Reviews

After having a break from the Wings of Fire series while I waited for it to be added to Libby, I think I enjoy them less now. I still enjoy it but not as interested as I started off.

I enjoyed finding out more about the Nightwings this time, and have accepted the split up premise of each of these books, though it does make me miss the rest of the Dragonets. I think having Clay be the first main character has left me wishing for more of him each book.

The plot was good and very adventurous like the other WoF books, though I'm still struggling to remember the differences between Burn, Blaze and Blister. Maybe by book 5 I'll get it.

I'm looking forward to book 5 to get to know Sunny now.

Listened at 1.5x speed on the Libby app through my local library.

breeoxd's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Dark Secret was the book I was equally most/least excited for in this series; on one talon, the curiosity of the mysterious Night Wing tribe was almost too much to bear (leaving out my dislike for Morrowseer), but on the other, Starflight just isn’t that interesting or likable of a character, and if each new book was to focus on one of the 5 dragonets, than this one was certain to be a drag. The reader was already prepped for the Nightwings to be something other than they seemed in Glory’s book, but I was excited and saddened by turns and I read more about the tribe’s plight. I am interested in the ways the author is drawing on experiences that seem heavy for a children’s series- racism, disability, climate change- and exploring these themes from the safer fantasy perspective. Starflgiht was still pretty disappointing as a protagonist, but I really enjoyed Fatespeaker, and I did think it positive that Starflight learned he doesn’t have to be brave in the same way as his friends. After all. Not everyone is like able and brave. The big reveal was fairly obvious to be about halfway through the book (there were certain numbers that kept being reference, and if you can math, you might put things together) and the moving of a whole tribe’s location in a few minutes in the middle of a natural disaster felt unbelievable in a negative way, but I am excited to get back to Team Glory, and find out exactly how Queen Oasis was hoodwinked.
PS: Sunny & Fatespeaker being interchangeable is gross. Why should Starflight get two love interests. Eww. Do we really need a middle grade dragon love triangle? No. The answer is no. I can just see the f boi instincts an indecisive and weak character like Starflight would have.

raeding's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.0

I didn't like this one as much as hidden kingdom it was a bit slower with soooo many new characters introduced with none of the old ones involved. but it was still good and I'm still invested in the story

lulu117's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Exciting story in a high stakes adventure. I love Starflight’s point of view and can see his character developing in this book.

slimdot's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

3.75

mastersal's review against another edition

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3.0

Actual Rating - 3.5 stars

I am consistently pleased at how much I love the main dragon in each book. For a series which started with a pleasant, but not fantastic, book 1, I am surprised at how well this series has settled.

Usually I try to pace books between series a little more because the books blend together but I wanted to know what happened next with the dragons. This book follows the NightWing dragonet as he is taken to his tribe’s secret home and we learn about plots and secrets.

After a rip-roaring book 3, the violence also returns in the series and I’ve realised that books which feature violence against kids by their guardians / parents are a no-no for me. This was more violent than I liked for my taste and Starflight provided to be a much less charismatic leas than Tsunami and Glory.

The book was not as cute as the previous entry but the action helped quite a bit in keeping my interest. Yes, some of the twists were a little pat but I didn’t expect them or see them telegraphed. Younger readers are sure to be thrilled and kept at the edge of their seats with this.

We spent just a little too much time with new characters to the detriment of the original quartet who really became side characters in this book (except for Starflight). That was a shame as it kept the pacing a little off for me.

3.5 stars for the twists and turns with the overarching plot. That really came together well and I enjoyed seeing that culminate.

Left a little too much to do with the ostensible finale though… ah well

unicornrhyfedd's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

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