.......5 stars

look I thought I was different and I wasn't gonna give this book 5 stars. yet here I am.
are 4 of the 5 stars here for world building? yes. is the other star because I'm imagining Violet's brother to look like Brennan Lee Mulligan every single time he's mentioned? also yes. (but also because I'm down badly for Xaden and Mira dear god).

although slow to start and very dense, once you get over the sheer amount of ~lore~ the book is a great read and really fun when the dragons get introduced and integrated fully!