Fourth Wing (Special Edition) (The Empyrean, 1)

If I am honest, I was not sure if I should give this book a try, because I don’t read fantasy, normally I read romance, mystery, thriller, or dystopian, but I decided to try the book, what was the worst that could happen? That I wouldn’t like it. But boy am I glad I tried this book. It exceeded my expectations by far. It is such an incredibly amazing book. One reason you know the book is good is when you feel like you are in the story, you’re immersed. Another reason, you can’t put the book down. When I tell you I read this book so fast because of how much I would read it. But most importantly, this book made me feel, it made me feel all the emotions of the characters, and my own, it made me feel happy, angry, annoyed, you get the rest. But you know it makes you feel when it makes you cry, and boy did this book do that. This book left me with so much to say and yet still left me utterly speechless. And of course, I cannot review this book without mentioning the romance. Not normally a fan of slow burn but I am getting the hype. The romance was amazing. Love love love this book. So excited to start the next one!!!

My mail man recommended this series to me and boy, he was not wrong! Amazing, seriously cannot stop reading it. Also, it’s a nice long book with character depth and a wonderful storyline! Highly recommend this book!

Thrilling, addictive, and impossible to put down. I haven't felt this way about a book in a long time! Fourth Wing sucked me right in from the start because the story line is incredible and I genuinely couldn't stop reading. The world of dragon riders and high-stakes survival is so well done. ​Quick heads-up on content: there are some spicy scenes in the book, but if that's not your thing or makes you uncomfortable, you can easily skip right past them without missing any key plot points or important information. ​I am beyond excited to read the rest of the series. If you want a fast-paced, addictive fantasy read, get this right now!

I almost stopped reading this book in the beginning because I felt completely lost. There were dragons, riders, relics, signets, rebellions, and so many characters that I wasn’t sure what was happening. What I eventually realized is that this was intentional. You’re discovering the world at the same pace Violet is, and little by little everything starts coming together. Once it did, I couldn’t put it down. The world-building is incredible, the characters are complex, and the emotional moments hit harder than I expected. There were multiple scenes that made me laugh, cry, and immediately need to know what happened next. What impressed me most was how many clues were hidden throughout the story. Looking back, so many things were right in front of me, but I didn’t fully understand their importance until later. I honestly don’t think I’ve been this invested in a book in over twenty years. By the end I was shocked, emotional, and immediately ready to start the next book.

John Palladino, author of the grimdark fantasy series, The Tragedy of Cedain, picked this book for me to read. He said he'd heard a lot of people say good things about it, but the people he trusted absolutely hated it. He wanted to know what I thought. So here we are. What do I think? I started this book and became obsessed. For the three days it took me to read it, I was either curled up in my chair physically reading it or suffering through the audiobook when I had to actually get up and function as an adult. I would recommend reading this one physically, if possible. I had the good fortune to land both FOURTH WING and IRON FLAME in hardback during a sale in recent months. As is my habit, I checked out the audiobook from my library so that I could pair the two together. Rebecca Soler is the narrator and I did not enjoy her narration at all. Well - there is one exception - during certain scenes, Soler did match the pacing of the scene with her narration, and infused it with emotion that I felt truly captured the intensity of the moment. So there's that. I loved so many of the characters in this story. Even though the book description warned me that the only way to leave this war college was to graduate or die, I still fell in love with these kids and rooted for them to conquer each challenge faced and survive to the end. It may surprise you fantasy readers out there to know that I favored the human characters over the dragons in this book. Don't get me wrong - the dragons were magnificent and I loved learning the little bits of history they shared and most especially loved learning about their magic and how it changed, based on their chosen Rider. It's been two days since I finished the book and I'm still in the horrible throes of a book hangover. (Thank goodness I already have the next book on hand to start soon!) What I loved most about FOURTH WING was the setting. Even though there were a few deaths - one in particular - that devastated me, I wouldn't change a thing. This war college where young adults enter with the intent to become a Dragon Rider had a staggeringly low success rate. First, you have to survive the entrance to the Rider Quadrant. If you successfully navigated that, you were officially a cadet. Cadets then began their first year of training where they must survive challenges, training, education, fellow students and even the dragons! Just because you completed everything to a point, the dragons could reject you. (Hopefully by simply ignoring you and not with fire) I was engrossed with the magic that was bestowed upon the Riders from their dragons. The dragons were able to channel magic through their bond to the Rider and the abilities manifested in different ways, depending on the Rider. Who the Rider was at their core - the kind of person they were - matched their magical abilities. I know the magic in this book was just brushing the surface, so I'm looking forward to continuing the series to see how it continues to build and seeing if the Riders' magic evolves further. Obviously, this is a fantasy romance, so I feel like I should mention my opinion on the love story between our main characters. I liked it! It felt like the type of romance a couple of young 20-somethings would have, especially in a setting where they literally might not survive the day. It was quick, full of fire and flat out consuming. So many rant reviews I've seen focus on the "horny dragons" - I'm confused why people picked out that one scene that only took up a couple pages and what happened between the dragons took place off the page. I mean, how else do you think baby dragons get made? In closing, I had a great time with this book and CANNOT wait to get started on the sequel. I'm at war with myself because I want to read it immediately, but then I also want to wait a bit closer to when the next book releases in early 2025. Decisions, decisions!

What a ride! If you love romantacy, you will love this story. The characters are well developed and the storyline masterfully threaded. I read it every free second I had & couldn’t wait to get back to it when I had to put it down. I’m excited to download the next installment and find out what’s next for these characters and their journey!

✨ “A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.” This book is hyped for a reason. Fourth Wing is more than just dragons and romance. It is immersive and atmospheric, the kind of high fantasy that feels expansive and addictive without ever becoming overwhelming. What makes this story stand out to me isn’t just the concept, but the execution. The tension feels intentional. The stakes feel personal. Every element, from the war college setting to the dragon bonds, works together to create something cinematic without feeling forced. ──────────────────────── 📖 The Details ⭐ Rating: 5/5 🌶 Spice Level: 3/5 📚 Genre: High Fantasy Romance 🔮 Tropes: Rivalry to lovers, forced proximity, war college, found family, morally grey MMC, dragon riders ──────────────────────── 💭 My Reading Experience What sold me was how immediate everything felt. From the first chapter, survival is never guaranteed, which keeps the pacing sharp and personal. The worldbuilding unfolds naturally through Violet’s perspective. Because the story is written in first person, information expands as she learns and processes it, keeping the fantasy elements accessible rather than overwhelming. I was far more emotionally invested than I expected to be. There is a moment in this book that still makes me cry every time I think about it. The attachment to these characters builds steadily, and the found family dynamic adds weight to every challenge they face. This book balances high tension with emotional connection in a way that made it impossible for me to look away. The final twist completely caught me off guard and subtly reframed the direction of the series in a way I didn’t anticipate. ──────────────────────── 🖤 Characters Violet Her strength will always be her mind over her body. She is physically fragile and constantly forced to work harder to compensate for that. Watching her push through limitations instead of pretending they do not exist made her feel incredibly relatable. She can also be frustrating at times. For someone so intelligent, she occasionally makes decisions that feel naive. But because the story is entirely from her perspective, our understanding is limited to how she processes information in real time. That makes her feel human rather than flawless. — “But I will not run. I wouldn’t be standing here if I’d quit every time something seemed impossible to overcome. I will not die today.” Xaden Controlled. Intense. Morally grey. The tension between him and Violet builds through rivalry and reluctant respect rather than true hatred. It isn’t a classic enemies-to-lovers arc, but the slow progression makes their relationship feel earned. — “I would rather lose this entire war than live without you, and if that means I have to prove myself over and over, then I’ll do it. You gave me your heart, and I’m keeping it.” The Dragons The dragons elevate the entire story. Their bonds feel layered and meaningful, and the subtle hints woven into those early interactions suggest larger forces at play. The mating bond dynamic also adds emotional and political complexity to the world, and their banter throughout the story had me laughing. — “I’m just… not as strong as other riders.” “I know exactly who and what you are, Violet Sorrengail.” “Should I get the wing leader?” ──────────────────────── 💖 What Worked For Me • The immersive academic war college atmosphere • Dragon bonding and lore • The steady build of emotional attachment • Morally grey romantic tension • High stakes that feel personal • The final twist that subtly reframed the direction of the series ──────────────────────── ⚡ What Didn’t Fully Work For Me • I would have loved a more intense true enemies-to-lovers arc • Violet’s occasional frustrating decision making ──────────────────────── ✨ Final Thoughts If you want high fantasy that balances deadly training and trials, dragon lore, tension-filled romance, and a heroine who earns her place through determination and strategy, this delivers. Violet and Xaden are one of my top book couples. — “It’s been my honor.”

"You turned oranges into a weapon, Violence?" - Xaden Riorson High fantasy, dragons, and an enemies-to-lovers romance in a world wrought with war? YES PLEASE! Okay, let's start at the beginning, the part before I even start reading the book. Fourth Wing is everywhere: Bookstagram, BookTok, everyone and their mother AND brother have read Fourth Wing. I was interested. I had been putting it off for fear that it would disappoint. Well...when I started reading, I was thinking "Yeah, a nice new young adult fantasy with dragons. I hope it's as good as Eragon!" Yes, I know I know...I found out very quickly that this is an adult fantasy and definitely NOT young adult. I could tell by the type font and layout, as if the sexuaI innuendos weren't enough right from the get-go! And man...were some of then so cringy. What force on this planet made me even think it was young adult?! Some of the innuendos and just the bickering, bantering type of dialogue was so cringy and awful that I had to read parts aloud to my husband for a serious laugh. It was like twelve-year-olds who have heard about $ex but haven't experienced it trying to talk about it. It was awful. Cringy. So terrible that I was affronted that I was still enjoying the book! One of the lines I remember most was something like "I want to climb him like a tree." Okay. I get what she means...but if you picture that particular simile...what DOES that even mean? There were better choices out there than...a tree...🤦‍♀️ Cringe aspect incoming: While I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope, in fact one of my favorites, the way this was set up made the characters feel flatter than paper. We have our main character, Violet, whose small size is constantly emphasized for a good portion of the novel. Yes, thank you for telling us for the FORTIETH TIME that she is small and petite. Point taken. Cool. She is also warned early on about the traitor son, Xaden Riorson, who from the moment he sees her, emphasizes his need to kill her. Except...every time he has the chance, there's some dumb excuse as to why he didn't. And then all of a sudden, he's saving her from death MUTIPLE times, and then they are kissing. ⚔️ This is all well and good, or would be, IF there was more to the enemy aspect. There should have been more time taken to explore Xaden's own hatred of Violet, and vice-versa. At least it gets better. After about halfway through the book (roughly page 250), the cringe isn't there anymore. It's like the author became a better writer AS she was writing. The (human) characters finally started getting some dimension to them, and the cringe-worthy dialogue (with one exception about measuring size, though it's placement wasn't too bad) was no longer present. We finally get a little bit of Xaden's hatred-turned-passion toward Violet, but still not enough to see why he would want to kill Violet, as opposed to attempting to kill her mother, the main responsible party for his misery, instead. I know there will be more books to explore this later, but to make the true enemies-to-lovers feel, and for it to feel genuine, there should have been a bit more from the start. What truly makes this book shine is the dragons. Absolutely everything about the dragons. The series is named after their mysterious governing council (or what it is perceived as, though may be something else entirely), the Empyrean. The dragons are intriguing characters who all deserve more page time, especially Andarna and Sgaeyl, as well as the secondary characters dragons, which we don't get to see a whole lot of. With the dragons having their own governing system and being respected as the highest of beings, they certainly deserved more. The dragons also channel magic into their riders, and each rider manifests their own unique power based on their inner self. The magic system is enjoyable and works well for this world. There are two parts about the book that absolutely make it phenomenal: Threshing, and the last 50 pages of the novel. Threshing is the day when riders get to go out into the field and try to bond with a dragon. The dragon must pick the rider, of course, and not the other way around. No spoilers, but this scene comes somewhere between pages 120-180ish and is the part of the novel that truly had me hooked. I couldn't put it down! The last 50 pages of the novel are the exciting battle one waits for in this kind of book. Once again, no spoilers, but with references throughout and the multiple reveals during this stretch of reading make for an action-packed cliffhanger ending making the reader itch for more. I don't even know where this story will go from here. I know whatever happens, I'll be along for the ride and I know I'll have my wildest imaginings blown out of the water. Final consensus: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💎 Why? Overall, the entertainment value of this novel has great sway in my final rating. Despite complaining about cringey aspects, they offered great laugh-out-loud moments. Despite the flat characters at first, they definitely fill out a bit more later, and the thing is, one can't hate on that. It's only the beginning of the story (my understanding at the time of this blog post is that it is planned as a five book series). That dragons truly make this book phenomenal, and everything about the last 50 pages really brought this novel to become something more, to put forward the promise to an exciting war story with its fair share of romance...and loss. Yes...I even teared up a bit at one part. No matter what anyone tells you about the book, its entertainment value makes for a FIVE STAR DIAMOND of a novel... i.e. a MUST READ for all fantasy lovers and seekers of a top-tier book with dragons.

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

(Third read – 2025/01) Hardcover review: This is my third read of FOURTH WING and while my thoughts are fairly similar to the first two times I’ve read this novel, I do think it’s important to jot down a few new thoughts. I loved picking up on things I may have missed or glossed over the first two times I read as well as picking up on things that are relevant in book 2, <i>Iron Flame</i>. There are some scenes that still hit just as hard no matter that you’re now expecting them to happen. I love Xaden in this book, and my special edition does have a couple of the chapter’s in his POV which is something I would have liked to see more of. Violet is great and all, but a dual or multiple POV would slap so much harder. (Second read – 2023/06) Audiobook review: It is safe to say that this book is just as good the second time around... and I will without a doubt be purchasing myself a copy to re-read when the second book hits shelves in November. My biggest qualm with FOURTH WING as an audiobook was the narrator. I very nearly stopped listening to the audiobook copy because it sounded like the female narrator was sick for the better part of the novel. Some parts of the book made this more evident than others. Nevertheless, still an enjoyable listen despite this. (First read – 2023/06) E-book review: I saw this book was blowing up Bookstagram and decided to jump on it right now despite the potential for it being over-hyped. I was so gratified to learn that the hype is absolutely justified. FOURTH WING has taken the bookish community by storm - and it is entirely worth it. It is truly a phenomenal read... and I deeply encourage you to get yourself a copy if you haven't done so already! I sure will be, because reading the library's copy won't be enough! In case you've been living under a rock and have never seen nor heard about FOURTH WING, it's about Violet Sorrengail, a twenty year old woman, who was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College. That is until her mother, the commanding general, orders her to join the Riders Quadrant. Violet's chances may seem limited, partly because she hasn't been training for very long due to her entire lack of intention of joining the dragon riders... but also because she's her mother's daughter and many would love to kill her for that reason alone. There's only two ways out of this predicament - graduate or die. I will likely struggle to relate anything about this novel that hasn't already been said as well as navigate my speechlessness on how amazing this book was... but I will write a review nevertheless. Rebecca Yarros excelled at creating a rich and tangible world with characters that are realistic and relatable. Violet as our FMC is perfect. She's portrayed as someone whose got the deck stacked against her - she has a chronic illness, she never wanted to be a rider, and she is 'petite' compared to the other typical rider statures. She's also described as weak, fragile, vulnerable, etc. All of these things are seen as a likely death sentence for her, but she turns them into strengths by using her best asset to her advantage - her brain. She is smart, brave, and cunning. She thinks outside the box, she's down-to-earth, loyal and friendly. I honestly couldn't get enough of her and can't wait to see what the next book in the series will bring for her. The secondary characters are each very well done and crucial in making this book as successful as it is in my eyes. I don't want to give anything away in regards to the plot, but I quickly fell in love with each character that was encountered because they are all so well written and lovable. The dragons cannot be left out of this comment because they are truly exceptional... and they may be my favourites of the book by far with their wry humour and sarcastic comments. I thought the dragons to be unique and so interesting - I am so curious to learn more about their world, their powers, etc. Enemies to lovers romance? COUNT. ME. IN. This was so so well done and I absolutely adore how it all played out. Xaden Riorson stole my heart early on and may live up to be my favoite book boyfriend ever. There are a couple spicy scenes - well placed and well done, might I add, but I think they could be skipped if that's not your jam without impacting the enjoyment of the novel. The plot is fast-paced with lots of tension and action that kept me flipping the pages long after I was tired. The world-building was vivid and descriptive without being too overwhelming or confusing. The intricate storylines were truly well done and I didn't see half of what came at me coming. Proceed with caution though, I found myself sobbing through the last 15-20% of this novel while Rebecca mercilessly ripped out my heart and dragged me kicking and screaming to the show-stopper of an ending. Is it November yet?! This is without a doubt a novel and characters whom will stay with me for a long time... and will absolutely guarantee a re-read in the near future! One of my favourite books this year - easy.

Para quem ama esse universo de romantasy, Fourth Wing é uma ótima escolha. Superficialmente, é como se a autora pegasse Jogos Vorazes, As Crônicas de Gelo e Fogo, Harry Potter, ACOTAR e batesse em um liquidificador para criar essa obra. Porém, ao nos aprofundarmos na história, esquecemos essa primeira impressão, pois é notável que a Rebecca Yaros sabe escrever uma trama envolvente, que transporta o leitor para aquele universo e consegue fazê-lo sentir o que a personagem sente. Inicialmente, sobre a trama: Violet Sorrengail é a clássica heroína que se difere dos outros porque nunca quis se encaixar naquele contexto em primeiro lugar. Em uma escola dividida em quatro esquadrões - escribas, infantaria, curandeiros e montadores de dragões -, ela queria se dedicar ao primeiro, mas é forçada a ir para o último. Daí pra frente, apenas existir lá dentro se torna uma luta pela sobrevivência, pois os montadores de dragões não aceitam alguém que enfraqueça essa unidade. Lá, ela conhece Xanden Riorson, o qual é um, também clássico, anti-herói que será o interesse amoroso - e muito, muito carnal - da personagem. Ele tem tudo que amamos em um mocinho de romantasy: é lindo, é forte, chama a Violet por um apelido especial, apoia a liberdade e a liderança dela com um jeito de malvado, de perigoso, de irônico... mas tem todos os motivos do mundo pra fazer o que faz, é justo, é leal, é irresistível...e, no final das contas, completamente devoto a ela. É a receita infalível para um enemies to lovers de devorar em uma madrugada. Jogue no meio o perigo constante, ameaças mortais, dragões amedrontadores, inimigos POR TODA PARTE, uma revolução no mundo em que a protagonista vive e no jeito que ela vê as coisas e temos Fourth Wing nos prendendo à leitura como maníacas obcecadas. Claro, o livro tem defeitos: existem muitos clichês - desde bad boys vs mocinho, a garota diferente das outras garotas, protagonista superidealizada (vulgo Mary Sue/a escolhida/se errou, foi com razão) em alguns momentos, mommy e daddy issues pra todo lado -, pelo menos 1 palavrão por página (o que, em minha opinião, deixa o livro adolescente demais), e se você é apaixonada pelo Rhysand de ACOTAR, você provavelmente vai notar umas certas... semelhanças entre ele e o Xaden. Em suma, o livro cumpre o seu papel: é uma leitura divertida, te mantém interessada o tempo inteiro, te faz torcer por alguns personagens e odiar outros, te faz passar mal com as cenas hot (muito bem escritas, por sinal!), e ir correndo pro próximo livro da série só pra não nem 1 minuto de distância daquele mundo e daquele casal. Eu não diria que é super revolucionário, pois acho que esse nicho literário (fantasia com romances épicos para jovens adultos) já não tem tanto pra onde correr mais. Dito isso, cá estou eu, já terminando o segundo livro e em agonia por ter que esperar o terceiro. Enfim, recomendo!

Beautiful sprayed edges. A must read if you love fantasy/romantasy/romance. The book will keep you at the edge of your seat and make sure to order the next books in the series you do not want to end this book and have to wait to get the next one.

Excelente producto, llegó en tiempo y forma. Cumple completamente con todas las especificaciones indicadas. No tengo ninguna otra observación; ya llevo varias semanas con el producto y funciona tal cual se describe. Sin duda una excelente compra.