“Power is neither good nor evil. But how people use it can be judged.” ― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is an exhilarating blend of fantasy, romance, and military academy drama that took the reading world by storm in 2023.

The first book in the Empyrean series introduces readers to a world where dragon riders are trained in a brutal military academy and only the strongest survive.

With its compelling protagonist, sizzling romance, intricate world-building, and adrenaline-fueled action sequences, the novel creates an immersive reading experience that has captivated fans across genres.

Fourth Wing offers a perfect balance of life-threatening challenges, political intrigue, magical discoveries, and romantic tension that keeps readers frantically turning pages well into the night.

Plot Summary

“War doesn’t determine who is right, only who remains.” ― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing centers on twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail, who has spent her life preparing for the scholarly quadrant at Basgiath War College due to her fragile physical condition and chronic pain.

However, on enrollment day, her powerful mother—the commanding general—unexpectedly forces Violet to enter the dangerous rider quadrant instead, where cadets train to bond with dragons and face a 50% fatality rate during the first year alone.

Despite her physical limitations and lack of the muscular build of typical riders, Violet has no choice but to obey. Her intelligence and photographic memory become her greatest assets as she navigates a training program designed to break even the strongest recruits.

The college operates under brutal rules: cadets must either bond with a dragon, transfer to another quadrant if selected, or die in training. Many cadets see Violet as easy prey and actively try to eliminate her before she can attempt to bond with a dragon.

Complicating matters is Xaden Riorson, a powerful and mysterious cadet with a grudge against Violet’s family. Despite their antagonism, an undeniable attraction develops between them. Xaden is tied to a rebel faction opposed to Violet’s mother’s harsh military leadership, creating dangerous divided loyalties.

As Violet fights to survive, she discovers unexpected abilities during her dragon bonding and uncovers dark secrets about the war college and the ongoing conflict with separatist rebels. These revelations force her to question everything she’s been taught about her world and the cause her family has defended for generations.

The story builds to a climactic conclusion in which Violet must make life-altering choices about loyalty, love, and where she truly belongs in a world on the brink of devastating change.

My Thoughts and Review of Fourth Wing

Reading Fourth Wing feels like strapping yourself into a dragon-powered rollercoaster—exhilarating, occasionally terrifying, and leaving you desperate for another ride the moment it ends.

The Writing Style

Yarros’s writing is propulsive and immersive, designed to keep pages turning at a relentless pace.

Her prose strikes an effective balance between descriptive world-building and action-driven storytelling.

The first-person narration through Violet’s perspective creates immediate intimacy with the protagonist, allowing readers to experience every triumph and setback alongside her.

Combat sequences are particularly well-executed, conveying both the technical aspects of battle and the emotional intensity of life-threatening situations.

The Characters and Themes

Violet Sorrengail stands out as a refreshing protagonist—physically vulnerable yet mentally formidable, she subverts the typical “chosen one” narrative by surviving through intelligence rather than innate physical prowess.

Her chronic pain is portrayed with nuance and becomes integral to her character development rather than a plot device to be overcome.

Xaden fits the “dangerous love interest” archetype but is given enough depth and complexity to transcend the stereotype.

The supporting cast of fellow cadets, instructors, and dragons each have distinct personalities that enrich the world of Basgiath.

Fourth Wing explores compelling themes, including the ethics of military training, the tension between individual choice and duty, the corrupting nature of power, and the question of whether inherited enemies can become allies.

The novel also examines how institutions can simultaneously foster both camaraderie and brutal competition and how unquestioned loyalty can perpetuate systemic injustice.

Pacing and Structure

The novel maintains exceptional pacing throughout its substantial length.

Training sequences, political revelations, character development, and romantic moments are interwoven skillfully to prevent any single element from becoming repetitive.

The structure follows Violet’s academic year, with each phase of training introducing new challenges and raising the stakes as she progresses.

While the book is undeniably plot-driven, Yarros allows enough breathing room for character relationships to develop organically, making both the friendships and the central romance feel earned rather than contrived.

Emotional Impact

Fourth Wing excels at creating genuine emotional investment in its characters’ fates.

The high-mortality setting establishes real consequences that make every dangerous encounter genuinely tense.

Violet’s journey from terrified recruit to finding her kind of strength offers a compelling emotional arc that resonates beyond the typical “becoming the strongest” narrative.

The romantic elements deliver intense emotional payoffs that satisfy while still maintaining enough conflict and obstacles to sustain interest in future installments.

Readers’ Ratings and Reviews for Fourth Wing

“be the Storm that Bends the Trees. Be the Lightning that Precedes the Thunder.” ― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing has achieved remarkable popularity and acclaim among readers since its publication.

Ratings

Goodreads: Over 1 million ratings with an impressive average of 4.57 out of 5 stars.

Amazon: Approximately 165,000 ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Reviews

• The perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and action—I couldn’t put it down and immediately pre-ordered the sequel.
• Finally, a fantasy heroine who doesn’t magically overcome her physical limitations but instead uses her mind as her greatest weapon.
• The world-building is phenomenal, with a magic system and political landscape that feels both fresh and fully realized.

Criticisms

• Some readers find certain romantic tropes predictable despite the unique setting.
• A few note that the pacing in the middle section slows compared to the high-stakes beginning and end.

Is Fourth Wing the Right Book for You?

Fourth Wing is perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with strong romantic elements and a military academy setting.

This book is ideal if you enjoy stories featuring dragons, enemies-to-lovers romance, training school settings, and protagonists who succeed through intelligence rather than physical strength.

Fans of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Hunger Games, Red Rising, and An Ember in the Ashes will likely find themselves captivated by Yarros’s unique blend of fantasy, romance, and military adventure.

However, readers seeking a fantasy that prioritizes political complexity over character relationships might find the romantic elements more prominent than expected.

Those sensitive to descriptions of violence or physical suffering should be aware that the military training depicted includes graphic injuries and deaths.

Books Similar to Fourth Wing

If you enjoyed Fourth Wing, here are other books that explore similar themes:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

• Red Rising by Pierce Brown

• An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

• The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Conclusion

Fourth Wing represents contemporary fantasy at its most addictive—combining beloved elements of the genre with fresh perspectives and compelling characters.

Rebecca Yarros has created a world that feels simultaneously familiar and innovative, populated with dragons and magic but grounded in relatable human struggles and relationships.

What elevates the novel beyond similar entries in the fantasy-romance genre is its protagonist. Violet’s journey isn’t about magically overcoming her limitations but about leveraging her unique strengths in a system designed for different abilities entirely.

The novel’s extraordinary popularity speaks to readers’ hunger for stories that balance escapist fantasy with emotional authenticity, action with character development, and romance with genuine stakes.

For fans of fantasy, romance, or simply compelling storytelling, Fourth Wing offers an immersive reading experience that reminds us why we fell in love with books in the first place.

About the Author

Rebecca Yarros is an American author known for her romance novels and, more recently, her fantasy fiction.

A military wife and mother of six, including two adopted children with special needs, Yarros draws from her personal experiences to create emotionally resonant stories.

Before the phenomenal success of Fourth Wing, Yarros had established herself as a romance author with series like The Renegades and Flight & Glory. These series often featured military themes, reflecting her background as part of an army family.

The unprecedented success of Fourth Wing catapulted Yarros to new levels of recognition in 2023, with the novel becoming a viral sensation on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Other notable works:

• Iron Flame (Empyrean #2)
• The Things We Leave Unfinished
• The Last Letter
• Great and Precious Things
• The Renegades Series
• Flight & Glory Series