I tried reading this book once before and DNFed it around 30%. This time around I really did try and give it a fair shot. The prose of this book is so overly written, it completely takes me out of the story. I honestly wish I had just left this book in the DNF pile. This book was so boring. I hated the relationship between Agnieszka and the Dragon. (Honestly what kind of name is that?) The Dragon was an asshole. He was really abusive to Agnieszka, he made her live in a tower and he kept grabbing her arm and hurting her. I keep seeing this in a lot of YA books and its completely glossed over. Why do all these male characters in these books get away with hurting the MC? The Dragon was so pissy the entire book, I guess he’s just an angry old wizard who likes to stay away in his tower.

Agnieszka is the Mary Sue character. She somehow managed to have magical powers, and the Dragon realizes that she’s “special”. Not only is she special but she is so clumsy. Again, why do all these YA books have to make the women characters clumsy? I honestly don’t get it, but it became pretty annoying throughout the book. Agnieszka is supposed to be a witch but her magic barely does anything. She just says magic words that are never explained, and we don’t know what they mean.

Also the whole premise of the book is so cringe. A dragon steals a girl from the village every ten years. Why is this a thing? WHY? Can I just have a YA book that doesn’t objectify women? Seriously, most of these books are written by women. I don’t get it at all.

I also thought the Dragon being the love interest was so odd. Agnieszka literally snuck around the castle and randomly found the Dragon’s room and slept with him. I really don’t get why this book is so hyped.