In this work where Divergent meets dragons, Rebecca Yarros has so much to say about the fantastical world of Navarre; Fourth Wing is the story of 20 year-old Violet, whose mother forced her into a life that she did not want for herself. She was meant to be a writer, an educator of the people, but instead finds herself struggling to survive against the best and most physical that the nation has to offer. Enter a few friends, a legendary dragon, and a reputation to uphold, Violet has her hands full in her first year at the academy. This work has been hyped by both Tiktok and publishers alike, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. There’s so much magic in this book, it truly is a fantasy reader’s dream; from powers to dragons and beyond, Yarros invents a world where only the toughest survive. 

Violet grew up assuming that she would be the one to continue recording the history of her nation, but her plans get turned upside down as her mother insists she become a rider like the rest of her siblings; riders are fierce, with wills of steel and a tenacious drive to defend their territory. There’s no way she ever thought about riding a dragon, but alas, she must do so. if she plans to survive the three years in school and live long enough to see herself becoming a rider. 

She has a target on her back for sure, as a group of rebel children (spared although their parents were not) attempt to kill her again and again, much to the chagrin of their leader and spokesperson, Xaden Riorson. As the son of the rebellion leader, Xaden makes Violet’s demise the first order of business among the children, referred to as the marked ones, but he finds out his plan will never come to fruition when her death becomes intertwined with his own. 

I used to love reading fantasy as a kid, but stopped once the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner hype died down, although I can’t exactly pinpoint why. For my first venture back into the world of fantasy, I could not have asked for a better work than Fourth Wing. It has everything a good fantasy novel should possess: a heroine, mythical beings, and of course, a smidge of romance. The ways in which cadets (students attending the academy) advance through the ranks towards becoming riders is a deadly path, and it becomes clear very quickly that these tests are put in place as a method of weeding out the weak. Violet has her own obstacles in her way, her inability to stay in one piece without assistance chief among them, but she learns to lean on the friends she makes throughout the process even though it means losing a few. Those friends include long time ally Dain, a year ahead of Violet who saves her from the wrath of her classmates due to her name; however, he alone is not enough to assure her safety. That responsibility belongs to Xaden, who cannot seem to keep his minions under control when it comes to assassinating their greatest enemy. The bonding of their dragons (and thus, their lives) makes his mission not only complicated, but impossible. It’s now up to him to keep her alive through the trials and tribulations of the first year, but he must keep his own feelings in check if he wants to be successful. 

This work was my first venture into the writing of Rebecca Yarros, and I can’t even begin to discuss just how impressed I am. The author takes the fragile Violet and turns her into a force to be reckoned with alongside some twists and turns, ultimately showcasing that nothing is too tough for the strongest of them all. 

The writing style of Yarros is a lot to take in, especially within the first 100 pages or so of this work; it’s a little slow to get going, but once it does, it turns into the kind of book that you struggle to put down. The complexity of the training rituals coupled with the flow of the book make it not only easy to understand, but leaves you wanting to know exactly what happens on the next page; this kind of writing is not only impressive, but should be viewed as the standard within the publishing industry. Yarros does a phenomenal job of not only developing each of the characters, but outlining the exact purpose they will serve throughout the book, which is sop much more difficult than most believe. Most of the characterization of both the characters and setting comes from the protagonist herself, but beyond that, readers are able to understand how the world functions outside of the immediacy of the narrator, a view of the books that some authors do not serve to their audience. Because of this, the detail in which Yarros employs through her work is necessary, as readers are able to piece together details in order to view the full picture. The complexity of the plot requires such thinking, and once the details are established, Yarros takes on the arduous task of creating a world in which our once meek and small heroine shines. 

Seeing as this book is the first of a series that is sure to land on best-seller lists for years to come, Fourth Wing does a fantastic job of settling the scene. Even though there’s a lot of moving pieces as the work gets off its feet, it is a bonafide page turner that requires the utmost attention from its readers, who don’t want to miss a single detail. 

This book is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2023, as it took me completely by surprise given that I haven’t ventured into this genre for a while. Not only have I already acquired the sequel, but this work may be one of the best books I’ve ever read. For that, it lives up to its deserved five star rating, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one that holds such an opinion. 

I can’t wait to get started on the second installment, but for now, I’ll reflect on what a jot it has been to venture into the mind of Violet, eagerly awaiting her next move.