Speaking of Dragons: A Deep Dive into the Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros
Book 1: Fourth Wing
The hype about this book was so loud that I could no longer avoid it. So here you go, my deep dive into the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros.
If I had to summarize this book in one sentence, it would be Divergent meets Vampire Academy in How to Train Your Dragon.
I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t even read the synopsis for this book. I just dove straight in, and it was so worth it.
The book follows 20-year-old Violet, the daughter of an esteemed commanding general. The general is forcing her daughter to attend the school for dragon riders, a.k.a. a death sentence. Most of the students die by just getting to the damned place, and for Violet, the danger is tenfold because her body has been weak and sickly since birth. Even if she manages to survive the school and students, who constantly try to kill each other, she still has to find a dragon to bond with. But dragons don’t bond with “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
“Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda, because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.”
On the Parapet is the first time we see the main love interest, Xaden Riorson, a dark, brooding warrior with tattoos who wields the power of shadows. Sounds familiar? (Cough, Rhysand, cough). Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for brooding moody warriors with tattoos; any time, any day, I will sip them up like my morning coffee, but recently they became very common in YA and New Adult. (There even is a term for them, a Shadow Daddy).
All of this aside, Xaden is a great character. He always supports and believes in Violet and is the only one who doesn’t treat her like she is made of glass. He respects her and her potential.
“And when others are quick to stand in front of me, Xaden always stands at my side, trusting me to hold my own.”
At the school, there is another man who holds our heroine’s heart: Dain. Dain is Violet’s childhood friend and crush. He abides by rules and tries to protect Violet. Still, his good intentions transform into overprotectiveness, and instead of recognizing her accomplishments, he diminishes her by constantly reminding her that she is weak.
The book has a variety of characters. My favorite was Ridoc and Liam. The character of Liam was a breath of fresh air. He was always smiling, joking around, and sweet. He never failed to make me laugh but was just as fierce and brave. Violet and Rhiannon also have a fantastic friendship. All those side characters make the reading experience more enjoyable.
The heroine herself was fascinating. I loved that she wasn’t super strong or extraordinary. She had to work twice as hard and exercise daily to catch up to kids with normal strength. Her joints and bones are weak, and she lacks muscle and training compared to others, but she is the most determined and intelligent. As a potato myself, this character inspired me.
I loved the dragon rider concept and the dragons themselves. The dragons were terrific; I loved Tairn and Andarna. They balanced each other perfectly, and I felt Tairn acted like a father or older brother to Violet and Andarna.
The plot was predictable, but the writing and romance were so good that they kept me up all night. The magic system was exciting, and the dragon riders’ concept was very well done.
The first book’s plot was well-paced, and the ending left me raw and sad. The author certainly doesn’t spare any characters, whether they are good or evil. But despite the sad ending, there is so much mystery and anticipation, such a desire to learn more and explore more of this amazing world Rebecca Yarros has created.
Book 2: Iron Flame
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.”
Xaden Riorson
Everyone thought Violet Sorrengail was a goner in her first year at Basgiath War College, yep, even Violet herself. Threshing was just the start of those crazy tests meant to weed out the weak, unworthy, and unlucky. But surviving the first year was only the beginning.
The training starts, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll make it through. It’s not just brutal or brutally intense, they want to see how much pain these riders can take before they break. And to top it off, the new vice commandant’s got a personal mission: show Violet she’s powerless unless she betrays the guy she loves.
Violet’s body might not be as strong as the rest, but she has brains and an iron will. And you know what she’s learned at Basgiath? Dragon riders make their own damn rules.
But this year, determination alone won’t cut it. Violet’s got a secret that’s been hidden at Basgiath War College for centuries. And even dragon fire might not be enough to save their hides.
This second book rips away the veil shrouding the Empire’s true nature and its ruthless plans. The rebellion that Xaden’s father led begins to take on new meaning as layers of corruption and deceit are peeled back, suggesting that what appeared to be treason might have been something far more complex.
We also have a fascinating new character appearing at the end of book one. This character’s backstory is once more an exciting mystery to be unraveled.
Iron Flame raises the stakes dramatically. As the second book in the series, it lays the groundwork for everything that comes next, with its revelations about the Empire, the true nature of the rebellion, and the dark secrets of dragon rider training.
Book 3: Onyx Storm
“Onyx Storm,” the third book in the Empyrean series, took the book world by storm. After the heart-wrenching events of “Iron Flame,” we were all holding our breath to see what awaited Violet Sorrengail and her fellow dragon riders.
If “Fourth Wing” introduced us to this brutal world and “Iron Flame” shattered our expectations (and hearts), “Onyx Storm” had to answer the burning questions the second book left us with: the secrets about the Empire’s true nature and the mysterious forces at play.
Before it came out, these were the questions keeping us up at night. Will Violet, who started as the frail girl everyone underestimated, continue to defy the odds? How will the bonds between riders and dragons change as the true nature of their connection comes to light? And most importantly, with the growing threats both within and outside Basgiath’s walls, who will survive to see graduation?
One thing we’ve learned from this series: Rebecca Yarros shows no mercy to her characters, whether they’re our beloved favorites or sworn enemies. So pack your tissues, grab your emotional support dragon, and prepare for another sleepless night (or several). “Onyx Storm” hit the shelves on January 21, 2025.
And no, this is not the end! Rebecca Yarros planned five books for the Empyrean series, so Violet’s story is far from over.
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“Crowns of Nyaxia” Series By Carissa Broadbent, Hunger Games with FangsCrowns of Nyaxia by Carissa Broadbent in reading order, from The Serpent and the Wings of Night to The Lion and the Deathless Dark, plus our review.
Zodiac Academy Series Review: Is It Written in the Stars?Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti: all nine books in reading order, whether it is YA, and our review of the fae academy series.
