---

Rate: 4.5/5

---

Medium: Audiobook

---

Overview (No Spoilers): 

I have been recently inundated by references to the Fourth Wing from friends recommending this novel, to seeing early copies being highly coveted by traders. When this much buzz surrounds a novel there is usually a good reason and the Fourth Wing in no way disappoints. 

Due to being plagued by chronic injuries, Violet Sorrengail has spent her whole life training to follow her father as a Scribe. Her mother, the fearsome General Sorrengail has other plans and orders her fragile daughter to attempt the Rider’s Quadrant. Her two siblings became renowned dragon riders, but the school is known for weeding out everyone except for the most ruthless and strong, with death being the only alternative. Can Violet find a way to survive in an environment where danger lurks in every assignment and challenge?

With an excessively deadly school, dragons, magic, and a steamy romance, the Fourth Wing has all of the ingredients needed for unapologetically hooking readers. And indeed, Yarros delivers a delightfully detailed adventure whose pacing kept me picking this read back up at every opportunity. The main characters all have an air of mystery and tragedy tinging their backstories, leaving ample room for further revelations and development, especially with the massive plot twist at the end of Fourth Wing that leaves the reader immediately wanting to start a reread with the new information at hand. 

Yarros cultivates a love triangle that is textbook in its ebbs and flows, though the chemistry between the winning couple is palpable and electric, with the sex scenes being some of the steamiest I’ve read in recent memory.  There are some larger world implications to this romance that seem glossed over or conveniently ignored that will at some point need to be addressed, but for now their interactions are magical in more ways than one. 

Initially, the Fourth Wing has an almost young adult feel but the depth deliberately alluded to throughout, from the lore that has been redacted by the victors, to the war missives that are misleading, all lead to a story that has so much left to reveal. Not to mention all the death encountered along the way.

Overall, the Fourth Wing builds a versatile foundation for Yarros to expand upon as there is still so much mystery left to investigate, especially surrounding the fascinating dragons.

---

Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound): 

• Why would Jack have it out so badly for Violet? Does he have other siblings? Why would going after any dragon seem like a good idea when the games are already deadly enough?
• Seriously, what a great nickname for Violet aka Violence.
• I had to look this note up but Violet actually suffers from the real life Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with her graying hair, hyper mobility, and joint pain.
• What does Violet’s mom think of any of this? Was her mom actually trying to get her killed with the limited training? What does she think of her romance with Xaden? What did Dain tell the command? Did the General know Violet was being sent out to die in the War Games?
• Did Violet’s dad or mom know her brother had turned traitor? How did Tairn’s rider die if he didn’t burn out trying to save her brother? Or was Brennan resurrected? 
• Why allow pointlessly killing students if they are running low on the war effort. Why not allow people who don’t make it as a Rider to go to another quadrant? It seems like allowing people like Jack to kill randomly weeds out needed talent.
• I saw it coming a mile away but I hated it that Liam dies when his dragon dies
• What will Mira be told about Violet? 
• I loved that Mira helps Violet survive the early stages with dragon scale armor. Why does the army not employ this strategy more? Violet also survived with help from her brother. In general I loved how much Violet survived by thinking outside the box from poisons to how she tackled the gauntlet.
• The Parapet and Gauntlet are terrifying, but the Threshing was not nearly as brutal as it was built up to be. Again though the deaths surrounding the Gauntlet and Parapet seem pointless especially since they’re skills that can be taught. 
• Thinking back to all the times Dain touched Violet is truly cringey. 
• What will Andarna look like now that she’s not a feather tail? What will her power be now?
• What will come of Vi having Xaden’s flight jacket
• Will the Vernin find Violet? What are they after? What was in the iron box?
• How long did the rebel children think that they could smuggle weapons and not get caught?
• Did the dragon give the rebel children the mark as a blessing?
• I hope Violet gets over her betrayal quickly. She’s on their side after all. 

---