This review is completely spoiler-free for all three books
Series Status: Ongoing (3 books published: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm)
Last Updated: 23rd December 2025
Understanding the Fourth Wing Phenomenon
If you're wondering whether the Fourth Wing series lives up to its massive BookTok hype, you're not alone. Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series has dominated romantasy conversations since Fourth Wing's release, and with good reason. This spoiler-free review covers all three published books; Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm; to help you decide if this dragon-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance is your next obsession. Whether you're searching for "is Fourth Wing worth reading", "Fourth Wing series review", or simply want to know what tropes this series delivers, here's everything you need to know before diving into Basgiath War College.
What Is the Fourth Wing Series About? (Spoiler-Free Overview)
The Empyrean series follows Violet Sorrengail, a physically vulnerable woman forced to enter Basgiath War College—a brutal military academy where students train to become dragon riders, and many don't survive the process. What begins as a fight for survival evolves into something far more complex as Violet uncovers secrets about her world, forms a bond with a powerful dragon, and develops a charged relationship with Xaden Riorson, the morally grey wingleader who should be her enemy.
Across the three published books, Yarros expands the scope from academy survival story to epic fantasy with war, political conspiracy, and world-threatening stakes, all whilst maintaining the addictive romance and character dynamics that hooked readers from page one.
The Tropes That Make Fourth Wing Irresistible
Enemies-to-Lovers Done Right
The romantic tension between Violet and Xaden is masterfully executed. Their relationship begins with genuine animosity rooted in family history and opposing positions within the war college hierarchy. Yarros takes her time building their connection, letting forced proximity, begrudging respect, and undeniable chemistry create that delicious slow burn readers crave. The progression feels earned across all three books, with each instalment deepening their bond whilst introducing new complications.
Morally Grey Characters Who Feel Real
Xaden Riorson has rightfully earned his place amongst romantasy's most beloved morally grey heroes. He's dangerous, calculating, and willing to make difficult choices, but Yarros ensures his motivations make sense even when his methods are questionable. Violet herself grows from underestimated underdog to formidable force, making mistakes and learning from them in ways that feel authentic. The supporting cast; from brooding Garrick to fierce Rhiannon are equally well-developed, each with their own moral complexity.
Dragons With Personality and Agency
The dragons in this series aren't just powerful mounts; they're characters with distinct personalities, motivations, and the ability to make their own choices about who they bond with. Violet's dragon, Tairn, is sarcastic, protective, and genuinely compelling. The dragon bonds feel meaningful rather than convenient plot devices, and Yarros uses them to explore themes of trust, partnership, and what it means to be chosen.
Found Family in the Face of Death
The wing dynamics and friendships forged through shared survival create powerful found family bonds. Yarros excels at showing how trauma and danger can forge unbreakable loyalty, and the relationships Violet builds with her squadmates provide emotional anchors throughout the series. These friendships feel as important as the romance, giving the story emotional depth beyond the central love story.
Dark Academia Meets High Fantasy
The war college setting provides that addictive dark academia atmosphere; deadly classes, cutthroat competition, forbidden knowledge; whilst the broader world-building expands into epic fantasy territory. Yarros balances intimate academy moments with large-scale battles and political intrigue, scaling the stakes appropriately as the series progresses.
Book-by-Book Breakdown (Spoiler-Free)
Fourth Wing: The Foundation
The first book establishes everything brilliantly. It's tightly paced, focused primarily on Violet's survival at Basgiath, and delivers that addictive "just one more chapter" quality. The world-building is introduced naturally through Violet's perspective, the romance develops with perfect tension, and the ending will leave you immediately reaching for Iron Flame. Fourth Wing works beautifully as both setup and a compelling story in its own right.
Iron Flame: Raising the Stakes
The second instalment expands the scope significantly, introducing new locations, complicated politics, and revelations that reframe everything from the first book. Yarros takes risks with the structure and pacing, and whilst some readers find the middle section slower, the character development and relationship evolution make it worthwhile. The stakes feel genuinely higher, and the ending delivers devastating emotional gut-punches that will haunt you.
Onyx Storm: Deepening the Epic
The third book continues expanding the world whilst maintaining focus on the core relationships readers love. Yarros balances multiple plot threads—war, politics, personal relationships, and magical mysteries—with increasing confidence. The romance remains central without overshadowing the external conflicts, and new revelations add layers to the world-building. The book ends with enough resolution to feel satisfying whilst clearly setting up future instalments.
What Makes This Series Stand Out in Romantasy
The Perfect Balance of Romance and Plot
Many romantasy novels struggle to balance relationship development with external plot, often prioritising one over the other. Yarros manages both, ensuring the romance drives character decisions whilst the external threats create genuine stakes. You care about whether Violet and Xaden survive because you're invested in their relationship, but you're also invested in the broader conflict because it meaningfully impacts their future.
Disability Representation That Matters
Violet's chronic condition (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) isn't just mentioned for diversity points; it actively shapes her approach to challenges, informs her character development, and forces creative problem-solving. Yarros shows how physical vulnerability doesn't preclude strength, and Violet's journey involves learning to work with her body's limitations rather than overcome them through magical cure.
Action Sequences You Can Actually Follow
The battle scenes and dragon-riding sequences are visceral and exciting without becoming confusing. Yarros has clearly thought through the mechanics of aerial combat and translates them to the page with clarity. Whether it's war college challenges or full-scale battles, you understand what's happening and why it matters.
Emotional Beats That Land
Yarros isn't afraid to hurt her characters or put them through genuinely difficult situations. The emotional moments; grief, betrayal, joy, fear - feel earned rather than manipulative. When characters make sacrifices or face losses, the impact resonates because you've invested in their relationships and goals.
Who Should Read the Fourth Wing Series?
Perfect For You If You Love:
Enemies-to-lovers romance with genuine tension
Dragon bonds and fantasy creatures with personality
Military academy settings with deadly stakes
Found family dynamics forged through survival
Morally grey love interests who aren't afraid to make difficult choices
Physically vulnerable protagonists who use strategy over strength
Epic fantasy with romantic relationships central to the plot
Books you can't put down at 3 AM
Might Not Be For You If You Prefer:
Standalone novels (this series requires commitment)
Low-stakes cosy fantasy
Slow, contemplative pacing throughout
Romance that stays in the background
Completely heroic, morally pure protagonists
Stories without significant violence or character death
Content Notes and Spice Level
The series features moderate to high spice level, with explicit romantic scenes that increase across the books. There's significant violence, including character deaths (sometimes of named characters you care about), battle injuries, and war trauma. The books don't shy away from showing the brutal reality of military training and warfare. Emotional content includes grief, loss, betrayal, and PTSD-adjacent themes.
The series also includes some cliffhangers; Iron Flame's ending in particular is emotionally devastating and leaves major threads unresolved. If you hate waiting between books, you might want to pace yourself or wait until more instalments are published.
Why the Fourth Wing Series Earns 5 Stars
Rebecca Yarros has crafted something special with the Empyrean series. She understands what makes romantasy addictive; the perfect storm of swoon-worthy romance, high stakes, compelling characters, and world-building that supports rather than overwhelms the story. Each book builds on its predecessor whilst maintaining the core elements readers love.
The romance between Violet and Xaden is genuinely swoon-worthy, developing with enough complications to stay interesting without feeling artificially drawn out. The found family dynamics provide emotional depth beyond the central relationship. The dragon bonds feel meaningful and magical. The action sequences deliver genuine thrills. And Yarros manages to surprise readers even when working within familiar tropes.
Most importantly, these books are fun. They're the kind of stories that make you neglect responsibilities, read past your bedtime, and immediately start rereading favourite scenes. Yarros captures that addictive quality that keeps pages turning, whilst also delivering emotional complexity and character growth that elevate the series beyond simple escapism.
Final Verdict: Is Fourth Wing Worth the Hype?
Absolutely yes. The Fourth Wing series delivers everything it promises—dragons, deadly academies, enemies-to-lovers romance, and found family; with skill and genuine heart. Whether you're a longtime fantasy reader or new to romantasy, these books offer that perfect blend of romance and adventure that defines the best the genre has to offer.
The series isn't finished, which means you'll face cliffhangers and unresolved plot threads, but the journey is worth the wait. If you're looking for your next romantasy obsession, wondering if Fourth Wing lives up to the BookTok hype, or simply want a series that will consume your thoughts for weeks, Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series is exactly what you need.
Rating: (5/5 stars)
Pick up Fourth Wing, clear your schedule, and prepare to fall in love with dragons, dangerous academies, and a romance that will leave you breathless. You won't regret it.
Series Reading Order:
Fourth Wing
Iron Flame
Onyx Storm
Forthcoming (titles TBA)
Where to Start: Begin with Fourth Wing; the series must be read in order.
Books Featured in This Article
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
Don't miss out on the series that everyone can't stop talking about! 'Pure escapism - think Hunger Games meets Fifty Shades' -The Sun 'We weren't expecting to become obsessed with Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing, but we very much are - and we're not alone . . .' -Sunday Times Style'I couldn't put it down!' -Millie Bobby Brown'This book contains an addictive, drug like essence that will make you relinquish all responsibility until the very last word. Do not say I didn't warn you' -Glamour'Yarros had me hooked from the first chapter' -Mail on SundayWelcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College . . .Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general - also known as her tough-as-talons mother - has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.But when you're smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don't bond to 'fragile' 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 mother's daughter - like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.She'll 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.Everyone at Basgiath has an agenda, and every night could be your last. So, sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION READERS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN FOURTH WING FIVE STARS. ARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE WORLD OF BASGIATH WAR COLLEGE? 'If I can convince you to read one book I recommend it would be this one' 'I didn't sleep, I didn't eat, and when I finished, I had the overwhelming urge to just start it all over again' 'This book is probably the best fantasy book I have ever read''FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. There is no universe where I could give this book any less of a rating' 'There are some
Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
From the NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTELLING author, Rebecca Yarros, comes the eagerly anticipated sequel to TIKTOK SENSATION and RADIO TWO BOOK CLUB pick Fourth Wing . . . "The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity." - Xaden RiorsonEveryone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College, Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.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.Although Violet's body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else's, she still has her wits, and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.But a determination to survive won't be enough this year.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.Reviews for Fourth Wing:'Brutal games, grumpy dragons, sizzling sexual tension . . . a fantasy like you've never read before' JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT, author of FROM BLOOD AND ASH'Readers of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo will flock to this one' BOOKLIST (starred review)'Fourth Wing hooked me on the first page and did not let go' DANIELLE L. JENSEN, author of THE BRIDGE KINGDOM'This book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD! . . . A mix of Hunger Games and Divergent vibes, with a few elements from ACOTAR thrown in for good measure' NETGALLEY READER REVIEW 'As compelling as it is deadly . . . Fourth Wing is dazzling' NALINI SINGH'A wild, sexy, rollercoaster of a ride' MARY E. PEARSON'Utterly immersive, fiercely romantic, and unforgivably addictive' LYNETTE NONI
Onyx Storm
by Rebecca Yarros
After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there's no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it's impossible to know who to trust. Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves--her dragons, her family, her home--and him.