Book Review: 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros

Welcome to my bl… Nah, I’m kidding.

Thought I’d spare you all of that boring, introductory stuff and get to business. If you’re curious about me though, and what this blog offers, feel free to take a quick trip to my About Me page.

Now, because I’m slightly impatient, and obsessed with reading books – just as I’m sure you are too since you made it here and all – let me tell you about this amazing book that I recently read.

“Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros is the author’s first young adult fantasy romance book, and it’s to die for!

The first book in the ‘Empyrean’ fantasy series was released around May last year.

I know, a little late for a review. But what better way to start a book blog than to review the very book that made the biggest impact on me last year?

Hear me out. When it comes to a book involving magic, mate bonds, dragons, politics/government conspiracies, a strong female main character, and an absolutely delicious male main character with a secret? Believe me when I say, I’m sat.

But before we dive in, here’s the plot summary of the award-winning novel, provided by Yarros herself:

“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."

Sounds ominous right? Trust me, it gets even more interesting.

My first thought when I read this book was that it seemed like a mix between Harry Potter, Divergent, and maybe a little bit of Hunger Games. But Fourth Wing showcases its originality when it comes to world-building, its characters, the storyline, and its subplots.

And speaking of worldbuilding, the author does a wonderful job with it, so much so that there wasn’t a moment of confusion on my part while reading it. The book is written so seamlessly that you can almost picture the magical world, which is something a lot of people can struggle with when it comes to the fantasy genre. The magic system is understandable, the names are easy to pronounce, and the locations can easily be recalled, courtesy of the map on the first few pages of the book.

Another thing that this book gets right is the main character. No one wants an annoying and unrelatable main character, and Violet Sorrengail is far from that. Despite having a “weak” physical body, the FMC (female main character) isn’t the type to sit around waiting for a knight-in-shining armor. Instead, she takes initiative, and despite being forced into a situation she didn’t choose, she accepts it rather than whine about it.

Of course, Violet also makes mistakes and I think that’s what makes her relatable. The character has her flaws, but she’s able to learn from them and make better decisions as time goes on. Thankfully, Rebecca Yarros is such a good writer that you can feel all the emotions that the main character is going through, be it fear, pain, frustration, anger, excitement, or more romantic feelings.

And that brings us to the romantic aspect of the book.

I’m not even going to lie, I don’t care how good a fantasy book is, if there isn’t the tiniest bit of romance in it, I’m out. Luckily, the romance in Fourth Wing is more than enough.

It’s an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance that leaves you wanting more. In fact, by the time the first romantic scene comes up, you’re already sucked in the tension and undeniable attraction between both characters that you’re practically at the edge of your seat.

Now, I know you’re probably thinking, “Who exactly is Violet’s love interest?” But I’ll leave that for you to find out, wink* wink*. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

Final Thoughts on Fourth Wing

It takes a while for me to find a fantasy novel that completely blows my mind, but this one did. The plot is so compelling, and the twists and turns are equally satisfactory. And if you're looking for spice? This book has got it, so pick up a copy today!

Once you start, you won’t want to drop it. The good thing about this is that Fourth Wing is only the first in the series, and the second book “Iron Flame” is out already.

Let me know in the comments if you’d like me to do a review of the second book, or any other book you might have in mind.

Until next time, love!