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Review

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.”

5 stars!

Wow. After Fourth Wing became an instant all-time fave, this second book in The Empyrean series has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it did not disappoint. Full of action, drama, friendship, romance and, of course, dragons, this is an exciting and emotion-packed read that I absolutely devoured.

In case it isn’t obvious – this book is not a standalone, and must be read after Fourth Wing.

It’s Violet’s second year at Basgiath War College. Still reeling from the events that ended her first year, Violet is thrown back into the intense and brutal training to become a dragon rider. But she’s doing it knowing that what they’re being taught is far from the reality of what is actually going on outside of Basgiath’s walls. Forced to keep secrets from her friends, and with Xaden now graduated and away on missions, she’s facing brand new challenges. And when the new vice commandant of the college begins targeting her, wanting to break her in all the ways, she will have to be stronger than ever as she fights to protect the ones she loves.

Intense, huh! Well that’s only the beginning of the story. There is SO much that happens in this book, and I was here for all of it. It’s unexpected and exciting, and I loved watching the story develop. I feel like I’ve been on a wild adventure, and a number of times while reading I would have to take a quick pause to take a breath and take it all in, before diving right back in.

We’re reunited with old characters, and there are new people to meet, and the character development for all is fantastic, not just for Violet, but for Xaden, Violet’s friends, and even her enemies. They grow and change, and their relationships along with it, and the dynamics are wonderfully written. I’m feeling so much for so many of these characters, and I love being so wrapped up in their lives.

The romance is also kicked up a notch with Violet and Xaden starting to really figure out their relationship, and I loved the emotion, playfulness, passion and intensity that is the two of them together.

“I’m in love with you … I’m grateful my life is tied to yours because it means I won’t have to face a day without you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does, and when you die, I’ll meet Malek at your side. It’s a damned good thing that you love me, too, because you’re stuck with me in this life and every other that could possibly follow.”

With new locations, politics and plots to uncover, it’s all happening, and I was hooked from start to finish. I was shocked and excited, I laughed and (very nearly) cried, and I loved getting lost in this world once again. The book ends well but with a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to see the direction of the story from here.

Such a fantastic read. 5 stars!

I loved the Fourth Wing audiobook so much that I choose to listen to this one in audio as well, and it’s sensational! Rebecca Soler does a phenomenal job, and I highly recommend listening to these books.

 

The Empyrean