Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

That sounded an awful lot like a compliment, but with Mom, I’m never quite sure.

Mommy issues lol

Mom tolerates me and respects Mira, but she loved Brennan.

Definite mommy issues. Prediction: Violet and mom will have hardships but then something will bring them togethef and make violet feel loved. Then her mom will die and Violet will need to step up.

“So much like your father,”

Mom distanced herself from Violet when dad died because Violet reminds her too much of him?

“Thank you, General.”

Calling it now. This book is cadet Kelly with dragons and smut.

“I’m not dying,”

I think he's going to die.

He’s tall, with windblown black hair and dark brows. The line of his jaw is strong and covered by warm tawny skin and dark stubble, and when he folds his arms across his torso, the muscles in his chest and arms ripple, moving in a way that makes me swallow. And his eyes… His eyes are the shade of gold-flecked onyx. The contrast is startling, jaw-dropping even—everything about him is. His features are so harsh that they look carved, and yet they’re astonishingly perfect, like an artist worked a lifetime sculpting him, and at least a year of that was spent on his mouth.

Dain, whose father is one of my mother’s most trusted advisers.

Hmmmmm interesting.

“I can read a person’s recent memories,”

Hmmmmm he'll eventually see something he'll wish he hadn't. Something Xaden related for sure.

“Third-years have only been sent to midland posts as reinforcements, never the front.”

Hmmm all years will be called in this book.

Marked ones, as I’d heard some people this morning refer to those carrying rebellion relics on their arms, blame my mother for the execution of their parents.

It is my opinion that of all the signet powers riders provide, mending is the most precious, but we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent when in the company of such a signet. For menders are rare, and the wounded are not.

In addition to last year’s changes, marked ones assembling in groups of three or more will now be considered an act of seditious conspiracy and is hereby a capital offense.

Punishing children for the sins of their parents is the Navarrian way, not the Tyrrish.”

What if Navarrian's are actually the bad guys? Violet is going to see the truth and switch sides.

She’s mine to handle.

Xaden sees something in Violet. His dragon sensed it the first day too.

“I command shadows,

Azriel vibes.

“Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?”

Attacks at the eastern borders are increasing, according to every Battle Brief, and yet there are fewer dragons willing to bond in order to defend Navarre.

My stomach pitches as I remember the way she looked right through me that first day.

She saw something in Violet.

“They’re the rarest,” I add in. “There hasn’t been one born in the last…century.”

Violet is going to get a black dragon.

“And not all strength is physical, Violet.”

“I saw a way to get you out of danger, and I took it.” He stands.

Dain is giving Tamlin vibes.

“Please. If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for me.”

Dain has officially given me the ick. He's a Tamlin.

“So if you start to fall, reach out and grab a rope. It’ll cost you thirty seconds, but death costs you more.”

Violet is definitely going to fall and grab a rope.

The fifteen-foot log at the start of the uphill climb begins to spin. The pillars on the third ascent shake. The giant wheel at the first switchback starts its counterclockwise rotation, and those little posts Aurelie mentioned? They all twist in opposite directions.

This ain't the Gauntlet. This is an episode of Wipe Out.

If there was ever a metaphor for my life, well…that’s it.

Violst is the most relatable heroine.

The leaves of the trees are all turning gold, as though someone has brought in a paintbrush with only one color and streaked it across the landscape.

Tynan just ahead of me, which means I’ll be treated to his commentary the whole time, no doubt. Awesome.

Is he going to be scorched?

“They’re a mated pair, Tairn and Sgaeyl. The strongest bonded pair in centuries.”

How convenient for the plot...

Tairn chose you all on his own.”

“Sorrengail is the last person on the Continent I’d ever want to be chained to me. I didn’t do this.”

Lies

My heart hits the ground. I’ve always known deep down that Dain valued rule and order more than relationships, more than me, but to have it so cruelly displayed cuts deeper than Tynan’s sword.

Xaden knew what he was doing asking that question.

“Each time a dragon chooses a rider, that bond is stronger than the last, which means that if you die, Violence, it sets off a chain of events that potentially ends with me dying, too.”

I’m tethered to Xaden Riorson.

Same vibe as the hotel room only having one bed

“And honestly, being hunted by forty-one people is a lot less intimidating than constantly watching dark corners for you.”

“You have to know how I feel about you.” His thumb strokes over my cheek, his eyes searching for something, and then his mouth is on mine.

Ew stop Dain is not it

It was everything I’ve ever wanted…except… Shit. I don’t want it anymore.

YES

There is nothing more sacred than the Archives. Even temples can be rebuilt, but books cannot be rewritten.

“Remember that firsthand accounts are always more accurate, but you have to look deeper, Violet. You have to see who is telling the story.”

while riders may be the weapons of our kingdom, it’s the scribes who have all the real power in this world.”

Are the scribes going to go rogue?

Accusing a wingleader of wrongdoing is the most dangerous of all accusations. If you’re right, then we’ve failed as a quadrant to select the best wingleaders. If you’re wrong, you’re dead.

Was it Amber who let everyone in?

Because I want him.

Great now make it happen

“Wingleader Amber Mavis.”

I knew it!

“What the hell?” Dain bites out.

We're about to see Dain's true colors

The reality of his disbelief hurts so much more than I expected, like a blow to my already battered ribs.

This made me realize that Dain doesn't really see Violet for who she is. He doesn't make her feel seen or heard. He's stuck on his own percepion of who he wants her to be.

The shock of what he intends to do has me stumbling backward.

He doesn't trust her!? Dain!

Maybe it’s just that I haven’t been around marked ones before Basgiath, but the outright hostility toward them is becoming glaringly, uncomfortably obvious to me.

I think I’m going to be sick. “Is she marked?” “She was born with it.”

This reminds me of She Ra when she realized she was on the bad side...

My quill hovers above my notebook. Surely he didn’t say that.

It's the scribes that are sabotaging the wards. The scribes want the power now.

“Was that scroll marked classified?” Liam asks under his breath.

Markham is purposely blindsiding the new riders with lack of information.

Liam gives me a grin, flashing his dimple.

If this man dies, I will never forgive Rebecca Yarros.