15 Page-Turner Books Like 'Fourth Wing': Dragons, Romance, and Deadly Trials

Did finishing Rebecca Yarros' 'Fourth Wing' leave you with a book hangover so strong that nothing else sounds good? Especially for you, we've created a list of books like 'Fourth Wing' that will take you back to Basgiath War College.

From vampire courts to deadly schools, and political intrigue to slow-burn romance, these books have everything fans of 'Fourth Wing' love. 

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Quick summary: Top five books like 'Fourth Wing'

Before we look at the full list, here are five must-read picks that feel like 'Fourth Wing':

1. 'The Serpent and the Wings of Night' by Carissa Broadbent – Oraya is the vampire king's adopted daughter who enters a deadly tournament with enemies-to-lovers romance.

2. 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas – Feyre enters a dangerous magical world where romance and scheming collide in this bestselling series.

3. 'From Blood and Ash' by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Poppy's forbidden attraction to her guard leads to shocking secrets in this action-packed romance.

4. 'Fireborne' by Rosaria Munda – Dragon riders from enemy backgrounds must work together in this dystopian fantasy.

5. 'A Deadly Education' by Naomi Novik – With sharp wit and surprising friendships, El survives a magical school that tries to kill its students.

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Quiz: Which dragon rider are you?

Are you ready to saddle up? Find out which dragon rider archetype fits you best and discover your next great read! Take this quick quiz:

Knowing your personal strengths helps guide your growth journey. Just like dragon riders must know themselves to bond successfully, you benefit from understanding your patterns and motivations.

Top 15 books like 'Fourth Wing' that romantasy fans obsess over

If you loved watching Violet survive brutal trials while falling for Xaden, these 15 books will give you that same can't-stop-reading feeling!

1. 'The Serpent and the Wings of Night' by Carissa Broadbent (Crowns of Nyaxia series)

Oraya is the only human raised by the vampire king. She's trained her whole life to compete in the Kejari — a brutal tournament where vampires fight for power. 

When she teams up with Raihn, a mysterious vampire warrior, their chemistry is electric while deadly trials test their limits.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• A main character, whom everyone thinks is weak, proves them wrong

• Enemies-to-lovers romance with incredible tension

• Brutal trials that test strength and smarts

• A rich world with vampire courts and old magic

• First book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series and loved by BookTok

2. 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas (ACOTAR series)

Sarah J. Maas basically created modern romantasy with this one. When Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, she gets taken to the fae realm as punishment. What starts as being trapped becomes way more complicated as she deals with court politics, ancient curses, and confusing feelings for the mysterious Tamlin and clever Rhysand.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• A main character who goes from survivor to warrior

• Slow-burn romance with found family feels

• Political scheming and big fantasy battles

• ACOTAR-inspired TikTok videos that made it an Amazon bestseller

Just as Violet needs to understand strategy to survive, Feyre learns that power comes from knowledge.

Speaking of smart thinking, 'The Art of War' offers timeless ideas about warfare, positioning, and reading your enemies — lessons both characters use in their fights.

The Headway summary breaks down Sun Tzu's tactical wisdom into quick insights you can learn in minutes.

3. 'Quicksilver' by Callie Hart (Fae & Alchemy series)

Saeris is a half-fae alchemist hiding who she really is in a world that would kill her for it. When forced to compete in deadly trials, she must use her brains and alchemy skills while fighting her attraction to Kingfisher, who has secrets of his own.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Deadly competition, like Basgiath War College's brutal tests

• Enemies-to-lovers banter like Violet and Xaden

• New York bestseller with a fresh take on fae fantasy

• Cool magic system based on alchemy

• Writing that keeps you reading all night

4. 'From Blood and Ash' by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Poppy has lived her whole life as the Maiden, chosen for a destiny she doesn't get. When Hawke becomes her guard, their forbidden attraction grows despite every rule against it. Big twists reveal shocking truths about who Poppy really is.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Strong main character questioning everything she was taught

• Forbidden enemies-to-lovers romance with intense chemistry

• Mystery and action balanced perfectly with romantic tension

• A world with kingdoms, ancient bloodlines, and gods

• Audiobook format bringing the connection to life

Power matters for both Poppy and Violet. 'The 48 Laws of Power' shows how influence really works in courts, kingdoms, and relationships. The Headway summary turns Robert Greene's bold wisdom into useful insights.

5. 'The Priory of the Orange Tree' by Samantha Shannon

This huge standalone has dragon riders in the East, dragon-slayers in the West, and political scheming connecting them. 

Ead works as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Sabran while secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. This connection leads to slow-burn romance during world-changing events.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Dragons as key to world mythology and politics, not just pets

• Complex magic systems and high-stakes battles

• LGBTQ+ rep handled with care

• Proof that you don't need multiple books for great world-building

• Epic scale with political scheming and deadly results

6. 'Fireborne' by Rosaria Munda

After a revolution, orphans from both sides — nobles and peasants — train together as dragon riders to protect their city. Lee and Annie represent opposite sides of the old order. Their enemies-to-lovers romance grows from real conflict when the family loses to class.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Dragon riders used as weapons in bigger political games

• Class warfare and dystopian elements that feel real

• Enemies-to-lovers romance built on actual conflict, not fake drama

• Characters choosing between duty and what they want

• Political scheming like Basgiath's power games

7. 'A Deadly Education' by Naomi Novik

The Scholomance actually tries to kill its students with monsters, curses, and deadly homework. El survives with sarcasm and her scary, powerful magic that everyone thinks makes her evil. 

When Orion, the school's golden boy hero, keeps saving her, their connection grows even though she wants to stay alone.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Brutal magical school that doesn't pretend to be safe

• Characters who adapt or die, becoming mentally strong

• Witty banter and surprise friendships under pressure

• An underestimated main character due to her power

• Fantasy romance during real danger

8. 'Throne of Glass' by Sarah J. Maas (The Throne of Glass series)

Celaena Sardothien — assassin and one of fantasy's most loved main characters — makes a deal: Win a competition against other killers and earn her freedom serving the Crown Prince. 

What starts as survival becomes an epic journey across continents with ancient magic and gods.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Goes from an underestimated competitor to a key player

• Enemies-to-lovers (or enemies-to-friends-to-lovers) across multiple books

• World-building that grows from one kingdom to epic scale

• Sarah J. Maas builds tension through training scenes and vulnerability

• The Throne of Glass series romantic fantasy lead-off series to ACOTAR

9. 'The Bridge Kingdom' by Danielle Jensen

Lara was raised as a weapon to destroy the Bridge Kingdom by marrying its king. But Aren isn't the monster she expected. As she learns the truth about the kingdom she must destroy, she's torn between duty and dangerous feelings.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Enemies-to-lovers at its most intense when the mission is murder

• Political scheming and military strategy elements

• Slow-burn due to super high stakes

• Characters who must think smart to survive

• Romance where choosing love means betraying everything

10. 'House of Earth and Blood' by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent City series)

When Bryce Quinlan's world falls apart after her friends are murdered, she teams up with fallen angel Hunt Athalar to find their killer. Their murder investigation weaves mystery vibes with romantic tension in a modern city filled with fae, angels, shifters, and magic.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Complex magic system and political scheming between immortal races

• A partnership that becomes something unexpected

• Slow-burn romance that takes time but pays off

• Urban fantasy setting with Sarah J. Maas's style

• Different immortal races trying to keep peace

Finding your path when everything feels uncertain connects to personal growth. 'A New Earth' by Eckhart Tolle discusses consciousness, purpose, and change — themes that connect with both Bryce's journey and Violet's growth. 

The Headway summary offers practical wisdom for readers wanting deeper meaning.

11. 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones series)

George R.R. Martin's epic series follows multiple noble families scheming for power across kingdoms. 

Young characters thrown into deadly situations, dragons as war weapons, and brutal honesty about power's cost created templates that influenced almost every modern fantasy novel, including 'Fourth Wing.'

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Dragons representing ultimate power, like at Basgiath War College

• Political scheming with morally complex characters

• Shows what people do for power and what power does to people

• High-stakes battles and strategic warfare

• Game of Thrones' influence on Rebecca Yarros' dragon riders creation

12. 'When the Moon Hatched' by Sarah A. Parker

Raeve is a moon thief who just wants to stay hidden and survive. When she kills a king's dragon, everything changes, and the king himself demands answers. The enemies-to-lovers setup involves dragon murder, which raises the stakes.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• BookTok hit with unique dragon mythology

• Moons hatching into dragons with magical results

• Romance growing alongside secrets about the main character's past

• Fresh take on dragon lore and world-building

• Beautiful but easy-to-read writing style

13. 'Dragonfall' by L. R. Lam

When Arcady, a nonbinary thief, accidentally frees a dragon who can take human form, they're stuck together in ways neither expected. The fantasy romance pushes boundaries with LGBTQ+ rep front and center while delivering action and political scheming.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Power imbalances between dragons and humans

• Romance growing from being forced together and mutual need

• Dragons with immense power but bound to humans

• Similar bonding themes to Violet and her dragon

• Fresh take on dragon fantasy tropes

Dealing with life's chaos needs wisdom and structure. '12 Rules for Life' by Jordan Peterson offers ideas for building meaning and order — lessons that work whether you're a dragon rider or facing everyday problems. 

The Headway summary breaks down Peterson's philosophical ideas into practical guidance.

14. 'A Language of Dragons' by S. F. Williamson

Vivien goes to an academy that teaches linguistic magic — dragons speak a language that shapes reality itself. Academic competition and political scheming mirror Basgiath's vibe as students compete for limited spots while teachers hide dangerous secrets.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Magical academy setting with deadly stakes

• Linguistic magic system

• Students competing while forming friendships and surprise connections

• Survival needs more than magical talent

• Understanding dragon speech to understand reality itself

15. 'Eragon' by Christopher Paolini (Inheritance Cycle)

Eragon finds a dragon egg, bonds with Saphira, and gets swept into rebellion against an evil empire. This coming-of-age story created tropes that later dragon rider books use — dragon riders as elite warriors, bonding as a sacred connection, and training that builds character.

Why fans of 'Fourth Wing' will love it:

• Classic dragon rider story that influenced the genre

• Bonding between rider and dragon as a central relationship

• Training and growth with epic battles

• Many Fourth Wing fans' initial fascination with dragons

• Going back to this series' nostalgic feelings about how the genre changed

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Books like 'Fourth Wing' share powerful themes — characters beating impossible odds, smart thinking in high-stakes situations, and personal change through challenges.

These romantasy adventures mirror life's actual challenges. So, building mental strength, understanding power dynamics, developing leadership skills, and finding your path matter whether you're facing dragons or daily obstacles. That's where Headway's nonfiction summaries connect fiction's lessons to practical wisdom.

Ready to add real-world insights to your fantasy reading? Download the Headway app today and get bite-sized summaries from life-changing books. With audio and text formats, progress tracking, and a library trusted by 50 million users, you'll build knowledge while enjoying the stories you love!