Fourth Wing: Empyrean, Book 1

Amazing read
Plot or Character Driven: A mixStrong character development: YesLoveable characters: YesDiverse cast of characters: YesFlaws of characters a main focus: ComplicatedFourth Wing has been on my TBR list for quite some time. I finally had the time to read, and I now know why so many people have been talking about this series. I quite enjoyed reading Fourth Wing. The story is engaging, with a plot that leaves you wanting to know more, and the characters are entertaining.This slow-burning, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance is definitely a page turner. Adding the dragons to the mix makes the read even more exciting.Violet always thought she was to be a scribe, writing the times and reviewing the history of the city and its future. She was not like her brother, a healer or a badass rider and fighter like her sister. She was a scribe like her father. Violet is also quite fragile; every week, something happens to her resulting in an injury.However, times have changed, and her mother, who is the General, demands that she become a rider. Violet has to go through the list of challenges, just like the others. The only rule is that one must stay alive.As Violet makes it through the challenges. She learns that not only is her fragile state something she has to work on, but also the other prospective riders who may view her as competition or even harbour hatred towards her because of her family name. Violet finds the courage and strength to overcome these challenges one by one. She is even chosen by one of the most powerful dragons to be his rider.Xaden, a third-year wingleader, has revenge on his mind towards Violet. After all, her mother killed his father in battle. He moves Violet and her squad to his section and lets her know that he intends to kill her. After watching her move through the challenges, he has started to develop respect for her and thinks less of killing her.Xaden’s dragon and Violet’s dragon are mates. This leads to them spending more time in each other’s space. The attraction between them starts to sizzle. Xaden has now turned his focus toward keeping Violet safe.Reasons I enjoyed this book:Action-packed, Entertaining, Great world building, Page-turner, Romantic, Twisted, Wonderful characters

Awesome story, but two small warnings
Let’s get those two small warnings out of the way, okay?1. Amazon lists this as a three book series (likely because that’s all the author has written so far), the author plans it as a FIVE book series. Yeah, I failed research – after reading the sample of Fourth Wing, i bought books 1-3 and went aaarrrrgggggggh at the end of Onyx Storm, only to find reviews that noted there are two more books to come. My own fault, but trying to help others here.2. Forget about doing *anything* else while reading these. Compelling? Absolutely. Full throttle from beginning to end? Yes, sir/ma’am! Keep you reading till way after your bedtime? Find yourself reading while fixing and eating breakfast/ lunch/dinner? Yes, and very yes.2(a) If you have trouble with f-bombs or explicit sex scenes, this series is not your best bet as there are plenty of each.I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book(/series – I gobbled up Iron Flame and Onyx Storm also).Our protagonist, Violet? I like her. She’s far from perfect, but she is smart and resourceful, capable of thinking outside the box (without things becoming too cryptic). And there are plenty of other three-dimensional characters to interact with her.Characters show true growth in this series and the world building is solid (and expands beyond the initial borders in books 2 and 3).Clearly our author is thoughtful, careful, and determined to write books that you want to/ought to read.Technically a romantasy rather than high fantasy, but there is a lot to like, especially if you don’t mind 100mph rides. And hey, there are way cool dragons.

Book was in good condition, in plastic wrap, packaged well. The book itself is an amazing read

Para quem ama esse universo de romantasy, Fourth Wing é uma ótima escolha. Superficialmente, é como se a autora pegasse Jogos Vorazes, As Crônicas de Gelo e Fogo, Harry Potter, ACOTAR e batesse em um liquidificador para criar essa obra. Porém, ao nos aprofundarmos na história, esquecemos essa primeira impressão, pois é notável que a Rebecca Yaros sabe escrever uma trama envolvente, que transporta o leitor para aquele universo e consegue fazê-lo sentir o que a personagem sente.Inicialmente, sobre a trama: Violet Sorrengail é a clássica heroína que se difere dos outros porque nunca quis se encaixar naquele contexto em primeiro lugar. Em uma escola dividida em quatro esquadrões – escribas, infantaria, curandeiros e montadores de dragões -, ela queria se dedicar ao primeiro, mas é forçada a ir para o último. Daí pra frente, apenas existir lá dentro se torna uma luta pela sobrevivência, pois os montadores de dragões não aceitam alguém que enfraqueça essa unidade. Lá, ela conhece Xanden Riorson, o qual é um, também clássico, anti-herói que será o interesse amoroso – e muito, muito carnal – da personagem. Ele tem tudo que amamos em um mocinho de romantasy: é lindo, é forte, chama a Violet por um apelido especial, apoia a liberdade e a liderança dela com um jeito de malvado, de perigoso, de irônico… mas tem todos os motivos do mundo pra fazer o que faz, é justo, é leal, é irresistível…e, no final das contas, completamente devoto a ela. É a receita infalível para um enemies to lovers de devorar em uma madrugada. Jogue no meio o perigo constante, ameaças mortais, dragões amedrontadores, inimigos POR TODA PARTE, uma revolução no mundo em que a protagonista vive e no jeito que ela vê as coisas e temos Fourth Wing nos prendendo à leitura como maníacas obcecadas.Claro, o livro tem defeitos: existem muitos clichês – desde bad boys vs mocinho, a garota diferente das outras garotas, protagonista superidealizada (vulgo Mary Sue/a escolhida/se errou, foi com razão) em alguns momentos, mommy e daddy issues pra todo lado -, pelo menos 1 palavrão por página (o que, em minha opinião, deixa o livro adolescente demais), e se você é apaixonada pelo Rhysand de ACOTAR, você provavelmente vai notar umas certas… semelhanças entre ele e o Xaden.Em suma, o livro cumpre o seu papel: é uma leitura divertida, te mantém interessada o tempo inteiro, te faz torcer por alguns personagens e odiar outros, te faz passar mal com as cenas hot (muito bem escritas, por sinal!), e ir correndo pro próximo livro da série só pra não nem 1 minuto de distância daquele mundo e daquele casal. Eu não diria que é super revolucionário, pois acho que esse nicho literário (fantasia com romances épicos para jovens adultos) já não tem tanto pra onde correr mais. Dito isso, cá estou eu, já terminando o segundo livro e em agonia por ter que esperar o terceiro. Enfim, recomendo!

I don’t think i’ve ever loved a book more. And no, i’m not biased. From the moment i started reading it, it had me by chokehold. It managed to bring me inside a whole new world every time, without fail.Don’t be scared by the length of it, as it is very “readable” and genuinely nice.