Scarletstories’s Year in Books

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2025

Year in Books

6,935

pages read

books read

Scarletstories

Shortest Book

377

pages

Longest Book

630

pages

Average book length in 2025

495

pages

Most Shelved

3,434,973

people also shelved

Least Shelved

44,460

people also shelved

Scarletstories’s average rating for 2025

3.6

Highest Rated on Goodreads

4.30 average

Scarletstories’s first review of the year

it was ok

Let me start by saying that, despite the low star ranking I am giving this book, I STILL do like the series. The world is interesting, the cultures are relatively unique, and the dragons are cool.
THAT BEING SAID
Let's get into the nitty-gritty, shall we? (cracks knuckles)
Let me start off by saying I don't read romance. I don't really write romance, I am not one of those who watches all the Hallmark romance films come Christmas, and romance is not Let me start by saying that, despite the low star ranking I am giving this book, I STILL do like the series. The world is interesting, the cultures are relatively unique, and the dragons are cool.
THAT BEING SAID
Let's get into the nitty-gritty, shall we? (cracks knuckles)
Let me start off by saying I don't read romance. I don't really write romance, I am not one of those who watches all the Hallmark romance films come Christmas, and romance is not really a genre I'm very invested in. I don't mind reading it on occasion, but if Yarros wanted to cut a good chunk of this novel, all she would have to do is delete the moments when Violet stops the scene to fawn over Xaden. Even during the fight scenes, it's like she forgets how hot he is and has to wax poetic about whenever she sees him. We understand, you're in love, he's attractive, FOCUS ON THE MATTERS AT HAND. Also she keeps finding his shadow powers super sexy and maybe it's because my ideal man has the energy of a golden retriever, I just...don't understand being attracted to the broody dark haired boy (and he SAYS he excels at brooding, so it's not just me throwing terms around) who gets jealous enough to hurl the prince of the realm into a wall because HE DARED TO TOUCH VIOLET. But of course Violet, after a brief bit of shock and annoyance, is flattered that he values her so highly he would risk execution for her because LOVE. When she's challenged later to ask what the line would be that he'd have to cross for her to give up on him, she had to stop and think.
To be honest I'm surprised she didn't start to appreciate the color red because SPOILER, her boyfriend is turning evil. He is certain he is going to eventually lose control and drain her and everyone they love of their life force. I'm going to be honest, this would be a turn off for me. I understand that if I was Violet I would be in love with him pre-turn, but I'd imagine there are therapists around to help me work through the emotional and mental trauma of it all. (ARE there therapists in this world? There should be.) But Violet keeps INSISTING to him, to Tairn, and to everyone who so much as gives Xaden a dirty look that he STILL HAS GOOD IN HIM and she's going to find a CURE.
Look, love is powerful. I do believe in finding the good where you can and trying to bring light out of the darkness. But I also believe in respecting peoples' decisions, and I do not think Violet respects Xaden's autonomy. While he is important to the world, and important to her, she continuously refuses to let him just give in and keeps pushing for him to fight and be with her, EVEN WHEN HE HAS TOLD HER HE WANTS TO DISTANCE HIMSELF. Granted this is contrasted by the number of times he suddenly makes out with her, but still. He says he doesn't want to put her at risk, and Violet refuses to respect his wishes and keep herself safe, despite the fact that she's bonded to one of the world's most powerful dragons in a time of war and dying would cause the death of said dragon....
Speaking of the war, we're constantly told how poorly it's going, but that's not really...an issue? Like, yes, people are dying and Violet is horrified by the number of casualties, but it doesn't seem to matter. They keep trying to find alliances to help them win the war, but a lot more emotional emphasis is placed on Violet curing Xaden, which, again, would not be a priority for me.
Those who are fighting the war like Aetos and Pancheck and others whose names I forget because the narrative doesn't think they're relevant are given a Seal of Disapproval from Violet, and while some of that is justified, they're also...not wrong in saying that it's probably not the best plan to send a bunch of twenty somethings to negotiate for war aid? Particularly two of their best fighters?
The hunt for alliances/irids was...something. I'll be honest, the only island where they seemed to even TRY to do a good job at making friends with the Zinnhael one or however it's spelled. The rest of their encounters basically boiled down to "will you help us? we're going to pretend to ask nicely but when you actually start working on the negotiations we will threaten or fight you because SCREW YOU WE HAVE DRAGONS." Hint: flipping the bird to someone you're trying to negotiate with in a political setting is NOT the way to go. I understand that this is the main crew and they must do all, but also....they are not trained in negotiations or political intrigue. Sending them to find alliances is like trying to fix something delicate with a hammer.
The entire thing with Xaden's mom was just out of left field. I had no memory of her being mentioned (I kinda thought she'd died with Fen) and then she's there and has a new family and oh, she was able to bail because she was only CONTRACTED to Fen for a specific amount of time and then could leave? BACK THE CHILDHOOD TRAUMA TRUCK UP, I NEED MORE EXPLANATION. Also why does the broody MMC in these books always have to have evil/dead parents?
The whole concept of the irids was interesting but then their entire plan was honestly kind of dumb. "Let's put our egg into another dragon's hatching grounds so that it'll hatch when they're in a good place". Because entrusting your future relationships with others to a single individual based on preconceived standards that neither party knew about is wise. and their whole refusal to take Andarna because Violet turned her into a weapon--did it occur to them that ALL THE CHILDREN OF ARETIA were turned into weapons and they just...don't know how to Not Be That? It's like leaving a toddler alone with a cookie and then scolding the toddler for eating the cookie when you didn't tell them not to and weren't in a position to educate them about ruining their dinner.
I enjoyed the fleshing out of the side characters, and will admit that I liked their POV chapters (although I would have preferred more individuality in the dragons' voices. We get some differences in the relationships with their riders, but all their syntax is the same). Imogen's chapter in particular was a gut punch because of how visceral it was and I need more of Imogen. Also, was Quinn a relic kid? Did we ever meet Jax? Also what is Cat's sexuality? She's dating Trager (RIP) but then is desperate to save/protect Maren? Again, as in the last book, the fleshing out was nice but I would appreciate more in the future.
I'm gonna say it: Theophanie deserved to live. She was far too cool and interesting to die. I understand that she was the Big Bad of this book, but imagine her continuing to live and possibly having some sort of connection with Xaden post-turning, ESPECIALLY since she was hyped up as the dark version of Violet. Like, that dynamic would be SO fascinating to read.
The ending felt rushed, and I kept thinking that it was going to end on a bigger cliffhanger than it did. I genuinely feel like the only characters who died were those we just met (Quinn was in the last 2, right?) and honestly, based on the fanart/fanworks I'd seen while on the waitlist for this book, I expected just...More. Broccoli the cat--who was hyped up as the fandom's new darling--was in 2 scenes?--before vanishing along with Drake, who I THOUGHT was flirting with Mira? Also what's his title/rank? Are there rules for the fliers regarding royalty becoming fliers, like how Aaric had to hide himself (only then he revealed himself and...nothing happened? doesn't King Tauri--who I will forever relate to Stargate--care that his youngest son is a dragon rider?).
Before people come screaming into the comments, I KNOW this is a romantasy novel, in which the romance takes precedence over the fantasy story. However, based on the first book (which I thought was excellent), I honestly expected the series to grow and improve, rather than fizzle out. I feel like there's currently not enough loose ends left to tie up now that Theophanie is dead, and we have 2 more books to read. I will read them, of course, but this third book was not a winner for me. ...more

SCARLETSTORIES’S 2025 BOOKS

it was amazing

it was amazing

Scarletstories’s last review of the year

it was amazing

THIS. BOOK. I remember reading this book and being just STUNNED by the character development. Like Merik, I was inclined to hate Vivia because, well, because the Plot in book 1 told me to. But then we got her perspective, and saw the world through her eyes and I realized that she is So Much More. She is a fighter and a leader and a woman in a male-dominated world who wants to make a difference and be herself. The part at the end, where she realiz ...more

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