Obsessed With The Empyrean Saga?

Enjoy these 16 sizzling romantasy reads while you wait for the next book

We all know how hard it is to wait for the next installment in a book or series that we have become emotionally invested in. That's how many of us are feeling about the Empyrean Saga by Rebecca Yarros. The series has been dominating bestseller lists ever since Fourth Wing came out in 2023 and there's a major motion picture adaptation in the works.

The story begins at Basgiath College where twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail, a small and frail girl, defies the odds to become a dragon rider. Along the way, she forms an unlikely romance with her former nemesis Xaden Riorson. The action continues in Iron Flame and Onyx Storm as Violet gains new strengths and uncovers shocking secrets about her world.

The series is slated to be five books total, but Yarros has said she plans to take a break before writing the fourth book, much to the dismay of her fans. The good news is that there are plenty of great read-alikes to keep us occupied in the meantime.

What to read next

Enchanting world-building. Underdogs fighting for survival. Enemies-to-lovers romances. If you're looking for more high-stakes romantasies that check all the Empyrean boxes, consider these sixteen similar titles (most series starters) to help tide you over.

The Will of the Many by James Islington
Dark academia meets The Hunger Games in this thrillingly addictive fantasy (the first in a new series) about a young fugitive fighting to survive as he works to uncover layered mysteries and world-changing secrets.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Like Violet, Bryce Quinlan isn't looking to be a hero. But when a demon murders all her closest friends, she finds herself at the heart of the investigation. At her side is Hunt Athalar, a notorious fallen angel, fighting to redeem himself.

Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Saeris Fane is a scrappy thief hiding a dangerous secret—her magic. When she accidentally opens a gateway to a frozen world she never knew existed, she finds herself bound to a handsome Fae warrior who has secrets of his own.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
If you love Violet's perseverance and her unlikely romance with Xaden, you'll enjoy this first installment in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. After being adopted by the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya has spent her life fighting to stay alive.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
An ancient, mercurial spirit called Nightmare is trapped inside Elspeth Spindle's head. Sometimes he protects her. Other times he controls her. When she meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, they embark on a dangerous quest.

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
Part one of The Aurelian Cycle, this YA fantasy is set amidst a brutal revolution. Orphans Annie and Lee may come from totally different backgrounds, but they are both vying for the top spot in the regime's dragonriding fleet.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout
As the Maiden, Poppy’s life is one of solitude and safety. Her life has never belonged to her. When she meets Hawke, her new bodyguard, he gets under her skin and makes her question everything she thought she knew.

Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
Women are forbidden to wield blades, so Althea Zoltaire has trained in secret her entire life. Now, with her death foretold, she races against the clock to become what she's always dreamed of being: a warrior.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
Rune spends her days posing as a vapid young socialite. But at night, she's the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante. Then she meets the handsome Gideon, a notorious witch hunter who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. This epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel is filled with hope and heartbreak.

Babel by R. F. Kuang
Set in an alternate 1800s England, this award-winner tells the story of Robin, an orphan adopted from China. When serving the Empire means betraying his motherland, he must decide where his allegiances lie.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts
In a kingdom where the lack of power has become a crime, Paedyn poses as a Psychic to avoid banishment. When she unsuspectingly saves a prince, she finds herself in the spotlight, battling the very prince she's falling for.

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties: King Aren is her sworn enemy and she'll be the one to take him down. But after infiltrating the Bridge Kingdom as the king's bride, Lara finds her feelings transforming.

Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee
In an alternate New Orleans, Cate's brother makes a mistake that cannot be undone. Desperate to save him, she turns to Lachlan Gage, the dark prince of the city's underworld. But Lachlan doesn't deal in money or favors. He deals in souls. 

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
The Prince of Envy is no saint. When a cryptic note arrives, signaling the beginning of a deadly game, he braces for battle. But none of his meticulous plans prepare him for Camilla, a frustrating artist who ignites his sin like no other.

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
Inspired by the Napoleonic wars, this historical fantasy is the first installment of the Temeraire series. Will Laurence is a ship captain conscripted into airborne battle when he forms an unexpected kinship with an extraordinary dragon.

If you haven't read the high-flying Empyrean Saga, it's a ride you won't want to miss! And if you're counting the days until the next installment comes out, keep yourself occupied with one of these enchanting alternatives. As always, we love hearing from you. So let us know if you have any recs to add!

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon