The record-breaking romantasy series continues with ‘A Court of Splintered Harmony’ – now half price at Amazon
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Despite several retellings of Jane Austen’s 1813 classic, its much-quoted first line has never made it to the screen
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Courtesy of Lionsgate
A new dawn is rising in "The Hunger Games" universe (literally).
"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" is set to hit theaters on November 20, taking fans back into the world of Panem. This time, they will see it through the eyes of a young Haymitch Abernathy as he competes as a District 12 tribute 24 years before the events of Suzanne Collins' original trilogy.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the film since it was first announced in 2024, before the novel it is based on was even published.
Now, a little under a month before it premieres, the film's arrival is feeling more and more real. Tickets finally went on sale on Wednesday, and the same day, Jennifer Lawrence confirmed she'll be reprising her role as Katniss Everdeen in the film, alongside Woody Harrelson and Josh Hutcherson.
Here's everything we know about the movie so far.
"Sunrise on the Reaping" was published in March 2025, and it is the second prequel to Collins' immensely popular dystopian series, following the 2020 release of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." Like "Ballad," the latest installment reveals key lore about the world of Panem, while staying true to the heart of Collins' original works.
Lionsgate announced it would adapt the story into a feature film, following the success of the "Ballad" adaptation, in conjunction with the novel's June 2024 announcement.
Scholastic
At the time, Deadline reported that the film, "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping," would be released on November 20, 2026. The film officially premieres on the 20th, though some fans were able to secure advanced screening tickets for November 18 and 19 at select theaters.
Francis Lawrence, the filmmaker who helmed every movie in the series except the 2012 original, directed the movie from a script adapted by Billy Ray.
Nina Jacobson and her producing partner, Brad Simpson, returned to produce the prequel under their Color Force banner. Jacobson told Variety in March 2025 that her team already had "a great draft" of the script and set filming locations before the book was even released.
"Sunrise on the Reaping" has a massive cast, largely because Haymitch is reaped into the second Quarter Quell. The 50th Hunger Games has twice as many tributes competing, meaning 48 children from the districts are sent to the arena instead of 24.
In addition, the novel introduces readers to characters in District 12 with connections to the other books in the series and features appearances by "Hunger Games" favorites such as Effie Trinket and Plutarch Heavensbee.
Lionsgate revealed the film's cast on social media, showing snippets of the characters' introductions in the novel as they burst into flame, revealing the actors portraying them.
The film's star, Zada, is a relative newcomer with a handful of roles to his name. In March 2025, Jacobson told Variety her team was looking for an actor who could bring the same "mischief" Woody Harrelson brought to the role in the original trilogy without "impersonating" him.
Courtesy of Lionsgate
"You want somebody who very credibly feels like they could be a young version of this character, before the trauma and grief and rage that the fallout of the Games create," Jacobson said. "Nobody can be Woody Harrelson, but Woody Harrelson."
Of the roles announced, Fiennes' and Fanning's castings arguably generated the most buzz.
Fiennes, who is no stranger to film franchises after playing Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" films, will be offering the third cinematic iteration of President Coriolanus Snow.
Courtesy of Lionsgate
Donald Sutherland originated the role of the aging villain in the three original "Hunger Games" films, and fans saw Tom Blyth's portrayal of Snow as a young man in the first prequel. Snow is the primary antagonist in "Sunrise on the Reaping," as he is in the original trilogy, and he makes some chilling appearances in the novel.
Elizabeth Banks played Effie Trinket, Katniss and Peeta's handler from the Capitol, in the original "Hunger Games" trilogy, and the character appears as a young stylist in "Sunrise on the Reaping." Fans were eager to see who would step into Banks' shoes because her performance was so beloved in the films, and Fanning's casting was met with overwhelming excitement.
Murray Close/Lionsgate/
Plemons will take over the role of Plutarch for Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jeffrey Wright played Beetee Latier before Kelvin Harrison Jr. Interestingly, both Plemons and Harrison previously played Hoffman's and Wright's children in other projects. Plemons was Hoffman's son in the 2012 film "The Master," and Harrison was Wright's son in "Monster," released in 2018.
Lawrence announced that filming for the project was set to begin in July 2025 at CinemaCon in April 2025, and Zada and Grace were spotted together in Spain that month.
On November 20, 2025, Lionsgate shared an official teaser trailer for the film to celebrate one year until its release.
It gave viewers a glimpse of the arena for the 50th Hunger Games, showing Zada as Haymitch standing on a podium alongside his fellow tributes in a picturesque, hilly countryside.
Importantly, the teaser showed Lenore Dove giving Haymitch a striker with a bird on one end and a snake on the other. The striker plays an important role in the book, was illustrated on the book's cover, and was unveiled as the official logo for the film in a teaser clip released in April 2025, making its appearance exciting for fans of the text.
Both the teaser trailer and teaser clip ended with Harrelson's voice saying, "I think these games are gonna be different."
On April 13, 2026, Lionsgate released the first full-length trailer for the film. It offered a more comprehensive look at the film's plot, focusing on Haymitch's reaping and his time at the Capitol before the Hunger Games actually begin.
Clips of some of the book's biggest moments appeared in the trailer, including a chariot crash during the parade of tributes, Haymitch's live TV interview before he enters the arena, and a private conversation between Haymitch and President Snow.
The trailer is also stacked with appearances from the star-studded cast. It features Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, the role Stanley Tucci played in the original trilogy, and Maya Hawke as a younger, less traumatized version of Wiress, an ally to Katniss in the 75th Quarter Quell and a mentor to Haymitch in the 50th.
Hawke as Wiress offers one of the most chilling lines in the trailer: "The arena, it's a killing machine. But all machines can be broken."
Lionsgate also released a video introducing Haymitch to viewers on July 4, which is both Reaping Day in the "Hunger Games" universe and Haymitch's birthday. It includes clips from the movie, as well as commentary from Lawrence, Jacobson, and Zada on Haymitch as a character.
Finally, the studio shared a second full-length trailer for the movie on September 16, a little over two months before the film's premiere. "Witness the beginning of a revolution," the official "The Hunger Games" Instagram account captioned the trailer.
The trailer gives a closer look at Haymitch's experience in the Capitol and the arena after he is reaped for the Games, showing glimpses of his disastrous tribute parade and his work to dismantle the arena from the inside as he competes.
It also tees up his conflict with President Snow more directly than the other trailers. In one clip, Haymitch looks directly at Snow and claps in a silent stadium, the lone voice of dissent as Capitol loyalists look on in horror at this small act of rebellion (and, in Plutarch Heavensbee's case, in awe).
Alongside the trailer, Lionsgate also released two posters for the film, coining the slogan, "Challenge authority. Capitalize power."
Courtesy of Lionsgate
The tributes from District 12 pose under "challenge authority," while people from the Capitol, like Snow and Heavensbee, are on the "capitalize" poster.
Since the book the movie is based on was released, fans have wondered if the film will include the epilogue from "Sunrise on the Reaping."
The epilogue takes place in District 12 after the events of "Mockingjay," with Haymitch telling Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark about his childhood and time in the arena.
In December 2025, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson would be reprising their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in "Sunrise on the Reaping," though the outlet didn't say whether Harrelson would return alongside them or how they would appear in the film.
On October 28, Lawrence confirmed she will appear in the film, alongside Hutcherson and Harrelson, to the delight of fans.
Murray Close/Getty Images
On the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, host Alex Cooper asked Lawrence what it was like to step into Katniss' shoes again, and Lawrence replied that it was "unbelievable."
"It was so crazy because it was the same crew," she said. "It was the same camera guys, the same AD, who I've worked with a million times too because I love him, and Josh and Woody."
"It was so emotional. Josh and I, like, didn't walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other," she added. "And Woody obviously came through the window of my hotel room uninvited cause it would not be the same. It wouldn't be the same if he listened to boundaries and used a door."
Lawrence didn't reveal any details about her appearance in the film, but "Hunger Games" adaptations have historically been fairly loyal to Collins' book, making it safe to assume the trio will be depicted in some form of the epilogue.
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It's "ACOTAR" time, people.
On Tuesday, Sarah J. Maas released "A Court of Splintered Harmony," the sixth book in the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series. The book is the first volume in a larger story arc within the world of "ACOTAR," which Maas has titled "The Valkyrie Cycle."
Maas took readers back to Prythian in the novel, picking up after the events of "A Court of Silver Flames" and "House of Flame and Shadow," the third book in her "Crescent City" series. High Lord Rhysand, High Lady Feyre, and their Inner Circle are working to protect humans and keep Koschei, a death god, from escaping the enchanted lake where he's trapped. There's plenty of turmoil for the Inner Circle at home, too, though, from power struggles to love triangles.
Luckily, parts two and three of "The Valkyrie Cycle" come out in January 2027 in one volume called "A Court of Forgotten Melody," so fans won't have to wait too long to see what happens next in "ACOTAR."
In the meantime, "ACOSH" was packed with plot twists and shocking reveals, so read on for a look at the most important details you may have missed.
Spoilers for Maas' works ahead.
Bloomsbury
Koschei was positioned as the looming villain in Maas' latest novel, though the character has yet to physically appear on page. (He made a brief appearance in a shadowy form in "A Court of Silver Flames.")
In "ACOSH," Vassa, a human queen trapped by Koschei, tells Feyre and Rhysand that he projects his voice to others rather than allowing anyone to get close to him, with the notable exception of Feyre's father, according to Lucien.
Vassa also shared that all the women Koschei keeps as prisoners are distant descendants of the fae warrior who initially trapped him at the lake.
It's not the first time Maas has alluded to the mysterious female fae who trapped Koschei and his sister Stryga. The Bone Carver, their brother, spoke of her to Feyre and Cassian, Rhysand's general, in "A Court of Wings and Ruin," saying, "Clever, that fae warrior. Her bloodline is long gone now — though a trace still runs through some human line." He also said she could have been his "salvation," though he doesn't explain how.
The Bone Carver said her name had been forgotten to history, but perhaps Koschei will reveal her identity in future Maas works.
The Bone Carver also said he and his siblings came from another world, much like the Asteri (known as the Daglan in Prythian). It's possible they originate from the world on which Maas' "Throne of Glass" series takes place, considering Maas has been tying her three fantasy worlds together in her recent works.
"ACOSH" offers readers a more in-depth look at Azriel's shadows. Through his narration, Maas reveals that the shadows are sentient, exploring the world for Azriel and telling him everything from the weather to how people are feeling.
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They also display feelings toward different characters throughout the novel, investigating intruders in the Night Court or avoiding others, such as the shadow creature Erebos.
They seem either unable or unwilling to come anywhere near Elain Archeron. They won't enter any room she is in, whether that be a dining room or a temple.
Azriel thinks his shadows' disappearance is "a gift," but their absence puts him in danger twice in "ACOSH."
First, he does not sense the creature Bryaxis approaching during baby Nyx's naming ceremony, thinking to himself that his shadows weren't there because "Elain had chased them away." Bryaxis was able to attack the Inner Circle in part because Azriel didn't feel her coming.
Hours later, Azriel's shadows do not warn him that Lucien, Elain's mate, is outside her bedroom, as they had "fled the moment he'd sought out Elain," again leading to trouble for the Shadowsinger. He and Lucien physically fight during the interaction, and Rhysand kicks Azriel out of the house. Morrigan, Rhysand's third and the object of Azriel's longing for years, also scolds him, and the interaction marks the last time he sees Elain in the novel, who ends up fleeing Prythian in the aftermath.
In contrast, his shadows are thrilled to see someone else a few pages later: Gwyn. Azriel ventures to the House of Wind to retrieve some of his belongings after the incident, and when he hears singing, his shadows "surged past his feet, a black tide racing ahead," sprinting to Gwyn. The shadows then gather at Gwyn's feet, watching her until Azriel summons them back.
Perhaps Maas will explore what Azriel's shadows know about each female in future works.
As she is in "A Court of Silver Flames," Nesta Archeron is central to the plot of "ACOSH," quarreling with the Inner Circle and ultimately saving them when Bryaxis comes back to town.
Bloomsbury
She is also drawn to the prison throughout the novel, which she explored extensively with Bryce Quinlan in "House of Flame and Shadow." During their journey there, they discovered that the prison had once been an eighth court that could have served as the Dusk Court.
Maas leans into dusk imagery each time Nesta visits. During one trip to the prison, she looks "to the purpling eastern sky. To the first star of evening. To the darkness, the night growing beyond it."
She also sees that the prison is along "that northern horizon, stained with a dazzling blend of encroaching night and lingering day."
It also appears that Nesta and Rhysand may share a connection to the prison. When Nesta tries to winnow to the island, she almost drowns and sees something "glimmering" on the floor below, believing it is calling, "Find me," to her. Rhysand saves her, telling Nesta he heard her mentally scream, "Find me," to him.
It's possible Nesta was confused and shouting out mentally for aid, but it's also possible Nesta and Rhysand were being beckoned by the same Made object. Rhysand controls the prison through his bloodline, so it's plausible that a Made object associated with it is calling to them both.
In addition to the dusk imagery she associates with her, Maas also ties Nesta to the word "splintered," which appears in the novel's title. Nesta asks her house for guidance on her relationship with Cassian, and the house offers her a pile of splinters from a punching block she broke during her training. For Nesta, the demonstration is meaningful.
"The House couldn't have chosen a better symbol of where she and Cassian stood," she thinks to herself. "The training, the determination, the love that had grown between them — all shattering not due to some outside force, but because of her."
The splinters lead her to open up to Cassian about her feelings, but they also may indicate that "Splintered Harmony" in the title has a lot to do with Nesta and Cassian.
Nesta isn't the only character Maas associates with specific imagery throughout the book.
Maas repeatedly associates Elain with spring. Azriel describes Elain as "a whisper of spring" and "as lovely as a spring dawn." Lucien says she has a "floral scent," and she is seen tending flowers and decorating Nyx's naming ceremony with them in the book.
Maas also introduces the concept of Feyre and her son, Nyx, as a flash of silver in the night court.
Clotho made "a braided, silvery piece of fabric" for Feyre and Rhysand to use during Nyx's naming ceremony, telling Nesta it was one of a kind as she gave it to her to pass on to the High Lord and Lady. Later, when Lucien is dining at their home, he notices a tapestry Feyre has hung on the wall, saying his magical eye can see the silver thread moving in it.
During his chapter, Lucien also says his magic eye has shown him a silver aura around Feyre since the moment he met her, describing it as a "silvery brightness" that intensified as Feyre found love and joy at the Night Court.
During both passages in which Gwyn appears in the novel, she is singing, which seems significant given the musically themed titles of books six and seven in the "ACOTAR" series.
Bloomsbury
Maas gives indications that Gwyn's music may have magical properties.
Nesta notices that Gwyn's singing voice is more powerful than the voices of her fellow choir singers, saying, "Gwyn could have carried the entirety of the song herself, that mezzo-soprano voice so rich and resonant that it seemed to effortlessly burst from her."
Likewise, Azriel describes Gwyn's voice as "otherworldly" and "strange and yet familiar," adding that "starlight spilled down the steps, almost in answer to the song" as she sang.
Maas also seems to liken Gwyn to light, particularly when she's singing.
When Nesta watches Gwyn sing, she notes that she "shone" and seemed to "radiate light," thinking to herself that "the candlelight seemed to bend toward" her friend. Similarly, when Azriel sees Gwyn at the House of Wind, he describes her hair as "shining in the starlight," remarks on her "bright gaze," and notes that her eyes were lit by the stars above.
Throughout "ACOSH," Azriel describes himself as a monster because of his shadow-wielding abilities and talent at extracting information from enemies. He says he was often called a monster or a demon in his youth, and he came to think of himself that way.
"He was a monster — merely a creature," Azriel thinks of himself in the text. "Best left skulking in shadows. Most suited to collecting information through subterfuge or pain."
Other characters in "ACOTAR" have said people think of them as monsters, like Rhysand, but the only other character in "ACOSH" who seems to genuinely think of herself as monstrous is Gwyn.
In a chapter told from her perspective, Gwyn reveals that she has been avoiding training with the Valkyrie and the world outside the temple because she relished killing enemies during the Blood Rite. Her chapter ends with her thinking she hears Bryaxis laughing at her, "like it knew it wasn't the only monster down here."
Maas also highlights parallels between Azriel's and Gwyn's powers in "ACOSH."
Azriel talks about his Siphons, which help control his magic, repeatedly in the book. He notes that they are all "a cobalt bordering on turquoise," for a reason he has never known.
Later, Gwyn throws her Invoking Stone at Azriel when he startles her, which he says "glittered with turquoise fire." Gwyn's eyes are a similar shade, described as teal throughout Maas' works.
In addition to the similar coloring of the Siphons and the Invoking Stone, Azriel notes that the Stone has a similar magical feel, thinking he "never realized how much presence it seemed to have, like his Siphons, but wholly different," he said.
Azriel quickly returns the Stone to Gwyn after their brief interaction, but Maas may explore the similarities between the two down the line.
At the end of "ACOSH," Elain begs Mor to take her with her to Vallahan, and Mor agrees, seeing that Elain needs space from Azriel, Lucien, and the Inner Circle to figure out what she wants.
It's not the first time Mor has helped an Archeron sister get some distance from a male causing her problems.
In "A Court of Mist and Fury," Mor whisks Feyre away from males twice. First, she rescues Feyre from the Spring Court after Tamlin traps her in his house. Later, Mor winnows Feyre to the cabin after she discovers that Rhysand had been keeping the fact that they were mates a secret.
Bloomsbury
She does the same for Nesta in "A Court of Silver Flames," winnowing Nesta to Emerie's home when she needs a break from Cassian. She brings Gwyn to the house, too, so Nesta has the support she needs during her turmoil.
For Feyre and Nesta, that time away allowed them to figure out how they felt about the males in their lives, positive or negative. Hopefully, Elain gets the same clarity from her space.
There are plenty of ways to get your hands on Sarah J. Maas’s fantasy romance series for less
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Wednesday Books/Bramble
Patience is the name of the game for "Fourth Wing" fans these days.
"Fourth Wing" introduced readers to Violet Sorrengail, a student at Basgiath War College training to be a dragon rider as war looms outside the school. The 2023 novel was an instant bestseller for author Rebecca Yarros, who has since written two additional installments in the "Empyrean" series, as well as a novella (more on that in a minute).
After it was published in January 2025, "Onyx Storm," the third book in the series, became the fastest-selling adult novel published in the past 20 years, with over 2.7 million copies sold in one week.
The "Empyrean" series is set to have five books in total, and the fourth will hopefully resolve the cliffhangers Yarros left in "Onyx Storm." However, while Yarros has confirmed she started writing book four, she has yet to announce a publication date for the novel.
It will be a while before the next "Fourth Wing" book hits bookshelves, but luckily, fans can read similar novels, like those with fantasy settings or enemies-to-lovers romances.
Red Tower
Ahead of the release of the next "Fourth Wing" novel, Yarros published "Threshing Day" in September, a collection of stories set in the "Empyrean" universe.
Each chapter in the collection tells the story of a different character's experience on Threshing Day, when riders are selected by a dragon during their training at Basgiath in a process that is often dangerous for participants. Violet doesn't have a chapter in the book, as her Threshing Day is covered in "Fourth Wing," but the 13 chapters are all told by her fellow riders, including her partner, Xaden Riorson, and her siblings, Brennan and Mira.
The collections span multiple years, and the book is chock-full of lore about dragons and their riders, answering some questions readers had about the "Fourth Wing" universe. It's the perfect appetizer to hold readers over while they wait for the fourth "Empyrean" novel.
Bloomsbury
If you've read "Fourth Wing," you're probably already familiar with Sarah J. Maas' "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series about faeries.
The second book in Maas' series feels most similar in tone to the "Empyrean" series.
In "A Court of Mist and Fury," Feyre Archeron is adjusting to her newfound life as a faerie after she almost died under the mountain — as well as coming to terms with the deal she made with Rhysand, the High Lord of the Night Court, to spend a week with him every month. Despite it all, she got what she wanted: an immortal life with Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court.
However, Feyre's life in the Spring Court starts feeling more claustrophobic by the second, especially when Tamlin forbids her from leaving the house. To her shock, she finds refuge with Rhysand, where she uncovers truths about the Night Court, Rhys, and herself that will change everything she thought she knew.
Blue Box Press
"A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire" is the second book in Jennifer L. Armentrout's "Blood and Ash" series, and protagonist Poppy is reckoning with the realization that nothing in her world is what she thought it would be in the sequel to "From Blood and Ash."
Poppy was raised as the Maiden, believing it was her divine duty to sacrifice herself to the Ascended, the immortal beings that rule over her world. After falling in love with her new guard, Hawke, and running away with him, she realizes she's been betrayed by the Ascended — and Hawke.
Poppy doesn't know who to trust, but Hawke is determined to protect her — especially as Poppy develops powers that could change their world.
Penguin Random House
If you're a fan of the magical school setting in Yarros' series, you will love "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman (which was also turned into a Syfy series of the same name).
At the top of the trilogy, Quentin Coldwater feels apathetic about the future, though his aptitude for math could get him into any college he wants. Instead, he still longs for the simplicity of his favorite fantasy series, taking comfort in the magical world of Fillory whenever he can.
When he gets accepted into a secret magical college, Quentin feels like his dreams are coming true. Then, he accidentally taps into a darker side of his power and starts a chain of events that puts him and his classmates in danger — and opens the doors to Fillory.
Macmillan
"Divine Rivals" has the enemies-to-lovers fun and secrecy of Yarros' series, though Rebecca Ross sets her fantasy story against the backdrop of a newsroom instead of a war college.
Iris Winnow is desperate to get promoted to columnist at the Oath Gazette. Her mother has fallen into alcoholism since her brother left to fight in a war of the gods, and Iris feels like she is one missed paycheck away from falling into ruin.
She's competing for the promotion against Roman Kitt, her infuriatingly handsome coworker who makes her feel small every time she sees him. As Roman continues to succeed, her chances of success grow slimmer with each passing day.
Iris' only comfort is writing letters to her brother on her grandmother's old typewriter. She doesn't know where he is, so she slips the letters under her wardrobe, where they disappear. Iris is hopeful her letters are somehow reaching her brother — until a stranger writes back.
Ross' story evolves into a fantasy full of romance and longing, which continues in its sequel, "Ruthless Vows."
Bramble
You'll love the first book in Carissa Broadbent's "Crowns of Nyaxia" series, "The Serpent and the Wings of Night," if Violet's perseverance drew you to the "Empyrean" series as much as her romance with Xaden did.
Oraya has spent every moment of her life fighting to stay alive since her father, the Nightborn vampire king, adopted her after his forces killed her entire human family when she was a child.
Oraya is sick of being mortal in a world of vampires ready to kill her, so she decides to enter the Kejari, a tournament where the winner gets a wish granted to them by the goddess it's named for.
She plans to avoid the vampires competing against her at all costs, but when she is forced into an alliance with Rhain, a handsome vampire she knows nothing about, Oraya will have to trust someone besides her father for the first time in years.
The competition is deadly, especially as war looms beyond the arena, but Oraya's attraction to Rhain may be an even bigger danger.
HarperCollins
If you somehow missed the "Divergent" craze when Veronica Roth's books or the films based on them were released, it's the perfect series to binge while you wait for the fourth "Empyrean" book.
In the first installment of the series, readers are introduced to 16-year-old Beatrice Prior, a girl on the precipice of changing her life forever. Beatrice lives in a society divided into factions based on people's aptitudes, and it's her turn to take a test that will tell her which faction she belongs to.
Beatrice's results put her entire society's system at risk, and the only way she can survive is to keep her results a secret. She abandons her home faction of Abnegation to join Dauntless, hoping she can hide in the group that values bravery and strength above all else. But she's not the only one with secrets.
Hachette
Those drawn to the romantic tension of the "Empyrean" series might want to put "One Dark Window" by Rachel Gillig at the top of their to-be-read list.
The only thing keeping Elspeth Spindle safe in her home of Blunder, a land cursed with darkness, is the monster she calls Nightmare, a spirit trapped in her mind.
Elspeth's long-kept secret falls apart when she has a run-in with a highwayman, who turns out to be the king's nephew and captain of the guard working in secret to overthrow his uncle. Elspeth agrees to help the captain and his family in their quest to end the dark magic that rules their kingdom once and for all, even if it puts her own life at risk and forces her to face the Nightmare's power over her.
Elspeth and the captain are on a time crunch to accomplish their mission, particularly as the Nightmare threatens to take her mind over for good. Still, they can't ignore the attraction between them, no matter the dangers coming their way.
Penguin Random House
If the dragons in Yarros' fictional world were the most exciting part of "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" for you, you may want to give Naomi Novik's "His Majesty's Dragon" a try.
The novel is set in the 1800s during the Napoleonic Wars. Will Laurence is a normal captain in the British forces until he captures a dragon egg. When it hatches, he bonds with Temeraire and becomes a rider, fighting in the skies.
Laurence will have to learn how to fly and fight in the middle of the war — or risk his and Temeraire's lives.
Penguin Random House
"The Inheritance Cycle" series by Christopher Paolini may fall into the young-adult category, but the high-fantasy writing and the emotional coming-of-age journey the hero goes on throughout the series will make it just as exciting for adults as for younger readers.
In the series opener, Eragon is just a teenager living a simple life on a farm with his family until he stumbles upon a blue stone, which turns out to be the first dragon hatchling born in his country in a century.
Eragon immediately becomes a Dragon Rider when his dragon, Seraphina, hatches. The only living rider is supposed to be king, setting Eragon on a path of magic and danger.
Like Yarros' series, "The Inheritance Cycle" is an epic journey of dragons and their riders, full of magic, romance, and adventure.
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Amanda Bouchet's "The Kingmaker Chronicles" is a three-part series full of magic, gods, and romance that will appeal to Yarros fans drawn to Violet's powerful signet and Xaden's dedication to her.
In the first installment, "A Promise of Fire," Cat Fisa has been on the run for years. She was born with the ability to tell when people are lying, a once-in-a-generation power that makes her the "Kingmaker." Cat wants nothing to do with her power — or her family in the North that would use her for it — so she stays hidden, pretending to be a soothsayer in a traveling circus in the South.
When Griffin, the general of a newly established human kingdom, sees her, he knows what Cat is immediately and takes her in the hopes of protecting his family's throne. Cat won't go down without a fight, though, and Griffin's hostage becomes even harder to control when powerful family members come looking for her.
As they make their way toward his family's castle, Griffin will have to convince Cat his family is worth working with — a task that becomes even more difficult when he realizes he doesn't want Cat to just work with him; he wants her to be his wife.
Bloomsbury
If you liked the modern flair in the "Empyrean" series, you'll love Sarah J. Maas' steamy "Crescent City" series.
In "House of Earth and Blood," half-fae Bryce Quinlan thrives after graduating from Crescent City University, living with her best friend, the werewolf and alpha of the Pack of Devils, Danika Fendyr.
Bryce has everything she wants — until she comes home to find Danika and the Pack of Devils murdered by a demon. She thinks the culprit was arrested, but a year later, similar murders start up again in the city.
Because she's the only one who saw the demon that killed her friends, Bryce teams up with Hunt Athalar, a Fallen angel enslaved to work for the Archangels who run Crescent City, to solve the mystery. As the investigation progresses and Bryce and Hunt's attraction to each other grows, the unlikely pair will discover secrets about Crescent City that could upend their world as they know it.
To date, Maas has published three books in the series, including "House of Flame and Shadow" in January 2024.
SourceBooks
As Violet was raised to hate Xaden Riorson, Persephone Dimitriou's fear of Hades was instilled in her from childhood in "Neon Gods" by Katee Robert.
Trusting Hades feels like Persephone's only option after her mother promises her hand in marriage to Zeus, the leader of the 13 houses in Olympus, whose wives mysteriously end up dead.
Persephone decides to run away from the city rather than marry Zeus, seeking refuge with Hades, a man she wasn't even certain existed until she found herself on his doorstep. Luckily, Hades wants revenge on Zeus, too, and they agree that making him jealous is the best way to do it.
Hades and Persephone decide to put on a show, but neither expects the real, palpable attraction that develops between them.
A.K. Caggiano
A.K. Caggiano's "Villains & Virtues" trilogy has all the magic and enemies-to-lovers fun of the world of "Fourth Wing" with a heap of slow-burn tension and a lighter tone than Yarros' work.
In "Throne in the Dark," Damien Maleficus Bloodthorne is determined to free his demon father from his magical imprisonment and take over the world by his side. There's just one problem: a beautiful, sickeningly sweet human named Amma, who accidentally becomes one with the magical weapon he needs to bring down the mortal powers that be.
Damien has no choice but to travel the realm with Amma to find a way to separate her from the weapon. He could kill her, but Amma proves to be surprisingly helpful — and to his horror, she isn't the worst travel companion he could imagine.
Amma has secrets of her own, though, and she and Damien must work together to get through their respective missions unscathed. And worst of all, as he spends more time with Amma, Damien starts to wonder if what he truly wants is the human by his side.
Penguin Random House
Ali Hazelwood is best known for her New York Times bestselling, STEM-centered romance books. Still, her first paranormal novel, "Bride," can help "Empyrean" fans with their book hangover after they finish "Onyx Storm."
In "Bride," vampire Misery Lark is about to marry Lowe Moreland, the Alpha of the Weres, as part of a historic peace deal. Most vampires would be afraid of agreeing to bind themselves to their natural enemies, but after spending most of her childhood as an emissary among the humans, Misery is ready to take on the risk — especially since she needs the Weres' resources to try to track down Serena, her human foster sister who went missing without a trace.
Misery plans to avoid Lowe as much as possible, but from the moment they meet at their wedding, Misery seems to perplex and infuriate Lowe for reasons she can't understand (aside from their species' century-long feud). Soon, he's keeping a closer eye on her than she would like, but she might not mind his presence as much as she thought.
Berkley
If reading Yarros' work makes you yearn for a little magic in your day-to-day life, you might like the magical realism in Ashley Poston's "The Dead Romantics."
Florence Day's first meeting with her new editor is a disaster. After a breakup leaves her with a serious bout of writer's block, Florence desperately needs an extension on the novel she's ghostwriting. Ben, who is inconveniently handsome and charming, refuses, leaving Florence more frustrated than ever.
Then, her father dies unexpectedly, and Florence must return to her Southern hometown and her family's funeral parlor and face the actual ghosts she has always been able to see, an ability that left her alienated for much of her childhood.
Once she makes it home, it's not surprising that a ghost shows up seeking her help, but it is a shock when the specter turns out to be Ben. He needs Florence's help handling his unfinished business: her.
Penguin Random House
The first installment in the "Saga of the Unfated" duology, "A Fate Inked in Blood," offers an enemies-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of Norse mythology.
Freya spent her childhood dreaming of becoming a warrior, but at 20, she is married to a man she hates, trapped in her fishing village, and guarding her most closely kept secret: She is a shield maiden, possessing magic that can protect her and others from attacks.
Freya's years of secret-keeping come to an end when her husband betrays her to the local jarl. After she uses her magic to survive a fight against his son Bjorn, the jarl sees Freya as what her father always feared she could become: a weapon. The jarl magically binds Freya to him, enlisting Bjorn to keep her safe.
Freya must prove herself as a magic-wielder and warrior to stay alive, but her pull toward Bjorn may put her at greater risk than her magic ever could.
Wednesday Books
By day, Rune Winters is a vapid socialite. By night, she's the Crimson Moth, a witch trying to single-handedly save those like her that her government is determined to wipe out.
When her vigilante efforts put her at risk, Rune needs a cover story, and none could be better than Gideon Sharpe, a witch hunter known for his dedication to the cause. If he falls for her, Gideon could offer the perfect protection, but Rune has no idea Gideon is onto her, happy to get close to Rune to find the witch he believes she is associating with.
Rune and Gideon are lying to each other at every turn, but the feelings they develop along the way might be the one truth they can't deny. Book one in Kristen Ciccarelli's "The Crimson Moth" series, "Heartless Hunter," is packed with dizzying magic, political rebellion, and decadent enemies-to-lovers tension.
Grand Central Publishing
If you loved the adventurous elements of the "Empyrean" series as much as the romance, Callie Hart's "Quicksilver" will be right up your alley.
Saeris Fane is trying to keep her brother alive in their desert world, where water is nearly impossible to come by. She'll starve herself, steal from the Undying Queen, and use her illegal alchemical powers to do it, even if it puts her own life at risk.
When she's finally caught for her thievery, Saeris is saved when she accidentally opens a portal, and a beautiful and intimidating fae named Kingfisher takes her to his homeland, where ice and magic abound. However, she'll find the fae are just as dangerous as the Queen, and after she makes a binding agreement to Kingfisher, she'll have to live among them until she can use her alchemy to fulfill her half of the deal.
Saeris wants to get their bargain over with, desperate to get home to check on her brother. Yet it might be the magnetic pull she feels toward Kingfisher that derails her.
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