I don’t like the tone at the start of this novel, of the snot-rag know-it-all defensive-young-female writing; it’s really immature. It’s sadly revealing of a loud collective voice (in the generation), and as one who adores the younger generations, this isn’t inspiring much hope for the future of learned wisdom. It has a YA aim, but is far too crass for that (hence the introductory arms-length list of content warnings—making it that new ‘NA’ invented category. Ugh. No, thank you.) 

…and it’s eye-spinningly predictable…but there’s no backdrop to any of the storyline. I’m all for being dropped into a world in the midst of the action, but not so blindly, thank you. The setting is scant, almost a nonentity apart from another death-trap obstacle course or a cliff overlooking an infinite abyss and the odd shadowy tree. Lots to be assumed. Zero info upon which to construct these assumptions.

The dragons are interesting. It would be nice to hear more from them than the mouthy little self-reliant know-it-all whiner telling this story. 

The dangers are deadly. Like the worst danger on every page. But the attitude of the ones encountering the dangers is blasé and flippant. So, we don’t feel the impact. They’re always facing ‘the worst danger of my life’ or ‘the most death defying challenge’ and yet they’re worried about a history test the next day. As if writing a test is a worry when death is looming.

Who is comparing this to the Hunger Games? There’s not enough depth here to justify that. People dying left and right and I’m not batting an eyelash. When people died in THG I sat on my bed swiping tears so I could see the words on the page. I can’t yet talk about Rue…

But then….

25% in, it gets a bit addictive (if you tune yourself to this crass tone) and the tide of obnoxious characters bowls you over.

By about 40% I started to gain interest in the story; things behind the scenes also began to develop. Hints of politics and intrigue and the dragons were a vast improvement to the voices in the story. There was still far too much grappling on mats and young idealistic grappling of bodies for my liking. Yawn. Cringe. Shake head. Roll eyes. Youths. 

Overall: 

2 ⭐️ for the first 40%

3 ⭐️ 40-85%

4 ⭐️ the last 15%

3 ⭐️ rating.