10 Fantasy Romance Novels You Should Read Next
Are you in a major reading slump after reading “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros? The novel won Goodreads’ “Best Romantasy” of 2023 and was ranked #4 on Amazon’s “Best Books of 2023” for good reason: readers just can’t get enough of the dragon fantasy.
However, book hangovers are real. It can be daunting to pick up another book after reading one you couldn’t put down. These books might be the perfect next read if you’re struggling to fill a kite-shaped void in the Fourth Wing.
What is “Fourth Wing” about?
Fourth Wing is a mix of Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games with a dash of Harry Potter. The novel is about Violet Sorrengail, whose domineering mother denies her entry to the safe Scribe Quadrant and forces her into the Basgiath War College, where hundreds compete to become elite dragon riders. In Basgiath, she is molded into a deadly fighter and discovers a secret so powerful that it changes everything she thought she knew.
Books like Fourth Wing
An obvious follow-up to Fourth Wing is its sequel, Iron Flame. And if you’re a fan of The Empyrean series, you’ve probably heard of other BookTok favorites like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass, both by Sarah J. Maas. These series are extremely popular with romance readers, making them a good candidate for your next read.
“The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon
This queer fantasy novel begins with a ruling house in danger of losing its power and prestige. To protect the empire and the long-ruling House of Berethnet, unmarried Queen Sabran the Ninth must give birth to a daughter as an heir. Ead, a lady-in-waiting and secretly a magician, must use forbidden magic to protect Sabran as assassins approach. At the same time, there are rumors of the resurrection of an ancient, long-vanquished enemy: dragons.
“Dragonfall” by LR Lam
In Dragonfall, long-exiled dragons are worshipped as unforgiving gods. When a young thief named Arcady steals a powerful artifact, the last male dragon is dragged back to the mortal realm to save his fellow dragons. Disguised as a human, the dragon Everen must regain his magical powers to fulfill his destiny by gaining Arcady’s trust and bond with him before killing her. But they grow unexpectedly close, risking the fate of both worlds.
“Shaping a Dragon’s Breath” by Moniquill Blackgoose
When 15-year-old Anequs finds and bonds with a dragon hatchling, she is adored by her indigenous community, who have not seen a dragon in generations. But the English conquerors of her land have other ideas about how to raise a dragon – ideas that don’t concern Anequs at all. They reluctantly let her enroll in the English dragon school, but with high stakes. If she doesn’t succeed, they will kill her dragon.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is a coming-of-age story about a girl who comes into conflict with colonialists who believe her way is the right and only way.
“So Let Them Burn” by Kamilah Cole
At just 17 years old, Faron is a legend to her people – she can channel the power of the gods. She used that power five years ago to rid her island of its enemies. But in her teenage years, peace reigns and her power is useless. It is only when her sister forms a bond with a hostile dragon that she must use her magic again. The gods say that the only way to break her sister’s bond is to kill her. Now this heroine must choose between saving her sister or her homeland.
“The Serpent and the Wings of Night” by Carissa Broadbent
The Serpent and the Wings of Night follows Oraya, the adopted human daughter of a Nightborne vampire king, who enters a tournament hosted by the Goddess of Death. She must face vicious vampire warriors and form an alliance with a ruthless, mysterious enemy in order to survive. She unexpectedly finds herself drawn to rival vampire killer Raihn.
But in a world where war looms and love is dangerous, Oraya must confront what she thought she knew about home and what she really wants from life.
“Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn
Sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants to escape the grief and painful memories of her hometown by attending a residential program for gifted high school students. But when she witnesses a magical attack on her first night—a flying demon and a secret society of students hunting the creatures—her own unique, hidden magic is awakened. By infiltrating the secret Legendborn society, Bree is forced to confront the truth about her mother’s death and her own powers.
“Six Purple Cranes” by Elizabeth Lim
Princess Shiori’anma lives with secret and forbidden magical powers. When she accidentally loses control and shows her powers, the wedding she never wanted falls through, but she must face the wrath of her stepmother, who banishes her and turns her brothers into cranes. Her stepmother swears her silence – with every word she speaks, one of her brothers dies.
Shiori and her future husband embark on a quest to save her brothers and uncover a dark conspiracy. To do so, she must use the magic that got her into this dangerous situation in the first place.
“Divine Rivals” by Rebecca Ross
Divine Rivals is an epic tale of enemies turned lovers, set against the backdrop of a war between gods. After young Iris Winnow’s brother disappears from the front lines, the most important thing she can do is support her family. She eases her worries by writing letters to her missing brother, but they accidentally fall into the hands of her rival at her newspaper work. When he responds anonymously, a bond is formed that follows Iris to the front lines of battle.
“One Dark Window” by Rachel Gillig
This romantic novel follows Elspeth Spindle, a survivor of a childhood illness that gave her magical powers. A secret monster trapped in her mind controls and protects her. Her life changes when she meets a mysterious highwayman – the king’s wanted nephew, of all people – and joins a mission to save the kingdom from dark magic.
“The Trial of the Sun Queen” by Nisha J. Tuli
In this first installment of the Artifacts of Ouranos series, protagonist Lor competes with nine other women for the title of Queen of the Sun King. After being freed from twelve brutal years of torment under the rival Aurora King, becoming the Sun King’s wife will grant her freedom and revenge. But unlike her competitors, she is not a citizen of the Sun King’s court, making her a target.
Lor must win the Sun Queen’s trials, otherwise she faces death or a return to the evil Aurora King.
Are you curious to know more? We have the right thing for you.
USA TODAY explores the questions you and others ask every day. From “Where can I donate books?” to “Where can I buy books cheap?” to “How many ‘Harry Potter’ books are there?” we strive to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Visit our “Just Curious” section to see what else we can answer for you.
Contributors: Jennifer McClellan
Vernon singer shakes off cobwebs after pandemic
Citizen scientists can help count pollinating orchard owners in Northern Michigan • Michigan Advance
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(726x258:728x260)/Ricki-Lake-Pauly-Shore-Richard-Simmons-071324-b2e0e7830a484d1c857cbdcc9c15042d.jpg "Ricki Lake, Pauly Shore and other stars mourn Richard Simmons’ death")
Ricki Lake, Pauly Shore and other stars mourn Richard Simmons’ death
About The Author
