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clovetra's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Racial slurs and Slavery
pipn_t's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Minor: Slavery
cielosiluminado'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? Yes
3.5
“Being forced to learn the language of your oppressors is an oppression of the mind. They rewrite your history when you're too young to know what you're giving away, and before you know it, it's too late to reclaim what you've lost...”
i genuinely think this story could have been really amazing, and maybe the sequel will be, but this book lacked something i couldn’t even pinpoint in the end. i thoroughly enjoyed the influences of the jamaican and carribean folklore/fantasy that was interwoven in this story.
the initial world-building was beautiful. and the fictional cultures, a formerly occupied island-country and the occupiers, and their histories, were also so complex in the beginning but then it got to a point where we had to guess something when it came to their histories because it wasn’t previously stated.
the magic system in this story was interesting and the dragons were cute. it was some of the best fleshed out aspects of the story.
the miscommunication in this story between the two protagonists, who are sisters, made me want to rage. there was moments where i had to set the book down to take a breather lol.
despite how much it made me want to rage, the miscommunication also progressed the story and made it so dramatic and fantastical in the end, which kept me captured. a double-edged sword trope? i don’t know, but i am intrigued to read the sequel.
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I NEED TO PROCESS THIS — rtc
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, and War
alsira98's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and War
ssinforshort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
1.5
Besides that, for a fantasy I feel like more should happen. There are so few real, flushed out characters in the story, that I felt like I was reading two very long conversations.
Plus, I'm not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers, but this was just felt so forced. Paraphrasing "he's evil and my enemy... look at his beautiful blue eyes in the sunlight." Eyerolling to oblivion.
Graphic: Violence and Colonisation
Moderate: Racial slurs and War
infusedchai's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Cultural appropriation, and War
wlreed312's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: War
Moderate: Racism and Violence
goldendreams'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, Violence, Blood, Grief, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia and Injury/Injury detail
cloreadsbooks1364'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? No
4.5
Faron is the Childe Empyrean, 5 years ago she used her ability to channel the gods' power to defeat the dragon-riding Langish forces and free her small island nation, San Irie. Then, at the international peace summit, her sister Elara is shocked to bond with a Langish dragon, Zephyra, and her rider Signey. Faron must figure out how to break the bond and bring her sister home, alongside discovering shocking secrets that could harm everyone.
I liked Elara from the start. She was strong, caring and so lovable. I found myself becoming impatient to return to her pov during the alternating chapters where Faron had her pov. She quickly accepted the bond with Zephyra and fit in well in Hearthstone, the dragon riding school, and I'd have loved to see more of her there.
Faron was very brave, she always spoke her mind, and made very rash decisions. As the Childe Empyrean she was worshipped, which she was quite tired of.
Reeve, the son of the Langish commander, who helped win the war 5 years ago by telling the Iryans his father's plans, was a very studious, calm, character, who thought before he acted (something I think Faron should've learnt). I enjoyed him as a character.
Signey was a character I liked immediately. Sharp, funny, trustworthy, and loyal, I enjoyed the slow-burn romance between her and Elara immensely.
Zephyra, the sweet sage dragon, was amazing, as most book dragons tend to be.
Aveline, the young Queen of San Irie, was such a strong character!
The magic in this book included the Langish dragon powers, the Iryan ancestor-summoning, and the Iryan drakes (flying machines that combat dragons.
I loved this book and will certainly read the sequel upon its release!
Queer rep:
Demisexual mc (Faron)
Sapphic mc (Elara)
Sapphic sc (Signey)
TWs: possession, bullying, death, violence, war, colonisation, racism, blood.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, Colonisation, and War