Fourth Wing is the first book in the New York Times bestselling Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros.
At the time of publishing this guide, this story was available on Kindle Unlimited.
Here’s more about the book, along with our free Dirty Dozen downloadable discussion question guide for your spicy book club.
Book description
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.
Fourth Wing book club discussion guide
**PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS DISCUSSION QUESTION GUIDE MIGHT INCLUDE SPOILERS**
We’ve provided the Dirty Dozen below; twelve spicy and intriguing questions to spark discussion and help you uncover the spine-tingling depths of the story.
The Dirty Dozen
Foreplay – Warm Up Questions
1. What’s the overall spice level? 1 (Not Spicy) – 10 (Spiciest Thing I’ve Ever Read)?
2. How does the spice level compare to the other books we’ve read together?
3. Alright, let’s settle this once and for all—do you prefer your fantasy men with anatomically ambitious proportions, or are you a realist who cringes at the logistics? Fantasy magic or real-world physics—what’s your spicy preference?
The Spicy Bits – Gettin’ Down and Dirty with the Plot
4. Dain’s overprotective vibes—swoon-worthy guardian angel or red flag factory? Does Violet need a bodyguard or a restraining order?
5. The Marked Ones’ secret meetup: Illegal doesn’t always mean wrong, and legal doesn’t always mean right. Where do you draw the line? Would you join the rebellion or snitch for extra credit?
6. “Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing.” Is hope a sneaky little thief stealing your focus, or is it the only thing keeping you from yeeting yourself off a cliff?
7. “The thought is too heavy to carry.” Have you ever had thoughts that felt too heavy to carry? What does that mean to you?
8. “She should have killed you in the field, but she is merciful. That’s not a flaw I possess.” Was Violet’s merciful act a fatal flaw or her secret strength?
9. If you had to steal something to survive, what’s your move? A weapon? Intel? Or just the hottest rider’s dignity?
10. Is friendship just a slow-motion breakup, or can some bonds outlast betrayal, apathy or just the test of time?
11. If you manifested a signet, would it be something cool (mind-reading, fire-wielding) or embarrassingly niche (always knowing when bread is perfectly toasted or lightning orgasms)?
Aftercare – Final Thoughts
12. Team Xaden or Team Dain? And no, ‘neither’ isn’t an option—this is a judgment-free zone (but also, we will judge).
Bonus: What questions do you have for the author? If you could dog-ear a page with a question for the author, what would it be?
Please feel free to use this post as a starting point for your spicy book club discussion questions and use the comments below to share your thoughts and insights about the book. You can also get a free downloadable copy of the discussion guide using the button below.
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