Now with two bonus chapters read by Teddy Hamilton. Re-download the title now to listen to the extended version!
A #1 New York Times bestseller Optioned for TV by Amazon Studios Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 NPR “Books We Love” 2023 Audible Best Books of 2023 Hudson Book of the Year Google Play Best Books of 2023 Indigo Best Books of 2023 Waterstones Book of the Year finalist Goodreads Choice Award, semi-finalist Newsweek Staffers’ Favorite Books of 2023 Paste Magazine’s Best Books of 2023
“Suspenseful, sexy, and with incredibly entertaining storytelling, the first in Yarros’ Empyrean series will delight fans of romantic, adventure-filled fantasy.”—Booklist, starred review
“Fourth Wing will have your heart pounding from beginning to end … A fantasy like you’ve never read before.”—Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today 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.
Kala –
This book is a beautiful, consuming, addicting fantasy that I wish I could read all over again for the first time! The pacing is absolutely spot on, it includes a slow burn, enemies to lovers angsty romance that sparks right off the page, incredible but easy to follow world building and my absolute favourite trope of found family!
The reader is pulled in to the breathtaking world of a war college for dragon riders, we meet Violet as she is forced to follow in her families footsteps and enter the riders quadrant, instead of becoming a scribe (a scholar). Violet struggles with chronic pain and weak joints, I appreciated the author giving a voice to chronic conditions while demonstrating the Violet’s resilience in how she overcame her bodies differences, never treating them as a disability but just as something unique.
One of the greatest strengths of this book lies in its meticulous world-building. The author creates a vivid universe, rich in intricate details that transport readers to a realm where imagination runs wild. Each setting is exquisitely described, effortlessly pulling us into the heart of the story. I could so clearly picture each individual setting in my head, it was such a unique and intriguing fantasy world. And the dragons…I have never been so entranced by fantasy creatures in a book before!
The characters are equally exceptional. Rebecca Yarros masterfully crafts a diverse cast that is not only relatable but also leaves a lasting impression. Their strengths, vulnerabilities, and complex emotions make them feel like genuine individuals, with whom readers can form deep connections. Watching their personal journeys unfold and witnessing their growth is a true pleasure. I also loved the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters without making them a stereotype or token character placed simply to fill a quota. Sexual and gender identities were mentioned but never hovered on, it was a very small but heartwarming detail.
I very much enjoyed how Violet’s journey coming into her true powers was realistic, she wasn’t automatically the strongest and best candidate, she had to work harder and smarter than the rest of the riders. Resilience is a central theme in this book. The characters face daunting challenges, both physical and emotional, and the author expertly portrays their perseverance and unwavering determination. Through their struggles, the reader is reminded of the power of the human spirit and the indomitable will to overcome even the most daunting obstacles.
The plot of is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride from start to finish. Action-packed sequences and heart-stopping moments keep readers on the edge of their seats, desperate to uncover what lies around the next corner. Rebecca Yarros skillfully balances intensity with moments of respite, allowing readers to catch their breath before plunging them back into the heart-pounding action. The intricate twists and turns keep the plot engaging, ensuring that boredom never has a chance to set in. And when I say heart-pounding, I truly mean this, as the last action sequence had me so intensely concentrated that my apple watch gave me a warning that my heart rate was rising without any exercise occurring, I was that invested!
This is an outstanding novel that deserves all the praise it has been receiving and more. With its exceptional world-building, well-developed characters, thrilling plot, and theme of resilience, it captivated me from the very beginning. Rebecca Yarros’s skillful storytelling transports readers to a realm where imagination knows no bounds, leaving you yearning for more. Prepare to be swept away on a breathtaking journey that will leave you exhilarated and inspired. This is a true fantasy masterpiece!!
Pilar Oliva –
Ok como cualquier libro
Madison –
5/5⭐️
4/5🌶️
i have nothing but good things to say about this book, buckle up.
i’m honestly not even sure that i will be able to gather my thoughts and form a coherent review to adequate explain how much i adored this book but i’m going to try. let’s start by saying that i am obsessed with this book.
this was outstanding and amazing in every single way. i cried, i laughed, i giggled, i gasped, i did ALL THE THINGS. i have not felt so many things while reading a book since my last SJM read. fourth wing absolutely deserves all the hype and more. if the hunger games, divergent, harry potter, and game of thrones had a baby, this would be it.
this book was the perfect mixture of romance and high stakes and the vibes were so spot on. fourth wing is fast paced from beginning to end and will absolutely hook you from the very first chapter. the world building was perfection and so seamless that it never felt awkward and i was never confused about the fantasy world. this is a world i would absolutely love to live in!
i have heard that a lot of people found this book predictable, but i’m personally HORRIBLE at predicting endings so i may have forseen one or two things but i definitely could not have predicted the entire ending for this book and that made it that much more enjoyable.
i LOVED violet’s character so much. her bond with her sister and her friends was so genuine. she is tough and strong willed and is unstoppable, despite her disadvantage (which yarrow displayed SO SO well). i loved her journey and how much she grew throughout this whole book.
XADEN!!!! rhysand has been my #1 book boyfriend since i devoured ACOTAR last year and no one has lived up to the hype since. xaden freaking riorson has officially take my #1 book boyfriend spot with rhysand as a very close second. how can you not love this man?? he is an ABSOLUTE SIMP from violet even from the start despite his grumpy exterior. men who show their love through actions >>>
this man had me literally gasping and giggling like a little kid because of some of the things he did. he was exactly what violet needed. i loved their tension but also how he always believe in her. and the nicknames?? 🤭
the romance was perfection. usually i get really impatient with slow burns, but the fantasy aspect of this book was done SO WELL that i was such as obsessed with the story as i was with the romance. and enemies to lovers??? sign me tf up. 😮💨 violet and xaden had the perfect build up between them. and the SPICE?? puh-lease. absolutely amazing!!
tairn and andarna were hands down, the best part of this book. yarros did SO GOOD with described all of the details of the dragons and giving them so much personality. the interactions between the dragons and their riders were so much fun. i loved tairn’s grumpy exterior, his sassy comments, and how protective he was of violet. andarna is so freaking cute and i love her to death.
i could honestly rave about every single aspect of this book but i feel like this really sums up some of my biggest feelings. this is definitely a book that deserved ALL the hype and definitely a book that you need to read, even if you aren’t a fantasy lover.
this book was not perfect by any means. like anything else, this book had flaws but it was perfect to me. i am obsessed. it had everything i wanted from a fantasy book AND DRAGONS!!🐉 i cannot wait to get my hands on iron flame!! this is definitely a book that i will be rereading before book 2 comes out! i know for a fact that this will be the best book that i read for this year.
(peep my 73 kindle highlights from this book because it had the BEST QUOTES and xaden says the BEST THINGS -> may have some spoilers so read at your own risk)
“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.”
“So then why are you here, Xaden?” “Because I can’t seem to stay away.”
“There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, Violence.”
SIGRID –
One of these books you don’t want to put down and when you get to the end rejoice that there are two more to come. Finished it tonight and tomorrow Iron Flame arrives
Leanna Thrane –
I had put off reading Fourth Wing because I wasn’t sure I liked the whole weak girl somehow makes it through the training program that kills so many storyline plus it’s was really long. I’m really sad I didn’t read it sooner, it was so good and Violet while fragile isn’t weak. She’s super smart, cunning and doesn’t give up. Tairn is completely amazing, I love the dialog between them. And then of course there’s Xaden! Broody, powerful, and hot, who doesn’t like that combination? The things he does that show how he cares for Violence (😉) were just…swoon! The secondary characters were well done and the story definitely evokes emotions. The final cliffhanger kind of blew me away so I’m excited to see where the story goes from here.
Júlia Emerick –
Para quem ama esse universo de romantasy, Fourth Wing é uma ótima escolha. Superficialmente, é como se a autora pegasse Jogos Vorazes, As Crônicas de Gelo e Fogo, Harry Potter, ACOTAR e batesse em um liquidificador para criar essa obra. Porém, ao nos aprofundarmos na história, esquecemos essa primeira impressão, pois é notável que a Rebecca Yaros sabe escrever uma trama envolvente, que transporta o leitor para aquele universo e consegue fazê-lo sentir o que a personagem sente.
Inicialmente, sobre a trama: Violet Sorrengail é a clássica heroína que se difere dos outros porque nunca quis se encaixar naquele contexto em primeiro lugar. Em uma escola dividida em quatro esquadrões – escribas, infantaria, curandeiros e montadores de dragões -, ela queria se dedicar ao primeiro, mas é forçada a ir para o último. Daí pra frente, apenas existir lá dentro se torna uma luta pela sobrevivência, pois os montadores de dragões não aceitam alguém que enfraqueça essa unidade. Lá, ela conhece Xanden Riorson, o qual é um, também clássico, anti-herói que será o interesse amoroso – e muito, muito carnal – da personagem. Ele tem tudo que amamos em um mocinho de romantasy: é lindo, é forte, chama a Violet por um apelido especial, apoia a liberdade e a liderança dela com um jeito de malvado, de perigoso, de irônico… mas tem todos os motivos do mundo pra fazer o que faz, é justo, é leal, é irresistível…e, no final das contas, completamente devoto a ela. É a receita infalível para um enemies to lovers de devorar em uma madrugada. Jogue no meio o perigo constante, ameaças mortais, dragões amedrontadores, inimigos POR TODA PARTE, uma revolução no mundo em que a protagonista vive e no jeito que ela vê as coisas e temos Fourth Wing nos prendendo à leitura como maníacas obcecadas.
Claro, o livro tem defeitos: existem muitos clichês – desde bad boys vs mocinho, a garota diferente das outras garotas, protagonista superidealizada (vulgo Mary Sue/a escolhida/se errou, foi com razão) em alguns momentos, mommy e daddy issues pra todo lado -, pelo menos 1 palavrão por página (o que, em minha opinião, deixa o livro adolescente demais), e se você é apaixonada pelo Rhysand de ACOTAR, você provavelmente vai notar umas certas… semelhanças entre ele e o Xaden.
Em suma, o livro cumpre o seu papel: é uma leitura divertida, te mantém interessada o tempo inteiro, te faz torcer por alguns personagens e odiar outros, te faz passar mal com as cenas hot (muito bem escritas, por sinal!), e ir correndo pro próximo livro da série só pra não nem 1 minuto de distância daquele mundo e daquele casal. Eu não diria que é super revolucionário, pois acho que esse nicho literário (fantasia com romances épicos para jovens adultos) já não tem tanto pra onde correr mais. Dito isso, cá estou eu, já terminando o segundo livro e em agonia por ter que esperar o terceiro. Enfim, recomendo!
M. Patterson –
This book was incredible. The story building, the character development, the DRAGONS, what’s not to love. I loved how the dragons picked their rider and the strong impenetrable bond they form. It has something for both men and women. Love, combat, and once again DRAGONS!
Mary-Ann –
En parfait état, je l’adore
Sarah B –
Wow! It has been a LONG time since I have actually felt tension while reading a book. I can read the biggest action scenes at the end of various books and the majority of the time they just don’t affect me at all – because I don’t care that much about the characters. But THIS – this was different. I felt the tension. And it was real. Plus the author is very willing to kill characters so there is some uncertainty there as well. And the battle at the end of this most excellent book – it was hot and raging. Plus the enemy leaked danger as well. True menace. Very rarely does some enemy in a book impress me at all but this one most certainly did.. Right from the description I just KNEW there was something different about these mages called venin. They seemed impressive too. And very memorable. I wanted to draw them based off of the description. Very rarely do I get that urge.
But what a battle at the end! It was touch and go. What would happen? Would the heroes win or lose? I didn’t know. And I felt concern.
This book has made me feel things. Earlier it had made me cry – tears of joy.
And the book has surprised me too. The plot twists! I guess I should have seen it coming but I didn’t so I was quite surprised. But it certainly makes the story way more interesting! And I am certainly eager to read the sequel too! This is a massive book and worth reading every word! And rarely do I feel that way. But its exciting and the characters face so many challenges. And there is death too. In fact there is a lot of death in here. Its a very violent world, a tough world of dragons and griffins and things that are supposed to be only legends to scare kids to eat their vegetables…
But what I love the most in here in the main character Violet. She has a connective tissue disorder. I have one too (its called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome – EDS – and I am pretty confident that Violet actually has EDS). I have never run across a character in a book before that has EDS. And certainly not one that is bold enough to be in a fantasy world where she rides a dragon. How cool is that? So yes I certainly can relate to her very well! And so much of the stuff in here is quite accurate too. Exercise is the best way to protect the joints (and personally I find diet matters a ton too). And yes it certainly can make many things way harder. The joints are all wonky and they naturally hyper-extend so doing things – even just balancing – is way harder. But riding a dragon!!! I remember when I was much younger I used to read this other very popular fantasy series that included dragons and I used to try to imagine what it would be like to ride a dragon. Of course I never thought about the issues of staying ON said dragon… But since I ride horses these days I have a better idea of some of the issues. But wow this book is totally AMAZING! it totally captivated my attention. The first evening I started it I got 50% through. And I certainly would have powered through the second half yesterday but unfortunately I have packing to do as I am moving at the end of the month.
If I could I would rate it 6 stars!
The characters are just so real. And they go through character arcs too. They change. They face obstacles and have to find solutions. And there is certainly a bit of romance in here too. The story moved so smoothly. Never a dull moment at all. None. And I just loved the first person writing in here from Violet’s viewpoint.
But the story is about a young woman named Violet who has been forced by her very powerful mother to become a dragon rider. That is a warrior. But her body is weak and ill suited for it. So she was training to be a scribe (but all of that writing would be a huge strain on her too – in fact I cannot write very long at all by hand anymore without pain + numbness going down my arm and I get horrid shoulder pain) but that changed – she had to go be a dragon rider or die trying. But its not that easy in fact its very dangerous. Most people who try to become a rider end up dead. And you can be killed by your own classmates! Yes, its a very brutal school. And after all of these difficult obstacles – which Violet is ill suited to pass – she has to hope that a dragon will pick her. But what dragon will pick someone with a body that doesn’t work right due to genetic mutations?
And all of that is near the beginning of the book! For a huge mysterious and dangerous problem is brewing in the Kingdom! And poor Violet will run smack into it – err – fly into it. If she can stay on the dragon that is…
You definitely should read this!