I actually don't read much from the fantasy genre, but I really loved this book. Since I also loved the Harry Potter series, the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, and the Dragon Heart Legacy series, maybe I should read more fantasy! I really admire authors who can create an entire world with such specificity that I can envision it in detail in my mind and it feels "real".
This is the story of Violet Sorrengail, the 20 year old youngest daughter of the commanding general of Navarre. Violet's older sister, Mira, is a star rider in the Dragon Riders Quadrant. Their older brother, Brennan, was also a talented dragon rider (with a very rare gift) who was killed in battle. Violet has studied for years to enter the Scribe Quadrant. Her father was a Scribe and she was a lot like him: very intelligent with a gentler nature. Violet also had a physical disadvantage since she was born with brittle bones. She was not born to be a fighter. With her father dead, her mother forces Violet to become a candidate for the Riders Quadrant. Nothing will deter the general/"mom" from this decision. Not even Mira could convince her to change her mind.
The candidates who live through the grueling and dangerous "tests" of the Rider's Quadrant, will be presented to the Navarre dragons that are willing to be bonded to a human. The dragons choose. If a candidate is not chosen, they have a few weeks to try to kill the bonded candidates (in order to potentially bond with the dragon wanting to bond but now don't have a rider). This Quadrant is not for the faint of heart! The candidates are absolutely brutal. Once a dragon and candidate are bonded, the candidate becomes a rider. If the dragon dies in battle, so does the rider.
Against all odds, and with a lot of training and injuries and creative thinking, Violet becomes a rider. The king of all dragons, Tairn, chooses Violet to bond with him. He is so huge, and she is so small, that she can't even keep herself on his back in flight, which is obviously a necessity for survival. (Eventually, another creative solution solves this problem.) The dragon riders are key to Navarre's survival. They are constantly battling their enemies from entering and taking over Navarre at their borders.
Years previously, a rebel group tried to take over Navarre. The general, aka Violet's mother, had all the leaders of the rebellion executed and their children "marked" (large tattoos indicating their rebel parents). These "children", who are now of age to enter a Quadrant, are forced to becomes candidates of the Riders Quadrant. That's their only path. They are despised by the others. Violet is warned many, many times to watch her back. The children of the rebels want nothing more than to see her dead. One of the strongest and bravest is Xaden, a third year and her Wingleader. He is also drop dead gorgeous. ;)
This is a very complex story. I have only touched on the basics. It is very well written and there are a lot of complex layers within the story. I laughed. I cried. I sincerely loved this book! I already went out and bought the whole series.
Wendy's Rating: *****
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