Fourth Wing vs. ACOTAR: Which Is More Spicy? (And How to Filter Them)

If you're a fan of fantasy romance (romantasy), chances are you've come across two of BookTok’s biggest sensations:

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

• A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas
  

Both series have taken readers by storm with their addictive plots, swoon-worthy romance, and high-stakes fantasy worlds.But one major question keeps popping up:

Which one is actually more spicy — and which is better for younger or more sensitive readers?

Here’s the ultimate comparison.

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📖 What Are Fourth Wing and ACOTAR About?

• Fourth Wing:Violet Sorrengail must survive a brutal dragon rider academy while navigating enemies, deadly trials, and forbidden romance. Think Hunger Games meets How to Train Your Dragon… but with more heat 🔥.

• ACOTAR:Feyre Archeron, a mortal huntress, is dragged into the fae realm and becomes entangled in magical courts, ancient curses — and some very steamy love stories. A blend of Beauty and the Beast retelling and epic fantasy, with rising levels of spice across the series.

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🌶️ Spiciness Comparison: Fourth Wing vs. ACOTAR

Category	Fourth Wing	ACOTAR
Language	Frequent strong profanity (f-bombs, casual swearing)	Mild swearing early; increases in later books
Violence	High — brutal battles, death scenes, emotional trauma	Moderate early; graphic violence in later books
Sexual Content	Open-door sex scenes; 1-2 major explicit moments	Gradually intensifies; Book 2 (A Court of Mist and Fury) contains detailed, multiple spicy scenes
Romance Tone	Slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, steamy but more contained in one book	Develops into highly explicit romance arc across series
Recommended Age	16+ to 17+	17+ to 18+, especially after Book 1

Key Takeaways:

• ACOTAR gets spicier overall, especially starting with Book 2 (A Court of Mist and Fury).

• Fourth Wing is very spicy within one book, but doesn’t escalate across multiple books (yet).

• Both have explicit sexual content and strong language not typical for Young Adult (YA) fantasy.

Neither is a true "clean read" — both are firmly in New Adult (NA) territory.

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👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 How to Enjoy These Stories Without the Explicit Scenes

Love the dragons, fae, and epic romances — but want a cleaner, less explicit experience?

Siftbooks offers filtered audiobook versions of popular novels like Fourth Wing, removing graphic language, explicit sexual content, and excessive violence — while preserving the heart of the story.

Now readers of all ages can experience the magic, the world-building, and the unforgettable characters without worrying about skipping chapters or awkward moments.

🎧 Listen to the clean version of Fourth Wing here →

Whether you’re Team Dragons or Team Fae, there’s no need to miss out — adventure, romance, and epic fantasy await, filtered your way.