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corrin_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cinnamonandpancakes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I also found the written accents kinda cringe.
With regards to characters, it felt like the main character knew nothing when it was convenient and then knew a bunch when that was convenient. It never felt like he struggled particularly to do anything before the narrative gave him a cheat code, but that's another one of the tropes it was using so whatever.
I did like the dragons and the way the author described the bond, that was fun. And the scenery was all described well. The author has a decent enough turn of phrase, I just wish he'd spend more time thinking about how his world worked.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
dani_reis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Slavery, Torture, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Animal deathlinhsreadinghour's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Dragon Rider overall is a good first book, which sets the foundation of what’s to come in the series. The beginning 25% of the book had me hooked, but then the middle fell a bit flat for me, felt like a chore to get through because it was the same again and again. It picked up again at the end. The book could have been shorter I think. Side note, there are a lot of chapters but they are so short! I thought I was flying through the book!
Two things mainly bothered me with the book (most likely personal preference though, it’s probably not an issue for others) and it was 1) the many references to penises and balls; 2) the word soulbreathing and mana was constant.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading Jai’s character development - I was rooting for him.
Parts of the book were predictable. I also think the relationships could have been developed further, it was quite surface level but judging from the ending of the book, I think this will be developed in future books.
I love the dragon so much and it’s different to other dragon books who are oh so strong and powerful already. I also liked the other new animals in this book too, did take a few chapters to get my head around though, I had to google them and I think they take inspiration from Persian mythology.
There were some gruesome and graphic description in the book so beware if you’re squeamish.
I would continue the series to see how the author continues the story.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
roseleebooks's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
The things I didn't like were fairly minor but distracting enough to make this a book I only mostly liked. Primarily the slow pace of the middle of the book after a fairly intense start at the beginning. The details of the magic system and learning its use became a bit monotonous to me. Rufus as a character I also thought could have been detailed more during that slower part of the book which would have made him more compelling to read about.
The world-building, interesting plot points, and setup for the next book will have me picking up the sequel when it comes out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kayceeisbookish'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism