Fourth Wing (Empyrean)

I picked this book up because of all the hype I was seeing on Tiktok and Instagram, everyone was reading and loving this book. It did no disappoint, I was hooked from 3 chapters in and it easily became one of my favourite books I've read in a while. I am obsessed with everything about this book, every word, every page had me gripped and on the edge of my seat. I went through so many emotions while reading this, the absolute unflinching brutality the characters face is both addictive and shocking, but there are also so many triumphs and heart squeezing moments. Rebecca Yarros has done what some authors can't do, and that is write a book that has everything you could ask for.Violet Sorrengail is among my all-time favourite FMC's ever, she was everything you could ask for in a female MC. She is the embodiment of determination, grit and bravery. Her willingness to bet on herself time and again when so many around her keep telling her she will never be good enough is so inspiring, her absolute grit to survive or at least giving it her all when she thinks she can't do something. She never gave up and became an ultimate badass. Having had chronic illness, people always underestimate her (all but one) but that's what makes her an underdog. I liked how balanced her character and personality was, never over the top and I liked how the author didn't make the chronic illness her whole personality, she showed that it didn't stop her from being amazing.Xaden is the most powerful and brutal Wing leader at the academy and also the main person likely to kill Violet, we love an enemies to lovers, but I knew from the start he had a hidden agenda and feelings. I loved his character, he only gets more interesting as the story goes on and the TENSION between Violet and him, was steaming, it is hotter than the dragon fire. I was screaming at the book for them to finally kiss! Xaden defiantly had his secrets and it made him seem more broody but once he started opening up, and we got to see the softer side of him, it made him even better. He's always up for a challenge and he serves every freaking time. He has such a soft spot when it comes down to it. Him showing his love through his actions and constantly challenging Violet to do better, even in moments she didn't believe in herself, was everything you could ask for in a MMC. He made me swoon multiple times.The romance is an angsty slowburn, enemies to lovers (what more could you need?!) and it was brilliantly it was executed. Even though it was a slowburn, the romance came at the right time. And if you like the characters being jealous, you'll enjoy that trope here too. Xaden and Violet's chemistry is off the charts from the beginning, just him looking at her makes you swoon. They compliment each other so well and I like how open and honest they are with each other, and that both of them don't hold each other back and give the other room to make mistakes, learn and grow. It is a mature relationship, which I love to see in fantasies.The Dragons were an amazing surprise, they all have their own personalities and I love it! I got major How to Train Your Dragon vibes. They're lethal, terrifying, and spectacular and I know need to find more dragon books! The found family in this book is the most precious thing ever, I feel in love with each side character but also had major anxiety whenever they were in a dangerous situation. I loved to read how they’re bonded together and I can see that each relationship has the potential to grow into something really special. The camaraderie and rivalry between the riders is such a significant part of the story. The plot was addicting from start to finish, with some many wow moments, WTF moments and sad moments.Rebecca Yarros has written such a thrilling, addicting and compelling introduction book to this wonderful world of dragons and their riders, and I can't wait to see where the story continues! I don't know how I am going to wait till November, but I am defiantly going to be rereading and discussing theories!

I devoured this, did’t want to put it down & in fact I didn’t put it down often..Characters were very enjoyable, I love witty comments and this was packed.The world building was fantastic and the introduction to the magic system was smooth. Plenty of secondary characters that I really enjoyed and the FMC & MMC were on point!I literally went straight onto the next book!

Okay, shocked review incoming! 🤯 I am genuinely mind blown that I read this book, being a fantasy book and literally adored it from start to finish. I was heavily influenced by everyone else that was reading it until FOMO got the best of me and I ordered it. That was one of the best decisions I have made this year.I don’t know how to review this and do it the justice that it deserves. 😬Violet is thrown, unexpectedly into the riders quadrant despite training her whole life to be a scribe. She loves being in the archives surrounded by text, rather then being forced to participate in activities where she is not guaranteed to be alive by the end of it. Once people realise who she is, the dislike for her grows and she finds people wanting to literally end her life.Xaden is a third year rider, tall, moody and some who that Violet dislikes from the minute she lays eyes on him. 👀 Neither realise that eventually they will come to rely on each other like no other person.Violet is faced with a many a challenge and her only aim is to survive. She spends a lot of time figuring out who she can trust and who has anything other than pure intentions towards her. When threshing arrives, the chance for every rider to bond with a dragon. Violet soon finds herself centre of attention and one of the most powerful riders.My thoughts:✨ This book gave me everything, steamy slow burn romance.✨Unrequited love✨ Enemies to lovers✨ Dragons that talk! This was one of my favourite elements.✨ Chapter 36 got me in the feels, broke my heart and I was CRYING! 😭🪽✨ I was honestly burning for something to happen with Xaden and Violet and you know where you could squeal with excitement when something happens? Yeah that happened.✨ Shocking ending. Yes, I was gobsmacked. GIVING MIC DROP VIBES 🤯 I am quite literally still in disbelief. It opened so many questions for me and I cannot wait for the second book.

I had been waiting until I was on a holiday to read the first two books in this series as I figured that I would really enjoy them, so I wanted a nice chunk of time where I wouldn’t be distracted to get into them. I was pretty excited when a 10 day holiday came around and I jumped into ‘Fourth Wing’ straight away.Our main character is Violet Sorrengail who has just started attending the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where dragons reign and danger lurks at every corner. Violet trained her whole life to enter the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath but her Mother (a high-ranking general) has other ideas and threw her into the Riders Quadrant. We follow Violet's journey as she learns to ride (and talk to) dragons, fights her way through college, makes and loses friends, battles her own personal illness and finds the love of her life.My pros: I was immersed in this world immediately; the world building is strong and time is taken to describe the settings, the processes and the consequences, so much so that at points it really felt like I was there with the characters. The writing style and pace is easy to follow and I didn’t feel that the story dragged at any point. The sex scenes were well written and the slow burn was very well done. The characters are an interesting group and I loved that they all had individual skills and could only really survive by working together as a team. The dragons were great fun and I loved their sassiness.My cons: This was nothing original at all. It really felt like the author took several old famous ideas and characters from other books and movies and just wove them together. Shadow powers, scar on face, silver braided hair, talking to dragons, a “dead” brother, a magic school, students split into quadrants, students killing each other, polite and correct ways to approach dragons and strong female MC with a disability to name a few. This has all been done before.Even though this book didn’t really present anything new to me, I still really enjoyed it. I found myself swept along on the adventure and it’s really easy to read with likeable characters. Overall, it’s pretty predictable but it’s a gripping tale that combines elements of high fantasy, political intrigue, and the resilience of the human spirit, creating an immersive reading experience that leaves you wanting more. It’s a true romantasy read.

Having heard raving reviews and whispers about 'Fourth Wing' for what felt like an eternity, I finally decided it was time to make it my next literary adventure. I have previously had no encounter with a Rebecca Yarros novel, though the prospect of diving into a book showered with overwhelming acclaim did give rise to a touch of apprehension. What if my expectations were too high? However, the persistent curiosity surrounding this book left me with no choice but to take the plunge. Luckily, fate smiled upon me.From the very outset, 'Fourth Wing' ensnared my attention, refusing to release its grip until the very last page. This novel is an irresistible escapade. Violet's journey commences abruptly as she finds herself thrust into the perilous Riders Quadrant, a stark departure from her envisioned sanctuary in the Scribe Quadrant amidst books. With a physical fragility that seemingly marks her for demise, she becomes an unlikely contender in a place where survival is a fierce battle.Undeterred, Violet channels her tenacity into relentless efforts to fortify herself. Gifted with intellect, she navigates the challenges, becoming adept at outsmarting those around her. In a cutthroat environment where trust is scarce, distinguishing allies from foes becomes a daunting task.Enter Xaden Riorson, the formidable wingleader in the Riders Quadrant, whose power and ruthlessness make him a force to be reckoned with. However, buried beneath his dominance lies a deep-seated vendetta fueled by the shadows of the past—Violet's mother having played a pivotal role in the demise of his father.'Fourth Wing' effortlessly encapsulates everything I adore in a book—fantasy, romance, suspense, and unexpected twists. Returning to the realm of fantasy after a brief hiatus, I relished every facet of this narrative—the dragons, the magic, and the harsh yet captivating world that held me in its grasp. The story lingered in my thoughts throughout the day, a testament to its compelling characters and intricate plot.And the romance, an exquisite torment! It left me yearning for more, and the ending spurred me to hastily order the next instalment.'Fourth Wing' effortlessly earns a place on my favourites list—a resounding five-star rating and the easiest decision of the year.

Fourth Wing is the first book in a gipping, fast-paced romantasy series, and I can't believe I've waited so long to read it! I was so worried about the hype surrounding this series and that the book wouldn't live up to it, but boy, was there nothing to worry about! This was so much more of a read than I expected, and now I'm devouring the series.Right from chapter one, I was hooked, and although the book has small print, is chunky in size and fast-paced, I couldn't pull away.Violet is an amazingly strong female lead, and I loved her development throughout the book. The fact that she has weak physical health and can be injured so easily yet doesn't want to be treated any differently for it is a great rep and made me love her even more. The events the cadets have to go through to get anywhere near being a rider are harsh and beyond dangerous, and what Violet has to face from rogue cadets is terrifying. Yet she triumphs, and the results of protecting others over herself and standing up for what is right is just admirable and brings her the most amazing reward!The slow burn enemies to lovers romance was both intense and spark filled, and I was all here for it. The dragons are terrifying, follow their own rules, and don't answer to humans, and I loved the twist with the dragons and Violet as well as other twists that took me by surprise.If you've been on the fence about reading this due to the hype, I just want to reassure you that it is so worth it!

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.

Brilliant from start to finish hated having to put the book down. Cant wait for the next book and the rest of the series

Wow! It has been a LONG time since I have actually felt tension while reading a book. I can read the biggest action scenes at the end of various books and the majority of the time they just don't affect me at all - because I don't care that much about the characters. But THIS - this was different. I felt the tension. And it was real. Plus the author is very willing to kill characters so there is some uncertainty there as well. And the battle at the end of this most excellent book - it was hot and raging. Plus the enemy leaked danger as well. True menace. Very rarely does some enemy in a book impress me at all but this one most certainly did.. Right from the description I just KNEW there was something different about these mages called venin. They seemed impressive too. And very memorable. I wanted to draw them based off of the description. Very rarely do I get that urge.But what a battle at the end! It was touch and go. What would happen? Would the heroes win or lose? I didn't know. And I felt concern.This book has made me feel things. Earlier it had made me cry - tears of joy.And the book has surprised me too. The plot twists! I guess I should have seen it coming but I didn't so I was quite surprised. But it certainly makes the story way more interesting! And I am certainly eager to read the sequel too! This is a massive book and worth reading every word! And rarely do I feel that way. But its exciting and the characters face so many challenges. And there is death too. In fact there is a lot of death in here. Its a very violent world, a tough world of dragons and griffins and things that are supposed to be only legends to scare kids to eat their vegetables...But what I love the most in here in the main character Violet. She has a connective tissue disorder. I have one too (its called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - EDS - and I am pretty confident that Violet actually has EDS). I have never run across a character in a book before that has EDS. And certainly not one that is bold enough to be in a fantasy world where she rides a dragon. How cool is that? So yes I certainly can relate to her very well! And so much of the stuff in here is quite accurate too. Exercise is the best way to protect the joints (and personally I find diet matters a ton too). And yes it certainly can make many things way harder. The joints are all wonky and they naturally hyper-extend so doing things - even just balancing - is way harder. But riding a dragon!!! I remember when I was much younger I used to read this other very popular fantasy series that included dragons and I used to try to imagine what it would be like to ride a dragon. Of course I never thought about the issues of staying ON said dragon... But since I ride horses these days I have a better idea of some of the issues. But wow this book is totally AMAZING! it totally captivated my attention. The first evening I started it I got 50% through. And I certainly would have powered through the second half yesterday but unfortunately I have packing to do as I am moving at the end of the month.If I could I would rate it 6 stars!The characters are just so real. And they go through character arcs too. They change. They face obstacles and have to find solutions. And there is certainly a bit of romance in here too. The story moved so smoothly. Never a dull moment at all. None. And I just loved the first person writing in here from Violet's viewpoint.But the story is about a young woman named Violet who has been forced by her very powerful mother to become a dragon rider. That is a warrior. But her body is weak and ill suited for it. So she was training to be a scribe (but all of that writing would be a huge strain on her too - in fact I cannot write very long at all by hand anymore without pain + numbness going down my arm and I get horrid shoulder pain) but that changed - she had to go be a dragon rider or die trying. But its not that easy in fact its very dangerous. Most people who try to become a rider end up dead. And you can be killed by your own classmates! Yes, its a very brutal school. And after all of these difficult obstacles - which Violet is ill suited to pass - she has to hope that a dragon will pick her. But what dragon will pick someone with a body that doesn't work right due to genetic mutations?And all of that is near the beginning of the book! For a huge mysterious and dangerous problem is brewing in the Kingdom! And poor Violet will run smack into it - err - fly into it. If she can stay on the dragon that is...You definitely should read this!

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.

Real nice book, my jaw dropped to the floor with the last sentence.