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A review by savage_book_review
Fourth Wing (Part 1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I may have started my Empyrean reread a bit early at this rate! But the Graphic Audio version of this book is so good, I didn't want to stop listening! This style of audiobook is far and away my favourite way to ingest books now; they just heighten the whole experience, especially when the story is as well written and enjoyable as this one.
What really helps in this case as well is the fact that the story 'hits the ground running', so you're immediately thrown into the world and you become ehaged very quickly. And then as the story progresses and you're able to hear Jack's unhinged threats, Violet's developing confidence, Dain's overbearing mother hen act etc., it really solidifies the characters and sharpens your impressions of Basgaith. I could feel the stomach churning dips and drops of the dragons in flight and the impact of blows landed during sparring, and felt even more immersed in the world than I did when reading the book. I am grateful I have both parts of the GA though; part one ends mid-way through a scene!
The voice performances are all excellent, although it did take me a couple of hours to stop picturing Xaden as a certain red-headed fox boy (and even now I haven't entirely let that drop). And one of the professors (and the guy who introduces the books and reads the credits) sounds and awful lot like Donald Sutherland to me, so I was mostly picturing President Snow when he was speaking! I think that's the only thing that pulls me out of the book a bit - there are a lot of cast members who also appear in the ACOTAR/CC graphic audios, and on more than one occasion I found my mind drifting from the story to try and place the voice with their ACOTAR character. I think my difficulty comes down to the fact that there are no visuals - if there were they'd be dressed as that character and I could separate them out more easily like I do with actors on-screen. But my brain struggles a bit more with just the voices - no idea why!
Tairn and Andarna are just perfect throughout - the attitude of both characters comes through on the page well enough, but hearing them is hilarious! And while I know I'd end up in the Scribe Quadrant, I'd risk the high probability of death if I got to bond with those dragons!
But of course, things heat up in part two... 😁😁😁
What really helps in this case as well is the fact that the story 'hits the ground running', so you're immediately thrown into the world and you become ehaged very quickly. And then as the story progresses and you're able to hear Jack's unhinged threats, Violet's developing confidence, Dain's overbearing mother hen act etc., it really solidifies the characters and sharpens your impressions of Basgaith. I could feel the stomach churning dips and drops of the dragons in flight and the impact of blows landed during sparring, and felt even more immersed in the world than I did when reading the book. I am grateful I have both parts of the GA though; part one ends mid-way through a scene!
The voice performances are all excellent, although it did take me a couple of hours to stop picturing Xaden as a certain red-headed fox boy (and even now I haven't entirely let that drop). And one of the professors (and the guy who introduces the books and reads the credits) sounds and awful lot like Donald Sutherland to me, so I was mostly picturing President Snow when he was speaking! I think that's the only thing that pulls me out of the book a bit - there are a lot of cast members who also appear in the ACOTAR/CC graphic audios, and on more than one occasion I found my mind drifting from the story to try and place the voice with their ACOTAR character. I think my difficulty comes down to the fact that there are no visuals - if there were they'd be dressed as that character and I could separate them out more easily like I do with actors on-screen. But my brain struggles a bit more with just the voices - no idea why!
Tairn and Andarna are just perfect throughout - the attitude of both characters comes through on the page well enough, but hearing them is hilarious! And while I know I'd end up in the Scribe Quadrant, I'd risk the high probability of death if I got to bond with those dragons!
But of course, things heat up in part two... 😁😁😁