Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Title: Fourth Wing

Series: The Empyrean

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Release Date: May 2, 2023

Publisher: Red Tower Books

Genre: Romantasy

Source: digital, Amazon

TW: graphic sexual content, death, violence, death of parent, war, injury/injury detail, vomit, grief

Synopsis

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 as Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

Thoughts

Dragons? Dragon riders? Dragon rider college? Yes, please!

A friend recommended this book to me, and I couldn't wait to dive in. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked. The idea of enrolling in Basgiath War College as a dragon rider had me enthralled. The world-building is spectacular, and the author has created a rich and immersive environment that feels incredibly real.

The characters are so well-written that I found myself constantly reassessing my feelings about them. Just when I thought I had someone figured out, a new twist would completely change my perspective. These twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and I often found myself gasping out loud as the plot unfolded.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its pacing. The story moves swiftly, yet it allows enough time for character development and world-building. This balance made it difficult to put the book down. I was always eager to find out what would happen next.

I am impatiently and obsessively waiting for the second book to come out. Knowing that this is going to be a five-book series fills me with excitement. The prospect of spending more time in this world and following these characters on their journeys is thrilling. After all, who doesn’t love dragons?

In summary, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy, well-developed characters, and intricate plots. It has all the elements of an epic series and has left me eagerly anticipating the next installment.