Fourth Wing (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]: The Empyrean 1

Rebecca Yarros

Dec 2023 · Empyrean Book 1 · Graphic Audio · Narrated by Full Cast, Jessica Lauren Ball, Laura C. Harris, Scott McCormick, Torian Brackett, Robb Moreira, Taylor Coan, Gabriel Michael, David Cui Cui, Khaya Fraites, Troy Allan, and LaMont Ridgell

About this audiobook

"Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from 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.
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
Performed by Khaya Fraites, Gabriel Michael, Torian Brackett, Taylor Coan, LaMont Ridgell, Robb Moreira, Laura C. Harris, David Cui Cui, Scott McCormick, Troy Allan, Jessica Lauren Ball, Lydia Kraniotis, Matthew Pauli, Henry W. Kramer, Alejandro Ruiz, Nazia Chaudhry, Amanda Forstrom, Marni Penning, Carolyn Kashner, Nora Achrati, Rayner Gabriel, Ryan Carlo Dalusung, Earl Fisher, Patrick Boylan, Christopher Graybill, Megan Hastie, Nanette Savard, James J. Johnson, Megan Poppy, Ryan Haugen, Sarah Ruth Thomas, Yenni Ann Godinez, Ken Jackson, Jonathan David Bullock, Nickolette Kong, Sam Intrater, Jillian Levine-Sisson, Tyler Hychuk, Wyn Delano, Mike Carnes, Danny Gavigan, Eric Messner, Kay Eluvian, James Konicek, Christopher Walker, Terence Aselford, Steve Wannall and Yasmin Tuazon."

Ratings and reviews

The story is always 5 stars. Casting on GA is absolutely off. Tairn is a 100+ year old dragon. Tairn is NOT Ken from the Midwest who just did you a solid and jumped your car battery when it died in the Aldi parking lot. Tairn is the gruff, grumpy uncle who supports you and insults you at the same time. You're never sure if he really likes you, but he leaves you everything when he dies. Kaori and Tairn need to switch voice actors.

Good book. It has definite character growth and plenty of secrets to keep you wanting to listen to more. Some things seem to be missing, but may be explained in the next book. As for the voice actors, I think they were all great. Gabriel Michael is amazing as Xaden. However, Laura Harris (as Mira) sounded very "AI" to me at the beginning.

The plot started slow and overdramatic to my taste. Found the foul language and gratituitous sex with little significance and importance distracting from the storyline. Given the publicity hype and reviews, I expected more character development and deeper story development. The audio drama keeps my interest and made it more interesting.