Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a high-stakes “romantasy” novel following 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail, who is forced by her mother to join the brutal Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider. Set in the kingdom of Navarre, Violet must survive deadly training, hostile cadets, and bond with a dragon.
Fourth Wing
Fourth Wing is a new adult fantasy romance novel written by the American
author
Rebecca Yarros
. It is the first book in the
Empyreanseries
,
[1]
following the journey of
Violet Sorrengail, who is forced by her mother, General Sorrengail, to join the Basgiath War
College and become a dragon rider in the kingdom of Navarre. Even though she has been
trained her entire life to enter the Scribe Quadrant, Violet must endure deadly quests and
competitions that push her to her limits while trying to avoid being killed by one of the most
powerful riders in the quadrant, Xaden Riorson.
The book was published in the United States on May 2, 2023, byRed Tower Book, an imprint
of Entangled Publishing. Its viral success within TikTok's reader community, BookTok,
significantly contributed to its No. 1 ranking onThe New York Times bestseller list. It won
The International Book of the Year 2024 at the annualTikTok Book Awards. The book sold
over two million copies in its first six months and has been translated into approximately 30
languages.
[2]
Yarros has mentioned in interviews that the idea for Fourth Wing emerged when her
publisher announced that they were going to start a romantic fantasy line, prompting her to
submit five proposals. After several reviews, her publisher selected the third idea, which
explored the Empyrean world.
[3]
The inspiration for the story stems from her fascination
with dragons, her husband's military experience, and her personal struggles.
[3]
Violet's
physical fragility, as described in the book, was influenced by Yarros's own experience living
withEhlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting both her and her children. Yarros
has expressed a desire to represent people with chronic illnesses, showcasing that they can
also be heroic.
[4]
20-year old Violet Sorrengail is the youngest daughter of General Lilith Sorrengail, who leads
the Basgiath War College in Navarre. Here, students choose to join one of four military
branches: Infantry, Healer, Scribe, or Rider. Riders bond with a dragon, which allows them
to develop a magical power known as a 'signet'. Despite having trained to be a scribe like her
late father, and suffering from chronic pain and weak joints, Violet's mother orders her to
join the Riders Quadrant - infamous for being deadly to new recruits. Many of the other
Rider recruits' parents were involved in a rebellion years earlier, which was put down by
General Sorrengail. As a sign of their parents' guilt, they are forever marked with a special
sign. In Basgiath, Violet reunites with her childhood friend and longtime crush Dain Aetos, a
second-year cadet. She also meets Xaden Riorson, a marked third-year whose father was
executed by Violet's mother for his leading role in the rebellion. Violet joins Fourth Wing
Plot summary
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Fourth Wing
Author Rebecca Yarros
Language English
Series The Empyrean
Release
number
1
Genre
New adult fiction
Fantasy romance
Dystopian fiction
Published May2,2023
Publisher Red Tower Books(Entangled
Publishing)
Pages 512
ISBN 978-1-64937-404-2
Dewey
Decimal
813.6
Followedby Iron Flame
under the vengeful Xaden's command, with
Dain as their squad leader. Against all odds,
Violet manages to survive her training and
bonds with two dragons, Tairn and Andarna.
She even falls in love with Xaden and the two
end up in a relationship. For their final
challenge of the year, they are sent on a suicide
mission designed by Dain's father to kill them.
During this deployment, the truth about the
rebellion of Xaden's father is revealed and
Violet joins the re-emerging revolution.
Violet Sorrengail: The protagonist and
primary point-of-view character. Smaller
and physically weaker than the other
riders, she only joins the Riders Quadrant
at the demand of her mother, General Lilith
Sorrengail. She is assigned to Fourth
Wing. In an unprecedented turn of events,
she bonds to two dragons, Tairneanach, or
"Tairn", a black, morningstartail, behemoth
of a dragon, and Andarnaurram, or
"Andarna", a golden, feathertail dragon.
Xaden Riorson: A marked one, and wing
leader of Fourth Wing who, through his
bond with his dragon Sgaeyl, has the ability
to wield shadows. He is the son of Fen
Riorson, a rebellion leader who killed
Violet's brother and was later killed by
Violet's mother. Because of this, Xaden
and Violet are incredibly hostile towards
one another. Xaden is described as an
extremely attractive person and is a love
interest for Violet. Bonded to Sgaeyl, a
navy-blue, daggertail dragon.
Dain Aetos: Violet's childhood best friend
and son of Colonel Aetos. A second-year
Rider, he is a squad leader in the Fourth Wing. Through his bond with his dragon Cath,
Characters
Main characters
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he can read memories upon touching another person. He is a love interest for Violet.
Bonded to Cath, a red swordtail; signet:retrocognition.
Rhiannon Matthias: A first-year member of the Riders Quadrant who is assigned to
Fourth Wing. She becomes Violet's best friend. Bonded to Feirge, a green, daggertail;
signet: retrieval.
Sawyer Henrick: A repeated first year, he and Rhiannon agree to help Violet with hand-
to-hand combat if Violet tutors them in history. He becomes a good friend of Violet,
Rhiannon, and Ridoc. Bonded to Sliseag, a red, swordtail dragon; signet: metallurgy.
Ridoc Gamlyn: A first-year member of the Riders Quadrant who is assigned to Fourth
Wing. He is very humorous and becomes a good friend of Violet, Rhiannon, and Sawyer.
Bonded to Aotrom, a brown swordtail; signet: ice-wielding.
Liam Mairi: A first-year Rider who grew up with Xaden after their parents were killed for
leading the rebellion. Bonded to Deigh, a red daggertail; signet: farsight.
Jack Barlowe: A violent first-year Rider who is assigned to First Wing and makes it his
mission to kill Violet.
Jesinia Neilwart:a first-year in the Scribe Quadrant and Violet's friend.
Oren Seifert:a jealous first-year Rider who is assigned to First Wing and like Jack
makes it his mission to kill Violet.
Amber Mavis:a wing leader and a close friend of Dain.
Lilith Sorrengail:She is the Commanding General of Basgiath War College. Her signet
is Storm Wielding, and she is bound to the Brown Dragon Aimsir. Lilith is known as a
ruthless, stern, and powerful rider, which makes her respected and feared by those within
and outside the Kingdom of Navarre. Lilith is also Asher Sorrengail's wife and Violet
Sorrengail's mother. In addition, Lilith plays an important role in the life of Xaden Riorson,
as she is responsible for the death of Fen Riorson.
Mira Sorrengail: Violet's older sister and a graduate of Basgiath War College. She
strongly opposes her mother's decision to force Violet into the Riders Quadrant. Bonded
with Teine, a green, clubtail dragon; signet: ward extension.
Augustine Melgren: General of all of Navarre's armies. His bonded black swordtail
dragon, Codagh, gave rebellion relics to all of the rebels' children, or "the marked ones",
offering some protection to them from Melgren's signet. Melgren is able to see the
outcome of any battle, except when three or more marked ones are gathered.
Colonel Aetos:Dain's father. Dragon and signet are unknown.
Brennan Sorrengail: Violet's brother. Signet: mending. Bonded to an orange daggertail
dragon named Marbh.
Other Basgiath War College students
Notable Navarre military officials
Additional notable characters
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