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filipa_maia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Violet is such an amazing character, her growth throughout the entire story is one of the best character arcs I've ever read. The plot is great, full of twists, great friendships, magic and cool dragons. How can you ask for more than that?
Are there any weird little things? Yes. Why the hell do they need to bond with a dragon to write with a pen? What kind of power is that? Why are the sex scenes so…detailed? We get it, sex is good, we don't need to read every thing they feel.
The ending was brilliant! I can't wait to read the second book.
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Child death, Blood, Abandonment, Cursing, Violence, Toxic relationship, War, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Grief, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Vomit
allisonpaigex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Violence, Death, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent and Cursing
3q29fgh239fg24pfg9qf9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
- When I suspend disbelief, I am a fan of the idea of the world built. I'm a fantasy nerd -- sue me
Cons:
- - The viciousness of the environment that the main character lives in (especially the primary environ-- the war school) is overtly hostile to that it almost defies logic
- The sex scenes are poorly written - not for the lack of description, but the actual wording and verbiage. It's like a teenage wrote it. Cringe is the word I'm looking for
- The recurring themes of fighting with the main character's male best friend, the main character's internal thoughts about the boy she's interested in and their conflict with said boy etc .. got a bit dull after awhile.
I find other books with similar themes like the Inheritance Cycle (e.g. Eragon) and Hunger Games to be much better written and therefor more engaging.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and War
weecore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, War, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic relationship
srs_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Death, Gore, Cursing, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
kellyofcali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, War, Grief, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Genocide and Gore
devincold's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Stalking, Torture, War, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Child death, and Chronic illness
rmlknisely's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
andmingmingtoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Pros:
-The general premise is really fun. I was excited to learn more about the dragon, magic, and government systems of the world
-The action sequences actually felt tense, and they definitely felt like they would be cinematic if in a visual format
-The side characters were really fun (and often eclipsed the main character in likeability)
-Xaden is an interesting and actually respectful male lead
Cons:
-A lot of Violet's inner monologue feels jarring and sometimes detracts from a tense vibe in a scene
-A lot of scenes that would be interesting and would add to the characters' growth are left offscreen, like they were cut for time, despite this being an original work where the author could decide what did and didn't exist. For instance,
-A lot of visual descriptions of settings were left out, like
-For the most part, we have to take Violet's word for it that characters, including herself, have experienced growth. The growth seems to happen offscreen and is not substantiated by their onscreen actions
Additionally, this book is screaming to be part of a series (I am aware that the sequel is out and a series is in the works, as is a movie). In my opinion, there is no finite conclusion of the book's overall plot quest at the end, mostly because there is not one unifying plot quest. The extent of the book is defined temporally, not from a plot perspective, which can give the book the feel of a series of episodes, rather than a unifying experience.
Obviously, this book is popular! I did enjoy it, and I can see how others may enjoy it more than me. That being said, it is not a polished experience, but if you know to expect that, it may help you brace yourself and enjoy it more.
Graphic: Gore, Vomit, Torture, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Stalking, Blood, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Chronic illness, Classism, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, and War
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Child death, Ableism, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
tess_gee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: War, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexism, Body shaming, Bullying, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Blood, and Body horror