Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing was published in early 2023 by Red Tower Books, which is dedicated to primarily publishing fantasy books. Fourth Wing follows the main character and protagonist, Violet Sorrengail, a young woman who has spent most of her life yearning to lead a normal life on account of her disability (which is strikingly similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). Violet attends a war college run by her mother. There, she continued her studies to become a scribe. However, one day, her mother instructs her to become a dragon rider and learn how to fight in war, a prospect that isn't especially appealing to Violet. Even still, she takes her mother's instructions in stride and begins to throw herself into her studies, where she begins to excel (despite facing considerable difficulties). At school, she deals with disappointment, difficult students, the pressure of her mother's expectations, and difficulties related to romance. Still, she perseveres and comes out on top, changing for the better as a person.
Not only did Fourth Wing become a TikTok (primarily, BookTok) sensation, it earned very positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, which made it an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, a spot it remained for many weeks. Because of the success of Fourth Wing, Yarros was able to continue her series. A second novel, titled Iron Flame, was published in 2023. An additional novel in the series is forthcoming. In their review of Fourth Wing, Publisher's Weekly praised Yarros' novel, as well as her workbuilding and characterization, as well as the novel's "sexy aesthetic."
