Rebecca Yarros's exceptional fantasy novel comes to life through the performances of Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton. Bookish Violet, who planned to become a scholar, has been ordered by the General (her mother) to become a dragon rider instead. Soler's narration captures the intensity of battle scenes and the complexities of relationships. Her ability to differentiate voices and breathe life into the dragons' distinct personalities adds depth and excitement. Teddy Hamilton's contribution in a special chapter brings additional variation. The combined talents of Soler and Hamilton make the audiobook a captivating choice. Fans of the novel and anyone seeking an engaging listening experience will be enthralled. The narrators' storytelling prowess ensures a thrilling blend of action, romance, and intrigue. F.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

★ 03/06/2023

Romance author Yarros (The Things We Leave Unfinished) blends the epic tale of a reluctant dragon rider’s coming-of-age with a sexy dark academia aesthetic in her astounding debut fantasy. Fearsome General Sorrengail demands that her children follow in her footsteps as dragon riders—even her youngest, Violet, who has trained her whole life to be a scribe like her late father. Forced to join a deadly war academy, Violet is unprepared to perform the fatal tasks all cadets must complete to become dragon riders. The odds are stacked against her due both to her delicate stature and to her mother’s reputation: it was Sorrengail who gave the order to execute all separatists in the last rebellion. The rebels’ orphaned children have all been conscripted to the academy, putting a target on Violet’s back. Worse, her own brooding but handsome wing leader, third-year student Xaden Riorson, is the son of the separatists’ leader. Meanwhile, the wards that protect the city are failing, but as danger draws nearer, clever Violet grows stronger, discovering that riding dragons may be her destiny after all. Yarros’s worldbuilding is intricate without being overbearing, setting the stage for Violet’s satisfying growth into a force to be reckoned with. Readers will be spellbound and eager for more. Agent: Louise Fury, Bent Agency. (May)

A fantasy like you've never read before.” —Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Smart-ass. Bad-ass. Kick-ass. One helluva ride!” —Tracy Wolff, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Utterly addictive and completely unputdownable. I devoured every page and fell hopelessly, desperately in love with these characters and the incredible world Rebecca Yarros has so carefully, lovingly crafted. Hands down the best book hangover I’ve ever experienced. I can’t wait for more!” —Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author

“An exhilarating dragon ride of a fantasy! Brutal, fast-paced, compelling, and simmering with romantic tension that left me on the edge of my seat. Fourth Wing is everything I want in a book and more. Phenomenal! Move this one to the top of your TBR.” —Samantha Young, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

“Buckle up because with nonstop action, sizzling romance, and the BEST DRAGONS EVER, you will not be able to put down Fourth Wing until the last page is turned. It's a wild, sexy, roller coaster of a ride.” —Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author

“Dragons and war, passion and power…Fourth Wing is dazzling. Rebecca Yarros has created a world as compelling as it is deadly, and I can't wait to see where she takes it next.” —Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author

“This book should come with a warning label, because once you start it, you won’t stop until you reach the final page. Forbidden romance that simmers off the page; relentless, heart-stopping action; and a delicious, morally gray hero—this is the book I’ve been waiting for!” —Geneva Lee, New York Times bestselling author

“Fourth Wing is an unforgettable adventure from cover to cover. I cheered, laughed, grinned, and refused to put it down. This expertly crafted romantic fantasy is sure to launch the beginning of a brand-new insatiable fandom!” —Lexi Ryan, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Kapow, what a story! In Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros gives you gutsy young heroines and sexy bad boys living in a world where no one—not even the mightiest dragon—is safe. This is some sharp, bold, and delicious storytelling!” —Rachel Howzell Hall, New York Times bestselling author

“House of the Dragon meets Divergent in this utterly thrilling, unputdownable new fantasy! Fourth Wing is full of scintillating adventure, soaring dragon flight, and slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance. Climb on and enjoy the ride!” —Amalie Howard, USA Today bestselling author

“As smoldering as it is spellbinding, Fourth Wing is a thrilling, dragon-filled delight!” —Cindi Madsen, USA Today bestselling author

“Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing kept me up at night whispering "one more chapter" until suddenly the sun was rising—and even then I still couldn't bring myself to stop. Utterly immersive, fiercely romantic, and unforgivably addictive, this book is a spectacular masterpiece and my new fantasy obsession.” —Lynette Noni, Australia's #1 young adult fiction author

“An expertly woven tale in a riveting world of dragons, life-or-death competition, and betrayal, Rebecca Yarros hits all the high notes and delivers a thrilling new romantic fantasy that readers will devour.” —K.A. Tucker, international bestselling author

03/01/2023

Violet Sorrengail wanted to be a scribe rather than join her siblings as dragon riders defending Navarre's borders, but her mother, a decorated general, had other ideas. She's forced Violet to enlist as a rider cadet in the Basgiath War College, even though Violet's hypermobility—a disorder that destabilizes her joints and leaves her easily injured—puts her at a disadvantage. To make matters worse, Violet has been assigned to the Fourth Wing, led by Xaden Riorson, the son of a rebel leader whom her mother executed. Surrounded by dangers in a school designed to weed out the weak, Violet must use her wits and skill to overcome brutal challenges and vicious opponents. The bonds Violet forms with her fellow cadets offset the college's constant violence, and her slowly developing enemies-to-lovers relationship with Xaden will appeal to fans of the trope. Violet's hypermobility gives her a unique way of moving through the world, and Yarros (The Things We Leave Unfinished) uses characters' reactions to thoughtfully explore the ways in which others respond to the lived realities of people with disabilities. VERDICT A good selection for fans of Naomi Novik's "Scholomance" series; will fly off the shelves.—Erin Niederberger

03/01/2024

Full of familiar tropes—plucky heroine with a crush on her childhood friend, a love triangle, and an enemies-to-lovers plot—this slow-burn romance also mixes in dragons and magic. Violet planned to be a scribe. Her mother, a top general in their kingdom, sends her to be a Dragon Rider, like her brother and sister. Without much physical prowess, Violet is considered a liability by her cohort. She uses her scribe skills to survive the treacherous training and multiple attempts on her life by classmates. Dian, her childhood friend and crush, is a second-year rider and does his best to protect her. Her biggest threat is Xander, a third-year rider and son of an executed rebellion leader. A dragon chooses Violet, and it is also the bonded mate of Xander's dragon. They are now thrown together by their dragons. The action moves quickly with bullies, betrayals, and battle training. Worldbuilding, a crucial part of any fantasy, is tenuous. Violet repeats the history of the kingdom to calm herself in stressful situations, and those recitations slow down the pacing. The descriptions of the dragons are strong, and their interactions with their riders is both interesting and amusing. The use of modern profanity and sexual scenes can sometimes be jarring and makes this more appropriate for older teens VERDICT Even though the worldbuilding is not as strong as in similar series and some scenes are racy, this is an enjoyable, plot-driven, and accessible read that will attract "romantasy" fans.—Tamara Saarinen

Rebecca Yarros's exceptional fantasy novel comes to life through the performances of Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton. Bookish Violet, who planned to become a scholar, has been ordered by the General (her mother) to become a dragon rider instead. Soler's narration captures the intensity of battle scenes and the complexities of relationships. Her ability to differentiate voices and breathe life into the dragons' distinct personalities adds depth and excitement. Teddy Hamilton's contribution in a special chapter brings additional variation. The combined talents of Soler and Hamilton make the audiobook a captivating choice. Fans of the novel and anyone seeking an engaging listening experience will be enthralled. The narrators' storytelling prowess ensures a thrilling blend of action, romance, and intrigue. F.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

2024-01-12
On the orders of her mother, a woman goes to dragon-riding school.

Even though her mother is a general in Navarre’s army, 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail was raised by her father to follow his path as a scribe. After his death, though, Violet's mother shocks her by forcing her to enter the elite and deadly dragon rider academy at Basgiath War College. Most students die at the War College: during training sessions, at the hands of their classmates, or by the very dragons they hope to one day be paired with. From Day One, Violet is targeted by her classmates, some because they hate her mother, others because they think she’s too physically frail to succeed. She must survive a daily gauntlet of physical challenges and the deadly attacks of classmates, which she does with the help of secret knowledge handed down by her two older siblings, who'd been students there before her. Violet is at the mercy of the plot rather than being in charge of it, hurtling through one obstacle after another. As a result, the story is action-packed and fast-paced, but Violet is a strange mix of pure competence and total passivity, always managing to come out on the winning side.The book is categorized as romantasy, with Violet pulled between the comforting love she feels from her childhood best friend, Dain Aetos, and the incendiary attraction she feels for family enemy Xaden Riorson. However, the way Dain constantly undermines Violet's abilities and his lack of character development make this an unconvincing storyline. The plots and subplots aren’t well-integrated, with the first half purely focused on Violet’s training, followed by a brief detour for romance, and then a final focus on outside threats.

Read this for the action-packed plot, not character development or worldbuilding.