Fourth Wing

This book swept me off my feet, which is weird because of late, my reading life has been more of a carefully curated chore than a thrilling escape. I used to be the type of reader who lived in the young adult fantasy section, with stacks of books in my arms at all times, driven on by high-octane plot and fueled by all-nighters. Now, with the demands of my own adult life, with work, chores and constant pressure to be productive, my consumption rate has slowed dramatically. I started pulling towards what I considered to be 'important' or critical books, and I was ashamed of the simple enjoyment of a fun, escapist fantasy novel. So, when I saw Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing, with its promiscuous promise of a 'war college for dragon riders,' and a cover gilded in the bright hue of a golden sun, I saw it as a daring, glorious diversion back to the kind of reading I did as a kid. This was not a literary enlightenment decision; it was a desperate search for joy, and really a deviation I cannot recommend enough.

The story immediately throws you right into the fire. Violet Sorrengail, the frail daughter of a commanding general, is catapulted into the elite and deadly Basgiath War College. The stakes are high: either get attached to a dragon or perish. From the very beginning, Violet has had an arrow pointed directly at her, and it makes every encounter a potential danger. What struck me about this mega, 517-page ride was that it does not drop its ball with its core mission to be a junk-in-the-trunk, non-stop thrill ride that leaves one glued to the page. You are always at a crossroads between the danger of being hurt, a mean college atmosphere, and the distinction between friends and foes. There is not a moment to waste on the heavy world-building; all the action is contained within the ominous college walls, and the action is crisp and hyper-fast. You see Violet transforming herself physically from a weak, brainy scribe-to-be into a ferocious survivor who uses intelligence instead of her brawn to outwit all. And, there too, is that broad, undiversified romance, bound together with a sickly-sweet plotline: Violet and her too handsome, too hostile, at first sight, fellow rider, Xaden Riorson, happen to be bonded to mated dragons, catalysing a relationship of hot, telepathic affections that makes the separation excruciating. It is corny, melodramatic, and made in the style that I need in escapism.

But we cannot pretend that this book will stand as a literary masterpiece. Fourth Wing is less subtle in favour of pure, unashamed fun, and that trade-off is apparent. Violet's thoughts, particularly regarding her love object, are very frequently ultra-basic, as when she thinks about her love interest, she thinks of it being 'flaming hot. Scorching hot, gets-you-into-trouble-and-you-like-it hot.' It is descriptive enough, but there is no creative use of prose. In addition, certain plot twists are too convenient, and the entire plot lies in the cliched system of the chosen-one fantasy: Violet bonds with the most powerful dragon, she looks different, and she appears to be the natural candidate to ride the dragon. Nevertheless, its addictive rhythm and storyline distract the reader from the smaller flaws quite well. Each chapter draws you onward, draws you closer and closer to death or danger, until you're reading until 3 a.m. The constant excitement takes over any need for literary depth.

I give this piece a 4 out of 5 stars all the way. Fourth Wing is a must for anyone who is craving a high-octane escape. It's best for readers who miss the joy of YA fantasy, who are into enemies-to-lovers dynamics with high stakes, and who want a story that's gloriously fun and fast. If you're willing to suspend your disbelief, overlook the occasional convenience and immerse yourself in a world where dragons and hot telepathic riders exist, then this is your next read. You'll laugh, clutch your chest at the danger, and get a wild ride that takes you back to the pure, unadulterated thrill of reading as you, as a kid, did in the library.