Fourth Wing(The Empyrean #1)
by Rebecca Yarros
🌶️ Quick Spice Verdict
Heat Level
Explicit with emotional depth
Spicy Scenes
~3 scenes
POV Style
First person (Violet)
About Fourth Wing
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, but her commanding mother forces her into the riders quadrant at Basgiath War College, where dragon riders are forged in the most brutal way.
Reading Vibes
🌶️ Spice Level Breakdown
Fourth Wing features several steamy scenes between Violet and Xaden that are explicitly written. The tension builds through the first half of the book with their enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and the payoff is detailed and passionate. Expect 2-3 major spicy scenes that are integral to the plot and character development. The chemistry is intense and the scenes are well-written without feeling gratuitous.
Tropes in Fourth Wing
Characters who start as adversaries and gradually fall in love
Characters forced into close quarters, sparking attraction
Romance blended with fantasy world-building
An intensely protective love interest
Content Warnings
⚠️ Content Warnings
- Violence
- Death of characters
- War themes
- Explicit sexual content
- Physical injury
- Bullying
Should You Read Fourth Wing?
✅ Perfect For You If...
- •Fans of enemies-to-lovers with real stakes
- •Readers who love fantasy worlds with dragon lore
- •Anyone who enjoyed Hunger Games and wants it with romance
- •BookTok romantasy enthusiasts
- •Readers who like strong female leads in military settings
⛔ Skip This If...
- •You prefer clean or fade-to-black romance
- •Graphic violence bothers you
- •You don't enjoy military/academy settings
- •You want a standalone — this is book 1 of a series
Our Take
Fourth Wing took BookTok by storm in 2023 and for good reason. Rebecca Yarros crafted a romantasy that balances high-stakes dragon rider action with a slow-building enemies-to-lovers romance that absolutely delivers. Violet Sorrengail is the kind of heroine you root for — physically fragile but mentally fierce, navigating a war college where death is a daily possibility. The world-building around Basgiath War College is immersive, the magic system involving dragon bonds is creative, and the political intrigue keeps you guessing. But let's be honest — most readers are here for Xaden Riorson, and the tension between him and Violet is electric. Their dynamic shifts from genuine hostility to reluctant respect to undeniable attraction, and when the spicy scenes finally arrive, they're worth the wait. The book does end on a significant cliffhanger, so be prepared to immediately pick up Iron Flame.
What Readers Say
Average community spice rating: 4.3/5
cozy.bookworm
2024-12-01
“I was nervous about the spice level going in because I usually read closed-door, but the intimate scenes in Fourth Wing felt natural and not forced. They serve the story and the character development. That said, if you're looking for clean romantasy, this isn't it. The content warnings are real — there's violence, death, and explicit scenes.”
dragonrider_kate
2024-11-15
“The enemies-to-lovers tension between Violet and Xaden had me SCREAMING. The spice doesn't show up until later in the book but when it does — wow. The buildup makes it so much better. Also Xaden's 'Violence' line? I will never recover. 10/10 would read again at 2am.”
romantasy.reads
2024-10-22
“I went in expecting a fantasy book with some romance and got a full-on romantasy that wrecked me. The spice level is definitely a 4 — the scenes are explicit and well-written. But honestly the dragon bonding scenes were almost as exciting as the spicy ones. Rebecca Yarros knows how to write tension.”
sarah_reads_all
2024-09-08
“Okay I'd rate this a 4.5 on spice. The scenes between V and X are HOT and detailed. But what really gets me is the emotional connection — you feel every bit of their complicated relationship. The 'touch her and die' energy from Xaden is *chef's kiss*. Content warning though: there's real violence and character death, so be prepared.”
📚 Series Information
Fourth Wing is book #1 of 3 in the The Empyrean series.
Other books in this series:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fourth Wing spicy?
Yes, Fourth Wing has a spice level of 4/5 on our scale, which we rate as "Very Spicy (Explicit)." Detailed explicit intimate scenes. Fourth Wing features several steamy scenes between Violet and Xaden that are explicitly written. The tension builds through the first half of the book with their enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and the payoff is detailed and passionate. Expect 2-3 major spicy scenes that are integral to the plot and character development. The chemistry is intense and the scenes are well-written without feeling gratuitous.
What is the spice level of Fourth Wing?
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is rated 4 out of 5 on the SpicyBooks spice scale. This means it's "Very Spicy (Explicit)" — detailed explicit intimate scenes. The steam level is: Explicit with emotional depth.
How many spicy scenes are in Fourth Wing?
Fourth Wing contains approximately 3 intimate/spicy scenes. Fourth Wing features several steamy scenes between Violet and Xaden that are explicitly written. The tension builds through the first half of the book with their enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and the payoff is detailed and passionate. Expect 2-3 major spicy scenes that are integral to the plot and character development. The chemistry is intense and the scenes are well-written without feeling gratuitous.
What tropes are in Fourth Wing?
Fourth Wing features the following romance tropes: ⚔️ Enemies to Lovers, 🏠 Forced Proximity, 🐉 Romantasy, 🗡️ Touch Her and Die. These tropes are central to the story and shape the romantic dynamic between the characters.
Does Fourth Wing have content warnings?
Yes, readers should be aware of the following content warnings for Fourth Wing: Violence, Death of characters, War themes, Explicit sexual content, Physical injury, Bullying. We always recommend checking content warnings before reading if you have specific sensitivities.
Is Fourth Wing part of a series? Do I need to read it in order?
Yes, Fourth Wing is book 1 of 3 in the The Empyrean series. As the first book, this is the perfect starting point.
Who would enjoy Fourth Wing?
Fourth Wing is perfect for: Fans of enemies-to-lovers with real stakes; Readers who love fantasy worlds with dragon lore; Anyone who enjoyed Hunger Games and wants it with romance. The reading vibes are: Intense, Action-packed, Swoony, Suspenseful, Addictive.
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Ready to Read Fourth Wing?
Now that you know the spice level, tropes, and content warnings — grab your copy!