Honestly didn't know what to expect from this and I really enjoyed this. The world building is fascinating, the magic and everyone's backstories were expertly crafted. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

The male audio narrator was not my fav but it didn't completely ruin it for me. There's a lot of visual puzzles that make more sense if you're reading the physical books (because there are diagrams etc)

I expected more connection to the characters, but kinda couldn't keep some of the friends straight. The whole plotline of breaking up their friend's wedding was like... "yall really let her get all the way this far before stepping in? are y'all actually friends?" The relationship between Delilah and Claire didn't really hit either, it felt very like insta-lovey. I think there was actually just not enough focus on their relationship to make it seem more believable.

3.5/5🌶️

For those who are fans of the series this is a short novella that will bring you right back to Janloon <3 Could read after Jade City. I read it after finishing the series. 

This was a lot more character driven than I was expecting, but the characters in this series are fascinating so that's only a slight downside. There is a bit of plot, mainly this competition, which was interesting in theory but also didn't seem so important enough that I was that enthralled by it. Kinda felt like 'well something HAS to happen in this book so why not this to bring the characters together'.

Narrators in this book were way better than book 1.

THE ENDING GAH.

MAJOR cliffhanger, and this is what I mean, by the time things were really moving plot-wise the book ended. Did it leave me wanting to read the third book immediately? Yes. Am I mad at that? A bit.

Emily Henry has ripped my heart out and then healed me in a way I didn’t know I needed.

Listening to Taylor Swift’s Timeless on repeat and sobbing for eternity.

Is it mind-blowing, no. If you're a regular fantasy reader the plot is fairly predictable, but it's still done in an engaging way. Honestly it reads a lot like many other YA fantasies I've read (except this is NOT YA cause 🌶️ ). I felt like some of the world building and more particularly the history could've used some more fleshing out. I understand some of this is left out intentionally for storyline development, but more history in particular about the school would've helped me to understand the drive behind students attending such a brutal place. Like is the chance to bond with a Dragon really it? Seems like there needs to be some other motivation beyond that imo considering I think 80%+(?) of students don't get there.

*The term enemies to lovers gets thrown around a lot, and it doesn't 100% applies here. The two characters in question are not true enemies. One (the love interest) just comes from a background of being from a different part of the (same) country and that region previously was involved in an uprising against the current people in power. So there is mistrust from our MC of said person because of their families' history (as she is the daughter of a General and therefore on the side of those in power). To me that's not true enemies to lovers, it's more along the lines of rivals to lovers.

3.5/5 🌶️ (a bit sub-par imo, even though I knew the spice was coming it still caught me a bit off guard with how abruptly things got very adult and I was kind of chuckling at how out of place it seemed in a book that otherwise reads very YA).

Josh and Jules from the prev books in the series is pretty much what I expected since they don't like each other, so it's like what's the flip side of hate?? 

4/5 🌶️

I just found the whole plotline of Jules backstory and in specifically Josh's reaction to the whole thing (basically almost killing someone) absurd.

Romeo & Juliet modern retelling with rival witch families. 
Olivie Blake certainly knows how to write characters with depth and how to rip your heart out.

This was laugh out loud funny at parts (def recommend the audiobook for the voice acting and right delivery). MLM, Kitt’s queer awakening. Witty banter! Percy figuring out how to be a “normal” person is hilarious. Engaging plot besides the romance, a little mysterious at parts. 


4/5 🌶️

Unfortunately wasn't as engaging as I was hoping. Not enough really happened to keep my attention. For a long while I set it down and thought I would come back to it, but I think that's unlikely. There were some good quotes in it, but didn't quite vibe with it.