Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | a review

*I received an early copy of Fourth Wing from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, so huge thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley*

If you're a fan of fantasy romance I hope Fourth Wing is at the top of your tbr pile, if not, let me tell you why it should be. 

Fourth Wing is a slow-burn, enemies to lovers fantasy romance set at a brutal war college where every day could be the last. And there are dragons. Cool, funny, terrifying, murderous dragons. Have I got your attention? Let's dive in.

Violet Sorrengail spent her whole life expecting to enter the Scribe Quadrant, a place of peace surrounded by books and scrolls, but when her mother forces her to enter the (dragon) Riders Quadrant instead, she is sure she is going to die. Violet's development throughout this story is so satisfying. The brutality of the war college forces her to face not only her fears but her limitations, beliefs and who she really is, but it never felt cheesy or contrived. As a reader you notice it gradually and in subtle ways, from her attitude towards the trials  to the way she stands up for herself. I really enjoyed following her journey and felt genuine first-pumping joy when she told certain characters what she really thought. Her development felt very realistic and the writing just sucked me in. I can't wait to see what she does next.

This book pulls no punches: characters die, characters betray, characters surprise and characters fail. Not only are cadets set against each other, the dragons follow their own rules and are happy to scorch cadets to death if they are not deemed worthy. The peril felt very real and kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through, no one felt safe and some losses hit me particularly hard. However, that's not to say the overall tone is misery and fear, Violet's mindset keeps you going and the dragons lighten the mood - when they want to and on their terms of course, lest we forget that they do not answer to humans.

The romance is wonderfully spicy in Fourth Wing. While it's pretty obvious early on who the love interest is going to be, it is a slow burn and when they finally come together it is explosive. I'm a big fan of the relationship and character and I am keen to see him grow too. I don't want to say too much more as we all know the course of true love never did run smooth... 

In any great fantasy romance it can't just be about the two lovers and the supporting cast of Fourth Wing are also lovable. Liam, Ridoc, Rhi, Mira, just to name a few, are so fun to read and really have our girl's back. While they're not as fleshed out as they perhaps could have been, I don't think the book is worse for it as there is so much going on plot, world and development-wise that any further exploration of side characters would make the book huge. Everything is well balanced and after that ending, I cannot wait for the sequel. 

If you're new to the genre but are keen to lose yourself into a new fantasy world with built in romance and spice I think you will absolutely adore it. Those of us who have read a bit more in the fantasy / fantasy romance genres will be familiar with some of the tropes and directions of the plot, but that's the same with all genres. I don't need absolutely everything to be unpredictable as it would mean the author hadn't done a good job at setting the scene. And I certainly think Yarros did an excellent job here. 

Fourth Wing is out today! Go get it and enjoy.