If you’re an avid fantasy reader like me, you have probably seen this book advertised or recommended all over social media. Yes, it is very hyped but (in my opinion) it is worth the buzz its being given.

We follow Violet Sorrengail who has spent her life preparing to become a scribe. 6 months before enrolling into Basgiath War College her mother (the general) informs her she must follow their family legacy and become a respected dragon rider instead. This is pretty much a death sentence as the riders quadrant is ruthless and violent, with only a small portion of students usually making it to the end of the year. Either cut down in challenges or trials, other students trying to get rid of the weakest links, or by the dragons themselves.

Violet is at a complete disadvantage compared to everyone else , both physically and to begin with emotionally. Not to mention her name carries a walking target on her back thanks to her mother.
It also doesn’t help that on her first day she comes face to face with the one person she was warned to avoid, Xaden Riorson, who coincidentally also has his reasons to want Violet dead.

I really enjoyed this book. The magic system and the world was easy to get to grips with and will appeal to a lot of readers. It has a lot of popular tropes, which I personally loved, and despite it not usually being my thing, I actually liked the college setting. It has a diverse cast, an interesting world history (which I hope we explore a bit more in the next book), I enjoyed the character development of the two MC’s and I hope the secondary characters are explored a bit more in the next instalment too. There is spice, which I was pleasantly surprised by (and well written too). I laughed, I got mad, I cried and I swooned.

If you want a fast-paced, tension filled fantasy, do yourself a favour and pick this up!