Book Review: Fourth Wing

• Book Blurb

  Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College…

  Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general — 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.

  Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda, so sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

  Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College…

  Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general — 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.

  Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda, so sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

• My review

  Can I just say I waited forever to read this book? Personally, I hate starting a series if it’s not finished yet—and The Empyrean series will have five books, with only three published so far.

  However, when I saw the hardcover in a bookstore, I couldn’t resist—it’s simply stunning. The edition I bought has a golden dust jacket covering the black hardcover beneath.

  Inside, there aren’t just one but two maps, which made opening it for the first time genuinely exciting. I’m glad I chose the hardcover instead of reading it on my Kindle.

  About the story itself…

  I had very high expectations due to the huge hype this book had in 2024, and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint.

  The story has a great balance of romance, spiciness, and plot. The worldbuilding is excellent—every time I opened the book, I felt completely immersed in Navarre. With two maps included, this wasn’t surprising.

  Violet’s character impressed me the most. With over 700 books in my Goodreads account, sometimes it feels like there aren’t any new personalities left. Violet is refreshingly different. She’s flawed—not perfect—but she’s determined, smart, and has a unique inner strength. I haven’t encountered a character quite like her before.

  Xaden—I loved his character too. He’s the type of alpha male you sometimes want to strangle, but his gestures make your heart melt. He’s a classic brooding male lead who balances arrogance with surprising depth.

  If you enjoy slow buildups, you’ll love how their relationship develops—although the anticipation was killing me at times! Yarros writes sexual tension really well. The spicy scenes were good—not quite top-10-worthy for me, but definitely hot. Honestly, I almost enjoyed the slow‑burn buildup more than the payoff, and that’s rare for me.

  If you prefer slower, highly descriptive books, this might not be for you. But if you’re looking for an epic adventure with plenty of sexual tension, Fourth Wing won’t disappoint.

  Can I just say I waited forever to read this book? Personally, I hate starting a series if it’s not finished yet—and The Empyrean series will have five books, with only three published so far.

  However, when I saw the hardcover in a bookstore, I couldn’t resist—it’s simply stunning. The edition I bought has a golden dust jacket covering the black hardcover beneath.

  Inside, there aren’t just one but two maps, which made opening it for the first time genuinely exciting. I’m glad I chose the hardcover instead of reading it on my Kindle.

  About the story itself…

  I had very high expectations due to the huge hype this book had in 2024, and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint.

  The story has a great balance of romance, spiciness, and plot. The worldbuilding is excellent—every time I opened the book, I felt completely immersed in Navarre. With two maps included, this wasn’t surprising.

  Violet’s character impressed me the most. With over 700 books in my Goodreads account, sometimes it feels like there aren’t any new personalities left. Violet is refreshingly different. She’s flawed—not perfect—but she’s determined, smart, and has a unique inner strength. I haven’t encountered a character quite like her before.

  Xaden—I loved his character too. He’s the type of alpha male you sometimes want to strangle, but his gestures make your heart melt. He’s a classic brooding male lead who balances arrogance with surprising depth.

  If you enjoy slow buildups, you’ll love how their relationship develops—although the anticipation was killing me at times! Yarros writes sexual tension really well. The spicy scenes were good—not quite top-10-worthy for me, but definitely hot. Honestly, I almost enjoyed the slow‑burn buildup more than the payoff, and that’s rare for me.

  If you prefer slower, highly descriptive books, this might not be for you. But if you’re looking for an epic adventure with plenty of sexual tension, Fourth Wing won’t disappoint.

Character & romance details

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