# Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing is a 2023 new adult, high fantasy romance, or "romantasy" novel by American author Rebecca Yarros. It is the first book in the Empyrean series. Released on May 2, 2023, the novel achieved viral success on TikTok's reader community BookTok, which contributed to its No. 1 The New York Times bestseller list success.

## Background

The book is the first installment in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series. It is the first book published by Red Tower Books, an imprint of Entangled Publishing. Its sequel, Iron Flame, was released on November 7, 2023 , followed by Onyx Storm on January 21, 2025.
The novel's protagonist Violet displays many symptoms and parallel experiences to those with Ehlers–Danlos syndromes, including joint pain and hypermobility as well as her hair getting grayer. The condition is not specifically named in the novel, but Yarros has confirmed that Violet canonically has the syndrome. Yarros has the condition herself and uses the book to add more representation.

## Plot summary

20-year old Violet Sorrengail is the youngest daughter of General Lilith Sorrengail, the commanding general at Basgiath War College in the kingdom of Navarre, where students choose to join one of four military Quadrants: infantry, healer, scribe, or dragon rider. Navarre is guarded by wards which are powered by dragon magic and protect the kingdom from all other magic, including attacks inflicted by gryphon fliers from the neighbouring kingdom of Poromiel.
Despite years of training to be a scribe like her late father and her many physical weaknesses, including chronic pain and fragile joints stemming from her mother’s illness during the pregnacy, Violet is mandated by her mother to join the Dragon Riders Quadrant. All cadets in the Rider Quadrant must endure deadly challenges and a ferociously competitive environment to bond with a dragon, which they will eventually be able to telepathically communicate with and from which they will receive a unique magical power (signet). Violet's older sister Mira, a seasoned dragon rider, prepares Violet for conscription day by gifting her an impenetrable corset made from dragon scales, as well as a journal containing advice on surviving the Rider Quadrant that belonged to their older brother Brennan, another dragon rider who was killed in the Tyrrish Rebellion six years before. All children of rebels are denoted with tattoos, signifying them as 'marked ones,' and are forcibly assigned to the Rider Quadrant as a form of institutionalized retribution. Mira cautions Violet to be wary of the marked ones, who will try to kill her as revenge against their mother, who was pivotal in ending the rebellion.
Once she has officially entered the Rider Quadrant, Violet befriends Rhiannon Matthias, but narrowly escapes an assassination attempt from Jack Barlowe, who views her as a liability to the quadrant. She also meets Xaden Riorson, a third-year cadet and the son of Fen Riorson, who led the Tyrrish Rebellion and was executed by Violet's mother. Once in Basgiath, she is reunited with her childhood friend and longtime crush Dain Aetos, who is concerned for her safety and attempts to persuade her to move to the Scribe Quadrant. Violet refuses, and is eventually assigned to Fourth Wing alongside Rhiannon, with Xaden as their wingleader. Dain, a second-year, is their squad leader and Violet learns his signet is memory reading, which she agrees to keep secret due to its classified status.
Cadet training begins and, while Violet excels in academic studies due to her training as a scribe and intellectual prowess, she struggles during sparring lessons and is targeted by marked ones who blame her for her mother's execution of their parents. To overcome her physical disadvantages, Violet offers to teach Rhiannon history in exchange for combat training, and befriends two other cadets in their squad, Ridoc and Sawyer. Using Brennan's journal, she finds out her sparring opponents before combat challenges and begins to poison them to avoid injury. One night, while foraging for ingredients, Violet eavesdrops on a clandestine meeting among a group of marked ones, who are prohibited from meeting in more than groups of three. Xaden, a shadow wielder, discovers her and demands her silence in exchange for a future favor. Later, Xaden challenges Violet during a sparring match but, to her surprise, does not attempt to kill her and instead points out the errors in her sparring technique, telling her she must learn to fight if she wants to survive the Rider Quadrant.
Violet's squad is granted an audience with the dragons before Threshing, where they are surprised to find a very small and rare golden feathertail, a breed known for its resistance to bonding with humans. During Threshing, Violet learns that Jack plans to kill the golden dragon due to its perceived weakness. She intervenes but is attacked by Jack and his accomplices. Xaden and his dragon, Sgaeyl, arrive and observe the fight. Violet successfully fends off her attackers, before a large black dragon named Tairn arrives and kills the remaining cadets, bonding Violet and carrying her back to the college. Astonishingly, the golden dragon, Andarna, also bonds with Violet, making her the first rider in history to command two dragons. She learns that Tairn is Sgaeyl's mate and that, as mated dragons cannot be separated for long periods of time, Xaden suddenly has an unexpected stake in her well-being. She also learns that Tairn's previous rider was a lieutenant named Naolin, who died trying to resurrect Brennan after his death during the rebellion. Dain kisses Violet, who regretfully realizes her feelings for him have waned.
Despite her improved physicality, Violet struggles to maintain her balance on Tairn during flying practice. Violet becomes increasingly frustrated with Dain's overprotectiveness and accuses him of thinking her weak. One evening, Tairn awakens her as six unbonded cadets attempt to kill her in her bed. Andarna intervenes, freezing time until Xaden comes to her rescue. Violet reveals to Xaden that a senior cadet admitted the intruders to her room, and Xaden confronts the cadet before the entire student body, resulting in her execution. Following the assassination attempt, Xaden enlists Liam, his foster brother and a fellow marked one, as Violet's bodyguard. Privately, Violet and Xaden meet with their dragons, where Violet learns she can telepathically communicate with Sgaeyl due to her bond with Tairn and that Andarna is not a rare breed, but a child. Her time-stopping power must be kept secret until she matures, as it is vulnerable and could be stolen. After weeks of anxious waiting, Violet finally begins to receive power from Tairn, but has not yet learned how to shield her emotions from her dragon's. One night, spurred on by Tairn's feeling for Sgaeyl, Violet becomes overwhelmed and kisses Xaden. Soon after, Jack attempts to kill Violet during a sparring match, but she narrowly escapes by exposing him to an allergen.
The annual Squad Battle arrives, which sees cadets vying to steal coveted items from their foes. Violet's squad seizes General Sorrengail's map of military outposts, earning them the chance to shadow soldiers on the front lines. They fly to Montserrat, a military outpost, where Violet reunites with Mira and realizes that she and Xaden have the power to communicate telepathically due to their dragons' bond. Their visit is cut short by an attack from gryphon fliers from Poromiel. Later, during a capture-the-flag game, Violet saves Liam from Jack's deadly attack by freezing time with Andarna. In the process, she manifests her signet, lightning wielding, which she uses to kill Jack. That night, she and Xaden give into their feelings for each other and become intimate, but Violet later tells Xaden that she cannot have a sexual relationship without becoming emotionally attached and will only sleep with him if he is also willing to risk his feelings. She begins to ask him personal questions to develop their relationship. After seeing Xaden and his cousin Bodhi returning from a flight after curfew, Violet asks him where they went and he tells her they went to Athbeyne, a military outpost outside of the wards, but does not tell her the reason for their visit.
Reunification Day arrives, a celebration of the defeat of the rebels and the triumph of the rebellion. Violet seeks Xaden, who is grieving his father's death. They confess their mutual attraction and have intercourse, but are interrupted by the announcement of the War Games' final stage. Xaden leads part of their squad, composed entirely of marked ones, and Violet to an outpost outside the empire. They encounter gryphon fliers and Violet learns that Xaden has been providing them with weapons, smuggled out of Basgiath. Although she is devastated at his betrayal, Xaden tells her that Poromiel is being attacked by venins, evil creatures that corrupt magic and whom Violet and most of Navarre believed only existed in folklore. He reveals that Navarre's leaders know the truth but are keeping it hidden as their wards protect them from venin. The squad receives a missive from General Aetos, Dain's father, revealing that they have been lured into a trap and venin are attacking Resson, the outpost they are at. Violet realizes that Dain has been stealing her memories and that she accidentally disclosed private information about Xaden to Dain, including his visit to Athbeyne, giving General Aetos enough ammunition to suspect them of treason and trap them.
Despite the danger, Violet and the rest of the squad decide to aid the gryphon fliers against the venin attack. While they are able to evacuate the town, Liam's dragon is killed and Liam dies in Violet's arms. Violet uses her lightning abilities to kill the remaining venin, while also channelling power from a weakening Andarna to freeze time. She is gravely wounded by a venin, and Xaden and the survivors take shelter in Aretia, the former Tyrrish capital believed to have been abandoned since the rebellion. Violet awakens after three days and, upon awakening, Xaden vows his loyalty and devotion to regaining her trust, but she is skeptical. She is stunned when Brennan enters the room, revealing that he is alive and welcoming Violet to the revolution. The story ends on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the continuation in the sequel, Iron Flame.

## Characters
### Main characters

* 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, 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: telekinesis.
* 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: metallurgist.
* 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.

### Other Basgiath War College Students

* 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.

### Notable Navarre Military Officials

* Lilith Sorrengail: Violet's mother. Bonded to Aimsir, a brown dragon with unknown tail; signet: storm wielding.
* 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.

### Additional Notable Characters

* Brennan Sorrengail: Violet's brother. Signet: mending. Bonded to an orange daggertail dragon named Marbh.
* Asher Sorrengail: Violet's father
* Imogen Cardulo: A second-year rider at Basgiath War College as a supportive friend to Xaden and a potential ally for Violet.
* Garrick Tavis: Xaden's best friend since childhood, Garrick is characterized by his loyalty and steadfast nature.
* Professor Carr: A knowledgeable instructor at Basgiath War College.

## Reception

The book had a mostly positive critical reception. Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review, praising its worldbuilding, characters, and "sexy dark academia aesthetic". Alana Joli Abbott, in a review for Paste, praised its use of familiar tropes and compared it favorably to fantasy series like Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. The book was one of the most borrowed titles in American public libraries during 2023 and 2024.
Fourth Wing became a viral phenomenon on BookTok, where the hashtags "#FourthWing" and "#RebeccaYarros" have more than a billion views combined. Its popularity led it to reach No. 1 on Amazon's bestseller list as well as the No. 1 spot on The New York Times Bestseller list, where it stayed for 18 weeks. It has been credited as helping to popularize the "romantasy" genre, which blends elements of romance and fantasy genres.
Kimberly Terasaki of The Mary Sue wrote about a phenomenon within the fandom of portraying Xaden, a primary love interest of the protagonist, as white in fan art despite the fact that he is described as dark-skinned in the book. Yarros also commented on the phenomenon and asserted that the character is not intended to be white.
There is a review available by Tamara Saarinen from the School Library Journal, who approached Fourth Wing from the perspective of a school library. She noted that the use of modern profanity and sexual scenes make this book more appropriate for older teen audiences. That said, she did give an overall positive verdict for school libraries, claiming it would attract “romantasy” fans.
The sequel, Iron Flame, was released on November 7, 2023. The third book, Onyx Storm, was released on January 21, 2025.

## Adaptations

In October 2023, Variety reported that a TV show adaptation of the series was in the works at Amazon MGM Studios. It was also revealed that Amazon and Outlier Society had acquired rights to all books in the series, with Rebecca Yarros and Liz Pelletier announced as executive producers of the series.
In March of 2025, Yarros announced graphic-novel adaptations are in the works for all three of books of The Empyrean series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm). Yarros has stated she will be adapting the text herself along with a team of comic creators. A total of six graphic-novels are planned to span all three books. This project is in partnership with Ten Speed Graphic, Piatkus, and Entangled Publishing. Release dates have not been announced.