🎧
If you've spent even five minutes on BookTok in the last couple of years, you've seen someone screaming about Fourth Wing. Dragons, war colleges, morally grey love interests, a heroine who's supposed to be "too fragile" for the job — it's the kind of premise that either makes you roll your eyes or immediately open the Audible app. I did the latter, and after finishing all 20 hours and 47 minutes of it, here's my honest take on whether the audiobook version is the way to go.
Fourth Wing is Rebecca Yarros's first book in The Empyrean series, published in May 2023 by Recorded Books. The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a twenty-year-old who expected a quiet life in the Scribe Quadrant surrounded by books and archives. Instead, her mother — the terrifyingly named "commanding general" of Navarre — forces her into the brutal Basgiath War College to train as a dragon rider, a job that kills the weak far more often than it graduates them. Dragons don't bond with humans they see as fragile. They incinerate them.
What follows is equal parts military academy grind, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance, all wrapped around one of the more physically demanding heroines in recent fantasy — Violet has a chronic joint condition and has to out-think opponents who can out-muscle her at every turn.
The standard Audible edition is narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton, splitting duties across the dual points of view. Soler carries Violet's chapters and, for most listeners, she's the standout — she nails the character's dry sarcasm and the vulnerability underneath it without tipping into melodrama. Reception hasn't been universal (a small number of listeners find her voice grating), but the overwhelming consensus among audiobook communities is that she's one of the stronger narrators currently working in the romantasy space.
Worth noting: there's also a full-cast Graphic Audio dramatized adaptation, split into two parts (roughly 7h52m and 9h22m), with sound effects and a full ensemble voicing every character. It's a genuinely different listening experience — more like an audio drama than a traditional narration — and it's worth considering if you want something more immersive, though it trims some scenes compared to the full novel.
Fourth Wing is a genuinely great pick for audio, mostly because Soler and Hamilton's chemistry does a lot of heavy lifting in the romance scenes, and the training-ground and battle sequences land harder with pacing and tone than they might on the page. That said, at nearly 21 hours, it's a real commitment — plan for a week or two of daily commutes, or a couple of long weekend binges.
Heads up: this one is intended for mature audiences. There's sexual content, alcohol use, and fairly graphic violence throughout, so it's not a pick for younger listeners or anyone wanting a lighter fantasy read.
Cons
If you're even a little curious about the romantasy wave, Fourth Wing earns its reputation, and the audiobook is arguably the better format thanks to the narration quality. It's not a perfect book — the tropes are tropes for a reason — but it's genuinely hard to stop listening once Violet steps onto the parapet.
Is Fourth Wing available as an audiobook?
It is. Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing has a full audiobook edition, and it's become one of the more popular ways to experience this fantasy romance — the narration adds a layer of drama that a lot of romantasy fans really respond to.
Who narrates the Fourth Wing audiobook?
Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton split narration duties. Having two voices work in the book's favor here — it makes it easier to tell whose head you're in during the romance, the action, and the emotional gut-punch moments.
How long is the Fourth Wing audiobook? Roughly 20 hours, give or take depending on which edition or platform you're listening on. That's a serious commitment, but if you're after something to really sink into over a few long drives or a week of commutes, it delivers.
Is Fourth Wing a good audiobook?
For the right listener, yes. If dragons, high-stakes academy drama, and slow-burn romance are your thing, the narration only adds to it — the performances give the characters a lot more personality than you'd get just reading silently.
What is Fourth Wing about?
It follows Violet Sorrengail, who gets thrown into Basgiath War College and has to fight — literally — for a spot among dragon riders. Between deadly trials, dangerous rivals, actual dragons, and political conspiracies, she also ends up in a complicated, tension-filled relationship with Xaden Riorson.
Is Fourth Wing a fantasy romance audiobook?
Yes — it sits right at the intersection of fantasy and romance, which is exactly why people call it "romantasy." You get dragons and magic and a brutal academy setting, plus a romance arc running through the middle of it all.
Does the Fourth Wing audiobook have romance?
Definitely, and it's a big part of what people love about the book. Violet and Xaden's relationship builds slowly alongside the action, with a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic and plenty of tension along the way.
Is Fourth Wing the first book in the series?
It is — this is book one of Rebecca Yarros' The Empyrean series, with Iron Flame picking up right after it.
Is Fourth Wing suitable for teenagers?
Worth knowing upfront: this is marketed as adult romantasy, and it doesn't hold back — there's violence, sexual content, and strong language throughout. If mature content is something you'd rather avoid, it's worth checking the content warnings first.
Is the Fourth Wing audiobook worth listening to?
If dragons, romantasy, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a magical academy setting sound like your kind of story, then yes — it's worth the time. The dual narration especially helps keep a 20-hour listen feeling engaging rather than exhausting.
Should I listen to Fourth Wing before Iron Flame?
You should. As the first book in the series, it lays the groundwork — the world, the characters, the relationships — that Iron Flame builds directly on. Skipping ahead would mean missing a lot of context.
How can I listen to Fourth Wing audiobook free?
You may be able to listen to Fourth Wing for free with an Audiobooks.com free trial. Current promotions may include multiple free audiobook credits, subject to availability and terms.
