About the Book
Fourth Wing is a romantic fantasy novel set in a war college where riders bond with dragons. The protagonist, Violet Sorrengail, was meant to follow a quiet academic path, but is forced into the most dangerous division of the college, the riders' quadrant, where bonding with a dragon is the only way to survive, and most students don't make it through their first year. The setting blends military academy structure with high-stakes magical world-building, and the story moves between survival, political intrigue, and a romance with a morally complicated love interest.
The book sits in the crossover space between fantasy and romantasy, readers who enjoy both genre fiction and romance-forward narratives will find it familiar in structure but executed with enough momentum to stay engaging. The stakes are real: the war college setting keeps the threat of death present throughout, and the dragon lore is developed enough to feel distinct. The romance is central to the plot rather than a side thread.
This was a major commercial success in 2023, winning the Goodreads Choice Award and landing on best-of lists from NPR, Apple Books, and Audible, among others. A TV series is in development at MGM with Michael B. Jordan's production company. Whether or not those credentials influence your decision, they do reflect the book's broad audience reach.
Narration & Audio Performance
Rebecca Soler handles the narration well. She has a clear, consistent voice that suits the first-person perspective, and her pacing is well-suited to a book that alternates between action-heavy sequences and quieter romantic scenes. She differentiates character voices without overperforming them, which keeps the listening experience grounded rather than theatrical.
The romantic tension in the book relies heavily on internal monologue, and Soler carries that effectively, the tone stays emotionally present without becoming melodramatic. For a novel with a large cast of named characters, her ability to keep voices distinct is one of the stronger aspects of this production.
No significant production issues have been widely reported. This is a clean, professionally produced audiobook that holds up well at normal listening speeds and slightly elevated playback rates.
The Audible Verdict
Fourth Wing is a well-produced audiobook with narration that suits the material. Rebecca Soler is a good fit for the voice and pacing of the book. That said, the audio version doesn't add anything that the print version lacks, it's a text-forward novel without atmospheric sound design or full-cast production. Use a free trial credit here rather than a paid one unless romantasy is a genre you return to often on audio.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Fourth Wing is a linear, character-driven narrative told in first person, which is generally a good match for audio. You don't miss charts, footnotes, or visual formatting, nothing in this book requires you to see the page. The first-person voice also means a single narrator carries the whole book, and Soler is steady throughout.
The romantic scenes, which make up a significant portion of the book, translate fine to audio. Some listeners find that romance-heavy content works better in print where they can set their own pace, but nothing about those sections is jarring in audio form. The action sequences benefit slightly from being read aloud, the pacing moves quickly and Soler keeps up with it.
The main caveat is that this is a long novel, and listeners who find sustained romantic fantasy audio tiring may want to test the sample before committing. It's the kind of book some people sprint through on audio and others find easier to pace themselves with in print.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this book part of a series?
Yes. Fourth Wing is the first book in the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. The second book, Iron Flame, was released in November 2023. The story has a self-contained arc but ends with clear threads leading into the next installment.
Is Fourth Wing appropriate for adult listeners only?
Yes. The book contains explicit romantic content and is written for adult audiences. It is not marketed as young adult despite the college setting.
Who narrates the audiobook?
Rebecca Soler narrates. She is an experienced audiobook narrator with a wide back catalog in fiction. She is not the author.
Does the audio version work if you haven't read fantasy before?
Yes. The world-building is introduced gradually and the romance-forward structure keeps the early chapters accessible. It's not dense secondary-world fantasy that requires prior genre experience.
Is this more romance or more fantasy?
Both threads carry equal weight. The dragon-riding academy setting provides the plot structure, but the romance is central rather than a subplot. Readers who want pure fantasy with minimal romance may find the balance tilted further toward romantasy than they expect.
Similar Audiobooks
The second book in the Empyrean series continues directly from where Fourth Wing ends. Rebecca Soler returns as narrator, making it a consistent audio experience.
Jennifer L. Armentrout's romantasy series shares the same blend of high-stakes romance and fantasy world-building. Popular with the same readership.
Sarah J. Maas's series occupies the same romantasy space and is frequently cited alongside Fourth Wing by the same audience. The audiobook version is also widely listened to.
Another Sarah J. Maas series with a female protagonist navigating a dangerous institutional setting with romantic stakes. Similar pacing and tone.
The Bridge Kingdom series
Rebecca Soler narrates Danielle L. Jensen's Bridge Kingdom series. Listeners who respond well to Soler's voice in Fourth Wing have a ready catalog to move into.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Fourth Wing |
|---|---|
| Author | Rebecca Yarros |
| Narrator | Rebecca Soler |
| Genre | Romantasy |
| Year | 2023 |
| Publisher | Entangled: Red Tower Books |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Fourth Wing is available on Audible and is a reasonable choice for a free trial credit, particularly if you're new to the romantasy genre and want to test it in audio form before committing to a full series.
Open on Audible