Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you loved Iron Flame, read Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing and Onyx Storm, then A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash and The Serpent and the Wings of Night. All are fast romantasy with dragons, deadly trials and slow-burn love.
Rebecca Yarros's 2023 novel continues Violet Sorrengail's story at Basgiath War College as she faces dangerous secrets, a growing war and her feelings for Xaden. It is long, action-heavy and full of cliffhangers. The books below offer similar romantic fantasy, dragon riders and high-stakes drama. Please note they contain adult content.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | the first book |
| Onyx Storm | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | the next book |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas | Adult | faerie romance |
| From Blood and Ash | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Adult | forbidden romance |
| The Serpent & the Wings of Night | Carissa Broadbent | Adult | vampire fantasy |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Teen | assassin heroine |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | Teen | faerie politics |
| Powerless | Lauren Roberts | Teen | trials and rivals |
| Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross | Adult | letters and war |
| Kingdom of the Wicked | Kerri Maniscalco | Teen | demons and witches |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | Teen | dragon epics |
| Dragonflight | Anne McCaffrey | Adult | classic dragon riders |
| His Majesty's Dragon | Naomi Novik | Adult | Napoleonic dragons |
| Daughter of the Moon Goddess | Sue Lynn Tan | Adult | Chinese mythology |
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | Adult | magic school with monsters |
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Violet must survive a deadly college for dragon riders. Fast and romantic.
Best for: the first book.
2. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Violet and Xaden face new threats as the war grows. Big and cliffhanger-heavy.
Best for: the next book.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre kills a wolf and is taken to a faerie realm. A Beauty and the Beast retelling that becomes an epic.
Best for: faerie romance.
4. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A chosen maiden meets a guard who is not what he seems. Steamy and full of twists.
Best for: forbidden romance.
5. The Serpent & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
A human girl adopted by the Vampire King enters a deadly contest. Dark and passionate.
Best for: vampire fantasy.
6. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena competes to become the king's champion. Fast and fierce.
Best for: assassin heroine.
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A mortal girl enters the dangerous Faerie court. Sharp, tense and clever.
Best for: faerie politics.
8. Powerless by Lauren Roberts
A girl without powers gets caught up in a deadly contest. Fast and romantic.
Best for: trials and rivals.
9. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Two rival reporters exchange letters in a world of gods and war. Sweet and engaging.
Best for: letters and war.
10. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
A witch hunts her sister's killer and meets a prince of Hell. Dark and romantic.
Best for: demons and witches.
11. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
A farm boy finds a dragon egg and is thrown into a war. A friendly start to epic fantasy.
Best for: dragon epics.
12. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
Lessa bonds with a dragon on Pern to fight deadly threads. A foundation of dragon fiction.
Best for: classic dragon riders.
13. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
A British captain bonds with a dragon during the Napoleonic wars. Elegant and exciting.
Best for: Napoleonic dragons.
14. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
A girl raised on the moon trains as a warrior. Lyrical and inventive.
Best for: Chinese mythology.
15. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
A student at a school full of monsters tries to survive. Funny and inventive.
Best for: magic school with monsters.
How to Choose
To stay in the series read Fourth Wing before Iron Flame and Onyx Storm after it. For more romantasy choose A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash or The Serpent and the Wings of Night. For school trials pick Powerless or A Deadly Education. For classic dragon riders read Dragonflight, Eragon or His Majesty's Dragon. Iron Flame is long and intense, so these picks suit readers who love big fantasy romance. The Empyrean series became a publishing phenomenon, and readers often swap theories online. Audiobooks, performed by a full cast, are popular.
Related: Iron Flame Ending Explained · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Iron Flame about?
Violet continues at war college and uncovers dangerous secrets about her world.
Who wrote it?
Rebecca Yarros.
When was it published?
2023.
Do I need to read Fourth Wing first?
Yes.
Is it spicy?
Yes, it includes explicit scenes.
How many Empyrean books are there?
Check current listings for the latest count.
Is it a cliffhanger?
Yes, like the first book.
What should I read next?
Try Onyx Storm or A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Which book here is best for forbidden romance?
Try From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which suits readers looking for forbidden romance.
Which book here is best for faerie politics?
Try The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, which suits readers looking for faerie politics.
Which book here is best for demons and witches?
Try Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco, which suits readers looking for demons and witches.
Which book here is best for Napoleonic dragons?
Try His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik, which suits readers looking for Napoleonic dragons.