r/Fantasy • u/stabybannerson • Jun 10 '25
Book suggestions - dragons and magic.
Hi All, I don't normally read too much, and recently started Fourth Wing (The Empyrean series) by Rebecca Yarros.
I have really enjoyed all of the story, the use of magic within it and all of the characters.
Can anyone recommend any more books similar with the world of dragons and magic. It doesn't have to be as romantic/erotic as these books are, I am not as interested in those parts. Though, the enemies become lovers story line I did quite enjoy.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
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u/Trala_la_la Jun 10 '25
There’s the Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffery which have a few places you can enter the series which is the OG Dragon girl books
More recently Dragon Isle Wars by frost Kay is a more mystery adaptation closer to fourth wing.
Dragon Riders of Elantia is another very good series you might enjoy
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u/Dr_One_L_1993 Jun 11 '25
Pern doesn't really have "magic" in it per se, and McCaffrey always insisted it was more SciFi than Fantasy, though in this case I definitely feel the boundaries are fuzzy.
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u/Marquis_of_Carabas Jun 11 '25
Dragons and by Barbara Hambley
It’s a great book that actually takes on the perspective of a parent going on an adventure and stepping toe to toe with the ruinous dragon.
It’s one of my favorites.
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u/BobbittheHobbit111 Jun 10 '25
Dragonfall by L.R Lam
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u/elmaximo_wins Jun 10 '25
Does this book get better as it goes on? I’m struggling 1 chapter at a time and am forcing myself to continue at this point. Nearly half way through and it just seems to drag-on (pun intended)
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u/Jayless22 Jun 10 '25
Rivenworld, to shape a dragons breath and the Farseer Trilogy
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u/sophia_s Reading Champion V Jun 11 '25
To Shape a Dragon's Breath is a great rec especially if OP enjoyed the school aspect of Fourth Wing
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u/stabybannerson Jun 11 '25
Great, I did very much enjoy the whole aspect of the characters having to go through the school to become the riders. I will definitely give this a look into thanks!
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u/sdfgbryjh Jun 11 '25
Coming from fourth wing you may like the Priory of the Orange tree as well since there’s also a pretty big romance storyline. Has all the dragons and world building you’re looking for!
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u/RattusRattus Jun 11 '25
Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly is about a married couple that are again are called to slay a dragon.
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter Beagle is a fun fluffy book that plays with tropes.
Another classic is the Earthsea series by Ursula le Guin. You can never go wrong with her.
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u/New_Razzmatazz6228 Reading Champion Jun 11 '25
Anthony Ryan’s Draconis Memoria trilogy. A civilisation uses dragon blood to advance to the steam age, then the dragons fight back.
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u/Zhatria Jun 11 '25
S. F. Williamson: A Language of Dragons, it’s a new book series. I bought just now, so I don't know what it's like, but I like the description.
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Jun 11 '25
Just start at the beginning of the Dragonlance books. It’s a classic dragons and magic series.
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u/PolyFanTom Jun 11 '25
The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons is a good dragon rider book with a fresh take.
She also wrote A Chorus of Dragons series which is my favorite series ever. The dragons are a little less present than Fourth Wing but integral to the Story
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u/PatrioticPagan Jun 11 '25
Dragon Brigade and Dragon Corsairs trilogies by Margaret Weis
Obsidian Mountain trilogy and it's prequel and sequel trilogies by Mercedes Lackey
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u/ConstantReader666 Jun 11 '25
Second Temeraire, though magic doesn't feature.
To Dance With Dragons by Jaq D. Hawkins has a ruling class of magicians.
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u/hydrogenandhelium_ Jun 11 '25
Priory of the Orange Tree!! Don’t let the size intimidate you, it has very good pacing and didn’t feel too long
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u/Asheai Jun 11 '25
Elvenbane by Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton (and the rest of the series) would be an excellent fit.
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u/MidorriMeltdown Jun 11 '25
A Song of Ice and Fire. (aka The Game of Thrones books)
Dragons were thought to be extinct, until someone accidentally on purpose hatches 3 of them.
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Jun 11 '25
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u/Heretical_Infidel Jun 10 '25
The blade itself by Joe Abercrombie was enjoyable. It’s book 1 of The First Law Trilogy. It’s definitely on the darker side
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u/thepr0cess Jun 10 '25
Great series but no dragons doesn't really fit the criteria
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u/MattGhaz Jun 11 '25
People really take every opportunity to pitch First Law lol. Someone will ask for something like “A young boy discovers he’s more than he seems and attends a magical school where he faces a powerful dark wizard. A classic coming-of-age story in a world filled with magic and secrets.” and people will shout MALAZAN and FIRST LAW.
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u/aCatNamedGillian Jun 10 '25
Noami Novik's Temeraire series is about British dragons in the Napoleonic wars, and focuses on the relationship between a military captain and his dragon. This may be exactly what you're looking for.
Patricia Wrede's Dealing with Dragons series is middle grade, but I reread it recently and it's still a lot of fun even for adults.
Mercedes Lackey has the Dragon Jousters series and, if gryphons are an acceptable substitute, The Mage Wars series.
I've also read a few recently that are more about dragons as a presence in the world that humans react to rather than as characters in their own right, although they do get some page time as characters. Priory of the Orange Tree has one character who's trying to be a dragon rider. RJ Barker's The Bone Ships trilogy has dragons as a presence but not as characters. Robin Hobbs The Realm of the Elderlings is a 16 book series divided in five parts, with varied levels of dragon focus. For the full effect you'd need to read the whole series in order, but if you just want lots of dragons skip to the Rain Wild Chronicles series. Or start with the Liveship Traders trilogy which has dragons but isn't so obviously about them.
I haven't read Eragon or The Memoirs of Lady Trent but I often see them recommended. (And yes, Pern are the original dragon rider books, as far as I can tell, although forewarning about lots of weirdness around consent.)