What to read after Fourth Wing
Fourth Wing leaves a very specific hole: dragons, a brutal academy, and a love interest who is a menace. Here's what fills it, matched to the bit you loved most.
At a glance
Last updated:
- 10 books on this list, every one read and reviewed on this site.
- For readers waiting on the next Empyrean book and wanting the same pace.
- Matched on dragon riders, war-college stakes, banter and a high-heat romance.
- Nearest read-alike: A Court of Thorns and Roses, then Crescent City for adult grit.
- Fourth Wing sits at spice 4/5 — picks here are matched at 3–5/5.
- Expect 500+ page books; these are commitment reads, not weekend ones.
- Every recommendation links to a full review with tags and content warnings.
Empire of Storms
Sarah J. Maas
5.0“Enormous, romantic, devastating. The high point of the whole series.”
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Kingdom of Ash
Sarah J. Maas
5.0“Nine hundred pages of grief, war and payoff. It sticks the landing.”
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Queen of Shadows
Sarah J. Maas
5.0“Aelin walks back into Rifthold and takes the city apart. Perfect.”
Read the full review
Twisted Hate
Ana Huang
4.0“Enemies-to-lovers with real teeth — Josh and Jules bicker like they mean it.”
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Heir of Fire
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“Grief, training montages, and the best new characters in the series.”
Read the full review
Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“A competition, a castle full of secrets, and a heroine who knows exactly how good she is.”
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Crown of Midnight
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“The one where the series stops being a competition and starts being a war.”
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The Assassin's Blade
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“Five novellas that turn Celaena from a name into a wound you feel.”
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Tower of Dawn
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“The healing book. Slower, gentler, and far more necessary than people expect.”
Read the full review
Want it wrapped? Tell me your tropes and I'll build a personalised book parcel from this same shelf — €19.99 pre-loved, €29.99 new, hand-packed in Wexford with a handwritten note and Bella's paw print. Check Irish postage times and costs before you order.
Reading these in order
If a series here has you lost, these author pages lay out every book and novella in the right order: Sarah J. Maas books in order, Shatter Me series in order. You can also browse all my reading guides or start from every review on the site.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there anything exactly like Fourth Wing?
- Nothing matches the dragon-plus-academy combination exactly, but plenty of romantasy delivers the same pace and enemies-to-lovers tension.
- Should I read the ACOTAR series after Fourth Wing?
- Yes, it's the most common next step. It's slower in book one but the payoff in book two is worth it.
- When is the next Empyrean book out?
- Release dates shift, so I don't list one here — I'd rather point you at books you can read today.