Fourth Wing: DISCOVER THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON THAT EVERYONE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT! (The Empyrean Book 1)

*takes a deep breath*
Fourth Wing, the first book in The Empyrean series released on the second of may, but I read it only a few days ago. I’m not sure what went wrong where that this book escaped my notice for so long. Either way, I’m not sure where I heard of this book (probably bookstagram), but I bought the Kindle version immediately *weeps a river of tears that there’s no paperback version available*.(Random anecdotal rant commences)Then (and this is the most heartbreaking part of the story), my best friend read the book before I could and loved it. This is of course fantastic, except it’s not. Why? Well, it’s because I should’ve read it first and suggested it to her and then she should’ve read it and loved it. I blame this all on whatever strange magic has been in the air that kept this book away from my awareness and made me lose the chance for my best friend to tell me how much she loves because I recommended this book to her.(Random anecdotal rant concludes)I don’t think it has ever happened that once I finish a book I immediately want to read it again. Usually when I love a book, I float on a cloud of bliss for a few days before hunkering down to put all my feelings into fairly comprehensible words for a review. I’ve never—as far as I can recall—dove back into the book. But with Fourth Wing that’s exactly what I did. I just dove back into the book and re-read a good portion of it. And then did it again.The writing made the scenes so vivid, I was surprised I was reading and not watching it all play out on a screen. Whatever it is that Yarros did while writing, she certainly added a large dollop of something addictive to her work because the book felt like it was written to suit my senses. There was never a stagger or a stop, just flowing prose, fantastic, witty dialogue, stunning imagery supporting thrilling, heart jolting events. Honestly, all the pages of highlighted content on my Kindle is testament to that. I truly won’t be surprised if this book is picked for a movie/series because of how strong the words read.The world-building is so closely linked to the writing because the author employs a very unique and effective method to explain some of the rules of the world to the readers. If you’re reading my review and then starting Fourth Wing, I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean when the world-building scenes roll by. My only advice would be to take it a little slow (the book is devour-worthy and will force you to consume it in way lesser time than is usual) so that you’re able to truly know the rules, past and happenings of the world. It also helps if you’re buddy reading; you can help fill gaps in understanding, if there are any, with each other. *stares at my traitor best friend who didn’t buddy read with me*.Imagine the fastest book you’ve ever read, Fourth Wing is 10X that. The narrative being so conducive to the pace only adds to the way the book reads. The book is just event after event after event racing against time without any pauses/lags or inconsistencies that I could feel/find. When a book reads this way, without a stumble or a gap, to me that usually means the book has been planned down to the last letter. I’m 100% sure that Yarros has this all played out in her head, laughing at us as she types away on her keyboard. There’s no other way that this series is a five book series if she doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing.The characters are truly very many and it might be quite impossible to keep track of everyone all the time. That being said, the people that you need to know you will because their personalities are clear and constructed. I’m aware that reading a name on page and not knowing who that even is sometimes doesn’t feel great, so if you do feel that in this book I would say ignore it, mostly because if you don’t know them they’re probably not important. Think of them as NPCs. *feels proud of her computer game reference*Being in Violet’s mind was a true pleasure. The girl is whip smart, funny, honourable and filled with all the complexities and contradictions you’d enjoy in a FMC. I loved how the author stayed true to Violet’s age, adding so much strength and courage not just in her actions regarding her path but also her emotions. She was so brave and I was so proud. It added to the realness of the story when Violet had to coach herself constantly to be brave, to keep going to just stay.Xaden reminds me of the song line “hit you like a shotgun shot to the heart” because that’s how it feels from the moment he enters scene. He’s a presence in the book you can’t see past and he certainly is here to steal your heart. He was an intense and complex character to understand until suddenly you do and all the pieces come together. He and Violet truly have my heart and I can’t wait for the mental and emotional wreckage this series is going to cause in me.The disability rep in this book was a very very important part of it. I personally felt I would’ve loved to see it be spoken about more. Perhaps the author intends to delve deeper into it more in the second book/in the rest of the series, we’ll have to wait and see.Five stars! Happy reading! Please do check trigger warnings! The book can be a heavy and intense read for anyone, so please go in warned that there’s violence, murder, killing, death, gore, graphic content, death of a loved one (to name a few).(Also, update on the betrayal anecdote)My best friend totally re-read the whole book and pretended I recommended it to her and sent me a billion messages reacting like she was reading it the first time. I am appeased, she has been forgiven. Also, I should probably mention that she asked me to start with her but I couldn’t because well I had another book to finish and review. The point here is however, that she didn’t wait for me. Just wanted to make that clear.

An action-packed and captivating read. Absolutely recommend.
Well, Rhysand is safe that’s for sure! And so are my other fav fictional boyfriends. I just had to pick this up as it was all over booksta and also I could not ignore the hype around Xaden, overshadowing Rhysand. I mean how could I? This book also stirred up such a strong yearning for Manon and her wyvern – Abraxos ❤. Now I just have to reread Throne of Glass series!Violet has spent her entire existence preparing for a future within the scribe quadrant, a perfect place for her because of her love for books &history. However, her mother, who also happens to be the commanding general, has issued an order that shatters Violet’s dreams. She is now compelled to enter Basgiath War College and undergo training to become a dragon rider. The challenge lies in the fact that dragons only bond with individuals who possess great physical strength, something that Violet, with her petite and delicate frame, lacks. To make matters worse, Xaden Riorson, the most formidable and ruthless wing leader in the Riders Quadrant, harbors a deep-rooted grudge against Violet solely due to her mother’s actions and he is determined to bring her down.Violet possesses a remarkable blend of intelligence, cunning, and compassion. She compensates for her physical limitations with razor-sharp wit & clever intellect. In a world where everyone seems to have ulterior motives, she fights against all odds. I couldn’t help but adore her. Xaden… is swoon-worthy, to sum it up in one word! The push and pull between his resistance to his feelings for Violet and his undeniable desire for her was captivating. I just wish there was more of him. And how can I not talk about the awe-inspiring dragons, Tairn and Andarna? No wonder dragons are my favorite mythical creatures. They are magnificent! This story also boasts a remarkable cast of characters like Liam, Rhiannon, Mira, and many others. Each one left a lasting impression, and I cherished them all.This book truly has a captivating plot, immersive world-building, and thrilling action. However, my main issue was around the sudden shift in their feelings. It felt somewhat jarring when one moment they were supposed to hate each other & the next there are feelings involved😳. There was no build-up to romance at all. Additionally, I found myself yearning for a dual POV, or even multiple, considering so many intriguing characters in the story. Relying solely on one perspective became somewhat monotonous and limiting. Further, while the plot was engrossing, the final revelations lacked the element of surprise, as they felt rather predictable. Nonetheless, it did not take away the fun from the story.An action-packed and captivating read. Absolutely recommend.

“You turned oranges into a weapon, Violence?” – Xaden RiorsonHigh 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.

This book is a beautiful, consuming, addicting fantasy that I wish I could read all over again for the first time! The pacing is absolutely spot on, it includes a slow burn, enemies to lovers angsty romance that sparks right off the page, incredible but easy to follow world building and my absolute favourite trope of found family!The reader is pulled in to the breathtaking world of a war college for dragon riders, we meet Violet as she is forced to follow in her families footsteps and enter the riders quadrant, instead of becoming a scribe (a scholar). Violet struggles with chronic pain and weak joints, I appreciated the author giving a voice to chronic conditions while demonstrating the Violet’s resilience in how she overcame her bodies differences, never treating them as a disability but just as something unique.One of the greatest strengths of this book lies in its meticulous world-building. The author creates a vivid universe, rich in intricate details that transport readers to a realm where imagination runs wild. Each setting is exquisitely described, effortlessly pulling us into the heart of the story. I could so clearly picture each individual setting in my head, it was such a unique and intriguing fantasy world. And the dragons…I have never been so entranced by fantasy creatures in a book before!The characters are equally exceptional. Rebecca Yarros masterfully crafts a diverse cast that is not only relatable but also leaves a lasting impression. Their strengths, vulnerabilities, and complex emotions make them feel like genuine individuals, with whom readers can form deep connections. Watching their personal journeys unfold and witnessing their growth is a true pleasure. I also loved the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters without making them a stereotype or token character placed simply to fill a quota. Sexual and gender identities were mentioned but never hovered on, it was a very small but heartwarming detail.I very much enjoyed how Violet’s journey coming into her true powers was realistic, she wasn’t automatically the strongest and best candidate, she had to work harder and smarter than the rest of the riders. Resilience is a central theme in this book. The characters face daunting challenges, both physical and emotional, and the author expertly portrays their perseverance and unwavering determination. Through their struggles, the reader is reminded of the power of the human spirit and the indomitable will to overcome even the most daunting obstacles.The plot of is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride from start to finish. Action-packed sequences and heart-stopping moments keep readers on the edge of their seats, desperate to uncover what lies around the next corner. Rebecca Yarros skillfully balances intensity with moments of respite, allowing readers to catch their breath before plunging them back into the heart-pounding action. The intricate twists and turns keep the plot engaging, ensuring that boredom never has a chance to set in. And when I say heart-pounding, I truly mean this, as the last action sequence had me so intensely concentrated that my apple watch gave me a warning that my heart rate was rising without any exercise occurring, I was that invested!This is an outstanding novel that deserves all the praise it has been receiving and more. With its exceptional world-building, well-developed characters, thrilling plot, and theme of resilience, it captivated me from the very beginning. Rebecca Yarros’s skillful storytelling transports readers to a realm where imagination knows no bounds, leaving you yearning for more. Prepare to be swept away on a breathtaking journey that will leave you exhilarated and inspired. This is a true fantasy masterpiece!!