Fourth Wing: the book that ruined my sleep schedule (and I'm not mad about it)
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Okay ladies, BookTok girlies — gather round. If your FYP is 90% "Xaden Riorson thirst edits" it's for a reason.
I picked up Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros thinking "cute dragons, maybe a little romance, I'll be fine."
I was not fine.
What it is, in girl-math:
War college but make it Hogwarts for hot people with anger issues
Violet Sorrengail: 5'2", chronic illness, book nerd, forced to become a dragon rider by her terrifying general mom. Basically all of us when our moms say "just try the gym"
Xaden Riorson: 6'4", morally grey, tattooed, would kill you but make it flirty. The reason your Kindle is on 3% at 2am
Dragons that actually have opinions and will absolutely incinerate you if you're annoying. (Tairn? Daddy.)
It's a #1 New York Times bestseller for a reason — it's Fourth Wing meets romantasy meets "I need to lie down."
Why BookTok is feral for it:
1. The tension. They hate each other. Then they hate-kiss each other. Then you need a cold shower.
2. The found family. Imogen, Rhiannon, Liam — the girl gang and the soft boys you wish you had in group projects.
3. The annotation potential. My copy now has 47 pink tabs that just say "XADEN", 12 that say "GASP", and one that says "call my therapist."
4. It's actually good fantasy. The magic system makes sense, the stakes are real (people DIE), and the dragons are not pets — they're 2-ton judgmental lizards with trauma.
Should you read it?
Read it if you:
- have ever said "I love morally grey men" unironically
- want a book that feels like a weighted blanket and a panic attack at the same time
- need a reason to cancel plans and stay in bed with coffee
Skip it if you:
- are currently in a healthy relationship with sleep
- hate being emotionally destroyed in 528 pages
Hot take: It's not just smut with dragons (though... there is that). It's about a girl who was told she's too fragile learning to be lethal — while wearing a cute braid and falling for the enemy.
Rating: 5/5 dragons, would get incinerated again.
PS. I'm on chapter 8 of Onyx Storm and I already need emotional support. DM me your favorite Xaden quotes, I'm collecting them for my vision board.
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