Fourth Wingis one of the most popular romantasy books of recent years, yet going back and re-reading the first installment, it’s clear it had some issues. As the first entry in Rebecca Yarros’sEmpyreanseries,Fourth Winglaid the groundwork for this unique fantasy world of dragons, signets, and passionate love affairs. With three books and counting,Fourth Wingwas an excellent introduction to the exciting story of politics and power, but afterreadingIron FlameandOnyx Storm, I can’t help but notice a few harsh realities that must be faced.
The story of the young rider Violet Sorrengail and her complex romance with Xaden Riorson has connected with millions of readers worldwide, yet that does not mean that issues liketheir toxic relationshipshould not be analyzed.Fourth Wingwas a thoroughly enjoyable read that laid the groundwork for all that was to follow, but later books reveal sometopics that deserve to be re-examined. As a complex and politically fraught fantasy world, there’s a lot that comes up when going back and re-readingFourth Wing.
8Violet And Xaden’s Dynamic Is Toxic From The Get-Go
This Enemies-To-Lovers Is Problematic
By the timeOnyx Stormcame around, readers had started to noticethe problematic nature of Violet and Xaden’s intense romance. However, looking back onFourth Wing, it’s clear there were issues from the very beginning. On a first read, the pair’s undeniable chemistry and enemies-to-lovers dynamic was electric, as it represents a forbidden, dangerous, and thrilling lust. But this dynamic was characterized by imbalance, manipulation, and unresolved power struggles from the start.
This becomes especially apparent with the revolution of Xaden’s secret second signet inOnyx Storm, a fact that recontextualizes their entire early romance as his inntinnsic ability to read intentions meant he could bend his relationship with Violet to his will. Re-readingFourth Wing, it’s apparent that Xaden’s secret ability gave him far more information on their relationship than we first thought, and the toxicity of their love brings up important questions around the ability to consent when the other person keeps an important part of themselves hidden.
7The Parapet Is Barbaric, Not Heroic
Putting First-Years' Lives In Jeopardy Feels Counterproductive
When we first encounter the parapet inFourth Wing, it feels like a high-stakes rite of passage that every hopeful rider in Basgiath War College must go through. The Parapet is a narrow stone bridge high above the main college that cadets must cross on Conscription Day in order to join the Riders Quadrant. This terrifying challenge was presented as an essential moment in a rider’s life story, even though 15% of candidates died each year in their attempts to cross it.
When readingFourth Wingfor the first time, it felt likethe disregard for human life at Basgiathwas just the way of the world in theEmpyreanseries. But, as later books revealed more about life outside the kingdom of Navarre, it was clear that other cultures did not practice the same kind of ruthless, deadly rites of passage on their young warriors. With this in mind, the Parapet seems incredibly barbaric and a short-sighted way of killing great riders before they had time to reach their full potential.
6It Was Obvious Brennan Is Still Alive
Later Books Prove That Rebecca Yarros Loves A Good Twist
Upon first glance, the unobservant reader will accept Violet’s grief over the death of her brother, Brennan, as a raw and emotional glimpse into the violent and dangerous world of theEmpyreanseries. Yet, upon a re-read after already getting to know Rebecca Yarros' writing style very well throughIron FlameandOnyx Storm,it’s pretty obvious that Brennan was still alive.
Every book in theEmpyreanseries is packed with twists and turns that leave readers’ jaws on the floor as they eagerly await the next chapter or installment. It’s become Yarros’ trademark to end her books on a grand twist that excitedly sets up the next book, such as Xaden turning venin at the end ofIron Flame. With this in mind, it was clear that the Book of Brennan and the small ways Yarros had developed his character throughout theFourth Wingwere simply laying the groundwork for his grand return.
5The Dragon-Rider Bond Is Way More Complex Than It First Seems
Iron Flame And Onyx Storm Offer More Insight Into The Ways Of The Dragons
The bond between dragons and riders in theEmpyreanseries is one of the most complex and interesting of this richly imagined world. Yet, when re-readingFourth Wing, it’s presented as deceptively simple at first, as Violet and the other first-year cadets attempt to showcase their strength and bravery to impress the dragons during the Threshing.
However, later books showcase that the dragons' bond with their riders runs much deeper than it first appeared and that these powerful creatures are looking not just for brass strength but also conviction, untapped potential, and characteristics far beyond the rider’s comprehension. Whether it wasTairn recognizing Violet’s willingness to stand up for what she believesin or Andarna recognizing she had the mind of a scribe with the heart of a rider, the intricacies behind a dragon-rider bond are way more complex than they initially seemed inFourth Wing.
4Dain Is Cast Aside As A Love Interest Too Quickly
When readingFourth Wingfor the first time, it’s easy to get swept away in the intensity of Violet and Xaden’s forbidden romance. However, when re-reading this first installment, I was struck byhow quickly Dain’s potential as a romantic love interest was cast aside. As Violet’s childhood best friend and closest confidant, the way that Dain was set up as a romantic prospect only to be quickly dismissed in favor of Xaden felt rushed and emotionally dissatisfying.
Rather than give enough time for Violet and Dain’s relationship to evolve and unravel, he was instead quickly framed as overbearing and controlling. Looking back onFourth Wing, it feels like there was a complex love triangle filled with jealousy, anger, and pain that never truly got the time and attention it deserved, and that Rebecca Yarros concluded this plotline before it had time to get really interesting. While Dain and Violet’s dynamic does get more development inIron FlameandOnyx Storm,Fourth Wingcould have explored this in a more satisfying way.
3The Supporting Characters Are Underdeveloped
This Was Rectified In Later Books
Fourth Wingintroduced a lot of side characters who help bring Basgiath War College to life, although it’s hard not to feel like they weren’t given enough time in the spotlight to properly develop. With the focus primarily on Violet and Xaden, it’s hard not to shake the feeling that Rhiannon, Liam, Imogen, and Ridoc were woefully underwritten in the first book.
Thankfully, this issue was mostly resolved inIron FlameandOnyx Storm, two books that allowed the secondary characters to have their own plotlines and have their personalities shine through a lot more. This becomes especially apparent when revisitingFourth Wingand realizing how muchpeople are simply reacting to Violet and Xadenrather than embarking on their character arcs themselves.
2Basgiath College Feels Very Small Upon Re-Read
There’s Far More To The World Of The Empyrean Series
One of the most exciting things aboutIron FlameandOnyx Stormwas the way they expanded theEmpyreanseries beyond the walls of Basgiath War College. In later installments, Rebecca Yarros explored the kingdom of Navarre in much greater detail, andwe started to learn a lot more about the kingdom of Poromiel and the Isle Kingdoms. By even providing insight into the uninhabitable Barrens beyond the Continent’s borders, theEmpyreanseries has grown into a fully realized world over the course of its three books.
This means that going back toFourth Wingafter already having caught up with every subsequent release, Basgiath War College can feel incredibly small. It’s fascinating how condensed the happenings of theFourth Wingare to just a few locations as Violet and the other first-years struggle to come to terms with their new surroundings. Like in all good fantasy series, Yarros took her time expanding the world and allowed readers to slowly immerse themselves in it, but upon revisiting the first book, it’s striking just how small it all feels.
1General Sorrengail Was Right To Make Violet Become A Rider
On first read, General Lilith Sorrengail’s decision to send her chronically ill, bookish daughter into the deadly Rider Quadrant feels cruel. From the very beginning, we’re confronted with Violet’s perspective on her mother’s decision, and it feels borderline psychotic that she would be willing to risk her child’s life by pushing her into an environment she’s not suited for. Yet, looking back onFourth Wingwith the power of hindsight, it’s clearViolet would have never been safe in the Scribe Quadrant, and she needed to train as a rider to ensure her survival.
General Sorrengail was privy to the lies and deceit that the kingdom of Navarre had been built on, and she was well aware that conflict against the venin was a certainty. With this in mind, General Sorrengail was right to push her daughter outside her comfort zone and ensure that she was prepared to fight in a world where survival wasn’t always guaranteed. General Sorrengail appeared needlessly brutal upon first readingFourth Wing, but now it’s clear she was simply being protective and pragmatic.
