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adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve been looking for a good fantasy read with a romantic sub-plot, and unfortunately Fourth Wing didn’t meet the mark. It’s a pity because there’s some really interesting premises and settings; teens split into different factions in order to serve a wider purpose, dragons, some interesting, though juvenile, world-building. It’s very reminiscent of the Divergent series in some ways.
My gripes are plenty. Violet feels incredibly childish that can detract from the storyline. I can understand if this is deliberate with a young FMC, but she’s supposed to be late-teens/early twenties. Similarly, there was a lot of focus on her stature and frailty, which I understand comes from an Ehlers Danlos Syndrome representation, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me in terms of balancing the representational aspect with the whiny, woe-is-me undertones. There was also a lot of “ooo he’s so hot” that oftentimes felt cringe and overused—like I get you feel he’s the most perfect specimen to ever walk, but it falls more into the lustful enemies to lovers. And don’t get me started on the smut; wholly gratuitous and unnecessary, in my opinion.
Overall, while the premise was interesting, I felt that it was poorly executed. I’ll probably try to read the subsequent books as I am intrigued by the fantasy elements over the romance.
My gripes are plenty. Violet feels incredibly childish that can detract from the storyline. I can understand if this is deliberate with a young FMC, but she’s supposed to be late-teens/early twenties. Similarly, there was a lot of focus on her stature and frailty, which I understand comes from an Ehlers Danlos Syndrome representation, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me in terms of balancing the representational aspect with the whiny, woe-is-me undertones. There was also a lot of “ooo he’s so hot” that oftentimes felt cringe and overused—like I get you feel he’s the most perfect specimen to ever walk, but it falls more into the lustful enemies to lovers. And don’t get me started on the smut; wholly gratuitous and unnecessary, in my opinion.
Overall, while the premise was interesting, I felt that it was poorly executed. I’ll probably try to read the subsequent books as I am intrigued by the fantasy elements over the romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Murder, Toxic friendship, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Yarros says ride or die, she means it. Just anticipate death at every page turn.
In all seriousness though, the stakes of the novel made for a very thrilling, if anxious, read. I love reading about booksmart characters, so Violet was great, and I enjoyed watched her overcome the challenges of being placed in such a difficult physical environment. Xaden was an excellent MMC, creating so much tension while just existing but also using every opportunity to teach Violet (or Violence, as he calls her, which I LOVE).
The only things keeping it from being a five-star read for me were that the very modern vernacular/speech cadence was a bit jarring (because it was unexpected), and maybe it's because I read a lot of romantasy or am a writer myself, but a lot of the story seemed somewhat predictable too. There were very few jaw-dropping surprises (but plenty of jaw-dropping laughs).
(Also, it will never cease to amaze me how contrived it is that these fantasy realms don't have the technology to create guns and cars and such, but they sure can create foolproof "fertility suppressants" so the characters have an excuse to continuously bang.)
All that said, I tore through the book and really enjoyed it. I'm curious where book two is going to go...but afraid of a major paradigm shift in how the plot rolls out.
In all seriousness though, the stakes of the novel made for a very thrilling, if anxious, read. I love reading about booksmart characters, so Violet was great, and I enjoyed watched her overcome the challenges of being placed in such a difficult physical environment. Xaden was an excellent MMC, creating so much tension while just existing but also using every opportunity to teach Violet (or Violence, as he calls her, which I LOVE).
The only things keeping it from being a five-star read for me were that the very modern vernacular/speech cadence was a bit jarring (because it was unexpected), and maybe it's because I read a lot of romantasy or am a writer myself, but a lot of the story seemed somewhat predictable too. There were very few jaw-dropping surprises (but plenty of jaw-dropping laughs).
(Also, it will never cease to amaze me how contrived it is that these fantasy realms don't have the technology to create guns and cars and such, but they sure can create foolproof "fertility suppressants" so the characters have an excuse to continuously bang.)
All that said, I tore through the book and really enjoyed it. I'm curious where book two is going to go...but afraid of a major paradigm shift in how the plot rolls out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn't believe the hype. But now I get the hype. Can't believe it took me this long to read it and now I can't wait to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I dont generally read fantasy books but decided to give it a shot because of how popular it is. Kind of reminded me of Divergent but with magic and dragons. In general the writing is not great but it was still enjoyable because its easy to follow with a single braincell without missing anything. I personally found the end of the book the best part of the plot even though some said it was too predictable.
I will say the dramatized version of the audio book was a bit much and all the constant lust and hornyness got pretty annoying towards the end.
Im not in a rush to read/listen to the 2nd book but probably will at some point because do feel pretty invested in the story at this point.
I will say the dramatized version of the audio book was a bit much and all the constant lust and hornyness got pretty annoying towards the end.
Im not in a rush to read/listen to the 2nd book but probably will at some point because do feel pretty invested in the story at this point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War
My poor body couldn't take it anymore. I felt like I would cave in on myself if I read anymore cringy lines.
Also someone I worked with had read the book before me and when I told him where I was up to, he proceeded to tell me that the dragons had sex and that just put me off it even more
Also someone I worked with had read the book before me and when I told him where I was up to, he proceeded to tell me that the dragons had sex and that just put me off it even more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Blood, Death of parent
Like any fantasy/dystopian novel. Main hero is all special and there is betrayal, cover ups and love. Enemies to lovers. Pretty ok but not worth continuing the series. Some of the world building felt stretched (like the dragons bonds)
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ich habe ehrlich gesagt nicht viel erwartet und nur des Hypes wegen reingelesen, um mir meine eigene Meinung zu bilden. Nachdem ich öfters gelesen habe, wie das Buch runtergemacht wurde, muss ich tatsächlich sagen, dass ich stellenweise positiv überrascht war (z. B. angesichts von casual queerness, consent oder der Darstellung von chronischer Krankheit). Die Geschichte ist zwar sehr tropelastig und vorhersehbar, hat aber dennoch etwas an sich, das mich neugierig gemacht hat und dafür gesorgt hat, dass ich weiterlesen wollte – und das, obwohl ich das Worldbuilding gerade zu Beginn ziemlich unglaubwürdig fand. Dass immer wieder betont wurde, wie allgegenwärtig der Tod ist, erschien mir mehr als Mittel der Wahl um edgy zu wirken, denn ich hatte nie wirklich das Gefühl, dass es echte High Stakes sind (und selbst wenn ist der Grund dafür bestenfalls fadenscheinig), zumal die allermeisten Figuren, die dran glauben mussten, mir egal waren. Ausnahme: Liam. Er hat Besseres verdient!
Der größte Abturner waren für mich die Sexszenen sowie die allgegenwärtige Sexlust. Ich kann damit als demi/ace Person allgemein wenig anfangen, wenn es keine gute Chemie der Figuren gibt, und in diesem Fall fand ich auch die Wortwahl schlicht unbeholfen, ständig gab es leckende Zungen und immer dieselbe Gefühlsgewalt nur in leicht anderem Wortlaut.
Xaden hatte ich mir schlimmer – und toxischer – vorgestellt, da war ich ganz überrascht, dass er eine sanftere Seite zeigen durfte. Dafür finde ich es schade, wie einseitig Dain geschrieben ist. Er wird leider schnell als der "Böse" dargestellt, obwohl ihn und Violet doch angeblich eine ach so gute Freundschaft verbindet. Hier hätte ich mir mehr Nuancen gewünschtinsbesondere damit der Verrat am Ende mehr Gewicht bekommt .
Die weiteren Nebenfiguren mochte ich zwar irgendwie alle, aber sie sind dennoch recht blass und könnten mehr Tiefe gebrauchen. Nur Witze reißen ist keine Persönlichkeit.
Insgesamt also ein Buch mit einigen Schwächen, das aber dennoch unterhaltsam ist. Manchmal fühlt es sich halt schon ganz nett an, wenn man so eine kleine Power Fantasy liest – der Vergleich mit Fast Food passt für mich an dieser Stelle gut und Violet fand ich zumindest besser als Darrow in Red Rising.
Was ich aber unbedingt noch anmerken möchte, ist der bedauerliche Umgang von der Autorin mit der schottisch-gälischen Sprache. Alle Drachen mit gälischen Namen zu versehen und sich dann nicht einmal darum zu kümmern, wie diese richtig ausgesprochen werden bzw. so ignorant zu sein, einfach in einem Interview eine eigene Aussprache zu erfinden, stößt mir als Person, die sich seit knapp 2 Jahren intensiv mit der Sprache befasst, sauer auf (und Muttersprachlern ebenso). Zumal die Namen wirklich oberflächlich gewählt sind, die Drachen heißen einfach Donner, Feuer oder Eis (wobei die entsprechenden Akzente über einigen Buchstaben allerdings fehlen).
Der größte Abturner waren für mich die Sexszenen sowie die allgegenwärtige Sexlust. Ich kann damit als demi/ace Person allgemein wenig anfangen, wenn es keine gute Chemie der Figuren gibt, und in diesem Fall fand ich auch die Wortwahl schlicht unbeholfen, ständig gab es leckende Zungen und immer dieselbe Gefühlsgewalt nur in leicht anderem Wortlaut.
Xaden hatte ich mir schlimmer – und toxischer – vorgestellt, da war ich ganz überrascht, dass er eine sanftere Seite zeigen durfte. Dafür finde ich es schade, wie einseitig Dain geschrieben ist. Er wird leider schnell als der "Böse" dargestellt, obwohl ihn und Violet doch angeblich eine ach so gute Freundschaft verbindet. Hier hätte ich mir mehr Nuancen gewünscht
Die weiteren Nebenfiguren mochte ich zwar irgendwie alle, aber sie sind dennoch recht blass und könnten mehr Tiefe gebrauchen. Nur Witze reißen ist keine Persönlichkeit.
Insgesamt also ein Buch mit einigen Schwächen, das aber dennoch unterhaltsam ist. Manchmal fühlt es sich halt schon ganz nett an, wenn man so eine kleine Power Fantasy liest – der Vergleich mit Fast Food passt für mich an dieser Stelle gut und Violet fand ich zumindest besser als Darrow in Red Rising.
Was ich aber unbedingt noch anmerken möchte, ist der bedauerliche Umgang von der Autorin mit der schottisch-gälischen Sprache. Alle Drachen mit gälischen Namen zu versehen und sich dann nicht einmal darum zu kümmern, wie diese richtig ausgesprochen werden bzw. so ignorant zu sein, einfach in einem Interview eine eigene Aussprache zu erfinden, stößt mir als Person, die sich seit knapp 2 Jahren intensiv mit der Sprache befasst, sauer auf (und Muttersprachlern ebenso). Zumal die Namen wirklich oberflächlich gewählt sind, die Drachen heißen einfach Donner, Feuer oder Eis (wobei die entsprechenden Akzente über einigen Buchstaben allerdings fehlen).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Murder, War
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First Fantasy book I’ve read. & I think I’ve found a new favorite genre
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content