A review by fulleramber77
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I started Fourth Wing a little skeptical—life was chaotic and the first chapter didn’t exactly grab me. But by chapter 7? Fully hooked. What starts as a slow burn turns into a full-throttle obsession.

The world-building is some of the best I’ve seen in recent fantasy. The setting is brutal, the dragons are powerful with real personality, and the lore feels genuinely original. Bonus points for layered power systems that actually mean something.

Violet, the main character, walks a fine line—she’s snarky, flawed, occasionally frustrating, but always fighting to define herself on her own terms. Her character growth is messy in a good way.

And the love interest? Tactical. Brooding. Emotionally damaged but shockingly supportive. The chemistry builds slow, but it builds hard.

The tension ramps up throughout the book, and by the final third, I was emotionally invested in a way I hadn’t expected. High stakes. Gut punches. The kind of storytelling that keeps you up way past a responsible bedtime.

If you're into fantasy with a sharp edge, dragons that don’t play nice, and romance that respects the characters’ growth—this one's worth every page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Grief, War

This book includes romantic tension, emotional trauma, and themes of PTSD. While not graphic, the emotional stakes and moments of loss may be intense for some readers.