Should you believe the hype surrounding Fourth Wing? Find out everything you need to know about Fourth Wing including a Fourth Wing book review, Fourth Wing pronunciation guide, & more!
Keep reading to find out why you should absolutely pick Fourth Wing up by reading all about it!
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Let’s Begin!
A note before we start: you won’t find any spoilers in this post. I would never want to ruin someone’s reading experience no matter how long a book has been out in the world.
Here are some things you should know about my personal Fourth Wing journey. I’d been in a months-long fantasy slump prior to reading this. Honestly, there was so much stuff going on in the world that my brain was not even entertaining the idea of picking up a complex fantasy book. That thought right there is where I was wrong. This is NOT one of those complex and hard to understand fantasy books. Though it may look that way, it’s not. The characters speak in a modern way. There’s none of that old world fantasy speak in this book that’s hard to understand. It just flows.
After writing this post and finishing the second book, Iron Flame, I have to amend my statement regarding this being a simple vs. complex series. Though Fourth Wing was not difficult to understand as far as fantasy books go, that wasn’t the case with Iron Flame. There was SO MUCH more world building and so many more things happening in the second book, that I needed to come back here and let you know before you dive into this world. I will be putting up a post on Iron Flame in the future, but just be aware.
Fourth Wing Book Review
Fourth Wing was INCREDIBLE and was one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read! It broke my fantasy slump and I’m so grateful for that. I love escaping to a fantasy world far away from this one, and this was a great one to run away to. The premise and setting of this was unexpected for me, who knew nothing going into this with the exception that there were dragons and one spoiler that I saw on social media.
I found myself not caring that it was long, just appreciating that the amount of pages needed to further the story. I COULD NOT put this down. If adulting wasn’t a thing and I had no other responsibilities other than reading this book, I would have made time to eat and shower, but I would have done nothing else but hold this book in my hands and gobble it up.
I had also heard that there was such a crazy cliffhanger that I would need the next book in my hands immediately after reading it. Luckily, I finished reading this around 11:30pm the night before Iron Flame’s release date – November 7, 2023. I got my copy early, so I had it on hand, but I did not feel the overwhelming urge to run downstairs and grab it off my shelf and start it. I was able to hold on and wait until the next day. Did I appreciate the cliffhanger? Big YES. Did I find that it was going to impede my ability to live or sleep? No – I was completely fine.
Luckily, I have bookish friends to spew my thoughts at as I read. Shout out to a bunch of my online book friends who let me scream at them in their dms. Another shout out to my in real life bff turned reading buddy, who I am SO grateful for and I texted into the late hours of the night about big reveals and my reactions to them. It was so fun to tell her my theories when she knew they were right or wrong.
I’ve had some friends who hadn’t read it either message me on Instagram and give me their thoughts and reactions. Please feel free to slide into my dms as you read, because I feel like constantly talking to friends added to my reading experience in such a fun way.
All in all, YOU SHOULD READ THIS. Don’t let the hype or anything else deter you from it. The hype is real, and this book deserves every ounce of it.It’s now one of my favorite fantasy books and I look forward to rereading it in the future!
Synopsis of Fourth Wing
Violet Sorrengail is 20-years-old and is looking forward to entering the quiet and unadventurous Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College. However, the intimidating and powerful commanding general, who is also her mother, orders her to join the Riders Quadrant. This quadrant is the polar opposite of the Scribe Quadrant – full of danger and adventure, mainly because the sole purpose is for its candidates is to become dragon riders. Most cadets in the Riders Quadrant are not only fearful of the dragons killing them before they’ve gotten the chance to bond to one, but also are afraid of their other candidates who may kill them. This year, there are less dragons willing to bond with the humans, making things even more dire. The worst part of all is that Xaden Riorson is the most powerful wingleader in the Quadrant, and he’s out for Violet’s blood.
The college itself is deadly, but so is the outside world. The only option for Violet though, is trying to survive.
HOW INTERESTING DOES THAT SOUND?! Are you curious yet?! Just do me a favor and pick this up, because I should have done it way sooner.
Fourth Wing Age Rating & Is Fourth Wing Spicy?
This is an ADULT fantasy novel, so I’d recommend this for those 18+ due to some scenes and language. Please read content warnings before beginning this book. If you need them, please reach out to me on Instagram and I’ll help you!
Book Length
Fourth Wing may be a hefty read, coming in at 512 pages, but if you’re not used to large books, don’t let that scare you! Each chapter flies by!
Fourth Wing Characters
Violet Sorrengail, the female main character in this story, is AMAZING. I love her. Her attitude, fortitude, and determination was really inspiring. There are side characters that I love as well. I will also say that I love – and am a bit obsessed with – the love interest. In addition, there were characters I hated immensely. It’s always impressive when an author can make me hate a character, and I appreciated the way it was done here.
I was spoiled ahead of time about one character (if you reach out to me and you’ve read it, I’ll tell you which one), and that wasn’t fun. Spoiler aside, I caught onto some stuff more quickly that I wasn’t expecting. I realize that’s a very vague statement, but I want to give nothing away.
Some of the characters and setting made me feel reminiscent of another one of my favorite books growing up – Divergent, but obviously a much older version as that was a YA dystopian novel (just the first book, not the rest of the series). I don’t know if those of you who’d read that would agree with me, but the general feeling that I got when I read it personally was that I felt some of those elements. It had a similar vibe.
Fourth Wing Pronunciation Guide
Here’s the pronunciation guide in alphabetical order to make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for:
- Andarnaurram or Andarna – And-are-na-new-are-num or And-are-na
- Basgiath – Baz-guy-ath
- Dain Aetos – Day-ne Aye-toes
- Jesinia Neilwart – Jess-in-ee-a Neilwart
- Liam Mairi – Lee-um Mah-ree
- Lilith Sorrengail – Lil-lith Soar-ren-gail
- Mira Sorrengail – Mee-ruh Soar-ren-gail
- Navarre – Nuh-varr
- Rhiannon Matthias – Ree-ahn-on Mat-tie-us
- Ridoc – Rid-dik
- Sgaeyl – Suh-gail
- Tairn – Tay-ruh-n; Tairenach – Tay-rehn-akh . The akh makes a throaty rumble.
- Teine – Tie-ne (like a bow tie; sounds like time but with an n)
- Violet Sorrengail – Vie-let Soar-ren-gail
- Xaden Riorson – Zay-den Rye-or-son (like rye bread)
Fourth Wing Setting
The age range of the characters was 19 and up, and was set in a college setting at Basgiath War College. It was so interesting and captivating. When books are set in a school, it brings back such a feeling of nostalgia for me. I love reading books set in schools and colleges.
Fourth Wing Special Edition Books
There are a bunch of editions of this novel and I’ve compiled them below.
Fourth Wing First Edition
The Fourth Wing First Edition was so sought after, not only because it was a first edition, but also because it had the special feature of stenciled edges. The book itself has dragons sprayed on the edges. The new editions have plain edges. The photo at the beginning of this post shows the first edition.
Fourth Wing Special Edition
The Fourth Wing Special Edition was available at a multitude of retailers and actually started out as a mystery. Readers, who were more like book detectives, uncovered that there was a mysterious listing for a book that was to be released the same exact day as Fourth Wing book two, Iron Flame, was to be released on November 7, 2023. This book was simply titled “Untitled Red Tower 2023 Release” and had no cover art or anything attached to it. The moment I’d heard, I blindly preordered it just in case it was something amazing.
Fans theorized that there was a Fourth Wing related book waiting to be released. There were many speculations as to what type of release it would be – with many saying that it was going to be a reprint of the first edition with the sprayed dragon stenciled edges. The author, Rebecca Yarros, ended up addressing the rumors and announcing what it was. It turned out to be a special edition that featured a new cover with a new color scheme, black sprayed edges, special endpapers, and – my favorite part – two chapters from a male POV (not going to tell you from whose POV because that would be a spoiler).
This edition can be pretty easily found online secondhand from pretty reasonable prices – i’ve seen it for as low as $30. Please be careful ordering it if you’ve yet to read the book, due to the aforementioned POV spoiler!
Fourth Wing FairyLoot Edition
The Fourth Wing FairyLoot Edition was a book that was sold by FairyLoot separately from their regular subscription box. It was sold in June 2023. However, FairyLoot has done reprints in the past of highly sought after books, so it is always possible that they will do a reprint in the future! If I hear of anything, I will be sure to add the information here.
Fourth Wing Bookish Box Edition
The Bookish Box had this book as part of their subscription boxes. However, they did do a preorder of the reprint. If they do any more in the future, I will update this section with the information.
Is Fourth Wing a Series?
Yes, there is a Fourth Wing book series – the official name is The Empyrean Series. Rebecca Yarros is planning on making this a five book series. When she first started writing it, she originally thought that it would be a three book series, but changed her mind.
Fourth Wing Book 2 – Iron Flame
The second book in The Empyrean Series is titled Iron Flame.
Fourth Wing Book 2 Release Date
Iron Flame’s Release Date was November 7, 2023.
Fourth Wing Book 3
As of the time I am writing this, there is no release date or title of Fourth Wing Book 3. Rebecca Yarros is currently writing it.
Fourth Wing Series Order
So far, the order of The Empyrean series is:
- Fourth Wing
- Iron Flame
- Book 3 – TBA
- Book 4 – TBA
- Book 5 – TBA
What to Read After Fourth Wing…
Obviously, I am going to suggest going with the second book in the Empyrean series, Iron Flame. After this book, you may also consider switching genres and take a break from fantasy. However, if you’re strictly a fantasy reader, or are still in the mood to continue with the fantasy genre, see my suggestions below on books that are similar!
Books Similar to Fourth Wing
If you’re looking for books like the Fourth Wing, here are some books that have the same feel!
Zodiac Academy
Zodiac Academy: The Awakening is the first in a the 11 book Zodiac Academy series, which is A LOT. It’s an ADULT fantasy, contains content warnings, and is a very long story. It’s incredibly easy to understand in terms of a fantasy world. It is also set in a college setting as the characters are older. It is incredibly easy to binge read these books, especially at the beginning of the story. Though these books are long, they’ll keep you reading! If you want more from the story, there are spinoff series as well!
House of Earth and Blood – Crescent City
House of Earth and Blood is my favorite book ever. It’s Sarah J. Maas’s first adult series, though A Court of Thorns and Roses is now classified as an adult series as well. If you want a full review, head to my House of Earth and Blood post here! There, you’ll find my recommended reading order, which is super important, if you decide to pick up Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City first! You may also want to consider starting with either of Sarah J. Maas’s other series below.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses is another fantastic series by Sarah J. Maas. It was once classified as a young adult series, but now is categorized as an adult series. I love this series and highly recommend it if you’re a fantasy fan in general. Though it is not based at school, it’s got older characters. This is an excellent Sarah J. Maas series to grab first too!
Throne of Glass Series
The Throne of Glass series is the first series Sarah J. Maas has ever written. It is a Young Adult series and is such an adventure. There are multiple POVs in this series and it’s very intricate.
I hope this helped you learn all about Fourth Wing! If you ever want to chat about this book (or any book, really!) please dm me on Instagram!
If you liked this post, be sure to check out some of my other posts:
- 9 Romantic Fantasy Book Recommendations
- Assistant to the Villain Book Review
For more book reviews, book recommendations, and bookish content, follow me on Instagram @styleyourshelf!
