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shaisten96'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
bzliz'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I liked the dragons and found that aspect much more interesting than pretty much anything that Violet was thinking at any given point, which was usually about how hot Xaden is. It was pretty clear that Yarros is more of a romance writer than a fantasy writer. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that but it’s frustrating when Violet is worried about how attracted to Xaden she is more than how many people are actively plotting to kill her. I was much more interested in the symbiotic relationship between humans and dragons and the (sub)plot about what their government is hiding from them about the dangers and nature of the regular attacks along the border.
Also the number one offense in this book, hands down, bar none, go straight to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200: Xaden nicknaming her Violence. I hate it so much forever. He says it at super weird times and then sort of taunts her saying “we’ll see if you live up to your nickname” like bro, you gave her the nickname, you’re telling her to live up to the expectation you privately set for her and that’s so weird. If someone is known in their hometown as Sandwich Man and you come in out of nowhere and challenge them to a sandwich eating contest, then you can say let’s see if you live up to your nickname then that’s fine because it makes sense but if you see someone eat a sandwich one time and dub them Sandwich Man, then when everybody else is making sandwiches together and your new acquaintance is minding their business, it’s super weird if you insist they go live up to the nickname that you gave them!
Once Xaden and Violet cave to their primal desire for each other, I got bored. The sex scenes were just as mediocre as everything else. With how much people hyped up the spice/smut in the book, I expected better. If you’ve read literally any sex scenes before then you’ve already read these too.
Unfortunately, this was just an okay book. A lot of it felt like a rehash of YA tropes shifted into dragon rider murder college. I understand why so many people love it but I don’t think it lives up to that hype, nor is it the worst thing I’ve ever read.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit and Medical content
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and War
rachelpacz'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: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
laura227_'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
4.25
But I must admit that it was hard for me to follow the war scenes.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
katariinatoivanen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
wondahwoman'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism
octopus18'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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
levic'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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
m0czy'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
Rebecca Yarros definitely knows how to build tension, and how to pull off epic plot twists. As an author she balances the emotions, physicality, characters, and dialogue of flirty and spicy scenes in a way that is refreshing and compliments the story overall.
The overall plot of the story was well crafted, with plot clues in just the right places to be noticed but not obvious. Main characters were expertly written, I just wish we had a little more development in the supporting characters.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (the build up is 🔥🥵)
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Murder, and War
mossywossy'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
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Blood, and Medical content