This book dragged me back into reading after YEARS away and I have never recovered. I devoured the audiobook in three days and then immediately read it again because apparently I have no self-control.
Fourth Wing was my first real enemies-to-lovers experience and I now understand why people build their entire personality around this trope. I fell for Dain like a FOOL — trusted that man with my whole chest — and then got absolutely gut-punched. Meanwhile Xaden was right there being infuriatingly perfect and I was too busy being naive to see it. Character development? Mine.
But honestly? My heart belongs to the dragons. Tairn choosing Violet made me CRY. This sassy, protective, "I will end you but also you are mine" energy??? I married a man exactly like this dragon so clearly I have a type. Every single Tairn line is gold. He's giving protective dad figure who could also crush you with one thought and I am HERE for it. And Andarna — don't even get me started. Special doesn't even cover it.
The academy setting scratched an itch I didn't know I had. Dragon trials? War games? Constant threat of death before breakfast? Sign me up. The worldbuilding and lore had me fully transported — I forgot I was a person with responsibilities.
Also can we talk about the scene where the dragons are mating and Xaden and Violet can FEEL it so they smoke weed together and have their first kiss?? I literally screamed out loud. The creativity. The tension. The audacity. And the spice throughout — the way Xaden worships her, the LIGHTNING when she finishes — hilarious, creative, and genuinely hot. What more do you want.
Side note: I loved Liam and Ridoc more than Xaden. There, I said it. And I had a deeply toxic attraction to Jack that I will not be explaining further.
This is the book that made me a reader again. If you haven't read it yet, what are you even doing here?
🐉 5/5 stars. Would bond a dragon and risk death for this book.