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leigh_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is an adult version of YA dystopian fiction. Harry Potter meets Hunger Games and Divergent add a little spice. 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Murder
autumnmyers45's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
nj_preusser's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: War
dailybaileyk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Listened to the graphic audio book. I am a “skimmer” and I know I would have struggled paying attention through some of these chapters with all the lore, strategy talk, history, etc.
This is a great book if you like dragons, war/battle strategy, romance, warrior school, and a woman who absolutely refuses to die.
*SPOILERS - mild mentions throughout here on out*
If I had read this I don’t think it would have hit as hard. My one gripe with the actual writing was the last battle in the book. I get the point of showing the gravity of the situation, and maybe I am just a little bit miffed at the loss suffered from that battle and it’s making me hyper critical but the fact our MC did not clock the solution to the fight faster was infuriating. Maybe that was a plot device to show the stress of the moment and their inexperience but I’m pissy about it and it’s my review. I’m knocking half a star off because of that and the fact that homegirl suffers the emotional flip flop syndrome when she’s been nothing but forgiving and understanding for the rest of the book. Other than that! LOVED IT!
Had to get the bad out there first. Here’s what I love and I’m gonna TRY to keep it light on spoilers but I can only do so much.
1. A girlie with a chronic illness having the willpower to be stronger and better despite having an easy out. Could not be me and I love her for it.
2. Mysterious shadow man with a heart will always be my downfall.
3. The fact the other love interest played out like it did. Oooooooo I cannot tell you how much that man pissed me TF off from day one. If there was a “two lovers and I have to choose” trope I would have stopped reading. I really just want to read more to see his downfall.
4. The ending was so good. It made me want to start reading the next one pronto (even though based on the context leading up to it, I kind of saw it coming).
5. It was hot. Yeah I was blushing and kicking my feet several times.
All in all I would recommend this in a heart beat.
This is a great book if you like dragons, war/battle strategy, romance, warrior school, and a woman who absolutely refuses to die.
*SPOILERS - mild mentions throughout here on out*
Had to get the bad out there first. Here’s what I love and I’m gonna TRY to keep it light on spoilers but I can only do so much.
1. A girlie with a chronic illness having the willpower to be stronger and better despite having an easy out. Could not be me and I love her for it.
2. Mysterious shadow man with a heart will always be my downfall.
3. The fact the other love interest played out like it did. Oooooooo I cannot tell you how much that man pissed me TF off from day one. If there was a “two lovers and I have to choose” trope I would have stopped reading. I really just want to read more to see his downfall.
4. The ending was so good. It made me want to start reading the next one pronto (even though based on the context leading up to it, I kind of saw it coming).
5. It was hot. Yeah I was blushing and kicking my feet several times.
All in all I would recommend this in a heart beat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Chronic illness
this_is_lee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I did really enjoy this book. It is very vulgar, and can be quite graphic but once I actually got into it I couldn’t stop reading. The end had be so shocked I went and got the second book the very day. I’d just be careful, as there are a lot of content warnings to be aware of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and War
knockoffrainbow's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Pregnancy
orionmerlin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Characters: 4/10
Violet Sorrengail is supposed to be this weak but brainy underdog, but don’t let the book fool you—she conveniently wins every life-or-death trial, making her struggle feel about as real as a reality TV show fight. Her fragile body? Not an issue, because plot armor beats bone density every time. Xaden is your standard brooding bad boy with a tragic past who somehow manages to be both infuriating and predictable. Jack, the main antagonist, is so cartoonishly evil that he might as well have a mustache to twirl. And then there’s Dain—walking proof that not all men should be childhood best friends. Secondary characters? They exist, mostly to die or make Violet look better.
Atmosphere/Setting: 5/10
Basgiath War College is basically Murder Hogwarts, but with dragons. Sounds cool, right? Well, it could have been if the world-building wasn’t so half-baked. The school’s entire philosophy is “survival of the fittest” but also, like… maybe don’t kill too many recruits because, hey, we need soldiers for this ongoing war? Consistency is optional here. The dragons? Underutilized. The war? An afterthought. The actual world outside of the school? Barely developed. If you like settings that look cool but fall apart under scrutiny, you’re in for a treat.
Writing Style: 4/10
The prose is functional, which is the nicest way I can put it. But let’s talk about the real problem: modern-sounding dialogue in a fantasy world. I get that snark is the lifeblood of this book, but having Violet drop lines that sound straight out of a 2020s Twitter thread? Yeah, that kills immersion real quick. Also, if I had a coin for every time Violet internally monologues about how weak she is despite, you know, constantly outmaneuvering and outlasting everyone, I’d be richer than this book’s publisher.
Plot: 4/10
This book is like an amusement park ride—thrilling in the moment, but the second you stop and think about it, you realize it makes no damn sense. The trials Violet faces? Arbitrary. The life-or-death stakes? Undermined by her constant success. The romantic tension? Predictable as hell. The War College structure? A logistical nightmare. I mean, why would a military academy just let their cadets kill each other willy-nilly when they need actual soldiers? Oh, and the big plot twists? If you’ve read any YA fantasy in the last decade, you saw them coming from a mile away.
Intrigue: 5/10
Yes, it’s fast-paced. Yes, it’s action-packed. But is it actually engaging when you stop being blinded by the constant movement? That’s debatable. I kept turning pages, but not necessarily because I was invested—I just wanted to see if this mess would eventually balance itself out (spoiler: it doesn’t). The story never lets you breathe or feel the weight of what’s happening because it’s too busy shoving the next dramatic moment in your face.
Logic/Relationships: 3/10
If you’re expecting well-developed relationships based on mutual respect and emotional growth, you’re in the wrong book. Xaden and Violet’s romance follows the "we hate each other but also want to rip each other's clothes off" formula without an ounce of originality. Dain spends half the book being the overprotective, condescending childhood friend no one asked for, and the rest of the cast exists to either be obstacles or cheerleaders. As for logic? There is none. The rules of the world are more flexible than Xaden’s moral compass, and the entire “dragons choose their riders” system feels like it was written on the fly.
Enjoyment: 5/10
Look, I didn’t hate it. If you turn off your brain, it’s fun in the same way that a bad action movie is—you know it’s dumb, but you’re still entertained. If you like hot, broody love interests, badass dragon battles (that we don’t get nearly enough of), and training montages where the protagonist somehow doesn’t die despite every odd stacked against her, then yeah, you’ll enjoy this. But if you’re looking for depth, logic, or actual stakes? This ain’t it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Gun violence, Infertility, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
The book is highly violent, with an emphasis on survival at all costs in a brutal training academy. Romance is a major subplot, with some explicit sexual content. Morally gray characters and power imbalances are central to the relationships. The pacing is intense, with frequent action and high stakes. Themes of resilience, betrayal, and sacrifice are prevalent. This book may not be suitable for sensitive readers, particularly those uncomfortable with graphic violence or explicit content.entiresunset's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I came to this book expecting to hate it or lazily skim through it but it drew me in from the first Page and I cant wait to read the sequels. I absolutely loved this book and the universe created
Tairn and Andarna are my absolutely favorite characters :D
Tairn and Andarna are my absolutely favorite characters :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
juliiitschka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Blood
pyr0maniac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I went in expecting to hate this book, figuring that it was one of those over-hyped, badly written flim-flams. It...wasn't? Not really?
Fourth Wing sucked me in almost immediately, with a fascinating world (pretty standard fantasy world, but it's standard for a reason), funny/sweet characters, and a TON of tension, mystery, and sadness. There was a good storyline (I think? maybe it was all the lovely drama messing with my perception), all the action and death you could ask for, relationships formed quickly and shattered even faster. Love triangle, of course.
But... (slight spoilers ahead)
MAJOR sex scene warning. I think there were two, and a few kissing scenes...I skipped several pages because Who Needs To Read That? Young people should DEFINITELY not read this, and...be careful. Yep!
Character development is probably the next biggest issue with the book. It's almost like the author set narrow lines for character behavior, and whenever she got bored with a person, rolled a die to see what they would *abruptly* turn into. It's just...meh. Good ideas for the characters, but not well carried out, fleshed out, developed. Like [stock loyal girl bestie] [stock joking classmate] [stock childhood best friend turned lover turned vengeful] [stock brooding older handsome guy who, we all know what must happen] and so on.
Do you seek a superquick love story with dragons and war and betrayal, sprinkled with plenty of profanity and the odd sex scene? Here thou goest.
Do you seek a quality book, something that will last, something with good characters, something that really has something important to say, something you'll remember for any reason EXCEPT the love triangle? Seek ye elsewhere! Flee! Get thee hence!
Fourth Wing sucked me in almost immediately, with a fascinating world (pretty standard fantasy world, but it's standard for a reason), funny/sweet characters, and a TON of tension, mystery, and sadness. There was a good storyline (I think? maybe it was all the lovely drama messing with my perception), all the action and death you could ask for, relationships formed quickly and shattered even faster. Love triangle, of course.
But... (slight spoilers ahead)
MAJOR sex scene warning. I think there were two, and a few kissing scenes...I skipped several pages because Who Needs To Read That? Young people should DEFINITELY not read this, and...be careful. Yep!
Character development is probably the next biggest issue with the book. It's almost like the author set narrow lines for character behavior, and whenever she got bored with a person, rolled a die to see what they would *abruptly* turn into. It's just...meh. Good ideas for the characters, but not well carried out, fleshed out, developed. Like [stock loyal girl bestie] [stock joking classmate] [stock childhood best friend turned lover turned vengeful] [stock brooding older handsome guy who, we all know what must happen] and so on.
Do you seek a superquick love story with dragons and war and betrayal, sprinkled with plenty of profanity and the odd sex scene? Here thou goest.
Do you seek a quality book, something that will last, something with good characters, something that really has something important to say, something you'll remember for any reason EXCEPT the love triangle? Seek ye elsewhere! Flee! Get thee hence!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content