I have had this book on my shelves since shortly after it came out but didn’t know if I really wanted to read it. This book has so much hype surrounding it that I was scared I would be let down. Not to spoil my own review but lets just say this book lived up to its high expectations.
“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
A rider without their dragon is dead.”
Possible Spoilers Ahead, Read at your own Risk!
About The Book
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Published Date: May 2, 2023
Page Count: 528
Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance
GoodReads Rating: 4.65
Format: Physical Book
“Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs—on the probabilities.”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
Synopsis
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die
Synopsis From GoodReads
“Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
Rating
“Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
Reviews
Possible Spoilers Ahead, Read at your own Risk!
I honestly can not believe that I waited this long to read this book! This book has been all the rage on every book platform and I was seriously starting to get FOMO. It wasn’t until I met my new Bestie (Also Named Bailey) who finally convinced me to pick up this glorious book. So yes, I finally finished it two hours before Iron Flame was released. Probably the best decision I could have made so I didn’t have to wait for the next book like everyone else. If you need me you can find me with my nose stuck in Iron Flame for the next few days. Ok sorry now on to the real review.
I had heard this book was beginner friendly for anyone who hasn’t been a fantasy reader and I was skeptical of that, but of course they were right. The world building in this book is beautiful to say the least. It is so easy to follow along with , I would say the hardest part is the pronunciation of all the names, honestly in my head it just sounds like blah blah but or I make up my own way to say it so there is no way my characters are named the same as the rest of yours haha.
I knew nothing about this book going into it other than Dragons. But after reading it I chalked it up to an even better Divergent book. Divergent was one of my favorite books as a teen, ok well maybe it was the only series I read growing up so it automatically gets the title for favorite book.. Anyways, It felt so nostalgic while reading this book which is part of the reason why I was able to devour it so quickly! I have heard it reminds people of the Hunger Game Series as well but I never read those and (Don’t Hate me) I never liked the movies either so I have no input on that connection.
“But I will not run. I wouldn’t be standing here if I’d quit every time something seemed impossible to overcome. I will not die today.”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
Ok, here are all my spoilers, you have been warned!
This was an easy five star rating for me for several reasons. The main one being the connection between Violet and Xaden. I love morally gray men and I knew as soon as we met him that he was the one! The fact that they can communicate telepathically is just chefs kiss! The way Xaden is so protective over Violet just melts me to my core, I honesty don’t know how you could write a better morally gray character and if they aren’t end game I don’t know if I could ever recover, or even if they are end game I can’t take any miscommunication but that is way too much to ask. I just want them to be forever happy haha.
The second reason why this was an easy five star read for me is how fast paced this book was. The way the end of the chapters left me wanting more just made me fly through! I needed to know what the heck was going to happen next because again, I can not get enough of these characters! I also just found out that this should be a five book series which I am happy about because I can not get enough of the characters, however I am so scared of who we might lose along the way.
When I tell you that I sobbed when Liam died… Man that was so tragic! I totally understand the bond between riders and their dragons but why did he have to die too?! He was one of my most favorite side characters and I was not prepared for him to be the one who passed at the end. This made me think about everyone else I love in the book and just knowing that there is a high chance that they won’t make it through the whole series and I am not ready for that! I am already too attached!
“I’m going to keep you. You’re mine, Violet.”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
“Only if you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours for longer than you could ever imagine.”
For this next Section I will be rapid Firing some of my Thoughts
- Dain is Trash
- Violet’s Mother is the worst!
- She Bonded two dragons?!
- Fucking Lightning? Did not see that coming!
- Dain is literal Garbage!
- Hot Damn!
- Andarna is my baby!
- Tairn is a God!
- Sgaeyl scares me…
- Fucking Dain!
- Please, Mom and Dad, Don’t Fight….
- This is why women think we can change men
- Brennan is Alive?! WTF!
Predictions for Iron Flame Before I pick it up
- Dain has two fates he either dies or they make up and he joins the forces. God I hope they kill him! Traitor!!!!
- Someone we love is going to die because this series is tragic and is going to rip our hearts out!
- Mira will find out about Brennan this book and stick to her siblings like glue
- Maybe, just maybe, Violets mom isn’t as bad as she seems and will also come help fight the vennin… Maybe…
“You can’t make me fall for you and then die.”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
If for whatever reason you have not picked this book up yet I highly recommend that you do. This is a book that will stick with you for a long while and will consume all your thoughts. Literally, I have been dreaming of this book for days!
QOTD: What Kind of power would you wish to Wield? What kind of Dragon would you want to bond with?
“And when others are quick to stand in front of me, Xaden always stands at my side, trusting me to hold my own.”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
World of Bai 
Skipped your review because I’ve got this and the sequel waiting for me, and I’m trying to avoid spoilers. But I’m glad you enjoyed it and it lived up to the hype.
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Hope you enjoy it! My Bookstagram Post is spoiler free @bai.books if you are interested!
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