carolinetippett's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual content
Minor: Xenophobia and War
bookishglitter's review
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and War
lauram_16'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
4.75
I couldn't keep it down the first time I read it two months ago and I'm once again re-reading for the third time. It's not a life-altering book, feels like a comfort read to me and has all the elements we love in this genre and keeps you on your toes onstantly with the actions scenes and plot.
You can recognise the tropes and familiarity of each arch and character but in such a refreshing and unique way. I feel like going home each time I pick up this book, a throwback to my teenager years but in a more mature setting (and great plot twists).
I can't rate five stars just for the explicit sexual scenes (not my cup of tea, but still bearable).
Can't wait to see what happens next and a bit more world-building (It lacks a bit in that department but I can see it getting more elaborated and intricate with each book).
Overall, a great story and 10/10 ending.
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Death, and War
Moderate: Animal death and Chronic illness
Minor: Drug use
kkxmac'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 of parent, Animal death, Blood, and Vomit
megcarrick's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Bullying, Death, Animal death, Gore, Grief, Violence, War, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Toxic friendship
tiana_king'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: Chronic illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Body shaming, War, Violence, Ableism, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Gore, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
sauvageloup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
pros:
- it's pretty unputdownable, constantly keeping the tension high and the ball rolling. very good writing and pacing in that sense as there was never a dull bit.
- the different scenes were written well too, the fighting, dialogue, reflection and romance were all solid.
- I likes the setting, the dragons, the politics and worldbuilding, but the characters were the strong point. xaden and violet were both compelling and conflicted in their own ways.
- especially liked the flashing out of the side characters. I was definitely emotional when
Spoiler
Amber's dragon grieved and Liam died.- I hear from my friend witty Eds that Violet's was written well and it's great to see more disability representation, since its sadly lacking. great that she wasnt magically cured of it, and was supported by others throughout the story even as others tried to take her out.
- focus on sibling relationships was cool top, great to see mira and violets positive sisterhood and rhiannon and her sister.
- a fair number of twists were unpredictable, like
Spoiler
getting 2 dragons, xaden taking her to the rebuilt city and brennan being alive- I also liked that the characters were 20y/o plus, and the women were called that, not girls.
- inclusion of queer side characters was great to see too, including rhiannon and Heaton, neither of which faced any discrimination for it.
cons:
- it was all very classic YA tropes with an adult bent. Dane and xaden were immediately obviously love interests (twilight)
Spoiler
though I'm glad Dane was revealed as shitty pretty fast.Spoiler
the best dragon and the best magic and the hot unavailable older man, whilst being a tiny little pixie girl with silver hair. and enemies to lovers of course- though called clever, violet does have some dim moments for sure,
Spoiler
like she really didnt expect xaden to be part of a rebellion at all?? honestly.- also didny like the last chapter being xadens POV. it sounded the exact same to violets which was disappointing and was unneeded. he was better just through violets eyes.
- overall, I would have liked some more real failures for violet, and less cliches. plus some more real violence rather than the squeamish stuff. go big or go home for the morally grey characters is what I say.
but it still gets a four because it was very gripping, I did like xaden and violet and their chemistry, plus the side characters and the dragons.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Murder, War, Bullying, Gore, Violence, Ableism, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Medical content
justreadin_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Murder, Ableism, Blood, Sexual content, Vomit, Chronic illness, and Violence
jessieslibrary'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
i loved this book, i heard so much abt it i thought it was a pr stunt or something and i never planned on reading it but i finally did and my god am i glad i did. it was such a fun book and so cool, the dragons are super cool, the plot is super cool and the characters are so lovable!
Negative
literally my only negative thing to say about this is how at the beginning it’s all oh she’s so fragile a gust of wind can knock her over but as cheesy as it is it’s very important to the plot and her story
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Animal death, Cursing, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
ria512'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Animal death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent