Here be dragons!

Basgiath War College is not a place for the fainted hearted!  Poor Violet just wanted to be a Scribe but Mother Dearest - AKA The General, has told her it's Rider or nothing.  She's had 6 months to prepare for something others have worked for years at!

Now she has to graduate or die trying.  She has enemies all around her due to her mother, her own frail health has her pegged as the weak link and she worries that her allies may not be all they seem.  Then there is Xaden.  Xaden is handsome and disciplined, cold and aloof, and her nemesis from the start.  Their relationship is complicated due to their shared past but dragons cannot be rules so when they are forced together, they have to learn to adapt.

Then there is her childhood best friend.  But he is also her biggest roadblock.  He wants to keep her safe, coddle her.  But to survive and thrive she actually needs the opposite.  Their friendship really does undergo a metamorphosis.
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There is great representation throughout of the book, it's just effortless and without fanfare.  The characters just are - no explanations, no excuses, no blaming.  It was great to have a heroine who appears to be fragile compared to others but had the heart and determination of a dragon.  He may not be the love interest but Liam made me smile so much.

There are layered politics and a complex world to navigate but it's very easy to understand and I never felt overwhelmed and didn't feel lost at anytime.  There are several "WTF" moments but then the story takes another turn and another layer of the story is revealed.

Yay for the underdog and the anti-hero.  Keep some tissues handy cos some of the characters quickly became your favourites but no one is safe! Be warned it ends on a cliffhanger!!!!

TW - Physical assault, attempted murder, death during training
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One of my favourite lines:

"Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you're really a violent little thing, aren't you?" (Xaden to Violet)