The series by has taken the world by storm, blending deadly magic, high-stakes rebellion, fierce dragons, and unforgettable romance into one of the most talked-about fantasy series in years. With more than 12 million copies sold worldwide, the story of Violet Sorrengail has captured the hearts of fans across the globe. Three of the five planned books (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm) are out now, with even more to come—including a graphic novel adaptation, which Yarros has been teasing online.
This full series explainer covers everything you need to know so far, including major spoilers for all three books.
If you’re ready to dive into Violet’s world of loyalty, love, survival, and rebellion, grab your flight leathers—this is a good one.
When Violet Sorrengail is forced into the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College, she knows survival isn’t guaranteed. Born with a chronic illness that leaves her physically weaker than most cadets, Violet had planned to live quietly among the Scribes—until her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, orders otherwise.
Navarre, the militarized kingdom where Violet lives, has been protected for centuries by magical wards—ancient barriers created to shield its people from outside enemies. For generations, Navarre’s leadership has maintained that their greatest threat comes from beyond its borders, especially from the nearby kingdom of Poromiel. Every rider, soldier, and scribe is trained to believe that the fight beyond the wards is constant, necessary, and justified.
As Violet faces the deadly world of Basgiath, she is advised by her older sister, Mira, to trust Dain Aetos, Violet’s childhood friend, and avoid Xaden Riorson, the dangerous and charismatic son of a dead rebel leader. Training as a rider is brutal. Cadets must survive treacherous physical trials, bond with a dragon willing to choose them, and eventually develop a signet—an individualized magical ability tied to their dragon bond. On top of that, they undergo intense hand-to-hand combat training and tactical war education, all designed to weed out the weak.
Violet is targeted by brutal cadets like Jack Barlowe, but she relies on her intelligence and quick reflexes to stay alive. As she navigates training, she discovers Xaden is leading secret meetings of the Marked Ones—the children of executed rebels. Caught between loyalty to her upbringing and the truth she’s starting to see, Violet promises not to betray them.
During Threshing, when dragons choose their riders, Violet, surprisingly, bonds with two: Andarna, a rare golden feathertail, and Tairn, a powerful black dragon. Because Tairn is mated to Xaden’s dragon, Sgaeyl, Violet and Xaden are telepathically linked and their lives now depend on each other. Violet’s initial connection with Dain falters when she realizes he doesn’t believe in her strength and keeps trying to control her choices. Their emotional distance widens, while Violet begins to see Xaden not as an enemy but as an ally—and something more. Xaden’s signet, the ability to wield and manipulate shadows, makes him even more dangerous and powerful than Violet first realized.“I will not die today,” Violet often promises herself—and she doesn’t.She survives brutal challenges, discovers her lightning-wielding signet, and grows closer to Xaden, both emotionally and physically. Violet also begins to form close friendships with her squad-mates: Rhiannon, Ridoc, and Sawyer, as well as Liam, who is asked by Xaden to watch over Violet. She initially hates the idea, but eventually confides in Liam. At the end of their first year, Dain’s secret ability—retrocognition—comes to light. Every time he touched Violet’s face, he was reading her memories without consent. After he sees evidence of Xaden’s ties to the rebellion, he reports her squad. During War Games, Violet and Xaden are sent beyond Navarre’s magical wards to Athebyne—a trap designed to kill them. There, Violet discovers that Navarre’s supposed enemy, Poromiel, is under attack from the venin: magical creatures, once thought to be myth, who drain the land’s power for strength. Fighting alongside Poromiel’s gryphon fliers, Violet’s squad survives, but not without loss. Liam, one of Xaden and Violet’s closest confidants, dies protecting her, breaking Violet’s heart and leaving her with a new promise: to protect Liam’s younger sister, Sloane. Poisoned and near death herself, Violet is flown to Xaden’s home, Riorson House, in Aretia—headquarters of the rebellion—and awakens to an impossible truth: Her brother Brennan, long believed dead, is alive and working with the rebels. “Welcome to the revolution, Violet,” Brennan says, in the very last line of the book.Everything Violet thought she knew crumbles. The leaders of Navarre have been lying to their people for generations; the true threat isn’t Poromiel but the venin who have been attacking Poromiel unchecked, while Navarre refuses to intervene. Violet chooses to fight for the truth, even if it means questioning everything—especially her heart.
