Fourth wing was written by an American author Rebecca Yarros and was originally published on the 5th of April 2023. The book reached viral success on “BookTok”, which propelled it to reach No.1 on the New York Times. It is the first book in the Empyrean series, followed by Iron Flame. Its genres are mainly romance, high fantasy and fantasy. The reviews on Amazon for example are 4.8/5, on Goodreads 4.6/5 and on Audible 4, 7/5. The book has 528 pages and an estimated 148.902 words.
—About the author—
Rebecca Yarros was born on April 14, 1981. She is an American author, who is best known for the Empyrean fantasy book series, which will be adapted into a television series with Amazon. Yarros graduated from Troy University, where she studied European history and English. She is also a military wife. During her husband's deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, she read everyday, and on his third deployment she wrote her own book.
—About the book—
Fourth Wing takes place in a fictional continent segmented into three regions: Navarre, which is primarily focused on; Poromiel; and The Barrens. The central setting is the Basgiath War College, an esteemed institution located in Basgiath, the capital of Navarre. Cadets aspire to become riders and form bonds with dragons, with the ultimate goal of acquiring a signet, granting them unique abilities, akin to magical powers. In the war college there are 4 different groups: riders (they ride the dragons, but have to complete deathly challenges, most riders die), healers (they heal the wounded), scribes (they are like librarians, who know strategy, they aren’t the ones who fight, but the ones who invent and plan) and infantry (they train to go into the army, but without powers).
The protagonist is Violet Sorrengail, a 20-year-old, who originally wanted to become a scribe, but her mother Lilith Sorrengail, the General and the dean of the War College, did not want her daughter to become a scribe, but a rider, the most dangerous group. The story revolves around her life at the college, where she meets friends, love and almost-deaths. Other main character is Xaden Riorson, a 23-year-old senior at the college. He is the leader of the Fourth Wing. Xaden wants to kill Violet, because her mother killed his parents. Throughout the book they “connect”, in a way.
—Why I love the book—
"Fourth Wing" is a magical gateway to a fantasy realm, where emotions surge and tears flow freely. The enchanting characters of Violet and Xaden captivate the heart, drawing readers into their spellbinding journey. Despite initial reservations about dragon-centric narratives, this tale breaks all barriers, melting even the coldest of hearts. Its gripping plot unfolds with such finesse that the desire to revisit it again and again becomes irresistible. Romance permeates every page, intertwining with death-defying challenges that keep readers on the edge of their seats. With its captivating allure, "Fourth Wing" undoubtedly earns a just-one-more-page rating, leaving readers longing for more with each turn of the page.