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A review by clairetrellahill
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Listen. I had a GREAT time. You can’t go wrong with dragons. 🐉✨🤩
FOURTH WING is a new adult or adult fantasy about a country engaged in a centuries long war with another country. Allying with the dragons (who have beef with the other country’s gryphons) helps them keep their edge. Violet is the daughter of a famed general who insists that she join the dragon rider unit of the war college—even though Violet planned to be a scribe since she has had chronic pain and illness since she was born.
I can definitely see why this book is so popular. It marries the tropes of “threat of death tasks” a la the Hunger Games or the Scholomance, and love triangle potential (though it’s clear who you’re supposed to root for as one leg of the triangle keeps shooting himself in the foot) with DRAGONS and adult romance tropes and tone. Knowing the author has written several adult romances before this helps with context and voice, I think (it is 1st person present). I have heard a lot of people say “I’ve never read fantasy, this was my first fantasy, I love this!” And I think that’s true—it’s much more tonally a Hunger Games with dragons than a Lord of the Rings or Eragon, helpful to know going in for those more long term fantasy fans. The fantasy elements mostly have to do with the dragons and the powers they give their riders. We may get more lore in the sequels since Things Were Revealed, lol. (This book was also much longer than I expected but I’m not mad about it? The pacing and plotting felt good throughout the book, even with the length.)
All of this said, coming into the book was extremely gripping. The beginning starts and doesn’t let you go, and it still managed to surprise me. I had a legitimately great time reading this book. Violet was both a sympathetic and cunning character. While her body was weak, her character was not. Representation wise, I don’t know enough about what Violet goes through to judge one way or the other, but it is nice to see a different kind of heroine on page.
Romance wise, Xaden was clearly made in a hot guy lab, but I am not mad about it either. He also had more interiority and complexity than you sometimes see in his typical YA counterparts and I think that has to do with the author’s background in romance and understanding that heroes should support the heroine and compliment each other.
I don’t think FOURTH WING is trying to be “the best fantasy” or anything like that. I think it’s trying to be engaging, transportive, and FUN, and I believe it succeeds. I also do think it’s well written! I’ve seen some folks say differently but I think that’s more a case of it not being for them/the book they wanted than it being poorly written. If you meet the book where it is I think you will also have a great time reading it! I would give it a 4.5 star rating. ⭐️
And whoa that ending. I’m down for book two. I hope it sustains the good pacing and the elements of book one. Looking forward to November!
Content wise: language for sure, characters being sexually active. People dying a lot.
Heat wise: a few UST-y moments as the characters will-they won’t-they. Parts of chapter 30 and 32 you can cruise over if you prefer to miss the sex scenes. Overall I would give it a 3🌶️.
FOURTH WING is a new adult or adult fantasy about a country engaged in a centuries long war with another country. Allying with the dragons (who have beef with the other country’s gryphons) helps them keep their edge. Violet is the daughter of a famed general who insists that she join the dragon rider unit of the war college—even though Violet planned to be a scribe since she has had chronic pain and illness since she was born.
I can definitely see why this book is so popular. It marries the tropes of “threat of death tasks” a la the Hunger Games or the Scholomance, and love triangle potential (though it’s clear who you’re supposed to root for as one leg of the triangle keeps shooting himself in the foot) with DRAGONS and adult romance tropes and tone. Knowing the author has written several adult romances before this helps with context and voice, I think (it is 1st person present). I have heard a lot of people say “I’ve never read fantasy, this was my first fantasy, I love this!” And I think that’s true—it’s much more tonally a Hunger Games with dragons than a Lord of the Rings or Eragon, helpful to know going in for those more long term fantasy fans. The fantasy elements mostly have to do with the dragons and the powers they give their riders. We may get more lore in the sequels since Things Were Revealed, lol. (This book was also much longer than I expected but I’m not mad about it? The pacing and plotting felt good throughout the book, even with the length.)
All of this said, coming into the book was extremely gripping. The beginning starts and doesn’t let you go, and it still managed to surprise me. I had a legitimately great time reading this book. Violet was both a sympathetic and cunning character. While her body was weak, her character was not. Representation wise, I don’t know enough about what Violet goes through to judge one way or the other, but it is nice to see a different kind of heroine on page.
Romance wise, Xaden was clearly made in a hot guy lab, but I am not mad about it either. He also had more interiority and complexity than you sometimes see in his typical YA counterparts and I think that has to do with the author’s background in romance and understanding that heroes should support the heroine and compliment each other.
I don’t think FOURTH WING is trying to be “the best fantasy” or anything like that. I think it’s trying to be engaging, transportive, and FUN, and I believe it succeeds. I also do think it’s well written! I’ve seen some folks say differently but I think that’s more a case of it not being for them/the book they wanted than it being poorly written. If you meet the book where it is I think you will also have a great time reading it! I would give it a 4.5 star rating. ⭐️
And whoa that ending. I’m down for book two. I hope it sustains the good pacing and the elements of book one. Looking forward to November!
Content wise: language for sure, characters being sexually active. People dying a lot.
Heat wise: a few UST-y moments as the characters will-they won’t-they. Parts of chapter 30 and 32 you can cruise over if you prefer to miss the sex scenes. Overall I would give it a 3🌶️.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Death