Fourth WingFourth Wing
What it's about
Violet Sorrengail was meant for the quiet life of a scribe, until her mother, the commanding general, orders her into Basgiath War College to train as a dragon rider. Small and physically fragile, Violet is up against cadets who would happily kill her to improve their own odds, dragons that burn the weak to ash, and Xaden Riorson, the most powerful rider in the quadrant, who has every reason to want her dead. As she fights to survive, she starts to uncover secrets about the war itself.
Why it's worth reading
It's the book that turned millions of people into romantasy readers: relentlessly fast, with high stakes, real danger, dragons with personality and a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance. If you want a book you can't put down, this is it.
You'll love it if you liked
Quicksilver
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Shield of SparrowsGood to know
It's the first of a series and ends on a big cliffhanger, so have Iron Flame ready. There are explicit romantic scenes and plenty of violence.
By the numbers
- Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller94 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz86 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #3 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #5 of the 481 new books we rank
- #11 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Fourth Wing worth reading?
Yes. It's the book that turned millions of people into romantasy readers: relentlessly fast, with high stakes, real danger, dragons with personality and a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance. It ranks #11 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 93.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Fourth Wing about?
Violet Sorrengail was meant for the quiet life of a scribe, until her mother, the commanding general, orders her into Basgiath War College to train as a dragon rider. Small and physically fragile, Violet is up against cadets who would happily kill her to improve their own odds, dragons that burn the weak to ash, and Xaden Riorson, the most powerful rider in the quadrant, who has every reason to want her dead. As she fights to survive, she starts to uncover secrets about the war itself.
How long does it take to read Fourth Wing?
About 13 hours (517 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Fourth Wing won?
Goodreads Choice (romantasy) winner (2025, for Onyx Storm).
What should I read after Fourth Wing?
If you liked it, try Quicksilver by Callie Hart, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry.