Thank you NetGalley for letting me snag this arc! I received this arc in audio and really enjoyed the narrators. The beginning really snagged my attention but about halfway through it felt a little stagnant. However, the last 20% of the book had me reeled back in and the twist at the end?!? I can't wait for the second book!

4.5 stars

A griping and enchanting story with fully developed characters and action scenes that kept me listening non stop! The narrators were also amazing and really brought the story to life. I cannot wait for the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for my advanced listening copy.

4.5 stars
I had only heard absolutely amazing things about this book, so I jumped on the chance to get an audio from Netgalley. For some reason, when people hype up books, they usually fall a little flat for me. I like them but they don't blow me away. With this one, everyone was right.
This book hooked me immediately. I was so invested right away which doesn't happen in a new fantasy series, especially when I know the book is long. I immediately liked Violet, I immediately felt bad because of how obvious it was she wanted to be a scribe and not a warrior. I was scared for her as she went through the initiation tests and when people found out her mother was general (I think. I can't remember her position) and wanted to kill her just because of that. Including Xaden. Violet's mother killed Xaden's father and he wants revenge. I really ended up liking basically all the characters except one. Xaden, Violet's sister (who is a military legend) and the friends she makes along the way despite being told not to make friends.
The premise of this magic system is so cool. These tests they go through are to bond with a dragon. Basically after these tests and training, you go out and a dragon either bonds with you, or doesn't. Your magic then develops along with the bond to your dragon. I don't want to give too much away, but everything about this was easy to understand and vivid to imagine.
One thing that totally struck me as I was listening was that there was this long fight scene near the end. I usually hate fight scenes and get quickly bored, but I was so invested in this one. There were different types of magic being used and it really kept my attention, which surprised me.
I was also very excited when I saw the narrator was Rebecca Soler. She is my favorite audiobook narrator and always does a fantastic job.
I already can't wait for the next book in this series!

No one, not even her best friend, not even her mother, believe Violet will survive the training to become a dragon rider. Still, when your mother, the General insists you switch from scribe to warrior, you have no choice. Most of Violet’s classmates are fated to die and Violet is considered more weak and delicate than the rest of them. Not only that, she has at least 107 of her mother’s enemies who wish to kill her. Can she beat the odds?

Wow. WOW. For years I have been searching for a fantasy book I loved as much as the ACOTAR series and FINALLY I have found it.

This audiobook had me hooked from the first chapter until the last, where I stayed up to the early hours to finish it as I just could not stop listening.

It’s got everything you could ever hope for in a fantasy audiobook; a character you root for straight away, a fascinating world to explore, a super spicy romance and so.much.tension in every element of the plot. The narrators do a brilliant job of bringing the world and it's characters to life. They really added to the experience of the audiobook and captured the tension, both romantic and danger based really well. I felt like I was right there as it was happening.

I really enjoyed every part of Violet’s journey. She is a fantastic, kind yet bad ass character and I rooted for her to survive so hard. Her friends felt like they became mine too and I became more immersed and invested in that world with every page. I couldn’t read the next chapter quickly enough to find out what Violet was up against.

I loved the sarcastic dragons and the excerpts in each chapter, each of which revealed a little more about the world.

I was happy to guess a bit of the ending and I am so, so excited for the next book in the series! I feel like I can’t listen the next book soon enough.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
5/5 🎧

I'll be honest, I was a little terrified to start Fourth Wing due to the hype... I'm always concerned it's not going to live up to it, but I really shouldn't have had any fears here. Rebecca Yarros did a phenomenal job with this book and it is easily one of my favorite reads of the year, and my favorite for this month. We got dragons, hunger game style trials, angst, enemies to lovers, rebels vs. patriots and so much more. Throw in the fact that Rebecca Sorel and Teddy Hamilton narrated this masterpiece and it's no wonder I loved it so much.

Rebecca narrates about 98% of this story and does such an amazing job. There were times she got me so into the story that I would stop everything and just listen. I couldn't even wash a dish, or play a game on my phone, I was 100% in. Then Teddy comes waltzing in to narrate the last chapter and, as always, he's literal MMC perfection. I'm really hoping book 2 is dual pov for the whole book because I need more Teddy.

*possible light spoilers ahead*
I freaking adored Violet. She is constantly overlooked and underrated due to her size, strength and fragility, but with what she lacks physically, she makes up for tenfold with her brain. She is so incredibly smart, both book and logic, that she's able to outwit her opponents and she's so tiny, she's quick, nimble and good with daggers too. I loved how she was able to overcome focusing on her weaknesses and instead learned to focus on her strengths to stay alive. At first I wasn't sure who the love interest would be, but after re-reading the blurb and getting a little bit into it, it was clear Xaden would be the guy. Dane quickly got on my nerves with his goody two shoes-ness and the way he refused to realize Violet wasn't some weakling. Xaden was always there, lifting her up and telling her she could do it, even when he despised her and who she was. Their banter and the angst was just so good. I loved when they finally came together too, it was worth every page of the slow burn.

This world was just really cool. It took a few things I'd heard of before and did some things different along with some really amazing dragon lore. The idea of their bonding and gaining magic from it was fascinating, I loved the centric role they play.

The action at the end was super intense and left us with a cliffhanger that had me reeling and yet smiling. I am so excited for what book 2 is going to bring us. I laughed, I cried, I hooped and hollered. I imagine it'll be more of the same, but I can't wait to get Xaden and Violet back in my life.

This is one of the BEST books I have ever read! I’m not exaggerating. I have already bought two copies. I couldn’t put it down and I already want to reread it.

Some of my favorite things about this book:

•These are actual adults going through job training, not 15 year old kids expected to save the world.
•The bookish girl does not magically become an awesome badass when forced into a physically difficult role. She’s weak and she doesn’t get stronger until she REALLY works on it.
•The entire way dragons are depicted. Their relationships with humans, their personalities, all of it.
•The relationships are so good. Enemies to lovers with a slow burn. Amazing.

Thank you to netgalley and recorded books for the advance reader copy of this great book!

When a book hits all one's sweet spots, it makes it so hard to review. I just want to gush, "Read this book!" Dragon riders, an academic and war setting, forbidden enemies to lovers storyline, all kinds of twists? Catnip in all the best ways for this reader!

I adore the main characters, the way the friends banter with each other, and of course the dragons. Romantasy lovers will adore this book (I enjoyed it on audio but will be also purchasing a hard copy to be able to revisit my favorite scenes over and over).

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for my advanced listening copy.

Synopsis: Violent Sorrengail spent her life preparing for the Scribe Quadrant at the Basgiath War College- she's smaller, weaker than her peers. But, her mother, also known as the commanding general, has different plans in mind. Suddenly forced to "volunteer" for the (dragon) Rider Quadrant, Violent finds herself in constant danger. From her peers, from the training her body is too weak to do, and from the war that plagues the kingdom she's now training to protect. Let's not forget the danger that is Xayden Riorson - the ruthless wingleader who has plenty of reasons to want revenge against Violet's mom. There's only two options for Violet: graduate or survivor.

Review: THIS BOOK. This book. I will say this now, on April 22, this will be in the top three books I read all year. There is no question in my mind. This book has everything I've ever needed in a fantasy book: politics, dragons, spicy tension. I devoured this book in two days. Devoured it. This is one of those books that I'm SO glad I was able to read early while also devastated that I've read it early because that means waiting even longer for the second book. I even preordered this book when I was only 15% of the way through the book. Its that good. This book is magical.

4.5 stars

I received this book from the publishers/NetGalley in exchange on of an honest review.

Wow, this book was amazing. It's been a while since I have read a promising fantasy romance. I hadn't heard of Rebecca Yarros before, so I was skeptical to pick this book up. I'm so glad I ended up reading this! It is a easy read and keeps you entertained. This writing style is reminiscent of SJM and I'm not complaining!

The characters were well done. We have Violet who's not supposed to be in the Rider's quadrant but has to because her maternal pressure. She's a fighter at her core though, so I'm glad she ended up there. We have Xaden with his troubled past and 'don't come near me' persona. We have Dane, Violet's childhood bestfriend, who is extremely protective of her. If you thoroughly dislike love triangles like me, I'd still say give this one a chance. I enjoyed the side characters as well in the book. I did wish there were other POVs in the book.

The world building is amazing and it sucks you in. I did find a few aspects lacking in that aspect, but at no point was I let down. We learn about the history of the world through Violet in an interesting manner when her Scribe training kicks in as a way to calm down.

This book does have those typical world building and storytelling tropes, but it is such a good book to read. I wouldn't let that hinder you. It also has smut between the characters and it is tastefully done.

I can't wait for the next installment of this book and what Rebecca has in store for us. The audiobook narrators did a really good job and I can't wait to hear them narrate the next one.

Fourth Wing tells of the story of Violet Sorrengail who’s life was turned upside down when her future as a scribe was traded in for the possibility of being a dragon rider. She’s faced with countless trials and threats as she fights tooth and nail to bond a dragon and succeed as a rider, all the while suspecting there’s an even greater threat at stake. Will she fly or die?
✨
✨
Holy Sh*t! I can’t remember the last time a book has enthralled me to the level Fourth Wing has. This is also the first book in a while I’ve really wished midnight release parties were still a thing. It would be great to get together with other fans and know you’re not the only one who won’t be able to sleep until you’ve binged the whole book. Book stores should really consider this by the time the sequel releases — hint, hint.
✨
✨
Yarros will grasp you in an iron first from the first chapter and refuse to let go long after you’ve finished the last page. You’ll want to binge the story in one go, but if you have to set it down, it’s going to be on your mind until you’re able to pick the book back up. It has everything I love: enemies to lovers, found family, slow burn romance, spice, bad a*s FMC overcoming the odds, a brooding MMC. It’s also full of of shock, betrayal, heartbreak, heart stopping action, and intense plot twists. I do have to say that ending! What?!? How could you do this and make us wait!
✨
✨
Rebecca Soler is incredible at evoking and demonstrating emotions. She did great at enunciating and adding emotional inflections to her narration. She narrated scenes exactly how I imagined. The pacing was also great (along with using natural pausing/transitions (disclosure: I listen faster than the default speed).
✨
✨
Overall Rating: 5⭐️ (really it deserves all the stars)

There just aren't enough stars for this amazing book. The characters, the dragons, the world created, the action, the romance, everything is absolute perfection and I loved this story. The ending had me gasping and I cannot wait for the second book to come out. It's best just to go into this one blind and let it enthrall you with its magnificence. I was gifted an advanced reader copy and immediately ordered the gorgeous hardcover with the dragon detail on the sprayed edges for my favorites bookshelf. This is a book you do not want to miss! The audiobook is fantastic and I highly recommend listening to it.

Absolutely LOVED this book!!!!! It lives up to all the hype!! The character development, plot and world buildings were amazing! I'm a huge ACOTAR fan and this is filling that void. The writer did an excellent job of making the FMC strong yet vulnerable. My only complaint was I didn't love the narrators but I got used to them by the end
I am already dying for the next book!!!

ank you to RB Media Netgalley and Red Tower Publishers for an advanced audiobook review copy in exchange for my honest review.

WOW. This book checked alllll the boxes. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. The last hour or so had me sobbing. BRB while I beg for book 2 arc bc that cliffhanger was incredible. ;_; The audiobook was narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton and they did a phenomenal job. Violet is a heroine with underdog vibes, full of sass and “watch me” attitude. I loved all the side characters even if they were the “villains”. Her relationships are all unique and I enjoyed it very much. I can’t wait for book 2.

Enemies to Lovers.
Fantasy/Romance.
Dragons!
Dragons that are autonomous and choose their riders.
Unique magic systems.
Angst and mystery.
Book has spice. Definitely not YA.

Rebecca Yarros is an author I know for amazing contemporary romances. She's written epic romances and characters you can't help but love. Her books have also had me in tears quite a few times. So when I heard about Fourth Wing I knew I needed to see what this author could do with a fantasy and she hit it out of the ballpark! This book is easily going to be in the top list of books I've read in 2023.

Our main character Violet has been on track to be a Scribe, but things change and she's sent to the Riders Quadrant (something she's never trained for a day in her life). She won't shy away from a challenge though and gives it all she's got. Violet suffers from chronic pain, but is determined to prove she's got what it takes to succeed. I loved seeing her development throughout the story and she's one strong person!

Then we have the War College. This concept was so interesting and I loved how we got to learn all about it. The world building wasn't a big info dump like you get in a lot of fantasy books, but it seemed to flow through events and conversations. The politics, training, and secrets kept me reading and it was easy to follow. I was listening to the audiobook and I do have a hard time absorbing everything, so I'll be reading this book physically as well when it releases.

Of course in this War College we know there are dragons. They choose their riders and I loved this idea. Rebecca Yarros developed these creatures so well and I felt the bond between Violet and the two (!) dragons that choose her. I think I ended up caring for them just as much as Violet herself. With the dragons and everything going on we know there's going to be some fighting. These scenes had me at the edge of my seat and some of the twists and turns were ones I didn't see coming!

Fourth Wing has romance, but I love that it didn't take over the story! This was definitely an enemies to lovers story and it was one so well. Xaden is another interesting and complex character and his chemistry with Violet was off the charts. The spicy scenes were there, but not overdone. There's still a lot to be worked out, but I'm definitely shipping these two!

On top of everything else, there is an amazing cast of side characters that make this world even more alive. I've become so invested in this story and that ending made me angry I didn't have the next book. If you love a good fantasy story with a hint of romance, I highly recommend Fourth Wing.

My review is already on Goodreads, but will also be posted on https://thebookdutchesses.com on April 29th!

Oh, thank god this is over.

I don't understand all of the 5-star reviews. Honestly, the main plotline wasn't that bad. It was just bogged down by the boring romance, filler subplots, and things that weren't really explained well.


***SPOILERS****

The MC, Violet, is ~not like other girls~ with her silver hair, bookish nerd self (among military brats), who ends up with not one, but TWO, dragons. And one of them is the biggest and baddest, while the other one can stop time.

Bruh.

Violet has chronic pain, which really hinders her during the Threshing. This is one of the more better written character traits, imo. But I can't personally speak for it.

The romance was... cringe af. It was one of the cringiest insta-love stories I've read. The love interest, Xaden, is your typical broody bad boy, who's a couple years older, and a straight male with a tortured soul and even more tortured past. There's the whole subordinate/leader trope if you're into that kind of thing.

Honestly, there wasn't really any emotional chemistry between the two, other than their dragons were mates and kept bonking each other all of the time. Which then made the MC and her broody love interest h0rny for each other. So how is that really love? Violet tells him that she loves him after having sex a few times. Which is even more cringe because they barely know each other.

Oh, and his nickname for her is "Violence" and every time he said that (which was literally every other line in the third act), I couldn't help but to wince internally. So sexy.

Also, when they have sex, lightning strikes randomly and it destroys their bedroom walls, window, etc. I was zoned out of the sex scenes to the point where I thought it'd be funny af if Violet's lighting struck some random person outside.

And when Violet walked the parapet just for Xaden to notice her... Goddamn, stop. No man is worth risking your life, girl.

The dragon school part was just passable, I guess. I just didn't understand the point of the parapet. Or everyone killing each other. If they're trying to defend their borders and kill all these evil creatures, then wouldn't they want every hand on deck? Instead, these kids are just killing each other to get dragons.

Which leads me to the magic system. So, people need to bond to dragons to get a magic power/skill? And then, of course, Violet, being ~not like other girls~, gets a cool lightning power and she gets mad emo about it because her power is used to kill people. But you're supposed to be defending your country's borders against incursions by other people or creatures or whatever, so isn't that the whole point? I can't.

***END SPOILERS****



Before I get even more disappointed at one of my most anticipated reads this year, there's one last thing that really bothered me.

Why was the dialogue so 2023 with modern day slang? It seriously took me out of the story. I think this is supposed to be New Adult, but it read very YA to the point where the MC and everyone else sounded like they were in high school. Take out the dragons and this is your typical bad boy romance.

At least the narrators were pretty good. Rebecca Soler went all out on the action in the third act. I can definitely appreciate her skills.

Thank you to Recorded Books and NetGalley for this arc.

I know I give a lot of 5 stars. But if I could go back and readjust everything I have ever read I would in an instant. This is by far the best book I have read in a long time.
Rebecca Yarros has written a book that will have your interest immediately. The world building and magic system is refreshing. I love that we do have that enemies to lover type romance in this book but that it adds to the book and plot instead of just being centered around it.
Violet is the daughter of a General and a Scribe. The only family she has left is her sister and her mother. Her father was a scribe and was teaching her to be one when it came her time to enter the Scribe Quadrant. Her mother, the general, would not hear of this, forcing her to enter the Rider Quadrant. Here she will either die or become a cadet, hoping that a dragon will pick her if she survives.
THis book is everything I could have hoped for and more. I really can’t wait to see what Rebecca does with the second book. This is just releasing and I am already highly anticipating the next one. This will be a book that stays with me forever.

The audio version of this book was amazing. I absolutely loved the narrators and have to buy this when it releases.

I absolutely loved this one! A sprinkle of Tamora Pierce, a sprinkle of Anne McCaffrey, made me laugh, made me cry, and a very enjoyable read. This reminds me of the excellent fantasy that I grew up on, which is super exciting from a new book. A fascinating world, DRAGONS, intrigue, and a fabulous I KNEW IT moment at the end. It's going to be agony waiting for the next book because I need it <b>NOW</b>.

When I tell you that this book sucked me in immediately.. that is a huge understatement. I was enthralled with this!

I can’t even really describe the feeling that I have about this book, but I can tell you this is going to be one of the top fantasies of the year. I truly loved the representation of an underdog FMC. She was such a bad ass and really just fell in love with her.

The world building is this book was great, I didn’t feel bored or like it was dragging which is huge for fantasies.

The slow burn, romance, chefs kiss.

If you enjoy -
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Underdog FMC
Dragons
War school

This is for you!!

Over all I did love this book and boy I can’t wait for the second!!

I LOVED this book. So much. I even preordered the audiobook after listening to only 30% of the audio arc. Because I knew I would love it and want to read it again.

This is the brutal magic-school-that-is-trying-to-kill-you book of my dreams. The challenges and tests are trying to kill you. The entrance 'exam' is trying to kill you. The other students are trying to kill you. The dragons are trying to kill you (if you are found not worthy). But if you make it? You become a badass dragon rider.

And then the plot thickens. And goes exactly where I hoped it would. I only guessed a tiny fraction of what happened - just enough to be very pleased with where everything went.

I loved the characters. I loved violet, and how hard she worked to overcome her body's frailty (EDS, I'm guessing), and how sharp her mind was. I loved how Xaden insisted on calling her 'violence' from the beginning -- seriously, best nickname/pet name EVER.

The love story was perfect. The brutality of the school and the students was perfect. The dragons were perfect. Just, chef's kiss, it was absolutely EVERYTHING I wanted, gimme the next one now.

The audiobook was narrated brilliantly and I felt like I was right there for all of it. The characters had distinct voices and personalities that brought them to life, the intensity started high and only cranked higher as it went on, and Rebecca Soler's voice was pleasant to listen to.

10/10 100% recommend. Seriously, if you like brutal magic schools / dark academia / dragons? Read this now.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books for providing an early copy of the audio for review.

This is, without a doubt, THE book of the year for me.
Absolutely phenomenal.
Fourth Wing sucked me in from the first chapter and reminded me exactly why I love the fantasy romance genre so much. I was absolutely enthralled by this story and I had to force myself to put it down and take breaks so I wouldn't read it all in one sitting- this is the kind of book you'll want to savor.
This book is full of death, brutality, turmoil, secrets, betrayals, war, true strength, delicious romance, and of course- the coolest dragons ever. These dragons are ~25 feet tall and are intelligent beings with their own laws and society and they only tolerate humans because they need help protecting their sacred lands. It's sick.
Our main character Violet is forced to attend the Basgiath war college as a potential dragon rider (instead of the scribe she's been training to be her whole life). Violet is
"frail" in body, but not in spirit, and she's forced to fight tooth and nail to survive and earn a bond with a dragon. It seems everyone wants Violet dead- especially Xaden, the traitor's son. Only about 1/4 of potential dragon riders survive until graduation and the odds are monumentally against Violet.
Everything about this book is fantastic: the pacing keeps you on the edge of your seat, the action never stops, and you'll fall head-over-heels in love with the characters. The romantic plot line is one of the BEST enemies-to-lovers relationships I have EVER read.