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adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, War
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s a long one, but it’s really good. I love how approachable the main character is and how our thoughts and feelings about the situation and others change with hers. This feels akin to how I felt when I read Harry Potter for the first time. The big twist at the end I sort of saw coming, but the author did a great job at keeping so many other possibilities on the table that I never truly knew what would happen next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
𝔉𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔱𝔥 𝔚𝔦𝔫𝔤
ℜ𝔢𝔟𝔢𝔠𝔠𝔞 𝔜𝔞𝔯𝔯𝔬𝔰
Disclaimer: This review may contain spoilers. Reader discretion is advised
ℜ𝔢𝔟𝔢𝔠𝔠𝔞 𝔜𝔞𝔯𝔯𝔬𝔰
Disclaimer: This review may contain spoilers. Reader discretion is advised
What a ride this book was!
First of all, I want to say that I was never into fantasy books before—or rather, I never even attempted to read them because I assumed they’d be boring. But wow, was I wrong!
I’m so glad I bought this book on impulse. I’ve always loved watching fantasy shows—Game of Thrones is actually one of my favorites—and I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about the plot. I didn’t even read the back cover, and I’m so glad I didn’t. When I found out there were dragons in it and that our protagonist literally looked like Daenerys Targaryen herself, I was shocked. Is it just me, or do some of the characters resemble Jon Snow and Daenerys from GOT? Of course, their personalities are completely different, but that small resemblance made me even more curious. And now here I am, talking about fantasy books—never thought I’d do that!
I haven’t read many fantasy books to compare this to, but I think what matters most is whether a book captures the reader’s attention—and this one definitely did! I loved the characters, especially the dynamic between Violet and Xaden. At first, I thought their relationship might be toxic—maybe it will be in the next books—but for me, Xaden is literally the kind of man every woman would want in her life. And as for Violet, I loved that she had a strong mind of her own and could quickly assess situations.
Another honorable mention goes to Liam. Honestly? Yes, I cried when he died. It completely shocked me, but I do feel like it was a little rushed. I would have liked the ending to focus more on him—to give his character more closure, if that makes sense.
Other things I loved? The world-building, hands down. The way the book introduced the reader to Basgiath and all its details made me feel like I was inside the story, seeing everything firsthand. The writing style was also a highlight for me. And while there were spicy scenes in the book, I really appreciated that they came later in the story. The beginning focused on immersing the reader in the world rather than jumping straight into romance, which I think was a great choice. Don’t get me wrong—I love romance—but in a book like this, it’s important to emphasize self-growth and strength first, which this book did perfectly.
Obviously, I loved the dragons—maybe the most. I adored the concept of them speaking inside their riders' heads, having full-on arguments, and all the little bickering moments. It was such a unique and fun idea, and I can’t help but wonder how the author even came up with it—it’s just incredible.
I’m sure there are better fantasy novels out there, but for me, what truly matters is whether I was invested in the story—and I absolutely was, right up to the last page. And that ending? Mind-blowing. I honestly didn’t see it coming, but I loved it. It left me shocked and happy at the same time.
As always, I’ll end my review with my favorite quote from the book:
“You love me, and-'
'Loved,' I correct him, sidestepping so I can get some fucking space and then taking it.
'Love!' he shouts, stopping me in my tracks and earning us a glance from every rider within hearing distance. 'You love me.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War
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
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this when I read it, but then I binge read it in five days and immediately jumped into the sequel. I don't think I have enough words to describe how much I loved this book. I know I only gave it four stars, but I still love it. I was a little scared with the attraction between Violet and Xaden being there just because their dragons were mated, but by the end my feelings changed as I saw that their attraction was all their own
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed the first 75%, and then it got drowned out with smut.
A decent read, but very YA.
A decent read, but very YA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment, War, Classism
adventurous
mysterious
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
Definetely an elaborate romantasy that isn't only romance, which I think is very nice, as I don't love when there is a fantasy sub-sub-sub genre, but is has romance as the main genre. It is kind of slow burn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol
adventurous
dark
fast-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:
No
Fourth Wing is a fantasy novel set in a brutal war college where students must bond with dragons or face deadly consequences. Violet, the physically frail but determined protagonist, must survive a cutthroat environment while navigating alliances, betrayals, and *gasp* romance.
Worldbuilding
The strongest part of the book is easily its worldbuilding. The war college is vivid and immersive, providing a thrilling backdrop for the story’s high-risk training and dangerous competitions. The dragons had immense potential, offering glimpses of a fascinating system that could have been explored more deeply. Whenever we were shown specifics of how the dragon bonds work, how the military is set up, or the political dynamics, these were the parts I was hooked on.
Plot
In the words of Taylor Swift, "I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending.” The storyline is functional but heavily recycled. It borrows extensively from books that have come before it. The two series I saw the most similarities to were Divergent and A Court of Thorns and Roses. I loved both of those series! But while this was engaging enough to keep the pages turning, it didn't break any new ground, relying on overdone tropes rather than offering anything particularly innovative. Almost all of the "twists" were easy to see coming from a mile away. The only one that took me slightly off guard wasBrennan being alive , but that was because I was mostly tuned out at the very end of the book. Even when that was revealed, I was just like "Oh...okay".
Characters
The characters are a mixed bag. At times, they are endearing, but more often than not, they feel one-dimensional. Most of them operate on a single personality trait, and some of their choices seem baffling rather than organic. Jack Barlowe’s intense grudge against Violet feels completely unfounded, along with everyone else who desperately "wanted to kill her". And I must say,I don't believe for one minute that Jack actually died. Nothing makes me more suspicious than someone saying "there's no way he could have survived" . Dain—supposedly her childhood best friend—is written in such an antagonistic way that his role becomes almost cartoonish. And then there's Rhysand Four Xaden. I've never been more apathetic about a love interest. These issues made it difficult for me to fully invest in the relationships and conflicts at play.
Writing
Unfortunately, the writing is the weakest aspect of the book. The dialogue, especially the romance, dives into cringeworthy territory. Despite being marketed as an adult fantasy, the prose and interactions feel more juvenile than some young adult books I've read. Characters say things that sound straight out of a soap opera. Who talks like this?? What man says these things? Ever??? Every time I would find myself getting immersed, I'd get a cold dump of water over my head when a new cringe moment hit the page. I really hope it gets better in future books. I'm not a romance or romantasy hater, but please make it at least somewhat realistic.
I know it sounds like I absolutely hated it, but I didn't. I will probably give the second book a try at some point just to see where it goes. Fourth Wing remains entertaining in the way reality TV can be—it might not always make sense, but it keeps you watching. If you’re looking for a fun, trope-heavy fantasy that doesn’t demand too much from its readers, it delivers. However, if you’re seeking originality, layered characters, or strong prose, I think you may be left wanting.
Worldbuilding
The strongest part of the book is easily its worldbuilding. The war college is vivid and immersive, providing a thrilling backdrop for the story’s high-risk training and dangerous competitions. The dragons had immense potential, offering glimpses of a fascinating system that could have been explored more deeply. Whenever we were shown specifics of how the dragon bonds work, how the military is set up, or the political dynamics, these were the parts I was hooked on.
Plot
In the words of Taylor Swift, "I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending.” The storyline is functional but heavily recycled. It borrows extensively from books that have come before it. The two series I saw the most similarities to were Divergent and A Court of Thorns and Roses. I loved both of those series! But while this was engaging enough to keep the pages turning, it didn't break any new ground, relying on overdone tropes rather than offering anything particularly innovative. Almost all of the "twists" were easy to see coming from a mile away. The only one that took me slightly off guard was
Characters
The characters are a mixed bag. At times, they are endearing, but more often than not, they feel one-dimensional. Most of them operate on a single personality trait, and some of their choices seem baffling rather than organic. Jack Barlowe’s intense grudge against Violet feels completely unfounded, along with everyone else who desperately "wanted to kill her". And I must say,
Writing
Unfortunately, the writing is the weakest aspect of the book. The dialogue, especially the romance, dives into cringeworthy territory. Despite being marketed as an adult fantasy, the prose and interactions feel more juvenile than some young adult books I've read. Characters say things that sound straight out of a soap opera. Who talks like this?? What man says these things? Ever??? Every time I would find myself getting immersed, I'd get a cold dump of water over my head when a new cringe moment hit the page. I really hope it gets better in future books. I'm not a romance or romantasy hater, but please make it at least somewhat realistic.
I know it sounds like I absolutely hated it, but I didn't. I will probably give the second book a try at some point just to see where it goes. Fourth Wing remains entertaining in the way reality TV can be—it might not always make sense, but it keeps you watching. If you’re looking for a fun, trope-heavy fantasy that doesn’t demand too much from its readers, it delivers. However, if you’re seeking originality, layered characters, or strong prose, I think you may be left wanting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Violence, Murder, War
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
possibly the horniest main character of all time, and i kinda loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail