Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: Where Dragons Soar and Hearts Ignite

Fourth Wing -The Empyrean Book 1 by Rebecca Yarros

‘A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.’ Welcome to Fourth Wing.

Prepare to be swept away on the wings of dragons in Rebecca Yarros’ enthralling fantasy masterpiece, “Fourth Wing.”

From the very first page, we are introduced to a world brimming with magic, danger, and unexpected romance that will leave you utterly captivated.

In a land divided by kingdoms and centuries of war, Violet Sorrengail, finds herself torn from her dreams of a quiet life among books as a Scribe. Instead, she’s thrust into the brutal training of dragon riders, facing not only the challenges of fierce competitors but also her own physical limitations. As Violet battles for survival, she discovers courage within herself she never knew existed. And when her path crosses with Xaden Riorson, a powerful rival with his own complicated history, their dynamic sparks a fire that transcends their differences.

Rebecca Yarros’ storytelling mastery shines as she weaves a tapestry of intricate relationships, unexpected alliances, and heart-pounding suspense. Her characters’ growth and transformations are beautifully portrayed, making “Fourth Wing” an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, camaraderie, and daring adventure.

Prepare to lose yourself in a world where dragons breathe life into every page, where friendships are forged in the crucible of war, and where love blossoms amidst the chaos. “Fourth Wing” is a triumph of imagination, emotions, and unyielding spirit—a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance alike.

Fourth Wing Blurb

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 Non-Spoiler Review

Like I said this book wasn’t very unique but I loved it. Initially, when I read the premise it felt like a trope that had been overexplored. But as I delved into the story, it became clear that it was anything but ordinary. The storytelling in “Fourth Wing” was exceptional, and what truly grabbed my attention were the well-crafted characters, not to mention the presence of dragons, which always intrigue me in any story.

Everyone around me knows I’m going to read a book with dragons on the cover or in it. But these dragons were not just a part of the story they were in it, they had the attitude, sass, sarcasm and even had mates. It was a very unexpected part they were also kind of funny.

It felt like a typical fantasy story but didn’t feel like it also. Fourth Wing was unique in its own right but the storytelling was captivating and flowed easily.

Fourth Wing’s World Building

The story and the journey were worth reading this chunk of a book. But I liked the world-building I appreciated that there were no huge info dumps and it was quite easy to get into the story pretty much from the beginning.

I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up easily in the beginning but it wasn’t that hard.

Also, we had so many characters being introduced in the beginning but most of them die anyways and we’re able to keep up with just the important people.

The fantasy world in which “Fourth Wing” is set is vividly described, and its intricacies are presented in a way that’s easy to understand without resorting to overwhelming info dumps. The setting is a perfect backdrop for the challenges and adventures that the characters face.

Characters

Violet‘s character stood out to me as multidimensional and relatable. Her struggles with her physical limitations made her journey even more inspiring. She isn’t the traditional strong and physically capable heroine, but her intelligence, courage, and determination make her shine.

All the other characters in the book had depths. From Violet’s steadfast friend Dain Aetos to her conflicted sister Mira, every character contributes to the intricate web of relationships that shape the story. The camaraderie and tensions among the dragon riders, as well as the dynamics within Violet’s family, provide depth and authenticity to the narrative.Liam, Dian, Xaden, Imogen, Rhiannon etc.

Fourth Wing Spoiler Review

The review below contains spoilers stop reading now if you don’t want to be spoiled.

Xaden Riorson: A Complex Antagonist Turned Ally

I cannot talk about Xaden Riorson’s character spoiler free, the powerful and enigmatic wingleader, starts as an antagonist with a personal vendetta against Violet’s family. However, as the layers of his character are peeled back, readers discover a more nuanced individual with his own motivations and struggles. The evolution of his relationship with Violet from enemies to allies is a highlight of the story. Their interactions are filled with tension, chemistry, and unexpected depth, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative.

I liked how he looked out for her. I appreciated that he pushed her to be her best self rather than cuddle and baby her. He helped her to survive. Unlike Dain Aetos.

Now let’s talk about Dain “Mr I stick to the rules” Dain’s Signet is Retrocognition (i.e: Reading a person’s recent memories by touch) and he touched Violet 33 times. Thirty Three times he probably violated her and peeped into her memories. I hated that he didn’t want Violet to discover herself. I understood he looking out for her in the beginning but he didn’t give her a chance to grow or believe in her. Even after she got her powers he still saw her as weak.

I thought this was going to be a love triangle but we didn’t really get a triangle. Dain a stickler for rules insists they wait till graduation as superiors are not allowed to date subordinates.

As for powers, Violet’s signet (a power channelled through her dragon) is wielding lightning, When it manifested I went “Of course she has lightening powers” It was expected and I loved it. She also got two dragons, Tarin and Andarna, I loved the dragons Tarin is grumpy and sarcastic I loved every time he’d show up in the book.

Unveiling Hidden Truths: Twists That Reshape the Battlefield

“Fourth Wing” skillfully intertwines a web of secrets and mysteries that keep the reader guessing until the final page. As layers of deception and intrigue are peeled back, Readers and Violet must confront the reality that not all is as it seems. The revelation of hidden motives and alliances reshapes the landscape of the story, driving home the message that the truth is never simple.

Fourth Wing Ending

The climax of “Fourth Wing” delivers an emotional crescendo that’s both heart-wrenching and exhilarating. The impact of sacrifices, the complexity of bonds formed, and the depth of emotions experienced create an emotional rollercoaster that lingers long after the final page.

Over the course of the book, we lose a lot of characters and I was pretty much fine with it. Dylan’s character dying was a shock we meet him on the parapet and he says he’s not dying today. However, he dies a few pages later which pretty much launches us in the flow of the book from the first few pages.

The one death I mourned was the final battle, where they battle the Venin, and both Liam and Deigh sadly and tragically die. I loved Liam, he was a fun character to read and you could really tell he liked Violet beyond just being her bodyguard. However a rider without a dragon is dead, hence Liam’s death shortly after Deigh dies.

Finally, the reveal at the end that Brennan is still alive makes things a whole lot more interesting plus he being on the side of the revolution was something I didn’t expect to be honest. Looking back there were a lot of clues to this.

At the end of the book, the way Xaden talks about Brennan shows they’re good friends. This makes us rethink why Xaden dislikes Violet just for being a Sorrengail. What if Xaden actually wants to protect her because Brennan asked him to, or because Breennan told him about Violet or just because Violet is Brennan’s sister?

That could explain why he moves her closer under his watch. It’s like he’s looking out for her, not wanting to hurt her. As opposed to what he makes her believe.

Brennan being alive also creates some plot holes in the story. Like, what happened to Tairn’s old rider, Naolin who supposedly died trying to bring Brennan back? We need a good explanation for that.

Conclusion: A Fantasy Epic to Remember

Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing” is a tour de force in the fantasy genre, offering a rich tapestry of magic, romance, and indomitable spirit. From the lush world-building to the multifaceted characters, every element of the story is meticulously crafted to draw readers into a realm where dragons soar and hearts ignite. Whether you’re a fan of fantasy or romance, or simply crave an immersive reading experience, “Fourth Wing” is a book that will leave an indelible mark on your literary journey.