ENTER AN INTENSE WORLD OF LOVE, DANGER, AND DRAGONS IN THIS ENTICING ROMANTIC FANTASY.
If you’ve been remotely active in the bookish corners of social media, chances are you’ve heard about “Fourth Wing.” It’s been hailed as a must-read, sold out in record time, and is seemingly everywhere, with enthusiastic YA-fantasy-romance enthusiasts singing its praises.
First things first, let’s get one thing straight: I’m not here to rain on anyone’s parade. If you read “Fourth Wing” and it resonated with you, that’s fantastic. I firmly believe that reading is a personal journey, and I genuinely want people to find books they love.
Now, with that said, I must admit that “Fourth Wing” didn’t quite hit the mark for me. And while it’s always a matter of personal taste, I suspect I’m not alone in my sentiments. I persisted in reading, but around the 45% mark, it became clear that this book was not the right fit for me, and I reluctantly decided to part ways.
There were two primary reasons that made it difficult for me to engage with this book:
- Fantasy Archetypes and Tropes: “Fourth Wing” is set in a fantasy world where the nation of Navarre defends its borders with an elite force of dragon riders. These young adults, at an age equivalent to real-world college, choose one of four quadrants to serve their country. Violet Sorrengail, our protagonist, defies the odds and ends up in the Rider’s Quadrant, where survival until graduation is uncertain. The problem? She’s not cut out for it. It’s baffling why the War College seems so determined to eliminate or pit its own cadets against each other, especially when the dragon riders are dwindling. One can’t help but question why other roles aren’t available, like who’s in charge of making lunch?
- The Chosen One Trope: Violet is unmistakably painted as the chosen one, a trope often encountered in YA fantasy. It’s a narrative device that, while not inherently problematic, didn’t resonate with me. It allows the reader to accept the heroine’s exceptionalism without much proof. In Violet’s case, she has qualities like intelligence and courage, but so do many other cadets. She also sports unique, silver-tipped hair, a typical sign of the chosen one in such stories. For me, this simplification didn’t do justice to her character development.
The first half of the book felt like a blend of a boarding school drama and the Hunger Games, with alliances forming, Violet’s frequent injuries, and good-hearted concerns from others. Unfortunately, the stakes felt oddly trivial, and the intensity didn’t engage me. The foundational concept of a military society built upon young adults killing each other raised more questions than answers.
As for the romance between Violet and her Wing Leader Xaden, it’s complicated and laden with guilt and family tragedy. But despite the somber backstory, the intense attraction between them is over-the-top and head-scratching. It makes her scalp tingle, reminiscent of a shampoo commercial.
Ultimately, if “Fourth Wing” is your cup of tea, that’s wonderful. However, for me, it revolved too much around someone in an undesirable situation insisting on staying there for reasons that felt flimsy, coupled with a slow plot development and the overuse of tropes I don’t particularly enjoy. I found myself frequently questioning the logic behind events, and with no satisfying explanations in sight, I chose to move on.
I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers out there. It truly encompasses everything I adore about fantasy stories and delivers a gratifying dose of romance filled with all the beloved tropes. Trust me, this book hits all the right notes and is sure to leave you thoroughly satisfied. After all, the magic of books is in their ability to take us to places we never expected, and there’s no better way to find out than to dive in and experience it for yourself. Happy reading!
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