A freshly dog-eared review
Audibles Like Fourth Wing: Dragon Rider Audiobooks That Make Your Commute Dangerous (Because You Can’t Stop Listening)
I listened to Fourth Wing on a road trip and had to pull over at a gas station in Indiana because I was too tense to safely operate a vehicle.
That’s not an exaggeration. Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton narrating, the first major twist dropping, and I’m white-knuckling my steering wheel in the parking lot of a Shell station, staring at nothing, waiting for my heart rate to return to normal before I can drive again.
This is what good audiobook narration does to romantasy. It’s not just reading — it’s experiencing. The voices, the pacing, the way a skilled narrator makes you FEEL the tension between Violet and Xaden… it transforms already-good books into something more immersive.
So if you’ve finished all the Fourth Wing audiobooks and need more — here’s what delivers that same audio experience.
Why Fourth Wing Works In Audio
Before I throw recommendations at you, let me identify what makes Fourth Wing specifically excellent as an audiobook:
1. The dual narration. Rebecca Soler for Violet. Teddy Hamilton for Xaden. Two voices, two perspectives, and the contrast makes both characters land harder.
2. Soler’s vulnerability. Violet’s physical fragility, her intelligence, her determination — Soler captures all of it. You FEEL how much danger she’s in.
3. Hamilton’s Xaden. The growly protectiveness. The moments of genuine emotion breaking through. Hamilton does the “dangerous man who’s devoted to one person” voice better than almost anyone.
4. The tension translates. The scenes where Violet and Xaden are circling each other, the unresolved sexual tension, the danger — it’s even more intense when you’re hearing it performed.
5. The length. 20+ hours per book means you get to LIVE in this world. That’s two weeks of commutes. You’re not just reading — you’re inhabiting.
If an audiobook delivers on these elements, it belongs on this list.
The Closest Matches
IRON FLAME / ONYX STORM by Rebecca Yarros (same narrators)
Obviously. If you’ve only listened to Fourth Wing, the sequels are narrated by the same team and maintain the quality. Same energy, same immersion, same “I need to pull over” moments.
A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas (narrated by Jennifer Ikeda)
The other pillar of romantasy, and excellent in audio. Ikeda narrates all five books consistently, which means you’re building a relationship with her voice across the entire series. The emotional moments in books two and three — when you know what Rhysand actually is — hit even harder in audio.
The narration is single-voice (not dual), so you don’t get the Xaden-voice equivalent, but Ikeda’s performance across 60+ hours of series content is impressive.
Irish mythology romantasy with enemies-to-lovers across divided factions. The heroine discovers her connection to selkie magic, and the man training her is the enemy she was raised to hate.
Why this works in audio: the Irish setting BEGS for audio treatment. The atmospheric descriptions, the ocean imagery, the mythology — it’s the kind of book where a good narrator can make you feel the salt spray. The slow-burn romance builds the same kind of tension as Fourth Wing, and the trilogy format means you get to stay in the world.
Fresh mythology (selkies, not standard fae), completed series, and the same “she gains power while falling for someone dangerous” arc.
THE CRUEL PRINCE by Holly Black (narrated by Caitlin Kelly)
Enemies-to-lovers executed with surgical precision. Jude and Cardan hate each other — really hate each other — and the transformation of that hatred across three books is devastating in audio.
Caitlin Kelly’s narration captures Jude’s determination and Cardan’s cruelty-masking-vulnerability. The court politics, the twists, the eventual romantic payoff — all of it lands harder when you’re hearing it performed.
KINGDOM OF THE WICKED by Kerri Maniscalco (narrated by Marisa Calin)
Italian witches, demon princes, and the kind of sensory detail that translates beautifully to audio. Maniscalco writes about food, heat, texture — and hearing those descriptions performed adds another layer of immersion.
The enemies-to-lovers between Emilia and Wrath builds across the trilogy, and Calin’s narration captures both Emilia’s grief-driven determination and the growing tension with a literal Prince of Hell.
For Readers Who Want Dual Narration Specifically
If what you specifically loved was the dual POV with different narrators:
FROM BLOOD AND ASH by Jennifer L. Armentrout (narrated by Stina Nielsen and Andrew Eiden)
Dual narration for Poppy and Hawke’s perspectives. The series is spicier than Fourth Wing, and the audiobook performances capture the building tension well.
The twist at the end of book one is genuinely surprising, and hearing it in audio — when you can’t flip back to check what you missed — makes it land even harder.
DIVINE RIVALS by Rebecca Ross (narrated by Alex Jennings and Rebecca Norfolk)
Epistolary romantasy with dual narration for the letters between two rival journalists. The format is unique, the romance is slow and aching, and the audio performances capture the growing connection beautifully.
Dragon Audiobooks Specifically
If you specifically want dragons:
ON WINGS OF BLOOD by Briar Boleyn
A half-fae dragon rider bound to a vampire prince at an academy called Bloodwing. Darker than Fourth Wing, with more supernatural variety. The audiobook is newer but scratches the specific “dragon rider academy” itch.
A FIRE IN THE SKY by Sophie Jordan
Dragon romance that’s more primal and mythological than academic. The bond between rider and dragon is visceral. Different energy than Fourth Wing but satisfies the “I need more dragons” craving.
FIREBORNE by Rosaria Munda
Literary romantasy with dragon riders and actual political philosophy. Slower than Fourth Wing, more cerebral, but the audiobook is well-performed and rewards attention.
Narrator-First Recommendations
Sometimes you trust a narrator more than a premise. These narrators consistently deliver quality romantasy audio:
TEDDY HAMILTON (Fourth Wing’s Xaden) — Also narrates other romantasy and romance. If you like his voice, follow him.
REBECCA SOLER (Fourth Wing’s Violet) — Same. Her other projects maintain the quality.
JENNIFER IKEDA (ACOTAR) — Consistent across massive series. Trustworthy.
CAITLIN KELLY (The Cruel Prince) — Captures court intrigue and slow-burn romance.
JULIA WHELAN — Not specifically romantasy-focused, but one of the most awarded audiobook narrators working. If she’s narrating something in your genre, it’s worth checking.
The Audiobook Difference
Some books are better in audio than in print. Romantasy often falls into this category because:
1. The length is a feature, not a bug. 20+ hours means immersion. You live in the world.
2. Tension builds differently. You can’t skim. You have to experience every scene in real time.
3. Dual narration adds dimension. Hearing the hero’s voice — literally — makes his character land differently.
4. The commute becomes the experience. Instead of “finding time to read,” you’re reading while doing other things. More reading, more immersion.
Fourth Wing is designed for this experience. So are the books on this list.
Where To Start
If you want most similar: ACOTAR audiobooks (Jennifer Ikeda, 60+ hours of content).
If you want fresh mythology: Shearwater (Irish selkie magic, completed trilogy).
If you want dual narration: From Blood and Ash (Poppy and Hawke voices).
If you want enemies-to-lovers perfection: The Cruel Prince (Caitlin Kelly narration).
If you want demon princes: Kingdom of the Wicked (sensory detail that works beautifully in audio).
Pick one. Clear your commute schedule. You’re about to be very invested.