‘Fourth Wing’ has something for everybody
Genre blending is not exactly a new idea when it comes to literature. Occasionally, a new blend surfaces and becomes the latest and greatest craze that sends readers and listeners scrounging to find a copy of the book that brought the new blend to light.
Thanks to its unique combination of romance and fantasy, or romantasy, “Fourth Wing” does precisely that. Weaving a fantastical tale with a little bit of something for everybody, New York Times No. 1 bestselling author Rebecca Yarros provides plenty of twists and turns to hold our attention throughout the story and creates the latest cultural phenomenon that quickly rose to the top of everybody’s “to read” list.
The story follows the frail and studious Violet Sorrengail as she prepares to enter Basgiath War College as a scribe, following in her late father’s footsteps. That all changes when her mother, Gen. Lilith Sorrengail, makes a last-minute change to enlist Violet as a Dragon Rider candidate, the most dangerous quadrant within the War College.
We follow Violet through her training while she deals with the trials of being a first-year Rider cadet. Violet faces many trials that could easily be her downfall, as well as fellow students who would rather see her die than succeed – namely those with a grudge against her prolific mother. With the threat of death around every corner, Violet is forced to adapt to the new world she finds herself in with the help of both new and old friends she learns to count on. She believes that if she can just make it past threshing, the ceremony in which dragons pick the riders they will bond with, then she has what it takes to survive whatever comes next.
Our other main character is Xaden Riorson, a third-year cadet with a hatred for anyone with the last name Sorrengail. Xaden resolves to kill Violet before the end of her first month at Basgiath and does not make any attempt to hide this from her. Things do not go as planned for either of them as the ongoing conflict develops and Violet takes her first steps toward becoming a Dragon Rider. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads to her becoming stronger than she ever imagined.
Do not be mistaken, while this story contains plenty of action and danger, listeners get their fill of love, lust and romance as well as the complications that go along with each. “Fourth Wing” does not hold anything back as relationships develop and grow, culminating in a narrative meant only for adults comfortable with sometimes lewd descriptions of all different kinds of intimacy.
Rebecca Soler, an AudioFile Award Winner and accomplished voice actress, delivers a wonderful reading as the voice of Violet Sorrengail and her inner monologue, as well as the rest of the diverse cast of characters present in “Fourth Wing.” Soler brings Violet’s struggles to life as she becomes emotionally tuned in as the story continues to progress. We, as an audience, empathize with Violet as she experiences passion and struggle thanks to the emotional performance Soler delivers.
“Fourth Wing” does fall into some common tropes of both fantasy and romance and can drag at times, depending on your motivation for listening to it. The dialogue can become quite corny, but it never stays that way for long. The pace of this book helps it sweep past any moments that might not hit the ear quite as intended, making these instances easily forgivable.
This audiobook would be a great pick for those longer treks, clocking in at roughly 21 hours. It takes some time to get through, but the journey is well worth it if you enjoy either fantasy or romance. The next two books in the series, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm, are already available on every major audiobook platform, with more planned for the future. So if you are a fan of this book, you will have plenty of content to enjoy for years to come. LL