Out of all the books I read in 2025, Fourth Wing was the most complex in world-building and characters. I had been in search of a dragon book for a while, and man, did I find one.
The setting of the book, the Kingdom of Navarre, was so ridiculously detailed and intricate that I often had to refer to the beautiful map on the first page of the book. I got sucked into the writing, and I immensely enjoyed the humor and romance.
The main character, Violet Sorrengail, always intended to enroll in the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College, where she would spend her days documenting history. However, when her scribe father passes away, her mother hurls her into the Rider’s Quadrant, a deadly section that trains cadets to ride dragons. This is particularly not ideal for Violet, as she struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a chronic illness that affects her muscle and joint strength.
Violet has memorized Basgiath’s codex, but she hasn’t trained to be a rider, nor does she have the strength required. She is confronted with many conflicts, a love triangle, and, best of all… dragons.
Fourth Wing is a great example of how to incorporate representation into a story; many of the characters are well developed, relatable, and likeable, and diverse. Violet’s best friend Rhiannon is smart, quick-witted, funny, and has a girlfriend named Tara. Many other examples of wonderful representation include Jesinia, a deaf cadet in the Scribe Quadrant. Instead of speaking verbally to Jesinia, Violet uses sign language.
While I was enjoying the book, I felt that the writing could have been a little more mature, since the book explores themes that are serious and grown-up. For example, the main character talks in a way that is very reminiscent of Gen-Z slang. Because she is in her 20s and attending a high-stakes war college, she could be more serious, rather than constantly cursing.
The cover of the book is gorgeous, and the design really matches the vibe of the story. I love that at the beginning of every chapter, there is a quote that cues us in on important details. Sometimes they are quotes from Basgiath’s codex, other times they are from folklore books in Navarre.
Though I am fifteen, this book is definitely to be read by an adult audience due to the strong sexual content . I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes Powerless and A Court of Thorns and Roses because they are all set in a high-fantasy world and focus strongly on politics and romance.
