8 Best Dragon Fantasy Books To Read While Waiting For The New Fourth Wing

Published Aug 26, 2026, 8:21 PM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. The next Fourth Wing book might not come out for a while, but these eight dragon books are perfect next reads for fans of Rebecca Yarros' series. Fourth Wing took the world by storm when it came out in 2023, quickly becoming a fan favorite in the romantasy genre. Iron Flame and Onyx Storm were just as thrilling. The next book set in the universe, Threshing Day, comes out September 29, 2026, but the fourth book in the main series isn't estimated to release until late 2027 or early 2028. Readers will have to fill that hole in the meantime. Luckily, there's no scarcity of dragon books. Some of the best, like the middle-grade Wings of Fire, aren't necessarily ideal for folks who want high-stakes romance at the center of their stories. I'd still recommend reading them, but they won't necessarily fill the gap left by Fourth Wing. Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series is a beloved classic that may have influenced Fourth Wing. They're worth reading at least once in your life. However, the books feature dated gender dynamics that might not appeal to readers who prefer the push-and-pull gender dynamics of Xaden and Violet. To help you find your next read, I've compiled eight of the best dragon books to read that are similar enough to Fourth Wing to appeal but different enough to be interesting. 8 Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter Once every generation, a witch and dragon rider duel to the death for control, and the winning clan controls the source of all magic. Astrid, the heir to the Queendom of Arturea, and Prince Zryan, the most powerful dragon rider in the Kingdom of Vatra, find themselves drawn to each other. Meanwhile, a performer named Skylar looks into the Vartran royalty as the duel approaches. Blood Bound’s unique premise of witches versus dragon riders should appeal to Fourth Wing fans, and the worldbuilding is fantastic. Additionally, the book exists in a queernormative world, and Astrid is bisexual. They also invest time in building strong friendships among women. The book isn’t without its weaknesses. The biggest downside is the use of cutesy nicknames and the rocky start. The goods vastly outweigh the weaknesses, though. 7 The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli In the beginning, there was Namsara, the child of sky and spirit, and Iskari, the child of blood and moonlight. Namsara brings joy, while Iskari brings death—or so the legends say. Asha, a princess and feared dragon slayer, has the chance to gain her freedom from an ill-fated betrothal if she kills the most powerful dragon. On her journey, she receives help from a man named Torwin and learns that the legends hold truth. The Last Namsara is far from a 5-star read in terms of writing quality, but it is deeply entertaining. It has plenty of plot twists, a compelling romance, and gripping action. The romance between Asha and Torwin is well-developed, rather than the usual insta-love. Unfortunately, The Last Namsara won’t offer any spice for Fourth Wing fans, but it’s still worth your time. 6 Dragon’s Gift by Jasmine Walt & May Sage Dareena Sellis, the daughter of a no-name farmer, becomes the Dragon’s Gift, a woman chosen by the gods to bear the next king for Dragonfell. However, unlike many past generations, three heirs exist, and none are willing to stand down. She must choose one to continue the royal line, as the enemy are ready to annihilate the kingdom. Series Number Title #1 Dragon's Gift #2 Dragon's Blood #3 Dragon's Curse Dragon’s Gift is a “why choose” reverse harem romantasy with plenty of spice for Fourth Wing fans to enjoy. The story subverts expectations by making the princes vie for Dareena’s heart, instead of multiple girls fighting for a prince’s heart. There are multiple species, including dragons and elves. On top of that, Dragon’s Gift will be a great choice for anyone who wants a completed series to read, rather than an ongoing story. All the books released in 2017, so there's no need to wait. 5 So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole A seventeen-year-old girl named Faron Vincent, touched by the gods, previously used her powers to liberate the kingdom from the dragon-riding Langley Empire. Now a legend, she goes down a dark path to save her older sister, Elara, from a bond with an enemy dragon and the evil gods who want to kill Elara. So Let Them Burn is a Jamaican-inspired fantasy book with an LGBTQ+ romance subplot. The relationship between Faron and Elara is incredibly written, making it easy to invest in Faron’s journey. The book includes important social and political commentary on our world that feels natural within the fantasy story. The worldbuilding might not have been as deep as in other books, but it's made up for by the smart plot and vivid sensory details. 4 The Starlight Heir & Queen of the Night Sky by Amalie Howard Suraya Saab, a bladesmith who can work with magic, gets invited to be a potential bride for the crown prince of Kaldari, but she finds herself falling for Roshan, his handsome half-brother born out of wedlock. Additionally, the invite was a ruse to find the Starkeeper, a woman with the magic of the stars in her blood. Roshan and Suraya go on the run, leading to a dangerous adventure. From Middle Eastern and Indian author Amalie Howard, the Starkeeper duology takes inspiration from Indian and Persian mythology. This is one of the two instances in this article where I will recommend a duology because I desperately want you to read the second book, but it won’t make sense without the first. The Starlight Heir is good enough. However, Queen of the Night Sky is amazing, and it has dragons. Even Rebecca Yarros loved the books enough to blurb them on the cover. 3 The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon Sprawling across multiple continents, The Priory of the Orange Tree follows the story of multiple individuals living in a politically divided world when an ancient, fire-breathing dragon named the Nameless One threatens to wake up and destroy everything. Some of the important characters are Queen Sabran the Ninth's lady-in-waiting named Eat Duryan, a hobby alchemist named Niclay Roos, an heir apparent named Arteloth "Loth" Beck, and an aspiring dragonrider named Tane. The Priory of the Orange Tree is a monolithic epic that became popular with the wider public when it was released in 2019 and gained traction on BookTok during the pandemic. It's been deemed one of the best fantasy books of the past decade. As such, there’s a good chance you have already read this book. However, it’s such a truly amazing feminist, Sapphic romantasy, so it deserves inclusion for those who may have missed it or skipped it. The worldbuilding is on par with the best fantasy authors. 2 A Storm Rises by Rose Garcia Princess Avalynn Stromm of Faevenly is eager for adventure outside the palace walls, so she’s thrilled when she’s sent to the Summit Range Hunt. However, she learns her goal is to stop a lowborn competitor. Mateo Vela is a half-fae joining the hunt in hopes of changing his family’s future. The two form an uneasy alliance that was never meant to exist, and they could be the only thing to the future of Faevenly. A Storm Rises is deeply underrated, and more people should read it. The romantasy involves enemies-to-lovers, secret abilities, and an ancient prophecy. Multiple parts of the story integrate Mexican culture, including the ancestral magic. The writing is really strong, plus the book has dragons. Because it's YA, the book has very low spice that fades to black, but everything else will appeal to Fourth Wing fans. 1 When The Moon Hatched & The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker When dragons die, their bodies float into the sky, curl up into a ball, and calcify, becoming moons. The Creators never expected this, nor did they predict that the moons would fall. In the first book, a deadly assassin named Raeve and the grieving fae king Kaan Vaegor seek revelations that threaten their understanding of the world. Then they must work together to save their kingdoms when the largest moon in the sky threatens to fall. This is the second instance of a duology appearing on the list. In this case, both Moonfall books are great. I deeply enjoyed the lyrical writing style of When the Moon Hatched, and the worldbuilding is truly unique. However, the new romantasy book The Ballad of Falling Dragons is one of the best in the genre that I’ve read in a long time. Neither book will be for folks who dislike purple prose, as that’s the style. However, the pacing and plot are tight, and there’s a lot more meat to the story. The stakes are higher, and The Ballad of Falling Dragons has a deeper emotional impact. Plus, the spice is much more enjoyable to read, which was one of the biggest downfalls of the first book. Publisher(s) Red Tower Books Publication Date 2023-04-05 Franchise The Empyrean Series ISBN# 9781649374042 Author(s) Rebecca Yarros Genre(s) Fantasy, Romance