Summary
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a new adult fantasy novel set at an elite war college where young cadets train to become scribes, healers, soldiers, or dragon riders. Published in 2023, the novel received high praise for not only its world-building, its high-stakes adventure, and what Publishers Weekly called its “sexy dark academia aesthetic,” but also its representation of living with chronic illness. The protagonist Violet Sorrengail, a physically fragile young woman thrust into the brutal and dangerous dragon riding training program against her wishes, displays symptoms similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a condition Yarros herself lives with. A #1 New York Times bestseller and a viral sensation on BookTok, Fourth Wing launched a series of novels set in the Empyrean world. Amazon MGM Studios has acquired the rights for a TV adaptation.
Plot
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail reluctantly joins the elite dragon rider program at Basgiath War College on her mother's orders, despite her physical frailty and plans to become a scribe. As the daughter of the commanding general, Violet faces hostility from other cadets who view her as weak or want revenge against her mother. She befriends fellow cadet Rhiannon and reconnects with her childhood crush Dain, while clashing with the ruthless wingleader Xaden Riorson.
Against all odds, Violet bonds with not one but two dragons—the massive black dragon Tairn and the tiny golden dragon Andarna. This unprecedented dual bond gives her immense power but also puts an even bigger target on her back. As she struggles with combat training and flying lessons, Violet fends off multiple assassination attempts from rival cadets. She reluctantly accepts protection from Xaden and his foster brother Liam as she works to master her new abilities.
Violet's squad performs well in training exercises and earns a chance to visit a military outpost, where they face an attack by enemy gryphon riders. During a capture-the-flag game, Violet manifests her lightning-wielding signet power and uses it to kill a cadet who was trying to murder her friend. Her relationship with Xaden grows more intimate, though she remains wary of trusting him fully given the contentious history between their families. On Reunification Day, celebrating the defeat of rebels including Xaden's father, Violet and Xaden finally give in to their attraction.
The War Games' final stage takes an unexpected turn when Xaden leads part of their squad outside the empire's protective wards. They encounter gryphon riders and Violet learns Xaden has been smuggling weapons to them. He reveals that venins— evil magic-corrupting creatures thought to be mythical—are real and attacking neighboring kingdoms, but Navarre's leaders are hiding this truth. As they battle venins to evacuate a town, Liam is killed and Violet is gravely wounded. Taking shelter in an abandoned rebel stronghold, Violet awakes to find her supposedly dead brother Brennan alive and part of a revolution, leaving her future uncertain.
Themes
Coming of age and personal growth
Power dynamics and political intrigue
Overcoming physical limitations
Loyalty versus rebellion
Romance and forbidden love
Trust and betrayal
Survival in a brutal environment
Setting
Fourth Wing takes place in a fantastical world where dragons and magic coexist with humans. The story unfolds primarily in the kingdom of Navarre, a realm protected by powerful wards, at Basgiath War College, an elite military institution where young cadets train to become scribes, healers, infantry soldiers, or dragon riders.
The world of Fourth Wing has a medieval feel with elements of advanced technology and magical capabilities. The kingdom of Navarre is at war with neighboring Poromiel, adding a sense of constant danger and urgency to the narrative. Beyond Navarre's borders, mysterious creatures called venin pose an even greater threat, though their existence is kept hidden from most of the population.
The story's focal point, Basgiath War College, is a harsh and unforgiving environment where cadets face deadly challenges daily. It's divided into four quadrants, each specializing in a different military discipline. The Riders Quadrant, where much of the action takes place, is particularly perilous, as students must compete to bond with dragons or face incineration. This setting creates a brutal, high-stakes atmosphere that drives much of the novel's tension and character development.
Characters
Violet Sorrengail: The protagonist, a small-framed and physically frail young woman intent on becoming a scribe. At her mother’s insistence, she joins the demanding Riders Quadrant. Violet bonds with two dragons—an unprecedented event—and develops lightning-wielding as her signet power. She must navigate the brutal world of dragon riders while uncovering secrets about the kingdom.
Xaden Riorson: The son of a rebellion leader killed by Violet's mother, who is initially hostile towards Violet but eventually becomes her love interest. A wing leader with shadow-wielding abilities, Xaden is described as extremely attractive.
Dain Aetos: Violet's childhood best friend and son of Colonel Aetos. A second-year Rider and squad leader in Fourth Wing with the ability to read memories through touch. He is initially protective of Violet, yet their relationship becomes strained as the story progresses.
Rhiannon Matthias: A first-year Rider assigned to Fourth Wing who becomes Violet's best friend. She bonds with a green dragon named Feirge and develops telekinesis as her signet power.
Lilith Sorrengail: Violet's mother and the commanding general at Basgiath War College. She forces Violet to join the Riders Quadrant against her wishes.
Mira Sorrengail: Violet's older sister and a graduate of Basgiath War College. She opposes her mother's decision to force Violet into the Riders Quadrant.
Jack Barlowe: A violent first-year Rider assigned to First Wing who makes it his mission to kill Violet.
Liam Mairi: A first-year Rider who grew up with Xaden after their parents were killed in the rebellion. He becomes Violet's bodyguard.
Quick facts
Released in 2023, Fourth Wing was the first book published by Red Tower Books, a new imprint of Entangled Publishing.
The novel achieved viral success on TikTok's reader community BookTok, helping propel it to the New York Times bestseller list, where it held the #1 spot for 18 weeks.
The protagonist Violet has symptoms similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which the author Rebecca Yarros also has in real life.
The character of Xaden, Violet’s enemy turned love interest, is dark-skinned.
There was controversy over fan art portraying Xaden as white, which the author addressed.
Fourth Wing helped to popularize the “romantasy” genre, blending elements of romance and fantasy.
In the story, Violet becomes the first Rider in the program’s history to bond with two dragons simultaneously.
Fourth Wing won the British Book Award for Pageturner Book of the Year in 2024.
The book's sequel, Iron Flame, was released on November 7, 2023.
The third book in the series, Onyx Storm, is set to be released on January 21, 2025.
A TV adaptation of the series is in development at Amazon MGM Studios.
About the Author
Rebecca Yarros is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 novels for young adults and older readers. Her acclaimed works include Fourth Wing (2023), the first installment in her hit Empyrean fantasy series; The Last Letter (2019), chosen by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best books of the year; and Eyes Turned Skyward (2024), for which she received the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence.
Yarros is passionate about military heroes and has been married to one of her own for over two decades. She began writing novels while her husband was deployed in Afghanistan. Her experiences as a mother of six, including fostering and adopting a child with special needs, have also influenced her storytelling. Yarros is dedicated to improving the lives of children in the foster system through OneOctober, a nonprofit she co-founded with her husband in 2019. She lives in Colorado with her family.
