- Goodreads
- 4.5
- pages
- 528
- May
- 2023
Violet Sorrengail was meant to become a scribe until her commanding general mother orders her to enter the dragon rider academy. She must survive deadly competition and paranormal creatures while uncovering dangerous secrets. As her world expands, so does her capacity for power and love.
What is Fourth Wing about?
Violet Sorrengail has spent her whole life preparing for the Scribe Quadrant. She is small, fragile from a childhood illness that left her joints weak, and would be perfectly happy cataloguing history for the rest of her days. But her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, has other plans. Instead of the quiet life Violet expected, she is ordered into Basgiath War College's Riders Quadrant, where candidates bond with dragons or die trying. Literally. The death toll in first year alone is staggering, and Violet's body was never built for this.
To make things worse, Xaden Riorson is there. The son of a rebellion leader her mother helped execute, he has every reason to want Violet dead and the power to make it look like an accident. He is the wingleader of Fourth Wing, which means Violet reports directly to him. She cannot trust him. She definitely should not be attracted to him. The tension between them builds through every brutal training session, every near-death experience on the flight field, and every moment where the line between enemy and something else gets harder to see.
But there is something bigger going on at Basgiath than anyone is willing to admit. The wards protecting Navarre are weakening, and the kingdom's leadership would rather pretend everything is fine than deal with what is coming over the border. Violet starts to realize that the real war is not on the training grounds. It is in the lies her own government has been telling its people for years.
Read it if you want
The pacing is relentless. Yarros throws Violet into danger from page one and barely lets up. If you have ever wanted a fantasy book that reads like an action movie, this is it. The dragon bonding system is well thought out. Each dragon has a distinct personality, and the bonds feel like genuine relationships rather than just a power upgrade. Tairn, Violet's dragon, is a particular standout because he is proud, picky, and refuses to tolerate nonsense from anyone, including Violet.
The romance between Violet and Xaden works because it takes its time. There is genuine hostility between them early on, rooted in real political history, not just a misunderstanding. When the dynamic starts to shift, you feel it earning every inch of trust. The spice scenes (around the midpoint and later) land well because of all the tension that precedes them.
The world-building around the military hierarchy, the different quadrants of Basgiath, and the political structures of Navarre gives the story a solid backbone. Violet is smart. She does not overcome her physical limitations through some sudden power boost. She uses her brain, her knowledge, and the relationships she builds.
Who it is for
You will probably love this if you enjoyed the competitive academy setting of Red Rising, the dragon bonding in Eragon (but with more romance and higher stakes), or the enemies-to-lovers tension of ACOTAR. It also works for readers who liked The Hunger Games and wanted more fantasy elements complex in.
This might not be for you if slow, detailed world-building is what you look for in fantasy. Yarros prioritises pace over lore depth. Readers who need fully resolved endings will also struggle, because this book ends mid-story. And if you are looking for something with low stakes or a gentle tone, look elsewhere. People die often and sometimes suddenly.
Content warnings
Show the content warnings
Several named characters die during training (some violently). There is a culture of hazing and physical brutality at the academy that is presented as normal and even necessary. Violet deals with a chronic pain condition (Ehlers-Danlos-like hypermobility) and the book shows her struggling with it throughout, though it occasionally leans into inspiration-porn territory. The romance has a power imbalance (Xaden is her wingleader). There are scenes of battle violence and some gore. One scene involves a threat of sexual violence (not carried out).
Full plot and ending (spoilers)
The biggest reveal comes at the end: the wards are failing, and Navarre's leadership knows it. They have been hiding the truth about the gryphon riders and the war beyond the borders from their own people. Violet's brother Brennan, who everyone believed was dead, is actually alive and fighting with the rebellion. This reframes the entire conflict. Xaden has been working with the marked ones (children of rebellion leaders) not to overthrow Navarre but to actually protect it, because the real threat is the venin, dark magic users who are draining the land itself.
The bonding with Andarna is more significant than it first appears. She is not just a small golden dragon. By the end of the book it becomes clear she is something different, possibly ancient. This pays off heavily in Iron Flame.
Xaden and Violet's relationship takes a hit at the end when she realizes he has been keeping major secrets, even after they became intimate. The book ends on a cliffhanger with Violet discovering the truth about the rebellion and Brennan. It is not a clean resolution, which frustrated some readers but kept the vast majority desperate for Iron Flame.
Where it sits in The Empyrean
Fourth Wing is the first book in The Empyrean series. It is followed by Iron Flame (book 2) and Onyx Storm (book 3). The series is planned for five books total. You cannot read Iron Flame without Fourth Wing first, as it picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending. The books get progressively longer and the scope widens significantly from the academy setting. Prime Video is adapting the series for TV, with Esther McGregor reportedly cast as Violet and Emilio Sakraya as Xaden. Our Fourth Wing TV show guide has the latest cast and release news.
Fourth Wing: FAQ
How spicy is Fourth Wing?
Fourth Wing is rated 3 out of 5 on our heat scale, which we call spicy. The Spice Guide explains what each level means. Spice Guide
Is Fourth Wing a standalone?
No. Fourth Wing is book 1 in the The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. It is the place to start. Iron Flame comes next. The Empyrean reading order
What are the content warnings for Fourth Wing?
Several named characters die during training (some violently). There is a culture of hazing and physical brutality at the academy that is presented as normal and even necessary.
How long is Fourth Wing?
Fourth Wing is 528 pages. At an average pace that is roughly 12 hours of reading.
When was Fourth Wing published?
Fourth Wing was first published on May 2, 2023.
Is Fourth Wing OK for teens?
No, it is written for adults. At 3 out of 5 it has explicit scenes on the page.
What should I read after Fourth Wing?
If you liked it, try Silver Elite, A Fate of Wrath and Flame or A Fate So Cruel. They share the tropes that make Fourth Wing work. Silver Elite, A Fate of Wrath and Flame, A Fate So Cruel
