Format: Hardcover, 528 pages
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: Entangled (Red Tower Books)
Source: Library
Genre: Fantasy / Dragons
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.
Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing is the first installment in the authors The Empyrean series. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail trained for years to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. She wanted to follow in her father's footsteps. Now, however, 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.
Violet's older sister Mira, who has a reputation of her own as a valiant dragon rider, objects but has little say over her own mothers decision. Got to say that I adored Mira. She was very protective of Violet, and even went as far as to give her the tools in order to prevent someone from quickly killing her quickly. Unfortunately for Violet, she is smaller than everyone else and she has battled a chronic illness all her life. She has to overcome challenges that she wasn't built for using her wits and anything else at her disposal.
In this world, 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, and over 300 trying to become one of the elite, Violet has a huge target on her back. More than a few of the candidates would gladly kill her just for being the daughter of a ruthless Commander. Others like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant and the son of a legendary traitor who tried to bring down the monarchy, looks at Violet as payback for what her mother did.
Violet's brother Brennan was allegedly killed by Xaden's father but was captured by Violet's mother. To make matters more dangerous for Violet, all of the children of rebellion leaders were given no choice but to join Basgiath War College to become dragon riders as punishment for their parents actions. She’ll need every edge, including a childhood friend, and a girl she saves from certain death along with her wits, 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. Certain death seems to be around every corner. Violet is not going down without a fight, and she will do everything she can to defy the odds to earn her spot. But during Presentation Day, when candidates are either chosen by a dragon, or ignored, Violet finds that she has become even more of a target after a dragon that hasn't been seen in 6 years decides to bond with her.
To make matters more twisted, Xaden seems to be actually trying to help her survive, rather than just kill her quickly. She should stay away from him, but a fire burns between these two that is bound to consume them both. Thanks to Violet's training and her father's urging, Violet is brilliant. Her mind is her strength and what she needs to survive. This book captivated me with its compelling characters. Violet's relentless determination to become a formidable individual, even with her flaws and occasional outbursts, made her an awesome protagonist.
Skilled world building, fascinating details of dragon training, looming
conspiracies, and a blazing love story make this one impossible to put
down. I hear through the grapevine that the sequel will be releasing later in 2023. YAY!!!
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I drop my gaze as one chuffs another breath at me. It's hot and appallingly wet, but I'm not dead yet, so that's a plus.
The one on the right chortles deep in its throat. Wait, is that the sound of approval I'm looking for?
Shit, I wish I'd asked Mira.
Mira. She's going to be devastated when she reads the rolls.
I lift my head and suck in a sharp breath. They're even closer. The one on the left nudges my hands with its giant nose, but I somehow stand my ground, rocking back on my heels to keep from falling over.
Greens are the most reasonable.
"I cut my hands climbing the obstacle course." I lift my palms, like they can see through the black fabric binding my wounds.
The one on the right sets its nose right at my breasts and chuffs again.
What. The. Hell.
It inhales, making that noise in its throat, and the other shoves its nose into my ribs, making me raise my arms just in case they feel like taking a little nibble.
"Violet!" Rhiannon whisper-shouts.
"I'm all right!" I call back, then wince, hoping I didn't just seal my fate by screaming in their ears.
Another chuff. Another chortle, like they're talking to each other as they sniff me.
The one under my arm moves its nostrils to my back and sniffs again.
Realization hits and I choke out a tight, surreal laugh. "You smell Teine, don't you?" I ask quietly.
They both draw back, just far enough for me to look them in their golden eyes, but they keep their jaws shut, giving me the courage to keep talking.
"I'm Mira's sister, Violet." Slowly lowering my arms, I run my hands over my snot-covered vest and the armor carefully sewn into it. "She collected Teine's scales after he shed them last year and had them shrunk down so she could sew them into the vest to help keep me safe."
The one on the right blinks.
The one on the left sticks its nose in again, sniffing loudly.
"The scales have saved me a few times," I whisper. "But no one else knows they're in there. Just Mira and Teine."
They both blink at me, and I lower my gaze, bowing my head because it feels like the thing to do. Professor Kaori taught us every way to approach a dragon and exactly zero ways to disengage one.
Step by step, they retreat until I see them take up their places in line in my peripherals, and I finally raise my head.
Taking several deep breaths, I try to lock my muscles to keep from trembling.
"Violet." Rhiannon is only a few feet away, a look of terror in her eyes. She must have been right behind their heads.
"I'm fine." I force a smile and nod. "I have dragon-scale armor under the vest," I whisper. "They smell my sister's dragon." If she wants trust, there it is. "Please don't tell anyone."
"I won't," she whispers. "You're all right?"
"Other than having a few years of my life shaved off." I laugh. The sound is shaky, bordering on hysteria.
"Let's get out of here." She swallows, her gaze darting toward the line of dragons.
"Good idea."
She turns and walks back to her place, and once there's fifteen feet between us, I follow.
"I think I just shat myself," Ridoc says, and my laughter only pitches higher as we move through the field.
"Honestly, I thought they were going to eat you," Luca remarks.
"Me too," I admit.
"I wouldn't have blamed them," she continues.
"You're insufferable," Ridoc calls back.
I focus on the path and keep walking.
"What? She's obviously our weakest link after Pryor, and I don't blame them for snuffing him out," she argues. "He could never make a decision, and no one wants someone like that as their rider-"
A blast of heat singes my back and I halt.
Don't be Ridoc. Don't be-
"Guess the dragons think she's insufferable, too," Ridoc mutters.
Our squad is down to six first-years.
Nice! Been hearing good things about this one! Pretty sure I'm making it my next read instead of the one I have slated to be next! Glad to hear it was enjoyable!
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