance to carry more feeling than heat.
06Caraval
Two sisters enter a legendary game where nothing is real and everything matters. Dazzling, twisty and impossible to trust - in the best way. Best for readers who enjoy being misdirected, and short enough to finish over a weekend.
07Serpent & Dove
A witch and a witch-hunter are forced to marry. Enemies-to-lovers with actual fire - funny, steamy and pacy. First of a trilogy, and the lightest read on this list if Fourth Wing felt like hard work.
08A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Beauty and the Beast retold with a cursed prince and a heroine with cerebral palsy who takes zero nonsense. The big-hearted one. Gentler heat than most romantasy.
09The Bridge Kingdom
A warrior princess is married into the enemy kingdom as a weapon. Political intrigue, real romance and a series that keeps its promises. Self-published origins, traditionally polished writing.
10Powerless
An ordinary girl in a kingdom that executes ordinaries - falling for the prince who should turn her in. The current BookTok obsession. Very much of the current moment, so read it while people are still arguing about the ending.
11House of Earth and Blood
Maas goes urban: a party girl and a fallen angel investigate a murder in a city of monsters. Crescent City is her most adult world. Adult in tone, not young adult.
12The Priory of the Orange Tree
Dragons east and west and a queendom without an heir - the literary end of dragon fantasy, complete in one glorious volume. A prequel exists if you want more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's genuinely closest to Fourth Wing?
From Blood and Ash for heat and momentum, The Cruel Prince for enemies-to-lovers bite. Most readers bounce between Maas and Armentrout next.
I loved the dragons specifically - what then?
The Priory of the Orange Tree is the great modern dragon novel, and Fireborne is worth a look beyond this list. Dragons with bond-magic are rarer than you'd hope.
Where do I start with Sarah J. Maas?
A Court of Thorns and Roses if you want romance-first; Throne of Glass if you want the longer arc. Crescent City is best third, once you're committed.
Are these as spicy as Fourth Wing?
It varies a great deal, so it is worth checking before you buy. Some are similar or warmer, several are considerably tamer, and a few of the epic fantasy recommendations have no romance in them at all. Reader reviews are usually explicit about heat level where it matters.
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