Fourth Wing

Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing, the first installment in the Empyrean series, plunges readers into the brutal world of Basgiath War College, where dragon riders are forged or die trying. The protagonist, Violet Sorrengail, has spent her life training for the Scribe Quadrant, but her mother, General Sorrengail, forces her to join the Rider Quadrant instead. Despite her physical fragility and a body that seems ill-suited for the rigors of combat, Violet must navigate deadly trials, political intrigue, and the constant threat of assassination, particularly from Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and dangerous rider in the quadrant. Her journey is a fight for survival, but also a slow-burn romance that simmers beneath the surface of constant danger.

Published on May 2, 2023, by Red Tower Books, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, the novel quickly became a phenomenon. Its viral popularity on TikTok's BookTok community propelled it to the No. 1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list, and it won the International Book of the Year at the 2024 TikTok Book Awards. The book sold over two million copies in its first six months and has been translated into roughly 30 languages, solidifying its status as a global sensation.

Yarros has shared that the idea for Fourth Wing came from her publisher's call for romantic fantasy submissions, and she pitched five concepts, with the third one about the Empyrean world winning out. Her inspiration draws from her fascination with dragons, her husband's military background, and her own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic condition that affects her and her children. Violet's physical vulnerability is a direct reflection of that, and Yarros has said she wants to show that people with chronic illnesses can be heroes too. This blend of personal authenticity and high-stakes fantasy is part of what makes Fourth Wing resonate so deeply with readers. [edit]