Fourth Wing (Book 1 of The Empyrean Series) by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, New Adult Romance Fantasy
Rating: 3/5
***
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros invites readers into the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, promising a tale of war and intrigue, of magic and dragons. A hero’s journey against the odds. However, despite its ambitious premise, the novel falls tragically short of the high standards it sets for itself.
World-building is the cornerstone of fantasy, but Fourth Wing merely scratches the surface of the fantastical world it presents to the readers. While the book has all the key elements of a good fantasy—a hero, a villain, a quest/challenge, a magical world with strange and magical beings, dragons—the narrative touches upon these superficially without delving deep into the history of the new world and its beings.
Fourth Wing is not a world; it is a school—one that is poorly built. Riddled with cliches, repetitions, and errors, the plot reads like a loosely stitched tapestry of corny teenage fan fiction.
The central premise of the book, while being remarkably interesting and brimming with potential, is also its biggest flaw.
‘The Continent’ has been constantly at war with the neighbouring province for 400 years. Enemy attacks have increased, and the military is direly in need of more recruits and resources. The BWC–Basgiath War College is a central feature of the narrative. A military school where youths are trained in myriad disciplines and are prepared for conscription. But the admission into the ‘Rider Quadrant’ itself is so rife with challenges that a majority of new recruits are killed even before they step inside the school. What war-torn nation would so willingly sacrifice its workforce? The abundant deaths are unnecessary and fail to further or add value to the plot.
The characters are cardboard cutouts that oftentimes seem painfully reminiscent of other fantasy book series like Game of Thrones, Divergent, Shadow and Bone, and so many more. Violet Sorrengail, the ‘hero’ of this series, is a quirky, smart, small and spectacularly lucky girl. The male lead, Xaden Riorson, is your classic tall, dark, handsome hunk. The third wheel, Dain Aetos, is just plain toxic.
All the characters, primary and secondary, lack originality and depth, are underdeveloped and underutilised. The romantic dynamics are rushed and fail to contribute significantly to the overall plot.
Loopholes abound, but Violet does not seem to notice or even question them. Information is dumped on the reader in strange ways and is either incomplete, incorrect or mostly immaterial in the larger context of the book.
For example: What is the role of the infantry division? When everyone can kill everyone, what is the significance of ‘wing loyalty’? What is The Empyrean? Why does Violet’s mother want her to be a rider against her wishes? Why did we not get to witness that relationship progress? How and when does she bond with her dragon?
The short answer: We don’t know.
While the recruits are 20-something adults, all the characters speak a combination of millennial/2023 English slang. This merger of contemporary ‘lingo’ within the overarching fantasy world is anachronistic. It creates a layer of detachment, preventing the reader from fully immersing in the fantastical world.
The prose is marred by repetitions (words and phrases) and run-on sentences. At multiple points in the book, I was forced to read and re-read a sentence or entire paragraphs that made little sense.
The redeeming feature of Fourth Wing is the portrayal of dragons. They are majestic and wonderfully snarky. It is a promised avenue for exploring their rich heritage, their world and their powers. Regrettably, the book allocates insufficient page-space to them.
I appreciate the author’s attempt to represent persons of disability and gender fluid individuals in leading roles. Violet suffers from EDS (Ehlers–Danlos syndromes), wherein she experiences chronic joint pain and hypermobility, which is a real hindrance in her journey to become a rider. Her best friends are bi-sexual and the acceptance of their choices by their peers is heartening.
Yes, we need more of such protagonists and characters. But we also need a representation of how challenging it is to be different. How does it affect their life? How do Violet, Rhi, and the others overcome their struggles?
This portrayal lacks depth. The characters’ struggles are resolved, most times, through luck and chance, and an unrealistic grin and bear it attitude, rather than a meaningful exploration of their challenges.
Despite having the potential to be a groundbreaking fantasy series exploring themes of patriotism, loyalty, trust, and sacrifice, Fourth Wing reads more like hastily constructed fan fiction than a thoughtful contribution to the genre. The book struggles to rise above mediocrity because of a lack of world-building, underdeveloped characters, and an inconsistent writing style—a diaphanous jelly fish in whale’s clothing.
Honestly, I do not understand the rave reviews this book has received. I am envious of those who enjoyed Fourth Wing, because I desperately wanted to love it, too!
While Fourth Wing may find a niche audience among those new to the fantasy genre, seasoned fantasy enthusiasts may find it lacking. As an expert beta reader and book reviewer, I must acknowledge that the book fails to meet the standards set by the giants in fantasy. The potential is evident, but the execution leaves much to be desired.
In the vast realm of fantasy literature, Fourth Wing stands as a faltering attempt, offering only a fleeting glimpse of what could have been a captivating and immersive journey into a fantastical world.
#YKAReads #bookreview
This book has been published by Hachette.