Review: Fourth Wing (reread)

 

Title: Fourth Wing (Holiday exclusive edition)

Series: Empyrean series

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Release Date: Nov 7 2023 

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

In a world at war, young adults can enter the war college to face the challenges of possibly becoming a dragon rider, and protecting their lands. But the challenges at the college is just as capable of killing them as any dragon or opponent can. The only options of the college once you enter, is graduate or die. So when Violet is thrust into the Rider's Quadrant - Violet who can barely make it up the stairs with her pack without getting winded, Violet who's joints can pop out at any inconvenience, and bones snap easier than others- she is viewed as the weakest link, and becomes target number one. Especially from the marked ones. Being the daughter of the general who helped execute their parents who led the rebellion six years ago. So her main objective- don't die, and stay away from Xaden- the one who wants her dead more than any other... But staying away from Xaden becomes infinitely more difficult when their lives become tied together. 

So, I reread this book - not only to read the bonus chapters but also to prepare for Iron Flame. 

And I loved it just as much the second time around. 

I loved the world, the magic & dragons, and the characters. 

It has great world building, - that isn't overwhelming. It has the nostalgia feel of dystopian novels, with the fantasy element of dragons, and dragons woven in. 

And the characters. 

Violet's illness may make others view her as a liability - she's more brittle, weaker, smaller than everyone else- yet  she is stronger- maybe not in muscle but in her compassion & personality & also dealing with pain on the daily- and smarter & more cumning than those around her. 

Rhiannon who is smart, loyal & a great friend. 

Liam who is protective, sweet & caring. 

Xaden who is dark, brooding, lethal & ruthless but more than he seems. 

I loved this book and cannot wait to dive into Iron Flame - dive more into this wonderful world of magic & magnificent dragons & see more from this characters. I cannot wait to see what happens next. 4.5 ⭐s out of 5⭐. 

3🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - Multiple scenes throughout in detail. 

Tropes: 
→ fantasy romance /romantasy
→ enemies to lovers 
→ forced Proximity 
→ academy (war college)
→ New Adult romance 
→ chronic illness (h) representation 
→ morally gray H 
→found family 
→ slow burn 
→ overcoming adversity/underdog 
→ dysfunctional family

Trigger Warnings