Review #409
Lots of spoilers:
4.7/5 stars. Great story, great relationships and sexual tension. I liked the first half better because of the challenges involved in the college. When she earned her dragon, things got more complicated and webbed, but the pace slowed.
She made lots of choices & had agency but soooo much of the book was her surviving what was thrown at her instead of her initiating by going forward to a problem.
Oooh there’s not 1 map in Fourth Wing but 2!
Okay. So if Violet’s mom wants so desperately for all her children to be riders why did she only give her 6 months to train?
So Yarros does a good job of giving the reader information through the sister pep talk, but it is a lot of rules and world building to take in at once. She’s telling us how the system works in dialogue as a trick even though Violet already knows the information so it feels a tad bit unnatural.
Also, Violet needs to be more panicked than she is. If her sister doesn’t believe she will survive, why does she not seem more worried and terrified?
Oooh so we instantly like the underdog even more when she’s willing to switch boots to help another student. Genius
The way she threatens Jack on the bridge thing is clever but doesn’t seem believable for her character. So far it feels like other characters are showing me what they think and assume she can and can’t do. So when she makes her own choices and they don’t line up I’m a little confused.
Also the way she flirts with Dain doesn’t feel representative of who she is. Like she has two sides, a timid bookworm scribe and this new daring fearless girl and I’m not sure which she is.
If humans are prey to dragons why would they waste a meal by burning someone to ash?
The variety of signet powers are pretty cool. From storm control to anticipating attacks to reading recent memories… I love them all.
Lessons from class that I’m also curious about:
What were the gryphons looking for in their attack? Why did they attack that village?
At the end of chapter 4 nothing comes out of the “Violet, run” cliffhanger.
“You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?”
This is my favorite line so far because I’m so conflicted with what Violet’s authentic personality is. Maybe I’m confused because she’s breaking stigmas and making unexpected choices with her words and actions. She acts more ballsy than she should be.
What does shadow wielding magic do?
“I hate how beautiful he is, how lethal his abilities make him as he strides toward me, shadows curling around his footsteps. He’s like one of those poisonous flowers I’ve read about from the forest to the east. His allure is a warning not to get too close, and I am definitely too close.”
So about 4 weeks go by on page 102 which feels fast but I guess necessary?
Chapter 14 was pretty awesome. It felt a bit unrealistic with 3:1 in the forest but I’m happy with how it’s all turning out so far.
Also, Dain is just annoying at this point.
Tairneanach AND Andarnaurram???
“And all hell breaks loose.”
Page 192/chapter 16
“It was over in an instant.
It was everything I’ve ever wanted … except…
Shit. I don’t want it anymore.”
Power shifts start at page 200 which I’m loving.
Stopping time!
The dragons being mates!
There are so many factors and layers going on now!
“Even the most effective poisons come in pretty packages, and Xaden’s exactly that- as beautiful as he is lethal.”
First of all, great quote. Secondly, I don’t agree with her continued opinion of Xaden being so terrible after she has only received proven actions on his part showing otherwise. At this point she doesn’t have a valid reason to keep thinking he’s such an enemy.
At the halfway mark, I appreciate that despite the multitude of deaths, they’re not described in overly gruesome details.
I haven’t decided how I feel about Xaden being protective by warding her door and assigning a body guard since Dain was overprotective. Yes, the first half of the book clearly showed their differences in their faith in her abilities, but I still don’t want Xaden too controlling.
Also, I want Violet and Dain to have more interactions. All the scenes are with her and her friends.
Why are they starting to keep battle and attack information from the students? What else have they been kept in the dark about?
God chapter 22 was hot.
The second half of the book I was under needle for a 3 hour dragon and roses tattoo so I couldn’t take notes.
Reached the end…
Very good story!! The last page wasn’t as much of a shocker as I had heard from rumors, but still done well.
I kind of wish the giant climatic scene wasn’t as confusing since so many people were involved. And there wasn’t one main villain at the end for her to stand up to.
I dont understand why the golden dragon grew bigger but I guess that’s what sequels are for. Iron Flame should arrive in the mail tomorrow.
Side note: why are there other books first chapters advertised from authors that aren’t Rebecca? I’ve never seen that done before… do they pay for that back matter space?