Fourth Wing Live Reactions: Chapter 1

[penwalla]

Since twitter (my usual method of liveblogging shitty books) is off the rails, I'm going to record my thoughts about Fourth Wing here. May also end up backing up my RPO and RPT threads here.


Chapter 1

• So already, there's a weird tone mismatch between the high fantasy setting and the spoken dialogue. This can work (see: The Locked Tomb) but can also Not Work. We shall see.
• Lmao at this description of our supposedly weak protagonist, which is suspiciously flattering considering it's in the first person from said protag's POV. Come on. Throw us some gory details about her weak body.
• Violet's Mom's logic is absurd, on the face of it--she'd rather her obviously unfit for battle kid die than go do the job she actually wants?--and while it could make sense, if the mom is an unreasonably prejudiced person, it seems like she married a scribe and like that would be at odds with her being a successful general. Hmm.
• Author, if you want us to believe Violet is in real danger of being killed in this trial, you can't have multiple characters, including the protag, brag about her incredible speed and agility. That undercuts the tension quite a bit.
• Seriously questioning the efficiency of a war training program that kills so many candidates. Esp if these are elite officer candidates, who have already had time and money invested in their training. Seems...stupid.
• Oh her hair is unique and special huh.
• blue and amber eyes. Ma'am...
• So Violet is supposed to be smart, but it didn't occur to her to pack light, research the upcoming trials in detail, get herself decent boots? Come on.
• Love that we only get to hear Mira give generic AF advice
• so much backstory clunkily dropped into dialogue here.
• i like this boot trading thing. this is the first time we get to see violet act, not react.
• however the idea that walking a windy bridge in bad boots = riding a dragon is stupid. you sit on the dragon! you just need to hold on! presumably you could have, idk, stirrups and whatnot, like on a horse.
• ah here is the love interest. i don't hate this bit. it's tropey but like, if you're going for enemies to lovers, it's not bad. again there's a weird tonal issue, like it's suddenly modern language again, but whatever.