abeagleandabook 's review for:

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

4.0

adventurous

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

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I'm a bit late to this party (as I was reading this, Onyx Storm had *just* been released and the hype was vibrant). I think this is the first book I've read that I would call a "romantasy," though it brings to mind vibes of the TV series Shadow and Bone. In the big ways this book isn't earth-shattering - our protagonist is an underdog who overcomes challenges to become powerful and able to fight against evil. But in many small ways, I do think Yarros breaks new ground. I don't know any other fantasy that does such a strong job of representing a disability (not named, but representative of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) and quietly having broader representation (Black characters, a character who uses the pronouns "they," no fuss when characters aren't heterosexual), and Yarros deserves credit for doing this well. For the fantasy: I love the human-dragon mind connection and the dragon personalities. I want to know more about how the magic works, but I imagine this comes later in the series. For the romance: a lil smutty but didn't feel like too much as long as you know what you're in for. The internet tells me this is called a "slow burn" and while it felt very predictable, it nevertheless was quite fun to read. I'm highly looking forward to getting ahold of the rest of the series. 4/5  I'm a bit late to this party (as I was reading this, Onyx Storm had *just* been released and the hype was vibrant). I think this is the first book I've read that I would call a "romantasy," though it brings to mind vibes of the TV series Shadow and Bone. In the big ways this book isn't earth-shattering - our protagonist is an underdog who overcomes challenges to become powerful and able to fight against evil. But in many small ways, I do think Yarros breaks new ground. I don't know any other fantasy that does such a strong job of representing a disability (not named, but representative of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) and quietly having broader representation (Black characters, a character who uses the pronouns "they," no fuss when characters aren't heterosexual), and Yarros deserves credit for doing this well. For the fantasy: I love the human-dragon mind connection and the dragon personalities. I want to know more about how the magic works, but I imagine this comes later in the series. For the romance: a lil smutty but didn't feel like too much as long as you know what you're in for. The internet tells me this is called a "slow burn" and while it felt very predictable, it nevertheless was quite fun to read. I'm highly looking forward to getting ahold of the rest of the series. 4/5