1. Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
Book 1 of Empyrean. Non-negotiable, Iron Flame doesn't work without it. Read Fourth Wing first, then come back. Every r/Romantasy reader's entry point to Yarros.
Iron Flame is the Fourth Wing sequel that took over r/Romantasy for a solid month when it dropped, and step one in every thread is 'read Fourth Wing first,' because this won't work without it. Violet survived her first year at Basgiath; now the war, Xaden, and the entire kingdom turn out to be built on lies. Readers are honest that the middle third drags and the second-year-of-school structure tested some people's patience, but the consensus is that the last 100 pages are the best thing Yarros has written. Bigger stakes, darker reveals, and a relationship that gets genuinely complicated. If Fourth Wing hooked you, the threads say push through the slow middle; the payoff lands.
Curated from real reader threads on Reddit (r/Romantasy, r/RomanceBooks, r/Fantasy) and cross-referenced against Goodreads and BookTok. Updated regularly.
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by Rebecca Yarros
Book 1 of Empyrean. Non-negotiable, Iron Flame doesn't work without it. Read Fourth Wing first, then come back. Every r/Romantasy reader's entry point to Yarros.
by Rebecca Yarros
Book 3 of Empyrean, released 2025. The continuation of Violet and Xaden's story. If Iron Flame wrecked you, Onyx Storm is next, pre-order territory for the entire fandom.
by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre Archeron, a mortal huntress, is dragged into the enchanted fae lands after killing a wolf, and pulled into a world of dangerous courts, dark magic, and a love that will unmake and remake her. The romantasy foundation Yarros builds on. The most-recommended Empyrean readalike on r/Romantasy.
by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin competes to become the king's champion. Same Maas universe-adjacent intensity that Yarros readers gravitate toward, military training, political stakes, slow-burn romance.
by Callie Hart
The 2024 romantasy breakout, fae warrior, deadly bargain, 700 pages of unrelenting tension. The book Iron Flame fans pick up while waiting for Onyx Storm.
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The blueprint for the romantasy formula Yarros perfected. A sheltered Chosen falls for her dangerous guard. Same scale, same spice, same slow burn.
Yes, absolutely. Iron Flame is a direct continuation, it starts roughly where Fourth Wing ended and assumes you know every character, every relationship, every political faction. Skipping book 1 will spoil the best twists and ruin the emotional payoff.
r/Romantasy is split. Most readers agree Iron Flame is heavier, slower in the middle third, and emotionally darker. The payoff in the last 100 pages is often called the best of the series so far. Reread Fourth Wing first if it's been a while.
Onyx Storm (book 3 of Empyrean) released January 2025. Book 4 is announced. The series is planned for 5 books total. The wait between books is real, which is why the r/Romantasy community devours every book on release weekend.
It starts with what romantasy readers actually recommend to each other, the books that come up again and again in Reddit threads (r/Romantasy, r/fantasyromance), Goodreads 'readers also enjoyed,' and BookTok. For popular titles those lists are hand-curated with a reason for each pick; for everything else, 90books matches on tropes, pace, spice and vibe. Connect your Goodreads and books you've already read get filtered out. Affiliate buy links support the site but never affect which books are recommended.
Want personalised picks? Connect your Goodreads to filter out books you've already read and get recommendations tuned to your taste.
Every romantasy book Booky has featured, all in one shelf. Great for finding your next read after you finish the puzzle.
Browse the Booky Library →Booky is the free daily romantasy word game from 90books, made by a romantasy reader for other romantasy readers like me. If you've been looking for a booky wordle, this is it: a word game where you guess a 5-letter word tied to a fantasy romance book, then meet that book after you solve it. New puzzle every day, no login, totally free.
You get 6 tries to guess a hidden 5-letter word. Purple means the letter is correct and in the right spot, yellow means it is in the word but a different spot, gray means it is not in the word. Solve it and Booky shows you the romantasy book behind the word.
Yep. That's Booky. Search “booky wordle” or “romantasy wordle” and you land here: six guesses, one romantasy-coded word a day, made for people who live in Fourth Wing / ACOTAR / FBAA tabs. Free forever.
There are a few book wordle games out there, but this booky game is built just for romantasy. If you love Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), or From Blood and Ash, it's the wordle for book lovers made for you. Every answer ties back to a hand-picked romantasy read.
Booky is completely free with no login needed. A brand new romantasy word goes live every day, so you can build a daily streak and discover a new fantasy romance book each time you play.
Every puzzle maps to a reader favorite from r/Romantasy and BookTok, from Fourth Wing and ACOTAR to From Blood and Ash and dozens more. You can browse them all on the Booky Library.
Yep. If you're searching how to promote a romantasy book or how to get your book featured without shouting into the void, Booky can help with that. Your book becomes the daily word: readers guess it, then land on your cover, author name, and a buy link. You also get a shareable graphic for BookTok and Bookstagram, plus a mention in the reader newsletter. It works for indie and more established authors alike, whether you're launching a new release or just promoting your book to romantasy readers who already care about this genre, not a random crowd. It's $79 for a feature day, or $199 for a 3-day launch pack, and the details are on the authors page.
Only so many open days a month.
Questions, or a date in mind? Just email hello@90books.com.
90books syncs your shelves, Read, Want to Read, and Currently Reading, to filter what you've already read and personalize your recommendations.
Only so many open days a month.
Questions, or a date in mind? Just email hello@90books.com.