Fourth Wing: Chapter Summary and Spoilers (Chapters 27-31)

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Chapter Summary & Spoilers (Chapters 27-31)

The Bite-Sized Version

Well, friends, there is never a dull moment in the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College. Violet finally manifests her incredible signet power by blasting Jack Barlowe off a mountain during War Games, saving her friend Liam and unleashing a once-in-a-century lightning ability that leaves everyone stunned. Her first kill triggers an emotional breakdown, with her large black dragon Tairn protectively covering her and her complicated love interests Xaden Riorson and Dain Aetos offering contrasting comfort – Dain suggesting she’ll never need to use her power again, while Xaden enthusiastically celebrates her taking out “the trash”.

The romantic tension explodes in a steamy encounter that quite literally sets the room on fire, with Xaden and Violet’s signet power creating deliciously destructive chemistry. In the aftermath, it’s revealed that Xaden’s father and the rebellion are the reason for his 107 scars on his back, adding depth to his brooding persona, while establishing a “what happens in these walls, stays in these walls” agreement. Their connection deepens through telepathic flirtations and intense training sessions, with Xaden helping Violet control her lightning powers through some *very* vivid mental encouragement.

Political drama unfolds during Reunification Day, where marked rebellion riders are treated like social pariahs and tensions simmer beneath the surface of the polite society in the Kingdom of Navarre. Violet finds a mysterious hidden note from her deceased father warning about the dangers of power, hinting at deeper secrets in the kingdom. Amidst the political posturing and sidelong glances from powerful figures like King Tauri and Violet’s mother, she finally admits her feelings for Xaden, having her rom-com moment as she heads to find her brooding shadow-wielding love interest on the parapet, ready to embrace their complicated connection.

The Bit-Sized Version

CHAPTER 27

This bit is basically an eggplant emoji measuring contest during a real-world battle simulation between Xaden, Dain, and Violet’s older sister Mira over Violet. The love triangle + guest star Mira provide endless entertainment for the squad and endless cringe for Violet, but the drama skyrockets to level 100 as a sudden attack hits the outpost. Gonna need some extra butter for our popcorn, please.

• Dain’s squad is at Montserrat going through battle training, and Mira’s running this simulation that reads like The Sims: Dragon Tales where the Sim riders and their dragons are taking back a captured keep without hurting the Sim civilians.
• Violet’s having trouble concentrating while Xaden’s nearby, so obviously Xaden sits right next to her for the exercise. As Violet gives him her daily reminder to not be rude, Xaden reveals he can also speak to her telepathically through their dragon bond. How does he use this newfound method of communication? To flirt with her like a schoolboy on the playground.
• While Xaden’s enjoying his silent one-way banter, Violet’s obviously losing it, Dain’s obviously losing it, and Mira hasn’t figured out what to lose it over yet. She figures it out after Dain and Xaden argues about why Xaden’s even present in Montserrat and gets the group back on task.
• Dain gets the title he’s been so desperate for and gets promoted from Squad Leader to Wing Leader for the exercise. He assigns everyone roles and conveniently ignores Xaden’s Sim, probably because it’s too attractive. Violet notes that they have a powerful shadow daddy in their midst and Dain’s like, “What are those lil ole shadows going to do” and Xaden’s like, “Siri, blackout this whole room.” He reassures Violet with a shadow stroke to the cheek (swoon) as he pulls his shadows back, looking like he’s bored.
• They wrap up the fake operation and Mira goes school teacher on Violet, Xaden, and Dain, asking them to stay after class. She hands it to each of them one by one, starting with Dain, telling him he’s absolutely blowing his second year letting his personal feelings get in the way of his leadership skills. Moving onto Xaden, she’s like, “I stg if you mess with my sister’s training” and Violet obviously jumps in to defend him. Mira’s then like, “his shadows might be dreamy (right), but he wants to kill you (maybe right).” 
• Xaden cuts through the sister drama with a “I’m right here” and as Mira tries to continue her argument about him ruining Violet’s potential, he reminds her that he’s, in fact, the one who left his training and post to go to Violet (right). 
• The episode of Days of Our Lives ends with a sudden gryphon attack on the outpost, and the wards are down. Violet’s like, “I’m not leaving my sister”, Mira’s like, “Riorson, take my sister away”, and he listens to what she’s saying for the first time that day.
• Violet’s going out kicking and screaming, so SD does what he does best and distracts her with an intense kiss that has the training wheels removed. Violet realizes what he’s done as Tairn swoops in for the most dramatic exit ever. She then promises to hate Xaden forever. HA! We laugh.

CHAPTER 28

This bit opens with Violet finding out her sister survived (phew!) Then they jump straight into War Games where Xaden gifts her a custom saddle (swoon!) right before everything goes sideways. Jack Barlowe turns practice into attempted murder by stabbing Liam, but after Violet and Tairn pull off an epic mid-air rescue, she FINALLY manifests her power – summoning lightning strikes to blast Jack right off the mountain! And somehow through all this drama, Xaden’s still finding time to flirt through their mental connection like the battlefield isn’t literally on fire.

• We start with Violet camping outside Professor Markham’s office, DYING to know if her sister Mira survived that whole gryphon attack drama. (Spoiler: She did!)
• Then a very quick turnaround time to SURPRISE time for War Games! It’s Fourth Wing vs. First Wing in capture-the-flag but make it DRAGONS. We love the RIders Quadrant. Fourth Wing needs to both steal a crystal egg AND protect their own flag because why make anything simple, this is just practice right?
• Before they start, Xaden proves he’s not just a pretty face by gifting Violet a custom saddle to stay on Tairn while riding! He literally got burned trying to get it on Tairn, who was basically like “touch me again and find out,” but insisted on making sure our girl could ride without fear of falling. And can we talk about how he casually drops “next time we kiss” in conversation? Sir, this is War Games, please stop distracting us!!
• But then Jack “I’m The Worst” Barlowe decides to turn friendly War Games into actual attempted murder by STABBING LIAM and yeeting him off his dragon?! NOT TODAY SATAN.
• Cue the most epic rescue sequence ever as Tairn and Violet dive to catch falling Liam while Andarna’s just chilling in Tairn’s claw like “This is fine, I’ll just slow down time”. Our anxiety was THROUGH THE ROOF!
• Well, remember how Violet’s been waiting for her signet power to manifest? Honey, she picked a MOMENT. Girl straight up summons LIGHTNING strikes from the sky to blast Jack and the whole tower he is standing on into next week. The mountain literally avalanches him into oblivion. Karma’s a dragon, baby!
• Meanwhile, tiny queen golden dragon Andarna is out here proving size doesn’t matter, working it like a pro with Tairn during all this chaos.
• And can we talk about Violet and Xaden’s mental chats? The TENSION. The FLIRTING. The way he keeps looking at her mouth like he’s forgotten other people exist? My panties can’t even.

Chapter 29

This bit follows the Roast of Jack Barlowe by newly minted lightning goddess Violet. Instead of being excited about her signet power finally showing up to the party, she can’t get over the fact that she just killed someone for the first time (she still has a little bit of the Scribe Quadrant in there). We suppose this is a reasonable reaction. Don’t fret, our mans Xaden is here with various methods of comfort. 

• Violet lands on the flight field and immediately finds out that she saved our golden retriever Liam (WHEW), but killed enemy #1 Jack Barlowe (WHEW).
• She’s not as relieved about this character exit as we are, and has a menty b over her first kill. As she’s losing her lunch, Tairn covers her with his wings for privacy. Good curmudgeon. 
• Her privacy doesn’t last long as tweedle-dee and tweedle-sexy show up to comfort her. Dain and Xaden take on a good cop, bad cop routine and Dain’s all, “there, there, you never have to zap anyone again” and Xaden’s like, “EMBRACE THE POWER! Also thanks for taking out the trash (Jack).”
• The tea is finally poured on her fellow cadets and teachers’ cool powers too – Rhiannon’s got that space-bending magic, Dain’s seeing the past, Professor Kaori’s imagination comes to life (um), Sawyer’s going full Magneto, and Mira’s strengthening magical barriers.
• Oh, and there’s this whole mysterious time-bending dragon secret that Violet’s keeping under wraps. Rhiannon’s like “How did you move so fast?” and Violet’s just nervous laughter “Tairn’s just speedy!” Ok!
• Turns out, lady-Thor’s lightning powers are incredibly rare too – we’re talking once-in-a-century kind of special. Violet’s processing this in her room, throwing daggers like a boss while having an existential crisis. As you do.
• Apparently this identity crisis is stemming from Violet wanting healing powers like her brother Brennan. We hate to break it to you: it don’t work like that.
• Enter Xaden, finding Violet in her dressing gown for this target practice (100% one of his fantasies). He admits he can’t stay away from her (cute) while they have this intense heart-to-heart about how Violet has a right to be upset about her murder and it’s okay that she’s not okay with it because half of her heart belongs to the Scribe Quadrant. 
• The sexual tension finally breaks as Xaden’s like, “You can take it out on me. I can handle it.” Oh, we bet you can. She takes the hint, thank god, and gets up on her tippy toes to deliver a passionate kiss. Welcome to the SHOW, folks!

Chapter 30

This bit will have you clutching your pearls darlings. Violet and Xaden’s tension FINALLY explodes into a scorching encounter that literally sets the room on fire. The post-encounter brings Xaden revealing his 107 scars from saving rebellion children – and a “what happens in these walls, stays in these walls” agreement. When Professor Carr takes her to train her lightning powers the next morning, Xaden’s detailed mental replay of their night together proves to be quite the motivational tool, even as warnings about their combined signet power being too dangerous and possible burnout for Violet add a delicious forbidden element to their budding romance.

• The tension between Violet and Xaden finally erupts in the steamiest scene imaginable. We’re talking Xaden pinning Violet against the door, his expert touch driving her wild as he worships every inch of her, hands pinned above her head, and when Xaden tells her to “let go,” WHEW. Their lightning and shadows unexpectedly surge leaving a trail of destruction: one shattered armoire, charred curtains, and a poor innocent throwing target obliterated. Turns out our commanding officer has some very talented hands. And the way he takes care of her throughout, making sure she’s okay while still maintaining that delicious dominant energy? Get me a cold shower, it just got hot in here!
• Post-steaminess, they share this incredibly intimate moment where Violet discovers the truth about Xaden’s scars. Xaden reveals he’s got 107 scars from a brutal deal he made to save the kids of the rebellion. If any of them betrays the kingdom, he has to pay. The vulnerability just adds another layer of HEAT to their dynamic. You then kind of get disappointed when they go classic: “What happens in these walls, stays in these walls.” 
• But the next morning Xaden proves he’s got a romantic streak by leaving a vase of violets on her nightstand. Who knew our brooding commander had such game?
• Professor Carr crashes the morning-after vibes to be like “Yeah, no more library duty for you, lightning girl. We like our books not crispy.” Fair point, tbh, and then drags her to a remote mountain for some lightning training.
• Carr drops some hot goss during Violet’s training about Basgiath and basically warns that Violet and Xaden together are too hot to handle (LITERALLY). He also alludes to mind-readers (inntinnsics) being sentenced to death for security reasons, though Dain is an exception because his power requires touch and the oldies have deemed him “controllable.” We’re sure Colonel Aetos had nothing to do with this.
• The chapter ends when training gets SPICY and Xaden helps Violet tap into her lightning powers by sharing some… well vivid memories of their night together. Even with the hot encouragement, her aim is still off and we learn that wielding this much power risks burning her out if she can’t control it properly. So if she wants to be of any help, she’s going to need to get that under control ASAP. 

Chapter 31

This bit serves drama with a side of tension. We get Xaden and Violet wasting no time after their earth-shattering hookup, having THE TALK™️ (not to be confused with The Talk™️). It of course is clear as mud, and they spend the rest of the chapter not being able to figure out wHaT thEy ArE. We also get a dose of the Kingdom of Navarre’s political dynamics during Reunification Day. Unsurprisingly, the side eye is reserved for the marked ones. 

• So Xaden shows up to help clean Violet’s destroyed room, and they talk about whatever their relationship is. Spoiler: Xaden’s still playing emotional keepaway while also managing to keep it sexy by telling Violet about how he’s thinking about how to push himself to his physical brink to be whatever she needs. Color us shadow tickled.
• Violet finds a hidden note from her dead dad in one of her favorite books, a book of old fables he gave her when she was younger. The note basically says folklore preserves history and warns about the dangers of power. Oh, so this kingdom has SECRETS. Violet ignores her Scribe Quadrant chops and focuses on her boy drama instead of investigating.
• During Battle Brief, our situationship get into a telepathic argument because Violet’s stressing about Xaden graduating (literally, same), while he’s trying to keep things professional (it’s not working). They then basically spend days doing the whole “my mind’s tellin’ me no, but my body…” Like, just kiss already! (Again!)
• Everyone’s getting fancy for this big Reunification Day party, and sweet Liam’s like “Yeah, I’ll attend this celebration of my parents’ defeat because I’m just that good of a friend.” Turns out, Xaden didn’t even ask him to go, he just went to the horrible excuse for a party to make sure Violet was safe. Give this man a medal. 
• The power squad shows up – King Tauri, General Creepy Melgren, and Violet’s mother. They’re all “So about that Xaden Riorson boy…” and, “about those lightning powers…”
• The politics are MESSY. Everyone’s looking at people with rebellion marks like they’re lepers, and we get a bitter taste of the divide in this society. Not here for it. The marked riders are also not here for it, and skipped the party all together.
• The chapter is saved as Violet finally admits that she belongs with Xaden and has her rom-com “I gotta go see about an extremely hot shadow wielding guy” moment as Violet heads to the parapet to find him. It’s Conscription Day all over again!