WARNING: This article contains spoilers
Rebecca Yarros is a critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author. With novels like Wilder (2016), The Last Letter (2019), and The Things We Leave Unfinished (2021) she is well-known in the literary field. Her latest novel, the relatively new and record-breaking Empyrean series. The Empyrean series, better known as Fourth Wing, has taken the literature world by storm.
With the first novel, Fourth Wing (2023), selling over two million copies, it was one of the highest circulating titles in 2023 and continued to be for 2024. After the immense success of the first novel, Yarros released the sequel titled, Iron Flame just seven months later. Yarros clearly hooked her audience because Iron Flame (2023) sold over half a million copies in just its first week on the market, making it one of the fastest-growing books in terms of popularity.
If the numbers weren’t enough this series is dominating social media. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and more have all been overwhelmed by the amount of posts focused on these books. Literature-focused TikTok, often referred to as “BookTok”, has been wildly promoting this series. Being described as riveting, mind-blowing, insane, and beautifully written doesn’t even begin to do the novel justice. The first novel focuses on the main character, Violet Sorrengail, and her journey into the rider’s quadrant, a group of people committed to the protection of the kingdom through dragon riding. We see her evolve from the General’s daughter to a ferocious warrior bonded to two of the strongest dragons in the Vale, the dragon’s hatching grounds. Early into her struggles in the quadrant, she meets the ex-rebellion leader’s son, Xaden Riorson. Xaden proves to be a threat to both Violet’s safety and sanity but for some unexpected reasons.
Their relationship is constantly changing throughout the novel from enemies to lovers, to friends, and right back to enemies. It’s often unclear to the reader how they truly feel about each other. The first novel has an endless supply of twists and turns, keeping the readers engaged till the very last page. As if the turn of events within the novel wasn’t enough, Yarros leaves the first book with a cliffhanger so huge that the audience is running to get the second novel.
Iron Flame, which picks up directly after the first novel, describes Violet’s journey to help the revolution. With Xaden now by her side as an ally, she begins to fight for the cause she deems morally right. In true Rebecca Yarros fashion, this novel was also filled with wild twists and numerous double crossings. Violet gets increasingly annoyed at Xaden for keeping secrets, learns to better control her signet, and uncovers the truth about her homeland. Towards the end of the story, a war breaks out at Basigath War College, endangering the kingdom. Luckily, the quadrant was able to stop the dark wielders but at a grave cost. Readers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next novel on January 21st.