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A review by lovelymisanthrope
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
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.
"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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Sexual content, Violence, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship