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Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

June 8, 2023 Posted by angelreads Book Reviews 1 Comment


Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros

Pages:512
Publish date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 9780349437002
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

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.

Fourth Wing:

Thank you to Hachette Australia for a review copy. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. I did try and make this review as spoiler free as I could but a few things may have slipped. 

I finished this book over a month ago now, and it’s taken me a while to get all my thoughts together. And I was so excited and nervous going into Fourth Wing. If you didn’t know already, Rebecca Yarros is one of my all-time favourite authors. I have loved every single book of hers. So when I heard she was doing a fantasy, I was fricken excited but also nervous.

But I don’t know what I was thinking, because once again Rebecca Yarros has outdone herself, and my expectations, and Fourth Wing has jumped to my favourite of her books and my favourite book of the year. I know that you are probably seeing this book everywhere at the moment, and that makes me so damn happy because I think Rebecca Yarros deserves it. Don’t shy away from reading it because of the hype. 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros follows Violet Sorrengail as she begins her journey to become a dragon rider. She wasn’t supposed to be a dragon rider but her mother has other plans for her. Now she is fighting with hundreds of other candidates to become part of the elite. But being a dragon rider isn’t easy and Violet will need to fight for her life, if her own body even allows it. It’s not just the elements trying to kill her but other dragon riders as well. *cough cough* Xaden Riorson. There are only two ways to finish at Basgiath War College; die or graduate. 

Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

Violet has to be one of my favourite female protagonists ever. I have always loved how Rebecca writes her female main characters and Violet really highlights that. Throughout Fourth Wing, the reader gets to see Violet not only grow strong and find her place in this violent world but understand herself more and more. I really understood her. I adored that she never gave up, even if she wanted to. And I already want to do a re-read and really take in Violet’s growth throughout the book. She really explores herself in Fourth Wing and the reader gets to see her believe in herself more. 

Violet is strong but knows her limits. She works around them. And when thrown into a situation that doesn’t seem possible to get out of, Violet works out a way. She is the type of protagonist that I am so happy reading about and I don’t think I will ever get bored of her. 

Xaden Riorson? What can I say about him? He is dark, dangerous and exactly what I love. He will kill you, but he also cares so deeply. From the start, I knew I was going to love Xaden. How couldn’t I? He really stands out in this book and boy there were times when I wanted to kill him. But as the story goes on and we find out all the things that Xaden has done to protect those around him. My little heart couldn’t. I also love that he breaks for Violet. We slowly start to see him want to help protect her. Not stop her from doing anything, but help her achieve what she wants. And he does that with a lot of the people around him. He wants everyone to do their best. But he is also a man and makes some dumb decisions, and we will need to wait until the next book before I might forgive him. 

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

Now let’s get into the world. There are two ‘worlds’ in this Fourth Wing. The world of Basgiath War College and the outer ‘real’ world. For most of this book, we are exploring the world of the College. And I found that so fantastic. It’s such a layered world and if we had found out everything right at the start about the whole world it might have been overwhelming. What I loved so much about the world-building is that through Violet’s rambles and the little notes throughout the book we find out about things. We aren’t info dumped but when we need to know about the information it’s given to us nicely and slowly. 

I loved how damaged this world is. How hundreds of kids want to be dragon riders and so many die before they even step foot into the college. It’s fascinating and I can’t wait to find out even more. I don’t want to talk too much here about the world-building, because it’s a complex world and I don’t want to spoil anything. But there is magic, war and lots of betrayals coming your way. But this layered world of Fourth Wing is enticing us to know more and that makes everything so much more exciting. 

Now it’s time to talk about the dragons. I love them. I love that they are given human traits. It makes the emotional connection between the dragon and the rider mean so much more. We get to see so many types of dragons and the different ways that they interact with riders. I mean if a dragon just doesn’t like someone, they just torched them. This world is brutal. It’s not a nice world. They are in a war college. I just want to love I do love me a grumpy dragon. 

One of the things that I don’t see talked about enough and that makes me angry and sad at the same time, is the disability rep and honestly the representation in general. I adored the disability representation in Fourth Wing. There were times when I just felt it. While it isn’t explicit throughout the book, Violet shows signs of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. A genetic condition that Rebecca herself has. What I loved about how it was explored throughout the book was that it wasn’t forgotten, but it also wasn’t just who Violet is. It’s not her disability and that’s it. I loved she was able to adapt – with a little help, but it didn’t stop her. The general representation in the book was also fantastic. It’s just there, like you know, life. 

Photo by Tobias Tullius on Unsplash

Now it’s the romance’s time to shine. This angsty, slower-burn romance is exactly what I need. It’s enemies to lovers and so much more. Violet and Xaden have so much tension between the two of them that I was waiting for the pin to drop. I loved that the reader could see the connection from the start and it just slowly built up. One of my favourite things about these two is how much Xaden advocated for Violet without even realising it. It made me so happy. He didn’t stop her. He helped her figure out ways she could accomplish what she wanted. This isn’t just about Violet and Xaden but I adored how sex-positive Fourth Wing was. It just happens. It wasn’t a big deal. They made jokes here and there but it wasn’t like this big thing. 

I don’t think I will ever stop thinking about this book. I am telling everyone at work about it, I’m trying to convince every customer to read it. And my family is getting sick of me talking to them about it. But if you love dragons, fantasy with a little bit of spice. And lots of death. Then pick please Fourth Wing up. This new adult fantasy romance is one to keep an eye on.  I know that this book won’t be for everyone. I wish it was. But I think a vast majority of you will love it.  

Photo by Stormseeker on Unsplash

Overall Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros has so many elements that I have loved in a book. An angsty romance, a fantasy world that will not leave my mind and characters that took hold of my heart. Plus grumpy dragons just made my day. With a protagonist that has jumped to the top of my favourites list and a romance has me wanting more. And that ending has left me gasping and waiting for the next book. I tried to explain how much I love this book in this review and I do hope that it has come across. But I am so excited for the next one, and I cannot wait. 

Have you read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it any time soon? What book has blown you away this year? Let’s Chat! 

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  • janine
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    June 8, 2023 at 10:21 AM

    Is it suitable for secondary school teenagers?

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angelreads

book blogger 💻| romance books 💜| bookseller 📖
💌 angel@angelreads.com
📚53/150

April was a very good reading month for me, especi April was a very good reading month for me, especially after last month. I had some really fantastic reads in April. I did do a lot of re-reading this month but I had such blast. I re-read Caught Up and Play Along and the first 4 books in the Ironside Academy series. 📚

I read some books that I’ve been waiting for including the new book from Kels and Denise Stone, as well as the new Tessa Hale. ✨

Overall it was such a good month, lots of binge reading series and starting on some new authors. I’m so excited to see what May brings. 🖤

What was your favourite book that you read in April? 

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #smut #recentreads #aprilreads #aprilwrapup
IT’S RACE WEEK! 🏎️ If you didn’t know al IT’S RACE WEEK! 🏎️

If you didn’t know already I love F1, have ever since I was younger and decided that this year it would be fun to combined my love for F1 and reading together. 📚

After a week off we are back at it. We are in Miami this week’s and things are only just heating up. This week I’m reading Falling Off the Cliff  Kanitha P.

…

Formula 1 legend in the making and rising star Thiago Valencia is chasing redemption as well as his second World Champion title. With a tarnished reputation and an undetermined future in F1 that hangs by a terribly loose thread, he can’t afford to lose his seat. Thiago is ready to do anything to redeem himself and erase his past mistakes. When a mysterious woman intrudes on his private party in Monte Carlo, he is certain the universe has brought his polar opposite into his life as salvation. He is sunshine, she is moonlight; he is a bright star and she is a moonbeam.

Destiny takes the wheel, steering Kamari into Thiago’s orbit, but her open disdain and closely guarded heart warn her to stay away. Enchanted by her charms, Thiago is intent on melting her freezing barriers and tearing down the walls shielding her heart.

When Kamari agrees to help him save his future by being his fake girlfriend, the unexpected happens, triggered by a game of lies, secrets and desire.

As they plunge towards the finish line, the race veers offtrack and neither of them are ready to fall off the cliff.
… 

How Race Week Reads Will Work 

On Monday of race week I’ll announce the book I’ll be reading for the week, then throughout the week I’ll be posting stories and my thoughts. And then on Sunday, race day my review and final thoughts will go up.

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #f1 #formula1 #ausgp #raceweekreads #f1romance #sportsromance #fallingoffthecliff #kanithap #fullthrottle
A little late but I am finally getting to share Ra A little late but I am finally getting to share Race 5’s Race Week Reads review. This week I read, Downforce (Pit Lane #1) by Hannah Lily.

🏎️ Review 🏎️

I had so much fun reading this book. I knew I was in for a ride as soon as I started Downforce. It was entertaining, fun, and I just had a good time reading it. And while it does explore some heavy topics, I don’t think it took away from the fun nature of the book.

Right from the start, we can see the tension between F1 Presenter, Olivia Fraser and F1 Driver, Jonah Scott. And while silly at times, it was fun seeing them interact together. Both really didn’t like each other. They both had said things about and to one another that sometimes it caused chaos. And I was here for it.

I did find that at times, just silly things happened. I am not a massive rom-com reader, and there was a lot of falling into one another, and arguments stemmed from nothing. This is honestly just because I don’t like these types of scenes, but it didn’t really make me dislike the book at all.

I loved the whole road trip aspect of the book, it’s different from other F1 books I’ve read so far this year and just made for some interesting banter and lust. I do wish that the road trip was a little longer than it was because I did feel like the romance moved pretty quickly here, but again, it didn’t really affect how much I was enjoying the book.

The romance was this combination of being slow burn and full of angst right at the start, to the road trip happening and then bam. But I loved it, though. The banter between Olivia and Jonah was fantastic. I loved seeing them grow not only with one another but with themselves as well.

Overall, I had a great time reading Downforce and will be continuing the series for sure when the other books come out. The romance was angsty and just felt right. The found family aspect really worked well here, and the F1 aspects were pretty okay. Not the best I’ve seen, but not the worst either. If you are looking for a fun read that has a great romance and a little rom-comy, then pick this one up.
I’ve already had a pretty amazing reading year. I’ve already had a pretty amazing reading year. There have been so many books that I have enjoyed but there are some that I have just loved. 🖤

I didn’t realise before I put this post together that all of these books are from authors I’ve read and loved before. There hasn’t been a Rebecca Yarros book that I haven’t rated under 4 Stars. Elsie Silver is just making me love everything that she writes. Wild and Wrangled may be my favourite in the series. 📖

Three rereads also made it to this list. Binding 13 still makes me gasp and smile all at the same time. And Caught Up and Play Along just hit every time. 📚

I’ve honestly had a great year so far and since making this post a few more books I’ve read I’ve ended up loving. It’s going to be hard to pick my favourites at the end of the year that is for sure. ✨

What books have you loved reading this year? Are any books that made my list on yours? Let me know! 

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #smut #recentreads #2025favourites #onyxstorm #wildside  #binding13 #caughtup #wildandwrangled
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