Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Series: The Empyrean #1
Main Leads: Violet Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson
Supporting Cast: Dain Aetos, Rhiannon Matthias, Tairn, Andarna, Sgaeyl, Imogen Cardulo, Liam Mairi, Garrick Tavis, Bodhi Durran, Ridoc Gamlyn, Sawyer Henrick, Deigh, Mira Sorrengail, Teine
Setting: Navarre, Basgiath
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Tropes: First Year Rider, Overcoming Adversity, Forced Proximity, Navigating Betrayal
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Pages: 517
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase It: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

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.

My sister has been obsessed with this series (and Xaden) for a while now and when I heard that Michael B. Jordan was involved in bringing this series to the small screen, I knew that I was going to read it. I love me some Michael B. Jordan so I was intrigued. I wasn’t interested in at first but I’m glad that I changed my mind because this book was good as hell. I’m good and hooked on this world now.

I think what I liked about this book is how we’re thrown right into the mix and expected to keep up. There was none of that boring world set up and introductions that we normally have to slog through and I was glad for it. The book starts with Violet being thrown into the world of dragon riders. A world that she had no plans of joining. She spent her entire life preparing for a life as a scribe but when her father dies, her mother changes all that. She’s expected to survive against the most elite warriors and bond with a fierce dragon. It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t have the training to fight to stay alive, she’s smart so she’ll have to figure things out on her own.

Violet was an interesting main lead. She’s smart, she’s funny, but what I liked about her was her humanity. She had a fierce code of ethics that was admirable and I really liked how honest she was about her chances, and her feelings. The way that she hated Xaden but was fiercely attracted to him and honest with herself about that made this book a lot of fun. And the way that she tackled whatever was thrown her way with a grit had my admiration for her growing with each passing page.

Rebecca Yarros did a great job of telling this story. There’s a lot going on, a lot to keep track of, but it’s not hard to keep everything straight. It’s not hard to keep up because while the story is plot heavy, it’s also character driven, and I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. Between the cadets, the dragons, and the professors, it’s not hard to root for everyone. It’s easy to see why Violet is the main lead. You can see and feel that her and Xaden are destined for great things. It’s also evident that their journey will not be an easy one and this book did a good job of setting up the rest of the series.

Violet was great. Her squad is great. Xaden is the hero that I wanted and his crew was fan-freaking-tastic as well. This book was non-stop action with a lot of heart and I cannot wait to continue the series. Readers won’t be disappointed with this introduction to the Empyrian series. I came for Michael B. Jordan but I’m staying and completely seated for Xaden Riorson. More, please! From beginning to end, I was hooked on what was happening and what was yet to come. The ending made me gasp and immediately jump into the next book. I definitely recommend. This book is so, so good.

Rating

5 out of 5

The Empyrean Series