There’s something to be said for well-developed, genuinely relatable characters in fantasy novels. They’re not as common as I’d like. That being said, the main character of Fourth Wing, Violet Sorrengail, was an absolute delight to read about.

It’s not everyday that you see a main character deal with actual injury, physical frailty, and chronic pain in a war-ridden fantasy novel. Beyond that, Violet is a traumatized youngest child with parental pressures and a pervasive sense of grief. She is intelligent, deeply empathetic, and incredibly resilient. It’s inspiring to read about a character who is so clearly human, who struggles deeply with making the right decisions, yet overcomes challenges and confronts relationship issues directly and intentionally.

The love interest and other important characters (including the freaking DRAGONS) are just as well developed, and by the end of the novel, they felt like people I truly know well.

This novel also incorporates the best parts of all of my favorite stories, while managing to tell an entirely new and unique story at the same time. The lore is well thought out, creating an entire history of the world that makes me believe the cultural customs and threads of what is happening beyond the scope of the main character.

The plot is executed in such a way that each little breadcrumb makes the end of the book satisfying and believable, while withholding just enough information to shock the reader. That balance is hard to achieve, and it’s fantastically done in Fourth Wing.

I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out!