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So you finished Fourth Wing.
You survived the dragons.
The deadly trials.
The military academy.
The political intrigue.
The constant threat of death.
And, of course, the very important matter of Xaden Riorson.
Now you’re sitting there wondering:
What the hell am I supposed to read next?
Because unfortunately, you cannot simply reread Fourth Wing for the 47th time and pretend you don’t have other responsibilities.
Well…
You can.
I’m not your mother.
But if you’re looking for books like Fourth Wing that give you some combination of dragons, deadly trials, military academies, high-stakes fantasy, enemies-to-lovers tension, and men who should probably come with warning labels, I’ve got you.
And I’ve got one recommendation in particular that I think Fourth Wing fans absolutely need to know about.
What You’ll Find In This List
- Dragons and dragon shifters
- Deadly trials and survival games
- Military and magic academies
- High-stakes fantasy worlds
- Enemies-to-lovers tension
- Powerful magic and dangerous creatures
- Possessive, morally grey MMCs
New to fantasy romance? Start with my Fantasy Romance 101 guide and fall even deep down the rabbit hole. Go big or go home, right?
👉 What Should You Read First?
Short on time? Here are the top three books I’d say are most like Fourth Wing:
- Wild Bond → the closest overall match (and better than Fourth Wing imo)
- Dire Bound → military academy + dangerous fantasy + romantic tension
- Empire of Flame and Thorns → dragon shifters + deadly trials + enemies to lovers romance
If You Want the Closest Fourth Wing Vibes…
Wild Bond — Laurie Ford
If you’re looking for a Fourth Wing read-alike, Wild Bond is the first book I would hand you.
And honestly? I liked it better than Fourth Wing.
There. I said it.
Wild Bond has the high-stakes fantasy, dangerous creatures, intense romance, and addictive pacing that make Fourth Wing so easy to binge… but better. Don’t get me wrong. I love Fourth Wing and still recommend it, but the series has started going downhill with Book 3. NGL. But with the Wild Bond series, you get individual love stories wrapped up in each book with the bigger world plot continuing through the series. Much more satisfying imo.
Best for readers who want: high-stakes romantasy, shadow daddy, enemies to lovers, deadly situations, unique twist on dragons, and a fantasy world that will absolutely eat up your free time.
👉 Get it here | And if you’re here for the obsessed MMC as much as the dragons, check out my he falls first fantasy romance books.
Dire Bound — Sable Sorensen
How about military academy vibes with wolf riders instead of dragons?
Dire Bound brings together a military-style fantasy setting, dangerous magical creatures, and a heroine who gets pulled into a world where survival means learning exactly what she’s capable of.
The wolf-rider element gives this one its own flavor while still scratching that elite fantasy training + dangerous creature + romance itch.
Best for readers who want: military academies, wolf riders, dangerous creatures, enemies to lovers, high-stakes training, and a heroine thrown into a world she wasn’t prepared for.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
Empire of Flame and Thorns — Marion Blackwood
If your favorite part of Fourth Wing was dragons + deadly competition + a dangerous MMC, I have news for you.
Empire of Flame and Thorns has all three.
Selena is a fae rebel trapped in the Seelie Court under the control of dragon shifters. Her chance to escape comes in the form of the Atonement Trials, where only three competitors can win.
Unfortunately, the ruthless commander of the dragon shifter army is determined to make sure she doesn’t.
Need I say more?
Best for readers who want: dragon shifters, deadly trials, enemies-to-lovers, secret identities, political intrigue, and a shadow daddy MMC.
If the Dragons Are Non-Negotiable
When the Moon Hatched — Sarah A. Parker
If you want dragons and a completely immersive fantasy world, put When the Moon Hatched on your list.
The world is enormous, the stakes are high, and the dragon element is a major part of the appeal. And the FMC?
She’s not exactly waiting around for someone to save her.
Best for readers who want: dragons, assassins, rebellion, badass FMCs, and an emotional romance that will absolutely wreck you (in the best possible way).
👉 Get it here | Read my review
Love emotionally damaging books? Here’s a list of the fantasy romance books that emotionally destroyed me.
Tame the Dark — Ella Fields
Dragons. Fae. Wolf shifters. Magical bonds. Warring kingdoms.
This one has it all.
Tame the Dark is definitely more romance-forward than Fourth Wing, and the fantasy worldbuilding takes more of a backseat, but if you’re here because dragons are the requirement, this one delivers.
Best for readers who want: dragons, magical bonds, warring kingdoms, forced proximity, yearning, and a standalone dark fantasy romance.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
This Woven Kingdom — Tahereh Mafi
Okay, this one is a slightly different flavor of Fourth Wing.
You’re not getting the same military academy setup.
But you are getting dragons, political intrigue, high stakes, and an absolutely excruciating slow burn.
Which means if your favorite part of Fourth Wing was the dragons + yearning + political chaos combination, you should absolutely have this one on your radar.
Best for readers who want: dragons, political intrigue, slow-burn romance, royal drama, and emotional devastation.
👉 Get it here | And if you like your fantasy romance with a villainous love interest, check out my fantasy books where the villain gets the girl.
If the Deadly Trials Are Your Favorite Part
Phantasma — Kaylie Smith
If you read Fourth Wing and thought, “Cool dragons, but can we make the survival situation even worse?”
Phantasma says yes.
Add in ghosts, witches, a haunted house, blood and gore, and an eerie New Orleans setting, and you’ve got a fantasy romance that is atmospheric as hell.
Best for readers who want: deadly trials, haunted houses, witches, ghosts, blood and gore, fast pacing, atmospheric fantasy, and nonstop danger.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
We Who Will Die — Stacia Stark
The deadly trials are the star of the show here.
We Who Will Die brings the high stakes and action-packed pacing fans of Fourth Wing love. The unique magic system and murder mystery kept me guessing, while the deadly trials gave me exactly the someone might actually die here tension I was looking for.
Best for readers who want: vampires, murder mysteries, unique magic systems, magical creatures, friends-to-lovers, and high-stakes fantasy romance.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
If deadly competitions are your favorite part of Fourth Wing, you need my list of fantasy romance books with games and trials.
The Ascended — Bree Grenwich & Parker Lennox
Gods. Twins. Deadly trials. Enemies-to-lovers. A massive magic system.
This one goes big.
The pacing isn’t perfect, but if you’re willing to overlook a few hiccups, there’s a lot here for readers who want wild, dangerous trials and a huge fantasy world.
Best for readers who want: deadly trials, gods, unique magic systems, enemies-to-lovers, powerful characters, high stakes, and fantasy that goes big.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
A Tongue So Sweet and Deadly — Sophia St. Germain
This one is for the Fourth Wing reader who really wants the political intrigue and deadly competition.
You’ve got fae, a political court, deadly trials, unpredictable romance, found family, and enough twists to keep you questioning what is actually going on.
Best for readers who want: deadly trials, political intrigue, court drama, unpredictable romance, and plenty of twists.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
If You Want the Academy Without the Dragons
Above — Brea Lamb
This book brings the military academy element of Fourth Wing along with shadow magic, deadly trials, and a world divided between magic wielders and those without magic.
The only thing missing in this one is dragons, but I’m not complaining.
Best for readers who want: military academies, deadly trials, shadow magic, disability representation, slow-burn romance, and Dramione vibes.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
And if the shadow magic is what really caught your attention, I have a whole list of fantasy romance books with shadow daddies.
Our Dark Incantations — Wanda Hellmund
This book is what happens when you take the competitive intensity of Fourth Wing and move it into a dark magic academy.
Best for readers who want: magic academies, murder mysteries, demons, possessive MMCs, fast pacing, and a fantasy school where something is probably trying to kill you.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
Rose in Chains — Julie Soto
If the academy setting and emotional damage of Fourth Wing is what you’re really after, grab Rose in Chains. This book is one of my all-time favorites, and if you are a romantasy fan, I just know you’re going to love this one.
Best for readers who want: intense, dark, emotional friction of enemies-to-lovers in an academic setting.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
If the royal intrigue is what you’re really craving, I’ve got more fantasy romance books with political intrigue and high stakes.
Silver Elite — Dani Francis
If what you really loved about Fourth Wing was the military academy where everyone is under pressure and nobody is particularly safe, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
Silver Elite brings the high-stakes training environment and dangerous competition into a dystopian fantasy world, with romance tangled up in all of it.
Best for readers who want: high-stakes military academies, dangerous training, dystopian fantasy, and characters who have to fight to survive.
👉 Get it here | Read my review
Read Next:
If you’re still hunting for your next romantasy obsession, I’ve got plenty more where these came from.
- Fantasy Romance Books Like ACOTAR
- Standalone Fantasy Romance Books
- Fantasy Romance Books That Feel Like Dramione
- Fantasy Books With Enemies to Lovers
- Fantasy Romance Books With Arranged Marriages
- The Offcial Book Boyfriend Leaderboard
⬇️Pin this post so you don’t forget which books to add to your tbr!
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