20 Books Like Fourth Wing

Before diving into distraction, place a pre-order on Iron Flame so you don’t miss out. If you thought the first year of war college was intense, Violet is about to be brutally pushed to powerlessness by the new vice commandment. Faced with betraying the man she loves, determination alone won’t be enough to survive this time.

Just like Violet Sorrengail, Katniss Everdeen never wanted to be a hero. But when her sister Prim is selected as a tribute to compete in the Hunger Games (where your choices are kill or be killed), she’s left with little choice but to volunteer in her place — alongside fellow tribute Peter. With deadly wasps, mutant wolf mutts and twisted contestants hunting for victory, knowing who to trust (and how to play it out on live TV) is the only way out.

Dragons, magic, war and women prepared to fight. This epic fantasy takes you into a vastly built world, introducing Ead (a lady in waiting in the West) and Tane (a dragon rider in the East). There’s espionage, political intrigue and pure chaos as the divided East and West refuse to unite, with a side of sapphic for the romance lovers. Strap yourself in; it’s a thick book that requires complete immersion.

If you’re looking for books like Fourth Wing that lean further into the enemies-to-lovers trope, this one's for you. Set in a world where a war between gods rages, Iris and Roman go from being bitter journalistic rivals to forming a tender bond from unlikely circumstances. But be warned, the ending will leave you in agony.

Laia and Elias meet at the Empire’s greatest military academy. Only Elias doesn’t want to be a soldier, and Laia is there as an enslaved spy for the rebels. When defiance is met with death, this thriller fantasy is Game of Thrones-level dark and will leave you holding your breath until the last page.

Don’t get it twisted; this book is about faeries, not fairies. The difference? Faeries are more malicious and dangerous. So when huntress Fayre accidentally kills one, she soon finds herself being held captive by a mystery jewelled mask man shielding a secret. With just as much romance as fantasy, it’s the perfect placeholder while you wait for Iron Flame.

This is one BookTok favourite that’s worth the hype. Atlas Blakely chooses six teen magicians to join an apprenticeship within his secret society to hone their skills. The catch? Only five will earn a permanent spot in Alexandrian Society — one will die. With betrayal, seduction and strong characterisation, it’s Harry Potter meets Hunger Games. Perhaps even better.

For books like Fourth Wing that’ll fill the dragon-shaped hole in your life, this slow-burn enemies-to-lovers read has you covered. Filled with dragon shifters, riders and training, the mythical creatures star alongside a plot where the dragon king must find a wife and sire an heir. But the most promising choice knows a secret… that could get her killed by the king himself.

The first in a 3-part series, Naomi Novak’s dark magic school is the polar opposite of Hogwarts. There are no teachers, and if you fail, you die. Some may find it a slow burn, but if you’re a stickler for world-building and a detailed magic system, you’ll appreciate the particulars. Not to mention the unexpected direction of the romance arc!

In a world where magic is outlawed, Sylvia has to hide who she is to survive after escaping a massacre as the heir of Jasad. But when Arin, the heir of Nizhal, discovers her secret, he uses her as bait to draw out the remaining Jasadis he’s hunting. Enemies don’t get much more intense and explosive than this before feelings begin to change.

One minute, you’re a thief working a job in New York City; the next, you’re thrust into an elven realm in the body of a treacherous princess and betrothed to a king who hates your guts. The tension is high from start to finish as the main character, Romeria, navigates a case of mistaken identity and fights her growing feelings for the king.

Dark academia, ghosts and a murder mystery — Alex Stern’s first year at Yale couldn’t be more complicated. Far from the college we know, this fantasy thriller is set across a non-linear timeline, which is perplexing at first but leads to satisfying ‘ahh’ moments as you continue to read and connect the dots.

Vampires are back, only better than before. Think bat boys with wings, a dark and brooding love interest, and a high-stakes tournament — this bestselling BookTok read has it all. Pre-order now for arrival in time for Christmas. The tension and banter between characters is worth the wait.

Sometimes, you just need a cheesy vampire love story to get you through the day. This one follows Grace, a female protagonist who attends a boarding school in Alaska after her parents die. The catch? Shapeshifters, witches and vampires roam the halls, and Grace is the only mortal. It’s an addictive read that’ll satisfy your need for books like Fourth Wing (but with a little less seriousness).

In this alternative history fantasy, Napoleon is still discovering Europe and fighting the British — only this time, both sides have dragons. The series follows Captain William Laurence as he’s (unwillingly) chosen to be the trainer of the newly hatched fighting dragon Temeraire. Spice lovers look elsewhere; this one centres around the bond between man and dragon.

This thrilling young adult fantasy has earned Australian author Lynette Noni plenty of page-turning praise. The main character, Kiva, and her father were arrested 10 years ago on suspicion of colluding with rebels. Now, 17-year-old Kiva has risen to the ranks of prison healer and is sending secret messages to her family outside. But when they fail to rescue her, Kiva’s only way out is to complete a challenge that no one has ever survived.

Not a fan of young adult fantasy? Nevernight provides a more mature heroine option. Mia is on a quest to avenge her family from the people who killed them. She can already control shadows but seeks to train as an assassin at the red church for a better chance at striking against her enemies. Friendships and romances are formed as she learns to steal, kill, poison and seduce. But she has to prove herself if she wants to succeed with revenge.

Craving books like Fourth Wing, only smuttier? This Persephone and Hades retelling is ideal for fantasy romance lovers, with a decent level of spice to get your blood pumping. It’s the first in a 6-part series, with the first three told from Persephone’s point of view before switching to Hades for the remainder. You’ll have plenty to look forward to if you love the first.

If you’re tired of classic supernatural tropes, how does the ability to jump between different bodies sound? Pair it with a deathly tournament where only the best jumper will emerge victorious, a hidden princess looking to kill the king and a contestant motivated by love, and you’ll be reading into the early hours of the morning.

Loved Avatar: The Last Airbender just as much as Fourth Wing? This is your winner. Follow a group of kids as they try to restore magic, fight against an evil king and save the world. Action-packed with plenty of plotting and backstabbing, the dynamics between characters are phenomenal. It's a refreshing fantasy read that’s far from boring.