A review by micaelamariem
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 
I'm in too many book clubs to keep up with. Four months ago, one of those book clubs chose Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, so I sent a hold request to the library. I had heard of it but was unprepared for how popular it was. I was 50-something in the hold request line and it took these four months to actually get my hands on it. Needless to say, I didn't read it in time for the club, but I'm still glad I read it! 
The author, Rebecca Yarros, is a busy woman. Not only does she write books, but she's a military wife with six kids. While she has written a lot of books, I think Fourth Wing is her first fantasy novel. 
"A dragon without a rider is a tragedy. A rider without a dragon is dead." 
Fourth Wing is an elite fantasy romance. Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail is forced to join the war college and train to be a dragon rider, rather than join the scribe quadrant like she wanted. Violet is unsure she'll survive the tests and training--many die and she's weaker than most, with brittle bones and a small stature. To make matters worse, Xaden Riorson is there, the son of a traitor--he would want to kill her just for being a Sorrengail, the daughter of the general. When things can't seem to get more complicated, Violet starts to suspect that leadership isn't being completely honest about what's going on outside the college walls. 
If that summary doesn't sell you, let me tell you how much I loved this book. I loved it so much that I'm not sure I can express it properly in words, actually. It has been months, almost a full year, since I felt so connected to a book like this. Maybe because it has some of my favorite things: magic schools, enemies to lovers, training sequences, political intrigue, dark secrets. 
The characters were wonderful and well-rounded. Violet shows a good source of disability representation within a fantasy novel. Because her mom had a sickness when she was pregnant, Violet is very weak and her bones break easily and she's always in pain. While this is a fantastical chronic illness, I think a lot of people may be able to relate--for example, I have chronic migraines, chronic knee and back pain, and stomach issues and yet this book made me feel like I can still be badass. I also loved how there were things about her illness that she could not overcome but had to adapt instead, showing the reader that this difference was not weakness. 
Xaden was the brooding dark figure we all love in a good fantasy novel. He had his secret and deep down a sweet, protective side. But his protectiveness was a foil from Dain's--their characters showed how protectiveness can be sweet if you still trust someone to make their own choices and support them or it can be overbearing and belittling if you box them into a corner. 
The side characters were also amazing. My favorite, of course, was Liam. He showed what it means to be a quiet friend, what it means to be humble, how to show your emotions through facial expressions. And Rhiannon was also great--the girl best friend every girl should have who loudly supports her friend and is determined to train and help.  
Talking about the characters would be so incomplete without mentioning the dragons! I loved these dragons. Tairn, the fierce but noble one. Andarna, the sweet and stubborn and sometimes naïve. Sgaeyl, ready to strike down any enemy. These dragons had their own personalities and their own laws and they provided more insight onto our mere human characters. 
The worldbuilding and plotline were so intricately intwined. I don't want to give any spoilers, but one thing I thought was clever was to have a main character who was so interested in books and history that we as readers get tidbits of the world's history from her. But in all fantasy novels, what never fails to amaze me is the research and grit put into designing magic school's classes, magic systems, maps, borders, fables, history, governments, books, fantastical creatures, and more. And being able to keep track of it and incorporate it into the plotline so they become key plot points. If only I can be such a good world creator and writer someday! 
And the writing style was also great. I truly felt like it was Violet's voice, like I was in her head as she took in everything, from gigantic dragons flying overhead to the deathly obstacle course she had to complete and more. It made reading the five hundred pages fly by and made me wish for more. 
The only drawback is there was some predictability. Maybe it's just because I read a lot so I can instantly recognize key tropes and foreshadowing. I still loved the book despite being able to predict some of the key plot points. I still highly recommend the book. 
In fact, I give this book five stars, which is rare for me this year. I need to get my hands on the copy AND preorder the sequel, Iron Flame. 
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