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A review by theshelfarchive
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This was a re-read because I needed a refresher before Onyx Storm, but in a lot of ways, it felt like a first-time read. There was a lot I didn’t remember, and I also don’t remember what I thought about it the first time around.
On this read, I found it action-packed and spicy, with a cast of main characters, both human and dragon, that are (mostly) likeable. The world-building is fairly good, the writing is easy to read, if a little dialogue-heavy, and the plot is fast-paced.
That said, I do have some gripes (of course I do). Firstly, it’s most definitely NOT a true enemies-to-lovers romance (it would have been a true one if Violet and Jack had decided to get together 😂). Secondly, Dain is the most insufferable character and I do not understand why it took Violet so long to see it. Yeah, yeah; they’ve been friends since they were five. But friends don’t constantly tell you to your face that you can’t do something. Dude was the worst and I started to dread every scene he popped up in because it meant having to sit through Violet’s inner monologue as she tried to salvage something not worth salvaging. I’m glad she finally worked it out.
And thirdly, while it probably wasn’t intended, given the characters are all in their 20s, the book felt very YA at times. Not that I have a problem with that. I just think that, tonally, it was off.
Often, when I was reading the interactions between characters, I found myself imagining them younger. If I had to pinpoint why, I think it’s because there are many moments where the characters act quite juvenile. And Violet’s preoccupation with sex and other people’s sex lives didn’t help much.
Given the fact that they’re in a “death sentence of a college” that is supposedly ~super dangerous~ because you could basically die at any time (which several characters do), I was expecting a slightly darker, more mature tone. But tonally, it kind of reminded me of Harry Potter—there are obvious threats, but they still get up to mischief and joke around.
All that said, this was an entertaining read, but not something to take too seriously. It’s fun and pure escapism.
On this read, I found it action-packed and spicy, with a cast of main characters, both human and dragon, that are (mostly) likeable. The world-building is fairly good, the writing is easy to read, if a little dialogue-heavy, and the plot is fast-paced.
And thirdly, while it probably wasn’t intended, given the characters are all in their 20s, the book felt very YA at times. Not that I have a problem with that. I just think that, tonally, it was off.
Often, when I was reading the interactions between characters, I found myself imagining them younger. If I had to pinpoint why, I think it’s because there are many moments where the characters act quite juvenile. And Violet’s preoccupation with sex and other people’s sex lives didn’t help much.
Given the fact that they’re in a “death sentence of a college” that is supposedly ~super dangerous~ because you could basically die at any time (which several characters do), I was expecting a slightly darker, more mature tone. But tonally, it kind of reminded me of Harry Potter—there are obvious threats, but they still get up to mischief and joke around.
All that said, this was an entertaining read, but not something to take too seriously. It’s fun and pure escapism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content