There are many romantasy books that have similarities to Fourth Wing, but it’s harder to find ones that feature human-creature bonds on par with The Empyrean Series‘ dragons and their riders. Fortunately, one 2025 release scratches that itch — and it’s the perfect mash-up between Fourth Wing and Game of Thrones. Surprisingly, it doesn’t center dragons, despite that being the biggest commonality between the two fantasy novels. However, it has great magical bonds between the characters and another creature.

The book also has many elements that make Fourth Wing great, including a kick-ᴀss heroine, a compelling romance, a fast-paced plot, and some spice. It leans more into romace than a high fantasy story like A Game of Thrones. But for readers who love the direwolves introduced in the Song of Ice and Fire books, Direbound by Sabel Sorensen is an ideal way to get your romantasy fix.

Direbound Is The Perfect Fourth Wing Replacement If You Love Game Of Thrones’ Direwolves

The Book’s Characters Are Connected To The Creatures, Just Like Dragons & Their Riders

Direbound is making the rounds online after its February 2025 release, and the romantasy book is being compared to Fourth Wing. This is because its story centers on a main character who undergoes a series of trials in order to become one of the King’s warriors. This entails bonding with a direwolf, with whom she’ll have a mental link. In that sense, the novel reads a lot like Fourth Wing, which sees its heroine undergoing similar challenges as she trains to become a dragon rider at Basgiath.

The riders in The Empyrean Series have similar connections to their dragons, which makes Direbound an obvious follow-up read. And its use of direwolves may be a draw for Game of Thrones fans, especially those who wanted to see more of the Starks’ direwolves in the books and HBO show. Now is the ideal time to pick up Sorensen’s 2025 novel as well. The story continues in just a few months, so readers still have a chance to catch up.

The Second Book In The Wolves Of Ruin Series Comes Out In July 2025

It Will Tide Readers Over In The Wait For Onyx Storm

Direbound is just the first book in Sorensen’s The Wolves of Ruin series, which is currently set to consist of three installments. The novel’s sequel, Furybound, hits shelves on July 30, 2025, which means readers won’t have to wait long to see where the story goes. Given that Direbound ends on a cliffhanger — another thing it has in common with Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing books — that will come as a relief to fans of the romantasy novel. Of course, binge-reading Direbound and Furybound will still leave them waiting for the finale, which does not yet have a release date.

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  Fourth Wing (2023)

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  Game of Thrones

  Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.