Read this no-spoilers Fourth Wing review to learn why this popular fantasy book by Rebecca Yarros is a book worth the hype. Undoubtedly the most viral book in many years, I haven’t seen anything like the Fourth Wing phenomenon since Harry Potter. The first edition actually sold out everywhere, and copies were scalped for hundreds and thousands of dollars on re-sale sites!
The first in the Fourth Wing series in order, this book set in school transports the reader to Basgiath War College, where dragon riders train to fight magical and mythical creatures. You’ll be sucked in to the characters’ fantasy world, and their love lives, as the romance and battles “heat” up. Get all your questions about this book answered in my book review below.
Fourth Wing Review Without Spoilers: Is It Worth Reading?
Yes! Fourth Wing is a bestselling phenomenon that is popular because it truly has it all, from magical dragons to love and war. It’s unique, immersive, spicy, captivating, emotional, and twist-y! The cliffhanger ending made my jaw drop, as I yearned for the sequel. It’s the ultimate escape book for adults.
Key Details
- Author: Rebecca Yarros
- Genre: First fantasy book in a fantasy romance book series
- Publisher: Red Tower Books
- Publication Date: May 2, 2023
- Accolades: #1 New York Times bestseller, Goodreads Best Romantasy Book of the Year, a best book of the year by several outlets, Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of the Year
- Pages: 528
- Chapters: 39
- Age Rating: Fourth Wing is an adult novel for ages 18+ based on war, battle, hand-to-hand combat, perilous situations, blood, intense violence, brutal injuries, death, poisoning, graphic language, and sexual activities.
- Content warnings: war, hand-to-hand combat, blood, intense violence, brutal injuries, gore, murder, death, animal death, injury rehabilitation, grief, poisoning, burning, perilous situations, graphic language, and sexual activities.
- Fourth Wing Spice Level: 3 out of 5 (Chapters 22, 30, and 32 have spice)
Quick Plot Overview: In Fourth Wing, Violet Sorrengail is a 20-year-old resident of Navarre. She was about to enter Basgiath War College in the Scribe Quadrant, studying books and history. But her mother, the General, orders her to seek entry into the elite Riders Quadrant, which is extremely dangerous and deadly.
Even if she makes it through, as her mother, older sister Mira, and older brother Brennan did, only a fraction will live to graduate.
Violet is frail, so she must fight extra hard to survive. This is especially true since people like the powerful Wingleader Xaden Riorson have it out for her. He and many of the others are only there because of the fallout from their parents’ rebellion, after which Violet’s mother executed them. These circumstances bring them closer than they ever imagined.
Thus begins a heart-stopping journey of dragon-riding plus magical powers (signets), symbols (relics), powerful books, a deadly bridge, a gauntlet, a Squad Battle, War Games, mythical creatures (gryphon, wyvern, venin), and even love.
There also remains an overarching theme about retelling history that begins to reveal itself. This book can be summed up simply as “things are not what they seem.”
Read more in my full Fourth Wing summary and my guide to the Fourth Wing ending explained.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Fantasy that works for all kinds of readers
- Easy to read
- Believeable enemies-to-lovers trope
- Complex protagonist with chronic illness
- Meaningful themes of war, history, and power
- Shocking plot twists
CONS
- Love triangle trope emerges then disappears
- Too many characters
- Overuse of graphic language
- Disability representation could be more developed
- Needs more historical context
First, I have to note that I was neither a fantasy reader nor a spicy romance reader, and I only decided to read Fourth Wing after seeing others like me rave about it. It gave me so much “fear of missing out.”
Well, I am so glad I got in on the ground floor of the Empyrean series. This is just one of those books that hits every nail on the head, making it so widely readable by all kinds of readers. I think this is because Yarros seems to have channeled so much of herself into this storyline. (She’s a lover of dragons and history, and she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, like Violet.)
While made-up worlds and words can be challenging to grasp, Fourth Wing was fairly easy to read overall. It’s written on a more simple reading level, so you can work your way through the new terminology more easily.
It also appeals to both open and closed-door romance readers because, while steamy, it’s only for a few chapters. The “enemies to lovers” trope is also more believable than usual, as both Violet’s and Xaden’s families have suffered a tragic loss at the hands of the other’s family. There may be nothing more likely to create an enemy than that.
Lastly, the protagonist, Violet, is extremely complex and likable. It’s hard not to root for her to find love and survival amidst her circumstances. It’s nice to see that her brain and her courage matter more than her physical strength.
For the more literary readers, Fourth Wing also offers a highly complicated family, lots of references to books, and a really meaningful overarching theme that history may not be what it seems. I’m really excited to see where this theme heads next.
And for all types of readers, Fourth Wing has constant life-or-death suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat, a cast of Fourth Wing characters (including Fourth Wing dragons) with colorful personalities, magic that feels utterly escapist (including Fourth Wing signets, a few shocking plot twists, and an absolutely epic ending that leaves you wanting so much more.
Because no book is perfect, I will round out my Fourth Wing review by noting a few things that didn’t work for me.
First, the reader of Fourth Wing is led to believe there is a love triangle trope when there really isn’t. It felt distracting.
I’ll also say that while the fantasy world was generally easy to understand, the sheer volume of characters named was also distracting. Dozens were mentioned once, then never again. I never knew which ones I had to try my best to remember or which we’d never hear of again.
The volume of “F words” was also a bit distracting. It’s just not necessary to curse all the time.
While I loved Violet’s representation of her disability, I also found it unrealistic at times. I wanted more background and more specific details about her condition and it’s challenges, which were sometimes just subtly referenced.
Lastly, I wish we had learned more about the enemy and the history behind what brought them to such a fierce battle. But I note that this does occur in the sequel!
Helpful Reading Recommendations
TIPS
- Fourth Wing should be read before book 2, Iron Flame, and Iron Flame should be read before book 3, Onyx Storm. This series follows a continuous plot with the same characters.
- I recommend print or ebook format so you can focus on the many details. I prefer ebook so I can easily highlight, take notes, and do word searches.
- Read it slowly, as the jam-packed action scenes require a lot of energy to consume and understand.
- Use my Fourth Wing map PDF with the locations and important facts about them to master the fantasy world.
About Author Rebecca Yarros
about
Rebecca Yarros is a graduate of Troy University and an American author of over fifteen books. She is best known for her bestselling dragon fantasy romance books. She will serve as the executive producer of the Amazon adaptation.
She and her husband co-founded the charity One October to improve kids’ lives in foster care.
More by this author: In the Likely Event is another popular choice with readers.
Recap: Fourth Wing Is Worth the Hype!
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a five-star read and a massively bestselling phenomenon for many reasons.
It truly has it all, from an immersive (yet easy-to-understand) fantasy world to a cutthroat academic environment, the ever-looming threat of war and death, a complex and loveable heroine, a complicated family, deep friendships, a believable enemies-to-lovers trope, a swoonworthy hero, shocking plot twists, magic, dragons, and even more.
Want an easier way to read Fourth Wing?
Stop feeling confused and start enjoying Fourth Wing! Take your reading experience to the next level with this 23-page, ad-free PDF version of my reading guides, perfect for printing and on-the-go reference while you read.
More Fourth Wing Guides
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remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
