One of my New Years Resolutions was to get back to book reviewing more consistently. Toward the middle of last year I transitioned to a new job and it’s been a little hard to adjust to a new normal. I have scaled way back on my reviewing for publishers and book tours just because I hate to commit to reading a book and then fall behind in my reviews. But at the same time, I miss reading all the latest books! So one of my goals this year if to get back to reviewing more consistently, but on my own schedule.
This is one of those books that popped up a lot on my bookstagram throughout the last year and I just wan’t ready to start another fantasy saga when it wasn’t complete. Traditionally I wait until ALL THE BOOKS are out in a series before I dive in—especially when I suspect that a book will be binge worthy. And this series promised to be binge worthy so I debated on waiting until more books were out. Then I saw it was a five book series and I wasn’t willing to wait like 10 years before they are all out so I figured—-why not.
This book was 100% binge worthy and I was so glad I started my 2024 reading off with a solid five star read! Currently I am almost done with the second book, and I am already anxious for more books in this series. I hear book two has a big cliff hanger which means I am going to be chomping at the bit for the next book which I hear might not be out until 2025! I honestly don’t know if I can wait that long and I am not even done with book two!
Summary
Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die (summary from Goodreads)
Review
At first I thought this book was going to be a mix between Divergent and the ACOTAR series and while yes it is similar to both in different ways—-at it’s heart it is a unique story that has it’s own beautifully created world with complex characters and a compelling storyline not to mention a sizzling romance. This book is classified as YA and yes in some ways it is but I would call this more new adult. The characters are older (Xaden is 23 and Violet is 20) which made the romance definitely more adult—-even more so than ACOTAR. Personally I think the romance and sex was well done and not crass or gratuitous. I loved the enemies to lovers romance and while some times the dynamic between Xaden and Violet felt a little redundant, in general I loved that he didn’t baby her or try to protect her in a classic way. He gave her space to be her own badass self. And their chemistry is HOT. I really enjoyed their love story in this book.
The world building is rich and well explained to the reader. Sometimes in YA/new adult fantasy sometimes the world and magic are hard to process or understand—especially in classic fantasy without forcing the reader to slow down and really think/focus on the world building or history. But in this book, I liked how the school for riders helped educate the reader right along with the students in the book. The author did a wonderful job explaining dragons, riders, and other magical elements within the story. It was really well done and there is a lot of room for more story telling and I cannot wait to see how this series evolves over time. There is so much to enjoy in this book’s world and the characters
In this book, Violet”s mom and sister are really more just background figures with the focus being on the riders and Xaden. I do hope that we get to know more about Violet’s mom and sister throughout the series. I think they both have interesting insight that will help future Violet’s character and overall story. The thing I loved most about this series though was how riders went about connecting with their dragons and the developing romance between Violet and Xaden. Those two things really stood out in this book and I am so excited to read the next one—you better believe I have book two queued up and ready to go! If you love fantasy YA but are wanting something more adult this book is definitely for you! Do not miss its hands down an easy 5 star read that is binge-able!
Book Info and Rating
Format 528 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2023 by Entangled: Red Tower Books
ISBN 9781649374042 (ISBN10: 1649374046)
Review copy provided by, personal collection. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: fantasy
The Lit Bitch 