Dragonfall

Oh my GOD.

This book was absolutely INCREDIBLE. On the surface it seems like any other dragon fantasy book but oh my god. The setting was so refreshingly unique and the story, while using familiar fantasy tropes, was still engaging and had me on the edge of my seat. I read over half of this book in one sitting. I'm confident that if I had started this book on one of my days off I would've read cover-to-cover in one sitting.

OBSESSED with Arcady and Everen. First of all, we have a gender non-conforming MC who CANONCIALLY uses any pronouns? Outstanding. Especially for me because I also use any pronouns!! The way this book dealt with gender was so amazing and like nothing I've ever seen before in any book, let alone a fantasy book when they usually have pretty fixed genders and gender roles. But having it be the norm (in Vetra at least) for people to give their pronouns at first meeting? To not assume gender based on presentation? To have not just one but MULTIPLE gnc and enby characters? Some of the best diversity I've seen in a while. And while it hasn't been directly referenced so far, sexuality in this world seems to be just as fluid as gender, and we LOVE that.

Another little part of the book that I loved extremely: the casual and expected use of sign language? Using sign language as a universal trade language instead of having everyone be at least bilingual just ~magically~? Such a simple and elegant solution that I've never seen before, and even including a deaf character and a HoH character (who also happens to be the main character)! Having signs especially dedicated to pronouns that everyone uses when introducing themselves? I'm FEASTING.

Can't say anything about the plot without spoiling because I don't trust myself but the plot twists. Oh my GOD. I need book 2 YESTERDAY. Everen and Arcady better get a happy ending or I'm going to be shaking my fist at the sky I swear. I wish I had more to say about this masterpiece of a book but I'm just in a jumble of “very good next one please” right now, which, I mean, could you even ask for a better review than that?

I genuinely might preorder book 2. OBSESSED.