Fourth Wing

Empyrean, Book 1

By: Rebecca Yarros

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton

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

Great book. Awful sick narrator

How did this audio get released? The narrator is sick with phlegm and swallowing so loudly. You can hear the spit in her mouth and snot in her nose. Shame on whoever let this awful version be released. It was so unprofessional and practically ruined the great story. Do yourself a favor and buy the physical book.

LOVE the story, Struggled with the narration

I struggled the most with the voice of Tairn, as when I read the book, I imagined his voice would be deep, wise, raspy, and demanding authority. I feel it was a disservice to Tairn to not find a worthy voice for him.

It was also hard to distinguish between the narrative, the things said out loud, and the many "inside thoughts". They all played an important role in the book and it was hard to separate them in the audio.

Poor editing

In the beginning reader sounds sick (sniffles, stuffy nose, random loud swallows) the editing was poor, and the flow wasn’t great with long pauses at times.

Too Much romance, novel, not enough fantasy

This book has the potential to be great. An interesting and unique fantasy plot. Interesting characters. And of course, dragons. That part- the fantasy part -was a fun, fun read. But way way way too much of the book is romance novel. Pages and pages and pages of silly, tedious bored-housewife sex. And way too much meaningless use of the word f**k. Good narrator. Not sure why the last chapter change the narrator, but it neither added nor detracted from the book. Although there were times when I thought about quitting, I guess I’m glad I made it through. Great ending!

I lovedddddd this book!

Could not get enough! Can’t wait for part 2! LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!!!

Loved this! Hate that I had to take away stars bc of the narrator

Loved this! Hate that I had to take away stars bc of the narrator. To no fault of her, I’m sure, the narrator was sick through the first half of this reading. It was so distracting bc you can actually hear her clearing her sinuses and swallowing phlegm. She sounds very nasally and hard to understand in parts. Again, it’s not her fault. Poor woman shouldn’t have been working, and the audio company should have never given the green light to release it the way it is. I was also wasn’t fond of how loud and fast she gets during action scenes. I’m all for the performance aspect of audiobooks when it’s done right, but this was too much to ignore.
On the positive side…I adore this book and can’t wait for the next book in November. The world building and character development were superb. I’ve already recommended it to my sister and she ordered the book as well. It is the perfect mix of real-life dilemmas (terse relations with an overbearing mother, a brother that was killed and then a father who died shortly after, chronic illness), fantasy (dragons, griffins, and magical signets), romance (spicy sex scene), friendships, rivalries and loyalty.

Great start to an interesting series

I'm a fan of the world building and storyline. I agree with other reviews about the narrator. The narrator was obviously sick and it took away from the performance significantly. I wonder who quality controlled this?

Did not want to put this book down.

The story is so amazing. The beginning sounds a little off since you can tell the the person was sick, but she eventually sounds better after a few chapters. Hands down one of my favorite books.

2023 Fantasy is WONDERFUL

Characters are relatable, storyline is strong, the back and forth of the main characters keeps you hooked. 10/10, love this book. Literally the only thing I didn’t like was hearing the narrator flip pages/stumble through lines, she reads the emotional scenes PERFECTLY though, tons of emotion - very much felt real. Still allllll the stars!! Perfect read for fantasy fans👏🏼

Best listen I’ve had in a long time!

I’ve been in a lull lately trying to find a good book to really capture me again. This one definitely did it. Just wow.