Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing was the first fantasy book I’ve ever read, so I was hesitant about how much I would enjoy it, or if I’d even be able to get through the first chapter. I ended up starting the audiobook during a long drive (over an hour), which actually turned out to be the perfect way to dive in. Since I couldn’t just give up or get distracted, I was forced to really pay attention, which helped a lot during the early world-building. As someone new to fantasy, the beginning felt overwhelming—so many names, places, and systems—but hearing them pronounced correctly helped me keep track of things. I would’ve been much more confused reading it physically, and book club will definitely be interesting when we debate how to pronounce all the names.

I usually don’t enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope; it often feels too obvious, with rushed forgiveness and unrealistic chemistry. But in Fourth Wing, I appreciated Violet’s internal conflict. She knew she shouldn’t want Xaden because of who he is and what he represents. Watching her struggle with that, and then slowly learn more about his past, his motives, and his loyalty to those he loves, made their relationship feel more earned and nuanced.

The setting took a bit of effort to picture. I understood the war college, and I actually imagined something similar to the Dauntless faction from Divergent, but the broader country and political landscape felt elusive and kind of vague, like "The Hunger Games", where the focus is more on the "district" or training area than the world at large. That said, I thought the backstory of the country and the different wings was introduced really creatively. Violet’s training as a scribe allowed her to naturally recall and recite world details while walking the parapet, which made the exposition feel more immersive and less like a history dump.

I’ve heard that many fantasy FMCs fall into the “woe is me” category—lacking strength or confidence, but somehow still the chosen one. Violet seemed to rise above that. Yes, she starts off weaker and less prepared, but as a trained scribe, she brings intelligence and strategy to the table. Watching her grow from a “damsel” into someone determined to prove herself as a serious threat made her arc really satisfying.

Okay, I really want to talk about how Tarin called Violet “silver one” and he calls Andarna “golden one”. Dragons are so selective and intentional with their communication. “Silver One” definitely reflects Violet’s hair, but it also feels like a nod to her uniqueness—she’s not the strongest physically, but she shines in other ways: intelligence, resilience, and strategy. “Golden One” for Andarna makes sense because of her golden color, but gold often symbolizes something rare, precious, or even divine. It made me think of how Andarna is a time-slowing dragon and still young, almost pure, or untouched by war. I liked that even in their simple titles, there was a weight of reverence and significance.

There were also a few plot twists I didn’t see coming—I even gasped out loud at one point. A friend of mine who’s more familiar with fantasy didn’t enjoy the book and felt it was full of clichés and predictable moments. But as someone new to the genre, I think I had an advantage: I wasn’t looking for tropes or patterns, so the story felt fresh and surprising to me.

Overall, the plot felt fast-paced. Every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, which made it so hard to stop reading. I even found myself trying to peek at the last line of each chapter, which meant I had to physically cover the bottom of the page with my hand so I wouldn’t spoil it for myself!

Here is my B2M adaptation cast:

Violet Sorrengail - Emilia Jones

Xaden Riorson - Josh Heuston

Dain Aetos - Cody Christian 

Liam Mairi - Kellan Lutz (but specifically Emmett Cullen from Twilight)

Rhiannon - Tessa Thompson

Jack Barlowe - Will Poulter

Lilith Sorrengail - Cate Blanchett

Mira Sorrengail - Kaya Scodelario