ka_ke'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
5.0
First of all, an adult spicy how to train your dragon? Sold.
Fully developed, well-rounded characters? Absolutely.
Semi-predictable plot but still worth reading? Definitely.
Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent, Genocide, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, and Bullying
kylaeduff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Ableism, Violence, Murder, Medical content, Confinement, Deportation, Bullying, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse
abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Medical content, Gore, Murder, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexism, War, Body shaming, Bullying, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
korok_sapling'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
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Child abuse
falchionm'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? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Bullying, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookswithbethx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, War, Child abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit
nanastradamus'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? It's complicated
4.25
Spoiler
(besides the main character)Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Body shaming, Bullying, and Child abuse
lemonwrlds'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
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Classism, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Violence, War, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
vaguely_pink'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
Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at basically-child-soldier camp. I love a fun trope-y read. I honestly even kind of liked how I was able to predict the entire plot as it happened. (I promise I’m not being shady, I really did enjoy that aspect.) Also, disability rep where the characters are accommodated for instead of having to overcome being disabled? We LOVE to see it. I’m stoked to read the sequel because I found the story, the world, and the characters really interesting. I just also found them to be rather one dimensional and at times lazily written ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Lots of the world building and characterization is told instead of shown. Violet and Xaden’s relationship is way more insta-love than enemies to lovers like it was billed. As some other reviews point out, some of the most interesting character dynamics, like Violet’s relationships with her mom and sister, are glossed over or only really spoken about based on what happened before the story begins. There’s a lot of potential here, and I hope more of that is explored in the next book.
If you’re into this kind of new adult romantasy (although this one felt way more YA than adult), I’d still recommend Fourth Wing. It’s a fun time, but if you spend any time on the internet, temper your expectations.
Graphic: Death, Ableism, Chronic illness, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
magnumdanger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, Bullying, and Death