BookTok’s other viral fantasy book for 2023 should be as big as Fourth Wing (and why it isn’t)

Fourth wing has become a worldwide success after gaining popularity on BookTok, but The platform saw another viral fantasy novel in 2023 – and it could have been just as successful as Rebecca Yarros’ series. TikTok has become the go-to place for book recommendations, especially for those looking for specific genres or tropes. Some books are enjoying a massive surge in interest thanks to the social media platform, and Fourth wing is undoubtedly one of the most popular titles on BookTok.

With its immersive world, steamy romance and twists, it’s no wonder The Empyrean The series is a huge hit in online book spaces, and those elements helped it move from BookTok into more casual reading spaces, putting Yarros’ story on nearly everyone’s radar. Another hyped BookTok book could have done something similar after 2023but unfortunately it did not follow the same trajectory as Fourth wing.

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The popularity of Divine Rivals on BookTok should have made it as big as Fourth Wing

Rebecca Ross’ fantasy novel had everything it needed for sustained success

Fourth wing is not the only fantasy novel that went viral on BookTok in 2023; Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross also received much praisewith many readers comparing the two at the time of their release. Of course, these comparisons probably resulted from the fact that Divine Rivals And Fourth wing came out within a month of each other. And both were fantasy stories with a strong focus on romance, which caused them to spread quickly among romantasy readers. Both books also had sequels that came out in late 2023, but only Fourth wing remained at the forefront of discussions until 2024.

Unfortunately, Divine Rivals’ Popularity was not as long-lasting as Fourth wing‘Sand the other book never quite achieved the same level of popularity. That’s a shame, because Ross’s novel had all the hallmarks of a successful romance novel. The prose is masterfully crafted, the central relationship is compelling, and the focus on wartime journalism makes it stand out. Divine Rivals should have become a phenomenon comparable to Fourth wing. It’s undoubtedly a BookTok book worth the hype, but there are a few reasons why the buzz around it has waned.

Why Divine Rivals never reached the heights of Fourth Wing

It ended quickly and the sequel was not rated as well

It is unfortunate that Divine Rivals does not have the same popularity as Fourth wing, but there are several reasons why this may be the case. Firstly, Divine Rivals is the first book in a fantasy duology that ended in 2023. In contrast, Fourth wing is the first part of a five-book series (via diversity). Needless to say, the hype surrounding Fourth wing is still under construction for future sequels like Onyx Storm. In the meantime, Divine RivalsThe story is overand there’s nothing left to look forward to. That means readers have moved on.

It does not help that Divine Rivals’ Continuation and conclusion, Unscrupulous vows, did not do justice to its predecessor. While Unscrupulous vows is certainly still worth reading – its average Goodreads rating of 4.03 can attest to that – many reviewers called it a step back from the first book. This probably contributed to it falling into the background on BookTok. It’s a shame, because Divine Rivals easily had the same potential as Fourth wing, but the latter has done a better job of maintaining interest through Iron Flame and the promise of future installments.

Source: Variety, Goodreads