penwalla

This is a hard book to review, for the simple reasons that there's so many things wrong with it. But ultimately, my biggest problem is that the book is boring. Even when a stretch of chapters is interesting, it's buried deep in the midst of chapters of literally nothing happening. It is incredible to me that this book was published the way it is, when it so badly needed significant reworking to be good.

So...accept my list of things wrong with this book, in no particular order, in lieu of a real review. Forgive me--I did not have the will to reread even one page to refresh my memory.
( less a review and more a series of grievances )

This book and I are locked in single combat and I am going to win.

( it is 3 am and i am finishing the book to cope )

We open with another ominous opening quote about riders and signets.

Violet is training her lightning with Felix, who is still working with her on aiming. She's still struggling, which is good. After the lesson, we move back to Riorson House, where Violet discovers the wyvern have taken another town and several riders have been killed or injured in a vain attempt to stop them. No one important is dead, of course.

That's the entire chapter. Who edited this?

( at this point i just want the book to be over )

Hi! I don't remember anything that's happened. Runes? Misogyny against blonde women in particular? Who can say.

Let's go.

( round and round we go )

Chapter forty-three opens with an ominous quote about the Cliffs of Dralor, which are very difficult for gryphons to fly due to the altitude.

( worldbuilding: it's not a skill yarros has )

Okay, we've reached the 60% mark. We're doing this.
( begging yarros to think about what she's writing just one time )

We begin with Mira being mad at Brennan for pretending to be dead. That's fair, honestly. We the reader know that Brennan had good reasons, but if my brother faked his death I would also engage in violence.
( something that has never happened before. )

The only signet more terrifying than an inntinnsic is a truth-sayer. And yet we let them live.

—MAJOR AFENDRA’S GUIDE TO THE RIDERS QUADRANT (UNAUTHORIZED EDITION)

I don't mind these opening quotes, per se, but I do think Yarros very often gives away things that could be suspenseful in them. And I also think which powers are acceptable and which are not seems like it makes no sense. Truth-sayers and Dain are okay, Imogen's memory-wiping is okay, but mind-reading is just out?
( the status quo is broken. kinda )

We open to Xaden staring Violet down because he's mad that she told her friends everything without consulting him or anyone else.

( heist time :) )

We open this chapter to Tairn giving Violet a pep talk because she's insecure about Xaden's ex-girlfriend. It's a nice moment. Tairn and his mate take off, as Violet and Xaden decide to go back to their rooms and bang for whatever time they have left.
( please let violet face just ONE consequence )

Chapter opens with a quote about how healers are bound to the Code of Chricton and swear to never harm anyone, whereas menders are riders and only answer to the Codex. I assume this chapter will get into whatever fuckery Nolon was up to.

( oh no. the sex scenes are back )

If we ever choose to invade enemy territory—which we don’t—I would choose Zolya as my first target. Take out Cliffsbane Academy and you take out years of gryphon riders in one strike.

—TACTICS, A PERSONAL MEMOIR BY LIEUTENANT LYRON PANCHEK

Opening quote is about what I assume is the Basgiath equivalent for gryphon riders. Interesting. We'll get to see in a later book, I imagine.

( the book is still good guys. it's happening )

We open to Violet dreaming, what is clearly a magical nightmare foreshadowing future events. One of the venin Sages has her by the throat, and lectures her about how she's not living up to her potential and how he's waited centuries for someone with her power. Violet wakes up and tells herself it's just a dream.

I, unfortunately, am awake, and therefore must ask whether any character in this book is allowed to exist without telling us how great Violet is.

( Read more... )

Our opening quote is what I assume is propaganda.

The Migration of The First Year is one of the crowning achievements of Navarre’s unification. What a celebration of the human spirit, to leave a life of war and enter one of peace, blending people, languages, and culture from every region of the continent and forming a cohesive, united society, whose only goal is mutual security.

—NAVARRE, AN UNEDITED HISTORY BY COLONEL LEWIS MARKHAM

( guys this chapter is kind of good )

Here we go.
( throw her off, tairn, put me out of my misery )

I have to finish this book before the third one comes out. So we continue.

Chapter begins with Violet arriving for flight maneuvers. You may recall that Violet has been avoiding these for a while, because she's been ordered to present Andarna and isn't willing to do so. As punishment Violet has had to undergo sessions of constantly using her signet, which exhaust her.

( violet is an idiot )

We're back, baby.
( the tension is like styrofoam )

We continue.

The book begins with this quote.

There’s a course second year that I can’t tell you about, other than to say that it’s hell.
My only advice? Don’t piss off anyone else’s dragon.

—PAGE NINETY-SIX, THE BOOK OF BRENNAN

Okay, wait a minute. Why wouldn't Brennan be able to tell Violet? This is his private journal, and he's definitely revealed shit the cadets aren't supposed to know already. This feels like Yarros just wanted to build some cheap suspense.
( xaden isn't in these chapters. yaaaay )

Chapter 13 opens with an ominous quote about how the final decision on any academic punishment lies with the commandant's office. Oh dear.

( this book is dumb again guys )

We're back.

( romance? )

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Entries tagged with iron flame

Iron Flame: Review

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 56-END

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 50-55

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 46-49

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 43-45

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 40-42

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 39

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 35-38

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 32-34

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 29-31

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 26-28

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 25

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 22-24

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 21

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 20

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 19

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 18

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 15-17

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapters 13-14

Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 11

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