If you have fallen quite hopelessly under the spell of Rebecca Yarros and her magnificent tales of dragon riders and fierce romance, then you know the sort of longing that comes when one has devoured every last page. Fear not, dear reader, for we have gathered here nine marvellous books that shall carry you off to new adventures just as thrilling, just as romantic, and just as impossible to put down.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Perhaps no other tale is mentioned so frequently alongside Fourth Wing as this bewitching story of Feyre Archeron. When our nineteen-year-old huntress slays a wolf in the forest, she unwittingly summons a creature who drags her into the dangerous realm of the Fae. What begins as captivity transforms into something altogether more complicated—a fierce passion that burns through every deception she has ever been told. Sarah J. Maas weaves a retelling of Beauty and the Beast that pulses with danger, mystery, and the sort of romance that makes one forget to breathe. The series has enchanted millions and awaits a television adaptation, proof that some magic cannot be contained.
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
For those who hunger for something beyond the familiar courts of Fae, this Norse-inspired romantasy offers a fierce new world to explore. Freya has spent her days gutting fish and hiding her greatest secret—she possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, making her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. When her treacherous husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, she finds herself thrust into a world of warriors, gods, and a forbidden attraction to the jarl’s fiery son, Bjorn. Jennifer L. Armentrout called it “THE must-read fantasy of 2024,” and the slow-burn romance combined with Viking atmosphere makes it perfect for readers seeking fresh mythology.
Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
The Prince of Envy has never pretended to be virtuous, and when a cryptic note arrives signaling a deadly game, he knows sin alone shall carry him through. Enter Miss Camilla Antonius, a talented artist barely keeping her late father’s gallery afloat whilst being blackmailed by a lord who knows her darkest secret. Together, this unlikely pair must journey through the Underworld—from glittering demon courts to the sultry vampire realm—solving riddles and hexed puzzles whilst desperately trying not to fall in love. Kerri Maniscalco’s adult debut delivers gothic intrigue, Regency-style manners, and romance that smoulders on every page.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Should you wish to trade dragons for vampires without sacrificing one ounce of romance or world-building, the All Souls series awaits. Diana Bishop is a historian and reluctant witch who has spent her life denying her magical heritage. When she accidentally summons a long-lost alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, she draws the attention of Matthew Clairmont—a centuries-old vampire with secrets of his own. The Chicago Tribune praised Harkness for “deftly blending fantasy, romance, history, and horror into one completely bewitching book.” Three seasons of a beloved television adaptation have already brought this scholarly romance to screens worldwide.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Imagine, if you will, a magical game held once a year on a mysterious island where nothing is as it seems and the audience participates in the performance itself. Scarlett Dragna has dreamed of Caraval her entire life, and when she finally receives an invitation from the elusive Legend, she cannot refuse—even when her sister Tella is kidnapped as part of the game. Reviewers have compared it to “a cross between The Night Circus and Alice in Wonderland,” and the twists arrive so frequently that readers find themselves speculating until the final page. The romance between Scarlett and the mysterious Julian is pure slow-burn perfection.
The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole
For those who crave their romance darker and their stakes higher, this internationally beloved epic awaits. A thousand years ago, Dianna sacrificed everything to save her dying sister, calling upon a monster far worse than any nightmare—and becoming one herself. Now she hunts the World Ender, a god-king named Samkiel who hides from the devastation he once wrought. What unfolds is an enemies-to-lovers tale where the villain is our heroine and the hero carries the weight of worlds upon his shoulders. The pacing is perfect, balancing brutal action with moments of unexpected tenderness, and the world-building is nothing short of phenomenal.
Bloodguard by Cecy Robson
From the same publisher as Fourth Wing comes a tale described as “bloodier and a few chili peppers hotter.” Leith of Grey volunteered for the gladiator arenas to save his dying sister, but they stripped him of hope, freedom, and humanity. When elven royal Maeve offers him a chance to win his freedom by becoming her champion, he enters a kingdom built on secrets and political intrigue. Kirkus Reviews called it “an expertly crafted page-turner with unpredictable twists, steamy romance, and magical creatures.” The book became an instant number-one New York Times bestseller and features dragons, gladiators, and a love story that blooms amidst chaos.
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
In the kingdom of Ilya, only the extraordinary belong—the Elites who possess magical abilities granted by a devastating Plague. Those born Ordinary are banished, making Paedyn Gray a criminal by birth and a thief by necessity. She survives in the slums by posing as a Psychic, but when she saves a prince and becomes entangled in the deadly Purging Trials, she must hide her powerless nature while navigating both competition and an inconvenient attraction. Told in dual perspectives, the romance features everything readers adore: enemies-to-lovers tension, delicious banter, and a hero who falls first. Lauren Roberts has crafted a romantasy that delivers on every beloved trope.
The Dragons of Deepwood Fen by Bradley P. Beaulieu
For those who most loved the dragons of Fourth Wing and hunger for more, this epic fantasy offers a wonderful introduction to a realm where dragons are vibrantly alive with distinct personalities and magical abilities. Lorelei Aurelius, the smartest inquisitor in the mountain city of Ancris, uncovers a plot threatening the empire itself. Her investigation leads to Rylan Holbrooke, a notorious thief posing as a dragon singer. Branded as traitors, they flee the city on dragonback, and so begins an adventure praised by Grimdark Magazine for featuring “some of the coolest dragons I have read about in ages.” Publishers Weekly called it “cinematic and heartwarming.”
Your Next Adventure Awaits
Each of these nine books captures something of the magic that makes Rebecca Yarros’s work so irresistible—whether it be the romance that blazes between unlikely souls, the dragons that steal our hearts, or the worlds so richly imagined that we ache to visit them. The only difficulty, dear reader, shall be choosing which adventure to embark upon first. But then again, that is rather the loveliest sort of problem to have.
