Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Fantasy. New adult. Forced to fight to protect the world.
Twenty-year old Violet Sorrengail thought her future would be as a Scribe. A quiet life among books and history. Her mother, the commanding General says otherwise. Violet is forced to train at the Basgiath War College to be a dragon rider, where the dragons make the choice of their riders. Violet knows she is more likely to be incinerated by the dragons but her only choice is to survive.
The first test is walking a bridge over an abyss. The bridge has no railings or handholds and is known to be dangerous. The candidate behind her simply throws the person behind him off bridge. He’s coming for her next.
I will not die today becomes her mantra and pledge.

Lot of blood and death, but that seems to define most fantasy right now. Violet is determined and uses her pain and years of studying to survive. She makes friends which helps when most of the unwilling candidates would prefer to kill her. Violet’s sister has warned her to stay away from Xaden Riorson yet he’s the one giving her advice that helps.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version while often following along with a paperback. The narrative was performed by Rebecca Soler with Teddy Hamilton performing the last chapter as Xaden. The tense situations and devastation from Violet comes through clearly. The audio voice variance is clear and easy to listen to and held my attention as each situation held danger and Violet’s determination to not die that day. Her compassion and caring is heard.
I listened to this at my usual speed of 1.5. The length at regular speed is over 20 hours. I finished to this in less than 2 days because I didn’t want to put it down.

Compelling, exciting and engrossing. And that ending! Wow.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Recorded Books.

The Hype is Real!! This is the best book with Drag0ns, Adventure, and Love I have read in a long time. I like that it just gives you all the feels and leaves you cheering until the end!

This book hooked me in right away. There was never a slow part which held my attention. I enjoyed the characters but tend to hate when they make or change the personality of a love interest just to push audiences to another. This book did not do that instead showed that the main character felt love but wasn’t in love. This book made me gasp, cry, mad and upset that the second one isn’t out yet! The cliffhanger! Even though I guessed it I’m still eager to read the second book. Thank you for the audio I enjoyed the narrator, she did voices for the different characters and expressed the right emotion when needed.

Fourth Wing is a mix between Hogwarts and The Hunger Games but add Dragons!

It was action-packed, I often was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.

The Enemy to lover was 🔥, a nice slow burn that lead to some steamy scene.

I loved Violet, she was a badass MC and I loved seeing her grow from the opening scene until the end.

I listened to the narrator, it was mainly narrated by Rebecca Soler and I thought she did a remarkable job narrating!

Holy shit the ending! I didn’t see that coming a mile away. I see on Goodreads it’s the first in the series and I absolutely hope that’s true because I need moooore!

Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for a copy of Fourth Wing for an honest review.

Welcome to Basgiath War College. This is where you find out if you have what it takes to be a dragon rider. There are only 2 ways to leave, you either graduate or you die. Violet Sorrengail always believed she would be entering the scribe quadrant, but her mother has different plans. Violet will either become a dragon rider or die trying.

If you’re looking for a book with the intensity and ruthlessness of The Hunger Games combined with dragons, a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and heart-stopping action, Fourth Wing is the book for you.

Violet is officially one of my favorite main characters. I love how compassionate she is even when she’s surrounded by ruthless people who wouldn’t show her the same compassion. What others perceive as her weakness is her greatest strength. She’s smart, fierce, determined, and loyal with a strong sense of right and wrong. No one tells Violet what to think, she makes her own decisions.

This is the best fantasy book I’ve read all year. Once I started the audiobook, it was nearly impossible to stop. Every chapter left me wanting more. It felt like I was at Basgiath with Violet. Rebecca Yarros weaves a captivating story full of incredible characters and world-building while also maintaining stellar pacing. There was never a dull moment in this book.

I can’t say enough great things about this book! If you’re looking for a book that will enthrall you from start to finish, pick up Fourth Wing.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the audio arc of this book.

Story 5/5
Worldbuilding 5/5
Characters 5/5

Ok, guys, I enjoy a lot of what I read. If I pick up a book I want to read, in most cases, I like it. A lot of the time, if it's a book, I am excited about it most always meets my expectations. I don't know. I'm not that hard of a person to please. It doesn't mean I've picked up books before and couldn't stand to read another chapter. That has happened to me. But if you've read many of my past reviews, you'll read things like I loved it, it was so good, 5/5 stars, I've just read a new favorite book. I couldn't put it down…. etc. etc.
So eventually, you'll see a book I reviewed and think, oh, let me guess, it's 5/5 stars; you loved it. It's the next Sarah J. Maas book. Or this is the next fantasy series of the year. I mean, it's like the boy who cried wolf. You can only do it several times before people stop believing you. I do get it and never intend to write reviews like that. I swear! I know what kind of books I like and usually reach for them. Or I know I want that author so that it will be good, just like their last one.
So bear with me here when I say….Holy Shit, GUYS. Also, pause because if you don't believe me go ahead and look up other reviews of Fourth Wing out there. People are losing their marbles over this book. I swear Yarros decided to sell her soul for this one. This is my first book from Rebecca Yarros, and I'm so glad I picked it up.
I will tell you this. I am not an audiobook girl. My brain cannot focus on them. So when Netgalley gave me this arc to review by audio, I was nervous. I am trying to remember what I listened to or the narrator talked about. But this one started, and I was enthralled. I couldn't stop listening. 20-minute traffic jam? No big deal, I got this book to listen to. Laundry? Make it three loads because I can't stop.
Violet Sorrengail was supposed to go to scribe school. She was supposed to be safe in her library, surrounded by books. Instead, she was born with a frail body with weak ligaments. She wasn't born to be like her mother or her siblings. Her mother is the commanding general at the Basgiath War College. Mara and her brother Brennan followed in their mother's ruthless footsteps and became dragon riders. To protect Navarre. That was never supposed to be Violet's path until the day of conscription, and her mother pulls her aside and orders her to become a dragon rider. A summons like that for Violet with her chronic illness? Obvious death. But Violet persevered. Violet was thrown into a war college filled with rebels forced to pay their dues by becoming dragon riders. How is a girl like Violet supposed to be safe when there's death around every corner calling her name? Also, are her enemies indeed enemies? Everyone is in a war college to train as dragon riders. Violet has to rely on all her strengths to get through each day.
I'm looking through this book, and it makes me want to pick it up and start at the beginning. Yarros is an incredible author. I read that she also struggles with a chronic condition. Her writing shows that she pulled from her own experience to describe the struggles and hardships that Violet goes through. When you're born with a body that betrays you, it's hard to get out of bed in the morning. Yarros's writing is very easy to engage with. Her tone is one you can instantly be thrown into a story by the first few pages.

The Fourth Wing has
 Dragons
 War College Setting
 A brutal Cliffhanger
 Magic
 Enemies to Lovers
 Politics and Betrayal
 Chronic Illness Rep
 Amazing World Building

This book was incredible, guys. I cannot emphasize that enough. I'm glad to see the sequel comes out in November because I don't know how long I can wait for it. That may be too long, but books aren't written in a day.
The world of Navarre was written with immense detail. Sometimes there are those books that the world building and the history is difficult to understand. You must hold on for dear life for the first 60 pages because you genuinely have no idea what's going on. It's hard to grasp. I didn't have that experience with this one. This book drew me in by the first page.
Please please read it and let me know what you think!

I absolutely adore the writing style. This was an amazing fantasy story that had romance and found family. I loved how well the characters were developed and how much they knew that certain things they were doing were not good for them, but that they could understand why they loved it. I really enjoyed the main character dealt with physical pain. I think that this made a very compelling character that made me love the story even more I would highly recommend this book to anybody who likes fantasy or even wants to get into fantasy I think the story is a great starting point for anyone there, or if you’re an avid reader of fantasy that you will love the way that the story weaves in the information. Overall an amazing book that now I’m obsessed with and really sad because I’ve got a wait for the next book.

5+ stars! This is likely my top book of the year. And the dragon sprayed edges? I'm dead.

Violet Sorrengail never planned on joining the dragon rider quadrant. She was going to follow her late fathers footsteps and become a scribe. Or at least she thought she was. When your mother is a commanding general you don't always get to choose. Violet is not your typical dragon rider. She's small, smart, and struggles with chronic illness. Very much an underdog. Her mothers reputation doesn't help when former traitors'children are part of the college. Not only does she have to worry about fellow cadets, she can't forget that dragons don't bond to fragile humans like her. And in Basgaith, you graduate or die.

This book is my new obsession! There are amazing friends, allies, and lovers in this rich fantasy. The world is easily understandable without info dumping. Violet is a smart, badass main character. I loved the Ehlers Danlos rep. It really highlighted Violet's inner strength and how she is able to prove everyone wrong. I loved the MMC, you truly don't know what to expect! There is great suspense, high stakes, and political intrigue. The story keeps you wondering what is around the next corner and how everything will turn out. I enjoyed all the side characters and that ending!
I could go on and on about this book, but I'll just say READ IT. I'm recommending it to everyone! I finished and immediately ran to preorder!


Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Red Tower Books for the early audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 ARC Audiobook #Review of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Crystal’s Thoughts

“Are you going to die a scribe? Or live as a rider?”

Welcome to Basgiath War College, where only the toughest survive the trials to become a dragon rider, and even then, your life is not guaranteed. Violet Sorrengail always thought that she would follow in her late father’s footsteps as a scribe for the realm, but when she is set to enter the Scribe Quadrant, she finds out that her mother, General Sorrengail, has other plans for her. Thrust into the Riders Quadrant where it’s fight or die, Violet knows that her size and frail health automatically put her at a disadvantage, but her name just may put an even bigger of a target on her back. The only person she can trust is her childhood friend, Dain, a second-year squad leader. But when he can’t see past her faults, she begins to question their relationship, especially when wing leader Xaden Riorson, a man that should want her dead, seems to be the only one who truly sees her. When danger escalates outside the borders though, Violet wonders at the truth her and her fellow cadets are being taught. Is leadership hiding something, and did her father somehow know what it was before his death? Violet finds that she can’t trust anyone in this deadly game of survival.

“I am the sky and the power of every storm. I am infinite.”

Fourth Wing is an all-consuming tale of death and danger, politics and intrigue, secrets and betrayal, and the scintillating temptation of forbidden love that left me completely obsessed. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the audiobook and as soon as I finished listening to it, I started it all over again! I cannot wait for my signed hard cover copy to come in so that I can read it and immerse myself in this riveting adventure once again. I cannot stop gushing over the unique world and compelling characters that Rebecca Yarros has crafted with her debut fantasy romance release, so get ready for it!

“The things I think about doing to him when he looks at me like that would surely ruin me, and tonight I’m not sure I care.”

Rebecca Yarros pulled so many emotions from me while reading. From laughing out loud at the snark that was Violet’s inner dialogue, cheering her on as she finds ways to overcome her disability and triumph with her bad-assery, to giggling from Tairn’s dry sarcasm, on edge as Violet battles for her life and those of her friends, crying at the devastating loss of a friend and squad mate, to feeling the delicious slow burn between Violet and Xaden deep in my belly. Though I have been following Yarros on social media for years, this was my first read from her and I was amazed by her unearthly ability to pull me right into the pages. I felt as if I was running the gauntlet alongside Violet, flying through the skies on Tairn’s back, on the front lines with the first years as an outpost was attacked, and looking into the eyes of Xaden wondering if what stared back at Violet was real. There’s a very minor love triangle but the relationship that develops between Violet and Xaden is everything I look for in a romance, it’s the little things that build up to a larger whole. Chapter 28 had me swooning, but chapter 30 is when things really heat up and you dive headfirst into the spice. And boy was it blazing hot! Each character was multifaceted, distinctive, and fleshed out well. Even those I absolutely hated and wanted to see dead (*cough* Jack *cough*), I still loved as an aspect to the overall storyline. I also adored the LGBTQ+ and non-binary representation throughout the tale, it felt completely authentic and not just an aspect that the author threw in for relevance.

“Should I get the wingleader?”
“Shut up.”

There is so much that happens in this book, there is no way that I can cover it all in one review without spoiling it. But I can’t talk about this book without mentioning the dragons, who were their own characters, not just pets to the human elements. They each had their own personalities, and while readers only get insight into Tairn, Andarna, and Sgaeyl, all of the dragons made their presence known in the story. The secondary characters were also a huge part of the story, Violet wouldn’t have made it as far as she did in the war games without them, even with her brilliant mind. I especially loved Rhiannon and Liam’s characters. The action and intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story, culminating in a suspense-filled, heart-wrenching end. Just a hint to readers, pay attention to the chapter headings as a lot of them hold some foreshadowing.

“There is nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, Violence.”

Fourth Wing is hands-down THE best book of the year. And yes, I am well aware that the year isn’t even halfway through yet, but I said what I said and I’m sticking to it! I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys romantasy, but be warned, once you start that first page you are sure to be wholly and utterly captivated by this engrossing world and its enthralling characters. Get ready to be blown away, there’s no turning back. I don't know what kind of magic or deal with a Devil/God Rebecca Yarros made when writing this tale, but it is manna, and I am Devote. Don't just walk to get this book. Run. If I could give it a hundred stars, I would! P.S. Ms. Yarros, what do I need to do to get a copy of the next book, because I need it like I need air!

“I’m going to keep you. You’re mine, Violet.”

Narrator:
I really enjoyed Rebecca Soler’s intonation of the story. She conveyed the character’s voices well. There were a few instances where it seemed that she forgot to switch up the voice for different characters, so it took me a second to recognize who was speaking, but that was minor in the overall scheme of things. I had no problem feeling every emotion these characters experienced through her voice alone.


✔️ Adult Romantasy
✔️ Slow Burn + Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✔️ Snark + Sarcasm
✔️ Politics + Intrigue
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Forbidden Love
✔️ Dragons + Academia
✔️ Secrets + Betrayal
✔️ LGBTQ+ and Non-Binary Characters
✔️ Underdog/Chronic Illness FMC
✔️Scarred Anti-Hero MMC
✔️ Cliffhanger Ending

I requested this book IMMEDIATELY after seeing quite a few five star reviews on TikTok. I'm a fantasy fanatic, loved that it was hyped up as New Adult (I'm tired of YA fantasy now that I'm pushing 30), and heard that it was a "mix of dark academia and dragon riders". I was SOLD.

Unfortunately... it did not live up to that 5-star standard for me. While it definitely was NOT YA (20 year old female protagonist who talks about sex easily and had at least 2 smutty scenes that were very descriptive), the writing felt so childish to me at times. Violet said the words "he is so hot" at least 20 times, which really took me out of the story (it just felt way too modern for being a fantasy novel that, for all intents and purposes, I'm assuming takes place in around the 1800s AT LEAST?).

I'm also tired of all the "boy best friend from childhood" characters lately in books being thrown under the bus. GIVE ME MORE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS; I DON'T CARE ABOUT ENEMIES TO LOVERS OR MATED/FATED PAIRS OR WHATEVER!!! Also the nickname "Violence" is so cringey, it made me want to scream.

Next... "dark academia"? Yes she goes to classes, but we see like maybe 10 minutes worth of content in a classroom or revolving around the actual school. I would not classify this book as dark academia at all. It definitely takes place at a school, but most of it is training/fighting!

Was it still entertaining? Yes! Will I still pick up the next one? Probably from my library! Give it a go; it may not be my absolute favorite, but it has potential to be yours!

I loved this book! I had a feeling that this was going to be really good. How can a book involving dragons not be really good? But this was I couldn’t put the book down and read it in 2 days even though it was longer than 500 pages good! When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it and when I finished it, I considered going back to the beginning and reading it again.

Violet was ready to live her life as a scribe. That is what she planned on and studied for. Her father was a scribe but he is now gone. Her mother is a general with other plans so she pushes Violet to become a dragon rider. The only problem is that candidates are just as likely to die as they are to bond with a dragon and survive. Violet is smaller and weaker than most of the other students so she has her work cut out for her.

This story was exciting, sometimes heartbreaking, and full of surprises. I thought that the romantic element of the story was incredibly well done. I fell in love with this cast of characters and thought that they were very well-developed, including the dragons. The world-building was very well done and I really appreciated how Violet’s knowledge that she gained for training to be a scribe was worked into the story. There were plenty of surprises and enough action to keep me glued to the pages.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did a wonderful job with this story. Rebecca Solar handles the bulk of the narration in this book. Anyone who is considering picking this one up because of Teddy Hamilton may be disappointed because we hear very little of his voice in this book. I thought the narrator did a great job of bringing the story to life. I liked the various voices that were used to represent the characters and I felt that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading.

I am going to be recommending this book to everyone. I loved being with Violet as she made this journey toward becoming a dragon rider. This book was fun of action, wonderful world-building, excitement, romance, great characters, and dragons. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment in the series.

I received a review copy of this book from Recorded Books and Red Tower Books.

I have the biggest book hangover of all time with this one. I don't know how I'm gonna wait until November for the sequel.

This book is truly like a Hunger Games only with dragons. It's brutal, both physically and mentally, intense and completely cutthroat.

The voice in the audiobook was amazing and very easy to follow. Loved the intonation just in the right places and how the narrator was able to interpret and express the emotions of the main character throughout the trials.

The protagonist, Violet, is something else and I was very surprised with her evolution. She's a bookworm who expected to be a scribe but is forced by her mother to become a dragon rider to keep the family tradition. She's physically weaker than the other members of the quadrant but her mind is her strength. Despite the atmosphere (where you can't trust anyone at the risk of your own life) she still manages to develop meaningful friendships. I rooted for her the entire time and cheered for her victories.

The romance... was not what I was expecting. I thought this was going to be friends to lovers but boy did I get that wrong. It's very much a slow burn but intense enemies to lovers. The love interest is a scary anti-hero who is out to kill Violet from page one. It does take time for these two to get together, but the wait was totally worth it. It was explosive!!

The dragons are incredible. I love how much detail Rebecca put into their world, their hierarchy and politics. It was refreshing to see some order instead of having dragons as mindless killing machines. The way they connect to humans to protect the lands is just mind blowing.

The ending was everything and more. I had my heart in my throat as I listened and I didn't see that ending coming. Fair warning, major cliffhanger.

Absolutely loved it and I can't wait for the sequel!

Start off by sprinkling a mixture of Divergent, a dash of The Hunger Games and From Blood and Ash of mix it all together with How to Train Your Dragon to create this magnificent masterpiece! When I heard about this book I knew I had to get a hold of it. Even after hearing about the hype I had a feeling it was going to be an amazing ride.

Rebecca Yarros is an excellent storyteller because right from the start I was hooked. Fourth Wing was fast paced and you won't even realize how fast you are reading until you are done. After finishing this epic fantasy it will consume your thoughts and become one of your favourite books.

Violet Sorrengail is one of those characters who is smart, cunning and 100% brave throughout the book. Even though she was destined to be in the Scribe Quadrant, her mother changed everything. Her mother is the commanding general to forced her to enter Basgiath War College to become a Dragon Rider. There are so many trials she has to face or die trying. I was on the edge of my seat while reading parts of it!

Now onto Xaden Riorson. From the moment you meet him you can feel the tension between them. While he may be Violet's enemy because of the rebellion that his dad lead, there is so much more to learn about him while reading. I felt a little obsessed thinking about him as well. The banter was perfect and I was anxiously waiting until that moment and it did not disappoint! I love a good enemies to lovers and those steamy scenes!! :O

The world building was definitely amazing. As you are reading be sure to pay attention to the detail! Even if your mind is busy thinking about Xaden. Now onto the Dragons. They definitely stole the show and I loved the conversations between Violet and Tarin. I loved all the relationships Violet forms with her wing, I may have cried during one scene! To the dragons, sparring, political and historical scenes this book had me in a chokehold as it was beyond addictive! So if you hadn't preordered it yet I recommend you pick it up immediately.

100% this deserves 5 stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t have words for how good I found this book. This was a book that I knew immediately in the first chapter that I was going to love it.

This was a high-stakes, fast-paced fantasy. It takes place at a dragon war college where you become a rider and fight to survive every day until Graduation or you don’t make it out alive. The world is brutal and unforgiving. This story is what would happen if How to Train your Dragon, Eragon, Zodiac Academy, sprinkled with a little Game of Thrones had a baby. I found it entertaining, and utterly epic.

It was the best fantasy romance that I have read in a while. I absolutely devoured this book and couldn’t stop thinking about it. I was thoroughly obsessed. When I got towards the end, I simultaneously needed to know how it ends and didn’t want it to end. But I didn’t see the ending coming; that cliffhanger at the end… I need Book 2 immediately please.

Overall, I loved the way Violet grew through adversity at this school she was forced to attend. She was targeted for being small and weak. She had been raised to be in the Scribe quarter and was suddenly thrust into the Riders quarter. She’s just so badass even from the beginning. Violet Sorrengail surprises everyone at every chance she gets.

Let’s talk romance. This is a slow burn, enemies to lovers. There was also touch her and unalive. Xaden and Violet hold each other accountable for the sins of their families. His dad took her brother from her, her mom executed his dad and marked him as a traitor. Rumor has it that he wants her out of the picture.

But honestly, I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Xaden Riorson. Xaden’s character was so deep that it was really hard to tell if I should be loving him or hating him. But I couldn’t not love him. I’ve been team Xaden from the beginning.

AND. THE. DRAGONS. They are terrifying and divine. They remind me of how cats would be if they had as much power as they think they do.

I adored the absolute masterpiece this was and it has made it into my top books! Maybe even my favorite Romantasy.

First, I want to start off by saying a big thank you to NetGalley and Rebecca Yarros for this advanced readers copy what a treat. Now let’s get into this review. I’m going to start off by saying I’m giving this book 5 amazing stars. What a ride from the dragons to the Dragon riders👏👏👏. If you mixed Divergent with Vampire Academy but change the vampires for dragons you would have this book. It definitely has a YA feel to it, but it does have a good amount of spice🙌 I love how much action it had, and I was completely invested in all the characters. It had a great slow burn element and the angst was everything! I laughed, I cried, I was completely sold on this book from start to finish. It’s just something about Rebecca Yarros and her writing that has me loving every minute of it.
For me, this might be a top fantasy book of the year. Well done for her debut into the fantasy genre👏👏👏 I am counting down the minutes for Book 2💕

Favorite read of the year! Action, romance, and DRAGONS! I loved every moment and I need book 2 now!

Wow! I feel I cannot even formulate a sentence let alone write a review after finishing Fourth Wing.

It’s been an incredibly hyped book months before publication and I’m here to promise you, it’ll live up to that hype. The world building is fantastic. It’s well written. The plot and pacing is perfect. It has all the elements of go to recommendation for me: strong, underdog main character, enemies to lovers, round family, and now bonds with dragons!!

The narrator was not my favorite at first, but she grew on me. And in time, I came to really see her as Violet. Her performance was strong and emotional.

It’s my new obsession. And it’ll be yours too.


Thank you so much for the arc!

Thank you Red Tower Books and Recorded books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun reading this!! Was it the best thing ever? Did it blow my mind? No, but I don't think FOURTH WING was trying to do that. I genuinely had the time of my life reading this because it was just that fun. FOURTH WING is fast-paced and easy to read in way that I think is going to be enjoyable to new and seasoned fantasy readers. Plus, who doesn't want to read a book that has dragons?! I keep describing this book as "How to Train Your Dragon for adults, with spice and no regard for human life."

I adored the main character Violet. She's intelligent and level-headed and unlike the majority of her classmates who are overconfident and egotistical. At Basgiath War College, it's quite literally survival of the fittest when it comes wanting to be a dragon rider. Violet Sorregail doesn't seem like the typical student in the Riders Quadrant but I love that she will do whatever it takes to survive. Literally. The dragons in FOURTH WING are hilarious. They talk (!!!) and have their own unique personalities.

FOURTH WING also has a legit enemies-to-lovers romance. THANK GOSH. Do you know how refreshing it is to have two people who actually have legit reasons to want each other dead? And it's not because they had a bad first impression? It was like letting out a breath I didn't know I had been holding (yes, I said it). The banter between Violet and Xaden was top tier. One thing that annoyed me a little bit was the repetitiveness of certain descriptions when it came to the romance aspect. You'll see it when you read it but other than that I don't have many complaints.

Rebecca Soler narrates the audiobook and she killed it! She's been one of my favorite audiobook narrators for years so I had no doubt I was going to love this audiobook.

4/5 - Go get this one on May 2nd!

I am SPEECHLESS. Fourth Wing is PHENOMENAL. I'm officially obsessed.
There are no words to express how much I loved this but I'm going to try my best because this book is everything.
Fourth Wing is hands down the best fantasy I’ve read in a very long time and it's easily my top read of the year.
I was captivated from start to finish. As much as I wanted to know what happens, I actually paced myself in order to take everything in. I didn’t want to miss a single thing.
I listened to the audiobook and Rebecca Solers narration with Teddy Hamilton was fantastic.

I loved everything about this - the world, the magic, the characters and of course the dragons.
I'm not going to talk about the plot because I highly suggest going into this blind but what I will say is that the romance is a delicious slow-burn, enemies to lovers and Violet and Xaden are perfect together. The push and pull between them is so much fun. And when they finally give in? So worth the wait!

My only complaint is that I have to wait for book 2, I need it ASAP. Fourth Wing ends on one hell of a cliffhanger but thankfully, book 2 is expected to be released this November which means I get to re-read it in a few months (if not sooner) 😍

Everybody needs to pre-order this now or go to the closest book store and buy it when it hits shelves tomorrow! I can't wait to hold a physical copy in my hands.

Solid 3.5 stars. Fourth Wing is the first book in a new series by Rebecca Yarros! It’s a fantasy romance with a military style school for dragon riders and I was really looking forward to this one. I ended up getting an audio ARC of this story and was so excited to jump in!

Overall, I think I’m definitely in the minority for this one and didn’t love it as much as other early readers seem to. The story definitely drops you right into the action and story, which for me felt overwhelming and hard to get into. We meet Violet, who comes from a family of dragon riders and her mother is even a commander. Violet planned to become a scholar but her mother forces her into the dragon rider squadrons instead. We get lots of war games, training/school vibes, we learn about the dragon rider units, learn about magic/powers (all riders can preform lesser magic once their dragons choose to channel their powers), learn about dragon bonds (once bonded, riders can’t live without their dragons). We do meet a ton of side characters, which definitely don’t get attached to many. 😅

There is a romance in here but it’s definitely slow burn, it was about halfway into the book before I feel like that even kicks in and I was questioning if this was even going to have a romance. The romance is an enemies to lovers setup, the hero definitely gives off “bad boy/rebel boy” vibes. Before the romance shows up I did feel like the story comes off very YA and reads young. I feel like there was a lot happening, it’s a fast-paced story, but I also didn’t get a good sense of time at the same time? Some parts didn’t always make sense to the overall story as well. I know this is the first book in a series so I’m sure more will build as it continues on. I do think it was a solid book overall, I definitely did enjoy more in the last half of the story, it is just sadly not a new favorite for me.

This is narrated by Rebecca Soler and features Teddy Hamilton, his narration only comes in the last chapter or so though (98% in), which I was sad we didn’t get more of his narration because he’s an amazing narrator! I was wondering the whole time when his narration would be in the story.

Thank you to the publisher (Red Tower Books) for the audio ARC via NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own. Fourth Wing is out May 2, 2023.