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orionmerlin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Characters: 4/10
Violet Sorrengail is supposed to be this weak but brainy underdog, but don’t let the book fool you—she conveniently wins every life-or-death trial, making her struggle feel about as real as a reality TV show fight. Her fragile body? Not an issue, because plot armor beats bone density every time. Xaden is your standard brooding bad boy with a tragic past who somehow manages to be both infuriating and predictable. Jack, the main antagonist, is so cartoonishly evil that he might as well have a mustache to twirl. And then there’s Dain—walking proof that not all men should be childhood best friends. Secondary characters? They exist, mostly to die or make Violet look better.
Atmosphere/Setting: 5/10
Basgiath War College is basically Murder Hogwarts, but with dragons. Sounds cool, right? Well, it could have been if the world-building wasn’t so half-baked. The school’s entire philosophy is “survival of the fittest” but also, like… maybe don’t kill too many recruits because, hey, we need soldiers for this ongoing war? Consistency is optional here. The dragons? Underutilized. The war? An afterthought. The actual world outside of the school? Barely developed. If you like settings that look cool but fall apart under scrutiny, you’re in for a treat.
Writing Style: 4/10
The prose is functional, which is the nicest way I can put it. But let’s talk about the real problem: modern-sounding dialogue in a fantasy world. I get that snark is the lifeblood of this book, but having Violet drop lines that sound straight out of a 2020s Twitter thread? Yeah, that kills immersion real quick. Also, if I had a coin for every time Violet internally monologues about how weak she is despite, you know, constantly outmaneuvering and outlasting everyone, I’d be richer than this book’s publisher.
Plot: 4/10
This book is like an amusement park ride—thrilling in the moment, but the second you stop and think about it, you realize it makes no damn sense. The trials Violet faces? Arbitrary. The life-or-death stakes? Undermined by her constant success. The romantic tension? Predictable as hell. The War College structure? A logistical nightmare. I mean, why would a military academy just let their cadets kill each other willy-nilly when they need actual soldiers? Oh, and the big plot twists? If you’ve read any YA fantasy in the last decade, you saw them coming from a mile away.
Intrigue: 5/10
Yes, it’s fast-paced. Yes, it’s action-packed. But is it actually engaging when you stop being blinded by the constant movement? That’s debatable. I kept turning pages, but not necessarily because I was invested—I just wanted to see if this mess would eventually balance itself out (spoiler: it doesn’t). The story never lets you breathe or feel the weight of what’s happening because it’s too busy shoving the next dramatic moment in your face.
Logic/Relationships: 3/10
If you’re expecting well-developed relationships based on mutual respect and emotional growth, you’re in the wrong book. Xaden and Violet’s romance follows the "we hate each other but also want to rip each other's clothes off" formula without an ounce of originality. Dain spends half the book being the overprotective, condescending childhood friend no one asked for, and the rest of the cast exists to either be obstacles or cheerleaders. As for logic? There is none. The rules of the world are more flexible than Xaden’s moral compass, and the entire “dragons choose their riders” system feels like it was written on the fly.
Enjoyment: 5/10
Look, I didn’t hate it. If you turn off your brain, it’s fun in the same way that a bad action movie is—you know it’s dumb, but you’re still entertained. If you like hot, broody love interests, badass dragon battles (that we don’t get nearly enough of), and training montages where the protagonist somehow doesn’t die despite every odd stacked against her, then yeah, you’ll enjoy this. But if you’re looking for depth, logic, or actual stakes? This ain’t it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Gun violence, Infertility, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
The book is highly violent, with an emphasis on survival at all costs in a brutal training academy. Romance is a major subplot, with some explicit sexual content. Morally gray characters and power imbalances are central to the relationships. The pacing is intense, with frequent action and high stakes. Themes of resilience, betrayal, and sacrifice are prevalent. This book may not be suitable for sensitive readers, particularly those uncomfortable with graphic violence or explicit content.weecore's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
book_lovers20's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
faraway_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WHAT basta como va a terminar así estoy hecha puré
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sierrabowers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book lived up to all of the hype online! It was not only the perfect mix of divergent and hunger games dystopian fiction, but also had twists and turns that I was never expecting, ESPECIALLY at the end. That cliffhanger!!!!!! I can’t wait for book two to come out in November!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
hschlecht's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail