An upcoming fantasy novel by a previously unknown author has become Waterstones’ best-selling book title in history, after the first book in the series went viral on TikTok.
Out worldwide in October, Iron Flame is the follow-up to Colorado-based Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing, an epic romantic fantasy filled with heart-pounding scenes, sarcastic dragons, and a resilient heroine.
The book, which is the first in the planned Empyrean series, has become a huge hit on Tiktok, with nearly 200 million views on #fourthwing.
One reviewer described it as “brutal games, snarling dragons, sizzling sexual tension, a fantasy like you’ve never read before’
Set in a “war school”, the novel tells the story of Violet Sorrengail.
An upcoming fantasy novel by a previously unknown author has become Waterstones’ best-selling book title in history, after the first book in the series went viral on TikTok.
Out worldwide in October, Iron Flame is the follow-up to Colorado-based Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing, an epic romantic fantasy filled with heart-pounding scenes, sarcastic dragons, and a resilient heroine.
Violet was meant to become a scribe, but instead was forced into her school’s brutal ‘rider’s quadrant’, where students train to become dragon riders, or die trying.
Along the way, she meets fellow student Xaden, a tall, dark, and handsome “wing leader”; (the equivalent of a general) who has something against her due to dark and bloody stories between her families.
However, as the novel grows, Xaden and Violet’s relationship becomes increasingly strained, resulting in furniture-smashing sex scenes, and eventually, love.
The book ends on a huge cliffhanger, leaving many fans desperate for more.
Talking with him BookcaseGaby Lee, a genre fiction buyer at Waterstones, explained that Iron Flame had become the best-selling pre-order title in a single day on the Waterstones website.
The book ends on a huge cliffhanger, leaving many fans desperate for more. Surprisingly, the Fourth Wing is Yarros’s first foray into the fantasy genre, as he had previously only written romance novels.
Gaby Lee, genre fiction buyer at Waterstones, explained that Iron Flame (pictured) had become the best-selling pre-order title in a single day on the Waterstones website.
‘The Iron Flame announcement really hit the ground running; became our fastest-selling pre-order title in a single day on our website and our special edition sold out in just seven hours,” he said.
“Pre-orders for the standard edition have been going strong ever since.
“The excitement around the books is extraordinary, and word-of-mouth recommendation from passionate booksellers and customers on social media continues to secure Fourth Wing a regular spot on our hardcover book list.”
Surprisingly, the Fourth Wing is Yarros’s first foray into the fantasy genre, having previously only written romances.
Perhaps not a surprise, as reviews of the first novel are rave, often citing the steamy scenes as their favorite parts.
The author, a mother of six, describes herself as a “hopeless romantic who adores all things chocolate, coffee and paleo” as well as a “military wife of 20 years.” It was during her husband’s third deployment that she wrote her first book.
Averaging 4.7 stars across over 200,000 reviews on Goodreads and Xaden is praised by readers as the “best book boyfriend of all time.”
‘Easily the best book I’ve read this year and one of the best romance novels I’ve read in a long time. Books like this are the reason I fell in love with reading,” wrote one person.
“Romance is a slow burn and harrowing, enemies of lovers spiced up,” said another.
“I was totally in my feelings, swooning and melting and basically loved it. And if you like characters to be jealous, you’ll enjoy that trope here, too.
‘Xaden and Violet’s chemistry is off the charts.’
The author, a mother of six, describes herself as a “hopeless romantic who adores all things chocolate, coffee and paleo” as well as a “military wife of 20 years.”
It was during her husband’s third deployment that she wrote her first book.
Between taking care of six children, he managed to write more than 20 books.
“If I’m not writing or playing the guitar, I’m usually tying up hockey skates for our four sons or sneaking into John Hughes marathons with my two daughters,” he writes on his website.
‘We raised and adopted our youngest daughter from foster care and are passionate about helping others do the same through our non-profit organization, One October!
“We are always busy navigating the winding road of our daughter’s recent autism diagnosis, taking our kids to hockey, preparing for a deployment, and generally trying to stay sane. We’re die-hard Mets fans, but our hearts call Colorado home.’
