Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

14 reviews

devincold's review

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

This book reads like a fantasy-flavored reimagining of Divergent. It's a fun read that feels predictable throughout. If you're looking for a romance novel and you like a fantasy setting, this might be a good option. If you're looking for enemies to lovers and LGBTQI+ representation - I would look elsewhere.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Stalking, Torture, War, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Child death, and Chronic illness

andmingmingtoo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book reads like the novelization of a blockbuster action movie. There are pros and cons that come with that.

Pros:
-The general premise is really fun. I was excited to learn more about the dragon, magic, and government systems of the world
-The action sequences actually felt tense, and they definitely felt like they would be cinematic if in a visual format
-The side characters were really fun (and often eclipsed the main character in likeability)
-Xaden is an interesting and actually respectful male lead

Cons:
-A lot of Violet's inner monologue feels jarring and sometimes detracts from a tense vibe in a scene
-A lot of scenes that would be interesting and would add to the characters' growth are left offscreen, like they were cut for time, despite this being an original work where the author could decide what did and didn't exist. For instance,

most of Violet's hand-to-hand challenges occurred offscreen, even the ones where she finally wins without tricks. Like, that's a big moment for her character! I want to hear more about that!

-A lot of visual descriptions of settings were left out, like

the Parapet or what the hell a chimney formation is

-For the most part, we have to take Violet's word for it that characters, including herself, have experienced growth. The growth seems to happen offscreen and is not substantiated by their onscreen actions 

Additionally, this book is screaming to be part of a series (I am aware that the sequel is out and a series is in the works, as is a movie). In my opinion, there is no finite conclusion of the book's overall plot quest at the end, mostly because there is not one unifying plot quest. The extent of the book is defined temporally, not from a plot perspective, which can give the book the feel of a series of episodes, rather than a unifying experience.

Obviously, this book is popular! I did enjoy it, and I can see how others may enjoy it more than me. That being said, it is not a polished experience, but if you know to expect that, it may help you brace yourself and enjoy it more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Vomit, Torture, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Stalking, Blood, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Chronic illness, Classism, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, and War

Moderate: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Child death, Ableism, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol and Drug use

prairieraven's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Doesn't live up to the hype but it is a cute,  simple read for something that is military school for teens with dragons. The dragons are neat. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Death, Animal death, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Ableism, Cursing, Confinement, Child death, Violence, Police brutality, Genocide, Stalking, Sexual content, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Murder, and Misogyny

wickedgrumpy's review

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

While I understand why people would enjoy this book, I am unfortunately one of the ones that couldn't turn off the feeling that I was reading a YA that was aged up to include sex.

I could not read the word badass without cringing.  The world building was positively wild.  It's in a more historical fantasy setting where they write with quills, use weapons, crossbows were a big deal, people who wield magic have access to smaller abilities like locking/unlocking doors, making mage light, etc.  There lots of wooden shit, but that also translated to having wooden exercise equipment to essential get swole in a modern fashion, rather than bodyweight exercises.  There's a brief mention right at the beginning about shoe sizes which means they have standardized them?  And the whole riders quadrant can get married before everyone else when the graduate....  At age 23?  That's early for this society?  And the focus of sexual relations was just pervasive.  The talk of raging hormones...  The convenience of fertility suppressants getting a brief mention before boning down.  Oh and gods are worshipped, but not by dragons.

There was some disability rep that I think was decent considering that it was a fantastical setting with healers, and the character didn't want to "look weak" and would refuse treatment to speed the healing process.  There was some LGBT+ rep as well, but mostly on a surface level for side characters.

Honestly, it was fine but the romance had me putting the book down regularly and made finishing this book difficult.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Stalking, Classism, Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, War, Violence, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Body shaming, Death, Grief, Torture, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse

cait's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Genocide, Sexual content, Medical content, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Body shaming, Classism, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Vomit, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Stalking

wildflower_magic's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Bullying, War, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Grief, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Classism, Murder, Violence, Ableism, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cursing, and Death

Moderate: Stalking, Gaslighting, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Torture

solarel's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.25

This one gripped me about 30% in. It was a lot of fun and very approachable. The world building was a little hollow but the plot was very well woven. It’s diverse, but sometimes the diversity feels a little forced. One side character is deaf and the main character signs with her. However, the deaf character is part of a group that values keeping a stoic face and she isn’t able to be very expressive. Most sign languages use facial cues very heavily so it felt a little like it was just thrown in there with little thought. It could have been an interesting thing to explore briefly, but was overlooked. 

So world-related plot holes aside, it’s well worth the read. And it’s very much my jam. (The sexual scenes were probably the best written smut I’ve read in a long time. Well done.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child death, Violence, War, Sexual content, Murder, Medical content, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, and Blood

lovelymisanthrope's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

I picked this up because the entire internet has been talking about this book and I needed to know for myself what all of the hype is about.
"Fourth Wing" is the start of a new fantasy series that follows a 20-year-old named Violet Sorrengail. Violet has wanted to be a Scribe her entire life, but her mother, a ruthless commanding general, has forced Violet to join the dragon riders. Violet is at a physical disadvantage to her other peers at this war college because she is smaller and frailer than most. But maybe, with her cunning knowledge, she can prove to everyone that she can be the dragon rider her mother wants her to be.
I had moderate expectations going into this book because it is so beloved online. With how much praise it has received, I was expecting something great, and I would say my expectations were pretty much met. This book felt very much like a blend of "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent", but with dragons, which is how I believe it was originally pitched to me. For those who love fantasy series and who have high expectations for those books, I do not think this book did anything particularly special, but for those who just want a nostalgic good time, I really do recommend this book.
Violet is an interesting character to read from because she is so intelligent. She as spent her life aspiring to be a Scribe, so she has spent her time training in the library and reading everything she could get her hands on. This gives her some crucial critical thinking skills that prove invaluable for her survival at this war college. I do think she reads a little young. She is supposed to be 20 years old, and she engages in 20-year-old behavior, but there were moments that I felt she was a little naive or bratty and it felt more like a teenaged mind.
 

Xaden Riorson is a powerful wingleader of the Riders quadrant, and he wants to personally kill Violet. Violet's mother is responsible for his father's death, and Xaden is hellbent on revenge...until he falls for Violet. I did feel like Violet's and Xaden's relationship felt a little insta-lovey, especially considering how much they hated one another in the beginning of the story. I do see their chemistry and I appreciate how connected they become, but the relationship felt a little rushed. I wish they would have developed their feelings for each other more slowly, and we could see them come together in the second book.
This is my first experience with dragons, and I really enjoyed it! The politics surrounding dragons and the rules that dragons follow when selecting a human to bond with was all fascinating but easy to understand. I really had a soft spot for a sweet little golden dragon by the end of the book.
Violet's best friend, Dain, drove me up a wall. He just could not take a hint and he could not protect Violet in the way she needed. It was sweet that he wanted to protect Violet and look out for her, but he had absolutely no faith in her and repeatedly tried to step in to keep her from competing, even after she expressed to him how she was feeling and asked him to stop. They have no chemistry, they are just good friends, but Dain thinks otherwise, which created some tense, cringe moments. 

 
The ending had me SCREAMING. I am SO excited for that reveal, and I cannot wait to pick up the next book and see how this revelation plays out! I am also rooting for Violet and Xaden and I am excited to see how their bond continues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual content, Violence, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

diana_raquel's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense 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? Yes

4.75

“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.
A rider without their dragon is dead.” 

I started this book because I friend of mine wanted to start reading again and didn't know what to read. And because this was something that was recommended to her, we decided to do a buddy read. However, not gonna lie, I had a lot of doubts about this one. This book gets a lot of hype and I tend to have a very 50/50 reaction to hyped books: I either love them or hate them. 

Well, take this review with a grain of salt (because I'm still riding the fumes - that's why I'm not going to give 5 stars to this book) but I f****** love this book! I loved every single second of it. The drama, the action, the romance, everything has its time and blends together to make a really good story! The characters are well written and structured! 

I'm excited to start the second book, and really recommend this series!!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Violence, War, Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Stalking, and Medical trauma

Minor: Physical abuse

vas_17's review

adventurous mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Ableism, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Xenophobia, Bullying, Animal death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Grief, Blood, Animal cruelty, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, War, Violence, Death, and Cursing

Minor: Vomit and Schizophrenia/Psychosis