Have you read Fourth Wing yet? What did you think?? This book is so polarizing and I'm loving hearing everyone's thoughts and feelings on it 👀Feel free to like and comment for the algorithm gods because your girl spent literal weeks on this monster of a video 🤣
@@kartik3719omg I DNFed too!!! I *might* have been able to get through it if the disability rep didn’t piss me off so much, but the writing was just SO BAD!
I enjoyed it, but as a don't-need-to-think-much enjoy-the-ride type read. I like the big, epic "feel special" moments, but I DETESTED the kissing scenes almost entirely because how the author describes tongues. I'm hoping the sequel improves some of the world building, plot laziness, cringe dialogue, and writing/editing.
I haven’t read it but listened to your spoilers and don’t feel I need to invest any more time into it. I would love to see you review Children of Time, an actually amazing and singular sci-fi book. Haven’t read the sequel but the first was a total stand alone and fantastic. I feel like it has the trope reversal of big female/small male that you’re looking for..
I kept hearing about the book so thanks for the detailed review. The let's say human resources problem doesn't make sense. The dragon bonding thing reminds me of what I remember of the dragon riders of Pern weirdness on the same issues. The size differences between characters is kind of odd -- I just finished Ice Planet Barbarians so there are ways to do that rather well (I was surprised that I loved that one!). Not making reading Fourth Wing a priority now. Thanks and happy I discovered your channel now!
yeah. I actually found it kinda creepy how EVERY single popular trope, plots, and stereotypical characters there were. It's like she wrote down what was popular, copied it to a T (no originality, hence why the book is super predictable and underwhelming), and just wrote something really quickly and sold it out to the public. I saw how people are eating this shit up, so when I started reading, I legit thought I got the wrong book three chapters in. I was genuinely shocked how immature, cringe, predictable, and stereotypical the whole thing was. I was flabbergasted!
This is how writing literally works XD Cheers to her. This story will be the next big thing in the movie theatres and she deserves every piece of success, for putting a story together for a certain target audience, that would sell. She stayed in her niche and that was the best decision she might ever made.
@@katgreer6113I think your comment also really aligns with the stuff I’ve been learning about her publisher Red Tower now that the sequel is out….seems like they take a very lazy approach to their editing itself and focus more on the marketing and mass consumption of their books?? 🧐
I read it in order to be able to have a valid opinion about it. I was generous and gave it 2.5- 3 stars. I've described it as Prim from Hunger Games goes to Divergent camp, has Twilight/Hunger Games love triangle and becomes TV Dani from Game of Thrones with (not-so) twist end (if you were paying attention).
OOOOH so it sounds like a try-hard no thank you for me. I'm not big on hyped books (never have I read a Twilight-esque book nor have I jumped onto the "Shades" bandwagon... thanks for this summary. I appreciate you!
Let’s put aside how much I enjoyed this video and move on to the real star of the show - YOU AND YOUR BACKGROUND. You always have a stunning aesthetic but I couldn’t stop commenting on it out loud while watching this video.
Aw thank you! I really enjoyed filming in different areas for this one (even if it was mostly out of necessity because we’re redecorating my filming room 😅). I’m glad you enjoyed it, too! ❤️
The hair thing still doesn’t make sense because your hair grays from the roots not the tips. She said no matter how much she cut her hair. The ends would always turned white. That’s not how hair works.
when there is a tab for eyerolling, that's not a great sign haha. You're so diligent with your annotating, i don't bother to waste my supplies on books that aren't 5star predictions. i do it on a reread if i end up being surprised. "I'm not like other girls, i'm so pretty that i'm ugly, i'm so undesirable that all the guys want me." i have no intention of reading this, but i enjoy all the rants about it. I haven't read throne of glass, but it reminds me of throne of glass...its a 5 book series...yay....
throne of glass is completely different. it's unpredictable, with in-depth plot and characters, but fourth wing was just..."pretty badass girl meets mysterious hot guy, they fall in love"
my HUGEST issue with this book, among plenty others ofc, is Xaden!! this character was super intriguing, a son of a rebel with the best dragon and a personal vendetta against the fml. this was super promising, I thought their love stroy would be entangled with politics, because no way in hell is a man DIRECTLY effected by the cruel punishment of the government would actually fall for the pure representation of a nepo baby and government. but nope, he is completely erased and turned into a piece of meat (which makes the author doubling down on the fact he is a poc - mysterious ofc and with no specific race - just this much awful) and he operates only by his hormones because yes, these characters are in their 20s but mentally, they just discovered about the other gender and they're super horny about it!!! like I said in my review, this book spoon feed SO MUCH you gag on it and you're still getting nothing, no characters, world building, relations or system. positively awful
I was so surprised at the route she chose to take for worldbuilding...I feel like if someone asked her questions about all the lands and stuff she described in the book, she wouldn't even be able to answer it. And I say "describe" as in Violet reciting the facts out loud because, oh how so convenient.
The polarizing reviews intrigued me so I listened to the audiobook, and I think that helped me enjoy it more. The romantic angst was super cringy, but those sassy dragons were fabulous and enough to get me through to the end. Honestly, I’m glad I read it just for them, even if I wanted more.
I had the opposite experience, the horrible, immature dialogue was made so much worse by the audiobook, that it made me cringe so badly I had to pause the book, and had to force myself to go back every time, until I finally DNFed it and even returned to audible.
I also listened to the audio book. The main narrator was unfortunately not my taste so I think it made it harder to get through, but I agree I did enjoy the sassy dragons lol
The author in an interview said she was thinking about an audiobook listener driving around town while writing this. I think it delivered that, listened on 1.75x while recovering from surgery. A brain candy I adored and will probably listen to the next one during exam season this nov😂 but atleast xaden isn't toxic, we know it's the bare minimum but it's something we can grab onto when pop culture makes arsenic look like love potion 😭
Actually the protagonist herself calls that guy toxic. Also I don't know about the end, because I couldn't finish that book, but I personally didn't find this guy appealing in the slightest. Sure, he doesn't r*** the protagonist, but is this really the new standard we're having?
“Haven’t seen them over the summer but they came back hot …” - dying at this summary, hahahaha. As soon as I saw this video my first thought was ohhh, nooo she is not going to enjoy this and love how you just roast both Violet and Xaden’s characters throughout, it’s hilarious. I personally loved Fourth Wing because I found it so much fun but I also love hearing other opinions for those who don’t enjoy it so this was an entertaining watch 💛
I just love your book reviews😂😂. I laughed more here than I did when I read the book. I definitely share your sentiments, I read it at the peak of the hype and thought wow an adult fantasy everyone is raving about and I just dove in. I knew i was sorely mistaken by the end of the first chapter but held up hope it would start to resemble an actual adult fantasy. What I will say, it is compulsively readable because of the simple language and dialogue used. I think that more than anything is what appealed to the masses soo much.
I rolled my eyes soooo many times while reading this book. I got it on Amazon First Reads so I didn't pay for it, and had no idea it was a super hyped-up book right now only to find out afterwards (and was shocked lol). But even though it was cringe from so many directions, easy to predict, and easy reading -- I annoyingly couldn't put it down. 👀Ugh.
I totally can see the criticism its getting, however it was for me for a long, long time a book that I could not stop reading. Although it has its flaws and is rightfully criticised for it, for me it had this special spark that just hooked me and I had to read it in one sitting. I was just not able to put it away, and that whats made it an instant 5 read for me. I just loved reading it
I really hope the second book is written a bit better because the plot, world building, and excitement is there, but there are definitely cringe moments.
@@ameliafasth4989I looked it up and there is starting to be a category called “emerging adult” lit. And this is in it. The author has mostly written YA and to me this is YA plus explicit sex. But I liked it enough to listen to the first two back to back and waiting for the third. It’s mostly the dragons. THERES PSYCHIC TALKING DRAGONS 🐉 what am I supposed to do not read it????? 😂😂
Coming back after finishing, and those quotes DESTROYED ME 💀 Honestly, this entire video was very entertaining and I do appreciate how much effort you put into your analysis while trying to remain respectful to people who did enjoy it. I have zero tolerance for cringe scenes and modern speak in fantasy settings and struggle a lot with YA as a genre, so the amount of YA coded dialogue in this is simply a pass on principle for me, but I don't regret watching the journey of your experiencing it 😂
Aw thank you! You are too kind ❤️ I definitely didn’t want to be judgemental toward those who enjoyed the book. There is definitely a place for entertaining trope-filled reads, and while Fourth Wing didn’t do it for me I’ll always be glad that people are reading and loving books!
I got to three quarters of the way through and couldn’t anymore, it’s such lazy writing and has next to no descriptive text of the locations and/or the rooms and furniture for example, apart from talks on a couple Of dragons carved into a desk and dragon statues in the rotunda. I’m currently reading Brandon Sanderson’s ‘Oathbringer’ and no joke in the first three paragraphs of the chapter I picked back Up on - I had more descriptive text about the ship the characters were on in half a page than in the entirety of Fourth Wing?! I’ve just finished reading all of Robin Hobb’s Farseer books, so that’s my level of description that is needed not just for me but I believe for fantasy writing in general. Love that you’re saying everything I’ve been saying from the first few chapters, thank you so much. I also found it very hard to keep up with what kind of year in history this book was setting, they only mention quills and inkpots a couple of times by 3/4 of the way in, so it is really hard to understand if it’s mediaeval or not, plus as you said yourself, the language doesn’t really fit in with a mediaeval timeline, so….. Thanks again, can’t wait to check out your channel!
This is the most organized, detailed, and helpful book review I've ever seen. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I am just discovering your channel and have immediately subscribed! ❤
I started reading the book and enjoyed the first 3 chapters but then it started becoming more and more of an eragon + divergent fan fic. I felt the setting and lore were just too similar to those two books but done worse with all the internet speak and logic holes in the society. Eventually I stopped reading when she got her powers because I already felt like it was basically a fanfiction but then when she got her "special magic" coupled with her appearance - specifically her hair - I immediately thought of Mare Barrow from Red Queen and it was just too much for me. I do agree though that I'd recommend this to the right kind of people who would enjoy it but I'm definitely on the same page as you regarding what I want out of my fantasy novels ♥ Thank you for making great content and have a wonderful day!
I mostly wanted to read this for the disability rep but ended up dnfing very early on. I don’t have EDS but I am disabled so I can only speak on overall disability rep, and it definitely feels like this book falls into the ‘if you just try hard enough, you can overcome your disability’ trope. It sounds like the MC can do everything she needs to despite her disability which is unrealistic and kind of erases her disability when convenient. That being said, I didn’t read the whole book so idk if there were moments where she genuinely couldn’t do something, I’m only going off the part I read.
Thank you for sharing your perspective! Minor spoiler: her dragon and love interest work together to make her a saddle and when they reveal it she agrees to use it, acknowledging that she’ll likely never have the required strength to keep her seat while riding her dragon without assistance. While reading I had hoped she would seek out accommodations on her own, rather than having it done for her, but I was glad to see that there wasn’t a bit deal made about the accommodation by anyone else (at least as far as I can remember).
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! I DNFed for the same reason, and I don’t understand anyone else saying it’s “good” chronic illness rep?! Like if it resonates with someone, cool, I’m happy for them, but I’m sorry there is no way to “try hard enough” to cure a chronic illness, and it’s honestly harmful for those of who have spent their whole lives trying to get people to understand that we just aren’t as strong as they are and can’t “just work out” their pain away!!!
@@PlantBasedBrideEXACTLY! She is a “scribe” aka someone with a extensive education and supposedly higher intelligence than the average person, she really couldn’t come up with “saddle” on her own?!?!
I was WAITING for so long for the saddle to show up, it annoyed me that she didn't even think of it as a possibility. I have hEDS, the type that Violet is supposed to have. I can't do things an able bodied person can do. Period. Why can't she even imagine the idea of a saddle? Blew. My. Mind. @@PlantBasedBride
i’m a new viewer to your channel and i’m absolutely obsessed with the editing style of this video, the reviews/ check ins tied in with the vlog style reading snippets and exterior/ interior locations is so pleasing to watch
@PlantBasedBride the book is most likely not for me but I will give it a shot if indigo ever has a good sale on it. And now I have reduced my expectations so perhaps it won’t be as painful now knowing what to expect.
I think Fourth Wing has had a big impact on the book community not because of having a great storyline or being one of the best books ever written but because of pure nostalgia. It reminds readers of early 2010s YA books such as the Hunger Games, Divergent and Twilight. Plus, the dragons make it more appealing. I agree on most of the things you said. It has a really stereotypical story and its narrative is poor and repetitive. The most interesting characters are those that appear the least (my favorite is also Ridoc, and I consider Imogen to have great potential for future books). Also, I don’t know if someone else agrees with me, but I hated the “romance”. I think it was based more on sexual attraction than anything else.
I agree, not the best written but it’s so nostalgic and homey that it just feels right. I’ll look over bad writing any day if the book makes me feel good. The romance is also definitely just sexualized.
I laughed when you started annontating in the first paragraph. I'm settling in to watching this video later - I wanted to read the book first. The chronic illness aspect was a surprise and I got more interested when I picked up on that early on (I have a chronic illness, so that might've been more obvious to me), the violence was SO MUCH, miost characters were two-dimensional stereotypes, but the dragons were beautifully described and YES! Tairn is amazing! It reads like YA, but is clearly for adults, yet... I wish it'd had about another three edits before it was set it loose on the world. I suspect it's inspired by Anne McCaffrey's the Dragonriders of Pern, with modern-day levels of spice and violence thrown in the mix and... creating a bit of a mess, ultimately. But after a very busy/exhausting week, I couldn't stop reading (while ignoring the more problematic aspects), so there's that. I suggest you read fast and don't think too much. I gave it a solid 3 for the ride.
Brilliant video. You nailed everything that was bothering me about this book. I've resisted the Booktok romance fantasy trends until now (blame my book clubs for wanting to be topical!). Coincidentally, I've been rereading Eragon alongside Fourth Wing and maaaan, it's amazing that Christopher Paolini at 15 could write with more depth and naunce, not to mention the detailed dragon lore. Regardless, I'm happy that Fourth Wing did one good thing and introduced me to your channel. Your vibes are immaculate and I love your film-making!
Thank you so much for reading this, so that I don’t have to. It seems we share many pet peeves in this genre and I can tell this book would definitely not be a satisfying read for me. I was laughing towards the beginning of the video, when you underlined the ‘I barely reached his collarbone” line because it was so cringey and I was sure that color tab had to be for some form of cringey language. And it was 😂 Very much enjoyed the video!
in terms of the EDS rep, i would have preferred to see violet come up with her own accommodations and find creative ways to use her unique strengths and weaknesses (another reason i wish she would have only bonded with the feathertail, since then they could have developed something unique that worked for the both of them and the ways they are both seen as weak), rather than this toxic perseverance mindset that if a disabled person just works harder she’ll be just as good if not better than everyone else within the system set up without her in mind :^/ disappointing rep in my opinion (i am disabled but don’t have EDS, however my partner does so i have up-close experience with it and some ways it can make life challenging for those who have it)
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective! I remember noticing that the main accommodation (the saddle) was something made for her by others and not something she sought out herself and I was wondering how that would be viewed by disabled readers. It did seem that Violet had internalized ableism that was never addressed. I agree that it would have been fantastic to see Violet bonding solely with Andarna, though I would have missed my grandpa dragon’s inner monologue 😅❤️
Finally ! Ever since I saw that you read this on Goodreads, I've been waiting for and dreading this video at the same time. So happy it's 1h+ long ! So much content ! Thank you Elizabeth !
"women being so tiny they're almost childlike" Okay, I never thought about it quite like that, but big yikes. That's got some pretty uncomfortable implications that I'm not okay with. 😬 Also I really appreciate you mentioning the vomit as a trigger because that's an immediate boot from my tbr. I cannot handle it.
I’ve come to realize that super hyped books are often the ones I like the least or straight up hate. So when this one came out I was unsure about reading it… now I am glad I didn’t. Thanks for your service 😂 Also I agree with everything you said about the tropes here. I dream of a book about a samwise gangee character… you know, the kind of character that will be extraordinary in their normality, the ones that are the bestest of friends for the ones who are actually the chosen ones. Maybe they already exist… if so, this girl needs the titles 😁
Not quite up to Samwise Gamgee's level of normalness but I finally got round to reading Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea cycle this summer, and it was a real breath of fresh air in the sea of recent same-ish fantasy books. Actually, one of the novels deals specifically with ramifications of the main character not being special at all, and still having to somehow survive and protect those close to them.
I saw the "Tik Tok sensation" line and I was immediately out when it came to this book. Then I saw the "for the fans of Sarah J. Mass and Jennifer L. Armentrout" tag and I was like "HELL, NO!" And every single review posted by someone whose opinion I respect just reinforced the feeling that I made a good choice :) What scares me the most is that these authors are considered trendsetters in the YA/New Adult genre and it´s going to make this generation of readers soooo stupid... Not because of the plot (or lack thereof) but because of the objectively poor writing and all the toxic tropes that are somehow still normalised in literature. By the way, anyone who pestered you about reading this book knowing how bad it is, simply to get your opinion, does not have your best interest in mind :D
I too went into this expecting an adult fantasy and immediately it all just felt so very.. ridiculous? I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn't get into it and ended up returning my copy. Thanks for doing this deep dive, it was very entertaining.
I’ve never returned a book in my life, nor thought of it as an option but with this book, if I could remember where the receipt was, I would definitely do it 😂
I don’t have EDS but I have RA and hyper-mobile joints, and sorry to anyone who disagrees, but I thought the disability rep was AWFUL. If I had a quarter for every person who told me if I “just worked out” or “just tried ______ diet” I would get better, or somehow overcome the limitations of my body, I would be rich! And Dain was patronizing but he was also right, if she wasn’t a super special chosen one she *would* die, so his concern was warranted. The disability rep is honestly what pushed me to put it down, the plot holes were annoying, but that was infuriating.
OMG. I agree with so much of your review. I thought to myself that I'd like to hear more of your reviews. Then I looked at who you are and realized that you are one of my fav BUJO content creators! :)
As somebody who has chosen to leave this book off my TBR, thank you for sharing your thoughts and including the spoilers, as well as the quotes at the end. 🙏 I feel like I, too, have now gotten to participate in this cultural movement.
Loved this video!! I knew when I saw that it was dang near an hour and half that one of my favorite books of 2023 was about to be DESTROYED 🤣. I totally agree with so so many of the flaws in this book, but it kept me soooo enthralled. I couldn't put it down. It reminded me how hooked I was back in the day with Hunger Games, Divergent, etc. But I loved hearing your thoughts on the book! So many good points! 💞
Thank you for trying to be spoiler free! I like your analysis so I don’t have to totally waste my time or get my hopes up. I might read it just to get the background lore… then go find some fanfiction and see if anyone else executed it better 😂
That is actually a great idea. I don't hate the idea of the book. One of my favorite book series ever follows kind of a similar setting (it's in Wattpad though) but I definitely don't think it was executed properly. Fanfics would definitely do much better.
I’m actually shocked anytime I hear people say Fourth Wing has “very little plot” because the entire book was full of very intricate plot details and ingenious foreshadowing to me! It’s an absolute fav of mine, not just because it was one of the best romances ever put on page, but also because the PLOT and the details and the mystery is absolutely incredible!
I know I'm late to the party, but I had to wait forever to get this book from my library. I just finished it yesterday. All of your points are 100% valid. This book was predictable, tropey, and read like YA. But I ate that shit up. I couldn't put it down. I love me a big hunky bad boy love interest who wields shadows. And the dragons? They stole the show in every scene! I got this book from the library, but I'll probably end up buying a copy so that I can read it again. That's how much I enjoyed it. Flaws and all.
I loved Fourth Wing but I do agree it was a YA book & definitely could have used more editing. I could see a mile off what was going to happen but as I said I still loved it. I’m in pain all the time, there’s no time when I’m not so I don’t go for high fantasy reads because I can’t concentrate on them, for that reason it was perfect for me. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it but there’s always more books coming out for you to like.
I think you have no idea how much I LOVEEEE your videos about the books you read and their review. I think I mentioned before but I have an insanely boring job so I play your video while I work and have such a blast with your comments and all, it's a lifesaver. I see myself as a "failed reader enthusiast" lol I have almost no time, or energy (or money now for books) to read so these vlogs get me close to trendy books and it's really nice. It's important to notice, you save a lot of people like me from throwing away our little money on bad reads 🤣 Btw, I feel people lately whenever you throw in magic plus dragons on anything they automatically go: OMG its "OSOMMMM" and, just NO no noooo XD
I would never read a book that I don't enjoy, that was for school times. But, having said that, how I laughed with you reading those awful quotes!!! 🤣🤣🤣 You made my day!!! 🤣 You should make a series of videos, or even shorts, reading cheesy quotes from various books, it would provide so much comic relief for all of us 😉 And thank you for your sacrifice in reading this gigantic and ridiculous book, so we don't have to 😉
I honestly wish I liked Fourth Wing. I really really wish I liked it because the author seems down-to-earth and kind, still surprised by her Fantasy debut success. Not to mention the midnight release party and flabbergasting amount of hype and anticipation for the sequel. I haven't seen anything like this in over a decade adn I work in the book industry. Yarros at this point might be carrying publishing on her back for this year. Meaning, she is proving Books are not a dying industry AND you don't need a long history of fans to have remarkable, legendary success. She's getting non-readers to read. She's funneling money into an industry that runs on the juggernauts raking in the money for the whole imprint/publisher to fund smaller less popular books. Just wow. I honestly truly wish I liked this book because I would LOVE to be part of this Movement.
I started watching this video a few months ago but then stopped because I wanted to read it for myself with 0 spoilers. I actually really enjoyed it, so you never know! Haha. Plenty of valid critiques but for me, it was just a fun time 🤷♀
I am so happy that you went through this for us, Thank You! Thanks to your efforts, there is not a snowballs chance that I will be reading this book. Amazon tried to lure me into it, and I will not be pulled into that trap now. This video was probably more entertaining than the book anyway! 😂🤣
I just finished this and it’s so lovely to hear you more eloquently go through this book lol. Being in a trance and awaking upon the end is a very apt way to describe reading it lol
I completely agree with everything you said and I was entertained, so I gave it a good enough rating :) just because of that. I don't read a lot of fantasy books. I'm glad I was able to enjoy the read.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but the dragons were definitely the best part by a long shot and I wish we'd gotten more of them. Absolutely an easy read and it's what I needed. It also gave me the surreal experience of feeling so utterly detached from what was on the page it was like reading through a mental concrete wall when the ~sexually charged~ scenes came up, as an asexual person who hasn't felt even a smidge of sexual attraction to anyone and so couldn't relate at all to what was going on. If nothing else it made me really want to read a book with an asexual lead.
I laughed so hard at your "flavour commentary". Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I feel seen. At some point, please do the second book of the series.
A lot of the criticisms are well deserved, I did still really enjoy the storyline though. If you do decide to read IF, a good chunk of your questions do get answered. And I just gotta defend the use of “voluntold”. It’s very common to hear in the military, so it made perfect sense to me considering they’re at a war college.
Not interested in this book in the slightest but still listening cause I love your voice. 💙 I'm curious what's your opinion on "100 books you must read before you die" lists. Have you ever tried to complete one, do you think they're valuable, maybe you could create your own and share it in a video? :)
Aw thank you! 🥹❤️ I’ve considered picking one and challenging myself to read them all, though there are so many different lists out there that picking one will be a challenge for my indecisive self 😂 I’m not sure I’d be able to make one at this point in my life, but that could be a very fun video at some point in the future!
Even if I am not interested in the book at all, it is always a pleasure to see you speaking about books on a more than hour long video that I, of course, have watched until the end. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 btw, your garden looks incredible …❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hi, I was listening in my earbuds and heard “Soren Gail” and literally did a double take thinking I was in trouble…that’s my first and middle name. Holy shit 😆 loved the review! I enjoy your insight ♥️
As a smaller framed woman, I HATE that stupid "she is so tiny and small, and he is so tall and huge and blah blah blah" trope! 🤮🤮🤮It's so infantilizing, and fetishizing! And I'm not kink-shaming if that's your thing...but I feel like every other romance book has this trope! Stop it! If that's the only reason you can make your characters attracted to each other than you failed as an author. The same goes for "special-colored eyes and hair"- is that the only interesting trait your MC has? A Shout out to my tall queens and short kings! ❤
Such a great video like always! I had a fun time with the book - one of those where I know there are a number of things that don't make it any huge literary standout, but I definitely couldn't put it down! One of the things I both loved and was disappointed by was the chronic disease rep - the author has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (which affects connective tissues, like you said) and which Violet seems likely to have in the novel. So I think you were spot on with that! I love seeing a main character with a chronic illness (rather than that character being just a sidekick or barely present), but was disappointed that mostly she was just described as 'weak' rather than going further into it because it wasn't immediately clear to me that she was dealing with a serious illness. Like you I also was getting annoyed initially with the 'weak' comments and then later was like 'oh... she has an illness that causes this but why wasn't it clearer!'
Thank you for this!!! I love me some dragons but ummmm wow this sounds ROUGH. And as a 6ft thicc girl engaged to a shorter guy, I am WAITING for the strong girl/shorter guy romance.
I’m screaming 😂 you hit the nail on the head with this review. I just finished it too and was I entertained? Yes. Did it live up to the hype everyone has been giving it? Absolutely not. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
I'm sorry you had to read a book you didn't enjoy but the quotes you read at the end made me laugh out loud. Thank you for making this video. I wasn't aware the book existed as that type of fantasy generally isn't for me but this way I got a glimpse. :) Hope you have a lovely day!
I generally give a book 100 pages before I peace out. I had a feeling I wouldn't make it to 50 in this one, and your review has solidified that feeling. Thanks for taking one for the team!
If you hate Romantacy but like Epics & High Fantasy and want similar vibes to 4th Wing without tired tropes or any focus on how hot or big the characters are, I recommend The Songs of Chaos series by Michael Miller. Full of substance, diversity, & capable females in a VERY complex and well defined society of humans and dragons.
When I first heard about this book, all it made me think was how much I missed the Temeraire series. I don’t know if you’ve read His Majesty’s Dragon, but I would really, really love to hear your thoughts on it. 🐉
The Temeraire series is really excellent. I had to give it up because I don't do well with animals in danger and dragons in a human war fit that category. 😢 I was sad to give it up, because the dragons were so cool, but I know what my triggers are. ❤
20 min into this video and I'm grateful I've watched so far. You've saved me some bookish frustration.Thank you. Oh and now I'm looking for clear post-its bcz "anxious book scribbler"
I have just read Fourth Wing because I am Spanish and let me tell you even if I am loving this book, you are right and I am quite interested in your opinion! Iron flame is releasing on February in Spanish and I am head over heels for that
Fourth Wing failed to give me the world building I've come to expect from fantasy. It did not even scratch the surface in my opinion. There were opportunities for character and relationship developments that were never taken, but the author spent page after page on essentially nothing. It also drives me insane that this is labeled "enemies to lovers". It is not. The author shattered that already thin illusion at the end. I walked away feeling cheated and frustrated. I also believe whoever approved the audio book form, needs fired. I heard the narrator lick their lips, turn pages, bump the mic, etc and it drove me absolutely insane. I've also recently learned that she also managed to pronounce nearly everything incorrectly.
I agree with most of this review except for the “weak, small” trope. I believe that Violet is supposed to have EDS (Elhers-Danlos Syndrome) which is a physical disability that affects joints, skin, and blood vessels. A lot of people with it are also albino or have a lot less color in their skin. I don’t personally have EDS, but I do have a close friend with it and felt that a lot of Violets physical struggles line up with it. I am also physically disabled and was very happy to read a character who is forcing accommodations on a society that is not accepting at all. As a physically disabled person, I love this character because it made me feel very seen. She’s different because she’s disabled, not because of a trope.
I know you posted this video over a year ago, but I would love to hear your perspective on Violet as a character with the context that she’s likely physically disabled. I personally loved her character, but I might be biased because I am also physically disabled. The main reason I think this is because Yarros includes (at least in the second book, I did the audiobook for the first one) a little dedication to Zebra Warriors, which is a ‘mascot’ for EDS as they are called ‘medical zebras’.
Thank you for saving me the time on this one. At one time i might have gone for something this surface level but now i like to explore, be challenged, be surprised, think. Dont have to think really hard, just a little here and there 😂
One of my co-workers recommended this, and I had my doubts. So glad I didn't rush right out and buy it. Yikes! Thanks for saving me from spraining my eye rolling muscles. (In fairness, the co-worker in question is both half my age and straight. She's probably a lot more the target audience than my middle-aged lesbian self. LOL)
Cracking up....best line "what in the spandex is going on here???". Thank you, Elizabeth. Just saved myself from wasting any time on what would end up DNF.
Ever read The Dragonriders of Pern? Old 70’s vibe sci fi series, female MC also has a gold queen dragon, affected by dragon lust, and uses time as a super power along with all the old tropes. Its been awhile since I read it so I can’t make a lot of comparisons but now I really want to and watch a comparison video 😂
You are the GODDESS of patience! haha....If I come across a young adult fantasy type of thing in the first two chapters, I'll say a very pleasant forever goodbye to that book and never look back!! haha
Interesting to watch as you identified & defined some of the things I was feeling & thinking while reading this book, and more. The repetition; the over emphasis of the small/weak/petite MC (groan); the ethics of poisoning one’s opponents; the predictability; the.staccato.sentences; the missed opportunities for plot & character development & exploration… all so annoying! And yet, when I finished, I realised I had still enjoyed it & am looking forward to book two (and hoping it’s better & she & her editor watched & learnt from your video 😆). Thanks for doing a good critique!
Thank the Lord. You read it, so I don't have to! Eye-rolling tab, you crack me up. I've been fed up with lazy, uninspired writing. Random recommendation - read Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love. I've never had an inclination to read Harry Potter fanfic but somehow ended up reading this masterpiece. The writing is witty, sophisticated and gorgeous - you won't regret it! Better than many of these PUBLISHED books.
Ugh I love HP fanfics cause the authors do a far better job than Joanne ever did. Anyway, I searched for that book and just the tag and the author's note at the beginning has made me fall in love with this story. So thank you for directing me there. Would also recommend "Oh God Not Again!" (also on Ao3). It's low stakes and funny and I read that book every once in a while,
I came back looking for this comment to thank you. It was a wonderful read, and you're correct, it was far better than many of the published books. I loved the author's writing style and I could clearly see Austen's style in her writing. Also, the way she described sceneries and people made it so easy to visualize the story. It played like a movie in my head because of clear and poetic descriptions and also because the author wrote in such a way that it was easy to capture the tone and emotion of each scene. It made me feel beautiful, magical things and that's the reason I read anyway: to feel beautiful, magical things. I loved this book to the point I didn't even mind the smut (which I generally either skim through, skip or avoid because after having read a few, I find those extremely boring). I'm looking forward to reading the book the author will be publishing in 2025. Generally, I avoid romantasy that is published because: 1. I hold a grudge against the tag/genre. 2. Seeing these popular authors, I don't compleetely trust that there's a romantasy book out there that fulfills most or all of my requirements, But, having read, Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love, it seems her book will have everything I love and nothing I hate. Fingers crossed.
I definitely agree with many of your comments, particularly that the book leans a bit too trope-y and pretty poorly edited! I do think, however, that the book is marketed as young adult and maybe even on the younger side of YA, which I feel like make some of these things a little bit more acceptable. Overall, I thought it was a fun, easy read and am excited to see a little bit more of the world in the next book!
Maybe it’s just that I only really follow creators in their late twenties and up, but I had no idea it was being perceived as a YA novel! Clearly sometimes my resistance to reading anything about a book before diving in doesn’t always serve me well 😂
Re: a tall woman & shorter man - super rare, which is why it stood out to me in the book I just finished, The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. First time coming across your content. I'll probably be diving into your channel occasionally 😁
I agreed with a lot of what you said, yet I absolutely loved the book lol. I ate that sh*t up and its sequence so fast that I'm already mourning the fact that the 3rd book in the series will only be out on January 25 😅
I admire you for reading books like you describe. Not just this one, but others that you have reviewed. I do not like this type of book. I truly would have burned the book before finishing it. That you are courageous and finished the book and aforementioned books. I appreciate your views. I appreciate your professional manner in how creatively word your opinions. You are the brave one. 📚📚📚💚💚💚
Tellement divertissant à regarder 😄 d’après le résumé je m’étais déjà fait une idée… et j’attendais avec impatience que tu confirmes! Merci pour ta revue ☺️
A very unpopular opinion :O!! Everyone I have seen in the internet has loved the book, I haven´t read it yet, loving to see a different perspective of this and sustained with your comments, writing fantasy is difficult without trying to empathize things on purpose.
This book feels fanfic-y/YA with a Marysue as an mc. It’s in Harlequin+ serviceable but forgotten in a minute. To be read in a plane, train or a long commute
If this was a Kindle Unlimited release, I would understand the hype, but this does not even feel like an editor looked over it once! HOW did it get such a massive marketing push with hardcover and sprayed edges, when there is better fantasy on KU?! And how does it have such a high rating???
Thanks for the balanced review. I will probably try this in audiobook format just for the dragons. I saw a comment about how stupid it was to lose riders because of no harness. Even a medieval culture would try a rope or a leather tether.
i like to think of fourth wing as a fast and furious movie. i think you're meant to consume and enjoy them (maybe even with a drink), but not too overly thought about otherwise it turns into trash. though i do think that fourth wing was more enjoyable than iron flame.
Thank you so much for your review ❤❤ I must say that I personally hate to read YA when I expect fantasy... I feel it is often the case that new books are rather YA than fantasy nowadays when marketed as fantasy.
I love these reviews because although we are not always on the same page (I loved Normal People) I feel like this gives me the context to know that I would absolutely not enjoy this book, and that's a great service because now I can just ignore all the talk around it.
i had heard whisperings of this book on instagram and largely ignored the hype but then i saw you did a review. i started to watch your video and thought. ok. no. i MUST read this book before i watch elizabeth's video. of course i adhd-put it off until yesterday, finished the book in under 24 hours, and came straight here. i LOVE your analysis of this book! even as a self-professed enjoyer of YA novels and all their tropes, i must admit the girl tiny, man big is getting REAL old. also i absolutely called xander? xaden?? having ~shadow~ powers, and immediately knew violet's powers would be the antithesis (light, lightning). i am also in total agreement about the disjointed-ness of including internet-speak in amongst some of the grander language (that ftw comment nearly made me stop reading). all that having been said, i have to admit that the story was compelling enough that i kept reading cos i wanted to know what would happen. i will probably read the sequel when it comes out just to keep up with the plot! but it won't have an impact the way other fantasy ya novels have done at all. thanks for this awesome review!
Have you read Fourth Wing yet? What did you think?? This book is so polarizing and I'm loving hearing everyone's thoughts and feelings on it 👀Feel free to like and comment for the algorithm gods because your girl spent literal weeks on this monster of a video 🤣
I dnfed it at chapter 3 cause I could not stand the writing 😂😂
@@kartik3719omg I DNFed too!!! I *might* have been able to get through it if the disability rep didn’t piss me off so much, but the writing was just SO BAD!
I enjoyed it, but as a don't-need-to-think-much enjoy-the-ride type read. I like the big, epic "feel special" moments, but I DETESTED the kissing scenes almost entirely because how the author describes tongues. I'm hoping the sequel improves some of the world building, plot laziness, cringe dialogue, and writing/editing.
I haven’t read it but listened to your spoilers and don’t feel I need to invest any more time into it.
I would love to see you review Children of Time, an actually amazing and singular sci-fi book. Haven’t read the sequel but the first was a total stand alone and fantastic. I feel like it has the trope reversal of big female/small male that you’re looking for..
I kept hearing about the book so thanks for the detailed review. The let's say human resources problem doesn't make sense. The dragon bonding thing reminds me of what I remember of the dragon riders of Pern weirdness on the same issues.
The size differences between characters is kind of odd -- I just finished Ice Planet Barbarians so there are ways to do that rather well (I was surprised that I loved that one!).
Not making reading Fourth Wing a priority now. Thanks and happy I discovered your channel now!
It feels like the author figured out the Tik Tok formula and wrote a book she knew would sell.
I think you might be right 😅
yeah. I actually found it kinda creepy how EVERY single popular trope, plots, and stereotypical characters there were. It's like she wrote down what was popular, copied it to a T (no originality, hence why the book is super predictable and underwhelming), and just wrote something really quickly and sold it out to the public. I saw how people are eating this shit up, so when I started reading, I legit thought I got the wrong book three chapters in. I was genuinely shocked how immature, cringe, predictable, and stereotypical the whole thing was. I was flabbergasted!
@@katgreer6113 Those were my EXACT feelings and reactions when I started reading Twilight! lol
This is how writing literally works XD Cheers to her. This story will be the next big thing in the movie theatres and she deserves every piece of success, for putting a story together for a certain target audience, that would sell. She stayed in her niche and that was the best decision she might ever made.
@@katgreer6113I think your comment also really aligns with the stuff I’ve been learning about her publisher Red Tower now that the sequel is out….seems like they take a very lazy approach to their editing itself and focus more on the marketing and mass consumption of their books?? 🧐
Elizabeth please become an editor. The book world needs you 😂
Lol I have actually edited a few (nonfiction) books before! I’d love to get into editing, honestly 😂
Came here to say that I'd pay beaucoups for your notes on my drafts 😂@@PlantBasedBride you are so razor-insightful.
@@runningonice aw thank you! I don’t have a lot of free time, but you’re free to email me about it if you’re serious 😉
I read it in order to be able to have a valid opinion about it. I was generous and gave it 2.5- 3 stars. I've described it as Prim from Hunger Games goes to Divergent camp, has Twilight/Hunger Games love triangle and becomes TV Dani from Game of Thrones with (not-so) twist end (if you were paying attention).
Lmao omg thank you for this. I may eventually read it but this is extremely helpful for context 😂😂
LOL this is so perfect 😂
SPOT. ON. 😂
you are SO spot on!
OOOOH so it sounds like a try-hard no thank you for me. I'm not big on hyped books (never have I read a Twilight-esque book nor have I jumped onto the "Shades" bandwagon... thanks for this summary. I appreciate you!
A strong woman paired up with a smaller man? That happens in Wreck-It Ralph with the strong warrior woman and the fix-it guy 😂😂
Sadly, it's the only example anyone can come up with - a cartoon for kids.
@@Juli6SSZoe and Wash from Firefly fit the brief
Let’s put aside how much I enjoyed this video and move on to the real star of the show - YOU AND YOUR BACKGROUND. You always have a stunning aesthetic but I couldn’t stop commenting on it out loud while watching this video.
The knitted beige sweater with brown/orange details that goes with het hair and gives autumn vibes… I want that sweater
Aw thank you! I really enjoyed filming in different areas for this one (even if it was mostly out of necessity because we’re redecorating my filming room 😅). I’m glad you enjoyed it, too! ❤️
Yes, and the blanked on the chair was so lovely 🤩
The hair thing still doesn’t make sense because your hair grays from the roots not the tips. She said no matter how much she cut her hair. The ends would always turned white. That’s not how hair works.
True lol I was really trying to give Rebecca the benefit of the doubt with that one 😅
It's a plot point that's supposed to come back in the series, which is planned as 5 books😊
It’s clearly supposed to be significant, why the hair is like that. like a scar from whatever sickness the mom had when she was pregnant with Violey
when there is a tab for eyerolling, that's not a great sign haha. You're so diligent with your annotating, i don't bother to waste my supplies on books that aren't 5star predictions. i do it on a reread if i end up being surprised.
"I'm not like other girls, i'm so pretty that i'm ugly, i'm so undesirable that all the guys want me." i have no intention of reading this, but i enjoy all the rants about it. I haven't read throne of glass, but it reminds me of throne of glass...its a 5 book series...yay....
throne of glass is completely different. it's unpredictable, with in-depth plot and characters, but fourth wing was just..."pretty badass girl meets mysterious hot guy, they fall in love"
Your ice-cold analogy and waking up from a trance was EXACTLY how I felt.
Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one who felt that way!
Fourth Wing was our book club pick for last month, and no one in our group rated it higher than 2 stars. 😂 It was fun suffering together though.
my HUGEST issue with this book, among plenty others ofc, is Xaden!! this character was super intriguing, a son of a rebel with the best dragon and a personal vendetta against the fml. this was super promising, I thought their love stroy would be entangled with politics, because no way in hell is a man DIRECTLY effected by the cruel punishment of the government would actually fall for the pure representation of a nepo baby and government. but nope, he is completely erased and turned into a piece of meat (which makes the author doubling down on the fact he is a poc - mysterious ofc and with no specific race - just this much awful) and he operates only by his hormones because yes, these characters are in their 20s but mentally, they just discovered about the other gender and they're super horny about it!!! like I said in my review, this book spoon feed SO MUCH you gag on it and you're still getting nothing, no characters, world building, relations or system. positively awful
I was so surprised at the route she chose to take for worldbuilding...I feel like if someone asked her questions about all the lands and stuff she described in the book, she wouldn't even be able to answer it. And I say "describe" as in Violet reciting the facts out loud because, oh how so convenient.
@@katgreer6113 she wouldn't know most things if the book wasn't in her hand really, she took plenty of odd creative choices.
The polarizing reviews intrigued me so I listened to the audiobook, and I think that helped me enjoy it more. The romantic angst was super cringy, but those sassy dragons were fabulous and enough to get me through to the end. Honestly, I’m glad I read it just for them, even if I wanted more.
I had the opposite experience, the horrible, immature dialogue was made so much worse by the audiobook, that it made me cringe so badly I had to pause the book, and had to force myself to go back every time, until I finally DNFed it and even returned to audible.
I also listened to the audio book. The main narrator was unfortunately not my taste so I think it made it harder to get through, but I agree I did enjoy the sassy dragons lol
The author in an interview said she was thinking about an audiobook listener driving around town while writing this. I think it delivered that, listened on 1.75x while recovering from surgery. A brain candy I adored and will probably listen to the next one during exam season this nov😂 but atleast xaden isn't toxic, we know it's the bare minimum but it's something we can grab onto when pop culture makes arsenic look like love potion 😭
Yea it’s good in audiobook form. I’m personally looking forward to the tv adaptation. I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed manually reading if
@@AlliNW0nderland. Maybe I will try this in audiobook format...
Actually the protagonist herself calls that guy toxic. Also I don't know about the end, because I couldn't finish that book, but I personally didn't find this guy appealing in the slightest. Sure, he doesn't r*** the protagonist, but is this really the new standard we're having?
@@ravent3016if you didn't like the plot reading the book you won't like it in audiobook form. At least I didn't
I wouldn't say that Xaden's not toxic especially after Iron Flame 😂
“Haven’t seen them over the summer but they came back hot …” - dying at this summary, hahahaha. As soon as I saw this video my first thought was ohhh, nooo she is not going to enjoy this and love how you just roast both Violet and Xaden’s characters throughout, it’s hilarious. I personally loved Fourth Wing because I found it so much fun but I also love hearing other opinions for those who don’t enjoy it so this was an entertaining watch 💛
I just love your book reviews😂😂. I laughed more here than I did when I read the book. I definitely share your sentiments, I read it at the peak of the hype and thought wow an adult fantasy everyone is raving about and I just dove in. I knew i was sorely mistaken by the end of the first chapter but held up hope it would start to resemble an actual adult fantasy. What I will say, it is compulsively readable because of the simple language and dialogue used. I think that more than anything is what appealed to the masses soo much.
I rolled my eyes soooo many times while reading this book. I got it on Amazon First Reads so I didn't pay for it, and had no idea it was a super hyped-up book right now only to find out afterwards (and was shocked lol). But even though it was cringe from so many directions, easy to predict, and easy reading -- I annoyingly couldn't put it down. 👀Ugh.
It’s so easy to read with super simple language and very short chapters. It’s definitely optimized for reading it in a single sitting!
I find I end up feeling that way about a lot of Prime First books and end up hate-finishing. 😅
I totally can see the criticism its getting, however it was for me for a long, long time a book that I could not stop reading. Although it has its flaws and is rightfully criticised for it, for me it had this special spark that just hooked me and I had to read it in one sitting. I was just not able to put it away, and that whats made it an instant 5 read for me. I just loved reading it
I feel the same. I’m not entirely sure why because all the criticism is true but it just has something about it 😂
I really hope the second book is written a bit better because the plot, world building, and excitement is there, but there are definitely cringe moments.
I was the same, havnt read in years and this kickstarted something. Also a good segway from YA to real adult?
@@ameliafasth4989I looked it up and there is starting to be a category called “emerging adult” lit. And this is in it. The author has mostly written YA and to me this is YA plus explicit sex. But I liked it enough to listen to the first two back to back and waiting for the third. It’s mostly the dragons. THERES PSYCHIC TALKING DRAGONS 🐉 what am I supposed to do not read it????? 😂😂
100% agree :)
Your first check in told me everything I needed to know this is NOT the book for me 😂 Still going to finish the video though!!
I’m glad I could save you from a read that wouldn’t be up your alley! And thank you for watching all the way through anyway ❤️
Coming back after finishing, and those quotes DESTROYED ME 💀
Honestly, this entire video was very entertaining and I do appreciate how much effort you put into your analysis while trying to remain respectful to people who did enjoy it.
I have zero tolerance for cringe scenes and modern speak in fantasy settings and struggle a lot with YA as a genre, so the amount of YA coded dialogue in this is simply a pass on principle for me, but I don't regret watching the journey of your experiencing it 😂
Aw thank you! You are too kind ❤️ I definitely didn’t want to be judgemental toward those who enjoyed the book. There is definitely a place for entertaining trope-filled reads, and while Fourth Wing didn’t do it for me I’ll always be glad that people are reading and loving books!
I got to three quarters of the way through and couldn’t anymore, it’s such lazy writing and has next to no descriptive text of the locations and/or the rooms and furniture for example, apart from talks on a couple
Of dragons carved into a desk and dragon statues in the rotunda.
I’m currently reading Brandon Sanderson’s ‘Oathbringer’ and no joke in the first three paragraphs of the chapter I picked back
Up on - I had more descriptive text about the ship the characters were on in half a page than in the entirety of Fourth Wing?!
I’ve just finished reading all of Robin Hobb’s Farseer books, so that’s my level of description that is needed not just for me
but I believe for fantasy writing in general.
Love that you’re saying everything I’ve been saying from the first few chapters, thank you so much.
I also found it very hard to keep up with what kind of year in history this book was setting, they only mention quills and inkpots a couple of times by 3/4 of the way in, so it is really hard to understand if it’s mediaeval or not, plus as you said yourself, the language doesn’t really fit in with a mediaeval timeline, so…..
Thanks again, can’t wait to check out your channel!
This is the most organized, detailed, and helpful book review I've ever seen. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I am just discovering your channel and have immediately subscribed! ❤
I started reading the book and enjoyed the first 3 chapters but then it started becoming more and more of an eragon + divergent fan fic. I felt the setting and lore were just too similar to those two books but done worse with all the internet speak and logic holes in the society. Eventually I stopped reading when she got her powers because I already felt like it was basically a fanfiction but then when she got her "special magic" coupled with her appearance - specifically her hair - I immediately thought of Mare Barrow from Red Queen and it was just too much for me. I do agree though that I'd recommend this to the right kind of people who would enjoy it but I'm definitely on the same page as you regarding what I want out of my fantasy novels ♥ Thank you for making great content and have a wonderful day!
it was basically mare goes to divergent war camp lol
I mostly wanted to read this for the disability rep but ended up dnfing very early on. I don’t have EDS but I am disabled so I can only speak on overall disability rep, and it definitely feels like this book falls into the ‘if you just try hard enough, you can overcome your disability’ trope. It sounds like the MC can do everything she needs to despite her disability which is unrealistic and kind of erases her disability when convenient. That being said, I didn’t read the whole book so idk if there were moments where she genuinely couldn’t do something, I’m only going off the part I read.
Thank you for sharing your perspective! Minor spoiler: her dragon and love interest work together to make her a saddle and when they reveal it she agrees to use it, acknowledging that she’ll likely never have the required strength to keep her seat while riding her dragon without assistance. While reading I had hoped she would seek out accommodations on her own, rather than having it done for her, but I was glad to see that there wasn’t a bit deal made about the accommodation by anyone else (at least as far as I can remember).
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! I DNFed for the same reason, and I don’t understand anyone else saying it’s “good” chronic illness rep?! Like if it resonates with someone, cool, I’m happy for them, but I’m sorry there is no way to “try hard enough” to cure a chronic illness, and it’s honestly harmful for those of who have spent their whole lives trying to get people to understand that we just aren’t as strong as they are and can’t “just work out” their pain away!!!
@@PlantBasedBrideEXACTLY! She is a “scribe” aka someone with a extensive education and supposedly higher intelligence than the average person, she really couldn’t come up with “saddle” on her own?!?!
I still cannot believe that no one else is using a sattle. That makes no sense. Why would you ask your solides to just cling to your dragon in battle?
I was WAITING for so long for the saddle to show up, it annoyed me that she didn't even think of it as a possibility. I have hEDS, the type that Violet is supposed to have. I can't do things an able bodied person can do. Period. Why can't she even imagine the idea of a saddle? Blew. My. Mind. @@PlantBasedBride
i’m a new viewer to your channel and i’m absolutely obsessed with the editing style of this video, the reviews/ check ins tied in with the vlog style reading snippets and exterior/ interior locations is so pleasing to watch
Aw thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it ❤️
I've been seriously debating getting this book because of all the hype. Your review couldn't have come at a better time!!
I'd love to know if you're still interested in reading it when you finish the video lol
@PlantBasedBride the book is most likely not for me but I will give it a shot if indigo ever has a good sale on it. And now I have reduced my expectations so perhaps it won’t be as painful now knowing what to expect.
everything you say in this review is exactly how i felt reading this book... but so beautifully, eloquently said LOL
Lol, I’m glad neither of us are alone in this 😂
I think Fourth Wing has had a big impact on the book community not because of having a great storyline or being one of the best books ever written but because of pure nostalgia. It reminds readers of early 2010s YA books such as the Hunger Games, Divergent and Twilight. Plus, the dragons make it more appealing.
I agree on most of the things you said. It has a really stereotypical story and its narrative is poor and repetitive. The most interesting characters are those that appear the least (my favorite is also Ridoc, and I consider Imogen to have great potential for future books). Also, I don’t know if someone else agrees with me, but I hated the “romance”. I think it was based more on sexual attraction than anything else.
I agree, not the best written but it’s so nostalgic and homey that it just feels right. I’ll look over bad writing any day if the book makes me feel good. The romance is also definitely just sexualized.
I laughed when you started annontating in the first paragraph. I'm settling in to watching this video later - I wanted to read the book first. The chronic illness aspect was a surprise and I got more interested when I picked up on that early on (I have a chronic illness, so that might've been more obvious to me), the violence was SO MUCH, miost characters were two-dimensional stereotypes, but the dragons were beautifully described and YES! Tairn is amazing! It reads like YA, but is clearly for adults, yet... I wish it'd had about another three edits before it was set it loose on the world. I suspect it's inspired by Anne McCaffrey's the Dragonriders of Pern, with modern-day levels of spice and violence thrown in the mix and... creating a bit of a mess, ultimately. But after a very busy/exhausting week, I couldn't stop reading (while ignoring the more problematic aspects), so there's that. I suggest you read fast and don't think too much. I gave it a solid 3 for the ride.
Brilliant video. You nailed everything that was bothering me about this book. I've resisted the Booktok romance fantasy trends until now (blame my book clubs for wanting to be topical!). Coincidentally, I've been rereading Eragon alongside Fourth Wing and maaaan, it's amazing that Christopher Paolini at 15 could write with more depth and naunce, not to mention the detailed dragon lore. Regardless, I'm happy that Fourth Wing did one good thing and introduced me to your channel. Your vibes are immaculate and I love your film-making!
Thank you so much for reading this, so that I don’t have to. It seems we share many pet peeves in this genre and I can tell this book would definitely not be a satisfying read for me. I was laughing towards the beginning of the video, when you underlined the ‘I barely reached his collarbone” line because it was so cringey and I was sure that color tab had to be for some form of cringey language. And it was 😂 Very much enjoyed the video!
Haha I’m happy to save you the time and money on this one 😂 and oh boy did I run through a lot of dark blue tabs 🫠
I went into Fourth Wing absolutely blind, my sign to read it was an audio and then I got roped into the world...now waiting on the second book 😂
Not gonna lie, I’m also curious about the sequel 👀 not sure if I’ll be reading it, though 🤔
Yes audio was the difference for me
in terms of the EDS rep, i would have preferred to see violet come up with her own accommodations and find creative ways to use her unique strengths and weaknesses (another reason i wish she would have only bonded with the feathertail, since then they could have developed something unique that worked for the both of them and the ways they are both seen as weak), rather than this toxic perseverance mindset that if a disabled person just works harder she’ll be just as good if not better than everyone else within the system set up without her in mind :^/ disappointing rep in my opinion (i am disabled but don’t have EDS, however my partner does so i have up-close experience with it and some ways it can make life challenging for those who have it)
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective! I remember noticing that the main accommodation (the saddle) was something made for her by others and not something she sought out herself and I was wondering how that would be viewed by disabled readers. It did seem that Violet had internalized ableism that was never addressed. I agree that it would have been fantastic to see Violet bonding solely with Andarna, though I would have missed my grandpa dragon’s inner monologue 😅❤️
@@PlantBasedBride big agree!
Same here. This is what I thought was gonna happen.
Finally ! Ever since I saw that you read this on Goodreads, I've been waiting for and dreading this video at the same time. So happy it's 1h+ long ! So much content ! Thank you Elizabeth !
"women being so tiny they're almost childlike" Okay, I never thought about it quite like that, but big yikes. That's got some pretty uncomfortable implications that I'm not okay with. 😬
Also I really appreciate you mentioning the vomit as a trigger because that's an immediate boot from my tbr. I cannot handle it.
I’ve come to realize that super hyped books are often the ones I like the least or straight up hate. So when this one came out I was unsure about reading it… now I am glad I didn’t. Thanks for your service 😂
Also I agree with everything you said about the tropes here. I dream of a book about a samwise gangee character… you know, the kind of character that will be extraordinary in their normality, the ones that are the bestest of friends for the ones who are actually the chosen ones. Maybe they already exist… if so, this girl needs the titles 😁
Not quite up to Samwise Gamgee's level of normalness but I finally got round to reading Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea cycle this summer, and it was a real breath of fresh air in the sea of recent same-ish fantasy books. Actually, one of the novels deals specifically with ramifications of the main character not being special at all, and still having to somehow survive and protect those close to them.
I saw the "Tik Tok sensation" line and I was immediately out when it came to this book. Then I saw the "for the fans of Sarah J. Mass and Jennifer L. Armentrout" tag and I was like "HELL, NO!"
And every single review posted by someone whose opinion I respect just reinforced the feeling that I made a good choice :)
What scares me the most is that these authors are considered trendsetters in the YA/New Adult genre and it´s going to make this generation of readers soooo stupid... Not because of the plot (or lack thereof) but because of the objectively poor writing and all the toxic tropes that are somehow still normalised in literature.
By the way, anyone who pestered you about reading this book knowing how bad it is, simply to get your opinion, does not have your best interest in mind :D
Poor writing! Yes! Couldn’t agree more 🎉
I too went into this expecting an adult fantasy and immediately it all just felt so very.. ridiculous? I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn't get into it and ended up returning my copy. Thanks for doing this deep dive, it was very entertaining.
I’ve never returned a book in my life, nor thought of it as an option but with this book, if I could remember where the receipt was, I would definitely do it 😂
I don’t have EDS but I have RA and hyper-mobile joints, and sorry to anyone who disagrees, but I thought the disability rep was AWFUL. If I had a quarter for every person who told me if I “just worked out” or “just tried ______ diet” I would get better, or somehow overcome the limitations of my body, I would be rich! And Dain was patronizing but he was also right, if she wasn’t a super special chosen one she *would* die, so his concern was warranted. The disability rep is honestly what pushed me to put it down, the plot holes were annoying, but that was infuriating.
Your prediction 15 mins into the vid is amazingly on point 😂
OMG. I agree with so much of your review. I thought to myself that I'd like to hear more of your reviews. Then I looked at who you are and realized that you are one of my fav BUJO content creators! :)
As somebody who has chosen to leave this book off my TBR, thank you for sharing your thoughts and including the spoilers, as well as the quotes at the end. 🙏
I feel like I, too, have now gotten to participate in this cultural movement.
Loved this video!! I knew when I saw that it was dang near an hour and half that one of my favorite books of 2023 was about to be DESTROYED 🤣. I totally agree with so so many of the flaws in this book, but it kept me soooo enthralled. I couldn't put it down. It reminded me how hooked I was back in the day with Hunger Games, Divergent, etc. But I loved hearing your thoughts on the book! So many good points! 💞
I couldn't watch this until I finished the book because I know she is brutal (and correct) and I wanted to enjoy the guilty pleasure first 😂
Thank you for trying to be spoiler free! I like your analysis so I don’t have to totally waste my time or get my hopes up.
I might read it just to get the background lore… then go find some fanfiction and see if anyone else executed it better 😂
That is actually a great idea. I don't hate the idea of the book. One of my favorite book series ever follows kind of a similar setting (it's in Wattpad though) but I definitely don't think it was executed properly. Fanfics would definitely do much better.
I’m actually shocked anytime I hear people say Fourth Wing has “very little plot” because the entire book was full of very intricate plot details and ingenious foreshadowing to me! It’s an absolute fav of mine, not just because it was one of the best romances ever put on page, but also because the PLOT and the details and the mystery is absolutely incredible!
To each their own, I suppose! I don’t agree but that’s half the fun of being part of the bookish community - we all have our own tastes and opinions!
One of the best romances ever......the same as every booktol book
I know I'm late to the party, but I had to wait forever to get this book from my library. I just finished it yesterday.
All of your points are 100% valid. This book was predictable, tropey, and read like YA. But I ate that shit up. I couldn't put it down. I love me a big hunky bad boy love interest who wields shadows. And the dragons? They stole the show in every scene!
I got this book from the library, but I'll probably end up buying a copy so that I can read it again. That's how much I enjoyed it. Flaws and all.
Elizabeth, read Divine Rivals!!! I was also blinded by Fourth Wing but when I read Divine Rivals... I am re-introduced to awesome writing!
I loved Fourth Wing but I do agree it was a YA book & definitely could have used more editing. I could see a mile off what was going to happen but as I said I still loved it. I’m in pain all the time, there’s no time when I’m not so I don’t go for high fantasy reads because I can’t concentrate on them, for that reason it was perfect for me. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it but there’s always more books coming out for you to like.
I think you have no idea how much I LOVEEEE your videos about the books you read and their review. I think I mentioned before but I have an insanely boring job so I play your video while I work and have such a blast with your comments and all, it's a lifesaver. I see myself as a "failed reader enthusiast" lol I have almost no time, or energy (or money now for books) to read so these vlogs get me close to trendy books and it's really nice. It's important to notice, you save a lot of people like me from throwing away our little money on bad reads 🤣
Btw, I feel people lately whenever you throw in magic plus dragons on anything they automatically go: OMG its "OSOMMMM" and, just NO no noooo XD
I've been reading this book along with your video, your comments are absolutely on point!! omg editor industry needs you.
Ok, I love that you’re reading the book along with the video! That’s so fun ❤️ thank you!
I would never read a book that I don't enjoy, that was for school times. But, having said that, how I laughed with you reading those awful quotes!!! 🤣🤣🤣 You made my day!!! 🤣 You should make a series of videos, or even shorts, reading cheesy quotes from various books, it would provide so much comic relief for all of us 😉 And thank you for your sacrifice in reading this gigantic and ridiculous book, so we don't have to 😉
I honestly wish I liked Fourth Wing. I really really wish I liked it because the author seems down-to-earth and kind, still surprised by her Fantasy debut success. Not to mention the midnight release party and flabbergasting amount of hype and anticipation for the sequel. I haven't seen anything like this in over a decade adn I work in the book industry. Yarros at this point might be carrying publishing on her back for this year. Meaning, she is proving Books are not a dying industry AND you don't need a long history of fans to have remarkable, legendary success. She's getting non-readers to read. She's funneling money into an industry that runs on the juggernauts raking in the money for the whole imprint/publisher to fund smaller less popular books. Just wow. I honestly truly wish I liked this book because I would LOVE to be part of this Movement.
I haven’t had a desire to pick this book up, and your commentary cements that thought.
I started watching this video a few months ago but then stopped because I wanted to read it for myself with 0 spoilers. I actually really enjoyed it, so you never know! Haha. Plenty of valid critiques but for me, it was just a fun time 🤷♀
I am so happy that you went through this for us, Thank You! Thanks to your efforts, there is not a snowballs chance that I will be reading this book. Amazon tried to lure me into it, and I will not be pulled into that trap now. This video was probably more entertaining than the book anyway! 😂🤣
I just finished this and it’s so lovely to hear you more eloquently go through this book lol. Being in a trance and awaking upon the end is a very apt way to describe reading it lol
Thank you! That was the best way to describe how I felt at that moment for sure 😅
I completely agree with everything you said and I was entertained, so I gave it a good enough rating :) just because of that. I don't read a lot of fantasy books. I'm glad I was able to enjoy the read.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, too!
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but the dragons were definitely the best part by a long shot and I wish we'd gotten more of them. Absolutely an easy read and it's what I needed. It also gave me the surreal experience of feeling so utterly detached from what was on the page it was like reading through a mental concrete wall when the ~sexually charged~ scenes came up, as an asexual person who hasn't felt even a smidge of sexual attraction to anyone and so couldn't relate at all to what was going on. If nothing else it made me really want to read a book with an asexual lead.
Not similar at all (except for magic) but Kaikeyi is a fantastic book and the titular character is aro-ace! You might really enjoy it ❤️
I laughed so hard at your "flavour commentary". Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I feel seen. At some point, please do the second book of the series.
Hahaha I don’t know if I can do it again but maybe if I’m bored 😂
A lot of the criticisms are well deserved, I did still really enjoy the storyline though. If you do decide to read IF, a good chunk of your questions do get answered.
And I just gotta defend the use of “voluntold”. It’s very common to hear in the military, so it made perfect sense to me considering they’re at a war college.
Not interested in this book in the slightest but still listening cause I love your voice. 💙
I'm curious what's your opinion on "100 books you must read before you die" lists. Have you ever tried to complete one, do you think they're valuable, maybe you could create your own and share it in a video? :)
Aw thank you! 🥹❤️ I’ve considered picking one and challenging myself to read them all, though there are so many different lists out there that picking one will be a challenge for my indecisive self 😂 I’m not sure I’d be able to make one at this point in my life, but that could be a very fun video at some point in the future!
Even if I am not interested in the book at all, it is always a pleasure to see you speaking about books on a more than hour long video that I, of course, have watched until the end. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 btw, your garden looks incredible …❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hi, I was listening in my earbuds and heard “Soren Gail” and literally did a double take thinking I was in trouble…that’s my first and middle name. Holy shit 😆 loved the review! I enjoy your insight ♥️
When this popped up on my feed, my first thought was, “Oh no! Don’t do it, Elizabeth!” I haven’t read it, but I knew you weren’t going to enjoy it.
The peer pressure got too strong 😂 it’s like high school all over again lol
@@PlantBasedBride The dark side of BookTube. I think we’ve all gotten to regret giving in.
As a smaller framed woman, I HATE that stupid "she is so tiny and small, and he is so tall and huge and blah blah blah" trope! 🤮🤮🤮It's so infantilizing, and fetishizing! And I'm not kink-shaming if that's your thing...but I feel like every other romance book has this trope! Stop it! If that's the only reason you can make your characters attracted to each other than you failed as an author. The same goes for "special-colored eyes and hair"- is that the only interesting trait your MC has? A Shout out to my tall queens and short kings! ❤
Such a great video like always! I had a fun time with the book - one of those where I know there are a number of things that don't make it any huge literary standout, but I definitely couldn't put it down! One of the things I both loved and was disappointed by was the chronic disease rep - the author has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (which affects connective tissues, like you said) and which Violet seems likely to have in the novel. So I think you were spot on with that! I love seeing a main character with a chronic illness (rather than that character being just a sidekick or barely present), but was disappointed that mostly she was just described as 'weak' rather than going further into it because it wasn't immediately clear to me that she was dealing with a serious illness. Like you I also was getting annoyed initially with the 'weak' comments and then later was like 'oh... she has an illness that causes this but why wasn't it clearer!'
Thank you for this!!! I love me some dragons but ummmm wow this sounds ROUGH. And as a 6ft thicc girl engaged to a shorter guy, I am WAITING for the strong girl/shorter guy romance.
I’m the tall one in my relationship, too! I’d love more rep for relationships like ours ❤️
I’m screaming 😂 you hit the nail on the head with this review. I just finished it too and was I entertained? Yes. Did it live up to the hype everyone has been giving it? Absolutely not. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
Lol so true! Entertaining? Sure. A good book? Eh… 😅
I'm sorry you had to read a book you didn't enjoy but the quotes you read at the end made me laugh out loud. Thank you for making this video. I wasn't aware the book existed as that type of fantasy generally isn't for me but this way I got a glimpse. :) Hope you have a lovely day!
I generally give a book 100 pages before I peace out. I had a feeling I wouldn't make it to 50 in this one, and your review has solidified that feeling. Thanks for taking one for the team!
That’s a good policy that I need to try to implement 😅 I’m glad I could help you skip a book that won’t work for you, though!
If you hate Romantacy but like Epics & High Fantasy and want similar vibes to 4th Wing without tired tropes or any focus on how hot or big the characters are, I recommend The Songs of Chaos series by Michael Miller. Full of substance, diversity, & capable females in a VERY complex and well defined society of humans and dragons.
Your analysis sounds incredibly similar to my analysis and that makes me happy lol
*apologises for us possibly being able to hear the birds* sis we LOVE the birds. The nature sounds in the background is such a vibe
When I first heard about this book, all it made me think was how much I missed the Temeraire series. I don’t know if you’ve read His Majesty’s Dragon, but I would really, really love to hear your thoughts on it. 🐉
The Temeraire series is really excellent. I had to give it up because I don't do well with animals in danger and dragons in a human war fit that category. 😢 I was sad to give it up, because the dragons were so cool, but I know what my triggers are. ❤
20 min into this video and I'm grateful I've watched so far. You've saved me some bookish frustration.Thank you. Oh and now I'm looking for clear post-its bcz "anxious book scribbler"
I have just read Fourth Wing because I am Spanish and let me tell you even if I am loving this book, you are right and I am quite interested in your opinion! Iron flame is releasing on February in Spanish and I am head over heels for that
This book seems like it is almost a direct copy of the “Dragon Riders of Pern” written about 50 years ago! 😮
Lessa is one of the most awesome female fantasy characters ever written ❤
Fourth Wing failed to give me the world building I've come to expect from fantasy. It did not even scratch the surface in my opinion. There were opportunities for character and relationship developments that were never taken, but the author spent page after page on essentially nothing. It also drives me insane that this is labeled "enemies to lovers". It is not. The author shattered that already thin illusion at the end.
I walked away feeling cheated and frustrated.
I also believe whoever approved the audio book form, needs fired. I heard the narrator lick their lips, turn pages, bump the mic, etc and it drove me absolutely insane. I've also recently learned that she also managed to pronounce nearly everything incorrectly.
Loved the last section of the video. I think those were the parts where I eye rolled as well.
I agree with most of this review except for the “weak, small” trope. I believe that Violet is supposed to have EDS (Elhers-Danlos Syndrome) which is a physical disability that affects joints, skin, and blood vessels. A lot of people with it are also albino or have a lot less color in their skin. I don’t personally have EDS, but I do have a close friend with it and felt that a lot of Violets physical struggles line up with it. I am also physically disabled and was very happy to read a character who is forcing accommodations on a society that is not accepting at all. As a physically disabled person, I love this character because it made me feel very seen. She’s different because she’s disabled, not because of a trope.
I know you posted this video over a year ago, but I would love to hear your perspective on Violet as a character with the context that she’s likely physically disabled. I personally loved her character, but I might be biased because I am also physically disabled. The main reason I think this is because Yarros includes (at least in the second book, I did the audiobook for the first one) a little dedication to Zebra Warriors, which is a ‘mascot’ for EDS as they are called ‘medical zebras’.
Thank you for saving me the time on this one. At one time i might have gone for something this surface level but now i like to explore, be challenged, be surprised, think. Dont have to think really hard, just a little here and there 😂
One of my co-workers recommended this, and I had my doubts. So glad I didn't rush right out and buy it. Yikes! Thanks for saving me from spraining my eye rolling muscles. (In fairness, the co-worker in question is both half my age and straight. She's probably a lot more the target audience than my middle-aged lesbian self. LOL)
omfg the more this video continues, the more i cringe at this book. ICK! tysm for this honest review - saved me time haha
Cracking up....best line "what in the spandex is going on here???". Thank you, Elizabeth. Just saved myself from wasting any time on what would end up DNF.
Ever read The Dragonriders of Pern? Old 70’s vibe sci fi series, female MC also has a gold queen dragon, affected by dragon lust, and uses time as a super power along with all the old tropes. Its been awhile since I read it so I can’t make a lot of comparisons but now I really want to and watch a comparison video 😂
You are the GODDESS of patience! haha....If I come across a young adult fantasy type of thing in the first two chapters, I'll say a very pleasant forever goodbye to that book and never look back!! haha
Interesting to watch as you identified & defined some of the things I was feeling & thinking while reading this book, and more. The repetition; the over emphasis of the small/weak/petite MC (groan); the ethics of poisoning one’s opponents; the predictability; the.staccato.sentences; the missed opportunities for plot & character development & exploration… all so annoying! And yet, when I finished, I realised I had still enjoyed it & am looking forward to book two (and hoping it’s better & she & her editor watched & learnt from your video 😆). Thanks for doing a good critique!
Thank the Lord. You read it, so I don't have to! Eye-rolling tab, you crack me up. I've been fed up with lazy, uninspired writing. Random recommendation - read Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love. I've never had an inclination to read Harry Potter fanfic but somehow ended up reading this masterpiece. The writing is witty, sophisticated and gorgeous - you won't regret it! Better than many of these PUBLISHED books.
Ugh I love HP fanfics cause the authors do a far better job than Joanne ever did. Anyway, I searched for that book and just the tag and the author's note at the beginning has made me fall in love with this story. So thank you for directing me there.
Would also recommend "Oh God Not Again!" (also on Ao3). It's low stakes and funny and I read that book every once in a while,
I came back looking for this comment to thank you. It was a wonderful read, and you're correct, it was far better than many of the published books. I loved the author's writing style and I could clearly see Austen's style in her writing. Also, the way she described sceneries and people made it so easy to visualize the story. It played like a movie in my head because of clear and poetic descriptions and also because the author wrote in such a way that it was easy to capture the tone and emotion of each scene. It made me feel beautiful, magical things and that's the reason I read anyway: to feel beautiful, magical things. I loved this book to the point I didn't even mind the smut (which I generally either skim through, skip or avoid because after having read a few, I find those extremely boring).
I'm looking forward to reading the book the author will be publishing in 2025. Generally, I avoid romantasy that is published because:
1. I hold a grudge against the tag/genre.
2. Seeing these popular authors, I don't compleetely trust that there's a romantasy book out there that fulfills most or all of my requirements,
But, having read, Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love, it seems her book will have everything I love and nothing I hate. Fingers crossed.
I definitely agree with many of your comments, particularly that the book leans a bit too trope-y and pretty poorly edited! I do think, however, that the book is marketed as young adult and maybe even on the younger side of YA, which I feel like make some of these things a little bit more acceptable. Overall, I thought it was a fun, easy read and am excited to see a little bit more of the world in the next book!
Maybe it’s just that I only really follow creators in their late twenties and up, but I had no idea it was being perceived as a YA novel! Clearly sometimes my resistance to reading anything about a book before diving in doesn’t always serve me well 😂
Re: a tall woman & shorter man - super rare, which is why it stood out to me in the book I just finished, The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.
First time coming across your content. I'll probably be diving into your channel occasionally 😁
I agreed with a lot of what you said, yet I absolutely loved the book lol. I ate that sh*t up and its sequence so fast that I'm already mourning the fact that the 3rd book in the series will only be out on January 25 😅
I admire you for reading books like you describe. Not just this one, but others that you have reviewed. I do not like this type of book. I truly would have burned the book before finishing it. That you are courageous and finished the book and aforementioned books. I appreciate your views. I appreciate your professional manner in how creatively word your opinions. You are the brave one. 📚📚📚💚💚💚
Tellement divertissant à regarder 😄 d’après le résumé je m’étais déjà fait une idée… et j’attendais avec impatience que tu confirmes! Merci pour ta revue ☺️
A very unpopular opinion :O!! Everyone I have seen in the internet has loved the book, I haven´t read it yet, loving to see a different perspective of this and sustained with your comments, writing fantasy is difficult without trying to empathize things on purpose.
This book feels fanfic-y/YA with a Marysue as an mc. It’s in Harlequin+ serviceable but forgotten in a minute. To be read in a plane, train or a long commute
great video! :D would you consider making a video of your adult fantasy reccomendations? bc your taste sounds interesting:)
i cant wait to read it myself, i have been hearing so many diffrent opinions about this book!
If this was a Kindle Unlimited release, I would understand the hype, but this does not even feel like an editor looked over it once! HOW did it get such a massive marketing push with hardcover and sprayed edges, when there is better fantasy on KU?! And how does it have such a high rating???
Thanks for the balanced review. I will probably try this in audiobook format just for the dragons. I saw a comment about how stupid it was to lose riders because of no harness. Even a medieval culture would try a rope or a leather tether.
i like to think of fourth wing as a fast and furious movie. i think you're meant to consume and enjoy them (maybe even with a drink), but not too overly thought about otherwise it turns into trash. though i do think that fourth wing was more enjoyable than iron flame.
Thank you so much for your review ❤❤ I must say that I personally hate to read YA when I expect fantasy... I feel it is often the case that new books are rather YA than fantasy nowadays when marketed as fantasy.
I love these reviews because although we are not always on the same page (I loved Normal People) I feel like this gives me the context to know that I would absolutely not enjoy this book, and that's a great service because now I can just ignore all the talk around it.
i had heard whisperings of this book on instagram and largely ignored the hype but then i saw you did a review. i started to watch your video and thought. ok. no. i MUST read this book before i watch elizabeth's video. of course i adhd-put it off until yesterday, finished the book in under 24 hours, and came straight here. i LOVE your analysis of this book! even as a self-professed enjoyer of YA novels and all their tropes, i must admit the girl tiny, man big is getting REAL old. also i absolutely called xander? xaden?? having ~shadow~ powers, and immediately knew violet's powers would be the antithesis (light, lightning). i am also in total agreement about the disjointed-ness of including internet-speak in amongst some of the grander language (that ftw comment nearly made me stop reading). all that having been said, i have to admit that the story was compelling enough that i kept reading cos i wanted to know what would happen. i will probably read the sequel when it comes out just to keep up with the plot! but it won't have an impact the way other fantasy ya novels have done at all. thanks for this awesome review!