reread 20/09/2024
- I think I pretty much agree with my previous review, though a bit less harsh on the tropes - if they work, they work! and they're fun to read.
- Also interesting to read it again after hearing Yarros discuss Dane and her opinion that he was just being overprotective and not the Bad Guy. I still don't really agree but it was interesting to see him from that angle.
- also I quite liked the Xaden POV in the last chapter this time around, good to see his thought process.
- I did stall just before the end this time, maybe bc I already knew the big twist, but the rest was v gripping.
- still a 4/5

giving a four for pure grippingness, as I was totally glued to this. fair bit of unoriginality though.

pros:
- it's pretty unputdownable, constantly keeping the tension high and the ball rolling. very good writing and pacing in that sense as there was never a dull bit.
- the different scenes were written well too, the fighting, dialogue, reflection and romance were all solid.
- I liked the setting, the dragons, the politics and worldbuilding, but the characters were the strong point. xaden and violet were both compelling and conflicted in their own ways.
- especially liked the fleshing out of the side characters. I was definitely emotional when

Amber's dragon grieved and Liam died.

. Yarros does a good job of giving enough details about side characters to make them feel real. 
- I hear from my friend with Eds that Violet's was written well and it's great to see more disability representation, since its sadly lacking. great that she wasnt magically cured of it, and was supported by others throughout the story even as others tried to take her out.
- focus on sibling relationships was cool too, great to see mira and violets positive sisterhood and rhiannon and her sister.
- a fair number of twists were unpredictable, like

getting 2 dragons, xaden taking her to the rebuilt city and brennan being alive

- I also liked that the characters were 20y/o plus, and the women were called that, not girls.
- inclusion of queer side characters was great to see too, including rhiannon and Heaton, neither of which faced any discrimination for it.

cons:
- it was all very classic YA tropes with an adult bent. Dane and xaden were immediately obviously love interests (twilight)

though I'm glad Dane was revealed as shitty pretty fast.

, we have a murdery military school and a catch the flag games (like divergent and percy jackson), untrustworthy leadership and rebellion (hunger games). also knife throwing and the MC getting

the best dragon and the best magic and the hot unavailable older man, whilst being a tiny little pixie girl with silver hair. and enemies to lovers of course

- though called clever, violet does have some dim moments for sure,

like she really didnt expect xaden to be part of a rebellion at all?? honestly.

- also didnt like the last chapter being xadens POV. it sounded the exact same to violets which was disappointing and was unneeded. he was better just through violets eyes.
- overall, I would have liked some more real failures for violet, and less cliches. plus some more real violence rather than the squeamish stuff. go big or go home for the morally grey characters is what I say.

but it still gets a four because it was very gripping, I did like xaden and violet and their chemistry, plus the side characters and the dragons.