Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

tl;dr
Dragon-riding, magic-wielding fun with a good underlying story about the power of choices. Romance is so ancillary to the story, it might be better without it.

About
Yanna used to be a witch hunter - part of a group dedicated to tracking and killing magic users of all sorts. But now that she's a mage and a dragon rider, those days are behind her. Unfortunately, they may not be as far behind her as she'd like.

What I Liked
I really love a fantasy story where choices have powerful consequences. Destroy an all-powerful amulet? Of course there's going to be a magical fallout. Defeat an evil witch? Expect her to hold a grudge. The consequences of book one are on full display here in a very meaningful way. This book has a lot of thoughtful discussion on power and responsibility of choices, but also the value of not dwelling in the what-ifs. Yanna is a relatable lead, with a well-written internal conflict. The magical world building is consistent, albeit a little fuzzy. Flourishes like the race and the library do a great job of making the world feel lived in. I enjoyed the character relationships between Yanna, Farica, and Felix. The dragons are great. If you like dragon stuff, you'll like these dragons.

What Wasn't For Me
The romance felt a bit like an afterthought, especially considering how much focus there was on Yanna's love for her family. I would have preferred either a lot less or a lot more, but at the moment what we did get feels underdeveloped. Felt very much like a "book two" in a series (it is), in that there's very little story arc, and it worked mostly to connect the catalyst in book one to the finale that will come in book three.