Reviews

This was a very fast paced book. I think the plot and story were interesting but I didn't love the other woman aspects of the story. I think Cat is an interesting character but I think she still could have been interesting if they didn't try to throw in this weird love triangle situation. Especially since it was very clear she was never really an option. I do feel that instead of really developing the characters the author just keeps having traumatic things happen to them. It's getting to the point where it's kind of unrealistic that these characters would still be sane or essentially the same as theh were before the trauma. I'm hoping in the next book we can resolve issues and create character development without massive amounts of trauma.

tor_tor_199's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

asimpson7's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow. That was an ending and a half. The next book cannot come out sooner. I need to know what happens next.

Also I love that Andarna is her own kind, it makes her all the more special. Also the way Tarin and her communicate throughout the book is so funny. She acts like a teenager even though she’s a dragon. I also love the fact Violet finally told her friends what was going on and that they trusted her and loved her even more. I’m glad their friendship came back stronger. Although I couldn’t have guessed that was going to happen with Jack, that came out of nowhere at least for me it did.

But overall, so much happened in this book that I can’t talk about it all. But what I can say is that it was amazing and I would 100% recommend!!!

erinkcrossreads's review against another edition

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5.0

REBECCA. WHAT DID YOU DO TO US?!?!

You know, I thought nothing could top Fourth Wing and the cliffhanger we were left on but I was quickly humbled by this book. The last 3 chapters have me MESSED UP. I'll need 5-7 business days to process.

Teenage Andarna was a highlight of this book and the progression of her character AND the revelations (no spoiling, sorry gotta read!) were amazing.

I will be thinking about this book for awhile and while I'm at it, I'll probably reread it too cuz, I just, this one was packed. So much within the 623 pages. I loved them all.

antapia's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

cbovolden's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

guccishoestrings's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book starts pretty much right after fourth wing leaves off. Violet finds out Brennan is not dead and that Aretia although badly wrecked during the rebellion is not destroyed and is in the process of being repaired. The survivors from the battle of Resson than shortly leave and go back to Basgiath and the story goes from there.

The Good:

The world opens up as Aretia and the Poromish providences are fleshed out and you spend a good chunk of the book outside of Basgiath.
Andarna is basically a teenager now and everytime she says anything it is that of what you would expect from a teenager. This also leads to Tairn acting like a grumpy dad always snapping at her comments.
This isn't a huge spoiler but I still recommend not reading till after you read the book
The fliers (the gryfon riders) actually become a big part of the story and the characters of Maven, Cat, and Bragen are interesting and I hope they do not get relegated to side characters in the next book.
Dain actually becomes a somewhat tolerable character in this book. I get he was supposed to be hated in the first book but he felt very one dimensional and this book fixes that.
Rhianna, Ridoc, Sawyer, and Bodhi (at least in the beginning, also more on him in the bad section) all get more dialogue and are more prevalent in this book than the first. Also Sloane (Liam's sister) has potential to be an interesting character in the future of the series.
Mira and Brennan are much more prevalent in this book as well (although at times they disappear).
The ending twist is interesting and will most likely be the main reason for the plot of the third book.
Thankfully the cursing in this book is less cringy and is pretty funny when used.

The Bad:

Varrish isn't a bad antagonist per say but
he only lasts for a little less than half the book before getting killed
and every scene you could just tell he is an absolute asshat and everybody (even the professors) hate his ass. Yet somehow he abuses his power literally allowing his dragon to kill half a goddamn squad right at the start of the book.
Nadine's death really grinds my gears, she was just being set up to be an interesting character and she gets murdered like that! Like you want me to believe that an assassin has no knowledge of who Violet is or looks like, she has silver tipped hair and is in squad 4, and if he waited till they were alone he could've killed her when she was away from people rather than in the middle of the entire college sparring session. Just a dumb way to introduce the assassination conflict into the story.
Something else that bothered me was that Violet suffers from PTSD from Liam's death but not from (again do not read the spoiler if you have not read the book)
being tortured for 5 straight days literally being mended back together just to be tortured more and nothing except disliking the smell from the basement makes her have any reaction to it which is literally her saying I hate the smell and that's it.
Bodhi is an awesome character at the start of the book but by the second half he almost completely disappears. He is a more laid back Xaden, please Rebecca use him much more in book 3.
I just have to mention the Violet and Xaden relationship (much more on this in the hilarious section) I would say 90% of the scenes they are alone together is either a sex scene or something that almost turns into a sex scene like I get it already, Violet and Xaden are a sex craved couple lol.
I made this rant for the first book and I'm going to make it again, Violet is a Mary Sue character and I just can't stand Mary Sue characters. As mentioned in the spoiler section she does not have any traumatic events that cause PTSD to hamper her, she's just normal again shortly after. Andarna ends up
being the super rare 7th species which is a purple dragon that hasn't been around in 650 years. So now she has the second strongest dragon around plus a once in a 600 year dragon bonded to her, the super rare and powerful lightning signet, as smart as a scribe, and probably going to have her second signet heal venin cause f*ck it why not.
Not to mention she is the secret to raising more wards to block out the venin like why the hell has nobody in the last 600 years been like "maybe we should research how to raise more wards in case something goes horribly wrong" instead they basically say "ah f*ck it, screw the future cause we ain't going be there for it" which of course ends up of course going wrong.
I was happy to see Jack Barlowe again as he seemed to change even saving Violet at one point. Then we find out he is part venin and the reason for the whole climax. How did he become venin you might ask, well idk. It is never explained and I hope it is in the next book.

The Hilarious:

Every sex scene in this book is downright hilarious, especially the "My house, My chair, My Woman" line. (thanks for bringing that up sis)
Ridoc is just the comedic relief and does a good job at it.
The scene where
Mira finally sees Brennan alive and she basically breaks his nose is great.

Looking at my review it might look like I'm sh*tting on this book but it is a good book. This book is really stupid most of the time but it is really enjoyable and never feels boring at any point and I always say I would rather read a stupid fun book than a good boring book. I cannot honestly wait for the third book and it is already pre-ordered (thanks again sis) so let's see where this story goes.

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