In a reading slump or need something new?

I’ve decided to submit a different book review every Sunday. There are people out there who are in a reading rut (been there) or just looking for new and different read so here I am supplying my own very unprofessional opinion.

At any given time I am somewhere in the middle of 3 or so books. (Hi, my name is Melanie and I have a problem). The first is in the form of a library book or other “hold in my hand and turn the pages” type of book. The 2nd is on my Kindle–a must for vacations so you can take a library with you – You can find one here!

This brings me to me 3rd book I am reading, or in this case listening to. I listen to my books with an Audible subscription (you can get a free 3-month trial using the link I provided). I had never listened to a book before, but it is a game changer. I am a bit too much of a busy body so I feel guilty if I’m just sitting and reading. It’s hard to ignore all of the things I need to get done. Laundry, dishes, cooking, prepping for the next week. Well, insert audible and I can do both it’s a crazy world we live in.

This week I am going to talk about:

Description from Amazon:

A #1 New York Times bestseller • TV series in development at MGM Amazon Studios with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society • Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 • Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 • Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 • NPR “Books We Love” 2023 • Audible Best Books of 2023 • Hudson Book of the Year • Google Play Best Books of 2023 • Indigo Best Books of 2023 • Waterstones Book of the Year finalist • Goodreads Choice Award Winner • Newsweek Staffers’ Favorite Books of 2023 • Paste Magazine’s Best Books of 2023

“Suspenseful, sexy, and with incredibly entertaining storytelling, the first in Yarros’ Empyrean series will delight fans of romantic, adventure-filled fantasy.” —Booklist, starred review

“Fourth Wing will have your heart pounding from beginning to end… A fantasy like you’ve never read before.” ―#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout


Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

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.

The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Fourth Wing
Book #2 Iron Flame

This brings me to my review. I am generally not a fantasy book reader so they need to hook me very quickly and be very good books. Yarros does not disappoint in this regard. This book had me staying up way past the “time to go to bed notification”. It is very hard to put down. The characters you will love or grow to love throughout this book. It had it all, a villain (or a few), a heroine that you will root for from page one.

If you are interested in this genre of books, you will not be disappointed. This is also included to read for free with Kindle Unlimited. Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service through the Amazon platform that contains millions of titles that you can borrow. Follow this link and you can get a 30 day free trial–here

If you have never read a fantasy book I would add this to your list and give it a chance, you will not be disappointed.