Rebecca Yarros's runaway hit , including , , and , has millions of readers and listeners jumping aboard the romantasy train. One of the major reasons fans can't get enough of the series? Dragon-riding heartthrob Xaden Riorson. Xaden is tall, handsome, tough as nails, extremely loyal, and has a mysterious, dark past. It's a perfect recipe for a swoon-worthy love interest. Whether you're a devoted admirer of Xaden or new to the Empyrean series, we've got everything you need to know about everyone's favorite dragon-riding bad boy.
Warning: This character guide contains spoilers for the books Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm.
Who is Xaden Riorson?
Xaden Riorson is the fierce enemy-turned-lover of protagonist Violet Sorrengail in the Empyrean series. He is two years ahead of Violet in training as a dragon rider at Basgiath War College. Whereas Violet comes from a powerful military family in Navarre, Xaden grew up as the future heir of the province of Tyrrendor—until his father, Fen Riorson, was killed for leading the Tyrrish Rebellion when Xaden was 16. As the oldest of the 108 children orphaned by the failed rebellion, Xaden made a deal with Violet's mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, to be held accountable for the other 107, and in exchange, the children were allowed to live and compete to become dragon riders. This tension between Xaden and Lilith sets the stage for his clash with Violet when she starts at Basgiath, with Xaden having publicly sworn to kill Violet himself. This quickly becomes impossible as Xaden and Violet develop an unbreakable connection, strengthened by the fact that their dragons are mates.
When it comes to Xaden's appearance, Violet spends plenty of time throughout the books contemplating how devastatingly handsome he is. Xaden is described as well over six feet tall, impressively muscled and broad-shouldered, with tousled black hair, dark eyebrows, and tawny-brown skin. His eyes are onyx with flecks of gold. As a fierce fighter with a complicated past, Xaden's body shows the scars of where he's been. The dragon relic of Sgaeyl covers his back, along with 107 scars for the other children of the Rebellion he agreed to take responsibility for. A dark rebellion relic curls around his left arm, from his wrist to his neck. He has many scars from past clashes and punishments, including a slash across his left eyebrow from his dragon Sgaeyl.
A former aristocrat-turned-orphaned social outcast, Xaden is emotionally closed off and eager to avenge his father's death at the start of the series. However, he's also strong, perceptive, and determined, as evidenced by the fact that he's fought against all the negative perceptions of his background to become a respected Wingleader at Basgiath. As Violet grows closer to Xaden, she realizes he's deeply loyal, protective, and compassionate.
