reading red tower: fourth wing makes absolutely no sense

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I'm already sad this is going to be a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist. It could win!
I try to talk about things in a generic way as possible, but I do mention specific scenes and moments. Be sure to pay attention to the spoiler warnings!
0:00 - 1:47 Intro
1:48 - 4:04 Chap 1-4: Reactions w/ Spoilers
4:05 - 11:54 Chap. 4-10: Reactions w/ Spoilers
11:55 - 27:33 Chap. 10- 16: Reactions w/ Spoilers
27:34 - 34:26 Chap. 17-22: Reactions w/ Spoilers
34:27 - 36:46 Chap. 22-23: Reactions w/ Spoilers
36:47 - 44:42 Chap. 24-29: Reactions w/ Spoilers
44:43 - 48:34 Chap. 30 - 39: Reactions w/ Spoilers
48:35 - 59:08: Spoiler Free Review
59:09: Outro and Out Takes
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[@SylvainDementi]

"Dragons roasting people" makes me want to read a book where dragons are mean comedians...

[@mynameismarines]

I honestly would've probably enjoyed the dragon comedy special more than this book.

[@yapdog]

@@mynameismarines Don't tempt me, Mari. If it'll get you to give my writing a chance, I will *_so_* write the hell out of... 🤔🤔🤔........ *_"Get Roasted!_*_ A story about Drag'n Drop, a lonely, down-on-his-luck dragon trying to make it in the stand-up comedian scene in a human world. Heckle at your own risk."_ G'head. Dare me. 🤨

[@melleroy7341]

@@yapdog ok but I genuinely think this would work as a weird, Kafkaesque literary novella

[@yapdog]

@@melleroy7341 If Mari agrees to read it, I'll write it.

[@exomake_mehorololo]

The world needs this to happen

[@melaniereine3378]

My theory is that a lot of those booktokers have just discovered reading and so they're just enjoying and recommending anything that they get their hands on (esp when publishers are sending them the books). Which isn't necessarily bad, I did the same thing as a teen (pre-tiktok etc era), but the nature of social media makes it so that it's just messing with trad pub and the market at this point

[@cinnamonteeth]

ABSOLUTELY THIS. I’m a longtime reader and 98% of the booktok books I pick up are bad or mediocre. I’ll be excited to pick up a book based on the premise and the hype but then end up disappointed. It’s been really good for me to just read slightly older, lesser known books.

[@worldeater10]

i also think it's because of the tropes. ppl on tiktok seem to value more tropes that are in certain books than the content of the book itself, which kinda forces good authors to stiff their writing and make characters flat for market sake, or gives space for immature authors that lean into the stereotypes in order to avoid doing character study.

[@S_Black]

It's completely terrifying how publishers and authors have started to directly incorporate TikTok trends in their books. It's way past marketing.

[@Aaaavvvvvvvva]

Yea because thousands of people have “just discovered reading” ok lol. We love to see the success of a woman diminished because you lot feel like hating!

[@worldeater10]

@@Aaaavvvvvvvva no, it's because the book is BAD! women can write bad books and ppl can eat it up bc they don't know how to read critically! no but seriously stop acting as if criticism of a piece of literature is "hating" just bc u like the novel

[@BellsBarbosa]

"NOBODY in this Dragon Academy could figure it out that the little widdle cute little dragon is a baby dragon" UHAUAHUAHUAHAUHAUAHUA I LOVE THIS

[@mynameismarines]

I know they got some damn scholars in that academy like PLEASE.

[@bookshelfhoney]

😂 it's like a dragon.... Only littler and cuter, for some reason. Oh well 🤷

[@joelaramie2008]

I’m not sure how they were supposed to figure that out. There are different breeds of dragons so it would make sense to think this other type of dragon was just a different breed. It would be kind of like if we rarely saw Pomeranians but assumed they were their own breed only for it to turn out they grow up and turn into a different type of dog.

[@mynameismarines]

@@joelaramie2008 I mean, if there is a small and not only small but soft and underdeveloped version of a species that later somehow disappears, the first logical guess to me is baby. It wouldn’t be like seeing a Pomeranian. It would be like seeing a puppy and never guessing it’s a puppy.

[@alenyaus]

@@joelaramie2008 this just reminded me of when my friend asked me if pugs grow up to become pitbulls

[@mandyjordan1096]

I agree with ALL of this, especially the pointlessness of the cut-throat kill-or-be-killed violence at the college. Violet both tells us constantly that she believes someone will kill her at any moment AND fails to act like a person afraid for her life. Her reaction to her own potential death & the actual deaths of ppl she knows is sort of blunted, like she *says* "oh my god how horrible" but then you never hear about that person or how her horror affects her psychologically again.

[@mandyjordan1096]

ps: I love your laugh! it's making me giggle along with you :-)

[@perfectblves]

i dont know how much more "at least people are reading more!" i have in me to justify books like these becoming super popular SNDGFJSDJSDKJGHSDKJGHKJ

[@Bella-pb6uk]

I agree, I try my best to be like "whatever gets people reading!" but goddamn y'all can we PLEASE start reading some better stuff kfdgnfd

[@creepypapermultipack]

I guess my new hyperfixation is watching KZbinrs criticize this specific book that I have never and will never read, and your giggles about it are making it even more entertaining 😂

[@desireemclaughlin1455]

The whole ‘smart girl is actually dumb’ thing is so frustrating. Listening to you talk about it was reminding me of Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood, how the FMC (Bee?) insists throughout the book that the MMC hates her, even when he repeatedly tells her point blank to her face that she’s wrong. Even after they’re sleeping together… 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@mynameismarines]

YESS, Bee was so oblivious. I also had a bad time with Love on the Brain. Those two were terrorizing that workplace tbh.

[@desireemclaughlin1455]

@@mynameismarines After The Love Hypothesis I was so excited to read more from her, but I read LOTB and also the STEM novellas she wrote, and they’re pretty much all the same. You could take the heroes and heroines and play mix and match and pretty much nothing would change. I’d love to see her show a little range…the bar is on the floor at this point. Also, I can’t believe Fourth Wing has a 4.73 on GR.🤦🏼‍♀️ I saw a critical review saying it was like SJM and Ali Hazelwood had a baby. Between your review and that review, I think I’m good.

[@skyeoak3]

Whenever an author does this I try my best to interpret it as “oh, this character thinks they’re smart but is probably somewhere around average intelligence,” but it’s SO frustrating when an author doesn’t realize that their character doesn’t have the traits they’ve told the audience

[@TheLeniverse]

That was all of the Maze Runner for me. They kept telling us that the kids were the smartest of the smartest, but they were so incredibly dim I just felt offended on behalf of teenagers everywhere.

[@ElfInTheFlowers]

In a very lukewarm defense (bc LOTB was pretty predicable) as someone in academia I know tons of brilliant people who have extreme insecurities and are completely socially inept when it comes to relationships, romantic or otherwise. And there are also predatory people in academia who will go along with a “relationship” until they get what they want… so there is that as well.

[@NewGuy2534]

If there's ever a book and it involves the phrase “it was getting a lot of hype on TikTok” then expect the worst.

[@UltrAMArIn3prOph3cY]

It ends with us and The love hypothesis was all I needed to know that my tastes apparently don't align with popular booktok. Luckily there are so many creators who do have similar tastes that I can get recommendations from.

[@Trosvvo]

If there's ever a book and it contains the phrase "Flaming hot. Scorching hot. Gets-you-into-trouble-and-you-like-it level of hot" then it _is_ the worst.

[@CamelliaOleifera]

yea, i don't think ive seen a single book that's blown up on tiktok that's been any good

[@rachelm2657]

I think the problem is not blowing up on tic Tok. It's when a book is nothing but blowing up on tic Tok is the issue. I have read a lot of booktock books and enjoyed some and found authors I like okay. But you also get the books that are like this, where if written by another author this book might have been 500 pages but would be 500 pages of well written fully developed characters and world. This one is obviously a romance writer attempting spicy fantasy because normal spice is so five years ago. But without recognizing that fantasy is a genre you have to world build and that readers like to drop while heartedly into and when the reader spends more time trying to answers your questions left behind then you spent creating the world then you fail whole heartedly. I think also many writers think fantasy writing is childs play but honestly children's books and fantasy can be the hardest to get right. Especially political fantasy where it's a rebellion or a war against something. Mellisa Meyers keeps things neat and tidy saying something about power and the good and evil in everyone in her books. Personally I like them all. If she wrote a book about Dragon Riding society I would read the heck out of it and probably love it. I read all of the Eragon series. You can see how his writing style developed over books but he started with a well thought out world and characters but you can tell Eragon was written by a young writer. Totally readable. I have read the wicked books. Fantastic plot but super challenging language to understand. But enjoyed it. This book was both hard to read and also under developed so it was just a chore to finish. I kept waiting for a train of understanding to come to the station but was left alone on a bench watching what could be a massive fire burn in the distance and seeing Rebecca holding the match laughing and getting me to read this book.

[@Saphia_]

Yupp. At this point tiktok faves and people who love tiktok faves are my "do not touch anything they like/recommend with a 10ft tall pole" books.

[@wander_lxst]

Reading about the dragons having sex and learning that they can't be apart for more then 3 days despite the region being under constant attack was my final straw.

[@lindacarrasco1185]

My friend told me the enemies to lovers in this book was “amazing” and so I read it and. It was nothing special at all. 😭 The fact that the first time Xaden and Violet were alone under the tree he didn’t kill her? Automatically made it clear to me there was no threat at all.

[@savannahmacero8182]

He should have at least tried 😭

[@faeryeclair]

like he had no reason to let her go 😭😭 makes no sense, it was never an enemies to lovers in the first place.

[@WachiraLucy]

Iron flames explains why

[@erinlewis6901]

Hunger Games becomes more horrific when you consider the implications, and that consideration only comes as you get older. The Giver is the same way. If you read The Giver as a kid it's like "oh wow! what a dystopia and Jonas is gonna escape!" and when you read it as an adult you're just like "This is the most grusome and raw piece of psychological horror I have ever read" and you ONLY get that when you understand the implications of what's exactly being done to Jonas.

[@bicho6313]

It seems like a lot of these books have this fan fiction effect where there's not a lot of actual exploration of anything. It's just pulling from a bunch of other stories and using these items as set pieces for the fun of it, expecting readers to fill in the blanks. Don't get me wrong, fan fiction has its place, but I fear that this style is influencing traditional publishing standards in a way that I don't love. I think the line between fan fiction and traditional publishing should not be blurred because then people don't know what they're picking up and then we get disappointed and the trust between publishers and readers goes down.

[@sarahpowell6617]

THIS. I really like a lot of fan fiction, but it has its own conventions and ultimately, quite a different intention than originally published works. IF a fan fiction is going to function as an original work, it needs to go through a serious editorial transformation. I work in academic publishing, and it kind of reminds me of how people will want to publish their PhD theses without significant extra work. A thesis is written in a specific format for a very small audience and needs a ton of work before it can be engaging and coherent for a larger audience. It's the same for fan fiction, which caters to a group of people who already know and like whatever property the fanfic was based on in the firstly place. The general audience has none of that context or buy in - they need more!

[@bicho6313]

@Sarah Powell EXACTLY! You put it even better. I find lately that a lot of books are created as though the reader is expected to do a lot of the work because of this. And I don't mean in terms of interpreting, I mean literally creating narrative and characterization and worldbuilding based on knowledge of similar works. This might be more common in fan fiction but shouldn't be an expectation for traditional publishing. If I wanted to read fan fiction there's plenty of that on the internet for free and probably of better quality since it is being intentional in its goals.

[@tiramisunsun]

Also, the difference is that fanfictions usually involves characters and stories you already know about and care bout in the first place, hence why many fanfics don't bother with backstories and such. I think that's why books with a "fanfiction" style feels empty, because they don't take the time to make us CARE for their characters and worlds.

[@bicho6313]

@애리 Exactly! You can only care if you bring in stuff from stories you love that are similar and by that point you're writing half the book for the author.

[@jerricatisdale1296]

I think this comment sums up a lot of my issue with the book. Some of the dialogue even makes me think of other stuff I read and watched. It feels like she pieced together a bunch of other work to create this novel. The whole surprise ending is almost the exact same twist as another popular YA book. I mean it was smart because look how huge the book is now but as someone who consumes so much pop culture, the book became so predictable at a point because it feels like all the popular fantasy books + dystopian + romance shows and TV in one.

[@happyend-ud1hw]

when you said her nickname was Violence I got goosebumps from cringing 😭 it’s so stupid

[@gloria12349]

Right??!!!😂, I kept wondering what???

[@ciri9142]

I like it.

[@pinkfaerie]

​@@ciri9142sorry you have bad taste

[@venuskllix1066]

I'm 99% sure that the author is a Vi player

[@narunatsu1]

​@@pinkfaeriehahahah savage but so damn true 😂👏🏻

[@AJReads854]

You’ve convinced me: I need to re-read The Hunger Games.

[@zoipappabeatha]

I was thinking the same thing! 😂

[@ChrissiesPurpleLibrary]

This🔥

[@quackaddict9810]

Same

[@kgal1298]

Those books were well written, but ffs Katniss at the end is so traumatized and melancholy that they're just like "I had 2 kids with Peeta because that's just how it worked out, but I'm still deeply traumatized"

[@theeartsee6622]

I’m still in my phase 😭 idk how

[@iheartwalle]

My favorite thing is that she happens to be up a tree at an opportune moment TWICE

[@mynameismarines]

YES. I was like suuure okay. You take very conveniently timed walks ma’am.

[@eveellisen]

Rebecca Yarros must have heard that piece of writing advice about "getting your character up a tree" in act 1 and thought it meant literally

[@Marscandy1]

Omg! I said this same thing!! What are the chances? Tell me. Statistically speaking. Someone do the math!

[@TeenieTinyTina]

@@eveellisen lmao

[@LalaMyers]

I tapped out at 52% on the audiobook! There's only so many times you can hear "for the win" in a fantasy world😭 and are people actually this horny?! the worst is that there is NO reason we were shown that Violet should be the most special dragon rider ever! She wasn't particularly hard working or mentally strong, she didn't even seem to feel very strongly about staying in the Dragon Quadrant for her own reasons, and honestly she kept getting saved by other people. Her disability seemed to only come up when it was convenient. I was offended at how bad this book was😭

[@eee5448]

I WONDER THAT TOO! Reading this made me question if I am asexual or something 😭 like I have straight up never been close to even half as horny as Violet 😭😭

[@manuellebrandine4822]

Did you finished?

[@Mindfulshelfindulgence]

The 2023 language in what is supposed to be a fantasy setting was my biggest irk throughout this book 😅 It was completely cringe worthy.

[@alexcracker]

@@eee5448 😄😆😅😂🤣

[@grandmawitch]

The first time she said “for the win” my guts curdled. Then she said it again. It’s a wonder she didn’t yell “epic fail!” at someone or say ER MER GERD A DRERGERN! “Modern language” in a fantasy setting is one thing but 2010s cringe internet speak was untenable. If you want modern fantasy read Holly Black.

[@theta385]

I thought it was hilarious how the Dragons have special seats for the riders, like little indent/hollow thing for them to sit in... which is weird as fuck in it of itself but then also the fact that after i assume years of riding dargons no one ever came up with saddles... or strapping themselves to the dragon somehow..

[@rachelm2657]

When I brain edited the book I leaned into they had tried it but the dragons didn't like it. He dragon is determined to have her stay on so he allows it but he is the first to care about their rider enough.

[@easolinas1233]

Even "Eragon" had the idea of saddles!

[@dustrose8101]

Why sit in a little indent when the natural conclusion would be sit between one of their back spines or something???

[@kgal1298]

@@rachelm2657 Brain edited? Weird, but I will say this her editor is also the CEO of the publisher so I don't think she had an editor and some people are choosing to think RY ignored the recommendations, but when you compare this to her other romantic work it just seems the editor was phoning it in.

[@wakemeup9835]

@@rachelm2657brain edited 😂 I am using this going forward with bad books and it’s going to make me a lot happier.

[@chance757]

speaking of what you mentioned at 30:23; it was absolutely BAFFLING to me that there was all of this fuss about dragons choosing the right riders and such, but then there being cadets who literally fell to their deaths after making it that far, simply because they couldn’t stay on some big smooth scaled backs! like wtf?? why was violet’s the only one that liked her enough to help her?

[@deimosb1697]

Okay i think in the book it was that partly her dragon didn’t pick her for athleticism and partly her dragon has significantly more power than most others and so can afford to hold her on. Certainly there could have been better ways to get the new riders (that had a lot of effort put into them) to not die after just getting picked by a dragon.

[@chance757]

@@deimosb1697 yes, i read all of that… i still don’t think it was a very good reason. all of the dragons are powerful, tairn is just the strongest. there’s no way the others couldn’t help, rebecca just needed more cadets to die. at the end of the day, all of the meaningless death was sad enough, i just think reading about more people dying after literally getting to the “most important” point really irked me.

[@ellys106]

@@chance757 gravity was the real antagonist of the book

[@Jaszy.]

Literally my exact same thoughts, like it was crazyy that she was so extra super special that her dragon is the only one who catches her after she falls over 2 dozen times 😂

[@kgal1298]

@@ellys106 And they literally say that in some of the lines lol

[@bbfsc123]

Yes to literally all of this! The refusal to give up the “when is he going to kill me” thing drove me INSANE. I found violet to be a very unlikeable character. The snarkiness in every interaction with xaden was borderline unbearable. I found the initial world building really confusing at times. It was just so much information without much connection between it all

[@kgal1298]

I think she realized that because in Book 2 they go and talk to the Gryphon riders and they talk about how they qualify for school and how the Gryphon riders don't die if not chosen like the dragon riders, you actually get a line where they go "no you're the crazy ones" so I think RY does realize how insane Basgiath is and just has deconstructed the characters views of it yet. Because it's absolutely batshit to kill people you could have in general infantry when you know you're losing people you need to fight in war.

[@kels4650md]

The author told us that Violet was sooo smart over and over again but never once proved it lol she was actually pretty illogical and short-sighted and let her emotions control her decisions but yeah sure we’ll pretend she’s a certified genius

[@sofia9849]

the killing of the random people when they'd need as many soldiers as possible and the dissonance between 'this book is fun!' and 'treating death as window dressing' yes!! thank you for this review, it was very therapeutic to see after reading that book, you said so much of what i didn't like and made me realize things i hadn't when i was reading

[@ladyfashionsoul]

I think it was because their military had to be riders. And there are already limited dragons, so those dying along the way was not an issue. They addressed that there was a small number of dragons compared to students.

[@sofia9849]

@@ladyfashionsoul There are other places where people are necessary though, they don't just need riders. The army should have an infantry, it's one of the quadrants irrc. And that's just for the army, without getting into everything society needs in general - The senseless dying/killing makes no sense from a society point of view, but especially in a nation who has been at war as long as they have. Practically speaking, it doesn't make sense for the government to organize themselves like this.

[@dustrose8101]

@@ladyfashionsoul But wouldn't having a larger pool of recruits for the dragons to choose from just increase the chances that the dragons choose a rider. Like, just from a sheer statistical standpoint?

[@granmamushroom9246]

​@@dustrose8101exactly. More rectuits, more options for the dragons. Also for a nation that's currently in a war, they surely don't care about death poll🤣

[@godminnette2]

@@granmamushroom9246 But then why have some of them be killed off in trials that have luck as such a huge component for survival? Oh, you happened to have to cross the parapet near a homicidal guy, guess you have a much higher chance of dying now compared to other cadets! What if that guy was actually the greatest dragon rider they'd have ever known?

[@kels4650md]

Not to mention that it was completely illogical for violet to feel so betrayed and furious with Xaden for not telling her a crazy big secret that could get everyone he cares about killed when they weren’t even officially together until 5 seconds before War Games when the bombshell drops… like WHEN was he supposed to tell you before?! And WHY should he have felt obligated to tell you before you guys were even together?

[@exlibrisa]

every time someone in my life says they want to read this book, i remember this video and pass it along.

[@kgal1298]

And? If they want to read it let them. I don't understand this mind set. I hated 50 Shades, but I knew people who still read it otherwise. I think it's a disservice to convince people to not form their own opinions by forcing someone else's on them.

[@exlibrisa]

@@kgal1298 And did I tell them not to read it? Did I physically hold their hand and weep and beg them no, no, don't read this affront to literature it will ruin your brain? Did i personally insult their intelligence or their comprehension by passing along a funny haha vid about a book that I deeply disliked??? I can't understand YOUR mindset and the assumptions you have about my reasons for sharing things with people you don't know.

[@ddahlia3607]

ive been an indie bookseller for a couple of years and ive kinda developed a sense of when books are going to be bad and tbh this had “this is a bad book” written all over it? the hunger games tends to be a popular comp but when i see it get combined with descriptions of a book thats fun or a romance book, it just says the author missed the point of the hunger games lol. the publishing industry is really difficult to navigate rn so i dont hold it against authors who market on tiktok but ive pretty much sworn off getting recs on fantasy romances on there

[@user-nh8mg8wx2c]

I saw a two star review and all it said was "I like the dragons" and honestly same the Dragons were probably the best part even though I feel like they could have been described in more detail beyond their colour and what kind of tail they had. I just finished the audiobook and I had it at 2.5x speed because I just wanted it to be over.

[@ramalam98]

I don't understand how this has a 4.7 star rating on GR, though reading some 5 star reviews on there it just seems like people love the fanfiction-y romance and 'yay dragons' and aren't commenting at all on the writing and plot itself. Not only am I not really a fantasy person anyway but I will literally never buy into a hyped book without at least seeing 3+ reviewers I trust say they really enjoyed it. Thanks so much for this video, not only is it entertaining but it's saving us a lot of money lol

[@Jaszy.]

Which is crazy to me cause the romance sucks

[@fiig5196]

If Best of Goodreads Year-end Reviews are anything to go by, Goodreads is the worst way to judge whether a book is actually good to read

[@marocat4749]

It says a lot about goodreads

[@quackaddict9810]

“Nothing happened at your murder college with dragons?!” Lmao i screamed

[@jocharbonneau6361]

I always hear people say it’s a slow burn, but it felt so insta-love/insta-lust. I feel it only felt like a slow burn because it was so painfully obvious who she was going to get with and she fell in love with him so quickly that it was like “please have sex already for the love of god”. The entire book they talked about how smart and clever Violet was. All of her intelligence felt like plot armor. And sure, most main characters have some level of plot armor, but I shouldn’t be able to go “Goddamn that plot armor is thicker than her skull” while reading it. I (half) joked with my coworkers that if she’s the smartest in the war college, I really want to meet the dumbest character.

[@applebonker141]

Your infectious giggles made hearing about this book way better

[@heysara910]

It’s so interesting to me that you keep coming back to the beginning of the Hunger Games as a wonderful example of setting up a character we should care about while also giving us an idea of the world we are in and the stakes, because that book made me realize why I was a terrible DM when I used to play D&D. My DM was wonderful at creating a world to play in, just like Susan Collins was. Me, I had to stay a player, because I would write up ideas for characters and places and cool bits of story and then get so excited about them that I would basically shove them all into my players’ hands in the first session and have nothing left on reserve. Whenever I read a book where we get an info-dump, I relate it to the fact that some people are natural-born DMs, and some are just players. Too many players (readers) see the DM (author) and think “I have great ideas, too! I can do that!” And no, no we cannot.

[@audrey7673]

this is a really interesting take, as a writer with no D&D experience. what makes a world really effective for you as a player (or reader)?

[@kithric4878]

I relate to this a lot XD I want to get better at this though!

[@INKH3ArT3D]

I just wanna say that if anyone here has read The Dragonriders of Pern, we know where a LOT of these dragon book tropes come from. •dragon councils •dragon/human telepathy & death connection • 🐉 dragon-influenced rider lust 🐉 •dragon strengths differentiated by their color •dragon as underdog cinnamon roll baby

[@calamondin8918]

I WAS GONNA SAY, the dragon induced lust was giving me serious flashbacks to reading that series. i do love TDoP tho.

[@dishadharmraj6986]

It's the series you're talking about good? I love books with dragons and I want to pick the series up

[@INKH3ArT3D]

@@dishadharmraj6986 the first one is rocky but it’s still a good read.

[@calamondin8918]

@@dishadharmraj6986 imo its great, im probs biased cause nostalgia but i love it

[@platedlizard]

@@dishadharmraj6986it’s good until her son begins coauthoring & then authoring it lol.

[@vainpiers]

You just know the entirety of the next book is gonna be relationship drama

[@ELoouise323]

Given the author’s back catalogue, I’d absolutely not be surprised.

[@riankoch9126]

I’ve been turned off from this book after the publisher ignored arc requests for reviewers who have the same disability as the main character. Thank you so much for sharing this Marines!

[@mynameismarines]

Oh man, I hadn't heard this! Did someone share this here or on Twitter?

[@riankoch9126]

This was my friends experience. She has Ehler’s and the publisher repeatedly said they’d give her an arc and don’t follow through. Eventually they sent a really dismissive “it’s out in a few weeks and you can get it then” email.

[@riankoch9126]

She did share it on her Instagram

[@mynameismarines]

@@riankoch9126 Thank you for sharing! That's SO messed up. Though I have heard other stories too about the publisher being a mess, ARCs being late, and this whole thing being rushed.

[@platedlizard]

Oooh that’s telling!

[@HeatherB81]

I’m so glad you and another Booktuber I follow covered this, because I knew it was too good to be true that so many people absolutely love this book… like why?!

[@Frea_]

Who's the other booktuber? The one that i usually watch, most of them like this book

[@productivitymodeon]

@@Frea_ probably reads with Rachel🥰

[@Clovermine]

I was super excited to read this book. I was not a hunger game girl BUT I was an Eragon girl and I love Dragon and rider dynamic. I had heard it was adult and that there was a military it sounded cool. I am 10% in and I have regrets.

[@mynameismarines]

I have aaaalll those regrets x 10 😂

[@joannamarieart]

Eragon was such a moment, honestly!

[@elena3941]

eragon is my childhood as i grew up with the (german translation) audiobooks that my mom listened to❤❤

[@aposterous4126]

When I started reading this book, I noticed a lot of parallels to the first How to Train Your Dragon book, and I think that’s weird. Violet is the child of the leader of the group of people the cast is all from. She’s about to begin training to be a warrior or something and has to bond with/train a dragon to do so. She has one dead parent (similar to Hiccup’s mother’s absence in the first book). Violet is a “nerd” compared to all her beefy peers. The leader of the trainees is a jerk who wants to kill her, much like Snotlout. This is just the stuff I noticed in the first few chapters (I haven't read any further), so there might be more I haven’t encountered yet. It feels like the author read HTTYD, but that book is for children, so part of me is doubtful, but at the same time, they feel very similar.

[@valeriarossini543]

yes, I thought the same thing! But I don't generally consume dragon content, so I felt like I was projecting haha

[@Ektambo]

I 100% feel the same way (only 10% in myself). Also when the narration starts describing dragon types, it just makes me think of Hiccup reading out of the big book of dragon stats. The voice used feels EXACTLY the same to me and it was super jarring. 😂

[@fish2380]

that series got really interesting as it continued unsure if I'd like this book but I loved those so maybe?

[@sijsij555]

Personally, there was a lot of flaws with this book that annoyed me (weird info dumping through dialogue, the mc's interactions, her attitude, the writing was not great etc) but I had a fun time reading it which is why I gave it a high rating. By no means a favourite but it was just too much fun, and I guess it was the case of right book right time

[@mynameismarines]

If a book is annoying me, I'm not having fun. Glad it worked for you, though!

[@nalcarya]

The first "you won't like this" red flag to me personally is on the cover of the book. "Fly... or die" really?

[@mynameismarines]

I said this in my Discord 😂 it’s also stupid because this book is full of people flying AND dying…

[@wjsn-md7gc]

my biggest complaint of this book violets hornyness levels that never went down for the entirety of this book. 80% of violets interactions with xaden was CONSTANTLY talking nonstop about xaden’s body. like i get, he’s hot, and i get her being like that when she first meets him and every one in awhile but she would NOT stop. like she will be on the brink of death and talk about how hot his jawline is for half of a page. i just kept screaming in my head, GIRL STAND UP!!!

[@templar1111]

Right? Now imagine a male protagonist narrating a female love interest like that. The book would be instantly slammed by everyone.

[@jojobookish9529]

I keep thinking about other military/combat schools that are incredibly harsh and manage to convey stakes and produce incredibly effective elite warriors without killing off most of their students. Sinegard in The Poppy War. Sweet Mercy Convent in Red Sister. Whatever it was called in Enders Game. None of those MCs feared being killed by the school culture, but they still had stakes that mattered to the characters.

[@Artistic_Escape350]

I’m here for your review but mainly your personality. Your humour and laugh are super contagious. Can we have more people like you on the internet please 🙌

[@nancyjay790]

I know I'm here late, sorry. But sometimes I wish an author would do the "super smart" protag and have it either be that the character is book smart (knowledgeable, an avid reader, collects facts and data) but is dense about people. Not necessarily autistic, just... It's a way to have a smart character get fooled. Or the protag is an expert in a variety of fields, but oblivious in areas many people have practical experience.

[@lifeisgouda2602]

When you were describing the "scalp tingles," I kept on thinking about that one scene from The Lion King where one of the hyenas keep saying "Mufasa" over and over to make the other one shudder/tingle 😆

[@asoojajlnlkjan]

This sounds extremely heavily inspired by the Dragonriders of Pern books, sort of taking the specific dragon dynamics that Anne McCaffrey wrote and turning it into bad YA fanfic

[@luciekolarova5351]

Yeah, I kept thinking about the Dragonriders of Pern as well while watching the video. Especially the "our dragons have sex so we have sex" part.

[@joreads8782]

Yes agreed. Which makes me half want to read it to see what Marines is discussing and comparing to the Pern books, and half want to never touch it in case it sullies my memories of Pern…. The dilemma!

[@KirstenMarie_MS3]

Absolutely, I was scrolling to see if anyone else had mentioned that. It's like the author had a list of points pulled from the Pern novels that they wanted to use and inserted them into a different book.

[@lovewrote97]

I just finished reading it, and was reminded of Heartstone by Ella Katherine White (which is a lite pride and prejudice retelling with dragons) specifically with how the dragons bonded and spoke in their minds and such

[@bloodlily1203]

I mean I noticed the Pern similarities for a while but there was a point where they talked about wingleaders and I suddenly realized that this really is the world's dumbest military school au of the first Pern book. Violet is Lessa if you removed everything interesting about Lessa and the main dude is just F'Lar but from the dollar store. Damn what a ride.

[@juniawetmann1311]

What gets me about the world building is that she went with the choice to have quotes of texts that exist in this world before each chapter, but instead of using it for world building, giving extra information, helping the reader understand more of the culture, the religion, the history, she chose to give us nothing. Most of those quotes are useless and when there's information it's stuff already discussed in text (repeatedly), making the impression Rebecca was insecure that people wouldn't read those quotes so she made sure that nothing could be lost by not reading. By the end of the book when the revelation of vennin being real came I became exasperated bc she kept the whole book *telling* us in a very heavy handed way that these folklore stories existed and most though of them as ridiculous and childish and "there's no way this is real" but not once actually let us read them, the quotes in the beginning of the chapters would be a perfect place to flesh this out in a way that we would gain more by choosing to read and not lose much by not reading. But honestly everything about information and world building in this book got me exasperated, not only by the writing not knowing how to convey it, but by the character being SO DUMB omg.

[@juniawetmann1311]

Also for the people dying so easily and quickly in this war college and how bad those classes are I just caught myself multiple times just thinking "yeah makes sense they're being beat up in this war" ehshwjshswhhshwhshwwhh

[@crystalsbookishlife]

"Is the channel on a time delay?" 💀😂 I have lol'd so many times during this review

[@mynameismarines]

He forget to set the channel timer I guess

[@emilyrose4320]

The red shirts comment is so real. All the deaths that were given a name 2 pages ahead of time were so obvious. Also, I was jokingly telling my friend what I thought the book was gonna do at the end and then I was right and I hated being right.

[@rose_dreamer]

I finished this last night. Perfect timing! I've been struggling with my rating because while I liked parts, for example the disability rep, other parts were severally lacking.

[@melleroy7341]

Lol the scalp tingling thing, there must be lots of ASMR triggers at that academy

[@mynameismarines]

Yes, it’s all the men brooding that must trigger it

[@nursemain3174]

I love your channel so much, you’re always so polite, well spoken and concise and always explain everything instead of just saying you like it or don’t and moving on

[@pettyella6607]

The moment you were describing the baby dragons, I thought "Oh, they have special names just for baby dragons. How cute!" and then you explained it was supposed to be a twist of sorts. Like. What.

[@aurorasbookstash]

"I'm laughing at the book, and I'm not supposed to be" says it all hahaha. Love it! A booksta friend of mine recommended this video to me and I am sooooo grateful! I was starting to feel like the only one in the book world who kept thinking about how bad this writing is. I picked this up slightly ahead of the massive hype of the last two weeks or so, but for the exact same reasons as you, and I was just so...baffled??? If I'm being generous, I can admit it's not the absolute worse thing I've ever read, but it's completely amateur writing and story development. It just doesn't warrant the amount of 5 star reviews I keep seeing, so the only reason I can think of that it is getting so much attention is because SJM fans are in a drought until her next book drops. Anyway, thanks for the video, your laugh cracks me up and I love that you back your criticisms up with well-articulated points.

[@fati1679]

omg I didn’t even realize this video was an hour long, you’re so incredibly funny and I had much a good time watching, I actually lost track of time

[@Goalysgirl]

The whole dragon lust time delay was just…hilarious. 😂the he he of the dragon was perfection

[@twinmonster1989]

Also, kinda weird for a military wife who, "loves military heroes", to write about a book against the... military? I feel like it would have been fine if the story wasn't against the military. Adding a rebellion felt like the author was just ticking off her checklist of cliche romantasy tropes.

[@ChrisHarperBooks]

Finally someone else who hates the forced nickname thing as much as i do! I have never understood why people think this is cute or romantic. Nicknames are not bad, but when someone tells you to stop calling them something and you keep going...you are a massive a$$.

[@everylaurenislemons]

Getting back into booktube after a long hiatus and I’m so glad I found your channel! I love you culminating all your vlogs into one consumable video and your voice is so calming ❤ definitely gained a new sub

[@Imhrien]

Its been a month since you posted this and I still regularly watch it when I need a laugh and a mood lift, so I just wanna say a big thank you Marines for sharing your grousing with us! The whole video had immaculate Mystery Science Theatre 3000 vibes.

[@kels4650md]

It’s incredibly satisfying to listen to someone list off all of my exact same grievances lol you could start a whole podcast where you just rag on this series and I’d listen to every episode

[@lindiemoon]

Omg I enjoyed this so much 😂 but also love how thoughtfully and intelligently you critique books!

[@maryanne1830]

I feel like there's a way to write around killing so many students, like if the humans entered a pact with the dragons that they would allow them to ride them in exchange for letting the dragons eat the students who fail. I'm not a writer but a good writer could make that cool

[@amyallen6863]

“Really? Nothing happened at your *Murder College*?” Incredible

[@mynameismarines]

How did we have people dying every day and then a lazy passage of time? Please, it was so bad.

[@rachelbornhoft7966]

I bought this two weeks ago after falling for the hype, and at the 20% mark I got SO mad that I wasted my $15. And then right after I got it people, like you, that I actually like and trust have started putting out negative reviews.

[@zezeest.9744]

I commend you for being able to complete it. I couldn’t go past the first chapter. The conflict between the girls and their mom got me interested, but after the protag immediately meets and starts checking out the guy her sis warns her to stay far from multiple times (because he might kill her), I started losing interest, and then gave up once she started dealing with her nervousness and fear by info-dumping world-building facts.

[@calofantiquity]

This was my first video watching of you ma’am and your laugh is indeed very contagious. Can’t wait to see more Bookish content from you :)))

[@emmafrisbie6611]

Girl you are hilarious. This review definitely made me feel better about my opinions of the book. Like you said I think it's a lot easier to get through if you're able to kind of fill in the blanks as you go along, especially regarding character arcs

[@xCyrX]

The only reason I can think of that this is so highly reviewed elsewhere is that those readers are Romance Readers and that the rest of the story really is just fluff to them. It's a bad (secretly good?) boy/bookish girl book that happens to have death and dragons.

[@afra3044]

u have the most contagious laugh ive ever heard... i had this tabbed over while doing some work and i kept bursting into giggles whenever u laughed 😭

[@frncsk6488]

I have an uncommon name too (like never met another person with my name- i alternately thank and curse my parents) and what you said about people refusing to learn your name or trying to force nicknames on you just to make their lives slightly more convenient is spot on. The disrespect is unfathomable. And that’s supposed to be bae? Lol BYE

[@johnglover5413]

I was also interested based on the book-tok buzz. You summed up the same feelings I was having the whole time I was slogging through this book. Great video!

[@niciswandering1576]

1. your laugh is so cute!!! 2. UGH such a good point comparing collins world building to Yarros to explain lack of emotional connection to the people and the situations in fourth wing!!

[@leahhatcher2481]

oh my god i love your reviews, i just got so much cleaning done because i was tuned out listening to you!!!

[@mynameismarines]

I’m glad I kept you company! Thanks for watching 🥰

[@AJShiningThreads]

❤❤❤I love your analysis, your delivery and editing.❤❤❤

[@ribbonquest]

Scalp tingles reminds me of some book where a character scratched their head a lot. If that's their recurring tic, I'm going to start wondering if they have lice!

[@RTDice11]

30:21 That was where I fully checked out. The Wing leader getting roasted was the first time we've seen a dragon show love and devotion for their rider. Then they casually drop that a kid was incinerated for going *near* another dragon? Not disrespecting them, or tripping over their tail, or making eye contact - just being in proximity? The dead guy's dragon didn't start throwing claws? The other dragons didn't drive the killer out or start keeping their own riders closer? No one is wondering how a military unit is supposed to function when their reptiles keep murdering bonded cadets? Not an ounce of thought went into this trash.

[@sm0801]

This makes me think of The Poppy War, where the MC goes to a prestigious military college. I liked how in that story you see the MC before the military college, which allows you to see her character and background outside of the college. Have you read The Poppy War?

[@mynameismarines]

I haven’t! I don’t think I will. I think I’ll stick to her stand-alones. I didn’t enjoy her characterization enough in Babel to invest in a series.

[@Jambamjar]

i can see that but the poopy war kills characters for a reason, this one seems like it kills them for shock value?

[@books_and_heels]

Always so thorough in your analysis, love it! Great review!!

[@JMIvie]

I’m so glad I’m not alone with feeling like this book is a CHORE! I got about 50% through fourth wing… I left the book at my Air BnB…… I haven’t missed it yet.

[@camillagilmore1547]

Ooooh, OK, the bonding with the dragons thing is ringing a bell. She might have been trying to do something along the lines of the bonding ritual in the Dragons of Pern books by Anne Fine. This is giving me dragons of pern but make it superficial...

[@chelsey8737]

You posted this video and I was like I have never heard of this book before but I'll watch it another time but suddenly this week the reviews of this book have popped off and I can't stop seeing it everywhere

[@ELoouise323]

It took me two reads to get through. The first time, in print, I stopped around 20% and then listened to the audio I finally finished it but I truly can not believe I read the same book as everyone I know who gave it 5 Stars…this was nothing to me and all that stuck with me is how predictable each story beat was.

[@zynpkrdg]

i can't believe i'm watching a 1 hour long video of a book i haven't read and wasn't planning to read by a channel i've never seen before and i'm enjoying it. :'D idk anything about this book other than what i'm learning from this video btw but just wanted to say, the premise kinda reminds me the novice dragoneer book. although novie dragoneer is YA. it's also about a girl who goes to an academy to learn to ride dragons and life is harsh in there, not in the sense that it's prestigious and deadly though.

[@Mindfulshelfindulgence]

This is so refreshing to see that someone else felt a similar way to me about this book. Started to feel like I’d read a different book to everyone else 😅

[@stephreichenberger9862]

Don’t forget that the book said they burn the dead’s belongings but somehow the brothers journal is still active in the book!

[@sarahmiller8295]

your commentary is exactly what was in my head - thanks for sharing!

[@SalayaSkystone]

Just stumbled upon your channel, love this type of review. Not just an end- putting your thougths together review but also throughout the reading experience... Makes for a good note for the writer and any aspiring writers to where the hiccups are.

[@franciscocarranza4260]

Drink every time Yarros writes "curved" or "curve" in relation to a smile.

[@faiththayer7652]

Thank you for your honest review! I was very suspicious when everyone was liking this book so much😂😭 I think some people are so good at filling in the lines to make the story work for them, instead of reading the story that’s actually there.

[@vielgluck09]

You have articulated the struggles I am having so well 😭 I wanted to like it (my copy was gifted by a friend who loved it) but I can't get through that first 30%

[@nessiie]

one thing abt this book that super got on my nerves was the fact that every time a character quoted something another character said earlier, its IMMEDITEALY explained that they are quoting something the other character said earlier. like she thought we as readers are too stupid to remember something that was said literally a paragraph earlier. and it happens SO MANY TIMES. I was so mad i literally just looked up examples "When did I ever give you the impression that i give a fuck what people think?" I use his earlier words against him "I could say the same thing about you." he smiles, using my own words from earlier against me "If youve ever trusted me, xaden, i need you to do it now" i use his earlier words like yes rebecca, i was there, i know these characters already said those things. and there would be so much more satisfaction if i wasnt being told to make the connection and got to make it myself thanks. it feels like nothing is ever left for the reader to figure out bc its all spoon fed to you immediately through the narration with no room for original thought. definitely not reading the next books in the series.

[@stephaniepineda4266]

OMG! Thank you, for reviewing this book the way very few will. I agree with every point you made. I'm having an internal battle with coping on just how bad this book is but glad I'm not the only one who struggled 😊 Immediately following your channel for more book Reviews and content! 🎉

[@KathyTrithardt]

I'm just sitting here, cross stitching, listening to you talk about this book I don't plan on reading, and laughed out loud at the thought of the dragon maliciously activating the dragon lust because it would be a hilarious prank on Violet.

[@WithWoodpecker]

I love that the moment you said "least favourite things" I was like FORCED NICKNAME - dingdingding 🤣

[@jennom2195]

I freaking love you Marines!

[@rinaamz5686]

“Bro, that was my rider” 💀💀💀💀

[@lucyfer1932]

Your review is my fav. You made me laugh so many times xD

[@rayray8280]

I loved this review so much and agree 100%! Also, your laugh is contagious 😁

[@ChrissiesPurpleLibrary]

Laughing at the book rather than WITH the book. Meee 🤣🤣 your giggles made it even better. Thank you for sharing your reading experience. I agree with EVERYTHANG 🤣🤣💜💜🔥🔥👏🏾

[@iheartwalle]

I saw what the book was and that the video was an hour and got so excited 😂

[@lari3197]

your videos are always the best!! this is my entertainment of the day!