Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the latest BookTok sensation that has been scorching the best sellers charts so I decided to give this book a chance.
The best way to describe this book is by saying that if you're new to fantasy or romantic fantasy and want to dip your toes for the first time, you're going to love this book. If you're an experienced reader, this book is going to feel very derivative. I know that a lot of people describe it as Hunger Games meets dragons, but I actually think it's more of Divergent meets dragons. Not sure, if it’s a compliment or not. It is a very fun book, after getting through a few exposition chapters you're going to finish this book in no time. But I doubt that it will stand the test of time.
So the book follows Violet Sorrengail. She was meant for the quit life a scholar or a Scribe, but her mother, the General forces her to become a rider. A dragon ride. Where the survival rate of training is even lower than that of Dauntless faction. Violet is small and weak, but also smart and agile. She hasn't been training most of her life like the other students, but she's cunning. Dragons don't like weakness so will all of her strengths be enough to compensate for her physicality? Obviously, being small and physically fragile doesn't make you weak. Otherwise we wouldn't have a story.
On top of trying to survive the difficult training, Sorrengail needs to survive the other cadets. Because being the daughter of the General earns you many enemies. Especially the animosity of Xaden Riorson her wing leader. But will her new or old friends be there for her and be enough to protect her? Will she survive the training as she needs to be the best not only to prove that she is her mother's daughter, but to keep her country safe from the increasing dangers outside?
When I finished the book I was super hyped. I was totally on the hype train. But as I think about it more and more I am less impressed by it. The ending was brilliant and predictable. The writing is very flowing, but not really good. The characters are very predictable and unoriginal or inspiring. At least the action scenes were entertaining. Although the world building felt lacking at times.
I guess I can say that it was a really fun book. I just don't think it deserves all that hype. Also, I don't think it is so romantic that it deserves the title of romantic fantasy. Just fantasy, with touches of dystopia. But you know, everything with dragons is better, including this book.
Did you read it? Were you really impressed by it?
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