I really enjoyed Fourth Wing and I'm looking for more fantasy with that found family dynamic and character relationships that feel genuine. Does anyone have recs that have that same emotional depth without being too heavy on the romance subplot? I've been through most of the BookTok standbys already.
Don't expect the same dragons-and-academy formula everywhere, but try **The Poppy War** for that brutal found family forged through shared trauma, or **Gideon the Ninth** if you want gothic mystery with a cast that genuinely feels like misfits becoming each other's anchors! **The City of Brass** also nails that dynamic where characters start as reluctant allies and become deeply invested in one another's survival. All three have emotional weight without letting romance take over the whole story - the relationships feel earned because they're built on actual shared experiences and conflict, not just attraction.
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