5 Gut-wrenching books similar to fourth wing

Welcome to the rider’s quadrant. If you’re here, it’s because Fourth Wing broke you in the best possible way. I get it. I literally couldn’t put it down, my pulse thrumming with every dark turn until late night faded into a blurry, sleep-deprived morning.

You’re obsessed. Wrecked. Chasing that same unputdownable, heart-stopping high like a goddamn addict. That feeling of soaring on dragonback one minute and having your heart ripped out the next. You’ve come to the right place. I’ve gone into the archives and pulled the books similar to Fourth Wing that will give you that same glorious, gut-wrenching fix.

The Foundation: Books Similar to Fourth Wing

Let’s be honest with ourselves: nothing will ever hit like that first time you crossed the Parapet. It’s an ache, right? Trying to recapture that first brutal, breathtaking flight into Basgiath. The shock of the Parapet, the terror of the Gauntlet, the slow-burn, feral tension between Violet and Xaden—it’s a core memory.

But the magic of reading is finding new worlds that echo those same feelings. The books on this list aren’t just similar; they capture the essence of what we love: the life-or-death stakes, the brutal academies, the enemies who become everything, and of course, the dragons. This is your guide to your next obsession.

Here’s a quick look at the contenders ready to steal your heart (and your sleep).

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

⚡ 🏆 NYT Best Seller | ⭐ 4.5 (120k) | 🌶️ 2/5 | 📚 Book 1 of 5

Dragons, Romance, Academy. This is the book that started it all, the one that lives in our heads rent-free. From the moment Violet Sorrengail is forced into the Riders Quadrant, we are hooked. She’s fragile, underestimated, and surrounded by people who want her dead before she even makes it to Threshing. It’s a brutal, unforgiving world, and Yarros makes you feel every single scrape, broken bone, and terrified heartbeat.

The world-building is a punch to the gut, dropping you straight into the panic of Basgiath War College, where survival is the only grade that matters and you feel the threat in your own bones. But let’s talk about what truly makes this book a phenomenon: the dragons. Tairn and Andarna aren’t just beasts; they are characters with immense power, ancient wisdom, and a bond with their riders that is fiercely protective and deeply emotional.

And then there’s Xaden Riorson. The tension, the forbidden glances, the “I hate you but I’ll kill anyone who touches you” energy is pure, addictive dark romance gold. It doesn’t just build a world with stakes; it makes you live inside the terror of its spicy romantasy with life or death trials.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

⚡ 🏆 NYT Best Seller | ⭐ 4.4 (85k) | 🌶️ 2/5 | 👀 Dual POV

War, Betrayal, Dragons. If you thought the stakes were high in Fourth Wing, prepare to be emotionally obliterated by Iron Flame. This sequel takes everything we loved and cranks it up to eleven. Violet is no longer the fragile scribe-wanna-be; she’s a rider with secrets that could shatter the entire kingdom.

What sets Iron Flame apart is how it expands the world beyond Basgiath’s walls. It forces Violet and Xaden to navigate not just their intense, complicated relationship but a web of ancient conspiracies and betrayals. The introduction of dual POV gives us precious insight into Xaden’s mind, making their struggles and sacrifices even more gut-wrenching.

The political intrigue doesn’t just deepen, it shatters you; the lies feel like a personal betrayal, and the battles leave you breathless. The dragon battles are epic, the plot twists are genuinely shocking, and that cliffhanger? Absolutely criminal. It’s the perfect follow-up, delivering more of the fantasy books with dragons and spice that we crave.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

⚡ 🏆 Genre Classic | ⭐ 4.2 (1.2M) | 🌶️ 3/5 | 📚 Book 1 of 5

Fae, Romance, Trials. Before there was Basgiath, there was Prythian. A Court of Thorns and Roses is a cornerstone of the romantasy genre for a reason. While it trades dragons for the dangerously beautiful and cruel Fae, it shares so much of Fourth Wing’s DNA. We have a strong female lead, Feyre, who is thrown into a magical world she doesn’t understand and forced to fight for her life and the lives of those she loves.

The Beauty and the Beast-inspired romance is dripping with tension and secrets, and the world of the Fae courts is both enchanting and terrifying. The final third of the book, where Feyre must endure a series of deadly trials, will give you major Fourth Wing Gauntlet vibes. It’s a story of survival, sacrifice, and discovering a strength you never knew you had. For readers looking for books like ACOTAR and Fourth Wing, this is the essential, must-read starting point. It’s a slow burn that builds into an explosive, unforgettable series.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

⚡ 🔥 Hot New Release | ⭐ 4.3 (15k) | 🌶️ 2/5 | 📚 Book 1 of series

Magic, Rebels, Epic. Get ready for your next obsession. Sabaa Tahir is one of the popular romantasy authors to read next if you loved the revolutionary spirit of Yarros’s work. She is the genius behind An Ember in the Ashes and is back with a new series that bleeds the same epic, high-stakes energy as Fourth Wing. While we’re swapping dragon riders for rebellious magic wielders, the core feeling is identical: a world on the brink of war, a heroine with a hidden power, and stakes that feel impossibly high.

This book captures that feeling of being a small part of a massive, world-altering conflict. The plots are intricate, the characters are deeply flawed and impossibly likable, and the world-building is rich and immersive. It’s perfect for readers who loved the revolutionary undercurrents in Fourth Wing and the feeling that our heroes are fighting against a corrupt, broken system. It’s a story about legacy, rebellion, and the terrifying, exhilarating power of magic.

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

⚡ 🔥 Hot New Release | ⭐ 4.3 (2k) | 🌶️ 2/5 | 👀 12 hrs audio

Mystery, Fantasy, Detectives. If the political intrigue and hidden secrets of Fourth Wing were your jam, you need to get this on your radar. This book offers a unique blend of mystery and fantasy, creating a world filled with shadowy intrigue and ancient conspiracies. It taps into that same feeling of uncovering truths that powerful people have tried to bury for centuries.

Instead of a war college, we’re navigating a world of gritty detective work set against a high-fantasy backdrop. The atmosphere is thick with tension and paranoia, mirroring the feeling of being a target within Basgiath’s walls. You’re not just a reader piecing together clues; you’re an accomplice, dragged into the paranoia, your pulse hammering with every goddamn reveal. The buzz around this series is real, building with the same kind of viral hype that made us all run to the bookstore for Fourth Wing. It’s a smart, dark, and utterly compelling read.

“Obsessed with the dragon academy vibes but that cliffhanger had me screaming—need book 3 NOW!”

This list is just the beginning of your journey. For an even deeper dive into more incredible reads, check out our complete guide to Books Like Fourth Wing.

If You Loved the Dragons: Fantasy Books with Dragons and Spice

Let’s be honest, the dragons weren’t just part of the magic—they were the whole goddamn point. The sheer power, the ancient intelligence, the telepathic sass—it’s an unbeatable combination. If you finished Fourth Wing and immediately started searching for more fantasy books with dragons and spice, this section is for you. We’re focusing on stories where these magnificent, terrifying creatures are front and center, bonded to riders who are just as fierce.

The books we’ve already covered hit this mark perfectly. Both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame are the gold standard for dragon rider fantasy right now. The bond between Violet, Tairn, and Andarna is the heart and soul of the series.

That bond isn’t some tidy plot device; it’s a raw, aching connection that feels more real than anything. It’s not a girl and her weapon; it’s a shattered human and an ancient power choosing to be a family. The scenes of them flying, fighting, and communicating are some of the most thrilling in modern fantasy. The books perfectly blend the awe of dragon-riding with the raw danger of war, creating a spicy romantasy with life or death trials that feels visceral and real. Every flight could be the last, and that’s what keeps us turning the pages.

For the Romantics: Enemies to Lovers Books Set in a War College

Okay, romantics, let’s talk about the tension. The stolen glances across the sparring mat. The forbidden touches that feel like lightning. The way Xaden went from “I will unalive you” to “I will burn the world down for you.” That, my friends, is the enemies-to-lovers trope at its absolute peak, and setting it in a high-stakes war college? Chef’s kiss. It’s a pressure cooker for emotions, where rivalry and survival instincts get tangled up with undeniable, feral attraction.

Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros are the ultimate examples of enemies to lovers books set in a war college. The entire system is designed to pit them against each other. Xaden is the son of a traitor, the leader of the rebellion’s children, and Violet is the daughter of the general who crushed that rebellion.

They should be mortal enemies. Every interaction is loaded with years of history, prejudice, and the very real threat of violence. But beneath it all is a current of respect, understanding, and a magnetic pull that neither of them can fight. It’s the ultimate forbidden romance, and the war college setting means they can’t escape each other, forcing them to confront their feelings amidst constant danger. This is the blueprint for a perfect dark romance.

The Tropes That Hooked You: Enemies-to-Lovers, Dragon Riders, and More

Why are we all so feral for this series? It’s because Rebecca Yarros masterfully wove together some of the most addictive tropes in the fantasy genre. Understanding them is the key to finding your next favorite book.

• Enemies-to-Lovers: This is the crown jewel. It’s not just about dislike; it’s about deep-seated, life-or-death conflict that slowly, painfully, beautifully transforms into love. The power imbalance, the forbidden nature, the slow erosion of hate into begrudging respect and then burning passion—it’s everything. We see it in Fourth Wing with Violet and Xaden, and a different, Fae-flavored version of it in A Court of Thorns and Roses.
• Dragon Riders: This trope gives us power, freedom, and a bond that is deeper than any human relationship. It combines the thrill of flight and battle with the emotional weight of a soul-deep connection. Tairn isn’t just a mount; he’s Violet’s partner, protector, and grumpy, sarcastic mentor. This is the ultimate power fantasy, and it’s why we’re all dreaming of bonding a black dragon.
• Found Family: Violet is thrust into a world where she is an outcast. Her found family—Rhiannon, Sawyer, Ridoc, and eventually, the other rebellion relics—becomes her lifeline. It’s the fierce loyalty and “us against the world” mentality that gives the story so much heart.
• Underdog Heroine: We love to root for someone who is underestimated. Violet is physically weaker than everyone else, marked for death from day one. Watching her use her intelligence, wit, and sheer force of will to not only survive but thrive is incredibly satisfying. She is one of the most compelling examples of romance books with a strong female lead and magic.

These tropes are the powerful ingredients that make these stories so unforgettable. If you want to explore more stories like this, check out our list of 7 Intense adult fantasy books with strong female leads.

Reader Safety: Trigger Warnings and Spice Levels

We love dark, intense stories, but it’s important to go in prepared. Part of the thrill is the high stakes, but that often comes with content that can be difficult for some readers. I believe in reading safely, so here is a quick guide to the trigger warnings and spice levels for our main recommendations. Your mental health matters!

FAQ

What should I read next if I loved Fourth Wing?

If you want the direct sequel, grab Iron Flame immediately. If you’re looking for a similar vibe with Fae instead of dragons, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is your perfect next read.

What is the spiciest fantasy book right now?

While spice is subjective, A Court of Thorns and Roses (and its sequels) is well-known for its higher heat level, starting at a 3/5 and getting spicier. It’s a great entry point into spicier romantasy.

What to read after Iron Flame?

If you are wondering what to read after Iron Flame while waiting for the next book, Heir by Sabaa Tahir offers similar political stakes, while A Court of Thorns and Roses provides a lengthy series to get lost in.

What are 10 must-read books of all time?

That’s a huge question! In the fantasy romance world, the list would definitely include Fourth Wing, the ACOTAR series, From Blood and Ash, and The Cruel Prince. Every reader’s “must-read” list is beautifully personal!

Filling the Void

Let’s face it: finding a book that consumes you like Fourth Wing did isn’t just magical; it’s a desperate chase for that same fix. It’s a reading experience that leaves you breathless, living inside its pages long after you’ve turned the last one. But the journey doesn’t have to end there.

The books on this list are gateways to new worlds, new loves, and new heartbreaks that promise the same thrilling, immersive, and unforgettable ride. So pick your poison, settle in with one of these books similar to Fourth Wing, and don’t blame me when you’re up until 3 AM again. Happy reading.