⚠️ WARNING! This article may include spoilers ⚠️

Fourth Wing is a romantasy book written by Rebecca Yarros in 2023. It is the first book in the Empyrean series that is planned to be a total of five books.

So why am I using it as a reference?

Because it has taken over TikTok and has brought new readers into the Romance Fantasy genre at an extremely rapid rate.

So as not to give anything away, if you like romantasy books that include a school environment, trials, magic, and dragons, then this is a book you’ll probably want to read.

If you want my full synopsis, you can find Fourth Wing in my previous list of romantasy books you’ll want to read. That list also includes some of the book’s tropes and trigger warnings.

So, why is Fourth Wing growing in popularity?

An important disclaimer: I enjoyed Fourth Wing and think it is a great introduction to the romantasy genre.

The Genre

Romance fantasy is a very hot topic right now, both for people who love the genre and those who don’t. It’s a similar conversation to the ones we normally have when a book series gets popular.

While it’s unlikely that she wrote the book solely because the romantasy genre was growing, the popularity of a genre can greatly affect how popular a book becomes.

Sure, you have the trailblazers that bring a genre into the light but that definitely doesn’t happen to everyone.

I think this particular genre has made such an impact because it gives readers an easy introduction to fantasy with the appeal of following a romance story. Fantasy also gives the reader room to imagine beyond the confines of the normal world which is why some people read – to escape everyday life.

The Environment

Readers seem to love the dynamic of a school environment, especially one that is relatively hostile to the main character, Violet. It provides an additional challenge that she has to overcome.

The trials that Violet faces in that environment are really what help to carry us through the book and have us wondering what could possibly happen in the next four books.

Her relationships with other characters are also formed based on her environment so the impact of changes to that could also alter the dynamic between Violet and her friends (or enemies).

The Love Interest

Let’s be honest, what holds a book like Fourth Wing at the top of reading charts is a love interest that makes you swoon.

That’s what this book does very well (at least I think so).

You get a strong love interest with defined opinions and an aura that makes readers wish that he was available in real life.

I’m not going to spoil it by telling you more but creating a good love interest is essential in a romantasy book.

Here’s a funny video by dalecsander for those of you who think you want some of those fictional male love interests:

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The Tropes

This is, arguably, the biggest reason books in the romantasy genre become popular.

Readers often have preferences for certain tropes and may find themselves more likely to read books that feature that element.

For example, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and love triangles are just a few popular tropes that readers may seek out.

Rebecca Yarros does a great job of including tropes in her book and, in my opinion, made me want to keep reading to figure out what was going to happen.

. . .

There isn’t a formula for writing because every story is different, which is what makes reading fun. Consider this my take as to why so many people have enjoyed Fourth Wing specifically.

If you want to see some other books to read after finishing Fourth Wing, check out my list of 10 Romantasy Books To Read Now.