Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5
I was having the hardest time getting back into reading after not reading for over 8 months, and this book was recommended by my best friend! As soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down. It was such a yummy read; there was so much going on that it felt wrong to put the book down. but trust me when I tell you that I enjoyed every second of this book.
Synopsis:
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.
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Violet Sorrengail is a character that, surprisingly, I felt connected to. I saw parts of my life and certain experiences that could relate to her emotions in the book (of course I was forced to be a dragon rider, LOL.. I wish).
I always thought that if there was a zombie apocalypse and the world fell, I would become a historian or teacher. I don't have any physical skills, nor do I like to be outside to become a fighter. I feel safe when surrounded by knowledge, and I feel pride when it comes to teaching or passing down information and stories. Reading about how Violet's life was abruptly changed to something that was the opposite of who she is and what she stands for was nerve-racking for me.
Her character development was motivational; proving to others and herself that she was strong was amazing. We constantly see her struggle when it comes to fighting, but she's so intelligent that she finds ways around it because there is always another way to do things. Violet has the best of both worlds—her mind and eventually her strength.
When she was chosen by her dragons, I lost it, because what the heck!! Not one, but two majestic creatures chose her. I wish earlier on that the other characters would've noticed what Tairn and Andarna saw in her. She's a rare gem, and it was right in front of everyone, but of course she would have to get attacked every other day by her mother's haters.
Her group of friends is amazing: Rhi, Ridoc, and Sawyer. I love them; they are an incredible team; they help each other; together, they are invincible. It gives the reader peace of mind to know she has a piece of tranquility when she is with them; she's not a total outcast.
Her connection with Tairn and Andarna is amazing. I love how he allows Violet to be herself, since in Basgiath they can't show weakness; she only shows her dragons how she truly feels. Tairn is so wise and strong that he becomes a driving force of strength in her, and Andarna is a sweetheart; she brings warmth and color to Violet's world.
XADEN, dear Lord, is my favorite character ever. His strength, his compassion, and his leadership are A M A Z I N G.
Even though since the beginning we have been made to dislike him, as soon as we see how much he wants Violet to grow and become stronger, my mind changes. He is such a strong force in her life, and I love it. a man with secrets who will do ANYTHING for his people. He is a real man, unlike Dain. The spicy scenes are incredible, sometimes hard to picture since you know the lighting and shadows and all the destruction going on, but wow. They were truly doing it as if there was no tomorrow.
Dain, overprotective, insecure, loser, little man complex.
The lives that were lost sent me into a spiral; it was like relieving Finnick's death in the Hunger Games saga. It still hurts to think about it.
The ending was absolutely insane; I screamed and cried, and I had to grab Iron Flame right away.
The extra chapter that had Xaden's POV was incredible. I loved having a snippet of how his mind works, how he sees Violet, and his worry over her life. It was a very nice way to finish the story and give us a little bit of the shadow man.
