MISTER MISTY

I really wish they'd given Clay and Starflight a few more interactions. It feels like Clay has a really strong, clear bond with all of the dragonets except Starflight

I like Clay's arc of proving nurture over nature (or rather, decisions over destiny) but I don't really like how his fight with Peril doesn't conclude with either of them making a decision? It just gets cut short cause of the NightWings. Ig him going back to free Kestrel is meant to be his big, decisive moment, but I really feel like they need that moment in the end

On that topic, it feels like Clay's never really tempted to kill? I feel like the arena is a good environment for this arc for Clay, because he literally must kill or be killed, but it doesn't feel complete enough for an arc. His first fight he loses and almost dies and then his second fight isn't until near the end when he fights Peril in which their duel is also cut short. Idk I think he needed to seriously have a moment where he almost chooses to kill, then hesitates.

I seriously love Glory in this book. I love how she is practically Clay's opposite in personality yet he's clearly her closest friend in the group. I love her as a foil for Peril (even if I don't care for Peril's jealousy). I love how she's got no hangups about murder. Even Tsunami goes back to free Kestrel, but she seriously doesn't care. In a character whose story is about refusing every opportunity to kill, it is insane to have his bestie in the corner who is completely content with killing. I kinda wish she and Tsunami apologized for making Clay think she ran away, but the fact she gets to see Clay reunite with his family feels really special. Like she's the only other dragon who can share this moment with him

I also like how Glory has a very SkyWing name. It's a fun detail

I really like Kestrel. She's cool in a mysterious way definitely where you have to question what's been running through her mind. I think it was a good decision not to have Peril or Glory forgive her. And the way Kestrel half-heartedly ditches Peril immediately. I kinda question if she either was hardened to the point of not caring anymore, if she was putting on a front for it to not hurt or if she just would always be a bad parent

Tbh for how much the dragonets talk about "seeing the war firsthand" they never really speak to any guards or soldiers. It feels strange to never really speak to or get an idea of any SkyWings outside of the arena. Like there are hundreds of these guys presumably who don't approve of Scarlet or the war, but they never pay it off in this first book. Missed opportunity if you ask me

In general I think SkyWings are just neat. I love how unnecessarily expensive everything in the palace is, the way the arenagoers toss rubies in like they're worth nothing. The very walls of the palace are interwoven with gold, and given Peril calling upon an arena tradition, one must assume it's been going on for a while. Idk I'd like to see more of the people in the kingdom who are forced to live under a ruler who does all this. But ig I'll have to wait for Escaping Peril for more SkyWings

I really am not big on Dune dying immediately. The way he goes out really makes him narratively pointless in this book and quite sad overall. He deserved better, especially being an amputee (in fact the first in the series and the only on this one book)

Clay is definitely a good character to center on for the first book. I think having your first lead be focused on choices and blood vs agency is a smart choice, though I, of course, wish we got to see more interactions from the dragonets. They're very likeable, and it's unfortunate they're separated so much this arc. I think arc 3, from what I remember, did a strong job keeping the cast busy without needing to relegate some of them to background characters.

Ig I should mention the thing people love so much about this series--the dragons. Yeah they really feel alive. I love it when there is genuine thought put into what an alternate dominant animal hierarchy society would look like. I like how much tails and wings are involved in their body language, how they have live prey feasting at parties and just other fun design details. Like, hell yeah, it makes perfect sense the Sky Palace just has open flight across levels with an open roof. That feels like a dragon design.

And the little bit of cultures that we get a glimpse of. I like how they immediately set up that NightWings and IceWings hate one another, which works super well as foreshadowing that the prophecy isn't real. The three moons and how that influences dragon spiritually is also cool. I really do get why I fell in love with this series so quickly, xenofiction cultures are just inherently more interesting than regular humanoid fantasy.