By Ahaqir Ishaq
Spoiler-free: This review discusses the premise without revealing major twists.
Some books become so popular that it is difficult to open them without wondering whether they can possibly live up to the attention. That was the question hanging over Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. After finishing it in less than two days, I understood why readers were so eager to recommend it.
With deadly challenges, dragon bonds, and a romance that complicates an already dangerous situation, this is the kind of fantasy novel that makes stopping at the end of a chapter surprisingly difficult. It has familiar ingredients, and some twists are easier to anticipate than others, but I was too invested in Violet’s survival to mind much.
Fourth Wing Summary
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail has spent her life preparing to become a scribe. She expects a future surrounded by books, recording the history of Navarre rather than fighting its battles.
Her mother has other plans. General Lilith Sorrengail orders Violet to enter the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College, where candidates compete for the opportunity to bond with dragons. Surviving the training is far from guaranteed.
Violet’s siblings have already established formidable reputations, but she arrives without the physical preparation many of her fellow candidates take for granted. Her body is vulnerable to injury, and her surname brings enemies as well as expectations.
What Violet does have is intelligence, determination, and years of knowledge gathered from books. To survive, she must find ways to use those strengths in a place that appears designed to reward brute force.
Why I Couldn’t Put Fourth Wing Down
The biggest reason this novel worked for me was its momentum. Yarros keeps giving Violet another problem to solve, another person to assess, or another reason to question whether she can trust the people around her.
That creates a strong connection between the reader’s curiosity and Violet’s immediate needs. I wanted to understand the world, but I also wanted to know how she would survive the next challenge.
I finished Fourth Wing in less than two days because the story rarely gave me a convenient place to leave it. Yarros understands how to end a chapter with just enough uncertainty to make reading one more feel necessary.
That approach will not appeal equally to everyone. Readers who prefer a slower introduction to a fantasy world may want more room to pause. For me, the urgency was a large part of the appeal.
Violet Is More Interesting Than a Typical Underdog
Violet’s appeal comes from the gap between what Basgiath expects and what she can offer. She cannot simply approach every challenge the same way as stronger candidates, so she has to think about problems differently.
Her background as an aspiring scribe matters. Knowledge becomes a practical advantage rather than an incidental character detail.
I also appreciated that wanting to survive does not make her instantly fearless. The stakes remain convincing because Violet understands how dangerous her situation is. Watching her find ways forward is more satisfying than watching a character succeed effortlessly.
Dragons, Worldbuilding, and the Secrets of Navarre
The dragons are an obvious reason to pick up Fourth Wing, and they help distinguish its military-college setting from a more conventional school story.
Their presence raises questions about power, loyalty, and the relationship between humans and creatures they cannot fully control. Bonding with a dragon is more complicated than earning a prize for completing training.
Although much of the novel takes place at Basgiath, Yarros gradually introduces the history and conflicts surrounding Navarre. Violet’s education gives readers an entry into that history while leaving room to question what she has been taught.
If that combination is what interests you most, our list of dragon fantasy books to read offers more places to explore it.
How Well Does the Romance Work?
The romance is central to Fourth Wing. Attraction, suspicion, and competing loyalties run alongside the survival challenges, giving Violet’s decisions additional emotional weight.
For me, Yarros balances those elements well. The romance kept me invested in the characters, while the fantasy plot supplied enough danger and uncertainty to keep the story moving.
The comparisons that came to mind were the deadly competition of The Hunger Games and the immersive school setting of Harry Potter. Those comparisons describe parts of the reading experience, though Fourth Wing is written for adults and includes explicit sexual content, strong language, and violence.
Readers looking for fantasy with very little romance should keep that emphasis in mind.
Does Fourth Wing Have Weaknesses?
Not every development surprised me. Some character dynamics and plot turns draw on familiar fantasy and romance patterns, and readers who know those genres well may see certain moments coming.
However, predictability did not spoil my enjoyment. I was interested in how Violet would respond and how the consequences would unfold, even when I suspected where a particular thread was heading.
That is the distinction that made the book work for me: the surprises were enjoyable, but my investment did not depend entirely on being surprised.
Where Fourth Wing Fits in the Empyrean Series
Fourth Wing opens Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series. The first three main novels are:
- Fourth Wing — May 2, 2023.
- Iron Flame — November 7, 2023.
- Onyx Storm — January 21, 2025.
The publisher lists the original release dates for Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, while Onyx Storm’s publication listing confirms the third novel’s date.
Continue with our Iron Flame book review or visit the Empyrean series guide for broader reading guidance. For sequel announcements, see our Fourth Wing Book 4 updates.
My Verdict: Is Fourth Wing Worth Reading?
For me, Fourth Wing lives up to the hype. Its combination of an intelligent protagonist, dangerous trials, dragons, and romantic tension made it an absorbing read.
It does not need every twist to be unpredictable to succeed. Yarros makes the characters and their immediate problems compelling enough that I wanted to keep reading anyway.
If you enjoy fantasy with a substantial romance, a competitive school setting, and a heroine who survives by thinking as well as fighting, Fourth Wing is easy to recommend. I came away understanding the enthusiasm—and wanting to continue the series.
Ready to enter Basgiath? Find Fourth Wing on Amazon.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Books of Brilliance earns from qualifying purchases.
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This is sitting in my pile of TBR books. I’m looking forward to delving into it.
I struggled to read this book. I think this is one of those stories I may appreciate once it’s adapted to streaming or a movie. It had some decent world building.