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Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing Series: A Book Review (2024)
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Rebecca Yarros's "Empyrean" series has taken the fantasy romance genre by storm, captivating readers with its blend of dragon riders, high-stakes action, and steamy romance. Despite criticism of its writing style, the series has become a bestseller, with fans unable to put down the books despite acknowledging their flaws.

 

What's 'Fourth Wing' About?

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Rebecca Yarros's "Fourth Wing" series follows Violet Sorrengail's journey at Basgiath War College, where she must bond with a dragon or face death. The story is set in a world where dragon riders defend the kingdom of Navarre against external threats. Violet, initially destined for a quiet life as a scribe, is thrust into the dangerous Riders Quadrant by her mother, the commanding general. Despite her physical limitations, Violet navigates the cutthroat environment, forming alliances and facing enemies. The series features a prominent enemies-to-lovers romance between Violet and Xaden Riorson, a powerful wingleader with a complicated past
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As Violet struggles to survive and bond with a dragon, she uncovers secrets about the college and the ongoing war, leading to shocking revelations that challenge her understanding of her world and her role within it
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About The Author: Who is Rebecca Yarros?

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Rebecca Yarros is an American author best known for her bestselling Empyrean fantasy series, which includes "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame." A military spouse, Yarros began writing during her husband's deployments as a form of therapy.
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Her background in a military family, including her grandfather retiring as a general and her parents serving as officers, has influenced her work.
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Yarros graduated from Troy University with degrees in European history and English.
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In addition to her writing career, she co-founded OneOctober, a nonprofit aimed at improving the lives of children in the foster system.
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Yarros has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and is an advocate for foster care and adoption, having adopted a daughter with special needs.
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Her Empyrean series has achieved significant commercial success, with "Fourth Wing" spending 18 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list and the rights to adapt the series for television being purchased by Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society and Amazon MGM Studios.
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Empyrean Series Reviews (Videos)

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What Readers Are Saying About Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing Series

Rebecca Yarros's "Fourth Wing" series has garnered mixed reviews from readers, with many praising its engaging storyline while others critique certain aspects. Here's a summary of the main pros and cons mentioned by readers:
ProsCons
Engaging and absorbing plot
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Predictable plot twists
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Fun and exciting dragon-rider concept
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Similarities to other popular fantasy series
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Compelling romance between main characters
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Inconsistent character development
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Well-developed dragon lore and world-building
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Modern dialogue in a medieval-like setting
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Fast-paced and thrilling action scenes
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Confusing hierarchy and vague world-building elements
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Despite these criticisms, many readers found the series to be an enjoyable and addictive read, particularly praising its dragon-focused fantasy elements and romantic subplot
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The book's popularity on social media platforms like BookTok has contributed to its commercial success, with some comparing its impact to that of the Twilight series
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'Fourth Wing': Awards and Accolades

Rebecca Yarros's "Fourth Wing" series has garnered significant recognition in the literary world. Here's a brief overview of some key awards and honors:
Award/HonorDetails
Goodreads Choice AwardWinner in the Fantasy category (2023)
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New York Times Bestseller#1 spot for 18 weeks
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Amazon BestsellerReached #1 on Amazon's bestseller list
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Publishers WeeklyReceived a starred review
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BookTok PhenomenonHashtags "#FourthWing" and "#RebeccaYarros" have over 1 billion views combined
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The series' popularity has led to its adaptation rights being acquired by Amazon MGM Studios, with plans for a TV show in development
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This commercial and critical success has solidified Yarros's position as a prominent figure in the fantasy romance genre.
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Fantasy Romance Phenomenon (Photos)

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The Empyrean Series Overview

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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean Series, Book 1)
$29.99
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Iron Flame (Empyrean #2) by Yarros
$29.99
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The Empyrean Series 2 Books Collection Set by Rebecca Yarros - Iron Flame, Fourth Wing
$46.91
$42.00

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean Series, Book 1)

$29.99
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Golden Hour Books
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View Details
Fourth Wing is a divisive fantasy novel that has garnered both passionate fans and harsh critics. While some readers praise its addictive plot and romance, others criticize its weak worldbuilding and clichéd writing. The story follows Violet, a young woman forced to train as a dragon rider at a brutal war college, as she navigates deadly challenges and a forbidden romance.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/YAlit/comments/13vsz0p/book_review_fourth_wing_by_rebecca_yarros_fair/ favicon
https://berkeleyfictionreview.org/2024/03/01/a-review-of-fourth-wing-by-rebecca-yarros/ favicon
Buy this if you enjoy fast-paced new adult fantasy with a heavy dose of romance and don't mind some genre-blending and familiar tropes
  • Engaging plot
  • Dragon lore
  • Romance
  • Weak worldbuilding
  • Clichéd writing
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Key Features, Reviewed By

Iron Flame (Empyrean #2) by Yarros

$29.99
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Maggie Mae's Bookshop
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Iron Flame, the sequel to Rebecca Yarros's bestselling Fourth Wing, has received mixed reviews. Many readers found it highly entertaining with non-stop action, exciting plot reveals, and expanded world-building. The chemistry between protagonists Violet and Xaden remains strong. However, some felt the pacing was off, with repetitive elements and too many new characters. While most enjoyed the book overall, some found it didn't quite recapture the magic of the first installment.
https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Flame-Empyrean-Rebecca-Yarros/product-reviews/1649374178?reviewerType=all_reviews favicon
https://www.whatisquinnreading.com/reviews/iron-flame-book-review favicon
https://readingwithjax.wordpress.com/2023/12/02/book-review-iron-flame-the-empyrean-2-by-rebecca-yarros/ favicon
Buy this if you enjoyed Fourth Wing and want to continue the fast-paced, dragon-filled adventure with a mix of romance, action, and political intrigue
  • Fast-paced action
  • Expanded world
  • Character chemistry
  • Pacing issues
  • Character overload
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Key Features, Reviewed By
28% off

The Empyrean Series 2 Books Collection Set by Rebecca Yarros - Iron Flame, Fourth Wing

$29.99
$42.00
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Readers are generally enthusiastic about 'The Empyrean Series', praising its engaging world-building and character development. Many found the books highly addictive, finishing them quickly despite their length. However, some noted that 'Iron Flame' had pacing issues and repetitive themes compared to 'Fourth Wing'. Despite these criticisms, most readers are eagerly anticipating the next installment.
https://thelitbitch.com/2024/01/19/review-iron-flame-the-empyrean-2-by-rebecca-yarros/ favicon
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https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Flame-Empyrean-Rebecca-Yarros/product-reviews/1649374178?reviewerType=all_reviews favicon
Buy this if you enjoy immersive fantasy worlds with dragon-riding, complex character relationships, and a blend of action and romance in a young adult-oriented series
  • Engaging storyline
  • World-building
  • Character development
  • Pacing issues
  • Repetitive themes
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Key Features, Reviewed By

 

Concluding Thoughts on Fourth Wing Series

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Rebecca Yarros's "Fourth Wing" series has become a fantasy romance phenomenon, captivating readers with its blend of dragon-riding action and steamy romance. Despite criticisms of predictable plot twists and modern dialogue in a medieval-like setting, the series has achieved remarkable commercial success.
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Its popularity on platforms like BookTok, where related hashtags have garnered over a billion views, has drawn comparisons to the impact of the Twilight series.
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While some readers praise the engaging storyline and well-developed dragon lore, others find fault with inconsistent character development and vague world-building elements.
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Nevertheless, the series' commercial triumph, including 18 weeks as a New York Times bestseller and a Goodreads Choice Award win, demonstrates its strong appeal to its target audience.
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As with many popular works, "Fourth Wing" has polarized opinions, but its success in the fantasy romance genre is undeniable, solidifying Yarros's position as a prominent author in the field.
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Related
What makes the enemies-to-lovers romance in Fourth Wing stand out
How does the dragon-riding aspect enhance the story
What are the main conflicts Violet faces in Fourth Wing
How does the government conspiracy plotline add depth to the narrative
What role does Violet's mother play in the story
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