Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Explicit sex, some violence in fun but shallow fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 28 parent reviews
Parents say that while the book offers some positive messages about consent and personal safety in sexual relationships, it is heavily criticized for its explicit content and themes that may not be suitable for younger readers. Many reviewers stress that the graphic sexual scenes, strong language, and potentially disturbing elements such as violence and religious undertones make this work more appropriate for an adult audience rather than a young adult one.
- graphic content
- parental guidance
- age appropriateness
- positive messages
- fantasy elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 51 kid reviews
Kids say that this book offers an engaging fantasy story with well-developed characters and a captivating plot, but it is heavily criticized for its explicit content, including graphic sex scenes and excessive swearing. Many reviewers recommend it only for mature teens or older readers, suggesting that parents should carefully consider their children's maturity level before allowing them to read it, as it contains themes of violence and adult relationships.
- mature reader recommendation
- explicit content
- excessive swearing
- engaging plot
- well-developed characters
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In FOURTH WING, Violet Sorrengail was meant to live the quiet life of a scribe, her head in books instead of on proverbial chopping blocks. But at the last minute, her respected commander general mother signs Violet up for the incredibly dangerous war academy that trains future dragon riders. Small and weak, Violet's physical limits will be tested. With death and danger at every step, no one expects her to survive. Will she be able to prove everyone wrong?
Is It Any Good?
This serviceable fantasy romance reads like young adult fantasy with an R-rated dash of romance. With slightly less-explicit sex scenes, Fourth Wing could have been marketed as YA, but its adult fantasy status won't stop many teens from racing through this story. Alas, the central romance feels immature at best. Violet falls, predictably, for the "hot guy," and their physical attraction magically turns into love after a few sexual encounters. It's unclear why Violet's lover returns her affections so intensely given that her beauty, charm, and personality—beyond being "bookish, small and weak, and not confident"—all remain undeveloped.
On the plus side, Rebecca Yarros does a great job representing chronic illness in Violet's character, who deals with chronic pain and must negotiate how to be a dragon rider given her physical limitations. The story is basically a fun read, with an interesting (if not wholly original) world full of adventure, dragons, magic, and love triangles set at a war college. Characters are clearly drawn but a little flat, with few getting fully developed. The central conflicts and political intrigue are also a bit bland: Too often, things just happen, robbing them of the tense, high stakes they need. Hopefully, the world will be better fleshed out in future books. For now, there's enough to satisfy mature fantasy fans—and enough to get readers coming back for the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexual content in fantasy romance novels. Did you find the sexual content in Fourth Wing excessive, or justified? Why, and how so?
How do characters demonstrate courage and teamwork? How does Violet overcome her "shortcomings" to become a successful candidate? How do her friends get past their beefs and drama to work together to defeat larger threats?
What does Violet learn about love and desire by the end of her adventure? Why do you think she falls for one person over another?
Do you like the way dragons are depicted in this world? What questions do you still have about how dragons behave, work, or live?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Communication , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Entangled: Red Tower Books
- Publication date : May 2, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 16 - 18
- Number of pages : 528
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : February 12, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate