There are times when a single absolutely takes the book world by storm. Sometimes, that book is by a supremely popular author such as Branden Sanderson, Colleen Hoover, Sarah J Maas. Other times, that author is a newcomer onto the scene. And other times, it’s by an author who has books published, but this book far and away exceeds what they have done in the past.
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros falls into that final category. I had never any of her books prior to this particular one. I hadn’t even heard of her as an author. The books had taken Booktok (the name us bookworms give to the book side of TikTok) by storm and it was constantly being recommended to me by a friend. After weeks of being on back order, I was finally able to pick up the book. So, the question is, is the book worth all the hype that is surrounding it? In a word, yes. The book lives up to the hype and then some. As per usual with my reviews, I will issue a spoiler warning in case I happen to touch on spoilers for the book. On with the show.
We start with our main character, Violet Sorrengail. The daughter of one of the highest ranking generals in the military, Violet was not destined to be a Dragon Rider, she always thought she would be a Scribe, an academic, like her father. Violet is a fascinating character. Frail and physically, Violet nonetheless uses her wits, cunning and a little bit of rule breaking to survive in the treacherous Riders Quadrant.
Her main foil throughout the book Xaden Riorson. Xaden is your traditional , dark mysterious man with a protective streak and plenty of secrets. Is Xaden troupey, yes, yes he is. Do I care all that much, not one bit because Xaden is a fabulously delicious character, very much in the mold of Rhysand from ACOTAR. (Yes I know, I am still comparing books and characters to SJM properties, but that’s what happens when her stuff is my undisputed favorite.)
Violet and Xaden are excellent dovetails of each other, especially as the narrative progresses through the story. Violet wants to succeed in the Rider Quadrant and throughout the story, it is Xaden that helps her succeed, even as Violet is constantly questioning his motives.
These two main characters are supplemented by a cast of wonderful and unique side characters. There is Violet’s longtime best friend Dain who quickly tries to dissuade Violet from staying in the Quadrant. Throughout the story, Dain is always focused on keeping Violet safe and as the story progress, especially after the Threasing, he is mostly holding her back. Meanwhile, there is her first friend Rhiannon, who is a always a comforting presence and yet still plays things safe. There is Xaden’s group of Imogen, Liam, Sawyer, amongst others, loyal to Xaden to a fault and yet also loyal to Violet once the Threashing happens. So many side characters help make this academy feel alive, bustling and like a true school.
Speaking of an alive world, the world of Navarre, it’s surrounding territories and the war college of Basgaith is an incredibly live and diverse world. The college itself feels like a true school. Full of lively students, teachers, classes, rooms, it never feels dull. Schools in books can feel very dull if done incorrectly, but it is done well here.
The story is packed to brim with history, lore, information, it’s a story that feels full-bodied, rich and lavishly detailed. It seamlessly transitions from big action set pieces, to smaller, more personal moments with smooth ease and. Yes, the story feels full of troupes sometimes and falls into traditional traps innate to the genre, but they are done well which helps in many ways alleviate the predictability of the book.
The books second act is where really pick up speed. Once the dragons are fully embraced and introduced, the book takes on a whole new life. The book’s story changes and pivots on its head. It becomes less of a survival story for Violet and a true story, full of mystery and intrigue.
And that is the true beauty of this book. Despite the pivot that the book takes, it never loses that greatest, you never lose interest and as the book rockets towards its final, climatic conclusion, you are left desperately wanting more and wishing that it never ended.
That is the hallmark of an excellent book. No matter what the book does, how the story goes, or what happens with the characters, at the end of the book, you are left wanting more. And to me, Fourth Wing is an ideal example of that. The shocking ending leaves you breathless and hungry for more. You wish you had the second book in front of you right that second. This is truly and outstanding book and an excellent start to the series.
Final Verdict: Five stars, this is a fairly easy 5 star review and one I can not recommend enough.
The Reader's Corner 