lauramcc7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and Body horror
emmiej's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
marvelous_mint's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A beautiful and magical story about inner strength, family bonds and the strings of fate that bind us together.
I flew through this book with great enthusiasm, unable to put it down.
I particularly enjoyed Shiori's development as a character throughout the story as well as the realistic relationships between her and her brothers.
I also adored the romance in this. It was sweet and heartwarming, developing gradually at a good pace over the course of the story.
I flew through this book with great enthusiasm, unable to put it down.
I particularly enjoyed Shiori's development as a character throughout the story as well as the realistic relationships between her and her brothers.
I also adored the romance in this. It was sweet and heartwarming, developing gradually at a good pace over the course of the story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death, and Death of parent
kiwij96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very cozy and simple read, beautifully written and full of adventure, twists, and magic. Lacking in description at times which made me feel like I missed information. I was in love with the writing and adventure for 35 out of the 40 chapters. After that I felt like some things were both a bit rushed and strung out longer than necessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Blood, and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, Torture, and War
emmacartlidge's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: War and Violence
jj_tj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
kingphrog's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual harassment
broccoli_j's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this book has to grow on you! It has a relatively slow start, but I have never read a book with such an original take on the „chosen one“ Trope.
The worldbuilding, the characterarcs and the magic system are just insane and the story uses the found family trope in such a unique way!
This was a great first book and I’m excited for the rest of the series!!!
The worldbuilding, the characterarcs and the magic system are just insane and the story uses the found family trope in such a unique way!
This was a great first book and I’m excited for the rest of the series!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: War, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Child abuse
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, War, Physical abuse, and Slavery
lilly_reads98's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
3.0
I liked Shiori, Takkan, and Kiki’s characters, but I have issues with the story and writing. It was frustrating, sad, and would make me angry for Shiori that people were just always looking down on her, I just thought this would be a happier adventure. I don’t like how most of the characters are just mean to her and there’s just so many conflicts for the sake of having conflicts throughout the whole story.
In the beginning, it was amusing to see the interactions between the dragon boy. Seryu, and Shiori. I liked how he teaches her magic and brings her flowers and she makes them bloom. I started really enjoying it around then because of their interactions. Before that I was having a hard time getting through the beginning. I found really cool art of Shiori and the dragon on Pinterest. I was enjoying reading about them but I found it weird that they just get separate and then don’t interact much in the rest of the book. I enjoyed how Kiki could talk and waa Shiori’s companion. Also I LOVE the UK cover for this book.
My favorite parts were her interacting with Takkan. I really like Takkan he’s so sweet to Shiori, and Megari too. I like when Shiori teaches her to fold paper cranes while it’s storming and then she thinks of wishing she were a sister. Then they go see the plum blossoms and have fun. I like that part. It’s so frustrating though how Shiori can’t talk and can’t even try to convey who she is. Most of the story was just not enjoyable.
“She made the ocean out of her tears and painted the sky with her dreams.” - 288.
I don’t get why so much of the story is characters being so mean to Shiori, like that’s not enjoyable to read about so I don’t get how people can give this such a high rating and say it’s so good. It’s not enjoyable to read about people constantly being mean to her. And her being under a curse. (Spoiler thoughts ahead)
The best part was her relationship with Takkan and their romance. I also enjoyed how strong Shiori is. The action scenes at the end with the wolf were just kind of stupid like they had already crossed so many dilemmas and I just wanted to see her being with Takkan. Then the thing with the stepmother was interesting. Then the ending was disappointing because I was expecting them to all be back home together but Shiori chooses to leave without them even though we just spend this whole book trying to v er everyone home, it’s so frustrating. I’m so disappointed that she’s just going to the dragon kingdom without all of them.
I have very mixed thoughts as you can see, I do want to read the sequel because I want to see more or the characters, but I am worried that I won’t like it because of the violence that’s sure to also be in that one. There were also times where the writing just wouldn’t make sense, like when Takkan and her brothers were traveling together at the end and then her brothers show up but Takkan isn’t there. And it’s not even explained or said where he is. And then she just goes to sleep and when she wakes up they’re all there. Something like that also happened whenever Shiori saw her brothers flying and she stopped all of the hunters by grabbing all of their bows, and then she’s talking to her brothers and hugging them yet none of the soldiers are within seeing or hearing distance of them all of a sudden? But it wasn’t said like she walked away so they wouldn’t see her. Like I think those are flaws in the writing, it should have been said because it was so confusing that I was just like what?
I just read The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea and wanted to read something similar, so I chose this and I am just disappointed. It was similar because it has a dragon, a main character who can’t talk for some of the story, and it’s Asian literature, so I am glad that I read it because I wanted to read something similar.
In the beginning, it was amusing to see the interactions between the dragon boy. Seryu, and Shiori. I liked how he teaches her magic and brings her flowers and she makes them bloom. I started really enjoying it around then because of their interactions. Before that I was having a hard time getting through the beginning. I found really cool art of Shiori and the dragon on Pinterest. I was enjoying reading about them but I found it weird that they just get separate and then don’t interact much in the rest of the book. I enjoyed how Kiki could talk and waa Shiori’s companion. Also I LOVE the UK cover for this book.
My favorite parts were her interacting with Takkan. I really like Takkan he’s so sweet to Shiori, and Megari too. I like when Shiori teaches her to fold paper cranes while it’s storming and then she thinks of wishing she were a sister. Then they go see the plum blossoms and have fun. I like that part. It’s so frustrating though how Shiori can’t talk and can’t even try to convey who she is. Most of the story was just not enjoyable.
“She made the ocean out of her tears and painted the sky with her dreams.” - 288.
I don’t get why so much of the story is characters being so mean to Shiori, like that’s not enjoyable to read about so I don’t get how people can give this such a high rating and say it’s so good. It’s not enjoyable to read about people constantly being mean to her. And her being under a curse. (Spoiler thoughts ahead)
The best part was her relationship with Takkan and their romance. I also enjoyed how strong Shiori is. The action scenes at the end with the wolf were just kind of stupid like they had already crossed so many dilemmas and I just wanted to see her being with Takkan. Then the thing with the stepmother was interesting. Then the ending was disappointing because I was expecting them to all be back home together but Shiori chooses to leave without them even though we just spend this whole book trying to v er everyone home, it’s so frustrating. I’m so disappointed that she’s just going to the dragon kingdom without all of them.
I have very mixed thoughts as you can see, I do want to read the sequel because I want to see more or the characters, but I am worried that I won’t like it because of the violence that’s sure to also be in that one. There were also times where the writing just wouldn’t make sense, like when Takkan and her brothers were traveling together at the end and then her brothers show up but Takkan isn’t there. And it’s not even explained or said where he is. And then she just goes to sleep and when she wakes up they’re all there. Something like that also happened whenever Shiori saw her brothers flying and she stopped all of the hunters by grabbing all of their bows, and then she’s talking to her brothers and hugging them yet none of the soldiers are within seeing or hearing distance of them all of a sudden? But it wasn’t said like she walked away so they wouldn’t see her. Like I think those are flaws in the writing, it should have been said because it was so confusing that I was just like what?
I just read The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea and wanted to read something similar, so I chose this and I am just disappointed. It was similar because it has a dragon, a main character who can’t talk for some of the story, and it’s Asian literature, so I am glad that I read it because I wanted to read something similar.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, Death, and Death of parent