A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros page 1
The book starts off on Conscription Day and Violet, our main character, overhearing her mother, General Sorrengail, and her sister, Mira, arguing over Violet being forced to join the Riders Quadrant. These two opening chapters reveal a lot about Violet’s family and the world of Navarre.
We are also introduced to two male leads. Dain, who is someone Violet grew up with, and Xaden, the son of the now deceased rebel leader. Based on the first two chapters, what do you think of these two characters and Violet’s reaction to them?
In the first chapter of the book Violet makes friends with two strangers. She trades one of her new rider boots with Rhiannon, someone who was a mere stranger. Would you have done the same? Or would you have followed Mira’s advice and waited until you made it to Basgiath to make friends?
The second chapter is Violet’s journey across the parapet. Here we are introduced to the brutality of those who wish to join the Riders Quadrant. Jack Barlow immediately views Violet as a weak link and tries his best to get rid of her. Should Violet have let him off the parapet and allowed him to join the riders?
Readalong Challenge One: Show us which tomes you pack in your rug sack to take with you into Basgiath. Be sure to tag @jonathanballpublishers so we can see your posts!
18 responses to “Fourth Wing READALONG DAY 1”
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I think Violet made the right choice letting Barlow off of the parapet. I think is brutality will make Violet a stronger character, and we already see parts of that as she’s crossing the parapet while Jack is taunting her and threatening her.
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Chapter 1: Oooof tough question, I feel that that could go either way. On one hand, being an educator myself I tend to always try help those that need help, so I feel as though I would have done the same. And then on the other hand, if I was the one on the parapet I don’t think I would even be thinking straight with the amount of nerves I’d be experiencing – especially due to the fact that I’m petrified of heights!
Chapter 2: I think Violet tries to see the best in everyone, she chose to give him a second chance. I think if you’ve made it across the parapet you deserve a chance at Basgiath’s War College.
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I think Xaden is likely going to become Violet’s love interest – a sort of enemies to lovers sort of development. I like Dain. He seems like a protective older brother!
I don’t know if I would have given Rhiannon my other boot. I might have warned her but I don’t think I would take such a huge risk off just meeting someone. I think Mira is wiser than me, since she’d have gone through all of this before. So, yes, I do think I’d have followed her advice to make alliances that would hopefully turn into friendships.
My heart absolutely shattered when D died! I really wished he’d have made it. Part of me was praying he would make a magical appearance, and I think part of me is still hoping.
Jack is an absolute liability. I would not have let him through. I’d have sliced him up as best I could. His hostility was unnecessary and honestly if he becomes her friend down the line. I’m going to be very upset.
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I completely agree with you. The way I gasped when D fell off. It hurt a bit 🙁
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I was NOT ready!
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Same!
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• My reaction towards Dain isn’t much considering he was mentioned briefly. It seems like he’d be perhaps a temporary ally to Violet. I’m interested to properly meet him.
I think Violet’s crush on him is cute.
As for Xaden; lethal,hot, rude & arrogant are the adjectives that come to mind judging from what we’ve read so far. Though I believe there is much more to him than meets the eye and he’ll perhaps take a liking to Violet gradually. I look forward to them interacting more.• Honestly, no. I would not jeopardize myself considering the deathly circumstances. Making friends is fine but I’d definitely not give myself a disadvantage for someone I’ve just met at that stakes.
• I think Violet shouldn’t have let him off as Jack seems like a proper and horrid nuisance that’s gonna be keep coming at her. I dislike him very much and wish she could’ve tossed him over the bridge or annihilate him in some way on the parapet while she had the chance.
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It’s the honestly no for me! Thank you for your candor!
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Lol yes I’m a very candor person 😂😂 if it was a friend I knew or a best friend or someone I was close with and a family member then I’d definitely help but if it’s a new acquaintance then that’s gonna be kinda hard to just jeopardize myself 🙈
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At a first glance, you really think Xaden is going to be the villain and Dain is going to be the love interest. Rebecca creates this foundation of what these characters are all about and how they relate to violet which is honestly so subtly done.
Violet sharing her boot and making friends against her sister’s advice really shows us who she is as a character and starts ingraining her in our brains as someone who is likeable for sure. Would I have done the same? Honestly, probably. I always worry about other people.
I’ve read the books before, so knowing what I know I wish she didn’t allow Jack off the parapet, but I also think it wasn’t in Violet’s nature at the time to get rid if him before he could become a problem. At this point in the books she is still innocent and to an extent naive, just trying to survive while holding on to the person she was before joining the riders quadrant.
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Wait! Are you telling me there could be a plot twist that sees Dain as the villain!? My heart will NOT recover!!
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It’s been so fun to be back in this world. The first two chapters are intense but sets the scene. Also the moment Violet saw Xaden for the first time, it’s as if time stood still. Loved it.
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Right! She experiences him in so much detail for a moment before fully realising that her life might be in danger
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Question 1:
I think to not feel as alone, I would have done the same. I think it’s stressful enough to do something you are forced into doing.Question 2: I think Violet made the right choice when it came to Jack. She isn’t one who judges people, especially being judged her whole life.
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Dain – I felt so much better knowing Violet has someone in BWC with her to help her and guide her.
Xaden – Violet’s attraction to him initially was interesting but upon hearing who he is I see now how intimidating and well Violet stood up to him without backing down shows there is more to Violet than meets the eye.
I would like to think I would have done the same, I like Violet hope I have a good sense of someone when I meet them.
I had hoped she would of killed him but Violet is a complex character, he is a liability and seems completely insane.
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Day 1 of the Read-Along
Can I just say that I love this protagonist as she is being underestimated from the beginning, which can only mean that she will progress from here… well I hope 😅
General Sorrengail is one tough female character could be attributed to what she has been through, and the unexpected bond between sisters who haven’t seen each other in years very heartwarming.The Parapet!!! Violet paraphrasing the archives she has read… brilliant tactic and it got her across. Jack Barlowe is on my radar
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Right from the start Violet comments on how similar her mother and Mira are. I think she’s right, even though they both have different intentions for Violet, in the end they both are trying to have a say over her life.
This is a reread for me. However, the first time I read the book I thought Mira was smart in warning Violet to stay away from Xaden and to find Dain.
Knowing that I would be facing something as dangerous as the parapet, I don’t think I would’ve traded one of my boots. If the weather conditions were different then maybe I would reconsider.
Since I know about Jack Barlow’s character in the novel, I wouldn’t have let him off the parapet 🤣
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It is clear that Violet has a thing for Dain, but let’s be real, we are hoping for an enemy to lovers situation with Xaden. Violet is cautious of Xaden – and she has every right to be. The son of the rebellion leader? Bruv I would run the other way.
Regarding Rhiannon – I don’t think I would have made that call – purely because I probably would not have even thought about it. I could never swap my shoed for someone else’s, who knows what germs would be on their feet?? I do, however, think it was a smart move of Violet to make friends early, but it may have made her very vulnerable to people who would want to use her.
Then with Jack – it would have been out of character for her to just chuck him off the parapet. And I think letting him get off opens a a world of opporutnity for some great action scenes later.
Check out the full details of the Jonathan Ball Publishers Fourth Wing Readalong Challenge
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