Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This book was just as enjoyable as everyone said it was. Sometimes I shy away from fantasy because I don't have the energy to dive into a whole new world but this story drops you right into the action and gives bits and pieces of the fantasy world as you need them, so there's no lengthy build-up but you also don't feel confused. It's VERY fast-paced so I didn't mind one bit that it was over 500 pages. Honestly, I wish it were longer! As I was reading this, I felt the same way I remember feeling my first time reading Hunger Games. I was enamored with the world.

Violet was born more fragile than others so everyone always assumed she'd become a scribe like her father. But right before it was her turn to enter the war college, her mother, the General, told her she would be going into the Rider Quadrant to become a dragon rider. The story follows her first year of school as Violet has to fend off murder attempts from her classmates while tying to complete all of their challenges despite being physically weaker than the others. She has to navigate making friends with the right people while allowing herself to form strategic partnerships with others and experiencing the betrayal of trusting the wrong people. This story has a delicious enemies-to-lovers romance - where they truly are MORTAL enemies at the start in a way that's really only possible in alternate realities. I don't want to give too much away but my absolute favorite part of their relationship was how much he respected her intelligence and believed in her abilities always. I also really loved the dragon bonding aspect of the story and the way those relationships developed.

I am SO glad that the next book comes out in November so we don't have to wait too long to see where the story goes next!