Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, 1)

8 reviews for Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, 1)

1. 

   Hallie – August 10, 2025

   Perfect romantasy for dragon lovers!
   An extraordinary ride full of dragons, danger, shadow daddy enemies to lovers, friendship, lies and deception, and so much more!I absolutely loved this one so much!! I was interested and entertained the entire time! The danger, fear, friendship, love, tension, all of it! The characters were also so amazingly written! The plot was incredible and had its own uniqueness and the ending had me on my toes ready to dive until the next book!The plot:I thought it was so interesting that the main characters were studying at a war college that they could literally die during. Like what?! They had all these challenges they had to complete or lose their lives and not only did they have that danger they also had to watch out for fellow schoolmates who might off them. But it kept me on my toes nervous for Violet and all her friends and classmates. And we can’t forget about the dragons and the huge role that they play in the story and plot. I love a plot where dragons are an integral part of the story!Violet:I loved her character! I loved seeing her growth throughout the book. I loved how she proved that she wasn’t some fragile girl and she could and would find a way to hold her own. And I loved that her friends stood by her and helped her as well. I think she was a very well-rounded character. She loves her family and friends dearly, she’s kind but can be ruthless at times when need be, and she’s incredibly smart and witty. I loved her banter with Xaden and the fact that she didn’t step down. Overall, great character!Xaden:Oh, the shadow daddy of all shadow daddies! I totally get all the hype for him now! Oh my did I love and enjoy his character. His wit, his banter, his sexiness, his teasing, his fierceness, and everything in between. He’s everything you want to see in a MMC. I loved his nickname “Violence” for Violet. I also can’t wait to see more of his growth to come and everything else he has up his sleeve!Violet’s friends:I loved and adored Violet’s friends they each had their quirks and were so loyal and loving to her. I’m still heartbroken over a certain someone IYKYK. I think they all played a great part in the storyline and her development. I’m excited to see what comes next for them, hopefully, it’s some good.Dragons:I loved the various dragons and how there were different species per day with different colors, tails, traits, etc. I loved that we got to know what they were thinking and saying. I thought that was really cool and unique. I hope we get more of them in the next one!Romance and spice:Man should this book write notes on how to do an enemies to lovers with witty banter and tension amazingly. There was tension, build-up, banter, and so much more. And man did it get steamy and spicy in this one! The detail was to die for. Loved the MMC and FMC’s romance with a passion!Tropes:• Dragons• War college• Shadow daddy• Enemies to Lovers• You can talk in my head• Tension and witty banter• You 💀, I 💀• Spicy• Grief… And more!Check trigger warnings!

2. 

   Chelsey – August 10, 2025

   Fourth Wing
   Amazing book. I am completely obsessed. It starts off a bit slow, but only because the author is providing context, world-building, and is giving a backstory on the main characters, which I appreciated. I love the idea of a magical war college and dragon riders. I love that gryphons and wyverns are also part of the list of magical creatures. While some of the magical concepts in this book may sound familiar if you read a lot of fantasy novels like I do, this plot and these characters are completely different from anything I’ve ever read before. I really like that the author wrote a female main character who is intelligent, isn’t a damsel in distress, and has a good sense of sarcasm! And the romance in this book… whew. Don’t even get me started. All I can say is… wow! Very well-written. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so you’ll just have to read it for yourself. 🥵 I also really enjoyed the plot twists toward the end of the book. I definitely did not see some of it coming, and now I’m really looking forward to reading Iron Flame and Onyx Storm even more!If you like Harry Potter and Hunger Games, and also like a spicy read, you will thoroughly enjoy Fourth Wing. Rebecca Yarros’ writing is really great. She will be one of my “automatic-buy” authors from now on. 🤩Overall rating : 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Spice rating: 5/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

3. 

   Josh and Danielle – August 10, 2025

   The best book I’ve read in years!
   Fourth Wing is a tempest in book form—raw, romantic, and roaring with the kind of ferocity only dragons and heartbreak can summon. From the very first page, Rebecca Yarros doesn’t just invite you into Basgiath War College, she catapults you headfirst into a world where survival is earned, trust is a risk, and love is… well, complicated.We follow Violet Sorrengail, a protagonist forged from ink and fire, as she’s torn from her quiet academic dreams and hurled into the brutal life of a dragon rider. Her journey is both a physical trial and an emotional reckoning—marked by aching bones, battered pride, and beautifully sharp moments of vulnerability. Violet is no cardboard cutout of a “strong female lead.” She’s complex, chronically underestimated, and utterly magnetic. Her resilience is stitched not in perfection but in persistence, which makes her all the more real.The dragons? Oh, the dragons. Tairn and Andarna are characters in their own right—sharp-witted, soul-bonded, and unforgettable. They elevate this novel from just another fantasy romance to a world brimming with sentient magic, power struggles, and ancient secrets. And the bond scenes? Pure magic. Like Patronus-level joy.Then there’s Xaden Riorson. A brooding, brilliant enigma wrapped in shadows and loyalty. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic crackles with tension and tenderness, built slowly and smartly—not rushed, not forced, but earned. Every stolen glance, every sharp word, every unspoken truth between them feels like a step toward something bigger than either of them alone.Yarros’s writing strikes a powerful balance: lyrical but sharp, emotional yet action-packed. She doesn’t flinch from the cost of war, from grief, from the darkness that clings to power. But she also gifts us moments of light—friendship, first love, and the fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, we can rise even when the world wants us broken.By the final pages, my heart was shattered and mended and branded in flame. And I was already clawing for the sequel.Fourth Wing is not just a book you read. It’s a story you survive.And it’s one I’ll carry with me like a rider carries her scarred armor—proof that something beautiful was fought for and won.

4. 

   Andrea Quintero – August 10, 2025

   Llegó antes de la fecha y en perfectas condiciones.Este libro merece todo el hype que recibe. Estéticamente, los bordes pintados le dan un plus muy lindo a la edición.En cuanto a la trama, es simplemente espectacular, tenemos una protagonista que persevera a pesar de todas las adversidades. Un enemies to lovers nada tóxico, con mucha tensión y su recomendada dosis spicy. Un interés amoroso con vibes de Rhysand (ACOTAR). Un mundo fantástico donde existen lazos entre jinetes y dragones. Misterios, guerra y traiciones dentro del imperio. Llega a ser una perfecta montaña rusa de emociones.

5. 

   D. A. – August 10, 2025

   It came damaged, the gold paint is a little off, but it looks sturdy and nice, not torn like the others. I do recommend buying from another seller mine came in UK version instead of US like I wanted. and I know they had it since others got it from same seller. I haven’t read it but I know I’ll love it since it’s a fantasy books and I love dragons my favourite creatures.

6. 

   Júlia Emerick – August 10, 2025

   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!

7. 

   Lekeiciah September – August 10, 2025

   I was a bit skeptical based on the other reviews BUT arrived with no damage at all. Super excited!

8. 

   Greta Bianco – August 10, 2025

   I am finally rediscovering the joy of reading. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older.My favorite genres are definitely romance and fantasy so imagine my delight when I discovered the existence of this “new” Romantasy mix. I guess we have to thank Booktok for that (I don’t really use the app though). I’m 29 years old, but I love reading about fairies and dragons and magic and 20-year-olds going crazy for each otherNow that’s out of the way, I can leave my opinion of Fourth Wing.WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.I devoured this book.The worldbuilding is well done and I understood most things, which is huge for me considering I read this in English but my mother tongue is Italian.I found the premise of the story extremely interesting and the characters are the heart of it, clearly. Xaden is obviously my favorite, I cannot wait to know more about him in the next books. His chemistry with Violet is off the charts, my heart literally pounded everytime they bantered with each other. At the beginning I liked Dain, then about 47% into the book I officially started to hate him and that might never change.I really enjoyed the sex scenes, well explained but not too spicy which is my preferred style.Another thing I love about this book is the representation of the LGTBQ+ community. Honestly, it was refreshing!Do not get attached to the characters, some of them will die. The last death in particular made me shed a tear.About the story: 2 things in particular were pretty obvious to me since the beginning: the rebellion kids were actually the good ones and the military were the bad ones. Plus, her brother being alive. I mean, duh. Violet kept repeating Brennan was dead because that’s what the battle reports said, but nobody really saw his body.I let out a little scream when I saw that the last chapter was in Xaden’s POV. I need more!Conclusion: 6/5 ⭐️ for me