I’m just going to say it from the get-go. Fourth Wing is my new all-time favourite book. It’s been such a long time since a book has got me so enamoured that I couldn’t bear to leave that world behind and start a new one for days. After I finished it, I ended up rereading my favourite parts in one sitting. So let’s get into what makes this book so great.
Fourth Wing is a New Adult fantasy novel written by Rebecca Yarros, following the journey of Violet Sorrengail as she enters into Basgiath War College, training to be a rider after her fierce mother commands that she do so. Twenty-year old Violet had prepared her entire life to enter the Scribe quadrant, but now is faced with the most ferocious of challenges. Every day could be her last.
Not only that, but her mother was the reason for a large number of traitors being executed, and the children of those traitors are bound to become riders, or die trying. Violet’s sister, Mira, warns her of the dangers of Xanden Riorson (the rebels leader's son)…
I’ve never been a big fantasy reader but due to my writing pursuits, I like to read a variety of genres as well as seeing what new releases they are and come to my own conclusions of why they may be popular. I didn’t have high hopes for this as the most I’d seen about it before I’d bought it just that it was the “prettiest” book of the year. I mean the cover is beautiful and the editions with sprayed edges look great, but that surely doesn’t warrant so many high reviews?
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
The book starts pretty much straight away into the action. The introduction of all the characters feels natural and we get a sense for the individuality of each of them (even the ones that die almost straight away, RIP Dylan). We are also introduced to two potential love interests: the childhood best friend or the enemy. This for me was the most interesting bit as initially, you could see it going both ways.
In some aspects the enemies to lovers were predictable based on the way Violet describes Xaden. However, it could have also been a misdirect, and that in itself leaves you guessing for a while. The best part is, it is a true enemies to lovers. Their parents are cause to hate each other as they assume that each is like the parent thus the hatred for the parents causes hatred for the child. What is nicely done though, is that their true character is always present. It’s not like a switch is suddenly flipped and they are suddenly nice or just suddenly love each other.
There are also a few plot twists, some of which you do see coming. For me, I guessed that her childhood best friend Dain would betray her but I couldn’t have guessed how or when. In fact, what I loved about this book the most, was that I never knew what was going to happen next. This may be because I’m new to the fantasy genre but nevertheless, it was unpredictable and I didn’t know who would survive and who wouldn’t. My only guess was that Violet and Xaden would survive since they can’t survive without each other and the book is written from her perspective leading to the logical assumption: no Violet, no book. Personally, I like the stability of knowing the characters I’m rooting for are going to survive. That’s not to say that there aren’t some heartbreaking moments though…
Now, I have to mention the dragons! Who knew they could be so fun? The way that Rebecca Yarros has incorporated their dialogue into the novel is just brilliant. As it’s written in Violet’s perspective, it’s like being in her head. Once she has a connection with Tarin and Andarna, they start commenting on parts of the story and it genuinely made me chuckle a number of times. It became so much more fun to read (and it was already fun without them). I liked that concept of how the dragons and humans work together on the dragons terms and I also like how the pairing works and how they communicate.
There are so many things to love about this book but it is mostly the nostalgic feeling. It took me back to when I first fell in love with reading (when Twilight and The Hunger Games were a big thing). It was a world that I felt I could immerse myself in and enjoy the ride. To be, it felt like a mixture of Divergent and The Hunger Games but with dragons and a more interesting world to be a part of.
My Rating - 10/10
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