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A review by annad318
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Friends, this book blew my expectations out of the water! After trial and error with a few other romance-fantasy novels, Mrs. Yarros hit the mark! Well-developed characters and an engaging storyline for the female main character that was not wholly dependent on the male main character! Seriously, that is all I ever ask for—Xaden and Violet are indeed a compatible pair.
I knocked off a few points because I'm tired of the cliches that are back scars and telepathy in this genre, but I guess I must get used to it. Also, I'm not sensitive to curse words, but the use of the f-word should be more strategic. I don't feel like it ever modernized the text; it just made it cringey.
Seeing the relationship blossom between dragons and riders was a real treat. The dragons have so much personality, and it shows how the author took her time to develop each character in this book, not leaving anyone as secondary to the storyline of Xaden and Violet.
Of course, there's a palpable emotional shift that occurs whenXaden and Violet finally get together. It changes the narrative a lot, but I'm glad the author held out as long as she did and how she navigated the aftermath because it gave them time to test the strength of their relationship without eclipsing Violet’s continued growth. Sometimes, these books can grow stale once characters solidify their sexual attraction, and we lose sight of the female main characters' individuality, but not here! 🫶 I will stress that Violet’s character remains pretty consistent throughout the book. Whatever is thrown at her, she is still the same woman deep down. I'm not saying she doesn't develop and grow; what impresses me is that she doesn't completely lose all her brain cells/morals because of the male main character. I've seen that happen before, and this is not the case for which I applaud the author. It makes it really easy to like, even love, Violet’s character.
The ending of this book leaves you on a fun cliffhanger. Although it may be unnecessary. I would have preferred this as a standalone, but the characters have enough substance for a second book.
I’ll also note that Xaden is a 23-year-old Pisces…I fear I ate that up! Hey twin 😍
I knocked off a few points because I'm tired of the cliches that are back scars and telepathy in this genre, but I guess I must get used to it. Also, I'm not sensitive to curse words, but the use of the f-word should be more strategic. I don't feel like it ever modernized the text; it just made it cringey.
Seeing the relationship blossom between dragons and riders was a real treat. The dragons have so much personality, and it shows how the author took her time to develop each character in this book, not leaving anyone as secondary to the storyline of Xaden and Violet.
Of course, there's a palpable emotional shift that occurs when
The ending of this book leaves you on a fun cliffhanger. Although it may be unnecessary. I would have preferred this as a standalone, but the characters have enough substance for a second book.
I’ll also note that Xaden is a 23-year-old Pisces…I fear I ate that up! Hey twin 😍