6 Fantasy Books To Read When You Are Missing Fourth Wing
Fourth Wing was one of the first romantasy books I ever picked up, and it opened a door to a genre that’s now essential to my reading life. With the next two Empyrean books announced but not arriving until 2027, readers everywhere are searching for fantasy series that can match the intensity, emotion, and sheer obsession this world created. BookTok pushes plenty of popular titles, but there are just as many incredible reads that never get swept into the algorithm. Below is a curated list of fantasy books that every Fourth Wing fan should have on their TBR.
Serpent & Dove - Shelby Mahurin
Serpent & Dove is the first book in the beloved trilogy, followed by Blood & Honey and Gods & Monsters. It falls into the romantasy genre, with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dynamic that builds plenty of tension.
Summary
The book follows Lou, a rebellious witch hiding from her past, and Reid, a rigid witch-hunter raised to believe magic is inherently evil. After a very public mishap forces them into a marriage of convenience, the two are stuck together, navigating danger, secrets and the annoying tension whenever they are close.
Comparison
- Enemies-to-lovers tension
- A heroine hiding secrets
- A romance built on slow trust, humour and conflict
- Character-driven drama
- Similar power structures as in The Empyrean series
Check it out here:
Support Local: We recommend Bookshop to help keep independent bookstores alive.
The Shadows Between Us - Tricia Levenseller
The Shadows Between Us is a dark, seductive standalone fantasy written by the beloved Tricia Levenseller - also known for Daughter of the Pirate King and Blade of Secrets.
Summary
The book follows Alessandra, an ambitious young woman who fully intends to seduce the Shadow King, marry him, murder him and take his throne. Until their dangerous power game turns into something far more complicated (and far more steamy).
Comparison
- Court politics
- Morally grey romance
- Sharp dialogue
- Enemies-to-lovers
Check it out here:
Support Local: We recommend Bookshop to help keep independent bookstores alive.
Storm and Fury - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Storm and Fury is the first book in The Harbinger Trilogy, followed by Rage and Ruin and Grace and Glory. It’s a YA/NA paranormal romantasy set in the same universe as Armentrout’s earlier Dark Elemental series, but it stands firmly on its own.
Summary
The story follows Trinity, a half‑human, half‑angelic being with rare powers that make her both valuable and hunted. She’s been hidden away for her own safety — until a series of attacks forces her to team up with Zayne, a stoic, infuriatingly attractive Warden (think gargoyle‑shifter protector). As danger closes in, Trinity must confront secrets about her identity, her abilities, and the growing connection between her and Zayne.
Comparison
- A heroine with unforeseen power
- A morally complex love interest
- Supernatural politics
- Forced proximity
- Slow-burn romance
Check it out here:
Support Local: We recommend Bookshop to help keep independent bookstores alive.
(If you want more information on this, check out my book review on the first book in the series by clicking here.)
The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon
The Priory of the Orange Tree is a sweeping, standalone epic fantasy by Samantha Shannon, known for her intricate worldbuilding and powerful female‑led narratives. It has since expanded into a connected universe with A Day of Fallen Night, but Priory remains a complete story on its own.
Summary
Set in a richly imagined world divided by geography, religion, and ancient grudges, the story follows several women whose lives intertwine as an old enemy - the Nameless One - threatens to rise again. Ead, a mage hidden in plain sight at court, is sworn to protect her queen at all costs. Tané, a dragon‑rider in training, faces her own trials across the sea. As political tensions rise and ancient magic stirs, the fate of the world rests on their choices.
Comparison
- Dragons that play a central role
- Strong female leads
- High stakes battles
- Complex politics
Check it out here:
Support Local: We recommend Bookshop to help keep independent bookstores alive.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. The newest novel is set to be published on August 4th 2026, and this will be the fifth in a long-standing and well-loved story.
Summary
The Serpent and the Wings of Night follows Oraya, a human girl raised by a vampire king, as she enters the deadly Kejari tournament to claim a future she’s never been allowed to imagine. Surrounded by monsters stronger and faster than she is, she forms a tense alliance with Raihn, a rival whose charm is as dangerous as his secrets. As trials intensify and loyalties blur, Oraya must decide who she can trust - and how far she’s willing to go to survive.
Comparison
- Trial-Based Competitions
- Underdog Heroines
- Enemies-to-Lovers
Check it out here:
Support Local: We recommend Bookshop to help keep independent bookstores alive.
Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson
Dire Bound is the debut novel of Sable Sorenson, a pen name for two fantasy-loving authors. With the next novel in the series due to be released in May 2026, it’s the perfect time to get in on the action and read this enemies-to-lovers slowburn.
Summary
Dire Bound is set in a dystopian world where Meryn Cooper fights to survive. Literally. She fights men twice her size to have enough money for her sister and ill mother to eat. When her sister gets kidnapped by a mysterious group called ‘The Nabbers’, she sets out to join the army to get her back. But, nothing is going to plan and she ends up in the Bonding trials, surrounded by those that want her dead, and even worse, those that pretend they are her friends.
Comparison
- Trial-Based Competitions
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- Slow burn romance
- Morally grey characters
- Hidden Powers
- Vampires v Wolves
Check it out here:
Support Local: We recommend Bookshop to help keep independent bookstores alive.
(If you want more information on this, check out my book review on the first book in the series by clicking here.)
Each book on this list is one I have thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope you will too. This is all to say, there are so many novels out there that don’t circulate the main sphere but still deserve love and attention, so never be afraid to reach out and read a book with less ratings and less popularity.