I have the biggest book hangover of all time with this one. I don’t know how I’m gonna wait until November for the sequel.
This book is truly like a Hunger Games only with dragons. It’s brutal, both physically and mentally, intense and completely cutthroat.
The voice in the audiobook was amazing and very easy to follow. Loved the intonation just in the right places and how the narrator was able to interpret and express the emotions of the main character throughout the trials.
The protagonist, Violet, is something else and I was very surprised with her evolution. She’s a bookworm who expected to be a scribe but is forced by her mother to become a dragon rider to keep the family tradition. She’s physically weaker than the other members of the quadrant but her mind is her strength. Despite the atmosphere (where you can’t trust anyone at the risk of your own life) she still manages to develop meaningful friendships. I rooted for her the entire time and cheered for her victories.
The romance… was not what I was expecting. I thought this was going to be friends to lovers but boy did I get that wrong. It’s very much a slow burn but intense enemies to lovers. The love interest is a scary anti-hero who is out to kill Violet from page one. It does take time for these two to get together, but the wait was totally worth it. It was explosive!!
The dragons are incredible. I love how much detail Rebecca put into their world, their hierarchy and politics. It was refreshing to see some order instead of having dragons as mindless killing machines. The way they connect to humans to protect the lands is just mind blowing.
The ending was everything and more. I had my heart in my throat as I listened and I didn’t see that ending coming. Fair warning, major cliffhanger.
Absolutely loved it and I can’t wait for the sequel!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced audiobook ARC!
Book Traveller 