Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Book Review

“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.” – Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros

I picked up Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros a couple of months ago after a never-ending stream of TikToks on my For You Page giving it 5-star reviews. I started seeing fan art, pictures of the beautiful sprayed edges, and even merch being sold for this new series. Not only that, as of now (January 2024), it has a 4.62 star rating on Goodreads. For context of just how high that is, the highest rated book on Goodreads, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, shares the same average after several years of accumulating ratings on the app.

I came across a copy at my local bookstore and couldn’t believe my luck. At the time, copies were seemingly sold out everywhere. I immediately took it home to see what all the rage was about.

Synopsis of Fourth Wing

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

Fourth Wing Review

So was the hype worth it?

Yes and no. I will admit, what I got was not what I was expecting. The fans on TikTok made this book out to be the greatest work of fantasy in the history of the genre. I was expecting something new, unique, and groundbreaking. Something like I had never read before.

Instead, I found Fourth Wing is quite the opposite. I like to think of it as a “Frankenstein” book. By that I mean, old bits and pieces of stories you loved circa 2013 (think The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Mortal Instruments, etc.) were stitched together – and made slightly more adult – to make this story come to life. There are dragons, a school with an interesting magic system, training scenes followed by intense challenges, and of course the dark, brooding bad boy.

While it was not what I was anticipating, I fully understand why people are obsessing over it. For those of us who were fighting over Gale vs Peeta in the cafeteria 10 years ago, or taking online quizzes to find out what faction we would be in, this book sort of feels like coming home.

What I loved…

Aside from the nostalgia factor, there are several other things about this book that make it lovable. 

The world-building sucks you in from the start. Violet and her family are incredibly interesting and exist in an extremely high-stakes environment. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, and Violet always had a way of making me root for her. From the parapet scene at the start when Violet becomes a part of the Fourth Wing, the reader has a sense that a wrong move could be the difference between life and death. The tension builds from there in a way that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

The attention to detail was also amazing. I especially loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. They were framed to be excerpts from books or other texts that exist in Violet’s world. Details such as these made the story feel real and tangible. They also did a good job of establishing the rules of this society and keeping Violet’s brother an active player in the story.

What I didn’t love…

While I can confidently say I can see why this book has gotten so popular, that does not mean it is without its flaws. Some moments were frustratingly simple due to the setup of the story and the world. I, for the life of me, could not understand why Violet couldn’t have just gone to the scribe quadrant from the start. What could her mother have done that would have been so bad?

I am not going to say the romance fell flat for me because it was thoroughly entertaining. However, there was always something there that didn’t feel quite right. I knew there was a twist coming in their relationship (they can’t live happily ever after for an entire book series), but I still found the miscommunication frustrating. I’ll let you read the book for yourself and come to your own conclusion about that.

Bottom Line: Should you give Fourth Wing a try?

Absolutely! Fourth Wing was a fun and adventurous read that kept me excited and even tugged at my heartstrings a little. I have already been asked by friends if they could borrow my copy, to which I have happily agreed. I think this is the perfect book for someone who is looking for an easy introduction to the fantasy genre. Or, if you are a veteran fantasy reader looking for a simply nostalgic story that might remind you of why you fell in love with reading in the first place.

I am looking forward to seeing how the story continues in book 2: Iron Flame.

FAQs

Is Fourth Wing worth the hype?

I would say Fourth Wing is definitely worth the read. Some people love it, some don’t. But, if you are looking for a fun, adventurous introduction to the fantasy genre that isn’t too intimidating, I would say this book is perfect for you.

How spicy is Fourth Wing?

While the romance is not the main focus Fourth Wing, there are certainly graphic scenes sprinkled throughout. I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of 18.

Is Fourth Wing going to be made into a movie?

The latest news is that Amazon acquired the rights to a TV show adaptation of Fourth Wing, although as of now (January 2024) we do not have a production timeline or a cast. (Source)

Is Fourth Wing based on a true story?

Fourth Wing is a work of fiction. However, Rebecca Yarros sprinkled elements of her own life into the story. For example, the main character, Violet, experiences a chronic condition similar to Yarros herself. Yarros also revealed that the dragon Tairn is based on her late English bulldog, Diesel.