ISBN: 9781649374042
by Rebecca Yarros
Entangled Publishing, 2023, 512 pp., $14.99, paper
“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.” ― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
In a world of betrayal, secrets, heartache, misfits, and cutthroat dragon riders at every turn, Violet Sorrengail has a lot going on. As the daughter of the great general Sorrengail, a highly revered woman of status in the Navarre Army, there’s a lot to live up to. After being told to join the dragon army instead of becoming a scribe as she had originally planned, Violet now has to fight and claw tooth and nail and ride her way to a successful graduation in order to survive Basgiath War College. Because there are only two routes out once you enter: graduate or die.
This book by Rebecca Yarros, published by Entangled Publishing (a lovely, female-owned publishing house that runs on romantic fiction), has truly outdone herself with this work of a text. A piece of fantasy fiction that outlines what it truly means to be in a high-stakes, low-rewards position, with characters squabbling for their lives at every corner, never knowing there was even something more sinister in place. The book Fourth Wing, the first of the Empyrean series, is set in a world with four main quadrants: infantry, scribes, healers, and riders—some being more important than others. The country of Navarre employs its individuals to choose how to aid its government, and its people choose one of the main quadrants to serve. Everyone has their place, but it seems like the main character Violet can not seem to find hers. That is until the threshing.
*spoilers ahead*
During a ceremony that marks the pivotal moment when a rider first bonds with their dragon, Violet’s journey takes an unanticipated twist. After some of her counterparts try to harm a baby dragon, Violet swoops into the rescue, igniting a connection between her and the young wyvern…but unexpectedly also starting one with Xaden Riorson—a connection steeped in tragedy, as his father is the very one who took Violet’s own father’s life. As the dust settles and the echoes of the ceremony linger, the question looms: what will this unexpected bond mean for them both, and how will it reshape the destinies intertwined by pain, courage, and the fierce loyalty of rider kind?
*spoilers end*
Overall, Fourth Wing is an engaging novel with multiple gripping storylines and well-developed characters. The story flows smoothly, keeping readers involved and interested. A notable aspect of Fourth Wing is its thoughtful portrayal of disability, which brings authenticity and inclusivity to the story. The book itself has charming artwork on the cover and sides, as well as all high fantasy readers’ favorite: a map on the end page. Overall, it’s an outstanding read that stands out in its genre. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a story that is both entertaining and meaningful.
Meet the blogger:
SHACHEYANNA JOHNSON is a reader who enjoys all things spooky and goes bump in the night. Who likes things that make you leap and shriek in fright.
