Review copy was received from Library. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Narrator: Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton
Series: The Empyrean #1
Published by Recorded Books on May 2, 2023
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Length: 20 hours, 43 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding generalâalso known as her tough-as-talons motherâhas ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when youâre smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons donât bond to âfragileâ 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 motherâs daughterâlike Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
Sheâll 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.
I’m here to tell you Fourth Wing is worth the hype. I highly recommend it! Who doesn’t love dragons?
There is great world-building with young adults trying for different colleges of a sort. Violet, our heroine, is the daughter of a dragon rider and a scribe. Because her physical strength is limited and she loves books, she has been preparing to be a scribe. But then her mother insists she will become a rider. Her rider mother is a general and very distant and unsupportive. She was close to her scribe father who died about 5 years ago, not long after her rider brother died. Violet is emotionally strong and caring, although immature enough to have room to grow. Her sister, Mira, who is fierce rider, helps her since she knows their mother won’t change her mind.
The riders are put through training and obstacles which result in a daily death role. It is grim and trust is not easy. Violet has to work very hard to stay alive.  She has two main romantic interests. There is Dane who is a childhood friend she’s always liked and he is a group leader. Then there is Xaden who is head of the Fourth Wing and should be an enemy.
The world is intense with the life and death situations on a daily basis. There’s much to learn about the dragons and the magic they share with their bonded riders. The riders study 3 years before becoming full fledged riders. Mira is out of the academy. Xaden is 3rd year. Dane is 2nd year. Violet is a first year. The book encompasses her entire first year. It’s unclear exactly who they are fighting in the war and how it is going. They get battle briefs but not all the information.
The ending is spectacular and also makes me want the next book now. Luckily, Iron Flame is already lined up for November 2023 to continue The Empyrean series. It looks to be about 3/4 of the length but Fourth Wing was a book that was very easy to keep listening.
Narration:
I have listened to Teddy Hamilton but probably would not recognize his voice. This is my first time with Rebecca Soler.  I was very happy with the narration and enjoyed their performances. The voices all were appropriate and comfortable for listening. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HEREÂ
About Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over fifteen novels, including FOURTH WING, and is always ready to bring on the emotions. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writerâs Award of Excellence in New Adult for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series.
She loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for twenty-one years. Sheâs the mother of six children and lives in Colorado with her family, their stubborn English bulldog, feisty chinchillas, and Maine Coon cat who rules them all. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I’m so glad you loved this too! I think she’s a wonderful storyteller, and I can’t wait for Iron Flameđ
yes, it was lots of fun. I like the military strategy. The romance is another layer. Of course, I love the dragon. But it is a great story.
I love dragons! And I so want to read this one. Glad it lives up to all the hype. đ
It has elements that remind me of other stories but it is all its own. I loved it.
Yay, so glad you enjoyed this. I was really pleased that they fixed the audio issues.
Well thankfully yes. I didn’t have any audio issues.
I love dragons. This sounds intense.
yes it is intense because you get so caught up in it and it’s life and death.
I was wondering if your library audio had the narrator clearing her nose or having a cold in the first third of the book? I was thinking of requesting this one from my library but there were a lot of complaints about the narration because she recorded it when she was sick. They went back and rerecorded it. I’m wondering if the library copy updated ? If not I was going to use one of my credits to buy it.
I got it at the library and had none of those issues. It’s easy enough to try although I guess there’s probably a wait for a copy depending on your library.
She really did sound like she had a cold in the audio arc! I didn’t have too much of a problem with it but it was noticeable. I did buy a copy and will be checking to see if they have fixed it.
Yes, yes, yes! I loved this book so much! I hope to read it again before the next book comes out.
Agreed. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t notice the audio problem mentioned. Did you try the copy you bought to see how it was?
I listened to this one and also echo everything you’ve mentioned in your excellent review:)). Yes… I thought the narrator sounded as if she was suffering from slight congestion – but it didn’t stop her from producing an excellent product. I loved the main character and the pacing – as well as the clever handling of a well-trodden trop that nonetheless didn’t feel stale or generic. And I’m delighted to hear the sequel is coming out in November:)).
Thank you Sarah! It was a fun and engaging read.
I’m so excited to read you loved this one too! I read it last month and I still can’t get over how good it is! I already pre-ordered book two đ
Yes I loved it. The world and character building was fantastic. There was a mystery, a military political battle and a romance. I love to have all those layers.
Outstanding review, Anneđ I havenât added it yet because the library queue is outrageous. But, itâs on my radar.
Thank you Jonetta. I got on the list at 2 different libraries and luckily came up pretty quickly.
I agree with you 100%. I loved it. It was complicated and emotional and I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the next one.
yes! It was well-written.
I just got this on audio and am so looking forward to it! I’m glad to hear it lived up to the hype!
I hope you really enjoy it.
Teddy Hamilton is good!
I don’t recognize him the way I do some narrators I have heard often. I enjoyed the narration here so I am sure he did well.
I bought a copy of this after all the hype, and once I could find it in a store again! Haven’t had a chance to read yet, may not get to this year, but so glad to see you liked it! Great review!
Thanks Lisa. I think it is very worth a read.