Fourth Wing: Discover the brutal and addictive world of the global bestselling fantasy phenomenon (The Empyrean)

The characters are addictive to follow along even if I have a problem of guessing the plot twists. I don’t enjoy the “tell and not show” aspect of some of the writing style but that is easily brushed over by the number of refreshing characters and deviance from overdone tropes and some tropes that are just done well with new life breathed into them. Gonna pick up the next book as soon I finish this review because of that cursed cliffhanger.

I doubted the craze online but the story was actually really good. Good world concept, good writing!

It's good

I'll admit it—I was skeptical. The hype around Fourth Wing felt overwhelming, and I've been burned by overhyped fantasy before. A friend sent me a copy to my Kindle, and I thought I was safe. Turns out, I just hadn't met Xaden Riorson yet. Yarros doesn't waste time easing you into this world. You're dropped onto the parapet with Violet Sorrengail, discovering everything as she fights to survive her first minutes at Basgiath War College. No lengthy exposition, no gentle world-building—just immediate stakes and the visceral understanding that people die here. The writing has this modern edge to it, cursing and all, that makes the brutality feel uncomfortably real rather than romantically distant. What hooked me was Violet herself. Her mother—a ruthless general—forces her to abandon her dreams of becoming a scribe and throws her into the Riders Quadrant, where most cadets don't survive their first year. Violet has a condition that makes her bones brittle, so even crossing the entrance parapet is nearly impossible. But she doesn't survive on luck. She survives through strategy, adaptability, and sheer stubborn will. Watching her navigate a system designed to kill her—outsmarting opponents who could easily overpower her physically—that's where the real tension lives. These aren't kids playing at being warriors. They're adults facing mortality, and Violet's realization that the academy's rules are rigged against her adds layers of institutional cruelty that make her victories feel earned. Then there's Xaden Riorson. His father led a rebellion and was executed by Violet's mother, leaving Xaden marked as a traitor's son. Their dynamic starts with genuine hatred—she literally hides knives to potentially kill him, and he calls her "Violence" with real venom. What I appreciated is how their relationship doesn't follow the typical enemies-to-lovers shortcut. The trust between them builds through training sessions and knife-sharpening lessons that are worth the price of admission alone. He believes in her capabilities when everyone else writes her off. When things turn physical, it matters because of everything they've been through together. Meanwhile, Dain—her childhood friend who seems safe and supportive—uses his signet to violate her memories without consent. That betrayal hit harder than any battle scene because it's manipulation disguised as protection. The dragons are everything. During the Threshing, cadets either bond with a dragon or get incinerated for being unworthy. Violet bonds with two—Tairn, this massive black dragon with zero patience for nonsense, and Andarna, a young golden dragon who shouldn't even be there. Their connection is unprecedented and makes Violet a target. The dragons aren't just mounts; they have distinct personalities, and their mental conversations with Violet add both humor and wisdom. The magic system gives each rider a unique signet, and when Violet discovers she can wield lightning while Andarna can manipulate time, it raises the stakes in ways that complicate her survival rather than making it easier. The story shifts from academy survival to something bigger when Violet goes beyond the kingdom's wards and sees what they've been hiding. Venin—humans corrupted by draining magic—and their wyvern creations are the real threat, not the neighboring kingdom they've been told to fear. The battle at Athebyne wrecked me. The battle scenes had me breathless, the betrayals gutted me, and Liam's death left me completely destroyed. He dies protecting Violet, and his loss feels like losing someone real. Then she discovers her supposedly dead brother is alive and part of a revolution, and suddenly everything she thought she knew unravels. Is it flawless? No. Some of the academy rules feel arbitrary, the world outside Basgiath remains underdeveloped, and certain tropes are familiar enough that you can see them coming. But the execution matters more than originality here. The pacing doesn't let you breathe, the emotional beats land because the relationships feel genuine, and Violet's physical limitations add weight to every choice she makes. Fourth Wing isn't trying to reinvent fantasy. It's taking familiar elements—dragons, magic schools, forbidden romance, political conspiracy—and executing them with enough character depth and emotional intensity that they feel fresh. Violet and Xaden's story got under my skin in a way I wasn't expecting. I finished it feeling emotionally wrung out, immediately started the sequel, and I'll be chasing that feeling until the next one. This book didn't just live up to the hype—it lit something in me I didn't realize I'd been missing. If you're still on the fence, clear your schedule and just read it.

それにしても、シビアな世界を描いているね。こんなにも、人の命が安い世界てのは、すごいよね。 ストーリーラインはかなりしっかりしているかな。ちょっとお手盛りなところも目につくけど、十分に我慢できる。

It was really good, and the quality was amazing!

I really love this book

Loved

Amazing

Item came in good condition except for the top of the sprayed edges has some flaws.

I absolutely loved Fourth Wing! It pulled me in right from the beginning and kept me wanting to read more. I’ve now read all of the books in the series, and this is definitely one of those series that is hard to put down. I loved the mix of dragons, romance, action, friendships, and unexpected twists. The characters are easy to get invested in, and the story just keeps getting better as the series goes along. I was a bit skeptical at first because I am not a fantasy reader but kept hearing good comments about the book. If you enjoy fantasy (or not) with plenty of action and romance, I definitely recommend giving Fourth Wing a try. I’m so glad I started this series, and I can’t wait for the next book!

De las mejores sagas que he leído! No puedes parar, los personajes son increíbles y el plot de la historia es muy original.

Starting the Book New Year off with a bang! I’ll admit it, I sometimes steer clear of “popular” books. I'm contrary like that LOL. This book though, BELIEVE THE HYPE. It’s been a long time since a book has consumed me the way this did. I was so hooked that I blocked out everything around me, reading non-stop until I hit the final page. Honestly, thank goodness it’s the festive season, and I survive on cheese because I was not putting this book down. From the moment Violet stepped onto the parapet, my soul belonged to this story. The world building is intense and immersive, and the stakes are sky high from the very beginning. If you haven’t heard about it yet, here’s the gist: Fourth Wing is set in a military academy where students train to become infantry, scribes, healers, or dragon riders. Choosing the dragon rider path is dangerous, think gruelling challenges, backstabbing cadets, and, yes, dragons who might kill you on the spot. If you survive, though, the rewards are incredible, including bonding with a dragon and gaining a magical signet power. The story follows Violet Sorrengail, the general’s daughter, as she navigates this perilous path. This book had me on edge the entire time. The pacing is relentless, and the characters, human and dragon alike, are so well written that it’s impossible to pick a favourite. The tension in every scene is palpable, and the emotional weight of Violet and Xaden's journey makes it impossible not to root for them. Fourth Wing isn’t just a book, it’s an experience. It’s been a long time since a story has stayed in my head, replaying scenes over and over, long after I finished reading. And the best part? It’s just the first in a five book series, which means there’s so much more to come. If you’ve been on the fence about picking this one up, don’t wait any longer it’s an absolute must read.