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Quick answer: If you finished Rites of the Starling, try Shield of Sparrows, Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, The Bridge Kingdom and Divine Rivals. They are fantasy romances with strong heroines and tension.
Devney Perry's 2026 romantasy is the second book in the Shield of Sparrows series, continuing a story of war, magic and romance. Readers who finish it want more fantasy with a heavy dose of romance. These 15 books deliver. Most include open-door scenes and violence.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shield of Sparrows | Devney Perry | Adult | the first book |
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | readers who like dragons |
| Iron Flame | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | series readers |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas | Adult | readers who like fae romance |
| A Court of Mist and Fury | Sarah J. Maas | Adult | series readers |
| The Serpent and the Wings of Night | Carissa Broadbent | Adult | readers who like vampire romance |
| The Bridge Kingdom | Danielle L. Jensen | Adult | readers who like spies and romance |
| From Blood and Ash | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Adult | readers who like spicy fantasy |
| Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross | Adult | readers who like letters |
| Kingdom of the Wicked | Kerri Maniscalco | Adult | readers who like dark romance |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Adult | readers who like competitions |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | Teen/Adult | readers who like faerie courts |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon | Adult | readers who want big standalones |
| Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik | Adult | readers who like fairy-tale fantasy |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Adult | readers who like folk magic |
1. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
The first book in the series. Start here if you are new.
Best for: the first book.
2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Violet enters a war college for dragon riders. Fast, spicy and addictive.
Best for: readers who like dragons.
3. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
The second Empyrean book, with higher stakes and more secrets. Intense.
Best for: series readers.
4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre is taken to a faerie land and falls for her captor. Popular and steamy.
Best for: readers who like fae romance.
5. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
The second ACOTAR book, with higher stakes and a new romance. Dramatic.
Best for: series readers.
6. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Oraya, a human raised by vampires, competes in a deadly tournament. Dark and romantic.
Best for: readers who like vampire romance.
7. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Lara marries the king of her enemies, planning to destroy him from within. Political and spicy.
Best for: readers who like spies and romance.
8. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Poppy, the Maiden, is meant to be untouched, but a guard stirs her feelings. Fantasy romance with vampires.
Best for: readers who like spicy fantasy.
9. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Two rival journalists write letters to each other during a war of gods. Warm and bookish.
Best for: readers who like letters.
10. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Emilia investigates her sister's murder and bargains with a prince of Hell. Dark and sexy.
Best for: readers who like dark romance.
11. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena, an assassin, competes to become the king's champion. Action and romance.
Best for: readers who like competitions.
12. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, a human girl in Faerie, wants a place at court. Intrigue and enemies-to-lovers romance.
Best for: readers who like faerie courts.
13. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
A queen, a mage and a dragon rider in a world divided between East and West. Epic.
Best for: readers who want big standalones.
14. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Miryem becomes a moneylender and makes a deal with the Staryk king. A reimagined Rumpelstiltskin.
Best for: readers who like fairy-tale fantasy.
15. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Agnieszka is chosen by a wizard and discovers a dark forest. A fairy tale with teeth.
Best for: readers who like folk magic.
How to Choose
For the start of this series, read Shield of Sparrows. For dragons, choose Fourth Wing. For fae, pick ACOTAR or The Cruel Prince. For political romance, read The Bridge Kingdom. A simple plan is to read a series opener and decide whether to continue. Check the heat level: many here have open-door scenes. To manage a long romantasy series, keep a list of the main characters and the main magic rules. Audiobooks with dual narrators are popular. If a book is heavy on spice, check the content notes first, and take breaks with lighter fantasy. If you like a slow burn, follow it with Divine Rivals, and if you want faster action, choose Fourth Wing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rites of the Starling a standalone?
No. It is the second book in the Shield of Sparrows series.
Who is Devney Perry?
A bestselling romance author who has written dozens of novels.
Is it spicy?
Yes, romantasy usually includes open-door scenes.
Which book is the closest?
Fourth Wing and ACOTAR are the closest in tone.
Do I need to read Shield of Sparrows first?
Yes, because Rites of the Starling continues the story.
Are there content warnings?
Yes, including violence and open-door scenes.
Is the series complete?
Check the author's website for the latest on how many books are planned.