Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yaros (The Empyrean Book 1)

Title: Fourth Wing

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Genre: Fantasy Romance / Romantasy

Tropes: Dragon Riders, Enemies to Lovers, Military Academy, Morally Gray MMC, Touch Her and Die (Slow Build), Disabled FMC, Deadly Trials, Found Family

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶 – Explicit scenes, slow-burn tension

Format: Audiobook 

Series: The Empyrean 

    Violet Sorrengail never wanted to be a dragon rider. With fragile health and bones that break too easily, she was always meant for the Scribe Quadrant—following in her father’s scholarly footsteps. But after his death, her mother—the commanding general—forces her to enter the Riders Quadrant instead. To survive, she must endure brutal trials, outlast ruthless candidates, and convince a dragon to bond with her. Simple. Especially with enlistment numbers at an all-time low and dragons known for incinerating the weak, Violet’s chances are slim. Add in her physical limitations and a training environment where fellow cadets would gladly kill for a better ranking, and the odds are stacked against her.

    This was a classic BookTok made me read it situation. I grabbed the audiobook and devoured it at work—yes, including the spicy scenes. Zero regrets. I was hooked from the moment Violet stepped onto the parapet.

    The tension is relentless: will she survive the other candidates? Will the dragons deem her worthy? Every trial feels life-or-death, especially with her disability constantly used against her. And then there’s the Wing Leader.

    The book initially sets up like it might lean toward a friends-to-lovers arc—but I’ve never been happier to be wrong. The “good boy” friend follows the rules, even when those rules hurt Violet. Meanwhile, the morally gray love interest? That’s the energy. Protective, intense, and not above bending the world when it comes to her. While he’s not fully in the “burn the world down” stage just yet, the groundwork is absolutely there.

    The romance is slow-burn with explicit moments that hit hard when they arrive. The chemistry builds through danger, rivalry, and undeniable attraction. The book ends on a cliffhanger, but thankfully the next installments are already out, so you can dive straight into the chaos. I will absolutely continue the series. As much as I loved the characters, the dragons stole the show. Every scene involving them elevated the story.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $14.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• Dragon rider fantasy
• Military academy settings
• Enemies-to-lovers tension
• Strong but physically vulnerable heroines
• Morally gray romantic leads
• High-stakes fantasy with cliffhangers