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I bought this book myself. Opinions are my own.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Series: The Empyrean #1
Published by Piatkus
on May 2, 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy
Pages: 528
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought myself
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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.
After reading and hearing about ‘Fourth Wing’ for what feels like forever, I knew I wanted this book to be my next read. I read a book by Rebecca Yarros back in 2021, and absolutely loved it. But I’m always a bit apprehensive to read a book where I read so many great things about. What if my expectations are too high? But since I kept wondering and thinking about this book it was time to give it a go. (Apparently I was lucky there were four hardcover books left in the Waterstones when I arrived. One of the booksellers told me they just got a new delivery because they sold so fast.)
‘Fourth Wing’ pulled me in right from the start and I couldn’t stop reading. This book is a perfect blend of the Hunger Games and the From Blood and Ash series, which happen to be two of my favorite series ever, and I never wanted it to end. The book starts right away when Violet is forced to join the Riders Quadrant. She always planned on joining the Scribe Quadrant, a place surrounded by books. But now she’s joining a place where many people get killed just by entering the school year. Add the fact that Violet gets hurt easily, and isn’t built for combat or physical work at all, and everyone is counting on her to get killed soon.
”you look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?”
But Violet doesn’t give up easily and she works hard to get stronger. Luckily for Violet she has her brains to work with. And although she also gets stronger, she is pretty good in outsmarting everyone. But being in a place where everyone around her is just there for themselves, it’s hard to see who really can be trusted and who only wants to get her killed.
And then there is Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. Not only is Xaden one of the most powerful (and most handsome) guys at the Quadrant.. he is also someone who would love for Violet to end up dead. Seeing as her mom was the one that killed his father.
“I will not die today.”
‘Fourth Wing’ had everything I loved in a book. Fantasy, romance, suspense, twists.. I loved every single page of this book. I loved reading a great fantasy after not having read a lot of Fantasy novels lately. The dragons, the magic.. Oh I loved it all! And although it’s a pretty brute world, I couldn’t get enough of it. And I found myself thinking about this book and the characters a lot during the day.
“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.
A rider without their dragon is dead.”
And the romance.. Well.. It ruined me! It was just soooo good! And I can’t wait to read more! The ending made me grave the next book! And I ended up pre-ordering it right away. (November can’t come soon enough.)
‘Fourth Wing’ is easily going on my favorite list! The easiest given 5 star rating this year for sure!
Available at (*affiliate):
Amazon US * Barnes & Noble Apple Books Waterstones
About Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Oooh very nice! I impulse bought this one bc I kept seeing it around. I still need to read it but I might have to rearrange my reading queue to make it even sooner! Glad it was a winner!! Great review!
Thanks Jessica. I hope you’ll get to read it soon. It was soooo good! I wish I could re-read it already! 😀
Two series I have NEVER read haha I like some of JLA books but to be honest my favorites are her lesser known Avon ones like her gothic contemporary one and her NA books are fab. But I have heard such mixed things about her fantasy I have been scared haha Glad you loved Fourth Wing. Many readers are loving it. I am pretty sure its not my type of fantasy though. I am more of a Jeffe Kennedy, CL Wilson, Milla Vane gal lol But I do love that so many readers are loving this book.
Thanks. I really really loved it. But to each their own 😉
I haven’t read or even heard about the authors you’ve names. I’ll have to check them out.
Yes. I am excited about the upcoming release, but for now am listening to A Soul of Blood and Ash, Star Bringer and Light Bringer.
I’m a bit behind on the From Blood and Ash series but definitely hope to catch up soon. I hope you’re enjoying your reads 😉
I have this on my TBR. So glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks. It’s a wonderful read! I hope you’ll get to it soon.
Very nice review. I’ve got this on my TBR and I’m currently on the wait list at my library. Heard such good things about this new book. ^_^
Thanks Angela. I hope you’ll get it soon. It’s an amazing read!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this one. I did as well. Maybe more than I even expected to. I’m glad the next book is not too far away.
I’m so glad you loved it too! November feels way to long for me. LOL!
I am so jealous!! Everyone has read this book but me 🙁
I was tempted to buy it, but was worried. What if I didn’t love it?
I’m still waiting for my reserve copy to be available from the library lol. I wish I could tell those anonymous people to hurry the heck up!!
Great review btw xo
I know how you feel! I felt like I was so late as well. But it’s worth the wait 😉 I hope you’ll be able to read the book soon! 😉
I pre-ordered Fourth Wing and yet I still haven’t read it. I get so nervous about reading fantasy. It’s just not my genre and I always worry that I’m not going to follow the world building or the fantasy aspects and feel lost. But I love Rebecca Yarros and her storytelling so I really need to just dive in.
I totally understand. Although I love Fantasy, I haven’t read it a lot these last few years.. So I was a bit scared as well. But since I looooooved the other book I read by Rebecca I just decided to go for it! And I loved it!
I hope you’ll get to read it too! Can’t wait to read what you think 😉
I can’t wait to read this one! It’s very high on my TBR! Your review makes me want to move it up! lol
I hope you’ll get to it fast. You won’t regret it 😉