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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing is a 2023 fantasy novel by Rebecca Yarros and the first book in The Empyrean series.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Fourth Wing is a 2023 fantasy novel by Rebecca Yarros and the first book in The Empyrean series. The story follows Violet Sorrengail, who is forced to join the dangerous dragon-rider training program at Basgiath War College. The novel has been widely read in Canada as part of the fantasy-romance bestseller trend.

Plot

The story follows Violet Sorrengail as she is pushed into the brutal dragon-rider academy at Basgiath War College. She must survive training, form bonds, and navigate political and military threats.

Publication and format

Fourth Wing was published in 2023 and has appeared in multiple editions. Page count varies by edition, so a single universal page number is not fixed.

Series

The book is the opening installment of The Empyrean series. Later books continue the same overarching story and characters.

Key facts

  • The novel centers on Violet Sorrengail, who is compelled to enter the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College.
  • Violet had expected to train as a scribe, not as a dragon rider.
  • The setting includes dragon-rider training, military competition, and conflict involving Navarre and its enemies.
  • Fourth Wing is the first novel in The Empyrean series.
  • The book was written by Rebecca Yarros.
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Canadian context

Fourth Wing has been widely read in Canada as part of the recent fantasy-romance bestseller trend, and Canadian readers access it through major Canadian booksellers, libraries, and audiobook platforms.

Frequently asked questions

What is Fourth Wing about?
It is about Violet Sorrengail, who is forced into dragon-rider training at Basgiath War College and must survive a deadly academy while navigating war and political conflict.
Who wrote Fourth Wing?
Rebecca Yarros wrote Fourth Wing.
How many pages is Fourth Wing?
The page count varies by edition, so there is no single fixed number.
Is Fourth Wing a series?
Yes. Fourth Wing is the first book in The Empyrean series.
What is the reading order for Fourth Wing?
The reading order starts with Fourth Wing, which is Book 1 of The Empyrean series.
When does Fourth Wing come out?
Fourth Wing was published in 2023.

References

  1. SparkNotes — https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/fourth-wing/summary/
    Supports: Plot summary describing Violet Sorrengail, Basgiath War College, and the Riders Quadrant.
  2. The Bibliofile — https://the-bibliofile.com/fourth-wing/
    Supports: Plot summary and setting details about Violet entering dragon-rider training.
  3. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Wing
    Supports: Author, publication year, and series placement.
  4. Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing
    Supports: Series identification, author, and general book description.
  5. Medium — https://medium.com/@jacquelinedefreitas8/book-summary-for-fourth-wing-the-empyrean-series-by-rebecca-yarros-2cc2f8eae0b6
    Supports: Identification of Fourth Wing as the inaugural installment of The Empyrean series.