There were a couple of things in this book right off the bat that made me want to do a chapter by chapter review. I’ve heard it was amazing, a really good example of fantasy done right. I’m not so sure that’s the case. 

Immediately the audience is bombarded with many comments about how small, weak, and fragile the main character Violet is. It could be a literary device used to emphasize how much she’s able to develop by the time the story is over, but I’m not really getting those vibes. I could be wrong, this is just the first chapter after all, but that’s my first impression. 

One thing that really confused me is the fact that Violet is being forced into becoming a dragon rider, rather than a scribe. She’s twenty years old at this point, and she’s been training her entire life to be a scribe. She has almost no physical prowess, as is stated directly many times, so right off the bat she is afraid that she is going to be killed. Not really out of line for a fantasy series, as there are multiple franchises that are known for killing off their characters (i.e. Game of Thrones). 

I just thought it was an interesting choice because it’s stated that Violet’s mom, a general in the military, is forcing her into becoming a dragon rider due to the fact that anything else would be seen as weak and a failure for their family. If that was the case, why didn’t her mother force her into training earlier? Instead, just six months before the deadly elimination that the riders go through, her mother orders her to start training. If becoming a rider is this deadly I’m just so confused on why her mother took so long. 

The author explains that Violet’s father was a scribe, so I was thinking that was probably a driving force behind the reasoning. He died of heart problems (I’m not sure exactly how long ago), and perhaps the mother used that to jump on the opportunity to force Violet into becoming a rider like she’s always wanted. Still, if she wanted it that badly, why would she wait for the father to die? If Violet has been spending her entire life preparing to be a scribe, I would personally take the L and just let her rather than throwing her to the wolves (or dragons in this case) where she would clearly immediately die if she were not wrapped in copious amounts of plot armor. 

Maybe there’s an underlying reason for the sudden change? A prophecy she had heard of six months prior that claims Violet just has to become a dragon rider? I’m trying to give this plot the benefit of the doubt as it’s only chapter one and there’s a lot I’m not sure of regarding the world as of yet. 

The love interest bores me. He’s described as this insanely built and attractive man, and maybe I’m just personally not into that, but it feels very flat. Author is using the enemies to lovers trope, which I usually love, but this feels a bit odd. As if the characters are simply enemies because their parents were, rather than believing in their parents' causes due to their upbringing. Violet states that she doesn’t care that much for the militant aspect of her family, hence her preferring to be a scribe over a rider, so I don’t think it makes much sense for her to have this beef with the male lead, Xaden, outside of her being afraid that he’s going to try and kill her. Ah, yes. The best start for a romance: the fear of being murdered. 

Speaking of Xaden, I’m not too sure of his motivations at this point. His father was the leader of the rebellion, so they drafted him as punishment? I can get behind that I suppose. Still, he’s been able to rise in the ranks and now has a lofty position? I can’t imagine that the strict military would give him that much power, even if he’s earned it. Your father was one of our greatest enemies and he most likely instilled a hatred for us in you? Come join our army and we’ll give you access to a giant, deadly dragon. Yeah, okay. 

Also would like to mention just how many times Violet’s petiteness is mentioned just in this first chapter: 

1) She’s everything I’m not, and the disapproving shake of Mom’s head says she agrees. I’m too short. Too frail. What curves I do have should be muscle, and my traitorous body makes me embarrassingly vulnerable. 

2) “Are you calling me weak?” 

   “No.” Mira squeezes my hand. “Just… fragile.” 

3) “I can carry it!” This is all wrong. I’m supposed to be dedicating my life to books, not throwing them in the corner to lighten my rucksack. 

   “No. You can’t. You’re barely thrice the weight of the pack.” (Side note: Pack in question is 30lbs, making Violet 90lbs.)

4) “If she survives the parapet.” Someone behind me snickers. “Wind just might blow her right off.” 

5) “You might make it across the parapet,” the guy behind us sneers. “This one here is a breeze away from the bottom of the ravine.” 

6) Good gods, I don’t even reach his collarbone. He’s massive. He has to be more than four inches over six feet tall.

   I feel exactly what Mira called me--fragile.

Six instances in chapter one.