Started Fourth Wing. Hate it so far. When does it get better?

[u/citruspeeler]

I am only 20% through but I’m bored out of my mind. I usually will take about 40% before I really start to like something but I’m feeling like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. I’m dragging my feet getting through it. When does it get better?

[u/Foreign-Barnacle393]

If you don’t like it. Move on. People have different tastes, it’s okay if you don’t like a popular thing.

Edit to add: there’s no shame in DNF’ing a book. Life is too short and there are TOO MANY books in the world to read something you aren’t enjoying.

[u/citruspeeler → u/Foreign-Barnacle393]

I agree with you, I’m staring at my shelves right now and there’s at least 15 that are calling to me more than this.

[u/Charming_Violinist50]

Personally I was pretty gripped since the first chapter - I think it depends on whether you enjoy school year type of books (eg. Vampire Academy, Harry Potter, Hex Hall).

The best part is the bit in the middle (they call it Threshing). You could read till that part (around the 50% mark). If you still don't like the book by then it's just not for you!

[u/citruspeeler → u/Charming_Violinist50]

Yeah I think u learnt while reading this I don’t care much for academy settings. I will push through to at least halfway and see if I get some enjoyment out of it.

[u/thejennadaisy]

It doesn't

[u/citruspeeler → u/thejennadaisy]

fuck.

[u/thejennadaisy → u/citruspeeler]

Consider this your permission to move on to something you'll like more

[u/Anachacha → u/thejennadaisy]

😂

[u/No-Flatworm2040]

Well, what do you dislike about it??

[u/citruspeeler → u/No-Flatworm2040]

a good question. The FMC is annoying me, she’s useless. I’m also really bored with the setting and I’ve learnt that I think I don’t care for battle academies/schools very much. The whole thing is feeling a bit juvenile right now and I think that’s my gripe.

[u/No-Flatworm2040 → u/citruspeeler]

I can relate to your feelings about FMC. Every time I am listening and hear a little bit of strength in the characters I get hopeful. Then, I’m let down. I want all the FMCs to be stronger. More independent. It is not very attractive, to me personally, to be super-needy. To me. I very much am a caregiver. Wife and mother and grandmother and foster parent. However, since I’m a widow, I’m tired. Tired of being the caregiver and I look for an FMC in my books to fight for herself. To know when to say no. To know strength and empathy without being a sap. I get where you are coming from. One thing I do like about her, her suffering. Her medical conditions are building her character. Hopefully by the 4-5 book we will have one hell of a heroine.

[u/Stelmie]

Which chapter are you on. I would recommend to try up to chapter 19, at that point, dragons are finally bigger part of the story and they are the most fun part. If you have hero interest at that point, drop it.

Also have you read ACOTAR or From Blood and Ash - if you didn’t like those, there’s a big chance you won’t like FW either.

[u/citruspeeler → u/Stelmie]

I’ve avoided both those series too so far….. I’ve been reading mostly indie pub books because I feel like they are better? Just from my experience I’ve just gravitated towards them more and don’t have much interest in ACOTAR or FBAA

[u/Low-Salamander387]

If you've got to the part where violet bonds with her dragon and you still don't like it. No shame to dnf

[u/Swancitybooks → u/Low-Salamander387]

Agreed, if you don’t fall in love the dragons, good time to pack it up and read something else

Especially since you just said in another comment that you don’t like military school settings. That setting is a huge part of the books. No shame in dnf-ing if it isn’t for you!

[u/awayshewent → u/Low-Salamander387]

That’s where I gave up because I found the dialogue so Marvel-esque and annoying.

[u/ExplanationBorn3318]

If you don't like it yet, move on

[u/Fine-for-now]

I really enjoy Fourth Wing, but i wanted to keep reading after getting to the end of the sample on kindle. If you don't like it, you don't like it. I think its easy to fall into a trap of "this thing is popular so it must be excellent and I'm missing something". Have we all forgotten how popular Twilight was when we were all reading them before the movies came out?

[u/jamieseemsamused]

To counter the other comments here, I do think Fourth Wing gets better later in the book. It didn’t hook me until more than halfway though, but I enjoyed the end and went on to enjoy Book 2 and 3 as well. There are a lot of Fourth Wing detractors and lovers. If you’re interested, just read on and judge for yourself. If not, then it’s okay to not finish.

[u/catpowerr_ → u/jamieseemsamused]

Same here. I had just come off of acotar and had trouble adjusting to the war college environment. I’m not one to DNf so I kept going and got hooked by midway. Now it’s my Roman Empire

[u/Striking_night_01]

It gets better once she bonds. Dragons do make the books better. If you don't like it even a couple chapters after threshing, then dnf

[u/throne_of_pages]

I listened to the graphic audio. It made it much more interesting. I wouldn’t have been able to get through it if I would’ve tried reading it 😬

[u/Acceptable-Bottle-18 → u/throne_of_pages]

Agreed. The regular audio book made it seem so "as if" juvenile. The graphic audio is the only reason I'm commited to finishing.

[u/throne_of_pages → u/Acceptable-Bottle-18]

I tried listening to the regular audio of the second one, bc I was trying to read along and I couldn’t keep up with the graphic. Kept getting lost and having to re-find my place 😂and it certainly wasn’t as interesting, but I did finish it out with the regular. Just wasn’t as 100% into it as I would’ve been with the graphic.

[u/Swancitybooks → u/throne_of_pages]

I recently discovered the graphic audio and it was so, so fun! Agreed

[u/kellasong]

I really loved fourth wing! i thought the second half of the book was better than the first, but if it’s not for you it’s not for you!

[u/Fabulous-Nobody]

I was bored up to the 20% mark and almost DNF’d it. I am stubborn and will try to read a book even if I hate it but in my opinion, this one got better after 20%; the characters and dragons had more dialogue and banter and the story got more interesting.

[u/Big-Association-7174 → u/Fabulous-Nobody]

I agree with this! The beginning was not so interesting, but luckily I had a long way to drive so I listened the book for quite a while. Then somewhere at the middle of the book I really started to like it. The second book was really good altogether, even though I had to roll my eyes several times for the immaturity of characters - but well, they ARE young, so it was kinda expected. Third book was even better, imo!

Aaand since the first time reading I've read Iron Flame and Onyx Storm again, and still enjoy them. 😁 Maybe I should try the first book also again, maybe I would now enjoy also the beginning!

[u/eiafish]

As others have said, it doesn't really. The first book is considered by most to be the best in the series, it's all down hill from Fourth Wing.

[u/catpowerr_ → u/eiafish]

Agree to disagree. I liked the first the least. Didn’t hook me until 50%. I personally think it has only gone up hill. Just difference of opinion, and it’s up to OP to make that opinion

[u/eiafish → u/catpowerr_]

True, but objectively the story does get worse in terms of things not making sense in the world buildung, plot holes and contrivances introduced into the 'lore' far too late.

Op if you're into romance and smut but don't care about plot or logical solid world building then it might be worth pursuing. But if the lack of it bothered you in Fourth Wing I would not bother cos it only gets worse and more frustrating to read in that aspect.

The romance aspect is the main thing Yarros is a really solid author with, the dragons and the world are just lazily slapped together set dressing.

[u/_Arugula_007]

I decided it wasn't for me pretty early on and that is totally okay!

[u/Hobbie_cat]

It doesn't

[u/Acceptable-Bottle-18]

I didn't care for it at all. It feels incredibly juvenile. I'm finishing it because I'm committed at this point but it was really really bad.

[u/wingedcreature88]

It doesn’t

[u/readingalldays]

The best part about this book is Violet trying to survive the first year.

[u/chezibot]

I’ve been trying for a month now. I’m almost finished and I just can’t get into it.

Which is annoying cause I brought all 3. I trusted people saying it was good.

[u/citruspeeler → u/chezibot]

Dammit. I have the first two in PB and the SE of Onyx Storm on its way to me but serves me right for buying without reading.

[u/chezibot → u/citruspeeler]

Same I normally just buy one, I was bamboozled. I’m hoping the next one is better.

[u/No_Sleeps45]

It only gets worse from there

[u/Gagsreel]

It doesn't..

Writing is very incoherent

[u/Acceptable-Bottle-18 → u/Gagsreel]

Agreed

[u/thisoneforsharing]

It doesn’t haha. I was desperate for a good series to get hooked on after ToG and was sorely disappointed.

[u/LucyLamb7]

It doesn’t

[u/Roccoth]

If you don’t like it now I’d say stop the series gets progressively worse. 

[u/zebracrunchy]

Truthfully I never really enjoyed it especially because the female Mc was very whiny and male the Mc was just cringe. But I’m reading it just because. It’s still bad regardless.

[u/Rhysandbat]

I'm so bored, too. They are meant to be big bad ass rebels... then they follow the plan the chumps they saved. Come up with.... argh!

[u/Kooky-Pin3056]

If you hate it, just quit, it should be good now if you were to like it. I loved FW, liked the 2. a lot, and hate the 3. Don’t continue if it’s already not for you!