Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Series: The Empyrean #1
Published by Entangled: Red Tower Books on May 2, 2023
Genres: Adult Fantasy Romance, Adult Romantasy
Pages: 518
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon, Buy on Barnes & Noble, Buy on Audible
My Rating:
Blurb:
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 Review
Wow, I totally get all the fuss over this book now. Yeah, I know, I’m VERY late to the party. I wasn’t going to read it at first, then in 2023 when you couldn’t find a copy anywhere, I decided to look for a copy while I was in Scotland. I did not find one there either. So I came home, and once I saw it was available again, I bought a copy. Last school year I had a student asking if we had it. Well I decided to go ahead and donate the copy I’d bought to the library so she could read it. I was then once again without a copy, even though I had no idea when I would fit it in again. When I saw this special edition go up for sale, I immediately pre-ordered it. And then waited. And waited. Because I was late to the game and everyone else had already pre-ordered it. I think I finally got it at the end of 2023. And then it sat on my TBR shelf, waiting to be read. I put it on my TBR Challenge list and then kept putting it off for other books.
When I ended up having left most of December with no scheduled review books after the first week or two, and I decided I’d read enough holiday romances, I picked it up finally. And I was hooked so quickly. I was kind of mad at myself I didn’t wait until I was actually off of school, because it is one I would have stayed up late at night to read and finish it much quicker than I did. I loved the characters. I loved the world. I’m not much for high fantasy, and this one was not. It had enough of the fantasy world to make it fit that genre, but also enough of the story and characters to make it more what I’d enjoy. And even though it’s fantasy, it reminded me of other books. The way the main character is in a way “chosen” or has special talents/gifts even though she also has physical impairments, well, I came up with a thought. I feel like this is the book for those who were teens or middle schoolers when The Hunger Games and the Divergent series came out, because the general basis and some of the plot structure reminded me of those stories. Definitely in how addictive the story was and how it grabbed me.
I’ve asked for the 2nd book as a Christmas gift, although I’m sad there isn’t a special edition to match the one I have of the first book. And I’ve pre-ordered the deluxe edition of the third book so I can have that one match at least. This edition also had two chapters at the back from Xaden’s POV, which was a nice extra look at a couple big scenes from the book. Now I’m hoping Santa or someone in my family, gets me book two!
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I listened to the Graphic Audio from my library of book 1. The GA is fun. I enjoyed the story, but wasn’t WOW’d like so many other readers. It’s interesting, but also has a lot of similiters to Hunger Games and Divergent. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and that you finally found a copy. ^_^ The special editions or sprayed edge hardcovers are very pretty to look at.
I wouldn’t say it was anything brand new and unique, but it was one that grabbed me and kept me turning pages, and that’s all I need!
The GA did keep me listening and on the edge of my seat at some moments.
I listened to these on audio, the first 2. The 3rd one is coming up and things have changed all around since the beginning. Plenty of exciting twists.
I have trouble with fantasy in audio, prefer to read the print copy if at all possible. Looking forward to hopefully getting the second book for Christmas! And I pre-ordered the third.
Nice review. Also late to the game, I picked up the audiobooks earlier this year. I also was moved by Fourth Wing, and while I liked the second book, I found I had some issues. I look forward to the third when it eventually comes out.
I’ve heard the 2nd one had some issues. I’m going to blame the sophomore slump I think, but haven’t read it yet, so we’ll see!
I loved this too, it was such a surprise! I read it way before all the hype, when it first came out, so it was nice to see how popular it became.
I don’t read a ton of this type, so I wasn’t sure. But with all the hype I decided I wanted to! And now I’m glad I finally did.
I totally need to start this series. Don’t worry, I haven’t read any of them yet so you might be late but you are still ahead of me. I bought the first two thanks to the hype and the third releases soon. I’m a bit afraid I won’t like them though. Great review.
I was afraid I wouldn’t like it either. But I really liked the characters and the world was interesting but not too detailed like some fantasy that would get me lost or bored.
I haven’t read this one, but I heard a lot of good things about it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it and hopefully you get book 2 for the holidays.
Yeah, looking forward to reading on in the series!
OOh nice! I got lucky enough that I ordered Fourth Wing the day it came out and still got a copy with the stenciled edges. Guess it was just right before it exploded everywhere. Lol. But then it sat in my TBR pile for months. I think I finally picked it up when the second one was almost out and I almost started reading it right away, but then I thought 2 books in 1 year? That’s scary. And sure enough the third book wasn’t coming until 2025 so I was like, I am definitely waiting and sure enough I heard there was a mind-blowing cliffhanger at the end of that one. I’ve got that one preordered so now I’ll have 2 I can binge…if I am feeling daring enough! Lol. Glad you enjoyed this one too!
I was able to get the special edition of Fourth Wing when they republished it. But wasn’t sure if I’d like it, so I didn’t try to get the first edition of the second one which had stenciled pages sadly. I went ahead and pre-ordered the 3rd one so I can have it with the pretty edges! lol
I’m glad that you enjoyed this book Lisa! Wonderful review.
Thanks!
I listened to this series, cannot wait for the next one.
I ordered the second book on Thursday along with another book, the other one came, but not the second one yet, hoping soon!
I’ve been enjoying this series too. It has some frustrating moments, but overall are great reads. I actually pre-ordered the next one. My daughter ended up buying the first two, so then we’ll have them all come January.
Yeah, it wasn’t perfect, and I definitely could see the issues people might have with it. But it was good and sucked me in, so I ordered the second book, which is taking forever to get here, and went ahead and pre-ordered the third so I could get the special sprayed edges.