[A Quick Note: I was a little late to the hype train. Everyone seemed to read this book right when it came out and I waited about a month. I’m always super nervous for hyped books because if they don’t live up to the hype, it disappoints me. Also, this is the standard first edition print run so while it’s a standard edition, priced like a standard edition, it came with stenciled edges. Yay! It was also very hard to track down because I waited until the last minute to find a copy. Oops!]
“𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮?” —Rebecca Yarros
What happens when Dragonriders of Pern makes a baby with Hunger Games? You get Fourth Wing! A book about a Dragonriders war college where students must learn how to survive in a war torn quadrant or die trying.
This book is officially my new personality. Given the hype, I knew I’d enjoy it. BUT I FREAKING LOVED IT. From the first chapter, I was hooked, caught in a literal choke hold. I read it over a 48 hour period. I couldn’t put it down, and when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about the story. There was something so addictive about it, because of the constant danger, the exciting challenges students had to complete, and the smoldering romance that developed between two enemies.
I love dragons. Seriously, I still can’t understand why there aren’t more dragon books. This is set in a world where dragons are a power unto themselves, and to harness their power, they must team up with a human to “channel” that power. They protect their homeland by setting wards around the perimeter. But those wards are constantly threatened by the gryphons outside their little quadrant kingdom. Hence, constant war. Hence, the brutal war college to train new dragon riders.
I really enjoyed the world building. It’s clear that the author read and loved Pern and wanted to create a version with a fresh take. I was nervous it would feel like a knock off. Rebecca really did this book justice.
There were so many vibes of other books going on. It has a little bit of The Black Witch Chronicles vibes, which is a favorite series of mine. It also has a little bit of A Deadly Education vibes too. Obviously the Hunger Games, because people sometimes have to kill their rivals. And with the Dragonriders of Pern we get all the dragon aspects like wings of dragon riders, mates, dragons choosing riders, the colors, and wing leaders/wing seconds and all that stuff.
Other stuff I loved: Violet’s disability. The underdog aspects. Who doesn’t love a character that proves everyone wrong?! I loved that a bookish girl used her smarts to succeed. I loved the enemies to lovers trope (and the spice that came with it at the end). I loved that it was Violet’s heart and moral compass that brought her success. From switching boots to keep another girl alive, to protecting a dragon because it’s the right thing to do, she was constantly making decisions that others wouldn’t have made, that rewarded her in the end.
Also, Xaden!!!! Freaking Xaden. I’m obsessed with Xaden. Xaden wields shadows, is punished for the sins of his “rebellion leader” father, and is just an all around badass. On the other side of that token. I freaking hate Dain with a passion and I want him to die a thousand deaths. He can rot in hell.
I haven’t felt this excited for a book since SJM’s books. If Rebecca keeps up the same level of quality and momentum, I could totally see her as the next SJM. There’s a reason this book was so hyped. It deserves it! I am literally waiting on pins and needles for the next one!
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟓/𝟓⭐️
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