You've just finished Fourth Wing, and now you're chasing that rush; the thrill of watching Violet Sorrengail defy every expectation in a brutal war college designed to kill her. What made Rebecca Yarros' novel so compelling wasn't just one element; it was the perfect storm of a physically vulnerable but mentally fierce protagonist, an enemies-to-lovers romance that crackles with tension, dragon bonds that feel both earned and magical, found family forged through shared survival, and stakes that genuinely make you fear for characters' lives at every turn.
Whether you're obsessed with the dark academia vibes of a deadly military academy, the complexity of Xaden Riorson's morally grey character, the thrill of dragons with their own agency and personality, or simply that delicious tension of forced proximity and reluctant attraction, we understand exactly what you're craving. The books below capture different facets of Fourth Wing's appeal; some lean heavily into the dragon-bonding fantasy, others into the brutal training academies and fierce competition, and many deliver that same slow-burn romance that keeps you reading until 3 AM.
Contents:
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
If the dragon bonds in Fourth Wing captivated you, Samantha Shannon's epic fantasy delivers dragons with even more complexity and agency. This standalone novel weaves together multiple perspectives, including Tané, a dragonrider-in-training whose entire world revolves around proving herself worthy of bonding with a sea dragon. You'll find that same sense of honour, sacrifice, and the transformative power of the dragon-human connection that made Fourth Wing so compelling. Shannon crafts a rich world where dragons aren't just powerful allies but beings with their own politics and motivations. The book also features fierce female protagonists who must navigate deadly court intrigue and world-ending threats, plus a slow-burn sapphic romance that rivals Violet and Xaden's chemistry. At 800+ pages, this is perfect for readers who want to fully immerse themselves in a sprawling fantasy world with the kind of detailed world-building and high stakes that kept you glued to Fourth Wing.
Why you'll love it:
Dragon bonds that feel earned and deeply meaningful
Multiple fierce female protagonists facing impossible odds
Epic world-building with complex political intrigue
Slow-burn romance with genuine emotional depth
Standalone novel (no cliffhanger!)
High fantasy with deadly stakes throughout
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
For readers who loved Violet's refusal to be underestimated and the deadly mecha-like battles in Fourth Wing, Iron Widow delivers a protagonist even more ruthless in her quest for vengeance. Zetian volunteers to be a concubine-pilot, knowing it's a death sentence, specifically to kill the pilot who murdered her sister. The Chrysalis system; where male-female pairs pilot giant transforming robots to fight aliens echoes Fourth Wing's dragon-rider dynamics, but with a darker, more exploitative twist that Zetian is determined to shatter. You'll find that same military academy setting where students are expendable resources, but Zhao amps up the brutality and systemic oppression. The romance evolves into a polyamorous relationship that's surprisingly tender despite the violence surrounding it. Like Violet, Zetian is physically vulnerable but weaponises her mind, and the book doesn't shy away from showing how institutions grind down those they deem weak. The feminist rage and anti-establishment themes will resonate if you loved watching Violet prove everyone wrong about "fragile" women surviving Basgiath.
Why you'll love it:
Brutal training system designed to kill its participants
Fierce protagonist who refuses to be a victim
Mecha-battles with the intensity of dragon combat
Enemies-to-lovers with a polyamorous twist
Themes of systemic oppression and revolution
Fast-paced with shocking plot twists
Content note: graphic violence and war trauma
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
If the deadly war college atmosphere of Basgiath War College was your favourite element, Naomi Novik's Scholomance series will feel like coming home; if home were a sentient school actively trying to murder you. El Higgins attends a magical academy where the building itself spawns monsters that kill students regularly, making Basgiath's death rate look almost reasonable. Like Violet, El is treated as an outsider and underestimated, though for different reasons; everyone expects her to become a genocidal dark witch. The survival mechanics are brilliant: students must forge alliances to live, creating that same found-family desperation you loved in Fourth Wing. The enemies-to-lovers romance with Orion Lake builds with delicious slowness across the trilogy, filled with banter and misunderstandings as El suspects Orion's motives while falling for him anyway. Novik excels at making you genuinely fear for characters during seemingly mundane activities like getting to the cafeteria or taking a shower, just as Yarros made dragon-riding training terrifying. The dark academia setting and constant mortal peril create an addictive "just one more chapter" urgency.
Why you'll love it:
School setting where death is a daily threat
Outsider protagonist who's more powerful than anyone realises
Found family bonds forged through survival
Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers with excellent banter
Creative magic system with cost and consequences
Series (book 1 ends with a cliffhanger)
Dark academia atmosphere without excessive darkness
Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
For a story that truly captures Fourth Wing's blend of dragonrider training, class warfare, and complicated romance, Rosaria Munda's Fireborne is astonishingly similar in the best ways. Annie and Lee are both dragonriders in a new regime built on the ashes of the old dragonlord aristocracy; and they're both hiding secrets about their pasts that could destroy everything. The novel alternates between their childhood as orphans being trained as riders and their present as adults competing for the top position, creating that same intense academy competition atmosphere. Like Fourth Wing, the dragons bond with riders and fight together, and the political intrigue runs deep as characters must choose between loyalty to their found family and their blood heritage. The romance is complex and painful because Annie and Lee's class differences echo the revolution that shaped their world; he's a peasant-born rider, she's secretly from the overthrown aristocracy. Munda doesn't shy away from exploring what it means to build something new on top of genocide and oppression, giving the story emotional weight beyond the dragon battles.
Why you'll love it:
Dragonrider academy with intense competition
Class warfare and political revolution themes
Romance complicated by secrets and opposing loyalties
Found family dynamics among rider cohorts
Dragons with personality and agency
Dual timeline structure revealing character backstories
Series with two books (complete)
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
If you were captivated by the political intrigue underneath Fourth Wing's war college setting and want a fantasy with even more complex court machinations, Tasha Suri's sapphic epic delivers intrigue alongside a magic system rooted in ancient temple powers. Malini is a princess imprisoned by her own brother, whilst Priya is a maidservant with forbidden magic who becomes entangled in Malini's dangerous plans to reclaim her throne. Like Violet and Xaden's relationship, these two women begin on opposite sides; Priya has every reason to hate the empire Malini represents; but their forced proximity in the Hirana prison-temple sparks a slow-burn romance charged with political tension. The power dynamics shift constantly as secrets unravel, creating that same delicious uncertainty about who to trust. Suri's South Asian-inspired world-building is lush and detailed, and the magic system involving temple priestesses and ancient rot-based powers feels fresh. You'll find strong female characters navigating impossible situations, deadly court politics where one wrong move means death, and a romance that develops through genuine connection despite every reason it shouldn't work.
Why you'll love it:
Sapphic slow-burn romance with intense chemistry
Complex political intrigue and court machinations
Fierce protagonists with hidden powers
Magic system rooted in ancient temple traditions
Enemies-to-lovers with shifting power dynamics
Found family amongst rebellion allies
Series in progress (mild cliffhanger)
Content note: moderate spice level
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
For readers who loved the secret magical society hidden within Fourth Wing's war college and the chosen-one-who-shouldn't-exist energy of Violet's story, Tracy Deonn's contemporary fantasy reimagines Arthurian legend with a Black teenage girl who discovers a secret society of magical warriors at her North Carolina university. Bree Matthews infiltrates the Legendborn Order after witnessing a magical attack, only to find she has powerful ancestral magic that shouldn't be possible; much like Violet surviving when everyone expects her to die. The book brilliantly examines who gets to be a hero and what happens when the magic system itself is rooted in exclusion and oppression. The deadly trials and training sequences will feel familiar, as will the morally grey love interest whose loyalty is complicated by his position in the Order. Deonn weaves in themes of grief, generational trauma, and systemic racism whilst delivering the page-turning plot and romantic tension that made Fourth Wing so addictive. The found family dynamics as Bree builds her own crew of allies, the mystery of her true power, and the high-stakes battles create that same desperate need to know what happens next.
Why you'll love it:
Secret magical society with deadly trials
Protagonist with mysterious power that shouldn't exist
Contemporary setting with portal fantasy elements
Complex morally grey love interest
Found family forged through shared secrets
Arthurian legend reimagined with depth
Series in progress
Content note: addresses racism and trauma
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
If you're craving that brutal academy atmosphere where students are pitted against each other in deadly competition, Pierce Brown's sci-fi dystopia captures Fourth Wing's ruthless elimination structure with even higher body counts. Darrow infiltrates the elite Gold caste's training institute, where students are divided into houses and fight for supremacy; often to the death. Like Basgiath, the Institute is designed to forge warriors through suffering, and alliances shift constantly as students balance cooperation with competition. Darrow, like Violet, is physically outmatched by his peers but compensates with strategy and determination. The found family that develops within his house mirrors the wing dynamics in Fourth Wing, and the romance subplot with Mustang features that same enemies-to-allies-to-lovers progression filled with betrayals and forced trust. Brown's world-building creates a colour-coded caste system where Darrow must hide his true identity or face execution, adding constant tension to every interaction. The plotting, battle tactics, and political manoeuvring will appeal to readers who loved watching Violet navigate Basgiath's deadly social landscape.
Why you'll love it:
Brutal academy designed to create warriors through elimination
Underdog protagonist hiding his true identity
House-based competition with shifting alliances
Found family within deadly circumstances
Romance complicated by secrets and strategy
Fast-paced with constant action and betrayals
Series (six books, complete main arc)
Content note: graphic violence and dark themes
Dragonfall by L.R. Lam
If the dragon bonds in Fourth Wing felt like true partnerships between equals rather than simple mounts, L.R. Lam's Dragonfall explores that dynamic even further with a dragon who takes human form and must reluctantly bond with a thief to survive. Arcady is a genderfluid thief scraping by in a world where dragons were supposedly extinct for centuries, until they accidentally steal a dragon's hoard and become magically bound to Everen; the last male dragon who crossed through a portal from another realm. Like Violet and Tairn's bond, this connection is involuntary and forces two people who don't trust each other to work together, but Lam adds fascinating complexity by making the dragon's human form central to the story. The romance develops as a slow-burn queer love story between Arcady and Everen, filled with that same tension of forced proximity and reluctant attraction you loved in Fourth Wing. The book explores themes of found family, the cost of survival, and what it means to belong, whilst delivering dragon lore that feels fresh and political intrigue involving ancient prophecies. Lam's prose is gorgeous, and the dual POV structure lets you see both sides of the bond developing, creating emotional depth alongside the adventure.
Why you'll love it:
Dragon-human bond central to the story
Queer slow-burn romance with excellent tension
Dragon who takes human form and has his own POV
Thief protagonist using wit over strength
Found family themes and belonging
Rich world-building with dragon history and politics
Series in progress (two books so far)
Content note: moderate spice level, first book has a cliffhanger
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent city series)
For readers who loved Fourth Wing's blend of fantasy world-building, morally grey characters, and slow-burn romance that eventually gets spicy, Sarah J. Maas delivers all of that in a contemporary urban fantasy setting. Bryce Quinlan appears to be a party-loving half-fae who works in an antiquities gallery, but when a demon murders her best friends, she's forced to partner with fallen angel Hunt Athalar; a enslaved warrior bound to the Archangels to solve the case. Like Violet and Xaden, Bryce and Hunt start with mutual distrust and irritation, trapped in forced proximity whilst investigating, and their banter crackles with tension before evolving into something deeper. The book features a complex magic system with various supernatural species, political intrigue involving powerful ruling houses, and a found family dynamic as Bryce builds her "pack" of loyal friends. Maas excels at creating that addictive blend of humour, heartbreak, and steaminess, and whilst the pacing is slower than Fourth Wing's breakneck speed, the payoff is worth it. The high stakes, shocking plot twists, and characters willing to burn down the world for those they love will feel wonderfully familiar.
Why you'll love it:
Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers with excellent chemistry
Found family dynamics central to the story
Complex magical world with political intrigue
Morally grey characters making difficult choices
Urban fantasy setting with contemporary elements
Series in progress (three books so far)
Content note: high spice level, graphic violence, cliffhanger ending
Dragon Mage by ML Spencer
If you're searching for books similar to Fourth Wing that emphasise the magical academia setting combined with dragon bonds and political conspiracy, ML Spencer's Dragon Mage series follows Aram Raythe, a young man attending a magical university where students compete brutally for power and status. Aram discovers he has an illegal talent for dragon magic in a world where dragons have been hunted to near-extinction and those who bond with them are executed. Like Violet navigating Basgiath whilst hiding her chronic illness, Aram must conceal his forbidden abilities whilst surviving an academy where students regularly die during training. The series features morally complex characters, a magic system with genuine costs and consequences, and the kind of intricate plotting where seemingly small details become crucial later. Spencer creates a darker, grittier tone than Fourth Wing, with political machinations that extend beyond the academy walls and a protagonist who must make increasingly difficult choices between personal loyalty and the greater good. The found family elements develop as Aram builds relationships with fellow outcasts, and the dragon bonds feel earned through sacrifice rather than destiny.
Why you'll love it:
Magical academy with deadly competition
Forbidden dragon magic and hidden abilities
Complex political conspiracy and intrigue
Protagonist forced to hide his true power
Found family among fellow outcasts
Epic fantasy series (complete at five books)
Content note: darker themes, moderate violence, lower spice level
Conclusion
These ten books capture different elements of what makes Fourth Wing so compulsively readable; whether it's the thrill of dragon bonds, the pressure-cooker intensity of survival academies, the delicious tension of enemies-to-lovers romance, or protagonists who refuse to let their perceived weaknesses define them. From Samantha Shannon's epic dragon politics to Naomi Novik's murderous magical school, from Rosaria Munda's dragonrider class warfare to Tracy Deonn's secret magical societies, you'll find stories that deliver that same addictive blend of danger, romance, and characters fighting impossible odds. Each offers its own unique spin whilst understanding exactly why you couldn't put Fourth Wing down. Your next obsession is waiting in this list; the only question is which dragon (or mecha, or magical creature) will claim you first.
Books Featured in This Article
The Priory of the Orange Tree
by Samantha Shannon
The New York Times bestselling "epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of Game of Thrones" (Bustle).NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY:AMAZON (Top 100 Editors Picks and Science Fiction and Fantasy) * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY * BOOKPAGE * AUTOSTRADDLEA world divided.A queendom without an heir.An ancient enemy awakens.The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction--but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.
House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J. Maas
A #1 New York Times bestseller! Sarah J. Maas's bestselling Crescent City series begins with House of Earth and Blood, which follows the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance. Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach. As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it. With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.
Dragonfall
by L. R. Lam
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER! The bestselling first book in the Dragon Scales duology, in which long-banished dragons, revered as gods, return to the mortal realm—now in paperback with a new glossary and timeline. Dragonfall is a slowburn, smoldering romance between a thief and the last male dragon who are drawn together by prophecy and an ancient artifact with the power to break the world. Recommended by USA TODAY for readers of dragon-filled fantasy and Fourth Wing"In Dragonfall, Lam has forged a fresh and intricate world, a smoldering romance, and a fire-new take on dragons." —Samantha Shannon, New York Times-bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree "What you will find here may be exactly what you love in fantasy: Dragonfall is an intriguing blend of magic, a thief, trickery, and an unexpected dragon." —Robin Hobb, New York Times-bestselling author of Fool’s Assassin "Dragonfall is a romance fantasy like you've never read before. A queer-norm world with new ways of telling tales, L. R. Lam is breaking boundaries and binaries yet again with a brilliant fantasy book that you won't want to miss." —Hannah Kaner, #1 Sunday Times-bestselling author of GodkillerLong ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the "gods" remember, and they do not forgive. Thief Arcady scrapes a living on the streets of Vatra. Desperate, Arcady steals a powerful artifact from the bones of the Plaguebringer, the most hated person in Lumet history. Only Arcady knows the artifact's magic holds the key to a new life among the nobles at court and a chance for revenge. The spell connects to Everen, the last male dragon foretold to save his kind, dragging him through the Veil. Disguised as a human, Everen soon learns that to regain his true power and form and fulfil his destiny, he only needs to convince one little thief to trust him enough to bond completely--body, mind, and soul—and then kill them.Yet the closer the two become, the greater the risk both their worlds will shatter.
Fireborne
by Rosaria Munda
The brutal revolution that overthrew the Dragonlords may have orphaned Annie and Lee, but it's brought new hope to their city. Now anyone--including the lowborn--can have wealth, an education, and even test into the governing class of dragonriders. Aristocratic by birth and with his identity concealed, Lee's confidence and air of power have made him a rising star in the very regime that slaughtered his family. Annie, a former serf, is as bold a rider as they come--in the air. On the ground, she struggles with self-doubt. Now, after seven years of friendship, Annie and Lee are rivals for the top position in the city's fleet. All the riders have been preparing to lead their people into the future, yet no one is ready when survivors from the Dragonlord families resurface with dragons of their own, bent on reclaiming the city. With war looming and their relationship growing, Annie and Lee will both have to confront wavering loyalties. Lee will be forced to choose between killing the only family he has left, or betraying everything he's come to believe in, while Annie will have to decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.
Red Rising
by Pierce Brown
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pierce Brown’s relentlessly entertaining debut channels the excitement of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. “Red Rising ascends above a crowded dystopian field.”—USA TodayONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—Entertainment Weekly, BuzzFeed, Shelf Awareness“I live for the dream that my children will be born free,” she says. “That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them.” “I live for you,” I say sadly. Eo kisses my cheek. “Then you must live for more.”Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he toils willingly, trusting that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.Praise for Red Rising“[A] spectacular adventure . . . one heart-pounding ride . . . Pierce Brown’s dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender’s Game. . . . [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric.”—Entertainment Weekly“Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow.”—Scott Sigler “Red Rising is a sophisticated vision. . . . Brown will find a devoted audience.”—Richmond Times-DispatchDon’t miss any of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga:RED RISING • GOLDEN SON • MORNING STAR • IRON GOLD • DARK AGE • LIGHT BRINGER
Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao
Instant New York Times No.1 Bestseller. A YA Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid's Tale retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. I have no faith in love. Love cannot save me. I choose vengeance. The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises - giant transforming robots that battle aliens beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that their female co-pilots are expected to serve as concubines and often die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, her plan is to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But after miraculously surviving her first battle, Zetian sets her sights on a mightier goal. The time has come to stop more girls from being sacrificed. 'This is the historical-inspired, futuristic sci-fi mash-up of my wildest dreams.' Chloe Gong 'Raging against the patriarchy in spectacular style.' Observer, best books of the year 'Zetian is unstoppable, and I dare you not to cheer her on.' Elizabeth Lim, author of Spin the Dawn A New York Times bestseller, Oct 10 2021
Dragon Mage
by M. L. Spencer
Aram Raythe has the power to challenge the gods. He just doesn't know it yet.Aram thinks he's nothing but a misfit from a small fishing village in a dark corner of the world. As far as Aram knows, he has nothing, with hardly a possession to his name other than a desire to make friends and be accepted by those around him, which is something he's never known.But Aram is more. Much, much more.Unknown to him, Aram bears within him a gift so old and rare that many people would kill him for it, and there are others who would twist him to use for their own sinister purposes. These magics are so potent that Aram earns a place at an academy for warrior mages training to earn for themselves the greatest place of honor among the armies of men: dragon riders.Aram will have to fight for respect by becoming not just a dragon rider, but a Champion, the caliber of mage that hasn't existed in the world for hundreds of years. And the land needs a Champion. Because when a dark god out of ancient myth arises to threaten the world of magic, it is Aram the world will turn to in its hour of need.
A Deadly Education
by Naomi Novik
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver comes the first book of the Scholomance trilogy, the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic.FINALIST FOR THE LODESTAR AWARD • “The dark school of magic I’ve been waiting for.”—Katherine Arden, author of the Winternight TrilogyI decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life.Everyone loves Orion Lake. Everyone else, that is. Far as I’m concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. I’m not joining his pack of adoring fans. I don’t need help surviving the Scholomance, even if they do. Forget the hordes of monsters and cursed artifacts, I’m probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and I’ll level mountains and kill untold millions, make myself the dark queen of the world. At least, that’s what the world expects. Most of the other students in here would be delighted if Orion killed me like one more evil thing that’s crawled out of the drains. Sometimes I think they want me to turn into the evil witch they assume I am. The school certainly does. But the Scholomance isn’t getting what it wants from me. And neither is Orion Lake. I may not be anyone’s idea of the shining hero, but I’m going to make it out of this place alive, and I’m not going to slaughter thousands to do it, either. Although I’m giving serious consideration to just one.With flawless mastery, Naomi Novik creates a school bursting with magic like you’ve never seen before, and a heroine for the ages—a character so sharply realized and so richly nuanced that she will live on in hearts and minds for generations to come.The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in The Last Graduate and The Golden Enclaves“The can’t-miss fantasy of fall 2020, a brutal coming-of-power story steeped in the aesthetics of dark academia. . . . A Deadly Education will cement Naomi Novik’s place as one of the greatest and most versatile fantasy writers of our time.”—BookPage (starred review) “A must-read . . . Novik puts a refreshingly dark, adult spin on the magical boarding school. . . . Readers will delight in the push-and-pull of El and Orion’s relationship, the fantastically detailed world, the clever magic system, and the matter-of-fact diversity of the student body.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Legendborn
by Tracy Deonn
SOME LEGACIES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN. "I love the feeling of a magical world existing just beneath the surface of our own and this story gave me everything I wanted: incredible characters, ancient lore and secret societies - all grounded in our very real, very flawed world . . ." -Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow and Bone An explosive fantasy debut that is taking TikTok by storm. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J. Maas and Cinderella is Dead! Filled with mystery and Southern Black Girl Magic, Tracy Deonn's New York Times bestselling Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend . . . After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants to escape. A residential programme for bright high-schoolers seems like the perfect opportunity - until she witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus . . . A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so-called "Legendborn" that hunt the creatures down. A mysterious mage who calls himself a "Merlin" and who attempts - and fails - to wipe Bree's memory of everything she saw. The mage's failure unlocks Bree's own unique magic and a buried memory about her mother. Now Bree will do whatever it takes to discover the truth, even infiltrate the Legendborn. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur's knights and foretell a magical war, Bree must decide how far she'll go for the truth. Should she use her magic to take the society down - or join the fight? Winner of the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award, and a New York Times bestseller!
The Jasmine Throne
by Tasha Suri
WINNER OF THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2021 BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, LIBRARY JOURNAL, BOOKLIST, AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY A ruthless princess and a powerful priestess come together to rewrite the fate of an empire in this "fiercely and unapologetically feminist tale of endurance and revolution set against a gorgeous, unique magical world" (S. A. Chakraborty, author of the The City of Brass). Exiled by her despotic brother, princess Malini spends her days dreaming of vengeance while imprisoned in the Hirana: an ancient cliffside temple that was once the revered source of the magical deathless waters but is now little more than a decaying ruin. The secrets of the Hirana call to Priya. But in order to keep the truth of her past safely hidden, she works as a servant in the loathed regent's household and cleaning Malini's chambers. When Malini witnesses Priya's true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a ruthless princess seeking to steal a throne. The other a powerful priestess desperate to save her family. Together, they will set an empire ablaze. Praise for The Jasmine Throne: "Suri's writing always brings me to another world; one full of wonders and terrors, where every detail feels intricately and carefully imagined." --R. F. Kuang, author of Babel "Raises the bar for what epic fantasy should be." --Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights "An intimate, complex, magical study of empire and the people caught in its bloody teeth. I loved it." --Alix E. Harrow, author of The Once and Future Witches "Suri's incandescent feminist masterpiece hits like a steel fist inside a velvet glove. Simply magnificent." --Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun "A fierce, heart-wrenching exploration of the value and danger of love in a world of politics and power." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Lush and stunning....Inspired by Indian epics, this sapphic fantasy will rip your heart out." --BuzzFeed News