Review of the Viral Fourth Wing Book Series by Rebecca Yarros

Book 1: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Violet Sorrengail, a 20-year-old who was meant to live a quiet life among books in the Scribe Quadrant, is thrust into the brutal world of dragon riders when her powerful, tough-as-talons mother commands her to join the deadly competition. With her fragile body and smaller stature, Violet is at a significant disadvantage, as dragons rarely bond with fragile humans—those who don’t bond are incinerated.

As Violet navigates the dangerous trials, she faces enemies eager to see her fail, including the ruthless wingleader Xaden Riorson. As the war outside intensifies and the kingdom’s protective wards crumble, Violet starts to uncover chilling secrets hidden by the leadership—secrets that could change everything. In a world of life-or-death stakes, Violet must decide who to trust and how to survive, even as the odds against her grow steeper.

My rating: ★★★★★

When I read Fourth Wing back in 2023, I was not a fantasy reader in the slightest, aside from reading Harry Potter (of course). But I had to see what the fuss was about with the Fourth Wing book series and oh my word, it did not disappoint.

I was so glad that this was a series and that the second book was already available for me to read, because I couldn’t get enough! So, even if you’re not a fantasy reader like I thought I wasn’t, you’re going to love this.

Book 2: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

My rating: ★★★★★

Even though this is only the second book with more still to be published, I wish I could stay in this fantasy universe for a lot longer than the 600 pages the book provides.

I’m hooked on the relationship between Violet and Xaden, along with the other characters. It does feel slightly like Harry Potter and Hogwarts, but I’m here for it.

Book 3: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Violet Sorrengail has spent nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, but the real battle is only beginning. With enemies lurking both inside and outside their ranks, trust is a luxury she can’t afford. To save her dragons, her home, and the man she loves, Violet must venture beyond the failing Aretian wards in search of allies, testing her strength and cunning like never before. But as war looms, she holds a dangerous secret—one that could either save them all or bring everything crashing down.

My Rating: ★★★★

I adore this series and had to read this third instalment as soon as it was released in January 2025. I was actually surprised to get it in Bali the day it came out, so I dove straight into it. Parts of it, I loved.

However, I will say that the book felt like it was full of context to prepare us for more of the series to come. The entire book was building towards a showdown that seemed to wrap up way too quickly at the end and I hate to say that the ending felt quite rushed. I’m hoping that this book was leading to a bigger and better book four, but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next!

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

After killing a wolf in the woods, nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre is taken to the faerie lands of Prythian as punishment. Her captor, Tamlin, is not the monster she expected but a powerful and alluring Fae. As she adjusts to this dangerous world, her hatred slowly turns to passion, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about the Fae.

But a dark force threatens Prythian, and Feyre soon finds herself at the heart of the conflict. With an ancient curse looming and Tamlin’s world on the brink of destruction, she must fight to save him—or risk losing everything. Sarah J. Maas weaves romance, adventure, and also magic into an unforgettable fantasy.

2. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Oraya, the adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, has spent her life surviving in a world that sees her as prey. Her only chance to prove herself lies in the Kejari—a brutal tournament hosted by the goddess of death. Amongst the deadliest warriors from all three vampire houses, Oraya is forced into an uneasy alliance with Raihn, a ruthless vampire who threatens everything she has ever known.

As war looms over the House of Night, Oraya struggles to balance survival with the undeniable pull she feels toward Raihn. But in the Kejari, trust is a weakness, and love can be fatal. With dark magic, high-stakes intrigue, and a romance that could be her undoing, Oraya must decide whether to follow her heart or fight to the death.

3. Quicksilver by Callie Hart

In a desert land where water is worth more than gold, 24-year-old Saeris Fane has always been skilled at hiding her powers. Using them to steal from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs. But secrets have a way of unraveling. And when Saeris meets Death himself, she inadvertently opens a portal between realms. Transporting herself to the icy land of Yvelia. There, she discovers the Fae are real, and she’s trapped in the midst of a dangerous, centuries-old conflict that could cost her life.

In Yvelia, Saeris becomes bound to Kingfisher, a Fae warrior with his own dark secrets and plans. His intent is to use her magic to protect his people, no matter the cost. And she quickly realizes that survival in this realm depends on her alliance with him. However, Kingfisher’s murky past and prickly attitude make him an unpredictable companion. And though he may be her only chance to return home, their dangerous journey may change everything she thought she knew about trust, power, and survival.

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

After a brutal divorce leaves Georgia Stanton starting over, she returns to her late great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado. Only to clash with bestselling author Noah Harrison, who has been chosen to complete her grandmother’s final novel.

While Noah sees it as the opportunity of a lifetime, Georgia is determined to protect her grandmother’s legacy. Until they both uncover the real-life love story behind the unfinished manuscript. A heartbreaking WWII romance that mirrors Georgia’s own fears about love.

As undeniable chemistry sparks between them, Georgia must decide whether to follow her great-grandmother’s cautionary tale. Or risk her heart—and Noah’s career—for a chance at a different ending.

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

When soldier Beckett Gentry receives a final letter from his best friend Ryan, he’s faced with an impossible request. Leave the army and go to Telluride to help Ryan’s sister, Ella. Who is struggling to raise her twin nephews alone after yet another devastating loss.

Fiercely independent, Ella doesn’t want help. But Beckett soon realizes there’s more tearing her family apart than she’s willing to admit. Bound by a promise and a growing connection he never expected. Beckett must decide if he’s willing to stay and fight for a future neither of them saw coming.

In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros

When Izzy Astor boards her flight home, she never expects to meet Nate Phelan. A ruggedly charming stranger who makes her believe in destiny. But when their plane crashes just moments after takeoff, their lives are forever altered.

As the years pass, Nate pursues a military career while Izzy enters politics. Their paths crossing in fleeting moments that never align. But when fate reunites them in Afghanistan, where Nate is assigned to protect Izzy’s life, he’s determined to keep her safe. And finally claim the love that always felt just out of reach.

Variation by Rebecca Yarros

Elite ballerina Allie Rousseau returns to her summer home to recover from an injury. Only to be confronted by painful memories and the man she never forgot. Hudson Ellis, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer with regrets of his own.

When Hudson’s niece seeks Allie’s help in finding her birth mother, their tangled past resurfaces. Forcing them to confront long-buried truths. As old wounds reopen and secrets threaten to pull them apart, they must decide if love is worth the risk. Or if some ties are meant to stay broken.

Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros

After years of exile, Camden Daniels returns to his small hometown. Haunted by the loss of his brother and the resentment of those he left behind—especially his father. But facing the past means confronting Willow, the one woman he’s always loved but can never have.

As buried secrets unravel and long-standing betrayals surface, Camden must decide if he can fight for a future in a place that’s only ever seen him as broken.