Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die
My Review
This one was so good!
There’s a variety of gender, race, and sexuality diversity that was enjoyable to see. I especially loved Rhiannon’s bisexual rep and Jesinia’s use of sign language.
The romance is slow burn, which I’m always here for. I love to see relationships develop over time. Fast burn has its merits, but slow burn is where it’s at for me.
Violet is relatable and whip-smart with a fondness for books and physical weaknesses. As a book nerd with chronic illness I could really slide into her story.
The worldbuilding is immersive. There’s a plethora of witty banter.
Some of the plot twists were predictable, but watching them play out still packed an entertaining and sometimes very emotional punch.
The ending is powerful and made me cry.
I’ve seen comparisons to Divergent, and I think those are fair. If you hated Divergent, I wouldn’t recommend Fourth Wing.
Not the book for everyone, but five stars for me.
