Pace is home to a variety of majors – from BFA acting to chemistry to finance, there appears to be no limit to the courses one can study. One subject that the university is lacking, however, is that of dragon-riding – the major that Violet Sorrengail, the main character of Rebecca Yarros’ TikTok-famous novel Fourth Wing, chooses to pursue. Though weak in stature and trained to be a scribe, Violet’s mother, a general, pushes her to enroll in the dragon-riding school at Basgiath War College, an elite program known for its cutthroat environment and high mortality rate. Alongside the already difficult curriculum, Violet must also survive the (at times confusing) attention of Xaden Riorson, the son of the leader of a rebellion executed by her mother. Still, it is in the face of all these challenges that Violet discovers just how strong, resourceful, and resilient she truly is. Violet’s arduous journey is mirrored in the pacing of the novel, but overall, it is as captivating as the high stakes suggest.

As exciting as Fourth Wing’s plot is, the novel’s pace can be excruciatingly slow at times. Although it stands at a whopping four hundred and ninety-eight pages, many of them are devoted to scenes that feel meaningless and repetitive. The strategy lectures and training classes that Violet attends are interesting, but the amount of them that are included is unnecessary. Fourth Wing is the first book in an ongoing series, the Empyrean, so some “boring” scenes setting up the fantastical setting can be expected. Given that the main conflict doesn’t begin until the final quarter of book, however, Yarros may have added a bit too many of them.

Additionally, the character development shifts suddenly. Although Violet’s mother forces her into the dragon-riding quadrant against her will, when immediately given opportunities to switch to the scribe quadrant, Violet vehemently denies them. Yarros’ depiction of Violet’s progression within the quadrant is clear and inspiring to the reader, but because there is no content in Fourth Wing that takes place before Violet decides to stick to the rider quadrant, it’s difficult to see her character development begin. Theb romance subplot faces similar pitfalls. Yarros convincingly portrays the two characters involved as enemies and later as lovers, but the transition between the two seems sudden.

Fourth Wing’s biggest strength is its ability to constantly surprise the reader. The stakes are high, and it’s clear from the start. Yarros doesn’t shy away from adding numerous shocking scenes throughout the novel, suddenly killing off both peripheral and main characters. She doesn’t just tell the reader that Basgiath is a dangerous and deadly place to be – she shows them through Violet’s experiences and internal fears. This quality redeems the flaws in the book’s pacing because it keeps the reader intrigued for what will happen next, even if it takes a while to get there.

Overall, although awkwardly paced, Fourth Wing remains an enjoyable, suspenseful fantasy read. If you’re interested in taking a break from your major to try dragon-riding (while still separated by pages from the dangers of Basgiath), it is a great adventure story to escape into!