An unhinged rant about Fourth Wing

[@wifeunderthesea]

i agreed with this 1000%. this book is so bad but i gave it 5 stars and have read it twice. there’s actual crack in this book. it’s so bad that it’s good. the sequel however, is just BAD. atrocious. you can tell it was rushed just to get it out for the holiday season. terrible. no plot. messy as hell, and BORING. 0/10. would not read again. and the 3rd book comes out in a few months and i have zero plans on reading it because the 2md made me stop caring altogether. your review was hilarious, spot on, and exactly the journey i took with this book. 😂😂

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I am so happy to hear this! I mean, it’s a shame about the sequel but I was never going to read it anyway. But you’re so right about this awful thing being addictive!

[@wifeunderthesea]

@ another so bad it’s good is the mindf*ck series by s.t. abby. it’s wattpad level writing, (dear god the cover 😭😭), but it is SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD that i was up until 7am reading all 5 books. the final book in this is the most UNHINGED, OVER-THE-TOP, BATSHIT HILARIOUS, SURREAL stuff i’ve ever read. i cannot recommend this one enough. 2 trillion stars. sadly the author passed away before it got really popular. 😭 the individual books make it seem like this is erotica (IT IS NOT AT ALL), it’s basically one gigantic GOOD FOR HER book. s.t. abby wasn’t even the author’s real name, but she wanted it to come off like “stabby” if that gives you any idea of how this book is. i am literally begging you to read this! i will literally buy you the bound edition. just tell me how to send it to you. please just read this awful(ly) increible series. again, just the final book alone is worth it. i’ve never read ANYTHING like it in my entire life, and i doubt i ever will. the last book felt like watching the revenge series but the cast is schitt’s creek, and it’s set on the ranch from nickelodeon’s “hey dude” show and you’re reading it while tripping on acid. 10/10. truly god bless this messy queen for this hysterically awful but addictive as hell work of art. i’ve read this one 3x.

[@tanyaestes6276]

My husband and I cackled watching this as we ate breakfast. “Want context and world building? No! Fu** you!” 😂 ☠️

[@jenniferlee9135]

Such a joyful negative review😂You are a complete delight❤

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh thank you! 🥹💜

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

I was thinking the same. So much fun here. 😂

[@LilMorphineAnnie]

Your unhinged cackling is sending meeeee lmao 🤣 Also...sweater deets?? It's SO cute

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It’s from House of Sunny 💜

[@erssiemajor8010]

​@@WillowTalksBooksI so wanted you to say you knitted it yourself (being a knitting pattern author myself). Talking of Sunny.... Sunni did you see the TV adaptation of that on Apple TV+? Your book reviews are really funny because you're not too up yourself to read the howlers as well as the brilliant ones. And of course, you're British. You get irony like no other nation. BTW your natural voice sounds great, the voice training has shown really great results. Have you ever narrated any audiobooks? I'd love my books to read to me with your voice. I can't listen to many voices as it detracts from the story. Historical novels set in England always sound great with British female narrators whether it's Rzp r accented.

[@erssiemajor8010]

I was fully expecting you to say the Gold Dragon had a Morning Glory tail... Morning Glory is a kind of weapon too right? 🤣🤣

[@KatheD]

Listening to you talk about it is as close as I'm going to get to reading this book, but you did a fabulous job having me laugh out loud - thanks!

[@christinedugas3089]

I thought pissed off Willow was my favourite. Turns out it's giddy-as-fuck Willow! I had a smile on my face for this whole review. And now I'm self-consciously wondering if I used "fuck" correctly.

[@GuroFlemmen]

This is seriously the best video I've watched in months! I laughed so hard! I'm happy you loved reading the book!

[@Amoscrts]

Just imagine how many babies are going to be named Xaden and Violet for the next few years, lol.

[@lulubananas-xx5zm]

r/tragedeigh already has a few stories about it lmao

[@hayleymordsith]

Best Fourth Wing review I've seen. I would have also still watched it if it was just 30 min of you just laughing 😂

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Omg flattered 🥹🥹

[@danielaweberdani]

your ability in finding the bright side is truly admirable, thank you for the laughs! 😄🌻

[@birgitaushamburg]

I should have known better than to try to drink my coffee while listening to you ripping apart that book! OMG, I nearly choked, but in a hilariously funny way because I was weeping with laughter while I did. 😁 I'm tempted to read it, and in my native language, because I want to sit on the train and getting hysterics every time I read "Morgenstern-Schwanz." 🤣 We all deserve a good laugh right now!

[@margeriteb]

That sounds so funny in German. I hope they found a translation that is not so ridiculous.

[@storyorc]

I forced a friend to read 4W purely to laugh at it together so I love this review! The Atlas Six is still peak cringe-fun book to me though, and it has sequels :) third one is absolutely insane

[@barbaralemon4170]

I didn't even read that book and your review is hilarious! thanks for the laughs!😂

[@ruththinkingoutside.707]

Well! I just found you a few minutes ago on another book review.. and I’m glad I clicked over to see your channel 😂 I stepped away from the entire genre about a decade ago.. and I’ve juuuust started reading again, so of course, reviews are needed.. I’m really glad I’ve found your channel.. I think it’s going to be an excellent balance against the opinions of some others, because I heard many times the book is bad, but nobody explains why it’s possibly POPULAR if it’s ’so bad’ .. so, much appreciated! I’m definitely subbing and checking out the back catalog.. ATB! lol

[@David-sg1yi]

I. Think. This. Is. The. Most. Entertaining. Book review. I've. Ever. Seen. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@evapreu3011]

Your laughter is so contagious! I giggled along for the whole time. I also have a soft spot for bad books, maybe I should pick this one up.

[@susan_brehm_art]

I loved this review so much! I thought I hated the fantasy genre because of books like this. Turns out there are really good fantasy books out there. 😬 I just need to learn how to find them without wasting time and money on this kind of crap. I always love your recs because I know they're going to be well written. Oooh maybe what I'm looking for is literary fantasy. Does that exist?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

My instincts tell me that you might enjoy Robin Hobb. She writes very elegantly simple worlds with subtle politics and wonderfully complex characters and relationships. I adore her!

[@MC-lm7de]

There is a genre called "literary fantasy", yeah! It's (IMO) kind of niche compared to fantasy more broadly, but two books that are kind of at the intersection between standard + literary fantasy are "Spinning Silver" by Naomi Novik and "The Fifth Season" by N. K. Jemisin--I recommend both wholeheartedly

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh yes, Jemisin is an absolute genius! Totally agree!

[@susan_brehm_art]

@@WillowTalksBooks awesome! I have The Assassins Apprentice, I'm moving that way up in line!

[@martinelanglois3158]

I think I woke up the neighbours I burst out laughing so loudly. 😂 Thank you! ❤

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Hahaha amazing! You’re welcome 😇

[@GentleReader01]

I was thinking overnight about this wonderful video, and I was reminded of an informal party game some old-time sf fans would play at cons. You take a book everyone playing has read, and the first person tries to explain what happens it. They lose and have to pass to the next player when they say “for some reason”. You go around until everyone has lost, or someone manages to get to the end. Sounds like Fourth Wing would be good for that. 👍🏼

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That’s an amazing game!!

[@gamineglass]

I simply cannot imagine a book being any more entertaining than your review. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@merissamakesstuff]

Thank you for birthing a literal Mars rhinoceros in this video. It was entertaining to watch. I needed a break from our Danger Yam elect here in the USA!

[@randalthorish]

As a fantasy aficionado of 25 years ....this book should be burnt

[@Wendisue00]

I loved this review. I started the audiobook. I listen to one chapter every day on the treadmill, my thoughts were almost spot on to yours. Its so bad but ima read it 😂

[@Amoscrts]

My husband and I love this badly-done, completely entertaining book! It’s not boring, for sure, and neither was your entertaining review of it.

[@amandapowers6084]

This is the best review of this book I’ve seen! Finishing watching and I hope there’s one for book two 😂

[@badfaith4u]

I already had decided not to read this book but your review is freaking hilarious.

[@Almarilys]

I love how joyful this rant is! You made such a delightful review! Come on, with all the teasing you've done, of course I want to read this hilariously dreadful book! 😂 I need a good laugh and I feel that could be just what I need. And I really have to borrow a French copy at my library to see how they dealt with the "morning star" weapon in the translation 😆

[@max-reads]

I haven’t read the book but I’ve seen reviews and the criticism with the novel and the author. Her misuse of Scottish Gaelic while calling it Irish Gaelic was one of the issue. Many reviews find that she appropriated their language and spread misinformation. Also, her stance on 🍉 (at least a few months ago) was not the best… These are the two biggest "controversies" I remember, but reviewers also had issues with the POC representation, the EDS representation (that they found ableist), and her entering reviewer spaces. Overall, a general lack of accountability and will to change for the better. Thank you for this video because, while I will not subject myself to FW, I had such a fun time watching you do it!

[@kathrynmcnerney6490]

Your review raised my serotonin ❤😂

[@panikiczcock2891]

I have no desire to read this book but I sure love to watch reviews about it 😅

[@panikiczcock2891]

Also not to insult grandmas (love you, grandma!) but the "sensual" descriptions you're quoting sound like written by one 😂

[@the_broken_spine]

I read this and thought this book is dreadful but yet entertaining. It was so. The way your giggling had me laughing/crying. Best review I’ve seen yet.

[@fixmylifepodcast]

THANK YOU!!!!!! Being entertained IS the point!

[@ShirleyxLandewee]

This is one of my favorite fourth wing reviews.

[@teasbian601]

What a funny review, made me cackle, thank you!!

[@oatmilktea90]

Loved this! Very entertaining but also probably the most nuanced review of FW Ive come across so far. And now I kinda wanna read it 😅 for the funsies

[@Kringlebert]

I am so unlucky with this book. I am 65% of the way through, and I have paused indefinitely (I rarely DNF) while I go off to find something entertaining to read because I am *beyond bored* with Fourth Wing. 😭😭 And this genuinely surprises me, as everything I heard was "even if you don't like it, you will be entertained," so my hopes were high. So very high. And yet. Here I am. Loathing. I'm writing this 34 seconds into your video, though, and I'm certain I'll at least enjoy *this*. Edit: 13 minutes in and I have learned that the other people who said it was fun meant it genuinely and I should have waited until you revealed that I should've just not taken it seriously. And now I've doomed myself because I cannot find it anything but dreadfully annoying. It's fine. No loss, really. The second book is terrible, I hear. I'm saved. 😊

[@GentleReader01]

I’m really disappointed her dead brother doesn’t still ride the dragons. Self-actualized zombies would surely have improved the story.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

LMAO!

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

I gave the pages BEFOR BRIDGE SCENE a try because of a friend is soooo hyped with the writting style...only that much I could survive. Respect to you Willow for reading a hole book! 🙀 Thanks for telling about new dragon lore that doesn't make them sentient pets or friends like in most cases. That is really interesting. Rare black dragon....🤔 maybe she watched How to train your dragon animated series. . . BTW do you have a guide about good dragon books or romantasy books, even if a short one? I will not read SJM books, I am sure, and what I read so far is soooo boring that I think I should be done with romantasy.

[@literarylove123]

Thanks for the much-needed laughs this morning!

[@kamikaze_reader_77]

100% agree, Rebecca kinda forgot to tell us about her brilliant ideas about the world-building :D (I am a teacher, the kids do that all the time, it made me laugh extra hard)

[@tyghe_bright]

OK. You might have actually convinced me to read this. Lots of other people have told me it's fun, but I didn't think I could get past the bad writing. Might be a good one for the library.

[@wewillrust]

I'm giggling and smirking as I watch. Never in my life have I wanted to read a book so badly as this one for all the wrong reasons 😂 thank you Willow!

[@layalialsudairy9992]

This is so hilarious and accurate!! And I gave this book 5 stars because I was never bored and I was so entertained . And the dragons were the best thing. Thank you for a great review. And you’re such a good narrator👍👍

[@marymcdermott9949]

This video is everything.

[@Kimberly-oneminut]

I feel validated. I read maybe 50 pages of this book before I DNF’d it and after all of the five star reviews I was convinced that it was a ME problem. I thought that maybe it was for less mature audience. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@VeronikaFlaskarova]

It must be something like the Batman with George Clooney 😂 it turns itself to its own parody and you end up quoting lines 😂😂

[@zackaerith1872]

I have a blast listening to your review. Thanks 😂

[@shuwei9420]

Bestie stop it me toooo, I found it embarrassingly fun ahaha! 5 star entertainment for sure, but did I learn anything? Maybe how not to write young women? 😆

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Hahahaha this is outstanding 💜

[@starstuffpuff]

This was the first (and only) romantasy I've read and agree completely with your review. It made me roll my eyes and laugh out loud, but I also couldn't put it down lol. The dragons are the best thing about it. It was a fun ride :). I got Faebound next on my tbr after your review, and i'm actually looking forward to it.

[@xTheRainFallsx]

you sold this book to me, but ill just steal my friends copy so i dont financially support it. im hooked.

[@MikaDoesStuff23]

Exactly how I described it to my friends 😂 bad writing, bad book, but had a lot of fun and read it fast!

[@izzykaii]

I love your laugh!! 😊

[@wewillrust]

"but it was hot for like a second" 😂😂😂

[@beeandbooks]

my order of this arrived only yesterday... initiated a return after watching this 😬

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Sorry!

[@beeandbooks]

@@WillowTalksBooks sounds like you've done me a favour!

[@ClaireGreen-wd2gm]

I got this on Audible and returned it almost immediately. Goes to show 4 and 5 star reviews by thousands dont really mean much towarda if a book is good or not

[@Natalie_is_typing]

Okay, you've done what hundreds of tiktok girlies couldn't do and convinced me. I need this kind of stupid, cringe thrill ride in my life.

[@crimsonwhispersva2498]

Yes, I highly agree with u it's terrible writing and at times cringy but I found it very entertaining and I am on book 2 now, I love the dragons but for me, Violet is so smart but so dumb at the same time.

[@Ms.HGL.]

Agreed!

[@sallybraun-jackson9382]

Omg, Willow, you had me laughing all the way through your video (snorting, too). I've never read any Yarros, and now I'm sure I won't. Love your videos.

[@sleepyxthexhead]

best review I've seen of this book 😂😂

[@JoyFramboise]

I'am so going to read this, I want to keep laughing like I was watching you video 😂

[@crystalotus6861]

I absolutely love you! Omg! Rofl!!!❤😂

[@chan8199]

I felt the same way. I had so much fun reading this book. And then I got to the end and had this realization of wtf did I just read. How did she make such a poorly constructed story so entertaining. 😂 I already know I'll hate book 2 which is why I haven't read it yet. I'm sure it will all fall apart.

[@justwonder1404]

3:00 - wait... she's into military and she still wrote that part where kids who want to train as dragon riders should go through a test that might kill them? With no option to just be turned down and be trained for another role in the army that doesn't involve fighting, like a country that *doesn't want to lose a war* due to running out of motivated healthy young people would do? I refuse to read this book because that little spoiler annoyed me to no end, and I'm a civilian, come on.

[@micaelagonzalez71]

Haven't read it but long live bad things that are entertaining XD Like Pretty Little Liars

[@cj1986x]

Aside from it being a very militarist book (written badly--plenty of people have discussed that) the book is deeply, harmfully ableist. It promotes a narrative of struggling to conform to ableist norms and to "overcome" one's disability despite the harm it does to oneself and one's body, rather than demanding a more just world, all made worse by the author being disabled so people think it's fine. Imagine reading a book that is basically internalized transphobia at its core written by a trans author and hearing someone say "Yes, it's bad but it's also entertaining!"

[@marocat4749]

The weirdest thing she apearently wrote military romance novels and one is apearently liked, becaus eshe wrore it when her husband was in iraq. It gets way worse in the second part but its weird she has no reason to be that bad writing about a military. Hell she literally made a name in miliity romances. How can she be so bad at this given her history, as military nromance writer and her husband, aside she probably hasnt the best geopolitical opinionsm its so weird she is so bad at writing a military.

[@alexdoe784]

This just made my morning!!! Yesssssssssss

[@groofay]

I love your rant reviews 🤣 I'm honestly tempted to pick this one up now (secondhand of course, to avoid supporting such a massive US military boner). This is the hardest I've laughed all week.

[@kevynlevi9894]

Im curious at what you would think about coleen hoover 👀

[@BritneyT.]

Pain

[@zachreads]

Id like a video like this for The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, those books are just as much of a cringy self insert but bc they are old and written by a man nobody trashes them in the same way ( or the Conan the Barbarian books by Robert E Howard)

[@Gillian.Ashcroft.66]

Now you're scaring me lol ❤❤❤❤

[@ninam5790]

I just could not handle how often she used the phrase „his jaw ticked“. Language is so annoying and repetitive in this book.

[@spinstercatlady]

And this is why I know I am FAR too old for YA lol. I would've ate this up when I was about 15 and had a different soul mate crush each month and stayed horny as hell 😅 Unfortunately at my advanced age, it just makes me roll my eyes and feel old. I would be cracking up at these scenes just like you were haha.

[@jojobookish9529]

Your Xaden voice 🤣🤣🤣💀

[@zachreads]

I'm here tor this! And I got the 300th like.

[@lizzy7651]

I wanted to understand the hype lol, but it's worse than I ever could imagine 😂

[@floeten-olm8396]

👌

[@louisea966]

truly a dreadful book. i listened to the audiobook, so did not notice so much some of the things you did, but gosh, the pacing of the story made it exhausting to listen to, and so much wtf in the story.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

⚛️❤

[@lilymm35]

Many many things I agree with here but I think this review is a bit harsh. The writing is definitely a bit thin and cringe. But Xaden and her dragon don’t treat her badly and I’m a bit confused by your take on that. I thought the author actually put a lot of effort into making Xaden a non-toxic love interest. He also doesn’t threaten to rape her 😂 not even slightly! It’s a dig at dain because he knows dain is warning her away from him all the time. Rhiannon is also a lesbian and is implied to be off with her gf having orgasms, not with a man, The representation of lgbt people is arguably tokenistic but it is there.

[@radikl_ed]

I’m starting to feel like you’re confusing extreme opinions with engaging content. Seems like everything you read is either THE BEST BOOK EVER OMG SHES A GENIUS or THE WORST BOOK I CANT EVEN DESCRIBE HOW BAD. Enough, just give an honest and thorough review. You’re veering towards embodied clickbait. And yikes stop with the inauthentic laughing. It’s very cringe. Sitting alone in your room you can’t get through that sentence without 3 full laughing breaks? It’s just…. Put on - which is a putt off.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Nah, my channel was falling into a rut. I’m a very good critic, but I also enjoy ranting and being an entertainer. I’ve spent years struggling in this space because I insisted on rising above all the fun and ranty stuff. Turns out, being loud and excited and hyperbolic while maintaining the same passion and detailed criticism is actually fun for me! So I’m gonna carry on. My reviews are still honest and thorough. I’m a very, very passionate person. What you don’t know about me, thanks to parasocial relationships, is that this louder and more abrasive version of me is closer to what I’m like IRL. I have ADHD, OCD, and anxiety. I’m a very loud and angry mess, and I’m giving myself permission to let all the crazy out in my videos. It’s fun for me and entertaining for my audience. Unfortunately, I’m too transparent and up-front for my own good, and so unlike most other KZbinrs, I’ll admit that there is a game to be played when it comes to clickbait. I spend more time coming up with clickbaity titles and thumbnails than I do making good and detailed criticism. I want views and money and attention. I want my channel to be a success. But I also want to keep my integrity intact, to continue recommending good literature, delivering good criticism, and providing my audience with the entertainment and education they deserve. It’s a lot to juggle, it’s anxiety-inducing, and it’s ultimately worth it if my audience does feel entertained and educated. Which seems to be the case, present company excluded. All of this would be a whole lot easier if I didn’t check my comments section, but I can’t help myself. Because I worry and care about what my audience thinks of the work that I produce. I need to play the game in order to keep my job, but I also want to have integrity. It’s a fine line to walk. But, like I said, the loud and ranty version of me that has been more prevalent lately is actually a more honest representation of the depressed, angry mess that I am behind closed doors. Enjoy it or don’t. I do my best.

[@GentleReader01]

@@WillowTalksBooksI’m having a great time watching you experiment with how to let more of yourself show in these videos. William Blake said “everything possible to be believ’d is an image of truth”, so it’s all true. Carry on, please.

[@KaylasBestie]

I normally ride with you and love your videos, which I've been watching for a while. Unpopular opinion, this video touches on a little cruel. It was almost flashback to being bullying. I have no interest in reading, but I don't knock those who've read and enjoyed the book. Maybe it wasn't meant to be mean, but it does.

[@hannahbrennan2131]

Never once in this video does she insult the people who enjoy this book, she herself enjoyed it, albeit ironically.

[@emryborge7027]

Yeah there’s not a word about people who enjoyed the book

[@HigatsukuTaishi]

Criticism of a (badly written) book does not mockery of fans make.