Rebecca YarrosRomance · Contemporary Romance·b. 1981
Fourth Wing
Synopsis
Violet Sorrengail expected a quiet life among the scribes, cataloguing history in the archives of Navarre. Instead, her iron-willed mother—the kingdom's most feared general—orders her into the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College, where cadets bond with dragons or die trying. Smaller and more physically fragile than the warriors around her, Violet is given almost no chance of surviving the first day, let alone graduating.
To live, she'll have to outthink opponents who could snap her in half, earn the respect of a dragon that could incinerate her on a whim, and navigate the lethal politics of a college where ambition is settled with blades. Chief among the threats is Xaden Riorson, the brooding, dangerous wingleader whose father was executed for leading a rebellion against Violet's mother—giving him every reason to want her dead.
But as the war beyond Navarre's borders grows harder to ignore and the kingdom's defenses begin to fail, Violet starts to suspect that the leadership is hiding the truth about what's really happening on the front lines. The first book in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, Fourth Wing pairs a deadly dragon-rider academy with a slow-burning, high-heat romance and a mystery that reframes everything Violet thought she knew.
How it reads
- Writing4.3
- Impact4.7
- Characters4.7
- Plot5.0
- Atmosphere4.7
Prose complexity 4/10
Spice level
3.3 avg spice
Content warnings (1)
Violence
Readers flagged (2)
ViolenceSexual Content
- Checks every box when it comes to fantasy genre. (Except for the lust parts- too much of it)
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars<br><br>This is probably my favorite book of the year and it’s been one of the best books in general that I had read in a really long time. It’s been a while since I had felt the same after finishing a book, with a feeling of happiness because I've found something I love and sad because it’s over and I’ll have to wait to read the next.<br><br>I was very scared of reading it because Tik Tok or Goodreads famous books are not usually my favorite’s and I always end up disappointed but it really surprised me that I’m not in the minority side that hated the book this time.<br><br>I can say I like everything and it’s not easy for me to give 5 stars but this deserves it. There’s no breaks, or unnecessary moments to fill pages. Each chapter has something incredible that adds to the plot. I loved the characters and their interactions, the way the author describes the world, the deadly school and the dragons. OMG THE DRAGONS 1000/10 for Tairn, Andarna and Sgaeyl.<br><br>I read other readers' reviews when I saw the contradictions in people's rating, it's either 5 or 1 star, and thought maybe I missed something, but I think this is simply one of those books you either love or hate. And I understand where some of the critics are coming from but what didn’t work for some made my experience much more fulfilling. There’s some things that readers hated but I loved them, like the dragons (<details><summary>Spoiler</summary> I was not expecting them talking or having such distinct personalities, they’re not pets or war animals, they’re really important characters in the plot. they have their own hierarchy and laws </details>) or the writing style, even though it’s a high fantasy world, the dialogue and inner monologue it’s very modern but it helped me read it really fast, less than two days, even though it has over 600 pages, and since I’ve read other books with the same style it didn’t bother me at all like it did to others.<br><br>Like all books, this isn’t perfect. Some dialogues made me cringe a bit. Xaden’s nickname for Violet felt too childish for me. Some plot twists or revelations are predictable and maybe I would have loved to see more about Violet’s past and her relation with her family because there are some moments where you can’t feel the full importance they have because you don’t have that background explained. And I could keep dissecting the book and find more things to complain about but the feeling it left me overpowers every tiny detail.<br><br>In conclusion I think I found a new obsession and it makes me feel excited and terrified because I really want this to continue with the same thrill the first one made me feel and I hope that its popularity doesn’t rush the author or influence the history in a bad way. I completely recommend this book but I think it’s much better when you go in blind without expectations or spoilers.<br>
- This was one of those times when I see everyone else reading a book, recommendations popping up for it everywhere, and decide "Well, it's in a genre I like, so let's give it a go!"<br><br>First, let me say that I'm glad I did. On the plus side, this book has absolutely fantastic (and frenetic) pacing. Once you get the world-building out of the way (which only takes a chapter or two), it's a non-stop ride to the last sentence of the book. I found a good portion of the characters enjoyable and fleshed out, and quite enjoyed the overall story.<br><br>Now, all that said, there's a reason I should dive deeper into what a book may be about before I read it
- God help me…It’s been quite a while since I’ve been this obsessed over a book. Finishing it and already having the feeling of wanting to read it all over again is major for me. On every chapter something is always happening. Every minute that I had to stop reading because of work, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Need to emotionally recover. “A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.”
- <div>Amazing read! The story was plot-driven, many twists and cliffhangers. I couldn’t put it down! The tension between the FMC and MMC didn’t feel forced and it had that “I will kill for you” energy and yearning! The fantasy wasn’t overwhelming, I get the ick when there’s too much paranormal or fae stuff, this was a good balance!</div>
- It didn't match the hype for me.. I expected something different I guess... I do love Harry Potter and Hunger Games and it felt like such a mix of the two but something just didn't draw me in fully. The end shocked me though and I may see what the rest of the series is like... Possibly.
- 4 stars male lead: Xaden Riorson female lead: Violet Sorrengail I loved dragons so much so I took interest in reading this book. Can't wait for the entire series. Xaden was so hot for what? Loved the intense between him and our badass and anti-fragile heroine.
- The people rating this 3 stars and below…. Are you okay?! I’ve been sadly disappointed in a lot of books that are hyped up in the past. (Credence, most recently All Good People Here) but I have to say this book is without a doubt my favorite of all time.
- Great MMC & FMC, great personalities. One liners. Romance slow burn enemies to lovers great. No negatives to claim
- top gun with dragons 1 star for the dragon lore, 1 for the twist, 2 for picking the right cannon fodder
- Why do you have to make me cry, Rebecca? 😪
- Blehh, boring
- FALSE
- I want a dragon!