This book has a heavier hand in its character manipulation than I like. Astria is told by the person in charge of the Singer’s College who she is supposed to make friends with, who are — coincidentally enough — the two people she’s already been talking with. Any friendship that might have built organically (which there wasn’t) now becomes forced. They’re friends because they were told to be, both by the plot, and by the author’s mouthpiece. The writing is heavy on the telling, and the story beats aren’t so much foreshadowed as they are bulldozed. Exposition is everywhere, and I found the characterizations and character voices to be flat.

That said, the author has a clear idea of their world and how it works and a firm grasp on the plot. Just because I didn’t enjoy the book or the characters doesn’t mean others won’t. I should also add that I haven’t read the previous book (this is book two in the series) and some of the plot points that felt overly forced to me might have been the author trying to help new readers catch up, or to remind others what had happened in book one. But I can only review this book as a stand-alone, and as such, I don't think it works.

Again, it’s not bad, just very middle of the road. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

Unfortunately, I DNF'ed this one at 60%. I just don't think it was captivating enough to draw me in, and usually at the 40% mark, if i'm not invested, I DNF. I totally see the concept for this book, and I think other people could really like it, but something about it was just so... boring ? in a way to me. I really wanted to like this book, but either way, thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc !

While this was slow to start, the story picks up and keeps your interest. An interesting read if you like adventure, dragons, and quests.

This was a bit of a slow starter for me and it took a while to get into. I couldn’t work out why Astria was spending time at an artists college when her life and the life of her dragon were on the line and she was racing against time to beat the curse. It seemed like an unnecessary delay!

I stuck with it though and it was worth it. The writing is excellent, the world building is very immersive, Astria’s character progression through the book really engaged me and I love the dragons and the bond between humans and dragons.

'Zephyr's flight was an extremely interesting and fantastical read, with dragons and a strong FMC who has an extensive character development throughout the book. It's also a compelling entry into the fantasy genre, weaving together themes of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring bond between humans and dragons. Set a millennium after a cataclysmic event known as the Chaos, the story follows Astria, a determined village girl aspiring to become a Dragon Rider like her ancestors. Her journey begins when she discovers Zephyr, a flightless dragon, and together they challenge societal norms and face numerous trials to protect their homeland.

I had so much fun reading this! The world-bulding was great, and the concept is so unique. I love anything to do with dragons so this was perfect for me.