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.
“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.”
What I wouldn’t give to experience this book for the first time again. I have no words. Well, I have words but they most likely will be the same electrifying adjectives over and over because I cannot get over how much I loved this book. I have a serious book hangover after reading Fourth Wing and want to live in this world for a very long time. Fourth Wing was and is absolutely tremendous in every sense of the word. The thrills, the suspense, the dire situations, the characters, the slow-burn, and harshness of the world all crash together to create such an epic story.
“Going for blood today, are we, Violence?”
Lets start with our MC, Violet or Violence shall we say (those who have read, did you swoon a little there?). Violet is petite and book smart and she is thrust into a world of strength and death. She constantly approaches every challenge with a strong head and an even stronger heart. I honestly adored following her and watching her grow.
Alright, now, we’ve got “side” characters for days here all of which I love for very different reasons. I rarely do this, but I am going to break down my thoughts on them a little bit. It just shows you how obsessed I am with this book.
- Violet’s squad with Sawyer, Rhi, and Ridoc…just all the yes! I loved the banter between them and the true alliance they all formed.
- The “rebellion relic crew”: I actually really liked seeing Garrick, Bodhi, Imogen, and Liam. My heart goes to Liam and his friendship with Vi in this, but I am excited to learn more about all of them in the next book.
- Dain. Dain is such an interesting character. As Violet’s best friend you easily love their immediate banter and closeness. However, Dain has a lot of layers to him throughout the book… I’ll be very curious to see him in the future.
- Tairn, Adarna, and Sgeayl: DRAGONS! Okay, the connections formed between dragons and riders was awe-inducing. I especially loved Violet’s bond with Tairn. I loved how Rebecca shaped these interactions and the story-building for it.
“Even the most effective poisons come in pretty packages, and Xaden’s exactly that—as beautiful as he is lethal.“
- Xaden Riorson. Ohhhh Xaden, Xaden, Xaden… absolutely my new top book boyfriend. Not only is he fierce, strong, smart, and sexy AF, he is also loyal and encouraging. Watching him and Violence collide was unlike any other.
The fantasy aspect of Fourth Wing is just spectacular and explosive in every sense of the words. Rebecca Yarros combined college, with dragons, with magic, with war, with romance, with challenges, and amazing world building. I could NOT get enough of this world and loved each and every part she brought to this novel.
Trying to wait until November for the second book is going to be torture. This has absolutely been my favorite book of the year so far and I am counting down the days until we are back with Violence, Xaden, and co. Holy gods I am OBSESSED.
Jotted by Jena 