A Soaring Fantasy Worth the Hype
Few books in the fantasy genre capture the sheer adrenaline rush of Fourth Wing. Rebecca Yarros crafts a thrilling blend of military academy training, high-stakes dragon battles, and a forbidden romance that had me hooked from the first page. Though I rarely give a perfect five-star rating, Fourth Wing came as close as possible, earning a solid 4.75 stars in my book. It’s an unrelenting ride that will leave readers breathless—and possibly emotionally wrecked.
First Impressions: A Cover That Burns Bright, but Pages That Intimidate
Before diving into the story, let’s talk about the book’s aesthetics—both outside and inside. Fourth Wing features a sleek black-and-gold color scheme with an embossed dragon design that immediately screams power and prestige. The cracked, almost battle-worn aesthetic of the cover mirrors the brutal nature of the novel itself. It’s the kind of book you’d pick up even if you knew nothing about it—because it just looks important. The gilded edges on certain editions add an extra layer of elegance, making this a true collector’s piece.
However, when I first opened the book, I was immediately intimidated. The text is small, the margins leave barely any space between the words and the edge of the page, and at first glance, it felt overwhelming. It was difficult to dive headfirst into the magic because the sheer density of the formatting made it feel like a daunting read. But once I pushed past that initial hesitation, the story completely consumed me—and it was absolutely worth it.
A World of Fire and Blood
The novel follows Violet Sorrengail, a fragile but fiercely determined young woman forced into the elite Basgiath War College, where failure means death. The academy is brutal, pushing its cadets to their limits as they fight for the ultimate prize—bonding with a dragon. Yarros does an excellent job balancing the high-octane action with deep character development, particularly in how Violet learns to compensate for her physical weaknesses with strategy and intellect.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its immersive world-building. Yarros paints a vivid picture of Basgiath, where every stairwell could be a death sentence, and alliances shift like shadows. This intensity is only heightened by the presence of dragons—majestic, deadly creatures that refuse to bond with the weak. The author’s description of dragon-riding is exhilarating, capturing the sheer power of these beasts:
“When Tairn spreads his wings, the wind rushes against my face, and for the first time, I feel what it truly means to fly.”
Divergent, but With Dragons
Readers who enjoyed Divergent will likely find Fourth Wing equally captivating. There’s a similar sense of high-stakes competition, a ruthless training ground where only the strongest survive, and a protagonist who defies expectations. However, what sets Fourth Wing apart is the presence of dragons—beasts that add an extra layer of danger, strategy, and awe to an already intense setting. The novel embraces the cutthroat atmosphere of dystopian YA but elevates it with a more mature tone and deeper world-building.
A Love Story Forged in Battle
A key aspect of Fourth Wing is its romance, which walks the razor’s edge between enemies-to-lovers and sheer survival. Xaden Riorson, the brooding yet dangerously competent wing leader, challenges Violet at every turn. Their chemistry is electric, sparking from their first encounter and only intensifying as the story unfolds. Unlike many fantasy romances that rely on superficial attraction, theirs is built through trust, shared battles, and the weight of their pasts.
That said, the novel doesn’t fall into the trap of making romance the sole focus. The power dynamics in Basgiath remain the driving force, ensuring that Violet and Xaden’s relationship adds depth rather than distraction. Yarros balances the tension beautifully, never allowing the romance to overshadow the stakes of the world itself.
The writing in these romantic moments is undeniably mature. At first, I didn’t expect to run into smut, given the slightly elementary feel of the world-building, but the love scenes are anything but elementary. Some may argue that they aren’t written well, but as someone who has read a lot of mature scenes in my day, I would rank these among the better-written ones. While there are moments of cringy dialogue, I think that’s an inevitable pitfall of any intimate scene, and you can’t fault it too much.
A Few Minor Stumbles
While Fourth Wing is undoubtedly compelling, it isn’t without its flaws. Some of the dialogue—especially the modern-sounding slang—feels jarring in a high-fantasy setting. Additionally, while the world-building is rich, certain plot developments can feel predictable, particularly for seasoned fantasy readers. However, these are minor grievances in an otherwise stellar novel.
Final Verdict: Read It or Skip It?
If you love high-stakes fantasy with intense world-building, morally complex characters, and a romance that will have you yelling at the pages, Fourth Wing is an absolute must-read. Yarros delivers a masterclass in tension and character development, creating a world that feels both dangerous and intoxicating. While not flawless, it’s as close to perfection as I’ve found in recent fantasy releases.
4.75/5 stars—almost perfect, and absolutely worth your time.