Romantasy Books Like Fourth Wing, ACOTAR & The Cruel Prince

Romantasy books like Fourth Wing, ACOTAR and The Cruel Prince share a setting or a trope, but rarely all of what made you love the original. So this guide starts from what you loved, a dragon bond, a fae court, a deadly trial, then points to the closest match, with Common Sense Media's age and heat notes and the series status as of October 9, 2026.

TL;DR: After Fourth Wing: When the Moon Hatched for dragons (4/5), Powerless for trials (1/5), Heartless Hunter for enemies to lovers (3/5). After ACOTAR: Quicksilver for a fae bond and high heat (5/5), The Serpent and the Wings of Night for a vampire tournament. After The Cruel Prince: Divine Rivals (1/5, finished). New in 2026: Blood Bound, pitched at Fourth Wing fans.

Romantasy books like your favorite (quick answer)

Image: FaeShelf table built from Common Sense Media, Publishers Weekly and Goodreads, checked October 9, 2026

"Not rated" means no review we could verify describes the sex content closely enough to place it on the FaeShelf spice scale. We leave the gap rather than guess.

Key Takeaways

• Fourth Wing readers have three routes: dragons, trials or enemies to lovers. Pick the one you would miss most.
• ACOTAR readers looking for the same heat should know Quicksilver is rated 18+; The Cruel Prince is the gentler fae court.
• The Cruel Prince readers can stay finished: Divine Rivals and Serpent & Dove have both ended, per their publishers.
• 2026 adds two publisher-pitched read-alikes: Blood Bound (Fourth Wing) and The Poet Empress (The Serpent and the Wings of Night).

Overview: how we match romantasy books like the ones you loved

A read-alike only works if it shares the thing you came for. Fourth Wing is a war-college story with dragons; Publishers Weekly describes it as "a reluctant dragon rider's coming-of-age with a sexy dark academia aesthetic". ACOTAR follows Feyre "as she is swept into the beautiful and dangerous world of the fae", in Sarah J. Maas's own words. The Cruel Prince, per Common Sense Media, uses "elements of celtic folklore and mythology as inspiration for a tale of courtly intrigue". Each of those is a different promise, and each needs different romantasy books like it.

For every pick we give four things: the hook it shares, the age category, the heat, and whether the series is finished. Heat comes from Common Sense Media (CSM), which rates "sex, romance & nudity" per book, or from Publishers Weekly (PW) wording. romance.io blocked our checks, so we do not use its steam ratings. Ratings counts are Goodreads snapshots from October 9, 2026.

We also flag where a publisher itself pitches a book at fans of another. That is marketing, not a review, but it tells you who the publisher thinks the book is for.

Books Like Fourth Wing

The short answer: When the Moon Hatched for dragons with adult heat, Fireborne for dragons with almost none, Powerless or Lightlark for deadly trials, and Heartless Hunter for enemies to lovers. Fourth Wing itself is rated 16+ by Common Sense Media with "a lot" of sex, and holds 4.56 on Goodreads from about 4 million ratings.

Romantasy books like Fourth Wing with dragons. When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker (Moonfall #1, first published November 24, 2024) is the adult option. CSM rates it 17+ and calls it "a romantic fantasy written for an adult audience, but with significant teen appeal", centred on "a fierce assassin"; it adds that "this slow burn romance grows quite graphic", with scenes "which start in the second half of the book". Fireborne by Rosaria Munda (The Aurelian Cycle #1, 2019) has "dragon riders attacking and torturing with fire, and tournament bouts and sparring to determine the best", with only "an instance of implied sex, but nothing's described" (CSM 12+). Its trilogy is finished: Furysong is billed as the "explosive conclusion".

Deadly trials. Powerless by Lauren Roberts (2023) has "purging trials that mimic the hunger games" and "mild kissing but plenty of touching and tension leading up to it" (CSM 14+). Lightlark by Alex Aster (2022) follows "a young woman trying to break a curse that will destroy the realm she rules"; CSM rates it 15+ and says "a few erotic dreams mostly involve kissing". Readers who liked the war-college odds can also try The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen, from the same US imprint as Fourth Wing, where "the gods name mortals to compete in their stead".

Enemies to lovers. Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli (The Crimson Moth #1, 2024) is about a "witch falls for her enemy", and CSM notes "the main characters have sex, described in some detail" (15+). A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen (2024) moves to a "norse mythology-inspired" setting; PW calls it "this sizzling if sometimes silly romantasy" with "steamy interludes".

Cover image: Wednesday Books, via Open Library

New in 2026. Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter (Cursed Covenant #1, first published April 28, 2026) is pitched by its publisher as "perfect for fans of fourth wing , throne of glass , and red queen". It sets up a duel between "rival witches and dragon riders".

GODEEPER: Want to know which of these series are finished and when the next Empyrean book lands? Romantasy Series Guide 2026: Reading Order, Spice and Status →

• Books Like Fourth Wing: 9 Picks Sorted by What You Loved: nine picks split into dragons, deadly trials and enemies to lovers, each with sourced spice.

Books Like ACOTAR and Sarah J. Maas

The short answer: Quicksilver if you want a fae bond and ACOTAR's heat or more, The Serpent and the Wings of Night for a vampire court and a tournament, From Blood and Ash for the forbidden-romance arc, and Throne of Glass or Crescent City if you want more Maas. ACOTAR 6, A Court of Splintered Harmony, is out October 27, 2026, according to Maas's site.

Romantasy books like ACOTAR, heat first. ACOTAR book 1 is rated 16+ by CSM, which says "though the heated descriptions are usually more titillating than graphic, sex is a big part of the story". That is 3/5 on our scale. Quicksilver by Callie Hart (Fae & Alchemy #1, 2024) goes further: CSM rates it 18+ and says "explicit sex scenes include lengthy descriptions". Its heroine is "bonded to a handsome fae named kingfisher".

Courts and tournaments. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (Crowns of Nyaxia #1, 2022) has "a divinely sponsored tournament to the death" and a heroine "raised and trained by the king of the nightborn vampires". PW calls it "an addictive enemies-to-lovers romance" and files it under romance/erotica. Its US publisher pitches it as "perfect for fans of from blood and ash".

Forbidden romance. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout (2020) opens with "a maiden… chosen from birth". The series runs to seven primary works on Goodreads, so it is a long commitment.

A prince of hell. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco (2020) is about witch twins: "emilia and her twin sister vittoria are streghe - witches", and Emilia ends up dealing with "wrath, one of the wicked-princes of hell". PW reviewed it under a children's label, so treat it as upper YA.

Cover image: Jimmy Patterson Books, via Open Library

More Maas. Maas's guide says "you can start with the first book in any of the three series". Throne of Glass book 1 is far gentler than ACOTAR, with "a couple of hot, long-awaited kisses" (CSM 14+). House of Earth and Blood starts Crescent City (first published March 3, 2020; 4.45 on Goodreads from about 1.35 million ratings).

• Books Like ACOTAR: 8 Fae Romantasy Picks Before ACOTAR 6: eight picks with Common Sense Media heat, series status and the ACOTAR 6 date.

Books Like The Cruel Prince

The short answer: Divine Rivals for a finished, low-heat duology, Serpent & Dove for witches and one explicit scene, and Heartless Hunter for a sharper enemies-to-lovers edge. The Cruel Prince is rated 14+ by CSM, with "a little" sex: "jude shares passionate embraces with two supporting characters".

Romantasy books like The Cruel Prince that are finished. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (first published April 4, 2023) is rated 13+ by CSM, with "no graphic detail". Macmillan calls its sequel, Ruthless Vows, "the epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in divine rivals". Two books and done.

Cover image: Wednesday Books, via Open Library

Witches and a hunter. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin is "a french-inspired witch fantasy trilogy" with a "witch-hunting chasseur" as the love interest. CSM rates it 15+ and notes "an explicit sex scene of intercourse between consenting, married adults". HarperCollins calls Gods & Monsters the trilogy's "electrifying conclusion".

Same folklore pull, older heroine. The Cruel Prince's own trilogy is finished; Hachette calls The Queen of Nothing the "jaw-dropping finale to the folk of the air trilogy". If the faerie politics were the draw, The Serpent and the Wings of Night (above) is the adult step up.

We have not written a full "books like The Cruel Prince" list yet. When we do, it will be linked here.

More Books Like Lists

Readers are asking for romantasy books like other titles in 2026, too. This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews (Maggie the Undying #1, first published March 31, 2026) is described in its own blurb as "outlander meets game of thrones", and an r/fantasyromance thread titled "Books like {This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me} PLEASE" drew a long list of answers in May 2026. One reply put it bluntly:

The comment opens: "Illona Andrews is a hard one to copy."

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao (first published January 20, 2026) is pitched by its publisher as "perfect for fans of the serpent & the wings of night". If Broadbent's vampire court is your favourite, it is the 2026 book aimed at you.

GODEEPER: Prefer horns and claws to fae ears? This list runs from a comedy demon to a skull-faced Duskwalker. Monster Romance Books: 6 Fantasy Picks, Gentlest to Darkest →

Analysis: what the read-alike data shows

Three patterns come out of matching these romantasy books like their models, and they matter more than any single pick.

First, heat does not travel with the setting. Fourth Wing is 16+ with "a lot" of sex, but its closest dragon match for teens, Fireborne, has only implied sex, and its closest trial match, Powerless, has "mild kissing". If heat is part of what you loved, check the CSM rating before the premise of any romantasy books like it.

Second, the YA and adult lines are close together. Heartless Hunter carries a publisher age range of 13 to 18 yet CSM notes a sex scene "described in some detail"; Kingdom of the Wicked was reviewed by PW under a children's label. Age labels are a starting point, not a heat rating.

Third, finished series are easier to recommend after The Cruel Prince than after Fourth Wing or ACOTAR. The Folk of the Air, Letters of Enchantment and Serpent & Dove have all ended, while Quicksilver's series expects a third book in 2027 and Blood and Ash keeps growing.

Our take

This take is based only on the Common Sense Media and Publishers Weekly reviews, publisher pages and Goodreads data cited above. If you loved Fourth Wing for the dragons, When the Moon Hatched is the adult answer and Fireborne the gentle one. If ACOTAR's heat was the point, Quicksilver is the closest match, and it is rated 18+, so start there only if you want more. For The Cruel Prince, Divine Rivals is the safest finished pick. The gap in this guide is spice for several adult books (Serpent, From Blood and Ash, Kingdom of the Wicked), where no review we could verify gives enough detail to place them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I read after Fourth Wing? For dragons, read When the Moon Hatched (adult, 4/5 on the FaeShelf spice scale) or Fireborne (YA, 1/5). For deadly trials, try Powerless (1/5). For enemies to lovers with a witch hunter, Heartless Hunter (3/5). Each placement comes from Common Sense Media's notes on that book.

What is the closest book to ACOTAR? Quicksilver by Callie Hart is the closest match for a fae bond and high heat; Common Sense Media rates it 18+ with explicit, lengthy scenes. For lower heat, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is a faerie court story rated 14+, with only "a little" sex and a lot of court intrigue.

Are there books like The Cruel Prince that are finished? Yes. Letters of Enchantment by Rebecca Ross is a finished duology, and Macmillan calls Ruthless Vows its "epic conclusion". Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin is a finished trilogy, per HarperCollins. The Folk of the Air itself ended with The Queen of Nothing, so all three are safe to binge.

Is there a 2026 book like Fourth Wing? Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter, first published April 28, 2026, is pitched by its publisher as "perfect for fans of fourth wing". It is the first book of the Cursed Covenant trilogy and centres on a duel between rival witches and dragon riders. It opens a new series, so expect to wait for the sequels.

Which books like ACOTAR are less spicy? The Cruel Prince and Throne of Glass both get "a little" for sex from Common Sense Media, which is 1 out of 5 on the FaeShelf scale. ACOTAR book 1 sits at 3/5 by comparison, so either one is a gentler step into fae courts, assassins and political intrigue.

Related Reading

• Romantasy tropes guide: every trope list on FaeShelf, from enemies to lovers to fated mates.
• Completed romantasy series: eight finished series, so no read-alike leaves you waiting.
• Best romantasy books of 2026: this year's most-read new releases, ranked by Goodreads ratings.

References

• Publishers Weekly: Fourth Wing
• Common Sense Media: Fourth Wing
• Common Sense Media: When the Moon Hatched
• Common Sense Media: Fireborne
• Common Sense Media: Powerless
• Common Sense Media: Heartless Hunter
• Common Sense Media: Quicksilver
• Common Sense Media: The Cruel Prince
• Common Sense Media: Serpent & Dove
• Publishers Weekly: The Serpent and the Wings of Night
• Macmillan: The Serpent and the Wings of Night
• Macmillan: Ruthless Vows
• HarperCollins: Gods & Monsters
• Sarah J. Maas: official site and reading guide
• Goodreads: Blood Bound (checked October 9, 2026)
• Goodreads: The Poet Empress
• r/fantasyromance: Books like This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me