Lately I’ve been loving fantasy books and if there’s some romance I’m a happy reader. Fourth Wing is a book I’ve been seeing around since it was announced and I was excited about it. I was approved for the audiobook on Netgalley and started it right away. It made me remember why I shouldn’t start series when the first book isn’t even released. I was left wanting more, haha. So keep on reading to find out more about Fourth Wing that will be on shelves on May 2nd!

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.

Review

Rebecca Yarros is an author I know for amazing contemporary romances. She’s written epic romances and characters you can’t help but love. Her books have also had me in tears quite a few times. So when I heard about Fourth Wing I knew I needed to see what this author could do with a fantasy and she hit it out of the ballpark! This book is easily going to be in the top list of books I’ve read in 2023.

Our main character Violet has been on track to be a Scribe, but things change and she’s sent to the Riders Quadrant (something she’s never trained for a day in her life). She won’t shy away from a challenge though and gives it all she’s got. Violet suffers from chronic pain, but is determined to prove she’s got what it takes to succeed. I loved seeing her development throughout the story and she’s one strong person!

Then we have the War College. This concept was so interesting and I loved how we got to learn all about it. The world building wasn’t a big info dump like you get in a lot of fantasy books, but it seemed to flow through events and conversations. The politics, training, and secrets kept me reading and it was easy to follow. I was listening to the audiobook and I do have a hard time absorbing everything, so I’ll be reading this book physically as well when it releases.

Of course in this War College we know there are dragons. They choose their riders and I loved this idea. Rebecca Yarros developed these creatures so well and I felt the bond between Violet and the two (!) dragons that choose her. I think I ended up caring for them just as much as Violet herself. With the dragons and everything going on we know there’s going to be some fighting. These scenes had me at the edge of my seat and some of the twists and turns were ones I didn’t see coming!

Fourth Wing has romance, but I love that it didn’t take over the story! This was definitely an enemies to lovers story and it was one so well. Xaden is another interesting and complex character and his chemistry with Violet was off the charts. The spicy scenes were there, but not overdone. There’s still a lot to be worked out, but I’m definitely shipping these two!

On top of everything else, there is an amazing cast of side characters that make this world even more alive. I’ve become so invested in this story and that ending made me angry I didn’t have the next book. If you love a good fantasy story with a hint of romance, I highly recommend Fourth Wing.

Fourth Wing is a great start to a new series and I can’t wait for the next book! Rebecca Yarros clearly knows how to do fantasy and I hope she doesn’t stop after this series. Have you read anything by this author? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.