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angelofthetardis's review against another edition
- 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
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...
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and War
Minor: Grief, Medical content, and Vomit
chanlo1994'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: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, Gore, Bullying, Sexual content, War, Animal death, Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
Minor: Child death
isaile'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: Violence, Bullying, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Gore, Grief, War, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
morgankendrick455'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: Child death, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, War, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
s_r_sparrow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, War, Ableism, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal death and Blood
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Drug use
stitchbooks22'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: Death, Body horror, Body shaming, Torture, Colonisation, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gore, Physical abuse, Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Medical content, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Cursing, Hate crime, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, War, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Blood, Genocide, and Vomit
erinvasut'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: Classism, Child death, Cursing, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and War
goblinbabe00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Classism, Chronic illness, Death, Toxic friendship, and War
lorraine19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Sexual content, Classism, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol
accidentalpoetry107'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
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: War and Forced institutionalization