#see: with fourth wing.

[ofbreathandflame]

With the rise of booktok/booktwt, there's been this weird movement against literary criticism. It's a bizarre phenomenon, but this uptick in condemnation of criticism is so stifling. I understand that with the rise of these platforms, many people are being reintroduced into the habit of reading, which is why at the base level, I understand why many 'popular' books on booktok tend to be cozier.

The argument always falls into the 'this book means too much to me' or 'let people enjoy things,' which is rhetoric I understand -- at least fundamentally. But reading and writing have always been conduits for criticism, healthy natural criticism. We grow as writers and readers because of criticism. It's just so frustrating to see arguments like "how could you not like this character they've been the x trauma," or "why read this book if you're not going to come out liking it," and it's like...why not. That has always been the point of reading. Having a character go through copious amounts of trauma does not always translate to a character that's well-crafted. Good worldbuilding doesn't always translate to having a good story, or having beautiful prose doesn't always translate into a good plot.

There is just so much that goes into writing a story other than being able to formulate tropable (is that a word lol) characters. Good ideas don't always translate into good stories. And engaging critically with the text you read is how we figure that out, how we make sure authors are giving us a good craft. Writing is a form of entertainment too, and just like we'd do a poorly crafted show, we should always be questioning the things we read, even if we enjoy those things.

It's just werd to see people argue that we shouldn't read literature unless we know for certain we are going to like it. Or seeing people not be able to stand honest criticism of the world they've fallen in love with. I love ASOIAF -- but boy oh boy are there a lot of problems in the story: racial undertones, questionable writing decisions, weird ness overall. I also think engaging critically helps us understand how an author's biases can inform what they write. Like, HP Lovecraft wrote eerie stories, he was also a raging racist. But we can argue that his fear of PoC, his antisemitism, and all of his weird fears informed a lot of what he was writing. His writing is so eerie because a lot of that fear comes from very real, nasty places. It's not to say we have to censor his works, but he influences a lot of horror today and those fears, that racial undertone, it is still very prevalent in horror movies today. That fear of the 'unknown,'

Gone with the Wind is an incredibly racist book. It's also a well-written book. I think a lot of people also like confine criticism to just a syntax/prose/technical level -- when in reality criticism should also be applied on an ideological level. Books that are well-written, well-plotted, etc., are also -- and should also -- be up for criticism. A book can be very well-written and also propagate harmful ideologies. I often read books that I know that (on an ideological level), I might not agree with. We can learn a lot from the books we read, even the ones we hate.

I just feel like we're getting to the point where people are just telling people to 'shut up and read' and making spaces for conversation a uniform experience. I don't want to be in a space where everyone agrees with the same point. Either people won't accept criticism of their favorite book, or they think criticism shouldn't be applied to books they think are well written. Reading invokes natural criticism -- so does writing. That's literally what writing is; asking questions, interrogating the world around you. It's why we have literary devices, techniques, and elements. It's never just taking the words being printed at face value.

You can identify with a character's trauma and still understand that their badly written. You can read a story, hate everything about it, and still like a character. As I stated a while back, I'm reading Fourth Wing; the book is terrible, but I like the main character. The worldbuilding is also terrible, but the author writes her PoC characters with respect. It's not hard to acknowledge one thing about the text, and still find enough to enjoy the book. And authors grow when we're honest about what worked and what didn't work. Shadow and Bone was very formulaic and derivative at points, but Six of Crows is much more inventive and inclusive. Veronica Roth's Carve the Mark had some weird racial problems, but Chosen Ones was a much better book in terms of representation. Percy Jackson is the same way. These writers grow, not just by virtue of time, but because they were critiqued and listened to that critique. C.S. Lewis and Tolkien always publically criticized each other's work. Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes had a legendary friendship and back and forth with one another's works which provides so much insight into the conversations black authors and creatives were having.

Writing has always been about asking questions; prodding here and there, critiquing. It has always been a conversation, a dialogue. I urge people to love what they read, and read what they love, but always ask questions, always understand different perspectives, and always keep your mind open. Please stop stifling and controlling the conversations about your favorite literature, and please understand that everyone will not come out with the same reading experience as you. It doesn't make their experience any less valid than yours.

[aprill-99]

Violet: “So I’m seeing someone, but I’m not sure how to tell you who it is. I’m worried you’ll react badly.”

Mira: “Just do it quick. Rip the band aid off.”

Violet: “It’s Xaden Riorson.”

Mira: “Put the Band Aid back on!”

[catching-thefire]

How do I request that Rebecca Yarros releases an entire extra book where we get the full recovered correspondences that she puts on the beginning of each chapter? The recovered letters and such…let me read the FULL letters from Liam to sloane, the handwritten notes from xaden to Violet. I would like to see them all

[callsign-rogueone]

that time of the month

fourth wing boys (Aaric, Brennan, Bodhi, Dain, Garrick, Liam, Ridoc, Sawyer, Xaden) x reader

how our favorite boys would take care of you when you’re on your period [request]

words: 588

🏷: no book spoilers. gender neutral, no pronouns used. mentions of periods, cramps,, etc. soft and fluffy. these are kinda short bc it was hard to not make them repetitive — I think they all give excellent care + cuddles 🥰

Aaric is a quiet support kind of guy to me. he’ll be by your side, but not overbearing or too touchy. really good at playing with your hair and massaging the back of your neck if you get migraines (like I do) he also sleeps flat on his back and perfectly still like a total weirdo, so he’s great to use as a body pillow.

Brennan is the number one man for the job, and I’m not just saying this because he’s my favorite. he’s a mender, so he can literally stop your pain, and he can get stains out of clothes super easily. also just a very nurturing and gentle person, takes excellent care of you all week.

Bodhi is going to use this as an excuse to cuddle you and take naps all week (I love how the Bodhi girls have collectively decided that he’s just a lil cuddlebug 🥺). expect lots of murmured words of affirmation about how strong you are and how much he loves you.

Dain, the overgrown boyscout he is (I say this affectionately) is prepared. he knows when that time is coming up, and he is properly equipped to take care of you. has everything you need in both his room and yours. also gives a 10/10 back massage (canon, actually.)

Garrick insists that you spend the week in his room, because his bed is more comfortable (it honestly is) and that way he can take care of you. he’s very nice to cuddle up with. lets you sleep in his clothes, too, for maximum comfort. has a secret stash of all your favorite snacks, too — he’s been getting them from the fliers. don’t tell Xaden. (Xaden totally knows, and is also getting snacks from them.)

Liam makes sure you’re eating even if you have no appetite, and that you’re staying hydrated, etc. you might grumble about it, but absolutely nobody can say no to that face. he knows not to take it personally if you get mad at him, because you’re hormonal + in pain. gives fabulous cuddles, too, and lots of sweet words.

Ridoc knows not to make any jokes at your expense or fuck with you when you’re feeling fragile, instead showering you with cheesy verbal affection to get the grumpiness out of your system and get you feeling a little better — as much as you can, when you feel like your insides are being ripped out. uses his hands like ice packs for you, holding them on any place that’s particularly achy.

Sawyer was a little awkward about it at first, but now he’s a seasoned boyfriend who knows what you need and does it without you needing to ask; snacks, cuddles, back rubs, so on and so forth. helps you with whatever’s particularly difficult this week. ties your shoes for you so you don’t have to bend down and strain your back, etc.

Xaden can sense that you’re in pain, and the minute he’s able to, he’s scooping you up and whisking you away to rest in his arms. abuses his wingleader privledges a little bit, letting you have the worst day(s) off. don’t bother trying to lie to him and say that you’re fine — he knows you aren’t. don’t question the sudden change in his normal tough-guy persona either; just enjoy it.

++ none of these men are at all scared or grossed out by a little blood. they’re men, not boys, and they’re used to it anyway, going to this deathtrap of a school.

[arisushanti]

everytime i don’t want to do leg day in the gym, im just gonna pretend im a dragon rider in the fourth wing universe that needs to train more to stay on my dragon

[silentwalrus1]

if i have to read one more published fantasy book that uses irl memes and online vernacular in its dialogue i’m taking away the toys until y’all can learn to respect yourselves. Not only does it break immersion in your world and detract from your characters having their own voices, it also makes you, the author, seem like a dim parrot incapable of neither original thought nor basic understanding of the passage of time

1) due to the timeline of publishing, any meme included will automatically be hopelessly dated by the time the story reaches readers and

2) it’s literally the same thing Ready Player One did. Hey look i’m pointing at a thing in pop culture. Did you get my reference? Did you get it? Let me list some more colors and shapes you recognize. Did you get it? And then Gideon Nav hit the dab or whatever. Hashtag Relatable!

It’s so painfully unfunny and uncompelling every time. We can do better. Apply some creativity to your own work

[queerpiratebrainrot]

So, we know everyone realises Xaden and violet fight silently all the time, and people are confused by it, so like, no one knows they have that bond thing, right?

That is so fucking funny to me, and honestly, it should be used for more comedic shit, cuz the possibilities are endless

I wonder if anyone even suspects anything, and if ppl are gonna figure it out

But just, imagine being anyone else, and Xaden and Violet are doing their mindreading-bond thing, and you're just... there, as they have a whole silent communication thing going on

Even worse, they have a whole one-sided conversation, Violet just replying openly to questions he asked in her head, which I'm fairly certain they have done, at some point in the books

This post is kinda all over the place, but yea, I have thoughts about the whole thing

[iownfish]

Prince of shadows himself

[skyfallscotland]

Ok, so what I meant was,

Remember when I shared my idea that Bodhi is always referenced as looking so similar to Xaden because they'll need to lock Xaden in the Rybestad Chest at some point while Bodhi masquerades as him?

Well. I saw a transcription of Rebecca's Q&A in Columbus and someone asked if there was going to be a cliffhanger at the end of each book and if she knew already what they were, and she said "You're going to hate me at the end of the next book."

Which implies it's worse than the venin-turning ending everyone thought was so dramatic at the end of Iron Flame. She also essentially (in a roundabout way) implied Xaden isn't going to be ok and she replied to someone on instagram recently implying some people will probably die (not news).

So while I was driving to work all that was rolling around in my brain and as usual I was like "well if I were her, I would—"

And the answer to that is: have Xaden's control wavering, a bit of back and forth all book with Violet trying to help him, then maybe he goes into the chest for his own good, maybe he doesn't, who knows, but I do believe at the end of the book Bodhi, who looks oh so much like Xaden will die, because someone will mistakenly kill him thinking it's Xaden they're getting. Xaden of course instantly blames himself and BAM! Off the deep end, full venin. That's the book three cliffhanger.

And I'll also back that up by saying Bodhi disappeared in the second half of book two and you know who disappeared in the second half of book one? Nadine. You know who was briefly mentioned but never appeared in the first half of book one? Liam Mairi. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a pattern.

Do I like it? No.

Do I believe she'd do it? Yes.

Thank you for coming to my Tedairn Talk 🖤

[bookwalmartav]

Why is no one talking about Xaden calling Violet "Love". Im a sucker for it.

Everyone is talking about the end but common guys. At this point FW is a Frankensteinian mix of all those early 2000 and 2010s books.

[lucienarcheron]

So I finished Fourth Wing…and I am deeply upset about a particular thing that happens in the end that I don’t think I’ll recover from.

[thelov3lybookworm]

“You brought down an entire cliff on his unhinged ass.” Sawyer claps slowly, but it’s only for show. “How the fuck was there anything left to mend?”

EXACT-FUCKING-LY MY QUESTION

[aprill-99]

Xaden: “Listen up you little shits!”

Xaden: “Not you Violet. You’re an angel, and we’re thrilled you could join us.”

[mistylakeee]

I think I found the exact moment in Iron Flame when Sawyer caught feelings for Jesinia🙈

[marvelousartcatastrophe]

I really liked TGCF (obviously… obsessing over Qi Rong still) and I want to try MDZS but I’m put off by sex scenes. Like I want to read it because I know it’s probably really good but I don’t want the smut to ruin it for me.

[ninelivesart]

Part 22 of Drawing My Reads was Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros