Fourth Wing Explained

Fourth Wing
Author:	Rebecca Yarros
Language:	English
Series:	Empyrean
Publisher:	Red Tower Books (Entangled Publishing)
Published:	May 2, 2023
Pages:	512
Isbn:	9781649374042
Dewey:	813.6
Followed By:	Iron Flame

Fourth Wing is a 2023 new adult fantasy romance 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 propelled it to reach No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.

Background

The book is the first installment in the 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 7th 2023.^[1]

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.^[2] The condition is not specifically named in the novel, but Yarros has confirmed that Violet canonically has the syndrome.^[3] Yarros has the condition herself and uses the book to add more representation.^[4]

Characters

• Violet Sorrengail: The protagonist and primary point-of-view character. Smaller than other riders and physically weak, she only joins the Riders Quadrant at the demand of her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail. She is assigned to Fourth Wing.
• Xaden Riorson: The 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.
• 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.
• Rhiannon Matthias: A first-year member of the Riders Quadrant who is assigned to Fourth Wing. She becomes Violet's best friend.
• 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.
• 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.
• Jack Barlowe: A violent first-year Rider who is assigned to First Wing and makes it his mission to kill Violet.
• 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.
• Liam Mairi: A first-year Rider who grew up with Xaden after their parents were killed for leading the rebellion.

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".^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] It has been credited as helping to popularize the "romantasy" genre, which blends elements of romance and fantasy genres.^[8]

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.^[9]

The sequel, Iron Flame, was released on November 7, 2023.^[10] The third book, Onyx Storm, is set to be released on January 21, 2025.^[11]

Adaptation

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, as well as that Rebecca Yarros and Liz Pelletier would be the executive producers of the series.^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Yarros . Rebecca . July 9, 2024 . Don’t miss the explosive new sequel to Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling hit, Fourth Wing . Business Insider India . Release Date: November 7, 2023..
2. Web site: Berrow . Sally . June 13, 2023 . Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros . Grimdark Magazine .
3. Web site: Cappadona . Bryanna . June 23, 2023 . Exclusive: Rebecca Yarros tells all about the next 'Fourth Wing' book — and the 3 more in store . Today.com .
4. Web site: What Condition Does Violet Have in Fourth Wing? Rebecca Yarros Reveals Answer . 2023-11-29 . Health . en.
5. Web site: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros . July 20, 2023 . Publishers Weekly.
6. Web site: Making the Familiar New In Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing . July 20, 2023 . Paste Magazine . en-US.
7. Web site: Maas . Jennifer . September 11, 2023 . From #BookTok to IRL: 'Fourth Wing,' 'True Blood' Authors Discuss Sold-Out Reader Convention and the Need for In-Person Connection . October 11, 2023 . Variety . en-US.
8. Web site: 2023-11-08 . How Rebecca Yarros’ Novels Became a Romantasy Booktok Phenomenon . 2023-11-21 . Time . en.
9. Web site: Author of the Hottest Book of the Year Baffled by Whitewashed Fan Art. Terasaki. Kimberly . June 14, 2023 . The Mary Sue .
10. Web site: 'Fourth Wing': The fantasy epic we didn't know we needed . October 11, 2023 . The Signal . en-US.
11. Web site: Ellis . Maddie . ‘Fourth Wing’ author Rebecca Yarros reveals the series’ 3rd book and release date . 2024-04-03 . Today . en-US.
12. Web site: Maas . Jennifer . October 30, 2023 . 'Fourth Wing' TV Show in the Works at Amazon, Rights Secured for Rebecca Yarros' Sequel 'Iron Flame' . October 31, 2023 . Variety . en-US.