Scan barcode
sparchie'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kristinleigharrison's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ele1982's review against another edition
5.0
Ho adorato e divorato l'intero libro e assolutamente devo subito leggere il seguito
melanie10082006's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
2.75 stars
This book actually started off quite strong for me. It was simple and fun, nothing unique or extraordinary but I was enjoying the book regardless for what it was. Im a sucker for tournament and training arcs, and I like dragons, and smart characters. I think violets smarts and kindness were showcased nicely at the beginning - swapping her boot with Rhiannon for example (even though its dumb that not everyone realised smooth shoes would be a bad idea for the parapet), poisoning her opponents before the match using the knowledge she had on poisons, and figuring out another way to pass the gauntlet. I was excited to see how she would use her smarts next. And although tropeic, I found it fun that she ended up with 2 dragons, owing to how she tried to save the little golden dragon. Typical anime protagonist moment.
It was when we got to just under half way through the book where it went down hill. Mainly the weird dragon sex telepathy and mated bond garbage. It was from then as well, where Violet just kept going on about how hot Xaden was and how much she wants him but she shouldn’t blah blah. So much of this was repeated over and over, and I was just so over Xaden and Violet. Both of them went from relatively likeable characters, to extremely annoying as they hyper fixated on one another and their horniness. No overarching plot whatsoever.
The side characters also weren’t developed at all, I hardly remembered anyone’s names. Liam probably got the most, but even then i wanted more. Just a bunch of flat, 2d characters that get killed off left and right. Which brings me to my next point - it makes no sense how basgiath allows so many students to die. Jack was throwing people off the parapet and killing people during his matches, but there were never any consequences. and why don’t riders use saddles and harnesses?- why is violet the first person to ever have one, when it would be super helpful from stopping students falling off their dragon during battle. The first ‘challenge’ is the parapet which is responsible for the deaths of many students who haven’t even gotten the chance to showcase their abilities. If you have an off day, then you’re dead, and a valuable rider/someone who could have achieved many great things, is lost.
The world building was pretty atrocious/non existent. The magic system also confused me at the beginning, and even now I feel like there are illogical elements which i can’t be bothered to explain.
Regarding Violets disability, we kept being told how she was weak and fragile etc but it was hardly shown. She would get hurt and injured from things that anyone else without the disability would get hurt and injured from - like having her arm ripped out her socket from Imogen. There were also times where she would get hit or fight, and would have very little injury/consequence afterwards.
There should have been more foreshadowing throughout the book regarding the rebellion, and how basgiath/the empire seems to be hiding something. More of this overarching plot, less smut. I also wish there were hints/easter eggs that Xaden knew Brennan, instead of it just being thrown at the end.
The final 2 chapters from Xaden’s point of view essentially shows that him and violet were never really ‘enemies to lovers’ - Xaden was infatuated with Violet from the beginning (even his friends could tell) and never actually did want to kill her. What happened to real enemies!
I found tairn and andarna funny which was a plus for the book. But the bond with violet so far doesn’t seem that strong - we haven’t really seen them connect with one another in a deep way. Hopefully their bonds develop in the next books
Though violet started off relatively smart, she became dumber as the book went on. I would have liked more depth to her character regarding her not wanting to kill people, and what this would mean for her as a rider. And how she was hoping for a power that could help people like mending, rather than hurt. It would make her getting lightning abilities hit more
Overall, I liked some of the ideas in the book, and though tropeic was still fun to read. But there was a lot of illogical and annoying things, and the overarching plot only came at the very end.
It sucks because i think the premise had a lot of potential but I ended up disappointed
This book actually started off quite strong for me. It was simple and fun, nothing unique or extraordinary but I was enjoying the book regardless for what it was. Im a sucker for tournament and training arcs, and I like dragons, and smart characters. I think violets smarts and kindness were showcased nicely at the beginning - swapping her boot with Rhiannon for example (even though its dumb that not everyone realised smooth shoes would be a bad idea for the parapet), poisoning her opponents before the match using the knowledge she had on poisons, and figuring out another way to pass the gauntlet. I was excited to see how she would use her smarts next. And although tropeic, I found it fun that she ended up with 2 dragons, owing to how she tried to save the little golden dragon. Typical anime protagonist moment.
It was when we got to just under half way through the book where it went down hill. Mainly the weird dragon sex telepathy and mated bond garbage. It was from then as well, where Violet just kept going on about how hot Xaden was and how much she wants him but she shouldn’t blah blah. So much of this was repeated over and over, and I was just so over Xaden and Violet. Both of them went from relatively likeable characters, to extremely annoying as they hyper fixated on one another and their horniness. No overarching plot whatsoever.
The side characters also weren’t developed at all, I hardly remembered anyone’s names. Liam probably got the most, but even then i wanted more. Just a bunch of flat, 2d characters that get killed off left and right. Which brings me to my next point - it makes no sense how basgiath allows so many students to die. Jack was throwing people off the parapet and killing people during his matches, but there were never any consequences. and why don’t riders use saddles and harnesses?- why is violet the first person to ever have one, when it would be super helpful from stopping students falling off their dragon during battle. The first ‘challenge’ is the parapet which is responsible for the deaths of many students who haven’t even gotten the chance to showcase their abilities. If you have an off day, then you’re dead, and a valuable rider/someone who could have achieved many great things, is lost.
The world building was pretty atrocious/non existent. The magic system also confused me at the beginning, and even now I feel like there are illogical elements which i can’t be bothered to explain.
Regarding Violets disability, we kept being told how she was weak and fragile etc but it was hardly shown. She would get hurt and injured from things that anyone else without the disability would get hurt and injured from - like having her arm ripped out her socket from Imogen. There were also times where she would get hit or fight, and would have very little injury/consequence afterwards.
There should have been more foreshadowing throughout the book regarding the rebellion, and how basgiath/the empire seems to be hiding something. More of this overarching plot, less smut. I also wish there were hints/easter eggs that Xaden knew Brennan, instead of it just being thrown at the end.
The final 2 chapters from Xaden’s point of view essentially shows that him and violet were never really ‘enemies to lovers’ - Xaden was infatuated with Violet from the beginning (even his friends could tell) and never actually did want to kill her. What happened to real enemies!
I found tairn and andarna funny which was a plus for the book. But the bond with violet so far doesn’t seem that strong - we haven’t really seen them connect with one another in a deep way. Hopefully their bonds develop in the next books
Though violet started off relatively smart, she became dumber as the book went on. I would have liked more depth to her character regarding her not wanting to kill people, and what this would mean for her as a rider. And how she was hoping for a power that could help people like mending, rather than hurt. It would make her getting lightning abilities hit more
Overall, I liked some of the ideas in the book, and though tropeic was still fun to read. But there was a lot of illogical and annoying things, and the overarching plot only came at the very end.
It sucks because i think the premise had a lot of potential but I ended up disappointed
dayna_girlreads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
4.5
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as what I did.
Despite being extremely unwell when I decided to pick up this book for the first time - every moment I could I was devouring the book.
I’m so sad that the series isn’t out and available for me to binge read 😫 I shall struggle with everyone else. The only saving grace is that I do have the second book - let’s see how long I can pace myself for 😅
I’m so excited for this series probably the same as so many others…. Watch this space 😉
Despite being extremely unwell when I decided to pick up this book for the first time - every moment I could I was devouring the book.
I’m so sad that the series isn’t out and available for me to binge read 😫 I shall struggle with everyone else. The only saving grace is that I do have the second book - let’s see how long I can pace myself for 😅
I’m so excited for this series probably the same as so many others…. Watch this space 😉
kopiko's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
4.0
grundlbundl's review against another edition
Why does this keep happening?!? I wish they’d put some warning on YA fiction.
This was very compelling but also very cringe.
The seggs scenes were unbearable and almost killed the momentum but I made it and am glad it is over.
This was very compelling but also very cringe.
The seggs scenes were unbearable and almost killed the momentum but I made it and am glad it is over.
bookish_b3lla's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
daumari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked this, but also it's definitely an example of "I liked it but idk if it's good". The riders division of the Battle College has an absurd mortality rate and while I get it for plot reasons, definitely a world where nothing makes sense if I spend more than two seconds thinking about it.
I will say I was surprised- my perception from the internet's reaction was that this would be more on the romance/spicy side, but we went over halfway with the protagonist in just-trying-to-survive-death-college mode which is valid!! The romance is fine. Some plot elements were predictable. I'd like to thank Anne McCaffrey for prompting me to think about dragon bonds. Going to read some other stuff before moving on to Iron Flame but I will continue. Got to say- I do like Empyrean more than Sarah J. Maas's stuff, but maybe that's because Violet feels more capable than Celaena or Feyre? idk.
I will say I was surprised- my perception from the internet's reaction was that this would be more on the romance/spicy side, but we went over halfway with the protagonist in just-trying-to-survive-death-college mode which is valid!! The romance is fine. Some plot elements were predictable. I'd like to thank Anne McCaffrey for prompting me to think about dragon bonds. Going to read some other stuff before moving on to Iron Flame but I will continue. Got to say- I do like Empyrean more than Sarah J. Maas's stuff, but maybe that's because Violet feels more capable than Celaena or Feyre? idk.
mrsboyko's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
5.0