Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog earns a small commission at no extra cost to you from any purchases made through these links. You can read the full disclosure underneath the Privacy Policy.
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca YarrosSeries: The Empyrean #1
Published by Entangled: Red Tower Books on May 2, 2023
SubGenres: Fantasy Romance, New Adult Fantasy
Format: AudioBook, eBook, Hardcover
Pages: 665
Narrator: Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton
Length: 22 Hours And 2 Minutes
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
Add to Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders...
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die
Okay, I finally understand the Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros hype. After finishing this book, I struggled to return to reality, especially after its intense ending. I’ve had this book on my shelf since its release, beckoning me each time I walked past, and I finally made time thanks to the Romanceopoly Challenge hosted by Under the Covers Book Blog. Now, it’s my goal to catch up with the series.
I’m avoiding details about the plot to keep it spoiler-free for new readers, so I’ll focus on what I loved and which characters grated on me. Nothing about the story disappointed me. This book occupied my thoughts, even late at night, and although my health makes evening reading challenging, I kept going despite the exhaustion because I needed to know how it ended.
First, I dislike Violet’s mother and her best friend, Dain Aetos. These two top my list of most detestable characters with their treatment of Violet, especially her mother. I’ve adopted Violet in my heart, since she’s my oldest daughter’s age. I’d never force Violet into dragon riding and would fiercely protect her with my life if she were my daughter. Now that she’s a dragon rider, though, I would be that mother celebrating her accomplishments, but her mother didn’t; her selfishness is infuriating and just one reason I can’t stand her. No parent should treat their child like Violet’s mom does. And don’t get me started on Dain. He repeatedly discouraged Violet from dragon riding and constantly belittled her, then committed something unforgivable at the book’s end. I absolutely can’t stand Dain. He is not a friend in my eyes.
I absolutely loved Violet Sorrengail. She worked relentlessly to prove herself as a dragon rider, even overcoming her condition, EDS. Despite wanting to quit, she kept fighting and found support to push her forward. Violet is an outstanding heroine, and I’m eager to read how she overcomes challenges in the next book because there is more to come after what is revealed in this book. She might not see herself as strong, but she consistently demonstrated intelligence and resilience, showing exactly why she was chosen. I just love her so much, and maybe it’s because I’m a mom and I want to protect her.
Then there’s Xaden Riorsen, seen only through Violet’s perspective, who starts as an enemy. This is an Enemies to Lovers story, crafted masterfully. Xaden has clear reasons to resent Violet; her mother captured and killed his father, the Great Betrayer. Violet has every reason not to like Xaden either, because his father killed her brother. He becomes Violet’s toughest adversary and strongest motivator, especially when thrown together. I enjoyed the dynamic; Violet challenged him to reveal his feelings when they became together. He’s the ultimate Shadow Daddy; most readers will love him after finishing this book.
I loved the twists and turns in the story, especially at the end. If you haven’t read this story, you may need tissues. Rebecca puts these characters through a lot, and if you get attached to any secondary characters, be prepared for heartache. I cried a few times at what happened, and there are a lot of secondary characters to keep up with that will stand out.
I certainly understand the hype after finishing this book. I wish I could rate it higher than five stars! Now I need to read the sequel, which I plan to purchase next month as an audiobook. (I already have the hardcover) I loved listening to this one when my eyes grew blurry, and I couldn’t physically read because of my health issues.
And I adored the dragons mentioned in this book. Why can’t dragons exist in our world? I’d love nothing more than to have my own dragon, even if they were described as dangerous and deadly.
(My oldest daughter is glad I finished this book, so I can pass it down. She should read it during her summer break from college. I know she’ll enjoy this book.)
Cliffhanger: Yes.
POV: First Person (Single POV)
Would I recommend this book/series? Absolutely! If you enjoy high-stakes Fantasy Romance with a fierce heroine proving she can become a dragon rider and a morally grey hero who starts as her enemy, you’ll love Fourth Wing.
What to Expect:
⚡️Fantasy Romance
🔥Enemies to Lovers
⚡️Forced Proximity
🔥Found Family
⚡️Slow Burn
🔥Chronic Illness Representation – EDS
Favorite Quotes:
“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.”
“I will not die today.”
“There is nothing more sacred than the Archives. Even temples can be rebuilt, but books cannot be rewritten.”
“I am the sky and the power of every storm that has ever been. I am infinite.”
“I would rather lose this entire war than live without you, and if that means I have to prove myself over and over, then I’ll do it. You gave me your heart, and I’m keeping it.”
About Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.
Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.
Related Posts
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
- Review: ‘Fourth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros - April 27, 2026
- ARC Review: ‘Daughter of the Wind’ by Nora Carmody - April 24, 2026
- RePost Review: ‘Archangel’s Legion’ by Nalini Singh - April 22, 2026