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Fourth Wing is a 2023 new adult^[1] fantasy novel by American author Rebecca Yarros. It is the first book in the Empyrean series. Released on May 2, 2023, the novel achieved viral success on TikTok's reader community BookTok, which propelled it to reach No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.

Background

The book is the first installment in the Empyrean series. It is the first book published by Red Tower Books, an imprint of Entangled Publishing.^[2] Its sequel, Iron Flame, was released in November 2023.^[3]

The novel's protagonist Violet displays many symptoms and parallel experiences to those with Ehlers–Danlos syndromes, including joint pain and hypermobility as well as the graying of her hair.^[4] The condition is not specifically named in the novel, but Yarros has confirmed that Violet canonically has the syndrome.^[1] Yarros has the condition herself and uses the book to add more representation.^[5]

Plot

Violet Sorrengail, a young woman destined for a life far removed from the battlefield. Born with a physique frail and delicate, her muscles and ligaments were ill-suited for the rigors of combat. From a tender age, Violet found solace in the written word, aspiring to become a scribe, a path her father had diligently pursued before her. Yet, fate had a different destiny in store for Violet. Her mother, a formidable general, held unwavering convictions that her daughter should embrace the legacy of the Riders' Quadrant. Mira, Violet's elder sister, possessed exceptional equestrian skills, earning her accolades as a promising rider. Brennan, her younger brother, shared Mira's talent and was equally revered within the ranks. Amidst the weight of familial expectations and her own physical limitations, Violet grappled with the daunting prospect of fulfilling her mother's demand and joining the elite Riders' Quadrant.

Mira, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and anguish, implored her mother, the esteemed General Lilith Sorrengail, to intervene in the life-altering event that loomed on the horizon: Conscription Day. This fateful day, where the youth of Aetos gathered to embark on a perilous journey to become riders in the fabled Riders' Quadrant, was shrouded in an ominous pall. For centuries, Conscription Day had claimed countless lives, leaving behind only a mournful scroll engraved with the names of those who dared to dream but met an untimely demise. Hundreds of hopeful cadets would attempt to navigate the treacherous parapet, a daunting obstacle that separated the worthy from the fallen. The thought of her precious daughter, Violet, willingly placing herself in the path of such danger sent a shiver down Mira's spine. She clung to the irrational hope that Lady Aurelia, with her influence and connections, could spare Violet from this harrowing ordeal.

As the hallowed date of October 1st approaches, the cadets of the Dragon Training Academy embark on an arduous journey to prepare for the grand spectacle of Threshing. For weeks, they toil relentlessly at the quadrant, honing their skills and enduring grueling training sessions in anticipation of the fateful day. Threshing is not merely an event but a pivotal rite of passage, a moment when dragons descend from the skies to select cadets as their riders, bestowing upon them the coveted title of Dragon Rider. Among the throng of hopefuls is Violet, who has narrowly escaped Conscription Day unscathed. As she rejoices with her childhood friend, Dain Aetos, a veteran second-year cadet and her squad leader, a sense of camaraderie washes over them. Dain and Violet's bond runs deep, having known each other since their tender years of five, their families intertwined by Dain's father's role as an advisor to Violet's mother, General Lilith. As fate would have it, Violet's new acquaintance, Rhiannon Mathias, also joins their ranks, promising to enrich their unwavering friendship amidst the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.

Violet's life is entangled in a web of danger and secrets. Haunted by the tragic execution of Xaden Riorson's father at the hands of her mother, she grapples with the realization that Xaden harbors a deep-seated desire for retribution. As if that weren't enough, Xaden's father's actions also led to the untimely demise of Brennan, Violet's cherished friend. The weight of these revelations weighs heavily on Violet's mind, casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty over her. Amidst this turmoil, she finds herself at the Riders' Quadrant, embarking on her training as a cadet. However, Violet's physical limitations prove to be a formidable obstacle in the rigorous hand-to-hand combat sessions on the mat. The challenges she faces test her determination and resilience, forcing her to confront her own vulnerabilities and the obstacles that stand in her path.

As the lone survivor of her village and a newcomer to the Riders' Quadrant, Violet faced ostracism and hostility from her fellow cadets. Her physical weakness and apparent inability to control her dragon egg made her an easy target for ridicule and disdain. Rumors spread like wildfire, painting her as a liability to the wing, a burden that others were forced to bear. Several envious and ruthless individuals within the quadrant harbored a secret desire to eliminate Violet, viewing her as an obstacle to their own aspirations and advancement. As the pressure mounted, Violet's resolve wavered. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when Threshing, a renowned dragon master, arrived with the intent of bonding with a dragon. Violet clung to this newfound opportunity as a lifeline, determined to prove her worth and overcome the adversity that threatened to consume her. She immersed herself in rigorous training, honing her skills and learning to outwit her opponents. Despite the dangers that lurked in the shadows, Violet refused to succumb to fear or despair. She would rise above the challenges and forge her own path, proving that even in the face of overwhelming odds, her spirit would not be extinguished.

Characters

• Violet Sorrengail: The protagonist and primary point-of-view character. Smaller than other riders and physically weak, she only joins the Riders Quadrant at the demand of her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail. She is assigned to Fourth Wing.
• Xaden Riorson: The wing leader of Fourth Wing who, through his bond with Sgaeyl, has the ability to wield shadows. He is the son of Fen Riorson, a rebellion leader who killed Violet's brother and was soon after killed by Violet's mother. Xaden is described as an extremely attractive person and is often the love interest for Violet.
• Dain Aetos: Violet's childhood best friend and son of Colonel Aetos. A second-year Rider, he is a squad leader in the Fourth Wing. Through his bond with Cath, he can read memories upon touching another person.
• Rhiannon Matthias: A first-year member of the Riders Quadrant who is assigned to Fourth Wing. She becomes Violet's best friend.
• Sawyer Henrick: A repeated first year, he and Rhiannon agree to help Violet with hand-to-hand combat if Violet tutors them in history. He becomes a good friend of Violet, Rhiannon, and Ridoc.
• Ridoc Gamlyn: A first-year member of the Riders Quadrant who is assigned to Fourth Wing. He is very humorous and becomes a good friend of Violet, Rhiannon, and Sawyer.
• Jack Barlowe: A violent first-year Rider who is assigned to First Wing and makes it his mission to kill Violet.
• Mira Sorrengail: Violet's older sister and a graduate of Basgiath War College. She strongly opposes her mother's decision to force Violet into the Riders Quadrant.
• Liam Mairi: A first-year Rider who grew up with Xaden after their parents were killed for leading the rebellion.

Reception

The book had a mostly positive critical reception. Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review, praising its worldbuilding, characters, and "sexy dark academia aesthetic".^[6] Alana Joli Abbott, in a review for Paste, praised its use of familiar tropes and compared it favorably to fantasy series like Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.^[2]

Fourth Wing became a viral phenomenon on BookTok, where the hashtags "#FourthWing" and "#RebeccaYarros" have more than a billion views combined. Its popularity led it to reach No. 1 on Amazon's bestseller list as well as the No. 1 spot on The New York Times Bestseller list, where it stayed for 18 weeks.^[1][7] It has been credited as helping to popularize the "romantasy" genre, which blends elements of romance and fantasy genres.^[8]

Kimberly Terasaki of The Mary Sue wrote about a phenomenon within the fandom of portraying Xaden, a primary love interest of the protagonist, as white in fan art despite the fact that he is described as dark-skinned in the book. Yarros also commented on the phenomenon and asserted that the character is not intended to be white.^[9]

The sequel, Iron Flame, was released on November 7, 2023.^[7][10] The third book, Onyx Storm, is set to be released on January 21, 2025.^[11]

Adaptation

In October 2023, Variety reported that a TV show adaptation of the series was in the works at Amazon MGM Studios. It was also revealed that Amazon and Outlier Society had acquired rights to all books in the series, as well as that Rebecca Yarros and Liz Pelletier would be the executive producers of the series.^[12]

References

External links

• Fourth Wing title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database