"I will not die today." - Violet
Fourth Wing
Originally, I had not planned on reading Fourth Wing - at least not yet. I personally prefer for entire series to be written and available before I read the books, because typically, I want to continue the series and don't want to wait.
After all, I am an impatient reader.
I stay up all night, needing to know what happens. I order the next book before I'm done with the one I'm on, and I sometimes even peek ahead to see what's coming.
So, I had planned on waiting until the series was finished before reading the book. And then... my book club decided we'd read both books currently available (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) for the next meeting.
When I stayed up until 4:00 AM to finish the Fourth Wing, you know it's an addicting read.
I started reading around 11:00 PM at night. At 2:30 AM, I ordered Iron Flame, already knowing I'd need the next one the next day. Finishing the book about 30 minutes before my husband woke up the next morning, I took a nap before dealing with work and kids, impatiently waiting until the next book came in the next day. I video chatted a couple of friends I knew had already read the book, needing to discuss this book and my thoughts.
A few things that I loved about the book:
Seeing a strong female character that has a disability
Violet (FMC) has a version of EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)
Seeing a true experience of a character with a chronic illness or disability push through pain, treating it like it's another day because that's what she has to do
Tairn, one of the strongest dragon's choosing her for her mind and how she works with her disability, rather than just because she's strong. He said "he'd be their strength"
A "chosen one" that honestly, doesn't really want to be one but also won't stand for what's wrong
Not an "instant" love when forced to work together with your rival
The magic system
The snarkiness of the dragons
While it is said it's an enemies-to-lovers book, in reality, they were never mortal enemies - they didn't try to kill each other. In fact, you'll find out later that Xaden (MMC) protects Violet. It's more of a rivals-to-lovers.
Also, I love the relationships the dragons have with their riders. After all, a dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.
A couple of quotes I highlighted:
"Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs - on the probabilities."
"Lies are comforting. Truth is painful."
"There is nothing more sacred than the Archives. Even temples can be rebuilt, but books cannot be rewritten."
"Don't be afraid to be different. Your uniqueness is what sets you apart." - Violet
Iron Flame
Because love, at it's root, is hope. hope for tomorrow. Hope for what could be. Hope that the someone you've entrusted your everything to will cradle and protect it. And hope? That shit is harder to kill than dragons.
I had such high hopes. I ordered the book as I was reading the first (Fourth Wing). I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
And this book was... okay. Was it as addicting and enjoyable as the first? No. Did I finish it? Yes. Did it make me want to stop reading the series? I'm not sure.
It started out really well. We saw some new characters enter, Violet snubbed Dain because of his betrayal, Xaden and Violet's relationship was put a little on ice because she felt she couldn't trust him... lots of things happened all at once.
And then...
It was just the whining. And lamenting. And whining. And lamenting. "I can't trust Xaden." A sentence later, "I want him with everything I am." Then back to, "I can't trust him." And, "I love him." Over and over again.
It felt almost like I was reading the same sentence again and again in between the torture, the secrets, and more.
So I put it aside.
I still needed to read it for book club, but I put it aside for close to a month before I picked it back up.
Towards the end, about the last 100 pages, the story seemed back on par with the first book. Exciting things were happening, Xaden and Violet's relationship seemed to be on the mend, and I wanted to keep reading.
And intriguing fact about some of the venin came to light and I was like, "i'm interested to see where this goes..." and then, I almost feel like it was a lazy choice for how it ended - with a cliffhanger.
I'm still processing my thoughts. I'm just.... not sure how I feel about the ending and the only thing I can see is that there is a redemption arc coming into the series. Maybe that's why it is now five books (originally slated for three, then four).
So, I guess I'll have to see if I continue. Probably. but, it depends on the books I've already gotten to read. I honestly will probably wait until all five are available before continuing.
A couple of quotes I loved:
"Stop bringing logic into an emotional argument." - Violet
"Violence, remember it's only the body that is fragile. You are unbreakable." - Xaden
"You must save yourself," Tairn demands. "I chose you not as my next but as my last, and should you fall, then I will follow."
"My house, my chair, my woman." - Xaden
"You are my gravity. Nothing in my world works without you." - Violet
Happy Reading!
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