Hardcover, 623 pages
English language
Published Nov. 6, 2023 by Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Red Tower Books.
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has …
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
This is a book that I just wanted to continue reading to figure out what's going to happen next. The story is well paced and it even includes some down time moments between the actions which is greatly appreciated. The writing is on point and there are quite a few moments where what a character does and says just makes me smile and laugh.
Oof. This book is a lot of things, and most of all it is extremely overhyped. Yes, the premise and the worldbuilding are pretty cool. The dragons are frickin' awesome and are, tbh, the only thing that make this book really worth reading. But to get to that part, you will have to wade through 500 pages of very tedious high school-esque drama, aka the neverending Violet-Xaden vicious circle of cringeworthy discussions loaded with sexual tension that end in nothingness. Honestly, by the third time I reached a chapter of them kinda-but-not-really talking and just getting horny, I started skimming these parts of the book, because I just couldn't bear it anymore. Also, that ending is a whole new kind of WTF and has me wonder if the last book will just turn everything on its head again.
It could have been an excellent book, if only it had 300 …
Oof. This book is a lot of things, and most of all it is extremely overhyped. Yes, the premise and the worldbuilding are pretty cool. The dragons are frickin' awesome and are, tbh, the only thing that make this book really worth reading. But to get to that part, you will have to wade through 500 pages of very tedious high school-esque drama, aka the neverending Violet-Xaden vicious circle of cringeworthy discussions loaded with sexual tension that end in nothingness. Honestly, by the third time I reached a chapter of them kinda-but-not-really talking and just getting horny, I started skimming these parts of the book, because I just couldn't bear it anymore. Also, that ending is a whole new kind of WTF and has me wonder if the last book will just turn everything on its head again.
It could have been an excellent book, if only it had 300 instead of 623 pages, and if it would have put it's best characters at the center - Tairn, Andarna, Sgaeyl and all the other dragons.
Part one is a slog. Picks up in Part Two. They’re not good books, but they’re fun, enjoyable books.
My biggest issue being that the writing feels anachronistic at times. It’s not clear what time the book is set in, but I really don’t think anyone in whatever time it is would says “what the actual fuck”
The ex-Mormon-learning-to-swear energy isn’t as strong in this book though. I’ll definitely keep reading the series.
I am glad to have picked this together with Valentina :) my link text
