3 stars

CW: anxiety, panic attacks, torture

Don’t do what I did. Don’t read this book just for the dragons. There were dragons, but for most of the book, they were only a plot point and not physically present.

Although it wasn’t what I expected, it wasn’t bad. Rather, it was uneventful, almost boring. It was off to a slower, somewhat confusing start, and then Mira got arrested and very little happened for the next 230 pages. Something happened at that point, and then the story died down again for 120 pages before the next big thing happened. The pattern continued until the final showdown (for lack of a better term) around 70 pages later. It ended on a lower note, clearly in-between books, if that makes sense.

I liked Mira’s character arc, though it took time for me to really warm up to her. She spent around 75% of the book very submissive and naïve. I know she grew up sheltered, but she always just went with what she was told and had no idea how things worked. A real quote:

“‘-others said he took too many painkillers.’
‘Because he hurt so much? He accidentally took too many?’
‘No. Because he knew what it would do to him.’
‘Oh.’” (65)

🤦🏼‍♀️

However, in the last 25% when she came to her senses and fought back, she was good. Not very original or interesting, but better.

Mira also had anxiety, panic attacks, and counted compulsively. The only anxiety I have is before a presentation, so I can’t speak on the rep. I did like that it was a consistent part of her character, and that it didn’t disappear to make things convenient. It was always there, and it often did the opposite.

I think the world-building was spotty and incomplete. The time system, I guess you could call it, wasn’t explained very well. I didn’t realize a decan was a real thing until I did my own research. There were days, months, and years, so prior to said research I thought it was a poorly-done combination of real and made up. I think it could’ve been explained better for clueless readers like myself, haha. And I never figured out what Sarai meant, which appeared occasionally in the beginning of the book: “Sarai 15, 2204 FG.”

There were some details given about the Fallen Isles’ history and current government and cultures, but it was scattered and could definitely be built upon later in the series. Like, okay, things are done this way, but why? What about smaller details? I can understand why islands that aren’t a part of this story’s events wouldn’t be explained thoroughly, but even Mira’s home island Damina wasn’t fully explained.

A few smaller things I noticed:

1.) The Pit is the biggest, baddest prison in the Fallen Isles, yet there’s a sort of reward system in place for the prisoners?? They start off at first-level, and if they’re well-behaved, they have the opportunity to get a job in the prison. A job gets them overworked but better fed. If they continue to behave and excel at their job, they get moved to second-level, and eventually third-level. I think that’s as high as it goes. But it doesn’t make sense to me that such a tough, terrifying prison has bonus opportunities?? I don’t know.

2.) It’s not an exact match, but I noticed something early on that seemed similar to The Mortal Instruments. One of the islands in the Fallen Isles is Idris, and Idris is ruled by a group called the Silent Brothers. I know in TMI the Silent Brothers don’t rule Idris, and CC doesn’t have complete ownership over the title (at least, I don’t think she does), but it seemed odd to me. (Note: I’m NOT saying Jodi took anything from CC. Their books are completely different. I’m saying that it was an odd coincidence, in my opinion.)

Also, I’m really, really glad there was no romantic development between Mira and Altan. He was evil, cruel, and generally just a bad person, and a relationship between them legit would’ve ruined this book for me. I hope he doesn’t get a redemption arc, and that if he reappears later he gets killed. Just saying. 🤗

There was really no romance in this at all, which was nice. Mira seemed to have a crush on her guard Hristo, as did her best friend Ilina, but there was no relationship for anyone. I kind of hope it stays that way, so the plot and the dragons can get the spotlight. Although if Mira and Ilina end up together, I wouldn’t complain. 😅

All in all, this was an average book. It wasn’t what I expected and there weren’t as many dragons, but I did like it. The second one sounds promising, so I think I’ll pick it up when it comes out.