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Every fantasy book I read, I try to find the little detail or saying that implies a small little tear in the worldbuilding, a earth thing that has slipped through the cracks. In this book, the existence of parrots is canonical đŚ Itâs not necessarily impossible that parrots exist in this world but I do still think itâs funny. On the topic of worldbuilding though, I thought that Violet simply reciting facts about the world felt like a cop out. I also felt like the tone of the book didnât always match the stakes. Even the stakes in the enemies to lovers romance felt low. Like I think that they shouldâve tried very hard to kill each other at least one time! It wouldâve built the tension! But I think that was part of the problem. This book has a telling, not showing kind of narrative voice. Like weâre told that Violet has strong connections with all these people but I donât SEE it. Even when it comes to the dragons. The rider bond is supposed to be the most sacred bond, but I never really felt that. Weâre also told like a million times that Violet is the most intelligent girl that ever lived or whatever, but she was occasionally giving idiot to me so idk what to do with that. Overall the book was fun to read but I had a few hang ups. Hopefully the next book will allow for a deeper exploration of these traits and relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
Complicated
I havenât rooted for a FMC so hard in a long time. Violet is that bitch đ¤đž
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
I loved this book from the beginning, I was skeptical at first since it bombed on tiktok but tbh, worth the hype.
I couldn't keep it down the first time I read it two months ago and I'm once again re-reading for the third time. It's not a life-altering book, feels like a comfort read to me and has all the elements we love in this genre and keeps you on your toes onstantly with the actions scenes and plot.
You can recognise the tropes and familiarity of each arch and character but in such a refreshing and unique way. I feel like going home each time I pick up this book, a throwback to my teenager years but in a more mature setting (and great plot twists).
I can't rate five stars just for the explicit sexual scenes (not my cup of tea, but still bearable).
Can't wait to see what happens next and a bit more world-building (It lacks a bit in that department but I can see it getting more elaborated and intricate with each book).
Overall, a great story and 10/10 ending.
I couldn't keep it down the first time I read it two months ago and I'm once again re-reading for the third time. It's not a life-altering book, feels like a comfort read to me and has all the elements we love in this genre and keeps you on your toes onstantly with the actions scenes and plot.
You can recognise the tropes and familiarity of each arch and character but in such a refreshing and unique way. I feel like going home each time I pick up this book, a throwback to my teenager years but in a more mature setting (and great plot twists).
I can't rate five stars just for the explicit sexual scenes (not my cup of tea, but still bearable).
Can't wait to see what happens next and a bit more world-building (It lacks a bit in that department but I can see it getting more elaborated and intricate with each book).
Overall, a great story and 10/10 ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, War
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness
Minor: Drug use
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Excellent diversity and representation. LGBTQIA+ friendly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
Dear Jesus this was amazing. I havenât been this hype about a new series since crescent city. Aside from the overuse of âchuffingâ the writing was great. I loved watching MC struggle to get good instead of instantly being over powerful. I cheered and laughed and cried and hung onto the edge of my seat for dear life. I already look forward to a reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Grief, Murder
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reread 20/09/2024
- I think I pretty much agree with my previous review, though a bit less harsh on the tropes - if they work, they work! and they're fun to read.
- Also interesting to read it again after hearing Yarros discuss Dane and her opinion that he was just being overprotective and not the Bad Guy. I still don't really agree but it was interesting to see him from that angle.
- also I quite liked the Xaden POV in the last chapter this time around, good to see his thought process.
- I did stall just before the end this time, maybe bc I already knew the big twist, but the rest was v gripping.
- still a 4/5
giving a four for pure grippingness, as I was totally glued to this. fair bit of unoriginality though.
pros:
- it's pretty unputdownable, constantly keeping the tension high and the ball rolling. very good writing and pacing in that sense as there was never a dull bit.
- the different scenes were written well too, the fighting, dialogue, reflection and romance were all solid.
- I liked the setting, the dragons, the politics and worldbuilding, but the characters were the strong point. xaden and violet were both compelling and conflicted in their own ways.
- especially liked the fleshing out of the side characters. I was definitely emotional when Amber's dragon grieved and Liam died. . Yarros does a good job of giving enough details about side characters to make them feel real.
- I hear from my friend with Eds that Violet's was written well and it's great to see more disability representation, since its sadly lacking. great that she wasnt magically cured of it, and was supported by others throughout the story even as others tried to take her out.
- focus on sibling relationships was cool too, great to see mira and violets positive sisterhood and rhiannon and her sister.
- a fair number of twists were unpredictable, like getting 2 dragons, xaden taking her to the rebuilt city and brennan being alive
- I also liked that the characters were 20y/o plus, and the women were called that, not girls.
- inclusion of queer side characters was great to see too, including rhiannon and Heaton, neither of which faced any discrimination for it.
cons:
- it was all very classic YA tropes with an adult bent. Dane and xaden were immediately obviously love interests (twilight) though I'm glad Dane was revealed as shitty pretty fast. , we have a murdery military school and a catch the flag games (like divergent and percy jackson), untrustworthy leadership and rebellion (hunger games). also knife throwing and the MC getting the best dragon and the best magic and the hot unavailable older man, whilst being a tiny little pixie girl with silver hair. and enemies to lovers of course
- though called clever, violet does have some dim moments for sure, like she really didnt expect xaden to be part of a rebellion at all?? honestly.
- also didnt like the last chapter being xadens POV. it sounded the exact same to violets which was disappointing and was unneeded. he was better just through violets eyes.
- overall, I would have liked some more real failures for violet, and less cliches. plus some more real violence rather than the squeamish stuff. go big or go home for the morally grey characters is what I say.
but it still gets a four because it was very gripping, I did like xaden and violet and their chemistry, plus the side characters and the dragons.
- I think I pretty much agree with my previous review, though a bit less harsh on the tropes - if they work, they work! and they're fun to read.
- Also interesting to read it again after hearing Yarros discuss Dane and her opinion that he was just being overprotective and not the Bad Guy. I still don't really agree but it was interesting to see him from that angle.
- also I quite liked the Xaden POV in the last chapter this time around, good to see his thought process.
- I did stall just before the end this time, maybe bc I already knew the big twist, but the rest was v gripping.
- still a 4/5
giving a four for pure grippingness, as I was totally glued to this. fair bit of unoriginality though.
pros:
- it's pretty unputdownable, constantly keeping the tension high and the ball rolling. very good writing and pacing in that sense as there was never a dull bit.
- the different scenes were written well too, the fighting, dialogue, reflection and romance were all solid.
- I liked the setting, the dragons, the politics and worldbuilding, but the characters were the strong point. xaden and violet were both compelling and conflicted in their own ways.
- especially liked the fleshing out of the side characters. I was definitely emotional when
- I hear from my friend with Eds that Violet's was written well and it's great to see more disability representation, since its sadly lacking. great that she wasnt magically cured of it, and was supported by others throughout the story even as others tried to take her out.
- focus on sibling relationships was cool too, great to see mira and violets positive sisterhood and rhiannon and her sister.
- a fair number of twists were unpredictable, like
- I also liked that the characters were 20y/o plus, and the women were called that, not girls.
- inclusion of queer side characters was great to see too, including rhiannon and Heaton, neither of which faced any discrimination for it.
cons:
- it was all very classic YA tropes with an adult bent. Dane and xaden were immediately obviously love interests (twilight)
- though called clever, violet does have some dim moments for sure,
- also didnt like the last chapter being xadens POV. it sounded the exact same to violets which was disappointing and was unneeded. he was better just through violets eyes.
- overall, I would have liked some more real failures for violet, and less cliches. plus some more real violence rather than the squeamish stuff. go big or go home for the morally grey characters is what I say.
but it still gets a four because it was very gripping, I did like xaden and violet and their chemistry, plus the side characters and the dragons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent