Thanks all! I didn't realize this had been moved but eventually found it! I started A Court of Thorns and Roses off a reddit rec but will keep all these in mind for after!

Another Fourth Wing superfan here. I also enjoyed The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty First in a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman’s determined quest to seize a final chance at glory—and write her own legend.

I haven't read 4th Wing yet, but an author I really enjoy is T.A. White and a few of her series might interest you. First is The Firebird Chronicles and the second is The Broken Lands. Both are really exciting, with good plot and some romance too. For some pure escapism, I recommend The Horde Kings of Dakkar Series by Zoey Draven. So fun, so silly, but I could not put them down. Also, it's a paranormal series, not fantasy, but I found the Kate Daniels books (author Illona Andrews) to be good too.

There are GoodReads lists for “strong female lead” and fantasy. Just read female authors and I promise you’ll be pleased. Rebecca Ross books would be a nice start

Just one of the many lists:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1023.Best_Strong_Female_Fantasy_Novels

I’m reading Fourth Wing now. Have you read any SJM books? That’s usually the main focus of booktok and all of her books often get compared to every other fantasy romance/romantic book. My current list of books to get is:
The Witch Collector
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
The Priory of the Orange Tree

A lot of booktok reviewers like From Blood and Ash, but I didn’t love it and decided not to finish the series. The dialogue was annoying to me.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer--it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I think fits what you're looking for. She has another series called "Defy the Night"

You might also search for "enemies to lovers" fantasy books for other ideas.

FYI, your topic most likely will be moved to the DCUM Book Club discussion.

This book is all over booktok and I have to say that unlike that Colleen Hoover nonsense (honestly I think it was the hype that killed it for me, I thought Verity was going to be GOOD and not just like, 'goodish book for an airplane') this is a good series! Been a long while since I read a book like this that I was so quickly hooked on.

And it got me thinking...does anyone have recommendations for similar stories since there is only one book in this series so far (I think #2 is coming in November). Specifically like, strong female character that ends up in a will they won't they with a gruff guy and they think they hate each other but actually swing around into love (this is not a spoiler I don't think, I haven't even gotten to where I am expecting them to swing around into love yet haha)? That isn't like a ROMANCE novel? I have never been able to get into romances, but love like, fantasy/sci fi things like this.

I know this isn't winning any pulitzers but I have been going through some hard life times and reading this was just like...I dunno the Indiana Jones of books. Feel good, easy to take in, well written but not deep, just good entertainment. And it made me realize I'd love more like this and to take a break from the book club pick circuit.

Thanks!