Fourth Wing Book Review & Discussion - How to Handle Criticism of Something You Loved

There has been a lot of buzz about Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros! This video is part book review and discussion (i.e., should you read Fourth Wing?) as well as a larger discussion of how we handle criticism of things we love or enjoy. One of my friends and colleagues @mynameismarines made a very in-depth video talking about why she hated this book and she has some valid criticisms. I suggest watching if you haven't yet, link below, as I only touch on a couple of specific things she mentioned. But why do so many people get defensive about critical reviews of books they liked? Let's discuss!

Use code BETHANY for $5 off your first order of $20+!
*Note that codes can only be used on the app.
****June Book Club: Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot
July Book Club: Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
August Book Club: How Long til Black Future Month by NK Jemisin

EQUIPMENT

| D I S C O U N T CODES |

**Note that most links above are affiliate links & I earn from qualifying purchases

YOU CAN ALSO FIND ME ON...
@Chapter 3 Podcast
@Bethany Pullen talking other media including TV, Film, and Video Games

***WAYS TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL***
****March Book Club: Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young
April Book Club: The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
May Book Club: Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @Bookish_Bethany
TikTok: @beautifulybookishbethany

***P.O. Box for postcards, letters & professional purposes ***
527 Hudson St. # 20030
New York, NY 10014

[BeautifullyBookishBethany]

It's been brought to my attention that some people were uncomfortable with how I talked about whether harm was being done to marginalized communities through the characterization of the love interest in this video. I apologize for any discomfort I created and any lines I overstepped. That wasn't my intent, but I also don't know that I effectively communicated what I was trying to say and impact matters so I'm removing that section from the video. It may take a few hours for the updated version to process. I suggest checking out Marines on TikTok for a good video discussing this issue in particular. I try my best to be thoughtful and respectful in how I approach things, but I get it wrong sometimes and I'm sorry for not being more cautious with this video. I hope the primary message remains clear- we can like different things but nothing is above criticism and how we react to critical reviews of things we enjoy matters.

[happily_ever_april]

I love a lot of books people hate but I also agree with their criticisms of it lol. I just like it anyways. 🤷‍♀️ when you love something you also want to make it better and constructive criticism is helpful to make it better for more people to enjoy.

[lauraiswatchingvideos]

I decided that this book has the same effect on me that Twilight did when I was 12.


As I was reading it, I knew that it wasn’t a super high quality and original story. I predicted every character death and plot movement, and I don’t even read a lot of fantasy.

But I also stayed up until 7am reading it because I could not sleep until I finished it. I really liked the “weak” character showing her strengths, and I enjoyed the romance plotline too! It was SO fun for me! 5 stars!

I also just really like dragons. The sequel is already preordered.

[ChantaalReads]

I first have to say that I'm still baffled by how massively high the ratings are on Goodreads - 65k ratings at it's at like a 4.78!! Insane!

I DNF'd it about 40 pages in because I could tell right away that I was going to have problems with it (I absolutely could not get past this wartime setup with 60+ kids dying before even setting foot on the war college and I decided that trying it out sated my curiosity enough. But, having listened to my coworker GUSH about it, I can absolutely 100% understand why people love it. She said it's not great, but it's familiar in it tropes and its writing style and she had fun, which is all she wanted. I can't fault people for simply having fun with their reading!

[frankiestein]

I loved it so much it gave me that rush that haven’t felt since I first read ACOTAR. I love the romance fantasy books that are so predictable. It’s my favorite micro genre. They just make me so happy. I was in a bad reading slump and this got me out of it. I’m so excited to read more books again!

[jessicastraw]

I enjoyed Fourth Wing (I LOVE the dragons) but I can’t get over how they straight up murder hundreds of young adults every year. They’re depopulating their own country for no reason.
I really like your take here and I agree we can take criticisms of books we like as criticisms of ourselves.

[giantcupofcoffee]

There were writing errors right away in the content warning so my expectations were low from the jump. But I DNF’d after Violet info-dumped on the balance beam. Just a poor way to get the information out there IMO. Also, the premise is flawed from word one. Is Violet old enough for open-door romance, or is she young enough that her mom can control what she majors in?

[JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Reading is so subjective. I have so many books that I LOVED that people are like uhhhh really!? 😬 but then there’s others that are so hyped and I hate. That’s what makes reading so great 🥹

[kizzyneetyan]

I was waffling back and forth about reading it because of the varied reviews. But the actual premise was what appealed to me, so I'm gonna add it to the TBR. I really appreciate your discussion on this issue, as I've definitely seen some people take criticism too personally around this book especially.

[rachelbornhoft]

My experience with this book was that I saw it on a list of anticipated fantasy releases and the blurb sounded great and I preordered it. When it came in I read about 25% of it and set it down feeling pretty mad that I had spent money on it, because the quality wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. Once people I like and trust started reviewing it I was able to have a much clearer picture of what the book was, ie the brain candy aspect you mentioned. Once I really got that I was able to go back and finish the book and actually enjoy it. I personally am always grateful for the reviewers willing to stick their neck out and criticize something that’s having it’s moment in the sun. It helps people like me discern and even verbalize what was bothering me about a popular book and then have a better reading experience, or to maybe even choose to dnf something. I think that’s lovely and I genuinely appreciate it.

[evajanczaruk]

What a terrific and balanced review! Reading is a subjective experience, our entire life impacts our perception and no one book is perfect for everyone. I did buy a copy and intend to read, and based on the synopsis I did perceive as fun escapism (candy) and there is nothing wrong with candy now and then. But I will probably do the same thing I did after reading Verity, read Bleak House ( I try and floss after eating candy)😊

[christeascozycorner]

i'm definitely in the love to hate category for this book HAHA, but what you said here is totally valid. i think it all depends on your expectations going on and what you're looking for from a reading experience. like you said, if you just want brain candy, then this book is probably perfect. i thought it would be more adult epic fantasy, so when it turned out to be wildly different from what i wanted from it, i couldn't enjoy it at all

[LibriLabra]

This is so interesting and I'm excited for this. I haven't read the book yet but I bought it because of your recommendation. I often agree with all of Mari's criticisms though they don't always impact me the same way. I'm also excited to read the book and see where I land. Will you be at BNF? She's holding a book club for it. I'm hoping I can read it in time to attend.

[julieann]

I was in a reading slump when I picked up this book. I enjoyed it, it was Hunger Games with Dragons. I recognized its faults and saw the tropes, but I still raced to the end. It’s the ending that didn’t land!

[N_Garamond]

I will say it's true SOMETIMES someone's enjoyment or dislike of a book reveals something deeper about them that you may not like, like a belief we are deeply opposed to. But a lot of the time or even MOST of the time, like you said, it's far more nuanced and personal, as individual as the reviewer themself. Being on Booktube has complicated my worldview in a good way because I've seen so many times two smart people have diametrically opposed viewpoints on the same book.

[lauracorsi]

I completely agree with your thoughts on Fourth Wing specifically and criticism and accepting criticism in general. I thought this was a much needed video to clarify all the furor over Fourth Wing. As far as the plot hole you mention, in my own head I felt that there is something else going on some reason why the murder of everyone is serving some agenda we don't know about yet. I felt like we get a glimpse of this in the end of the book. However, Violet never questions it because it is all that she has been raised to expect.

[jessicadoneganreads]

I loved Marines' review. She's always so insightful, but there's nothing wrong with liking a book that missing some critical elements, especially if it's a cleanse book or a a book you're reading for a breather. I think it's silly people dogpile on people who hate books the love or love books they hate. I'm just glad when I find people who have read the same thing I've read and want to talk about it.

[lina.dekeyzer]

I just read this, I am in LOVE with it. But I totally missed the disability rep? Can someone explain?

[bonniestevens]

I was influenced to order by the pretty outside and the positive reviews. I did not go into it expecting greatness, I knew some of the flaws going in, but I hoped I would have a good time anyway. I landed sort of in the middle with this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I enjoyed parts of it but other things got on my nerves. I am undecided about the next book. I am tempted to buy because I know it will look great on my shelf, but I am afraid I won't enjoy it anymore than I did the first one.

[asmrbookishness]

I’m not interested in Fourth Wing because I’m generally not a magic school fan, but I loved the nuance you are bringing to the conversation with this video! Sometimes I think the star rating system is a little reductive. Five stars for a beautifully written literary master piece and five stars for fluffy brain candy makes it hard to tell from ratings what you are really getting with a book. Both reading choices are completely valid, both have their place, but they should not be compared directly to each other. That way disappointment lies.