Fourth Wing vs ACOTAR: Which Romantasy Series Should You Read First?
Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses are the two biggest romantasy series right now. Both deliver enemies-to-lovers romance, dangerous worlds, and powerful heroines, but they differ on every axis that matters: Fourth Wing is faster-paced with a military academy setting and explicit-but-infrequent spice, while ACOTAR builds slowly through political intrigue and emotional depth before the romance ignites in book two. Fourth Wing is three books into a five-book plan; ACOTAR has five books with more coming. If you want a complete arc and the slow burn that defined modern romantasy, start with ACOTAR. If you want dragons and immediate momentum, start with Fourth Wing.
Side by side
| The Empyrean (Fourth Wing) | ACOTAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Military dragon-rider academy | Fae courts and political intrigue |
| Romance | Enemies to lovers, builds fast | Slow burn that explodes in book 2 |
| Spice level | Explicit but not frequent | Moderate in book 1, explicit from book 2 |
| Series status | 3 of 5 books published | 5 books published, more planned |
| Tone | Military tension, survival stakes | Political intrigue, emotional depth |
| Pacing | Fast. Action-driven. | Slower build. Character-driven. |
| Best book | Fourth Wing (book 1) | A Court of Mist and Fury (book 2) |
| Author catalog | Yarros has 20+ romance novels | Maas has 3 major fantasy series |
Start with ACOTAR if you want a completed story arc (books 1-3 wrap up cleanly) and the slow burn that defined modern romantasy. Start with Fourth Wing if you want faster pacing, a military academy setting, and dragons. Most romantasy readers end up reading both.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
ACOTAR if you want the genre-defining series with a complete first arc. Fourth Wing if you want faster pacing and dragons. Both are essential romantasy.
ACOTAR from book 2 onward. Fourth Wing has explicit scenes but less frequently. From Blood and Ash and Zodiac Academy are spicier than both.
No. Completely separate series by different authors. They share a genre and an audience, nothing more.
Fourth Wing. It hooks most readers by chapter two with immediate action and a dragon-bonding premise. ACOTAR's first book is slower setup before the story transforms in book two.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, or The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen. All are essential romantasy.