Whether it's dragons or other mystical beings, school-like settings, magic, competitions, romance, or straight-up spice you're looking for, this list has something for everyone!
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Oraya is the adopted human daughter of the vampire king, who
decides to enter the Kejari, a legendary tournament—think The Hunger
Games, but vampires. Like Fourth Wing, it's also a really steamy
romantasy, and there's a great enemies-to-lovers plot.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Born with a scarlet mote in her left eye, Phédre nó Delaunay
is sold into indentured servitude as a child. When her bond is purchased by an
enigmatic nobleman, she is trained in history, theology, politics, foreign
languages, the arts of pleasure. And above all, the ability to observe,
remember, and analyze. Exquisite courtesan, talented spy...and unlikely
heroine. But when Phédre stumbles upon a plot that threatens her homeland,
Terre d'Ange, she has no choice but to fight.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
In Inys, the House of Berethnet has ruled for thousands of
years. But Queen Sabran's hold on power is tenuous, as she is without an heir.
A secret priestess, Ead, is tasked with protecting the queen.
Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer Armentrout
Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities
were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and
unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on
mortal pleasure. Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great
value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of
the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him
information. When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the
voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy.
One day he'll be her doom.
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
In order to end a years-long war between vampires and
mortals, Isolde must wed vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev. But surviving
the vampire court doesn't prove to be nearly as difficult as resisting the
intense attraction between her and Adrian
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Naomi Novik's Scholomance series focuses on a dark
school of magic, beginning with A Deadly Eduction, described as a
"coming-of-power" story. In it, a group of young magicians, including
sorceress Galadriel "El" Higgins, must fight monsters to survive
until graduation.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
If you were more into the epic fantasy elements
of Fourth Wing, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is for you.
Set in medieval Oman, Amina was once a ruthless pirate who has since settled
into a quiet life with her daughter. But she's pressured to take one last
adventure to rescue a young girl.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
One of the most innovative fantasy novels published in
recent years, Marlon James's Black Leopard, Red Wolf pulls from
African mythology and history to tell the story of Tracker, a man hired to find
a mysterious boy.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
A Discovery of Witches is the story of Diana, a
historian who accidentally finds aa spellbound manuscript. Though she's the
daughter of witches, she doesn't know it—and is soon thrown into a magical
world, where she falls for a vampire. Plus, it was adapted into a very fun TV show.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas
If you've read Fourth Wing, we have a feeling you're
already familiar with Sarah J. Maas's binge-worthy A Court of Thorns and
Roses series—another #BookTok favorite—but if you haven't read them yet,
what are you waiting for!?
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the
eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the
Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her.
He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic.
The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
In The Final Strife, society is divided by the color of
blood — red-blooded Embers have magic-wielding powers, and life in the highest
echelons of this society’s social hierarchy. Blue-blooded Dusters inhabit the
middle class, while Ghostings, a servant class who are maimed at birth, have
clear blood. But every year, Ember entrants compete in the Aktibar, a
competition that determines who will succeed the empire’s various Wardens.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Rin, an orphan after Nikan’s brutal
war, manages to ace the Keju, a test that places the Empire’s brightest into
schools, and is placed into Nikan’s elite military school, Sinegard. Not only
is Sinegard highly competitive and brutal, forcing students into end-of-year
trials to determine their future path, but it’s also a space that’s unwelcome
to outsiders — students are often from wealthy families that have the money to
spend on elite training just to get into Sinegard, or they’re descendants of
empire warlords. Rin is at a disadvantage in almost every area. She doesn’t
have the sort of training other students have, but she’s also a dark-skinned
girl from a rural, poor province — and she’s targeted by other students because
of it.
In His Majesty’s Service by Naomi Novik
Capt. Will Laurence is serving with honor in the British
Navy when his ship captures a French frigate harboring a most unusual cargo--an
incalculably valuable dragon egg. When the egg hatches, Laurence unexpectedly
becomes the master of the young dragon Temeraire and finds himself on an
extraordinary journey that will shatter his orderly, respectable life and alter
the course of his nation's history.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
The people of Masquapaug had long ago been pushed to a
remote island as Anglish settlers took over the mainland. Dragons haven’t been
seen on Masquapaug in generations, until Anequs, a 15-year-old indigenous girl,
finds and hatches a dragon egg with the help of her community. Anequs is named
a Nampeshiweisit for her relationship with the dragon. But the colonizers fear
Anequs and her dragon, and force her to raise her dragon in accordance with
their own rules: She must attend the Anglish dragon school or her dragon will
be killed.
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher
Stephen's god died on the longest day of the year ... Three
years later, Stephen is a broken paladin, living only for the chance to be
useful before he dies. But all that changes when he encounters a fugitive named
Grace in an alley and witnesses an assassination attempt gone wrong. Now the
pair must navigate a web of treachery, beset on all sides by spies and
poisoners, while a cryptic killer stalks one step behind.
Dragonfall by Laura Lam
Dragonfall has everything we love about Fourth
Wing: Romance, fantasy, and dragons out for revenge. Dragons are worshipped as
gods, but once upon a time, the humans betrayed the dragons. Arcady gets by
thieving on the streets. One day, he steals a powerful relic from the most
hated person in history, giving him an unimaginable power that connects him to
Everen, the last male dragon of his kind. When the relic is awoken, Everen is
dragged through the Veil and given mortal form. But before he can reclaim his true
form and fulfill his destiny, he must get Arcady to trust him completely — then
kill him.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
If loved the dragons and fantasy elements of Fourth
Wing, then you need to experience George R. R. Martin’s A
Game of Thrones, perhaps one of the most all-encompassing high fantasies
ever told. It takes place within the Seven Kingdoms south of the Wall, where a
deadly war is brewing. Martin carefully crafts this world, which has been
wrought and wrecked by over 8,000 years of history. As if that feat of
imagination is not enough to astound, each of the characters — driven by love,
ambition, greed, and power — are unforgettable. While the battle for dominance
rages within the Wall, a terrible force is rallying outside of it, readying
itself to take down the kingdoms.
The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy
As queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Lia will do
anything to keep her people free, and her secrets safe. Guided by a magic ring
of her father's, Lia plays the political game withe the cronies the emperor
sends to her island. Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has an army to
overthrow the emperor, but he needs the fabled Abiding Ring that Lia holds to
succeed.
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brenna
All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of
Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon
naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of
the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern
science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was
a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes,
dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day. Here at last, in her own
words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her
prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity;
of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable
eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of
Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would
change the world forever.
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
Reylos everywhere know this book very well, since it started
out as a (honestly brilliant) fan fiction about the enemies-to-lovers of
the Star Wars universe. Now reworked to be its own fantasy world,
incorporating elements of the author’s Southeast Asian heritage, the story
of The Hurricane Wars follows young rebel fighter Talasyn as she
discovers she has a power that hasn’t been seen for centuries, the only one
capable of opposing the Night Emperor and his fearsome son Alaric.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Galaxy 'Alex' Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's
freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex
dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends,
dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole
survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she's thrown
her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to
attend one of the world's most prestigious universities on a full ride. What's
the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven
tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale's
secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known
haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street's
biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more
extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with
forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
The Alexandrian Society, caretakers of lost knowledge from
the greatest civilizations of antiquity, are the foremost secret society of
magical academicians in the world. Those who earn a place among the
Alexandrians will secure a life of wealth, power, and prestige beyond their
wildest dreams, and each decade, only the six most uniquely talented magicians
are selected to be considered for initiation.
Joust by Mercedes Lackey
National best-selling fantasy author Mercedes Lackey creates
a vivid, dynamic fusion of the cultures of ancient Egypt and legendary Atlantis
with the most exciting and believable portrayal of dragons ever imagined.
The first book in this thrilling new series introduces us to a young slave who
dreams of becoming a jouster-one of the few warriors who can actually ride a
flying dragon. And so, in secret, he begins to raise his own dragon...
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy, young girls are raised to be
killers. In some few children the old bloods show, gifting rare talents that
can be honed to deadly or mystic effect. But even the mistresses of sword and
shadow don't truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is
brought to their halls. A bloodstained child of nine falsely accused of murder,
guilty of worse, Nona is stolen from the shadow of the noose. It takes ten
years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist, but under Abbess
Glass's care there is much more to learn than the arts of death.
Child of Light by Terry Brooks
Remembering nothing before being imprisoned by goblins in
the middle of a wasteland, nineteen-year-old Auris dreams of her
past. Before she is required to move to the adult
prison, her and several other prisoners enact a bold
escape. After escaping Auris meets a handsome stranger who claims to be a
member of a magical race and insists that she is too. She’ll follow
the stranger to a strange land to learn of her past and unlock her
future.
A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand
Gemma is the only person in her family born
without possession of magic. It makes her physically sick. She upholds a
glittering façade but is deeply sad. After a harrowing trip to visit
her exiled sister, she meets a kind and handsome Talan. The pair team
up, masquerading as a couple, to defeat the forces aligning against her family
and to return honor to Talan’s fallen family.
Heartstone by Elle White
In this fanciful retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the
residents of Merybourne Manor undergo constant attacks from
monstrous creatures. Aliza Bentaine agrees when the people
of Merybourne want to hire Riders to fight these creatures; she
lost her sister in an attack afterall. The only thing she’s not
sure of is the dragon-rider Alastair. The two find an unlikely
attraction in each other, as the ever-present danger around them
increases.
Winter of Ice and Iron by Rachel Neumeier
With the Mad King of Emmer in the north and the vicious King
of Pohorir in the east, Kehara Raehema knows her country is in a vulnerable
position. She never expected to give up everything she loves to save her
people, but when the Mad King’s fury leaves her land in danger, she has no
choice but to try any stratagem that might buy time for her people to prepare
for war—no matter the personal cost.
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one
purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he'll return the
world's captured gods. Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous
power she can't control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can't
hurt those she loves. Again. But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a
monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn't learn how to
use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her
world-whole.
DIGITAL ONLY - HOOPLA (Instantly available for residents of the cities of Birmingham, Center Point, Gardendale, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Leeds, Mountain Brook, Pinson, Pleasant Grove, Trussville, Vestavia Hills, and Warrior residents only.)
The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn (eaudio)
A land where witches wear their spells like tattoos is no place for a woman without a single magical mark-except for Raven, whose unblemished skin contradicts the truth of her power. Surviving under the scowls of her fellow witches has carved indelible scars into her mind over the years-just as the day she watched the Dark King's men murder her grandmother in cold blood. But the Dark King's reign of terror is far-reaching, and Raven's grandmother won't be the last witch to die under his rule. After the death of a coven leader heralds the start of the infamous Witch Trials, Raven finds herself dodging death to triumph.
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer (eaudio)
Althea lives in a world where women cannot use swords. But she’s been training in secret to become a warrior because what does she have to lose? Her death was already foretold to happen in three years. Wilder is Althea’s brooding and reluctant warrior chaperone as she attempts to join the elite guard. But these are books similar to Fourth Wing, after all, so you know sparks will fly. This heart-pounding book also kicks off a series.
A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark (eaudio)
The day I meet him, the ruthless mercenary leaves me for dead. Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae. The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt. And they are burned. When my forbidden power is discovered, I'm forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore. To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary who abandoned me at my weakest. Our deal is simple: I'll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city. And he'll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I've always kept hidden. The power that may just be the key to my survival. But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own. Secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love. Secrets that could tear this kingdom-and perhaps even this world-apart.
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa (eaudio)
This series is the story of a sinister mystery unfolding in the Otherworld, a Siren with a dangerous debt to pay, and a notorious magical creature back after seven years to collect what he’s owed.
A Fate of Wrath and Flame by K.A. Tucker (eaudio)
Gifted thief Romeria has flourished from her days as a street kid pilfering wallets to survive. Now she thrives, stealing jewels from the rich under the involuntary employ of New York City's most notorious crime boss. But when an enigmatic woman secures her services at swordpoint, Romeria is plunged into a startling realm of opposing thrones, warring elven, and elemental magic she cannot begin to fathom. Her quest is straightforward: Steal a stone from Islor's sacred garden without anyone discovering her true identity, which would earn her certain death. But the identity she has inexplicably assumed is that of the captured Ybarisan princess-an enemy to Islor after she poisoned their beloved king and queen on the day she was to marry the prince. Her betrothed, the newly crowned King Zander, detests her with every grain of his handsome being. Zander gives her a choice: life in a cell, or an acquittal of all charges in exchange for her help in exposing the growing plot against him. Romeria sees no other option and embraces the tricky role of smitten queen-to-be until she can escape. As she digs deeper, she discovers monstrous truths that could spell ruin for all.
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks (eaudio)
Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever. Today is that day-Collecting Day. But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for all that time he has passed me by. His mistake. Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister. Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire-and her sister-fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who's stealing her heart?
DIGITAL ONLY - LIBBY
A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden (ebook)
Arwen is the Onyx King's prisoner. To get free, she'll have to team up with another (infuriating) prisoner — and getting out of the cell is just the beginning. The ancient, magical woods they have to cross will test all of their capabilities.
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha Tuli (ebook)
Lor has suffered twelve agonizing years under the oppressive rule of the Aurora King, fueled by a relentless desire for freedom and vengeance. Unexpectedly released into the custody of the Sun King, Lor is thrust into the limelight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the esteemed role of queen. Winning the Sun King’s heart would grant her freedom and the long-awaited opportunity for retribution. However, Lor feels like an outsider in the Sun Queen Trials. Uncertain about her unexpected release and lacking affiliation with the Sun King’s court, she becomes a target of resentment from the other Tributes, who are determined to eliminate her from the game permanently.
The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem (ebook & eaudio)
A fugitive queen strikes a bargain with her greatest enemy that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever in this unmissable, slow-burn, Egyptian-inspired epic fantasy debut.
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks (eaudio)
Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever. Today is that day-Collecting Day. But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for all that time he has passed me by. His mistake. Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister. Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire-and her sister-fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who's stealing her heart?
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa (ebook)
This series is the story of a sinister mystery unfolding in the Otherworld, a Siren with a dangerous debt to pay, and a notorious magical creature back after seven years to collect what he’s owed.
A Fate of Wrath and Flame by K.A. Tucker (eaudio)
Gifted thief Romeria has flourished from her days as a street kid pilfering wallets to survive. Now she thrives, stealing jewels from the rich under the involuntary employ of New York City's most notorious crime boss. But when an enigmatic woman secures her services at swordpoint, Romeria is plunged into a startling realm of opposing thrones, warring elven, and elemental magic she cannot begin to fathom. Her quest is straightforward: Steal a stone from Islor's sacred garden without anyone discovering her true identity, which would earn her certain death. But the identity she has inexplicably assumed is that of the captured Ybarisan princess-an enemy to Islor after she poisoned their beloved king and queen on the day she was to marry the prince. Her betrothed, the newly crowned King Zander, detests her with every grain of his handsome being. Zander gives her a choice: life in a cell, or an acquittal of all charges in exchange for her help in exposing the growing plot against him. Romeria sees no other option and embraces the tricky role of smitten queen-to-be until she can escape. As she digs deeper, she discovers monstrous truths that could spell ruin for all.
Posts
