Wow! So glad I bought into the hype with this one. I've seen a lot of people say that it's like Eragon for adults but with a badass FMC and I would definitely agree. 

The story starts out with getting to know Violet. There's family trauma with a dead brother, a dead father a cold and calculated mother and a sister who outshines her. She also has (suspected? Not sure if this has been confirmed) ehlers-danlos syndrome which is a degenerative disorder that affects joints and bones. Despite her circumstances and being forced into joining the riders quadrant, she defies the odds time and time again. I like how Rebecca Yarros didn't gloss over the struggles that Violet faces throughout the story. She didn't paint over her barriers and give her sudden super human strength or amazing abilities like we see in many similar stories but rather we are very exposed to Violet's limitations and it makes her all the more formidable. She works hard to be able to keep up with her peers, she isn't just this gifted cut-throat hero that smashes down walls. She is very relatable as a protagonist and yet so confident and sure of herself. Definitely a character that you don't hesitate to love. 

Also Xaden. Everyone loves a dark and mysterious shadow-wielding character and he does not disappoint.

The dragons are also awesome. I love how they're such a big part of the story, I feel like in a lot of other fantasy books they're more of a second thought. I love the connection between the dragons and their riders. They definitely add to the overall badass-ery of this book. I won't say much more because I don't want to give anything away! 

& Last but not least that cliffhanger! Waiting for the next books in this series is going to consume me because I absolutely NEED more. 

Overall the story is well-written and thought out, the characters are spectacular, the world building is easy to follow but not too simple and DRAGONS. 10/10.