Genre: Fantasy Romance (Romantasy)
Fourth Wing brings us into the new world of Navarre, a kingdom protected by magical wards and the most elite army in the land: dragon riders. We've got all the elements of romantasy at play, featuring dragons, magic, evil sorcerers, and very spicy romance.
Plot (Book Blurb)
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.
Characters
Violet Sorrengail is the daughter of the general, who forced her to join the Rider's Quadrant. But Violet is weak, and spent her life preparing to become a scribe, not a warrior. But when she's left with no choice, she has to dig deep to discover her own inner strength in order to survive.
I actually really like Violet. She was weak physically, but wonderfully strong in character, which I really appreciated. I also enjoy her witty nature, and overall attitude throughout the book. She makes great character growth, and overall makes choices that I think are reasonable (i.e. she's not stupid). She's definitely a survivor through and through.
Xaden Riorson, on the other hand, is the son of a former traitor to the crown. He lives his life trying to push back against the judgement and prejudice cast upon him because of his father's crime. He's also your typical bad boy...too hot and sexy for his own good, and an ego the size of Texas. The moment he lays eyes on Violet, he hates her and wants to see her dead. Definitely not love at first sight.
I rather enjoyed Xaden's character as well, though I wouldn't put him at the top of my Book Boyfriend List. (Aaron Warner continues to hold that spot. Sorry, Xaden!) His character's growth is much less impressive, but he does a lovely job of being the misunderstood bad boy that we all love to see in our stories. (Or at least I like to see. And this is my blog, so I can write that.)
Romance & Spice Level
Spice Level: 🌶️🔥🔥🔥🔥 (HOT)
Some like it HOT, and if that's you, then this is your book. We've got multiple open-door sex scenes with zero filter and all the language you can imagine.
Tropes & Universal Fantasies
This is the book for you if you like:
➡️ Enemies to Lovers
➡️ Love Triangles
➡️ Dragons
➡️ Morally Grey Male MC
➡️ Misunderstood Bad Boy
➡️ Touch Her and Die
➡️ Strong Female MC
➡️ She Saves Him & Saves Herself
➡️ Academy/Boarding School Setting
Fourth Wing Book Review: Final Recommendation
I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy high fantasy and fun world building. Romance fans will absolutely enjoy the interplay between Violet and Xaden, but I do not recommend this for younger readers. Consider Fourth Wing rated "R" for violence, sex, and language.
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