Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a New Adult, romantic fantasy novel set in the Basgiath War College in the fictional country of Navarre. It follows Violet Sorrengail, a fragile twenty-year old girl who was trained her entire life to go to Basgiath and train as a scribe. In Basgiath, there are multiple wings and different academies: one for riders of dragons (who function as the airborne protection of Navarre against its neighbors), one for scribes, one for infantry, and one for healers. Violet’s mother is a legendary rider, general, and commander of the college, and Violet’s mother forces her into the Rider Quadrant. From there Violet must survive the deadly war college, where more than one person wants to kill her simply for her last name. If she survives the year, she will get the opportunity to bond with a dragon who chooses her…or get killed by one of them. If she survives three years, she’ll be sent to the dangerous outposts where Navarre battles their neighboring country. But that seems far in the future, as Violet will first have to face her first year, multiple fellow cadets who want to kill her, questionable allies, and a looming threat of something completely unknown to her.
As for my opinion, most compelling aspect of the book was definitely the romance and war college setting. The romance was written well and was intriguring, keeping you on your toes, and the book unfurled the secrets at just the right time. The setting was interesting to read, a mix of dark academia and exciting war colleges where every other chapter has a life-or-death threat, always keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. I wasn’t disappointed at any point- I found it hard to put down and just wanted to read more, as fast as possible. I’d recommend it to lovers of fantasy and romance, as it features a heavy romance plotline, but also those who enjoy school-settings and war-time settings. It has a mix of a lot of different elements, and the biggest thing: if you love dragons, then definitely give Fourth Wing a try! The slight cliffhanger will definitely make you want to read the second book as soon as possible, but keep in mind that the book is on the lengthier side. I rated the book five stars - it is simply a very entertaining read with great worldbuilding and an excellent set-up to an interesting long-term plot.