Fourth Wing

Empyrean, Book 1

By: Rebecca Yarros

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton

Length: 21 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Now with two bonus chapters read by Teddy Hamilton. Re-download the title now to listen to the extended version!

A #1 New York Times bestseller • Optioned for TV by Amazon Studios • Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 • Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 • Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 • NPR “Books We Love” 2023 • Audible Best Books of 2023 • Hudson Book of the Year • Google Play Best Books of 2023 • Indigo Best Books of 2023 • Waterstones Book of the Year finalist • Goodreads Choice Award, semi-finalist • Newsweek Staffers’ Favorite Books of 2023 • Paste Magazine's Best Books of 2023

"Suspenseful, sexy, and with incredibly entertaining storytelling, the first in Yarros' Empyrean series will delight fans of romantic, adventure-filled fantasy."—Booklist, starred review

"Fourth Wing will have your heart pounding from beginning to end ... A fantasy like you've never read before."—Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

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.

©2023 Rebecca Yarros (P)2023 Recorded Books

Mostly enjoyable, but cringy

I liked the story itself but be prepared for some inconsistencies. The sex scenes were so cringe and I could’ve done with less details. The character development needs some work but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the progression of the story. I’m hoping the author develops Violet’s maturity at the very least. *SPOILER*** ******She’s 20 but she thinks like a 16 year old when it comes to romantic relationships. The biggest plot hole that irked me was the dynamic between her and her mother. It honestly doesn’t make sense that her mother sent her off knowing she was very weak and frail, only to then completely ignore her after she gets bonded? I don’t know if there’s a purpose or it was just laziness. I also thought it was absolutely strange to change the POV in the last 15-20 minutes. If you’re going to alternate POV, it flows better by doing it throughout the book. Why change it when everything already happened? I could pick this apart more but I’m sure a seasoned reader will see the same issues. All in all, I finished it. Skipped through the sex scenes (I’m not a prude, they were just too cringe). Still a better love story than twilight LOL

Really great build up, too many…climaxes

The pacing and story building was really solid and kept me hooked. About the 15 hour mark, it gets sex-obsessed and the rest of the story suffers for it. I don’t mind a good sex scene, but I don’t love listening to hours of sexual detail, especially when it’s taking away from the character growth and development.

Narration was gross, book was great

This whole book needs to be re-recorded. I decided halfway through the second chapter that I couldn’t listen to the phlegm/stuffy nosed narrator anymore. There were awkward pauses in narration, little character voice change and just decided it would be better to read it.

Audible.. do better.

Wow! Please let this be series!

I loved this book so much, packed with action, suspense, love, magic and dragons!! I listened to this nonstop, only taking breaks when the sandman required. The narrator definitely wasn’t my favorite l, but I was so entranced by the story that I could over look her sniffles and congestion. Ms. Yarros, please make this a series and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment… I can’t wait to find out what adventures await Violet!

Captivating

The whole story is an emotional roller coaster. I found myself looking up the release date for the sequel before I was even halfway through the book. I feel so attached to the characters and can’t wait for the next book.

addicting to read, cringe at times

couldn't stop listening to the story and can't wait for it to continue, but it can definitely be very cringe at times

I could not put it down

I am in such a book rut after this story. I cannot wait for the next one! 😍

Perfect

I am here to tell you I have no notes. This book was perfection.
Xoxo

Simply amazing!

Great listen! Yes, the author had a sinus cold for part of it, but the way she reads an action scene more than makes up for it. It didn't bother me as much as it did other reviewers. I'm in my 40's and I loved it. A little bit of love, lust, action, drama; this story had it all and I'm here for it. I think as long as you've experienced young adult lust/love you'll relate.
The ending just about blew me away (in a good way!) and I'm really sad I'll have to wait a year for the 3rd book (because I know I'll be done with book 2 in a matter of days).

Loved it.

Similar to Sarah j Maas and Jennifer Armentrout. Though I think she did a better job at world building and pacing. Loved every moment. However, the narrator was difficult to listen to in the beginning because you could hear her gulps and deep breathes. Either I got used to it or they fixed the issue midway.