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jeannie_riley's review
fast-paced
3.75
The story itself is phenomenal, but there is A LOT of language and several instances of graphic sexual content, which caused me to lower my rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
readingelli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
eabbenante's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.0
The storyline and plot was great. The banter between Trag and Violet was really entertaining. I really enjoyed the very obvious love triangle and how it played out, but that was also my biggest complaint. I love a book with lots of sexual tension but this was less sexual tension and more the MFC constantly gawking over how beautiful/ muscular/ sexy/ etc. this man is and then going on about how she hates him and how could she think that. It got repetitive, a little boring, and fairly funny (though it wasn’t intended to be) to have these long descriptions of how gorgeous he is and how she needs to “smother her feelings” while staring at home for several pages.
I thought the disability rep was fantastic. It was also great to have a love interest fully invested in the MFC learning how to fight for herself.
I thought the disability rep was fantastic. It was also great to have a love interest fully invested in the MFC learning how to fight for herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation
hal00alex's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A book that has an interesting subplot about history being erased or hidden that keeps getting interrupted by booktok tropes checklist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
specialagentstevie's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Grief
rideauriverreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ksmith_23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
thats_amoray's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
savage_book_review's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Late to the party again, I know... but I got there eventually! And I can TOTALLY understand the hype!
There are elements in here from all of your favourite fantasy/dystopian future series - Divergent, Red Queen, The Hunger Games, ACOTAR, Crescent City, Throne of Glass etc etc etc, so it's like slipping into something comfortable and familiar. But at the same time, it's completely its own thing, standing on its own merits and taking you on a fantastic trip into the writer's own little corner of fantasy land.
I have to admit I wasn't 100% sure I was going to enjoy it (that, plus the fact I wanted to wait until it came out in paperback is the reason it took me a while to read it), as I was uncertain about the dragon element in particular. They lead me more towards high fantasy, which I don't enjoy quite as much. However, I am very pleased to have my worries proven as unfounded; the dragons are amazing! I like the fact that they're characters in their own right and, of course, the way the relationships grow between dragon and rider is fantastically done.
Our main character, Violet, does fit within the usual mould of this sort of series; your unlikely hero who must go through tough times to get physically and mentally stronger whilst being exposed to both expected and unforeseen dangers. However, I do like the fact that the author has given Violet a physical reason for her weakness, as I understand it based somewhat on her own experiences; she's not just a girl that's fallen on hard times and had to learn to survive in ways which just so happen to give her the skills she needs. And more importantly, her perceived weakness isn't just forgotten or fixed - there are gentle reminders of it throughout, she and those around her find ways to adapt things that don't quite work, and in a couple of places it turns into an asset. She does perhaps come across as a little bit immature for her 20 years, but generally she's a likeable character that you're happy to accompany through the story.
As for Xaden and Dain, they are both immediately recognisable fantasy men; you'll start out rooting for the good guy, but then the shadow daddy appears with his brooding and bad boy attitude and you know exactly where we're headed. I can't say that I'm as enthralled by Xaden as I am with the Bat Boys (no wings of his own for one thing!), but I am only one book into this series so there's hope for me yet!
I am totally sold on the series though, and will absolutely be getting the graphic audios of this from Audible! Now I just need my library to get its systems back online so I can order Iron Flame...
There are elements in here from all of your favourite fantasy/dystopian future series - Divergent, Red Queen, The Hunger Games, ACOTAR, Crescent City, Throne of Glass etc etc etc, so it's like slipping into something comfortable and familiar. But at the same time, it's completely its own thing, standing on its own merits and taking you on a fantastic trip into the writer's own little corner of fantasy land.
I have to admit I wasn't 100% sure I was going to enjoy it (that, plus the fact I wanted to wait until it came out in paperback is the reason it took me a while to read it), as I was uncertain about the dragon element in particular. They lead me more towards high fantasy, which I don't enjoy quite as much. However, I am very pleased to have my worries proven as unfounded; the dragons are amazing! I like the fact that they're characters in their own right and, of course, the way the relationships grow between dragon and rider is fantastically done.
Our main character, Violet, does fit within the usual mould of this sort of series; your unlikely hero who must go through tough times to get physically and mentally stronger whilst being exposed to both expected and unforeseen dangers. However, I do like the fact that the author has given Violet a physical reason for her weakness, as I understand it based somewhat on her own experiences; she's not just a girl that's fallen on hard times and had to learn to survive in ways which just so happen to give her the skills she needs. And more importantly, her perceived weakness isn't just forgotten or fixed - there are gentle reminders of it throughout, she and those around her find ways to adapt things that don't quite work, and in a couple of places it turns into an asset. She does perhaps come across as a little bit immature for her 20 years, but generally she's a likeable character that you're happy to accompany through the story.
As for Xaden and Dain, they are both immediately recognisable fantasy men; you'll start out rooting for the good guy, but then the shadow daddy appears with his brooding and bad boy attitude and you know exactly where we're headed. I can't say that I'm as enthralled by Xaden as I am with the Bat Boys (no wings of his own for one thing!), but I am only one book into this series so there's hope for me yet!
I am totally sold on the series though, and will absolutely be getting the graphic audios of this from Audible! Now I just need my library to get its systems back online so I can order Iron Flame...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Vomit, Medical content, and Grief
eldersong's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
It’s a decent read. The plot and world building is mostly sound but not amazing. The characters are alright but tend to stay within their archetypes. The author explores some interesting concepts about war and punishment, but these deep thoughts are often pushed aside for the protagonist to tell us about her ongoing weakness or her developing desire for teammates. If these concepts were fully fleshed out this book could have an actual message to it. Speaking of Violet though, she’s our favourite fantasy protagonist - weak and underestimated but with a vicious tongue. The flicks back and forth like a metronome as to her capabilities, yes she was raised to be a scribe and she’s overall weak, but she has no problem threatening you like she could take it. And apparently no issues throwing daggers? I don’t believe we ever learn why she is so good at that.
The only characters in this book that have any sort of interest or agency die. Which is tragic for the plot and for our beloved Violet but also for the reader as they are stuck with named shards of personality. Aurelie pissed me off when I first met her but the story about a trained legacy rider would be much more interesting than Violet’s nonsense. Oh and don’t forget she’s the special one, she’s bonded two dragons - one of them the biggest, baddest unbounded dragon out there - and she controls lightning. Oh and Brennan is alive because of course he is.
The pace to this book was good, I found myself wanting to read more, but don’t walk into this thinking it is the most well written. If you’re prepared to ignore some strange character behaviour and odd plot devices then you can go for it. I personally picked this up preparing for a trashy fantasy romance and that’s what I got. I am vaguely interested to see where Yarros takes Iron Flame but I won’t be purchasing it given she is a Zionist. It’s intriguing to me that you can write about war and injustices and your own message can still slip right over your head.
The pace to this book was good, I found myself wanting to read more, but don’t walk into this thinking it is the most well written. If you’re prepared to ignore some strange character behaviour and odd plot devices then you can go for it. I personally picked this up preparing for a trashy fantasy romance and that’s what I got. I am vaguely interested to see where Yarros takes Iron Flame but I won’t be purchasing it given she is a Zionist. It’s intriguing to me that you can write about war and injustices and your own message can still slip right over your head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Classism