By: Kiana Madrigal
Books are often read as a way to escape reality and be transported into another world. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros does exactly that. The story follows twenty-year-old girl Violet Sorrengail, a determined student at a war college for dragon riders. Since she was born, Violet has prepared to join the Scribe-Quadrant, where she would have a calm life writing and interpreting history. But when she is unexpectedly ordered into the Riders Quadrant, her entire life is thrown into chaos. As the daughter of the most feared and powerful commanding general, Violet’s journey becomes even more dangerous with half of the cadets wanting to kill her. Not to mention, Violet is fragile and that is exactly the type of human dragons love to incinerate. Death seems to be lurking around every corner, especially as Violet must navigate the deadly world of dragon riders—where only the strongest survive. At Basgiath War College, she finds friendship, lovers, and mostly enemies.
Fourth Wing is a fantasy romance with political intrigue starring a “morally gray” hero. It takes place in a dystopian world seemingly before modern society. This book does have mature themes and explicit language and is targeted towards young adults. Fourth Wing is the first book of an on-going 5-book series.
This story keeps you captivated the entire time. It’s almost impossible to put the book down. The imagery and details make it easy to understand the setting, even entrapping you in it. The tension is incredible, and there are never-ending turns and twists throughout the story. Fourth Wing is full of entertaining characters— and dragons that are taken to the extremes; it’s impossible not to build a connection with them. I recommend this to anyone who reads frequently, as this would not be a good starter book. The world is complex and can be difficult to understand at times but is so intelligently written. Overall, Fourth Wing is a captivating story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.
