Scan barcode
tabea1409's review
- 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
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, Blood, Toxic friendship, Violence, Child death, Sexual content, Cursing, and Gore
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
kyrstin_p1989's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Vomit, Violence, War, Body horror, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death of parent, Torture, Bullying, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
spicyspookypotato's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Vomit, Ableism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, and War
emsavors's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
Graphic: Body horror, War, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Colonisation, Blood, Child death, Gore, Animal death, Ableism, Cursing, Grief, Murder, Death, Genocide, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Torture
emmiej's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Vomit, Blood, Child death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, War, Cursing, Death of parent, Genocide, and Grief
kimveach'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: Drug use, Dysphoria, Vomit, War, Sexual content, Death, Murder, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
kinskinn's review
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Classism, Genocide, War, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Cursing
wickedgrumpy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I could not read the word badass without cringing. The world building was positively wild. It's in a more historical fantasy setting where they write with quills, use weapons, crossbows were a big deal, people who wield magic have access to smaller abilities like locking/unlocking doors, making mage light, etc. There lots of wooden shit, but that also translated to having wooden exercise equipment to essential get swole in a modern fashion, rather than bodyweight exercises. There's a brief mention right at the beginning about shoe sizes which means they have standardized them? And the whole riders quadrant can get married before everyone else when the graduate.... At age 23? That's early for this society? And the focus of sexual relations was just pervasive. The talk of raging hormones... The convenience of fertility suppressants getting a brief mention before boning down. Oh and gods are worshipped, but not by dragons.
There was some disability rep that I think was decent considering that it was a fantastical setting with healers, and the character didn't want to "look weak" and would refuse treatment to speed the healing process. There was some LGBT+ rep as well, but mostly on a surface level for side characters.
Honestly, it was fine but the romance had me putting the book down regularly and made finishing this book difficult.
Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Stalking, Classism, Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, War, Violence, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Body shaming, Death, Grief, Torture, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
redefiningrachel'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: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Violence, War, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Child death, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Torture