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cloreadsbooks1364's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This YA fantasy is set in a Jamaican-inspired world, and focuses on two very powerful sisters.
Faron is the Childe Empyrean, 5 years ago she used her ability to channel the gods' power to defeat the dragon-riding Langish forces and free her small island nation, San Irie. Then, at the international peace summit, her sister Elara is shocked to bond with a Langish dragon, Zephyra, and her rider Signey. Faron must figure out how to break the bond and bring her sister home, alongside discovering shocking secrets that could harm everyone.
I liked Elara from the start. She was strong, caring and so lovable. I found myself becoming impatient to return to her pov during the alternating chapters where Faron had her pov. She quickly accepted the bond with Zephyra and fit in well in Hearthstone, the dragon riding school, and I'd have loved to see more of her there.
Faron was very brave, she always spoke her mind, and made very rash decisions. As the Childe Empyrean she was worshipped, which she was quite tired of.
Reeve, the son of the Langish commander, who helped win the war 5 years ago by telling the Iryans his father's plans, was a very studious, calm, character, who thought before he acted (something I think Faron should've learnt). I enjoyed him as a character.
Signey was a character I liked immediately. Sharp, funny, trustworthy, and loyal, I enjoyed the slow-burn romance between her and Elara immensely.
Zephyra, the sweet sage dragon, was amazing, as most book dragons tend to be.
Aveline, the young Queen of San Irie, was such a strong character!
The magic in this book included the Langish dragon powers, the Iryan ancestor-summoning, and the Iryan drakes (flying machines that combat dragons.
I loved this book and will certainly read the sequel upon its release!
Queer rep:
Demisexual mc (Faron)
Sapphic mc (Elara)
Sapphic sc (Signey)
TWs: possession, bullying, death, violence, war, colonisation, racism, blood.
Faron is the Childe Empyrean, 5 years ago she used her ability to channel the gods' power to defeat the dragon-riding Langish forces and free her small island nation, San Irie. Then, at the international peace summit, her sister Elara is shocked to bond with a Langish dragon, Zephyra, and her rider Signey. Faron must figure out how to break the bond and bring her sister home, alongside discovering shocking secrets that could harm everyone.
I liked Elara from the start. She was strong, caring and so lovable. I found myself becoming impatient to return to her pov during the alternating chapters where Faron had her pov. She quickly accepted the bond with Zephyra and fit in well in Hearthstone, the dragon riding school, and I'd have loved to see more of her there.
Faron was very brave, she always spoke her mind, and made very rash decisions. As the Childe Empyrean she was worshipped, which she was quite tired of.
Reeve, the son of the Langish commander, who helped win the war 5 years ago by telling the Iryans his father's plans, was a very studious, calm, character, who thought before he acted (something I think Faron should've learnt). I enjoyed him as a character.
Signey was a character I liked immediately. Sharp, funny, trustworthy, and loyal, I enjoyed the slow-burn romance between her and Elara immensely.
Zephyra, the sweet sage dragon, was amazing, as most book dragons tend to be.
Aveline, the young Queen of San Irie, was such a strong character!
The magic in this book included the Langish dragon powers, the Iryan ancestor-summoning, and the Iryan drakes (flying machines that combat dragons.
I loved this book and will certainly read the sequel upon its release!
Queer rep:
Demisexual mc (Faron)
Sapphic mc (Elara)
Sapphic sc (Signey)
TWs: possession, bullying, death, violence, war, colonisation, racism, blood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Colonisation, War, and Violence
zombiezami's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
It took a little effort to get into this, but the story started to flow about 25 percent of the way in. I liked the characters quite a bit, especially Ilora. I think the book could have started stronger if it hadn't yada yada-ed the whole war that took place before the book. There was a lot of exposition that could have been more engaging in a show, not tell model.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Death, Xenophobia, War, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Blood, Gore, Murder, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Child death, Alcohol, and Cursing
readingelli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Bullying
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Grief, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, and War
Minor: Kidnapping, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
natraf_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
WOW. A debut novel from Cole and an exceptional one at that!
I loved the sister relationship between Elara and Faron. These sisters have had to face SO much so young.
The trauma from war has greatly affected these girls as they fought to save their country as actual children!!
Still incredibly young, our sisters now find themselves at the forefront of the nations newest disaster. I loved watching Elara grow and become more confident in a world way different from her own. I loved seeing Faron forced to grow up and acknowledge that she has been selfish her whole life, and that being the empyrean is a much bigger commitment than just the title.
I loved the sister relationship between Elara and Faron. These sisters have had to face SO much so young.
The trauma from war has greatly affected these girls as they fought to save their country as actual children!!
Still incredibly young, our sisters now find themselves at the forefront of the nations newest disaster. I loved watching Elara grow and become more confident in a world way different from her own. I loved seeing Faron forced to grow up and acknowledge that she has been selfish her whole life, and that being the empyrean is a much bigger commitment than just the title.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Murder, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying and Death
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is the second book I’ve read in a row that was all tell no show with a much stronger concept than execution.
All of the elements are excellent here. This book is exploring some really compelling ideas: what does it mean to be a former chosen one or the sibling of a chosen one? What is good, what is evil, and what is the relationship between religion and morality? How do you rebuild your nation after a revolution? How do you find new relationships with your former colonial oppressors? Should you?
The characters are set up in really compelling ways. The dragons are fun. The world is queernormative and both main characters are queer (one is demisexual, one is a lesbian). The plot is good overall. It was just way too fast and completely lacking in any subtlety whatsoever. I felt extremely spoon-fed the entire time. I also felt like the book was rushing through instead of taking its time with the characters and concepts. I wonder if it was the author’s choice to make this one extremely rushed book instead of two slower, more thoughtful ones.
If there’s a sequel I will read it because I’m invested, but I was definitely slightly disappointed.
All of the elements are excellent here. This book is exploring some really compelling ideas: what does it mean to be a former chosen one or the sibling of a chosen one? What is good, what is evil, and what is the relationship between religion and morality? How do you rebuild your nation after a revolution? How do you find new relationships with your former colonial oppressors? Should you?
The characters are set up in really compelling ways. The dragons are fun. The world is queernormative and both main characters are queer (one is demisexual, one is a lesbian). The plot is good overall. It was just way too fast and completely lacking in any subtlety whatsoever. I felt extremely spoon-fed the entire time. I also felt like the book was rushing through instead of taking its time with the characters and concepts. I wonder if it was the author’s choice to make this one extremely rushed book instead of two slower, more thoughtful ones.
If there’s a sequel I will read it because I’m invested, but I was definitely slightly disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Violence, Animal death, and Death
lady_valhella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Genocide
Moderate: Bullying
metaphorsandmisc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Colonisation, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
thoughtsontomes's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- 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
This managed to do so many unexpected things. First, this is dual POV which you can’t tell from the synopsis and definitely matters. It follows two sisters years after a war where their country fought off a colonizing nation in which they were two key players. So this feels like what would happen after so many classic YA adventure stories. It explores sister bonds, and what makes a villain. It does so many things that I wasn’t expecting so well. I’m intrigued for the second installment!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Bullying
achay91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Child death and Cursing