Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing is a 2023 new adult,[1] high romance fantasy, or "romantasy", novel by American author Rebecca Yarros. It is the first book in The Empyrean series. Released on May 2, 2023, the novel achieved viral success on TikTok's reader community BookTok, which contributed to its No. 1 The New York Times bestseller list success.

20-year old Violet Sorrengail is the youngest daughter of General Lilith Sorrengail, the commanding general at Basgiath War College in the kingdom of Navarre, where students choose to join one of four military Quadrants: infantry, healer, scribe, or dragon rider. Navarre is guarded by wards which are powered by dragon magic and protect the kingdom from all other magic, including attacks inflicted by gryphon fliers from the neighbouring kingdom of Poromiel.

Despite the danger, Violet and the rest of the squad decide to aid the gyphon fliers against the venin attack. While they are able to evacuate the town, Liam's dragon is killed and Liam dies in Violet's arms. Violet uses her lightning abilities to kill the remaining venin, while also channelling power from a weakening Andarna to freeze time. She is gravely wounded by a venin and Xaden and the survivors take shelter in Aretia, the former Tyrrish capital believed to have been abandoned since the rebellion. Violet awakens after three days and, upon awakening, Xaden vows his loyalty and devotion to regaining her trust, but she is skeptical. She is stunned when Brennan enters the room, revealing that he is alive and welcoming Violet to the revolution. The story ends on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the continuation in the sequel, Iron Flame