20 Fantasy Books Like The Serpent and the Wings of Night

There’s nothing worse than finishing your day by watching the news, reading a self-help book, or checking finances. All of these things stimulate your brain in all the wrong ways and can lead to anxious thoughts and depressive feelings, which are going to prevent you from sleeping, regardless of how tired you are.

Books Like The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Instead, why not take yourself to another world, explore concepts unknown to humans, and dive into relationships, friendships, and love stories that could never exist here on Earth? 

Fantasy books can transport you to different realms, and introduce you to new creatures, magic, and supernatural characters. Even though some of these stories are fast-paced and have an adventurous spirit, they are the perfect way to unwind and help you forget about the pressures of real life. 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is one of these books and is a brilliant fantasy story if you haven’t already read it. Carissa Broadbent has created a series of immersive stories that tell of vampires and their strange, terrifying world.

The protagonist of this story, Oraya, is a human, who was adopted by the Vampire King and grew up in fear of everyone and everything around her. She is the bait, surrounded by prey, and there is only one way to escape this feeling of inferiority – by proving herself in a deadly tournament hosted by the goddess of death, sounds appealing, right?

When Oraya’s path crosses with Raihn’s everything changes. He is a dangerous vampire and an enemy of her father. As she discovers more about her past and her family, she is conflicted, vulnerable, and not sure who to trust.

As she and Raihn grow closer, Oraya realizes that for once, her fate is in her own hands. But will she make the right choice? She has always been told that guarding her heart is the key to survival, so will she let her guard down?

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is a fantasy romance, jam-packed with heaps of adventure, danger, and risk. Broadbent beautifully constructs a balance between Oraya’s feelings of fear and affection. 

If you’re looking for a fast-paced page-turner that also incorporates the compelling internal narrative of a woman conflicted by emotion, this is a great choice. 

Fantasy romance has been a popular genre for decades and encompasses so many great novels, so let’s take a look at 20 fantasy romances that are similar to The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Stars and Shadows series by Holly Renee

A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows

This is a story of love, responsibility, betrayal, and temptation. Holly Renee is well-known for being an excellent writer, constructing fantastical romance in such an intricate but rugged way. 

Stars and Shadows is a 3-book series that follows a woman, conflicted by destiny and torn between lovers. It devises a web of deceit, one that leaves characters in dark about their own relationships and complicates the barrier between good and evil.

Fae Isles series by Lisette Marshall

Court of Blood and Bindings: A Steamy Fae Fantasy Romance (Fae Isles)

This 3-book series follows Emelin, a 20-year-old fae, trying to avoid the grasp of the empire’s most successful fae murderer. But when she inevitably gets caught, the experience that was supposed to be driven by fear and end in death turns out to be something a lot more complex. 

Emelin is spared and instead, used as a tool by the Mother, her only familiarity becomes her captor, and a relationship grounded in fear, desperation, and lust grows into something a whole lot bigger. 

Fae Isles is highly rated and incorporates strong characters, complex relationships, and dangerous adventures. 

Court of Ravens and Ruin by Eliza Rain

Court of Ravens and Ruin: A Brides of Mist and Fae Novel (The Shadow Bound Queen)

Court of Ravens and Ruins follows Reyna, an enslaved woman who lives under the oppressive system of the Gold Court, run by fae and driven by fear. 

Her life is dreary, with little hope, but when she is kidnapped by the Prince of the most powerful and feared fae in the land, she wants nothing more than to get her old life back. 

Knowing that she has been chosen to become his wife, she must find a way to escape before she is tied to a life of monstrous oppression. But the only escape route involves secrecy, deceit, and potential death, it’s far more complicated than simply running away.

Rise of the Dawnbringer by I.A. Takerian

Rise of the Dawnbringer (The Bornbane Series)

Princess Mara is the only heir to her uncle’s throne. She has been raised to understand the politics and people of her future kingdom, Delinval, and its surrounding realms. She is resentful, dreading the responsibility of control and leadership. But one thing scares her even more – her inevitable marriage to a man of the King’s choice. 

Mara is in despair on the eve of her 21st birthday, but little does she know, things are about to get even worse. She is kidnapped by a group of immortals called Dreads, known for their dark magic and twisted intentions. She is drawn into an ancient ritual, the only one capable of saving her kingdom, and as past secrets emerge, Mara finds herself surrounded, with no escape route to be seen. 

Rise of the Dawnbringer is rightfully a favorite among many romantic fantasy fans. It is a complex and compelling story that will keep you quickly turning pages until the last word.

The Immortal Orders by Alison Carr Waechter

Dark Night Golden Dawn (The Immortal Orders)

The Immortal Orders is a 2-book series that delves into the complicated world of sorcery. It is filled to the brim with love-related issues, complex relationships, and a strong fantastical undercurrent that blends modern magical plot lines with ancient mythological stories.

This series intertwines interesting characters, the power of magic, and the distinct distance between humans and immortals.

Of Mist and Shadow by Jenna Wolfhart

Of Mist and Shadow (The Mist King)

This is the first in a 3-book series that is again set in the fae world. Tessa is caught stealing powerful gemstones and as punishment, must marry the awful fae king, known for his violence and lack of empathy.

Of Mist and Shadow follows Tessa as she attempts to escape and gets herself wrapped up in a complicated net of control. She becomes the victim of oppression and captivity not only by the fae king but also by the Mist king. So when she finds out a way to kill only one, which will it be?

A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire)

This is the first of a 3-book, highly recommended series by New York best-selling author Jennifer Armentrout, arguably one of the best authors in this genre.

A Shadow in the Ember is set in a world made up of Primals and Maidens. Seraphina, in the wake of an ancestral deal, is forced to become Consort to the Primal of Death. But Sera is much more than a feeble Maiden, she is an assassin with an intricate plan to kill her master. 

The King’s Captive by K.M. Shea

The King's Captive: Magiford Supernatural City (Gate of Myth and Power Book 1)

This is a story set in a multifaceted world, where vampires, fae, werewolves, and elves live together, but of course not harmoniously.

The King’s Captive predominantly follows an outcast, a shapeshifter, a magician, whose life becomes entangled with Noctus, the elven King. 

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

A Dawn of Onyx

Arwen sacrificed her freedom to save her brother. Now, she lives as a prisoner in the most dangerous kingdom in the world and is forced to use her magic to heal the men that destroyed her past. 

A Dawn of Onyx follows the relationship between Arwen and her captor, a relationship grounded in power imbalance. Arwen must find a way to escape, but she’s too valuable and knows all eyes are watching her. 

The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick

The North Wind (Four Winds)

Wren of Edgewood has been fighting for survival her whole life, in isolation. For hundreds of years, the land she lives on, the Gray, has been covered by ice, a barrier called the Shade, that protects the people from external danger. But the Shade is weakening, and only one can prevent the land from descending into chaos. 

The North Wind is a fantastic book that delves into suffering, toxic relationships, power struggles, and survival. 

Broken Bonds by J. Bree

Broken Bonds (The Bonds that Tie)

This is the first of a 6-book series that is character-driven and dives headfirst into moral questions. Bonds has a brilliant concept that covers freedom and captivity and relationships founded on control and obedience.

Broken Bonds has a strong philosophical undercurrent that lurks underneath the action-packed and emotive storyline.

The Umbra King by Jamie Applegate Hunter 

The Umbra King (Vincula Realm)

Rory is determined to find the man who murdered her twin sister. So, she has spent years training herself into the ultimate warrior, fit to fight in any battle against any enemy. 

Rory arrives in Vincula filled with revenge and anticipation. She corners the Umbra King, who is trapped in his own realm, charged with crimes he didn’t commit. But as the two begin playing complex games with each other, hatred melts, and lust blooms. 

The Umbra King is the ultimate fantasy enemies-to-lovers story. Be aware that this novel is not suitable for those under the age of 18.

House of Beating Wings by Olivia Wildenstein

House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows)

House of Beating Wings is the first book in a trilogy that concentrates on a girl destined for royalty. She is a half-breed, hated by all faeries, except one. 

Dante Regio, the Prince of Luce, has maintained a strong connection with her since their first kiss. She has a plan to overthrow the monarch and take the throne for herself with her lover but what she doesn’t realize is that she’s about to embark on the most dangerous adventure she could’ve imagined. Her actions will have severe consequences. 

Of Flesh and Bone by Harper L. Woods

What Lies Beyond the Veil (Of Flesh & Bone Series)

This is one of the most well-read fantasy trilogies in the genre. It is set in a mysterious land, protected by a Veil from the dangerous Fae of Alfheimr. So, when the Veil shatters, all hell breaks loose. The land is taken over by faeries and people are marked, destined to be taken. 

The only choice is to flee but when fae-marked Caelum latches on, running away gets a lot harder. 

Of Flesh and Bone is a fast-paced novel exploring the dangers of love and the harsh realities of being on the run. 

Taken By Fate by Shannon Mayer

Taken by Fate (The Alpha Territories)

With a plan to sell herself to the werewolves, Sienna was hoping to integrate into their world and save her friend. But instead, she has been taken captive by a vampire contingent.

With a political war on the horizon, she is going to need all the determination she has to escape. But when Sienna meets the General of the Vampire Army, her intentions change. Will love cost her her freedom?

Taken By Fate is a less intense fantasy romance tailored more toward YA readers.

The Last Dragon King by Leia Stone

The Last Dragon King: Kings of Avalier

This is the first in the 4-book Kings of Availer series. The Last Dragon King starts with the Dragon King’s search for a wife. She must carry enough magic to carry an heir and the line of suitors is long. 

Romance is at the heart of this story but secrecy and dark magic will do everything they can to intervene. 

Frost by C.N. Crawford

Frost (Frost and Nectar)

Following one romantically turbulent Ava, Frost tells the story of a complex love triangle in the fae world, one that encapsulates temptation, betrayal, and lust. 

Ava was banished to the human world as a child and remembers nothing about the world she originated in. So when the Seelie King comes looking for a wife, she has no idea about the curse he carries. He will kill anyone he falls in love with but his realm relies on his marriage.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight (The Twilight Saga)

This is the first in a 5-book series that completely changed the romantic fantasy game. Meyer’s story and the film adaptation that accompanies it attracted a whole new generation to fantasy romance.

Aimed predominantly at YA readers, Twilight tells of the love story between human, Bella Swan, and vampire, Edward Cullen. As if that relationship wasn’t complex enough, add in a werewolf to complete the love triangle and watch the chaos unfold. 

Artefacts of Ouranos by Nisha J. Tuli

Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos)

This series is made up of 2 brilliant books, the first of which follows Lor, as she competes with nine others to be the Sun King’s wife. But Lor’s intentions are not romantic. She intends to get revenge as soon as she sits on the throne.

Artefacts of Ouranos has been a popular romantic fantasy since its release, perfect for fans of Sarah Maas and Jennifer Armentrout.

The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn

The Unmarked Witch

Raven keeps her magic concealed in a world where witches are marked and obvious. She lives in a land controlled by the Dark King, the man responsible for murdering her grandmother along with plenty of other witches.

She seeks to avenge her grandmother’s death but will emotion and fragility get in the way?

The Unmarked Witch is a gripping, dangerous novel that of course, toys with the strength of love.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a new fantasy romance to help you unwind from a stressful day, any of these 20 books will be a great option. They each have their own niches, following different themes, characters, and concepts but this list is varied, so hopefully, there’s something there for everyone to enjoy. 

FAQs

How many novels has Carissa Broadbent written?

Carissa Broadbent has written 7 books and continues writing today.

Is The Serpent and the Wings of Night part of a novel series?

Yes – it is the first in the Crowns of Nyaxia series.

Who is the best fantasy romance writer?

It all depends on personal preference, but Jennifer Armentrout has produced some of the top-rated fantasy novels ever written.

Is Serpent and the Wings of Night worth reading?

Yes – if you enjoy fantasy romance books and like books that center around vampires, you’ll love Serpent and the Wings of Night.

What is fantasy romance?

Fantasy romance is any book set in a fantasy setting, incorporating fantastical concepts or supernatural characters, that has a strong romantic plot, acting either as a subplot or the main plot line.

YouTube video
Colton Cowie