Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 21/04/2023
Published by: RB Media, Recorded Books
ISBN: 9781705085059
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Cover:
Even with the cover’s lovely gold colour, the simple illustration does little to reflect the brutal, spectacular story that blew me away! I do, however, like the depictions of dragons and clouds as these hint at a central part of the world.
Writing:
Bringing the story to life is a lush, descriptive writing style that constantly details the setting and characters without impacting the story’s pace. Equally impressive is the rich, unique world that is easy to grasp yet complex, with a delightful blend of magic, dragons and politics. Cliffhanger chapter endings are also skillfully used, making it difficult to put this book down.
justice is not always merciful.
Storyline:
Once the prose has been swiftly introduced, the brutal storyline takes readers on a gripping journey filled with constant action and danger. This journey is enhanced by the underdog protagonist and well-thought-out storyline, which kept me fully invested in unfolding events. Besides this, the storyline is filled with many twists and turns, plus political intrigue, resulting in a compelling climax and ending that has me eager to get my hands on the next book!
Main character:
As well as being an underdog, Violet is an easy protagonist to root for because she is shown to be nice and genuine. Her character is also clever and tenacious, making her easy to like and more complex than initially portrayed. Besides this, the internal growth she experiences as she gains self-confidence made me love her character even more.
not all strength is physical
Secondary characters:
While there are many secondary characters, these are gradually introduced and infused with distinctive personalities that make them memorable. Even the dragons have so much personality and quickly earn a piece of my heart. There are characters to love and some to loathe, plus others who changed for me over the story, and these made the story more powerful.
Romance:
With the undeniable chemistry and attraction between Violet and the male lead, I could not get enough of the enemies-to-lovers romance that plays out. I especially loved that we slowly see a soft side to the male lead, and his feelings are shown through his actions. While there was a brief moment where the developing romance took over the storyline, the romance is clearly just as well-thought-out as the rest of the story.
Narration & Audio:
Rebecca Soler’s narration with Teddy Hamilton is flawless! The emotions and tension within the story are nicely conveyed through skilful changes in vocal pace and pitch, making my heart pound and enriching the story. Character voices are even done for some characters, making it easier to differentiate between them.
At the end of the day, ‘Fourth Wing‘ is an incredible debut that I CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH! The story is bursting with magic, dragons, action and politics. There are also gripping twists and turns that make it hard to put this book down and make it one of my favourites of the year! The premise reminds me of The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, and I would recommend that to those who loved this book.
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.
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