purplepenning's Reviews (1.72k)

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No

This is a 4-star story of self-discovery but a 3-star romance, so I split the difference. I ended up listening to most of it on audio, which may have also brought my rating down. (The narrator was good, just didn't work particularly well for me.) 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

A story of find your crew, living your truth, and facing down the hostilities within and without.

This book is super written for a specific audience, so your enjoyment may depend on your tolerance for high school drama, pop culture references, and excessive AF slang. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Verdict after finishing this previous DNF: A fun fantasy read, just not my favorite in the series so far. It has more swashbuckling vibes than cozy vibes, includes the timely appearance of a delightful pirate to provide a much needed pick me up, and does deliver on the dragon egg mystery. And it has Ponder, the baby griffin — every book is better with a baby griffin in it.

DNF at 36% I'm invested in finding those dragon eggs, I'd happily watch an abuser of power get his comeuppance, and I'm mildly interested in the new friends-to-enemies-to-lovers couple but ... at a third of the way through it still feels like the plot is barely advancing and watching the couple through the perspective of Kianthe and Reyna isn't particularly satisfying. And Reyna just slashed and bashed through an innocent constable with no warning in an actual act of piracy, so ... this feels like a good time to call it. Maybe I'm just not in the frame of mind for a relatively slow-moving travel adventure / pirate fantasy. Might pick it up again later.