roget 's review for:

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

3.5

adventurous tense fast-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: Complicated

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There’s a lot of fun, exciting, and harrowing content here. Much of it feels fresh and is wildly entertaining. There is a central character extremely similar to a prominent character in ACOTAR, though—down to personality, hidden depths, and even the powers he wields. While the rest of the book felt fresh, that character and his dynamic with the lead felt a bit recycled. I’d have liked to see the story lean more into what made him distinct from the template/trope they’re drawing from. 

But the disability rep was pretty solid—she’s not magically cured or fixed or killed. That element was rather well handled, as far as I can tell.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting

There’s some weird takes on dragon mind bonds—especially one that takes a decidedly uncomfortable…spiced angle. Not my cup of tea, exactly. 😅