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deedireads 's review for:
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
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:
Complicated
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW
Fourth Wing doesn’t do much that’s new — it’s a tropey hero’s journey — but it was super bingeable and a hell of a fun time. Can’t wait for book two.
For you if: You grew up on YA fantasy and love a steamy romance.
FULL REVIEW:
You know I had to see what all the hype was about. And I’m glad I did! This book doesn’t do much that’s new but it was super bingeable and a hell of a fun time.
The book is set at a catch-all college where students divide up into their chosen fields. Violet Sorengail trained her whole life to become a scribe, but at the last minute her mother, a top general of the army, forces her to enter the (dragon) Riders Quadrant instead because “Sorengails are riders.” Problem is, the entrance exam is walking across the ledge of a roof in a storm, and you either pass or you die. In fact, dozens of first years are killed off every day in the Riders Quadrant, and then those who do make it through have to hope a dragon chooses them. All the while for Violet, the hot, shadow-wielding son of the leader of the last rebellion has his eye on her.
This book is super tropey (hero’s journey with a bookish female protagonist, bad boy love interest keeping secrets, cold mother, dead father, etc) but simply fun — all the things people who grew up on YA fantasy will love. There are some worldbuilding mismatches (rubber boots, modern slang); Rebecca Roanhorse said it feels more like urban fantasy vibes than high or military fantasy, which I agree with.
Most of the plot has a familiar shape, but it does have a few good twists in there, including the very last one. And of course, it’s very steamy — although I wish there had been a bit more development of Violet and Xaden’s feelings for one another outside of pure sexual attraction.
Finally, there is some rare representation here — Violet, billed as small and “fragile,” has a condition resembling Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which makes joints loose and easy to dislocate, and skin easy to bruise. This leads to chronic pain.
All in all, this was a romp and I’m psyched for book two.
TL;DR REVIEW
Fourth Wing doesn’t do much that’s new — it’s a tropey hero’s journey — but it was super bingeable and a hell of a fun time. Can’t wait for book two.
For you if: You grew up on YA fantasy and love a steamy romance.
FULL REVIEW:
You know I had to see what all the hype was about. And I’m glad I did! This book doesn’t do much that’s new but it was super bingeable and a hell of a fun time.
The book is set at a catch-all college where students divide up into their chosen fields. Violet Sorengail trained her whole life to become a scribe, but at the last minute her mother, a top general of the army, forces her to enter the (dragon) Riders Quadrant instead because “Sorengails are riders.” Problem is, the entrance exam is walking across the ledge of a roof in a storm, and you either pass or you die. In fact, dozens of first years are killed off every day in the Riders Quadrant, and then those who do make it through have to hope a dragon chooses them. All the while for Violet, the hot, shadow-wielding son of the leader of the last rebellion has his eye on her.
This book is super tropey (hero’s journey with a bookish female protagonist, bad boy love interest keeping secrets, cold mother, dead father, etc) but simply fun — all the things people who grew up on YA fantasy will love. There are some worldbuilding mismatches (rubber boots, modern slang); Rebecca Roanhorse said it feels more like urban fantasy vibes than high or military fantasy, which I agree with.
Most of the plot has a familiar shape, but it does have a few good twists in there, including the very last one. And of course, it’s very steamy — although I wish there had been a bit more development of Violet and Xaden’s feelings for one another outside of pure sexual attraction.
Finally, there is some rare representation here — Violet, billed as small and “fragile,” has a condition resembling Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which makes joints loose and easy to dislocate, and skin easy to bruise. This leads to chronic pain.
All in all, this was a romp and I’m psyched for book two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, War