Is Fourth Wing Appropriate for Teens? A Parent’s Content Guide

Jordan Bench
Apr 24
2 min read

We break down the content of Fourth Wing—language, violence, sexual content—so you can decide if it's right for your teen. Learn how Siftbooks offers a clean audiobook version.

Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing has taken the book world by storm. Dragons, romance, danger — what’s not to love? But for parents and younger readers, one big question keeps popping up:

Is Fourth Wing actually suitable for teens?

If you’re wondering whether this trending fantasy novel fits within your family’s content comfort zone, you’re not alone.

What Is Fourth Wing About?

Set in a high-stakes military training academy for dragon riders, Fourth Wing follows Violet Sorrengail — a reluctant cadet thrown into a brutal, elite world where failure means death. It’s packed with action, political intrigue, slow-burn romance, and yes… dragons.

It’s been compared to Hunger Games meets A Court of Thorns and Roses, and it’s especially popular among fans of romantasy and New Adult fiction.

Content Warnings & Mature Themes

While Fourth Wing is marketed as fantasy, it contains graphic and explicit content that caught many readers by surprise — especially those expecting a Young Adult (YA) vibe. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect:

Language: Frequent strong profanity, including the f-word and other adult language.
Violence: High. This is a brutal world with deadly training, on-page deaths, and graphic battle scenes.
Sexual Content: There are several open-door sex scenes, including one particularly steamy and widely discussed chapter (yes, that chapter).
Other Themes: PTSD, injury, betrayal, and intense romantic/sexual tension.

While some mature teens may be fine with it, parents should know this is more in line with an R-rated fantasy than a PG-13 adventure.

What Readers Are Saying

On TikTok and Reddit, fans have raved about the romance and action — but many also say they wish they’d had a heads-up.One Goodreads reviewer put it like this:

“Loved the dragons. Didn’t love reading graphic sex scenes on the train next to a 13-year-old.”

Others have asked for a “clean version” they could recommend to their kids or listen to without skipping around manually.

A Cleaner Way to Enjoy Fourth Wing

That’s where Siftbooks comes in.

Siftbooks is a filtered audiobook experience — like VidAngel, but for audiobooks.We help you enjoy the best parts of the story — dragons, battles, romance, character growth — without the explicit language, graphic violence, or sexual content.

So if you're looking for a version of Fourth Wing that fits your family’s preferences, you don’t have to miss out on the magic. You can listen on the go, uninterrupted, and still be part of the cultural moment everyone’s talking about.

🎧 Try the filtered version of Fourth Wing →

Final Verdict

Fourth Wing is thrilling, addictive, and well-written — but it’s not quite YA.If you or your teen want to experience it without the spice, there’s finally a solution.

Clean storytelling. No skipping required.That’s the Siftbooks way.