Ep. 11 Onyx Storm Deep Dive: Ch. 38-40 | Easter Eggs, Theories & Key Moments

Summary

Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast: Episode 11 Summary

Title: Onyx Storm Deep Dive: Ch. 38-40 | Easter Eggs, Theories & Key Moments
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Hosts: Hannah, Kinsey, Carly

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Welcome to Dear Fantasy Reader, your ultimate companion for delving deep into Rebecca Yarros' beloved Empyrean series. In this detailed summary of Episode 11, hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Carly dissect chapters 38 to 40 of Onyx Storm, unraveling key plot points, character developments, intricate foreshadowing, and bubbling theories that fans are buzzing about.

Introduction

The episode kicks off with Hannah, Kinsey, and Carly sharing their current reading adventures and updates on other fantasy novels they've been enjoying. This segment sets a friendly and engaging tone, establishing a connection with listeners who share a passion for fantasy literature.

Current Reads and Recommendations

• Hannah finishes the ACOTAR series and highly recommends "The Never List" by Jade Presley.
• Kinsey delves into the Powerless trilogy and the Bridge Kingdom series, expressing excitement for upcoming releases.
• Carly explores "Duskbound" by Parker Lennox and Bri Greenwich and "Cultish", a nonfiction work about cult language, along with Ali Hazelwood's Love Theoretically.

Star of Navarro Award

The hosts commend Aloha pt. for their meticulous coverage of the Empyrean series, highlighting the importance of thorough research in enhancing the podcast's content quality.

Carly (07:10): “This week's Star of Navarro award for a review that made our heart soar goes to Aloha pt. Who wrote these ladies do such a good job covering all things Empyrean.”

Deep Dive: Chapters 34-37

Plot Recap

The trio provides a concise summary of the events in chapters 34 to 37, focusing on the reunion of Quest Squad and the Triumvirate over dinner. Key plot points include:

• Zaden's Turmoil: Struggling with abandonment by his mother Talia, Zaden faces emotional breakdowns, highlighted by his desire to erase his pain.
• The Poisoned Dinner: The Triumvirate orchestrates a trap by poisoning the chocolate cake, leading to a tense rescue mission.
• Violet's Strategy: Demonstrates her cunning by pre-emptively poisoning the Triumvirate, manipulating them to secure an allyship.
• Arrival at Xelnia: The squad lands on an island rich in magic, examining the stark contrast to Hadatas.

Notable Quotes

• Carly (10:32): “An honor is all mine. Grab your leathers, Quest Squad, as we are officially being tested by the Triumvirate.”
• Kinsey (17:08): “The fall being fatal. It definitely fits the situation.”

Character Analysis

Zaden

Kinsey delves into Zaden's mental health struggles, emphasizing his profound sense of abandonment and loss.

Kinsey (11:15): “Strong, let's discuss Zaden's mental health, tragic backstory, Talia being an absolute bitch.”

Hannah echoes the sentiment, exploring the depth of Zaden's vulnerability and his subsequent detachment.

Hannah (12:34): “Rebecca's just, like, twisting. How can I twist the knife even harder?”

Talia

The hosts analyze Talia's complex character, debating her true motivations and capacity for love. They discuss her performative actions versus genuine emotions, highlighting how her upbringing and cultural values influence her decisions.

Carly (18:19): “She's a really interesting character. I think for me, I don't empathize with her so much as I understand her a little bit better.”

Auric

Auric's composed demeanor during the poisoned dinner sparks curiosity and suspicion among the hosts, leading to theories about his true intentions and possible foresight abilities.

Hannah (40:16): “He was yummy. This chapter, I don't know what to tell y'all. I think I text you and I was like, I am absolutely in love with Auric.”

Favorite Moments

Each host shares their standout scenes from the chapters:

• Hannah: The surprising proposal twist and Riddick's declaration of love post-poisoning.
• Kinsey: Zaden's clever trickery against the Triumvirate and Garak's nonchalant consumption of poisoned cake.
• Carly: Violet's strategic poisoning of the dinner attendees and Dara’s supportive actions during the crisis.

Favorite Quotes

• Carly (57:54): “This is the part where I tell you I've already killed you.”
• Kinsey (58:38): “Honestly, I find you lacking. And I'm not sure I want you as an ally.”

These quotes encapsulate pivotal character interactions and plot developments, showcasing the intensity and emotional depth of the narrative.

Easter Eggs and Foreshadowing

The hosts meticulously unravel hidden details and symbolic elements sprinkled throughout the chapters:

• Epigraph Analysis:

  • Chapter 34: “It has been the experience of my lifetime to spend these months with others who value knowledge just as reverently as I do...” by Captain Asher Sorengale.
  • Chapter 35: “The God of wisdom is the trickiest to placate...” from Major Rorley's Guide to Appeasing the God.
  • These epigraphs hint at underlying tensions and the deceptive nature of the Triumvirate.

• Symbolism of Jade Stones:
  Jade stones are used as voting markers during the dinner test, symbolizing purity and wisdom, yet their usage by the Triumvirate reveals a superficial adherence to their purported values.

• Eyes as a Symbolic Element:
  The unique eye colors differentiate characters and hint at deeper magical connections, particularly Violet's hazel-blue-green eyes linked to her heritage and potential powers.

Notable Observations

• Amaryllis Continent:
  The name "Amaryllis" signifies pride, strength, and determination, aligning with the continent's role in the unfolding conflict and magic dynamics.

• Magic in Xelnia:
  Violet's description of the palpable magic upon landing in Xelnia foreshadows significant magical developments and confrontations ahead.

Theories

1. Talia's Deceptive Plot

Kinsey theorizes that Talia orchestrated the poisoned dinner as part of an elaborate scheme to eliminate Quest Squad members, hinting at deeper political machinations.

Kinsey (95:03): “To me, I don't think this is a coincidence. I think it was entirely planned.”

2. Asher Sorengale’s Hidden Identity

The discrepancy in Asher’s last name between his personal interactions and official research documents suggests a hidden identity or past affiliations, possibly connecting him to historical events on Hadatas.

3. Garak's True Role

Carly posits that Garak might evolve into a pivotal character, potentially taking on a new brother role after his poisoning, signaling his deeper involvement in the overarching conflict.

4. Riddick’s Mysterious Nature

Despite initial suspicions, the hosts deduce that Riddick is unlikely to be Venon due to subtle clues in his behavior and lack of physical evidence post-attack, leaving room for alternative explanations of his intentions.

5. Source of Magic Drainage on Hadatas

Kinsey speculates that Hadatas might be the epicenter of the magic drainage phenomenon affecting the Isles, with Xelnia’s natural barriers providing protection against the drain.

6. Destiny and Precognition

The hosts explore the implications of Auric’s precognitive abilities, questioning how much of Zaden's actions are influenced by foresight and whether this could alter the series' trajectory.

Conclusion and Upcoming Content

As the episode wraps up, the hosts express excitement for future discussions and episodes. They tease an upcoming deep dive into chapters 38-40 and hint at exploring themes like Xaden’s gifts, further unraveling the mysteries of Onyx Storm.

Listeners' Engagement

The hosts encourage listeners to join their Patreon, participate in the monthly book club, and engage with the community through Discord for deeper discussions and exclusive content.

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Thank you for tuning into this episode of Dear Fantasy Reader! Stay connected for more in-depth analyses, theories, and heartfelt discussions as we continue our journey through Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series.

Transcript

[Carly]

Foreign.

[Hannah]

Dearest Fantasy Readers, welcome to the Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast where we travel through the pages of our favorite Romantasy novels. I'm Hannah.

[Kinsey]

I'm Kinsey.

[Carly]

And I'm Carly.

[Hannah]

Join us as we take flight into the world of the Empyrean series, diving deep into Onyx Storm, breaking down characters, scenes, foreshadowing and lore, fangirling over shadow daddies, building theories as we go, and more.

[Carly]

With that content warning and spoiler alert, we will be covering anything and everything Empyrean series to this date and any content Rebecca Yarrows has given us. So if you haven't read 4th Wing, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm in its entirety, go do that and we will be here waiting when you are done.

[Kinsey]

Also, due to the nature of these books, this podcast is rated R in content and language.

[Hannah]

As Rebecca Yaros says, readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note and prepare to face the storm. We have dragons to ride. Quick reminder, we have a monthly book club now where you can join us on Discord for chats all month long and on Patreon for a monthly livestream on the last Wednesday of every month. For book club, we take book recommendations and books from our own TBR to create a poll for our tier 3 Patreon members to vote on. So be sure to check out our socials Discord or Patreon for our May book selection and send us your recommendations for June. You can check out our Patreon linked down in the Show Notes below for more details on how to join. Also, we are adding a new brief little segment called our Lightning Round of Current Reads. Pun intended there. Is that technically a pun?

[Carly]

I think so.

[Hannah]

I think, well, we're going to own that.

[Kinsey]

We'll count it as a pun.

[Hannah]

So we're each going to go around and give like an update on where we are in our book journey. I recently finished the ACOTAR series finally. It's been a long time coming. In short, I am a court of mist and Fury girly, and I think that's all that needs to be said. I just finished the Never List last night. It's by Jade Presley. I had no idea. I should have. I should have known that I would be such, such a why choose girly? Oh my gosh. Okay, I'm gonna read you guys the dedication very, very quickly to the readers who always struggle to pick a favorite book boyfriend. Don't worry here, you'll never have to choose. It's okay to love them all if that's not me Written all over it. I don't know what it is. So thank you, Jade. Also, four. Four book boyfriends jumped headfirst and loved every moment of it. It was a six star read. I'm obsessed and I cannot wait for you guys to eventually read it.

[Carly]

Do you love your four new book boyfriends equally?

[Hannah]

Yes. Yes. Somehow, some way. I was worried about it.

[Carly]

All right.

[Hannah]

Because why choose?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, you know, because why choose?

[Hannah]

I started doing that to myself as I was reading. I was like, oh, do I like this? And I was like, wait, the whole point of this is so I don't have to choose. So, yeah, it's really nice.

[Carly]

Less pressure that way.

[Hannah]

Exactly.

[Carly]

I'm currently reading Duskbound by Parker Lennox and Bri Greenwich, which is book two to Riftborne, which is our April book club pick. I loved the ending to Riftborne. That ending had me. I was like, I gotta read Dustbound now. So I am reading that now.

[Hannah]

I had to wait months. So I'm so glad you. You know, some of us suffered for you.

[Carly]

Me and I am reading Cultish and I'm really enjoying that.

[Hannah]

What is that?

[Carly]

It's a nonfiction book and it is about. It's kind of about cults, but she's a linguist and so it's all about how cults and cult like products and cult like groups all use cult language. So like, regardless of the cult, they all use essentially the same language. It's very interesting.

[Kinsey]

Is it the bite model?

[Carly]

I don't know what that is.

[Kinsey]

Oh, okay.

[Carly]

So I couldn't say, but it's very interesting. And it's like everything from MLMS and SoulCycle to actual cults and so it's very interesting. And I just finished Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. I'm officially in my Ali Hazelwood era. I am going through her backlist and I'm having so much fun reading them.

[Kinsey]

Love that.

[Hannah]

Speaking of genres, because I didn't mention this. Duskbound by Parker Lennox and Brie Grinwich is a romantic fantasy. The Neverlist is straight up romantasy. We'll get in the habit of saying those genres. Yeah. What about you, Kinsey?

[Kinsey]

In this past week, I did read a lot. Fearless had just released, so I was listening to the Powerless trilogy again. I still haven't read Fearless yet, but I just finished Reckless. And then I re read A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson because I got an arc for A Vow of Embers which comes out on July 8th. And I consumed that book too. It was really good. And I'm dying to talk about it with people, but I can't until after it's actually published. Can't wait for book three. And then I just started the Bridge Kingdom series, which took me by total surprise. The first book was a six star read. I ended up FaceTiming Carly immediately after I finished and was like, oh my God. That's how she ended it. Cause I was listening to the audiobook so I wasn't prepared for it to actually end. I had no idea the end was coming. I was working on a craft project and it just finished and I was like, oh my God. But I read the first two books in two days and I'm about to start the third book and the second book made me cry. So it was really good. I love the Bridge Kingdom series and I'm currently reading A Fate Forged in fire by Hazel McBride too, which is.

[Hannah]

An arc we all got. I read that one and it's amazing. You guys are gonna love it. That's so good. Which that one is? I can say a romantic fantasy. But your other ones are.

[Kinsey]

They're also romantic fantasies.

[Hannah]

Surprises. No one.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, right. That's all I listen to. Or listen and read. It's like that's my genre, which we.

[Hannah]

Listen to a lot of audiobooks. That's how we get through a lot of these books.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

So if you're wondering, the arcs are.

[Kinsey]

All physical cop, but my rereads are usually always audiobooks.

[Carly]

Yeah. I'm just so glad you finally read A Bridge Kingdom because Arin's my number one book husband and I wanted you to experience him.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, he's pretty great.

[Carly]

He's pretty great.

[Kinsey]

He didn't knock Rowan off of his throne. Not even close.

[Hannah]

But he's good.

[Carly]

I love Arin.

[Hannah]

I love that. I know between both of those series that I'm going to have new book boyfriends. It's like collecting infinity Stones. Like, which one's gonna be the best one?

[Kinsey]

Just gotta hurry up. You just gotta read them all and collect them all.

[Hannah]

There's always so many. And that wraps us up. Carly, take it away.

[Carly]

This week's Star of Navarro award for a review that made our heart soar goes to Aloha pt. Who wrote these ladies do such a good job covering all things Empyrean. Their research is meticulous.

[Hannah]

Ooh, meticulous.

[Carly]

That is the way to my heart. Okay. Complimentary research. M. Thank you so much, Aloha. Your feedback and support means so much to us. If you are also enjoying the show, please consider leaving us a review. It's a small thing that makes a big difference.

[Hannah]

Thank you. As a reminder before we dive in, if you would like to jump around to any sections of our episodes, you can find the timestamps for each down in our show notes. First objective breaking into the Archives vault for a summary report of chapters 34 through 37. With our squad mate Kinsey Zayden is.

[Kinsey]

Not having a good time at his mom's house. Not only did Talia abandon him when he was 10, but she started an entirely new family and Zaden finds out he has two half brothers. Talia seems to think she can make up for lost time by inviting Quest Squad and the Triumvirate for dinner. Violet tells Zeden they don't have to attend and they can just leave Hadatas, but Zedan agrees to meet with the Triumvirate. Violet goes to accept the dinner request, but not before scheming with Andarna and Meera Zaden. Violet, Garruk, Meera, Arryk and Cat meet with the Triumvirate for dinner. Instead of truly testing their wisdom, the Triumvirate is judging everyone's love lives. They want Zayan to marry, chat for political relations, which ironically, is not the wisest proposition, and Zaden agrees to be entered into a lifelong marriage contract with Violet. Not Cat. Swoon. Violet points out Hidadus is just as unwise for raising their own city to the ground 150 years ago. They continue to argue as dessert is served. Garak helps himself to most of the chocolate cake before Violet realizes it's a trap and he has been poisoned.

[Hannah]

Can anyone look at chocolate cake the same? No.

[Carly]

No, no.

[Kinsey]

They spring into action to save Garak, calling for Riddick, Dane, Drake, Merrin and Trager to assist. Thankfully, Violet thought ahead and already poisoned the Triumvirate with their tea. She threatens to not give them the antidote unless they do the same for Garruk. But living doesn't seem to be enough motivation for Ferris, who would rather die than let them win. Riddick and Violet race into the kitchen and question the cook. Just as she realizes the poison must be from the overripe fruit native to Hidatas. Riddick is stabbed. Or rather, Riddick's flight jacket is stabbed. Riddick is totally fine. They race out of the kitchen and instruct Dane to grab figs for Garruk's antidote. Thank you, Papasaur and Gil's research. The Chimboree are puking, but still insist on being stupid, stubborn assholes. Violet then reveals the second half of her scheme. Faris believes his sons. Zanen's brothers are safely hidden away, but Andarna, as an invisible Irid, is waiting to roast them. Haha. That gets their attention. And Faris finally relents, agreeing to Violet's terms for an allyship between Navarre and Hadatas in exchange for leaving his sons unharmed and providing an antidote. Quest Squad leaves immediately and heads for Xelnia, the island that worships Zhen'al, where they're surprised to see color and people happily waving at them as they arrive. Upon landing, they also realize there's magic.

[Hannah]

Also, baby, let that game sink in.

[Carly]

Can always count on Hannah to throw in a Taylor Swift lyric.

[Hannah]

An honor is all mine. Grab your leathers, Quest Squad, as we are officially being tested by the Triumvirate, which I was totally pronouncing in various different ways up until you said it out loud, Kinsey during Me too.

[Kinsey]

I literally googled how to pronounce it, and I'm sure I've still changed the way I pronounce it like a million times differently.

[Hannah]

Triumvirate is what I was saying, but it's Triumvirate. Triumvirate.

[Kinsey]

That's how I'm saying it.

[Hannah]

Guys. Bear with us. It's just gonna flow. This episode.

[Carly]

It is what it is.

[Hannah]

Diving right into our analysis and discussion section, where we walk through the plot points and questions we found most interesting in this section of chapter Starting off.

[Kinsey]

Strong, let's discuss Zaden's mental health, tragic backstory, Talia being an absolute bitch. I just want to talk about how heartbreaking these chapters were for Zayden and for me. It was one of my least favorite parts of the book. And I was constantly saying by Shayla and just like wanting to cry.

[Hannah]

We know, Good scene.

[Kinsey]

Like I just wanted to cry for him because to be completely abandoned by his mom, then replaced. And then to wishing that he could lose his soul to stop feeling the pain that he was feeling. It was just too much. And I was so sad when he was like, I want this taken away. I don't even care anymore. I just don't want to feel. Ugh. That broke me because we got Gale's.

[Hannah]

Reaction to it too. Oh my God.

[Kinsey]

And he's so angry because we're like seeing him slip right before our eyes, but he just can't drain cause there's no magic. And to me, this was the moment where he officially gave up.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I mean, he was already unstable. And then you add on this. And not just that she left. We knew that he knew that. But Violet didn't know that she left, literally, after giving him a piece of chocolate cake on his bun bed. Are you fucking kidding? Rebecca's just, like, twisting. How can I twist the knife even harder?

[Kinsey]

And, like, that's why he loves chocolate cake so much. But, yeah, I was just really sad for him because I just felt like he gave up. And that's when Violet realized it, too, that he also was choosing to give up because instead of actually wanting a cure, he was wanting to lose those emotions instead. And he was just at a very, extremely low point. And as we mentioned, Sigail was mad at him. He also found the serum that Bodhi had given Violet. So he's like, well, shit, I guess, like, you guys have a plan B? So, I don't know. I just. I was sad for him.

[Carly]

Yeah. I think it's why Sagayle was so mad, because I think she realized, too, that he really needed her in that moment and she couldn't communicate with him. And I think that's one of the reasons why she was so frustrated in that moment, because as soon as they get the ability to communicate again, she reads him the riot act, which is very sigale. But I think in that moment, she was frustrated because she knew how much he needed her.

[Hannah]

I love that. It's so much more positive than kind of how I read it. I read it as, like. Well, I guess it makes sense that through their bond, she'd be able to reprimand him for talking that way. But at that point, you know, up until this, he's not wanted to give in. He's seemingly 1000% fought every part of the process. And all of a sudden, he's again in a vulnerable state. And now he's talking as if, like, there's a chance he's gonna let everything go to not have to feel this. And, like, I just imagine being her for whatever backstory that we all theorize, she has some sort of background with venom that have turned in some way. That's like, makes this even worse for her to be overhearing him saying, like, now there's a chance and all that trust and love that we see, like, why they're even arguing to be. I just. Her baring her teeth at him when he started talking like that and then roaring and flying off was so, like.

[Kinsey]

That'S the point to come and he had to beg her, like, just go eat something. Like, she's, like, not even eating or taking care of herself.

[Carly]

Like, well.

[Hannah]

And if we think about her being like, the mom, we've always said the mom that, like, he didn't get to have. And she. Carly, that's the perfect way to point out that, like, she can't be that for him right now. Which I was under. I was wondering why he was telling her to go eat, and now she literally doesn't want to leave him. But then she did.

[Kinsey]

She's the mom that he deserves. Unfortunately, he got Talia instead.

[Hannah]

Well, and I also wanted to touch on how he asks Violet, like, what he should do about dinner. And in so many words, paraphrasing, she's like, I'm not the person to ask right now. Which is a very healthy boundary and way to communicate where she's like. And self awareness, because she's like, I am gonna be biased here. Like, I just lost my mom. I would give anything for that 10 minutes with her. And I wanted to bring this up because I don't know that you guys have heard this song before, but it's called Silver spoons by Erin LeCount. It's super popular on TikTok right now, but I was listening to it earlier, and I was like, oh, my gosh. This is the perfect song to symbolize, like, this back and forth between, like, what Zayden is feeling and probably experiencing when he thinks of Violet's family and how she was raised. And I'm going to read you guys a portion of the lyrics. If you've seen the Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter edits to this, you will know why. This is just. Oh, my gosh.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

You were kind, I was cruel in another life maybe I was you and I grew up into something good Somebody who could swallow love I bet you grew up eating at the table Fed love from silver spoons Reasons to be grateful you ask about kids I don't know if I'm able. I bet you grew up being asked how your day was I bet you grew up grazing your knees but the fall wasn't fatal like it was for me we're the product of love that we do not receive I'll corrupt every branch of this family tree.

[Carly]

Oh, that's rough.

[Hannah]

The whole song is absolutely incredible. I sob. It's kind of triggering. So if you have family issues, careful, tread lightly. It also acknowledges I bet you grew up grazing your knees you grew up with your own issues. But, like, the fall wasn't fatal like it was for me. Is screaming Zaden. And he even has empathy for her in her mom's situation. And it's just like, I don't know. I had To. I just had to bring that up.

[Kinsey]

That lyric was the one that stood out to me the most too. The fall being fatal. It definitely fits the situation.

[Hannah]

I didn't want to read all the lyrics, but you got to listen to the whole song too.

[Kinsey]

It just makes me feel so sad for him how he was just not neglected, but he was just abandoned in his childhood and can't even enjoy chocolate cake now. Man, this is horrible.

[Carly]

Yeah. I'm going to be interested to see how he feels about it in the next couple books. If it ever gets brought up again or if that's going to be cake is dead. Ruin him now.

[Kinsey]

Probably. Good thing Arisha still has like the sticky honey buns or whatever too.

[Carly]

That's true.

[Kinsey]

He can have that instead. It's just sad.

[Carly]

It is really sad.

[Hannah]

I mean, it's also hard because. Not that I empathized with Talia, but we find out more about her and it's not justified, but we find out her reasoning. And Rebecca is really good and she says herself like she always for evil characters or characters that do bad things, there's always reasons behind it and she likes to explore that. And I think it was really interesting finding out how Talia viewed love.

[Carly]

Yeah, she's a really interesting character. I think that for me, I don't empathize with her so much as I understand her a little bit better.

[Hannah]

Big difference.

[Carly]

Yeah. She makes a couple of mentions how she is shocked about the decisions Zaden has made out of his love for Violet and how Fen would have not done the same for her. And I was like, oof, that line's doing some heavy lifting and understanding her. I just think it gives a lot of insight into like her self perceived notion in not having agency over her choices and decisions and like her inability to attach to Zayden the way we would expect a mom to. I just think that there's like she doesn't understand love. So she doesn't understand why he's so upset.

[Hannah]

To some extent it seems like she can experience it, but she doesn't understand it in the way that people who value it over other things do. Like when somebody asked her for explanation why she left him and she was like, he was the heir.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Which was also part of the contract. But there are. There's an honor to whatever that looked like for her that she valued over her love and care for his safety. That is in contrast to how we'd often understand and experience love and how clearly Zaden and Violet do.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, like she left him a blanket that's all she did for him.

[Hannah]

And also remembering this entire time that she knew he was going to be there. Like, that flips. There's something so performative. And now you're all going to hear me say that through a lot of the conversations about Hadas. But there's something so performative to find out that, like, the last episode, we talked about how he gets to meet her and see her. Excuse me. For the first time. And she acts all shocked and Violet comments in here. Later in these chapters when she realizes that they knew that she'd been stocking up on the chocolate. Like, there were signs that Talia knew. Maybe not the extent of all of this, but that's so inauthentic. But somehow she knew to perform that way, to perform this level of love. But then it's like, teasing out, like, where did she actually feel it? And that's even more heartbreaking because, you know, he's already questioning that.

[Carly]

Oh, yeah. I think for me, this is, like, I read this as Talia being told by Faris to act surprised. Don't let them know you knew they were coming. And she didn't, for whatever reason, like, question it or need to understand why more than whatever reason she was given. And she just went along with it. And, like, which is kind of her emo, right? Yeah, but that's what I'm saying about her as a character. It's like she just kind of does what she's told for the most part. Like, she was told to marry Fen, and she did. She was told to stay for 10 years, and she did. She. She went home and she's made to marry Ferris. Like, and now she's with him and he's telling her what to do. And, like, when he tells her to be quiet, she stops talking. And I'm like, it's interesting. And it makes me wonder how she was raised that she defers to other.

[Hannah]

People so much and speaks to their culture so much. There was this one line, we pretty much said this, but it just hit me so much that Zaden himself said it, that you left a child to face down a war you knew was coming on a continent you knew was infested with dark wielders. She didn't just abandon him in general. Also, we find out that she knew that they were going to come after Fence. So, like, she consciously made the decision to leave him.

[Carly]

Yeah, she knew there was a good chance he was going to be thrown to the wolves, and she walked away.

[Kinsey]

And what really gets me is she seems to show Love and affection for his half brothers. So we know that she's capable of showing love for her children. She just chooses not to feel that way for Zayden. And I think that's the biggest insult for me. Like, I get really angry in, like, familial situations like this in books where it's like, one person is always, like, left out and the other people are showered with love. Like, I had a big issue with the Archeron sisters at first in, like, Acotar series because of this reason, But I'm like, I just hated that. I hated seeing his two half brothers and how she was all worried about their safety.

[Hannah]

The moment on page, the two boys ran out, it was over. I was like, no fucking way. Like, immediately fuming.

[Carly]

Yeah. But, like, I wonder if this is also a part of her arrangement with Faris. And it's like, I'm sure she acted sweetly and kindly and lovingly towards Zaden up until the day she left. And so it has to be very confusing for him because, like, he doesn't understand why she left. She's gone. And then he goes there and he sees her doing the same thing he probably did with her to two other children. And it's like, if she was told in a couple years, okay, like, pack up and leave and go to this other island and leave your kids behind, would she?

[Hannah]

Well, I think it's also. There's got to be some sort of difference here where she probably feels like, comfort and safety in that knowing. Like, she always told Zaden nighttime stories about the peaceful island with the purple eyes. Right. So we know she knew she was leaving for that 10 years when she was raising Zaden. So probably always an arm's length. But with these boys, she's on this island, and she's like, she's not destined to go anywhere else at least, or planned to go anywhere else. And so she might just be, like, actually letting herself fully. But then it comes back to the culture and their view on love in general.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Because I don't think that their culture is meant to make women submissive, because one of the members of the Triumvirate is a woman.

[Hannah]

Possibly even two.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. I know for a fact at least one of them is. But I could be wrong about there being two of them. But they're also elected officials, so her children aren't heirs. So it's not like she's raising his half siblings to go on and become the next members of the Triumvirate. We don't know how often they have elections or Anything. But her position of power isn't going to last forever. So I don't know. It's just odd to me that she's behaving this way when it might not be representative of the entire culture.

[Carly]

I wonder if it just has to do with rank. Like her husband's on the Triumvirate and so she very much just defers to him because of that. Maybe they're all everyone is expected to. I don't know though. It's just hard for me to understand how a parent leaves a child behind. Like in that way. It's just hard to understand.

[Hannah]

Yeah, it's. I can't empathize with it, but I could see her never seeing him as her own because she entered into this alliance, like agreement, having known that she was to give an heir that she could leave when that heir was 10. So maybe she just. That's gotta be some mental gymnastics. But separated herself, you know, detached. I do want to talk about Hadatas's view on love and contrast it to that of Devarelli's. When we were covering that chapter 24, I noticed that there was some overlap when Nerl, the bookshop keeper, says quote, it's why we're considered the most neutral of the Isles. Perfect for trade. What you call gods, we call science. What you call fate, we call coincidence. What you call the divine intervention of love, we call alchemy. Two substances combined to make something entirely new. Not unlike what's between the two of you. That's what she says to Xaden and Violet. And I pulled that quote then to discuss how similar it was now to Hedatus in its value over logic of her emotions. But I actually, after rereading this, see a big difference in the two. And that Devarelli at least considered love as valid, just as something less mystical, more scientific. Whereas the way that Talia and the Triumvirate discussed love was as though they could not fathom ever valuing the emotion of love over anything.

[Carly]

Yeah, it's more like a nuisance to overcome.

[Hannah]

Right? Which is, as Zaden himself points out, the opposite of wise, considering humans are often ruled by and attached to emotions. So it's just like without love, the choices that they make lack meaning. And I also see this in how both claim the word peace, Deverelli and Hedotus, just as the Irids do, but selfishly, in a way that lacks the true meaning behind the word peace. Most of that was for my personal analysis, but I had to get it out. But I just thought that was so interesting.

[Carly]

No, I do think it is interesting when you look at the way, like, she has written this to set up how love is valued as you go across these aisles and how it is looked at and viewed. And Hadatas is just so cold. And they think that's because it's logical, but it's like, what is the point of anything without love?

[Hannah]

Well, that's what I mean by what is the point of peace for you if it can't be elsewhere? I'm also, like, an overly empathetic person, so maybe I'm not the first person to ask about that.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, maybe they're worried that thinking with their emotions in their heart will cloud their logic and so that's why they don't really try to love people.

[Hannah]

Yeah, no, 100%. That's what I mean by they just can't fathom valuing it over logic or what they lean into so much. I just think a healthy balance is always good.

[Carly]

Right.

[Hannah]

And they just take it to the extreme, which we see in, like, the marriage proposal and how they just can't seem to grasp these decisions. I'll put a pin in some of that, though. So we've got more stuff to talk about.

[Kinsey]

All right. So there's something really suspicious happening at the island of hadatas in chapter 32.

[Hannah]

Just one. Just one thing.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, no, a lot of things. In chapter 34, Violet says, quote, hadatas hasn't entered a war or aligned itself with any kingdom at war in its recorded history. They aren't going to help us. So, as you have mentioned, Hannah, they claim to be a land of wisdom and peace. They've never entered a war, and yet they've razed their entire island to the ground to rebuild it. Like, to me, that does not scream peace. And if they've never been at war, then why was hadadas completely raised 150 years ago? Like, what part of their history are they trying to hide? A peaceful island doesn't just completely demolish their own infrastructure and cut themselves off from other isles.

[Carly]

It's super weird that they do this. And the way that they present it is just so, like, well, this was the most logical thing to do.

[Hannah]

They wanted to erase, in some part, sentiment. Like, they wanted everything just clean. Like, almost like hospitalized, Sterilized. Yeah. Clinical and.

[Carly]

Yes, exactly.

[Hannah]

A sword.

[Carly]

It's like, very clinical. And the way that they are justifying it to them, they make it sound so reasonable, but it's not. And I feel like this is like a thing where I get Frustrated when people think something is very logical. And I'm like, no, you're reasoning it away. It's not logical. It's reasoning. And those are different things, like logic. Like, mathematicians are trained in logic, and they have to provide proof of every step of something, of why it works. And that's what they think they're doing, but they're not. They're just reasoning it away because it fits in their already constructed idea of what wisdom is. And it's just like an echo chamber of what they think is the right way to do things. But it's very weird to me that if there has not been some major event that they are trying to cover up, that they would just do this in the name of efficiency. It's just odd. And I think you're right, Kinsey. Something had to have happened 150 years ago.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Well, that's why last episode we talked about how it seems like that points to, if our theory is correct, that the isles have been drained, that this would be the most recent. Because combined with the whole raising 150 years ago, they're also the palest island. But then what really happened there? And could it have been vented? 150? Like, that's so close. So much closer than I was initially thinking for these islands. So, yeah.

[Kinsey]

And I also wonder too, like, okay, was it like a civil war and they just want to keep up this fate, like this pretense of we're really peaceful, but then they actually destroyed themselves. I just don't get it.

[Hannah]

We are also taking them at face value. They could very well have erased their history and are lying about never having been in war. It's the hard thing about this book.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Can't trust anyone.

[Carly]

That would be a good thing to cover up because, like, it goes against their value. So they don't want anyone to know that they did something that they're like, no, we're wisdom and peace. We are neutral. And then they did this thing. So it would fit a line with, like, their very extreme values to, like, cover the stuff.

[Hannah]

Also calling it never being at war. But they're just. The word war is not how they're categorizing. Whatever.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Conflict they're talking about. Just like with the Irids.

[Carly]

I know I like, theorized previously that I'm like, what if this island used to be loyal and they raised it because they hate love and that's what's happening here. Or this isn't really wisdom. Maybe it's the God of chaos. Because everything that happens Here feels so chaotic. But I with you, Kinsey, Something weird happened 150 years ago and this is not the whole story. And I want more.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. And then I think it goes back into why don't they have any ports, why don't they ally with other nations at war? And why are they aquaphobic? Like, it just seems really weird to me that they're secluding themselves yet somehow still keep up with all the recent information that comes to the isle. But they're just like, we're not going to involve ourselves with anybody.

[Hannah]

That's such a good point. Because how would they be sending letters or shipping in chocolate?

[Carly]

Well, they get coming in, they just don't have a port. It makes big boats send little boats like dinghies essentially all the way to shore. And Ferris explains it a way that like they don't go out over the water, so they make other people come all the way to the island for them. It's odd to me. Like, I think it's a very suspicious explanation unless they know that there's something in the water and they don't go over it and they're not telling people. But Kenzie, going back to your original point, like, I wonder, did they destroy their ports 150 years ago because they were trying to keep information from going out originally and like they just never rebuilt them.

[Kinsey]

But I'm also like, if they don't have ports and they don't have ships or a navy, why would they even bother trying to become their allies in the first place? Because they don't have dragons, they can't fly. Their only option to go to the continent to provide any sort of assistance would be to sail there. And they can't because they don't have it. It just seems like a total waste of time to me.

[Carly]

My guess was like, access for information. Hopefully they're helping us the island of Wisdom. That they would have extensive libraries and recorded history and that they could maybe get more information on how to fix this problem.

[Kinsey]

And then they have no information.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I also want to talk about this other quote where we get some insight into how the people of Hadatas view wisdom. Tell me, if you truly seek knowledge, why do you not worship Hedean? Why would you not take up residence here like others who seek wisdom instead of allyship? Our libraries are unparalleled, our colleges, centers for learning and culture, not death. And Violet responds with, I was taught that wisdom is never to be prayed for, but earned. And as much as I would revel in your Library. I'm not interested unless it contains information on the Venin. I'm not going to hide on an isle while the people I love are condemned to death by Draining. So I thought that this was also really weird because to me it almost made it seem like he was encouraging her to stay and do the research instead of them just like giving her the information. And I was wondering why they would want Violet to join them and stay on their aisle instead of them just like providing help. Because they're like, we don't participate in death. We just focus on learning and culture. And it made me think like, do they need something from her? Cause he only proposed this after they found out that Violet was bonded to the seventh breed of dragon.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I didn't read it as them asking about Violet literally like her or wanting her specifically for some reason to join them. Like we see with Jacarys or King Cortland, which I think is where your thought process was probably going there. But I read this more as them being confused by her contrasting values to their own. Like what we've been saying this whole time. Like them saying, it's great here. Why would anyone not want this? Especially someone like you who seeks knowledge. Why would anyone choose to stay somewhere with a war waging on when you have the option to come here and live in peace and access our unparalleled knowledge that we're gonna keep bragging about. So I just see it as they were asking out of confusion and judgment also. And that they're viewing it as a lack of wisdom on her part to not choose the option to escape from herself. Because they're still in that test. Right. So this is right before we get that final vote or something like that. Or right around that time. So it's still part of the test. That's how I interpreted it though.

[Kinsey]

Makes sense that way too. That's part of the test. It just seemed like really enticing to me. Not as straightforward as like tokarys being like I'll make a deal with you. But it is like why not just stay?

[Carly]

So it feels a little like Fae esque. Like she's gonna make some sort of deal she doesn't know she's making and get trapped there forever. I. I don't know.

[Kinsey]

Don't eat the food.

[Hannah]

Yeah, well she learns that real quick.

[Kinsey]

Yep.

[Carly]

I just think it's interesting that they're creating this like value judgment on like lack of wisdom. But I mean who gets to decide what wisdom is? Who is measuring this and deciding what is wisdom and what is good advice or good knowledge? And what is bad advice or bad wisdom in this case? It's interesting because I think they just put such a heavy value judgment on everything. But who gets to decide? And why are they qualified to decide?

[Hannah]

Exactly. And the irony in that there were so many decisions that they were making during this dinner, even presenting as if they're being wise. But they're so unwise. It lacks so much nuance and context when they try and simplify things down. Even just like the marriage proposal, they do not know Zaden like we know. Like they don't have that context to know how much in especially Venom included. His emotions are like unstable right now. But just like in general, they just. It was never going to turn out good for anyone. It was unwise for him and Kat to ever be together. But they're not considering that until they're told that Violet is also a huge alliance opportunity. And little do they know goes on to actually lead Tyrandor for him. So you're exactly right. And I just think it's so ironic that they're worshipping the God of wisdom, which we're going to come back to when we get to the epigraph section, because it's coming from their own God. Not exactly how they're supposed to be doing this. So I know that's vague, but I don't want to like, overlap too too much when we get there. But we do have to talk about this quote and the fact that it was Mira who said it. And it ties right into exactly like how wisdom is subjective. Quote. The interview ended before it began. You don't care that Violet is the smartest person in this room? Or that Zaden tore apart Bisgaeth to save her, then returned to fight for Nevarra because it was the right thing to do? Or that Cat lives in the most hostile environment possible to help her kingdom. You don't care that Auric had to step into the light he hates so that we'd have a royal representative? Or that Garak has stood by Zaden's side no matter the cost. Little does she know we proved our lack of wisdom by coming here in the first place. You are never going to share your knowledge or ally yourself with us. End quote. Snaps for Meera here. Yes, she does this book. She does not get it much. For me.

[Kinsey]

This is one of those moments.

[Carly]

These chapters actually, for me. I really liked Mira a lot. But this quote in particular, she's so shrewd in this moment. Like she really sees everything that's going on. And I also just appreciate how much she sees all of the people in the squad.

[Hannah]

It humanizes her to see her humanize them. Oftentimes she is very inner self. She is a shield. And you think what we've gotten from her recently is quite literally her being wrapped up in her own stuff and communicating to Violet in ways that would say that she's not grasping why her dad made the decisions he did. But then she says right here, like, she's the smartest person in this room. Like, you would be wise to be listening to her. And it's just so beautiful to see. It's also like Mira saying it. I'm so glad Rebecca did that instead of. Because she could have had a lot of other people say something. She even had Aura go in earlier, which we'll talk about.

[Kinsey]

Speaking of Auric, though.

[Hannah]

He was yummy. This chapter, I don't know what to tell y'all. I think I text you and I was like, I am absolutely in love with Auric.

[Kinsey]

Yummier than that chocolate cake, that's for sure.

[Carly]

I love this section with Auric, and I love your messages of he can get it.

[Hannah]

This is why I need more. Why Chus? Because Zaden Aric Garruk. Like, why do I have to choose Zadengirly? But Arryk's a close second these days.

[Carly]

Guys, I find it very interesting. Everything, like, he is just dropping knowledge at this table. He knows all of this stuff, and Violet assumes he must have just learned about it at some point, but it is weird that he just knows it all.

[Kinsey]

All those casual lore drops. It's like, I get that he is a prince and he had one of the best educations that you can obtain in Navarre, but it's still like, why does he withhold all of important information until the literal last moment?

[Hannah]

I feel like it's connected to the fact that he knows how much every action causes a butterfly effect. And so I think he is being so strategic on when who knows what? I would if I found out I was a Precog and saw all these changes happening with one decision switch. Like, also, it's really easy for Rebecca to be like, oh, here he hid all this and now I conveniently need to use this information. Somebody's got to give us this information somehow, some way. But aside of that, I think it kind of makes sense, considering that he's now Precog. He does clarify for us that he didn't let him know about the language thing because it was never needed before because he can't read it. He can only speak it.

[Kinsey]

Well, even just the name of the continent, like, that has nothing to do with being a Precog. Unless he foresaw this conversation and he found out what the name of the continent was by their discussion at the dinner table. But, yeah, it just. He's holding back a lot.

[Hannah]

He's the one that was, like, confirming, essentially, that he knew and why. And I wonder if it goes back to, like, how much Nevar is trying to shelter people, like, even sheltering them from the Isles. Especially if, like, you're a Nevarian citizen and you're, like, super fucking dedicated to Dune, you know, not literally dedicated, but you're like, oh, yeah, I should just go to the island. But that would open up a can of worms for Navarre government. They don't want them doing that and then finding out information and then connecting, and then you've got a mess. I think they're. It's a shelter tactic. Let's talk about Auric's reaction to Zaden's proposal, or lack thereof. Cat's head is described as snapping in their direction when Zaden says the whole drop papers thing. Mira and Garrick are described as gawking, but Auric is said to continue eating. So that's what I meant by lack thereof. He knew better. And I don't know if this is connected to his Precog, because at this point, he's been away from magic for quite some time. Like, is it that he and Zayan have been actually working together and have gotten closer to the point where he's like, yeah, that's not fucking happening. Or is Zaden's heart just, like, fully on his sleeve? And everybody in that fucking room really knew? It's just so interesting that, like, he didn't even seem shocked. Like, Cat knows better than that.

[Kinsey]

You know, at the very beginning of the book, Arryk was the one that was like, oh, she'd make a great duchess. He was the one that said it first.

[Hannah]

You're right. So, like, this had to be. He had to have known, like, long term. They're for sure getting married. And so if he's saying, draw up the papers, this is just, like, one of those steps. And he's like, I accept. I accept.

[Kinsey]

Arryk's like, stop being so dramatic, Zaden. Like, we get it.

[Hannah]

I love dramatic.

[Kinsey]

Seated.

[Hannah]

It's my favorite.

[Carly]

Aurik just casually eating his meal through this whole ordeal was maybe one of my favorite parts of these chapters, is just, Violet is sick to her stomach. She can't eat. And she keeps looking over Arik and she's like. And he is just cutting into his chicken. This isn't happening.

[Hannah]

And the whole time, almost as if he knew not to worry.

[Carly]

Well, he knew not to worry, but that when Garrick gets poisoned, he is shocked, terrified, something. And I'm like. I think it's because when he originally saw this dinner, he didn't see Garak there. Because when he originally saw what everything happened at the Isles before they left, he saw Garak dying back in Unbriel, which is why he made that change. Garak wasn't there because of all the changes he made. And now Garak's all of a sudden at the dinner, and Garak just cuts into the cake immediately.

[Hannah]

So that's how I read it the first time, but then I reading it back, she didn't describe him as shocked specifically. She just, like, described him as panicked. And I don't know if that changes anything, that he was more scared or panicked. I'm wondering if either he knew what happened with Garrick, like, he was gonna get poisoned, and he knew that he had to also act shocked to, like, get everybody else panicking. Like, we. You gotta be in this. Because if he's just, like, leisurely standing by, Violet's not gonna be thinking as fast as she is in solving this problem. Right. So, like, I think it had to be part of it. But also I'm wondering if he knew that Garak being poisoned and, of course, staying alive was going to be needed in the chain of events to then get this allyship and then move them out of this aisle onto the next. Because technically, the Triumvirate was not planning on letting them go. Yeah, definitely not with an allyship.

[Carly]

I just think if he saw it all happening, though, he would have known what he was poisoned with, what the cure was, that it was figs that she would need.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Like, he would have realized it all. And his. I don't know, his reaction to me, I was like, I bet you, like, if we're right about Garak having supposed to have died in Unbriel, then he shouldn't have been at this dinner. So for me, I just. That's the way I read this. I was like, oh, I bet you he didn't even know Garrick was going to be here.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And so that this piece changed, and now this thing has happened.

[Hannah]

I'll say I like it because I want to be right about that. I'm really proud about it. I want to be right about that. But it Also calls into question, like, how far? I know we just said the. The Duchess and them getting married thing. It's like, how far in advance can he actually see? Because then, he's not got magic now. But we need to keep that in mind for Zannah.

[Kinsey]

Zelnya, I think.

[Hannah]

Zelnya. There we go. I got there. Because now he does. So we should keep an eye out on Arryk and his movements.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Yeah, I definitely like the idea that Garak was supposed to die in Umbriel, and that's why he didn't see his future in Hidanus, and that's why he was surprised. But it also makes me wonder, is Malik gonna keep going for his soul? Kind of like how he did with Liam? Because, like, she cheated Liam's death and saved him, and then eventually, nobody died.

[Carly]

He was clean.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

So we'll. We'll see. But we do know that Garak is missing by the end of the book.

[Hannah]

Yeah, this might be a stretch, but do we think Malik took Quinn because of the connection to Imogen?

[Kinsey]

I'm not sure. Then it would be targeting Imogen, like, one of her loved ones. And I don't think that Malik would be targeting Imogen. I think she'd be targeting Zaden or Garak specifically, and their loved ones.

[Hannah]

Hard to take the soul of someone who's already exchanged it, eh?

[Carly]

Rebecca Yarrow said that there was supposed to be someone that died in this book that didn't, and that she's probably gonna. I think she said it's probably gonna happen in book four, so.

[Hannah]

Oh, no.

[Carly]

Maybe that's the balance to all of this.

[Kinsey]

It could also be Riddick or Meera.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I'm pretty certain that she has given us clues saying that Riddick will be in the next two more books.

[Kinsey]

So I hope it's Emera. I hope that she goes at this point.

[Hannah]

I do, too. But I think that's. Rebecca's gonna be like, oh, they don't care about her enough.

[Kinsey]

That's fine.

[Hannah]

But you're right, because Meera did get her throat.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

So, like, she could have rewritten it to make her survive.

[Kinsey]

We didn't care about Quinn, and she still made us cry about that. So I think she'll find a way to make us care about Meera. And we actually know Meera a lot more than we ever knew about Quinn. But I do see her being the one to die, because Brennan was technically already dead. Like, he was resurrected. But Meera survived having her throat slit. Riddick was shot in Iron Flame. Then he was nearly stabbed, maybe in Onyx Storm. So I just feel like she could have taken one of them back. Like, their death. And Garak was poisoned. So, like, those are the three who, like, nearly died in this book.

[Carly]

That.

[Hannah]

Taryn. Teryn.

[Carly]

Okay, we can't go there.

[Hannah]

All right, we're not gonna go there. We got our next topic.

[Carly]

Not my baby.

[Kinsey]

Taryn.

[Carly]

Yeah. So we find a little bit more info about Asher and his time studying these Isles, we get the following quote between Ferris and Violet. You didn't outsmart me. None of this happened. I didn't outsmart you alone. My father helped. The eyes. I should have recognized your eyes. You're Asher Daxton's girl. So are we thinking Asher was in the aisles before he changed his last name?

[Hannah]

Oh, because she says Daxton.

[Kinsey]

Yep, I do. But I think it's especially odd because the epigraph for this clump of chapters where he's talking about Hidatus, he signs it off as Captain Asher Sorrengel. So you think. And as someone who has had to write research themself, you'd think that you'd be collecting the research at the same time that you're writing about it. So I think it could be a couple of things. He could either have been smart enough to just have hidden his true identity, and he didn't want to give them his full current last name of Sorengel, so he just, like, lied to them. Or Asher was actually there before becoming Captain Asher Sorngale. He wrote about his visits later, and if he went before he was married, they, of course, obviously originally knew him as Asher Daxton. So if he went back for multiple visits, they would have just, out of habit, kept calling him Asher Daxton. But Violet keeps saying she doesn't know when her dad had the time to travel to the Isles. And this makes me think, what if Asher went to the Isles as a kid or a teenager before ever even joining the Scribe Quadrant? It would make sense how he has all of this information about the Isles without not actually writing any of the research until later. And we know that Violet's grandmother lives in Lucerys, but we know nothing of their grandfather, so it just makes me wonder if the grandfather or if Asher are somehow from the Isles.

[Hannah]

I like that theory the most. I was gonna say maybe it could be, like, a safety thing, like, let them know the old name, not the new. Checked family, whatever. But I think that Rebecca is trying to give us time markers with the names, so I think that that would muddle it just a Little bit, though. She could use that in case she ever, like, accidentally used the wrong name and wanted to go back on it later. She could justify it some way. I really like that theory. He would have been familiar enough to recognize somebody's eyes, which I'm going to put a pin in that for just a second because what you said about the grandmother, I want to pull this quote where she says, violet says, I still can't figure out when he had time to study the aisles, but maybe my grandmother knows if I ever get the courage to speak with her like Mira did, which feels like intentional foreshadowing there to connect those two things, points and thoughts that she does know or has some type of involvement. So I really like that something fishy.

[Kinsey]

Is going on with Asher.

[Hannah]

Something fishy. Which brings us to the eyes. The fact that she has these unique hazel blue green eyes is constantly referenced. And in this set of chapters, she references it as being similar to her dad's. And then we get this, which was clearly foreshadowing for this. But I feel like there's something more to them having such unique eyes together. And I don't know if that means that there's some connection to the aisles or some herb or something going on, but I feel like there's something deeper to it.

[Carly]

I do think there's something interesting and unique about the eyes that we're gonna find out later. Like, maybe she will recognize a relative she didn't know she had at some point because they have the same eyes or something like that. Because her eyes are very, like, always described as being very unique and distinctive. And they're a very specific color of.

[Hannah]

Hazel in more than just this kind of payoff. This is not a significant enough payoff for all the references that we've gotten. Just for Ferris to have one line where he's like, oh, I should have known better. That just doesn't do it for me.

[Kinsey]

I wish we got more answers. It's just the subtle name drop and the eyes together. It's such a distraction.

[Carly]

Yeah. Well, and the fact that his research has a different last name on it is just so odd and, like, it seems very purposeful that he is calling him out as Daxton. And the research has Sorengale on it.

[Hannah]

Like, I've got something I want to bring up in the epigraph section.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

And I want to see what you guys think.

[Carly]

All right, I'm ready for it.

[Kinsey]

I have some notes there, too. I'm holding it in.

[Hannah]

Let's go.

[Kinsey]

All right, time to head on over to the healers quadrant to take a temperature check on our characters, our favorite moments and standout quotes. Who was hot for you this week, Hannah?

[Hannah]

Auric, Arric, Arrek, and then Zaden. Zaden is second this week, which I think says a lot for my growing feelings for Auric. What about you?

[Kinsey]

I had a lot and I gave reasons for each. So Riddick, our lord and savior of this book, Auric, the prince of clapbacks, Violet for outsmarting the Triumvirate and Zaden for standing up against his bitch of a mother and for sort of kind of proposing to Violet.

[Hannah]

Yeah, we'll get to that.

[Carly]

I love it because I went to go put in mine and Kinsey had probably put Violet for outsmarting the Triumvirate for me.

[Kinsey]

I said, probably going to be Violet.

[Carly]

Yeah, she put that in for me and I was like, fuck, yes, it is. That was the only response I put to it. It was so good.

[Kinsey]

It was so good.

[Carly]

But I also loved Dane in this scene. He was so quietly helpful. And there's this part where she's like, I need you to go get water. And he just jumps up and walks across and over the table he doesn't like. It's very specifically written and if it is not exactly like that in the TV show, I will be so upset. I loved Dane in this scene and special shout out to Mira for actually being good for one.

[Hannah]

Probably the only time she makes a list for us in this book, so got to give it to her. Yep.

[Kinsey]

And who is not hot? It looks like we all have the same person.

[Hannah]

Three, two. Oh, you got. Sorry.

[Carly]

You're doing a countdown.

[Kinsey]

You're good. Yeah. Talia. Fuck her. I put fuck her and her new family. Not enough swear words in the English language to correctly say how I feel about her. I did type that at like one in the morning.

[Hannah]

Yeah, sounds about right. It sounds about you.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, yeah. Favorite moments.

[Hannah]

Oh, you guys already know. Mine was the. Not even. Just the, like the switcheroo with this whole proposal. Oh, my God, it's so fucking good. I'm so good. It'll have its moment in a second with the quotes. But what I really wanted to mention was Riddick after Violet thinks he was gonna die. Like, moments later, they're like, oh, I love you. That was so cute. But then he asks for a patch for Quest Squad, which I will point out Rebecca did tell us in Denver that we will be getting a patch next book for Quest Squad. So it just made me cackle. It was good.

[Kinsey]

I can't wait. I hope people start making Quest Squad patches so I can add it to my cosplay. It's gonna be amazing.

[Hannah]

Pretty sure they exist.

[Kinsey]

No, I'm pretty sure, too. I just have to wait for an officially licensed one, and I'll get it.

[Hannah]

What about your favorite moments?

[Kinsey]

I loved Zaden tricking the Triumvirate on who he was going to marry. And then just, like, Gar eating the cake. Because I'm like, of course. Everybody figured it out. And except for Garrick. He's just like, yum, yum, yum. Like, he's already, like, almost done with the cake. Like, that was funny.

[Hannah]

Devouring it.

[Kinsey]

Riddick fighting the cook. The same thing with the patch. And just Violet outsmarting everyone. Because there were a lot of moments in this book where I was like, she didn't ask enough questions. She wasn't acting smart. But this was one of those moments where I was like, she was so clever. And it felt like Violet in the other books. And I just loved her in this section.

[Hannah]

I also love that we didn't get to experience part of her thought process, so that it was a plot twist for us. I enjoy when that happens.

[Kinsey]

It was good.

[Carly]

Yeah. I just loved Violet poisoning everybody, even her own squad, and giving them the antidote. Like, everything about her poisoning everybody at that table was perfect. I loved it.

[Kinsey]

She's like, fuck around and find out.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Which leads us to your favorite quote, Carly.

[Carly]

This is the part where I tell you I've already killed you.

[Hannah]

Snaps. Snaps for Violet. That's so good, Kenzie.

[Kinsey]

Okay, so.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. You have a list. So do you. All of mine are the same girl.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. No. We and all of our quotes interlapped this week.

[Hannah]

They do.

[Kinsey]

But, of course, my favorite quotes have to match up to my favorite moments. So from Riddick, I have Asshole. I have four uniforms, but only one fucking flight jacket. And I punch, hate punch. Sewing.

[Hannah]

I love that.

[Kinsey]

I don't know why it was so good. And then. And I want a patch for this shit, Violet. A Quest Squad patch. Understand, Then from Auric. Because I gotta include this one.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. This one gets me.

[Kinsey]

Honestly, I find you lacking. And I'm not sure I want you as an ally. You have no army, and you're stingy with the very thing that should be free to all knowledge.

[Hannah]

Now pair it with the next one.

[Kinsey]

Nobility doesn't play into rank, at least not for me. And Darna chose Violet. And though there are four superiorly ranked officers with us, it's Violet's. Mission. She's in command. And with the exception of her rather questionable taste in men, I've trusted Violet's wisdom since childhood.

[Hannah]

Aric can get it.

[Kinsey]

Yes, he can.

[Hannah]

So good.

[Kinsey]

We love Auric in this song.

[Hannah]

So both of those made my list too. And then, of course, all of my Zayden ones made Kinsey's, and I'm sure had some overlap with you. Carly. Carly always comes in after we put ours in, and she's like, I just want one quote guy.

[Carly]

Yep. That's why I get to go first.

[Hannah]

Yep.

[Kinsey]

And we have an essay every time.

[Hannah]

I intentionally wore my friendship bracelets with these quotes to prove how much they mean to me.

[Kinsey]

Who made them?

[Hannah]

You made one of them, I think, and I love you for it. Thank you.

[Kinsey]

You're welcome.

[Hannah]

So, you guys, you have to pick one out of these for what you thought was gonna be my favorite this week.

[Carly]

Oh, I considered all the same quote, but. Okay.

[Hannah]

Okay. If you had to pick one of them, which would it be?

[Carly]

All right, we'll read them first, and then I'll decide.

[Hannah]

Yeah, Draw the papers. Oh, as one of my bracelets, then lifetime. Anything less is unacceptable. And her full name for the papers is Violet Sorengale. Two Rs.

[Kinsey]

That's one of my favorite quotes there.

[Hannah]

And then my last name is tied to the title, but we could take yours.

[Kinsey]

And then Garrick says you could hyphenate or combine. Ryergale Sorenson.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. I do have an honorable mention. But we clearly know that one of my favorite. A favorite of favorites is going to be if I can even decide, because I read that last one, and now I'm debating. Garak said this is my least favorite aisle when he came back to life.

[Kinsey]

When he didn't die.

[Hannah]

That was so good. So if you had to pick one, which would it be?

[Kinsey]

Well, when we were at Bookabreak, I kept saying, oh, your favorite quote is the Violet Sorrengail with two Rs. And you kept saying, no, it's draw up the papers. So I'm going all in with draw the papers.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I kind of cheated with that one.

[Carly]

Yeah, you do say it a lot.

[Hannah]

It's so good. I mean, you were also. Because it was like, the insinuation with the plot twist of, like, it had me gagged.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

When I thought that he was saying it about Cat. And then the switcheroo, it just makes that line.

[Carly]

Yeah, it's also the way you say it. Every time you deliver that line, you're.

[Kinsey]

Like, drop the papers.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. It's so fucking good. Okay.

[Kinsey]

It is good.

[Hannah]

So that's your final answer, you guys, I'm assuming.

[Carly]

Drop the papers.

[Hannah]

I'll give it to you. Cause, yeah, also, something about the. My last name's tied to the title, but we could take yours is so sentimental and so, like, you can get it right here, right now. You know, like, too bad everybody's dying and there's, like, tests going on, because that one. What a. Yeah, but I also. Lifetime. Anything less is unacceptable. Like, how do you even. I don't know why I even tried to separate these guys. Oh.

[Kinsey]

So what do your bracelets say?

[Hannah]

I've got Soren gale with two Rs, and that was one you made me. And then I made chocolate papers. I think that the reason we couldn't fit. My last name's tied to the. Tied. If we could take yours on a bracelet that was gonna fit on her.

[Kinsey]

Bracelet, you have to, like, put the first letter of each word.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And these, if it hasn't been clear, are my favorite quotes from the book.

[Carly]

Yes. So this was like. Yeah. You loved this scene. It was everything for you. Hold on to that until we get to book four.

[Kinsey]

Yep. It'll keep you going.

[Carly]

Now, let's stop by the scribe quadrant for our epigraph analysis of the most thought provoking epigraphs.

[Hannah]

The chapter 34 epigraph reads, quote. It has been the experience of my lifetime to spend these months with others who value knowledge just as reverently as I do. But though their intelligence and their wisdom inspire me, their artifice terrifies me. Isle of Hedion by Captain Asher Sorengale.

[Kinsey]

Sorengale. Not daxton, with two Rs? Yeah. The definition of artifice is clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others. So their deceit is terrifying him.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

But anyway, as a trained scribe, it makes sense that Asher would be excited to interact with other people who value knowledge and wisdom, especially because he's there to research the Isles. But Asher's terror towards them definitely foreshadowed the clever way the Triumvirate tried to trick Quest Squad with poisoned cake. It makes you wonder why they test people's lives so callously. Also of note, we've mentioned this multiple times now. Violet's dad is married at this point and has taken on the Sorengel last name. He was also promoted to the rank of Captain. So there's this weird gap in his timeline because we know he went to Unbriel fresh out of basgaith as a second second lieutenant, but we know nothing about his time as a first lieutenant, so I think this is intentional by Rebecca. We skip from second lieutenant straight to captain.

[Hannah]

I have the worst ADHD because not you saying fresh out of asgaeth. And I'm like, fresh out the slammer. I know my first call will be, too.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I think your meds have fallen off.

[Hannah]

No, that's just how Taylor Swift has altered my brain chemistry.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I love that.

[Carly]

I feel that. All right. The chapter 35 epigraph reads, quote, the God of wisdom is the trickiest to placate. Hedion seems to only answer those who do not pray to him. Major Rorley's Guide to Appeasing the God, 2nd Edition.

[Hannah]

So the idea that Hedion only answers to those who don't play to him flips the usual expectations of worship and divine favor that you'd think of with God. But most interestingly, it suggests that true wisdom isn't gained by asking for it directly, but by earning it, which aligns more with the scribe's view on knowledge rather than the hedadist's view on wisdom. But what does it say about the island that prays to him, worships him? Does he not bestow wisdom upon them then? Which you would think after reading this chapter. But I also wanted to point out the fact that the triumvirate literally praised him before dinner, saying, quote, we thank Gideon for this meal, for the peace in our land, the wisdom he sees fit to gift, and the satisfaction of thriving relationships. What a like, sterilized way to thank someone for people you care about. Satisfaction of thriving relationships. Resuming, we offer to him private confession of our day's error in sacrifice. May only our minds know hunger. And the hedotics, which is what they're called, and Auric repeat, may only our minds know hunger. Which shows that this is a common cultural practice for them. And notably, the result of this dinner comes from a lack of wisdom on their part. How are they claiming to worship a God that they should know does not like when they write to them? Which makes me further wonder if they are not actually worshiping wisdom, but not necessarily that they realize it. I'm going to hold my tongue on the rest for this next epigraph, too.

[Kinsey]

I think it gives more reason to Carly's theory that it is not Hedion's isle.

[Carly]

Well, and I'll point out, too, that this epigraph says trickiest to placate. And I've been like, this is kind of like a Loki God, which is a trickster God, a God of chaos. So.

[Hannah]

Oh, I love that.

[Carly]

I'm just still on this that, like, I don't think Hedion is necessarily wisdom, and I don't think the people there know it. So I think we're exactly on the same page. Hannah.

[Hannah]

Well, slightly, because I wonder if there still is Hedion, the God of wisdom, and I wonder if there is still a God of chaos and they think they're praying to wisdom.

[Carly]

Well, yeah, I wonder if there's going to be like a seventh God and it's chaos and they don't know it and there is a God of wisdom or what's going on.

[Hannah]

It would be quite chaotic of that God.

[Carly]

Yeah, agreed.

[Kinsey]

That'd be funny. The chapter 36 epigraph reads, quote, the citizenship test for those wishing to reside in Hadatas reminds me of the entrance exam for the Scribe quadrant. But our test is designed to measure how much a potential cadet has learned, and theirs reads as though to prove how much one has not. Isle of Hedian, by Captain Asher Sorengeale.

[Hannah]

This epigraph demonstrates Asher's critical perspective of Hadatus, where he's calling out the Hadus test as intentionally exclusionary, not a measure of knowledge, but a barrier designed to keep people out. It positions Hedatus as a society more invested in proving people don't belong than welcoming those who do, which is interesting to consider how they also don't have a port and are pretty detached. This contrast with the Scribe quadrant is especially telling. Even with its own flaws, the scribes aim to assess what you've learned. There's at least a goal of cultivating knowledge here, which seems to be a lack in Hedatus, where the test seems weaponized to punish a lack thereof. It and it hints that what's being tested and who gets to decide. Back to what you asked us earlier, Carly, about wisdom would be a critical theme in the coming chapters, and also zooming out overarchingly in the series hints to one of the bigger questions, which is who gets to decide the standards of worth? And what does that say about the society that's enforcing those standards?

[Carly]

The Chapter 37 epigraph reads, I wish you and Sawyer were with us, but I'm grateful to have Riddick, even if his sarcasm is wearing on Meera's last nerve. Recovered correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengale to Cadet Rhiannon Matthias.

[Kinsey]

I just like to say that Rebecca is absolutely devious for giving us this epigraph immediately after Riddick is Stabbed. Like, I know. I was panicking, thinking this was it for Riddick. And then here we get this lovely letter from Violet saying how grateful she is to have Riddick. And I'm just like, oh, my God, he's dead.

[Carly]

I'm just wondering, how was she sending letters? And so why couldn't they just send the scenarium letters with updates?

[Kinsey]

Yes. And that made me think, like, well, maybe it was sent while they were in cordon, because they're still, like, on the continent at this point. But I agree, it's odd that they never thought to update the scenarium and.

[Hannah]

Send them letters back when Violet first. Whatever episode that was where we covered the section where Violet literally is having that huddle at Signet Sparring class. And she's like, we're gonna have to go AWOL because there's no way we can, like, make it back here to touch base with the scenarium. And I just was so confused then because I knew about this letter, and I was just like, you don't have to completely not be in contact.

[Kinsey]

Maybe they were worried that if they got a response, then they'd be, like, directly going against their orders, which they already knew that they were. But then it would be in writing.

[Hannah]

A cover up of like, oh, we got stuck.

[Kinsey]

Oh, you didn't get our letters. That's weird. We updated you every step of the way.

[Carly]

I know. Re got letters. That's so odd.

[Hannah]

It's not like they wouldn't read that.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, they totally would. Read it, make it make sense.

[Hannah]

Don't have an answer for you on that one.

[Kinsey]

No.

[Hannah]

Now take flight with us to the hatching grounds for our Easter eggs. And moments of foreshadowing, including moments that stood out during the three read in May, spiral into theories. The thing I thought we were gonna talk about in epigraph is actually in here, guys. So hold tight. I' Starting with chapter 34, Violet tells Zaden that her dad wrote about a mineral called velodrite, saying that it's, quote, so prevalent on the isle that it's in everything they eat and drink. It turns paler eye colors purple. So I looked up the cultural significance of purple eyes because they do exist. It's quite rare, but it does and found that, quote, throughout history, purple eyes have been synonymous with royalty or the divine. Ancient Romans revered the color as a symbol of wealth and luxury, and the Native Americans believed it to be a sign of protection from evil. So do with that what you will. We'll say it's notable that the whole Paler eyes turn purple means that not everyone in a daddess has purple eyes because they weren't all pale. And I do specifically want to point out that one of the Triumvirate members, Roslyn, is distinctly mentioned as having brown eyes. That I don't feel like that was included for no reason.

[Kinsey]

Plus, Aiden's mom has onyx eyes with gold flecks.

[Hannah]

Well, I think she didn't ever say onyx, but she definitely does say that she has gold flecks. Because I called Carly and I was like, does she have purple eyes with gold flex? How is this happening? Why would it not touch the gold flecks?

[Carly]

But.

[Kinsey]

And if it goes to the theory, you'd think that she'd have, like, amber flecked eyes.

[Hannah]

Yep. Carly talked me down from the whole, like, blue eyes turning venom to turning purple theory.

[Carly]

Yeah. Where it fell apart for me was if there are people on the aisle with brown eyes and everybody's Venin, then they would have a purple ring around.

[Kinsey]

Well, they're descendants of Venon.

[Carly]

Yeah. I don't know. It just. It confused me.

[Kinsey]

So unless they don't all need to eat the substance, like, only the people who actually turn do.

[Hannah]

Yeah, but they say it's in, like, all their food everybody eats.

[Kinsey]

That's true. Yeah, that's true.

[Hannah]

It was even on the fig.

[Kinsey]

That is true.

[Hannah]

That's how it got brought up so.

[Kinsey]

Well on the topic of eyes. So there were lots of moments throughout these chapters where Zayden was described as having cold eyes. Cold demeanor. As you know, I am on cold eyes demeanor. Watch for Zayden. And I had seven different quotes in my notes from this week. I think that the increase in number at Hadatas is due to his mother's presence. That was definitely messing with his mental health, as well as just Zaden being cut off from magic for so long and being on an island with the least amount of magic that they've encountered thus far. So Rebecca Yarros did say that she is using an ice skating analogy to show what it's like for Zaden to become Venon. And in this section, we get Zaden making comments that he knows when he doesn't have emotion. He discusses skating on the ice, uses an icy tone, he rebuilds his defenses against Violet, etc. But the most notable moments are when Zaden turns a glare on Riddick. That freezes the blood in my veins. That isn't him.

[Hannah]

Which is interesting because that's not ice descriptions for Zayden. That's actually Violet yes, but she's just, like, so.

[Kinsey]

Like, she feels like the coldness in him, and she's like, that is not him at all. I do not recognize this man. It's crazy. And then we also get another quote. Zaden's gaze drops to mine, and my stomach flips. It's like I'm staring at a stranger dressed up as the man I love. Get off the ice, I whisper. Pull your shit together and come back to me, because I need you, not this you. So it's worth mentioning that he struggled to maintain control during dinner with the Triumvirate and completely lost it once Violet's life was threatened. So our baby boy is slipping through the ice.

[Hannah]

Oh, all right. Well, it keeps. Brings us to our. To our next topic, which I think was foreshadowing that Xaden actually does go on to somehow give Violet what is left of his soul at the end. Quote, the pain, the mess. Give it to me. I'll hold it. I know that sounds ludicrous, but I'll find a way. I will hold everything you don't want to feel, because I love every part of you. And then he says, you already hold my soul, and now you want my pain. Getting greedy. Violence, which. But also heartbreaking.

[Kinsey]

RIP for chapter 35. During dinner, Violet realizes that Hidatas has current information on Navarre. At one point, Talia even mentions that Mari's husband was executed. I found it very interesting that the Isles know secret information that most people in Navarre don't even have. So it makes you wonder who their spy is.

[Hannah]

Now, this next one is the one that I kept referencing in the epigraph section, but it all kind of like looking at it holistically with that information as well. There's this really small detail. When Violet sees the Triumvirate's ceremonial robes, she notes that they look, quote, a little too close to scribe robes for comfort, even though they're pastel green and the hoods aren't up. So, of course, you guys know I did my little Googling. Pale green is symbolically tied to peace, renewal, and balance, all things that the Triumvirate claims to represent. But with this contrast to the scribe quadrant, it starts to feel more performative than it does principled. And there's something especially interesting about the hoods being down with the scribes. Their cream robes, cream, which is like plain, right? And drawn hoods, are deliberately designed to blend into the background, to avoid drawing attention to themselves and to ensure that the books remain the focus. Their anonymity, is a kind of reverence, which is ironic, considering how Asher described Hadanus in the epigraph. But the Triumvirate isn't actually doing that. Instead, they're wearing near identical robes with the hoods down, borrowing essentially, like, the aesthetic of neutrality and knowledge, but placing themselves at the center, being humble stewards of wisdom in appearance only. Which calls back to our epigraphs and how Gideon does not appreciate performative worship. Also, I think that this was hinting toward a deeper past connection between the scribes and the Hedonics, which we will come to find out. And I want to add in that that was the aha that I had when thinking about Asher Daxton and how well Farah seemed to know of him. Like, I don't know how long they would have changed their, like, ceremonial robes. Right? But if they really did completely just wash everything anew 150 years ago, that's before Asher. But if it was sometime more recent, I don't know. I just think it's so strange.

[Carly]

It is.

[Hannah]

But maybe that connection between them and the scribes is how he got to visit. Not sure. Something's going on, though.

[Kinsey]

Hopefully we'll find out later. So I had mentioned this in our previous episodes, but I will mention it again now because we are finally at this section. But I think ARC potentially foresaw his own death, or at least there's foreshadowing for it. When speaking to the Triumvirate, he says, quote, my brother will be king, though a horrible one. Heirs and alliances aren't my concern. I will fight in this war, most likely die, and do so knowing that I protected others. We know that he's predicted other events that have happened. And he took Halden's place in the Quest Squad, and he did that for all a reason.

[Hannah]

I just want to say I highlighted this on my first read before I knew he was a Precog, and I was like, oh, shit, he's done. And then I found out he was a Precog, and I was like, oh, fuck, I'm done.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

And I highlighted this on my first read, and I'm like, is he an intensic, though? I was dead set on him being an intensic.

[Hannah]

You guy, you were close, though.

[Kinsey]

I was very close. I'll count it.

[Hannah]

So there are two more ARC moments that I want to point out. So we had this fun foreshadowing when Violet thought, for fuck's sake, what else is Haruk holding onto? Literally, more than she could possibly comprehend. Like, I love that line, because when you first read it, it's just like, oh, yeah, he's being suspicious. And when you read it again, when, you know, I love lines that change like that. And then also, oh, my God, the foreshadowing in this, when Auric says, every day we're gone could change the battle map in ways we can't begin to predict, says the Precog. Also, what an interesting parallel to Melgren Signet, because he literally predicts battle outcomes and shit.

[Carly]

Yeah, those quotes. In hindsight, I'm so scared for Arryk's fate. I don't want to think about it.

[Hannah]

I just think the future can change.

[Kinsey]

It can.

[Hannah]

So we just have to convince Rebecca.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, Any one action or thought or choice could change whatever the path was. So even like Auric seeing his death, that's one possibility, but others.

[Hannah]

And if he ends up being the brother, it would be interesting if he really thought he was gonna die. But then the future changed and he didn't die. He turned Venin. Though I wouldn't be convinced, at least at this stage, that he didn't know that he could, like, was gonna turn Venom. Maybe that's a later development. I'm not sure.

[Kinsey]

Even Melgryn's signet isn't 100% all the time. He saw them losing the battle at the end of Iron Flame, but that's because the marked ones weren't there. So it's like any decision, any choice that's made can change the outcome.

[Hannah]

So we just would need Arryk to have some sort of limitation. Like the marked ones were made to be against him.

[Kinsey]

I'm not gonna think about it too much about him.

[Hannah]

No, I don't want. We have to convince Rebecca that we absolutely hate Arryk. She can't know that we love him.

[Carly]

Or he's done reverse psychology.

[Kinsey]

Everybody hates Arric. He's the worst. Just like Jack Barlow. He's worse than Jack Barlow.

[Hannah]

I hate him worse than Dane. He doesn't deserve a redemption arc. I don't know how else can I make this convincing?

[Carly]

We'll workshop it later. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Okay.

[Carly]

On the topic of who might turn at the end, there's the quote. Garak has stood by Zaden's side no matter the cost.

[Hannah]

You said that earlier, and I was like, oh, shit. Yeah.

[Carly]

I think this is foreshadowing that Garak is the new brother at the end. Personally, yeah, I'm scared.

[Kinsey]

I think you could be right. He was my first thought.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

During dinner with the Triumvirate, Talia says, quote, it would not Surprise me to find that in the course of this war, Tyrandor regains its sovereignty. And to me, this seems like another moment of foreshadowing that this is going to happen. Though I'm not sure how Tyrandor will be able to do so in the middle of a war against Fennen. Unless sovereignty becomes a condition to continue providing Navarre with military support. So Violet can sneak that in there.

[Hannah]

Would upgrade our beloved Violet from a duchess to a queen. King Zaden.

[Kinsey]

My throne. My queen.

[Hannah]

She'd rock a crown, you know, like, she'd have to bring it back and add my queen in there, right?

[Kinsey]

She's got to. She's brought back other quotes.

[Hannah]

The fact that it was a throne. It's for sure by the end of the five books, the series he's gonna be. Tyrandor is gonna be its own. Yes, Sovereign. Yeah, why else call it a throne, you know? Like, also, we've got this moment where Talia was trying to convince Zaden to contract Mary Cat, saying, think of Tirandor. But Zaden was thinking of Tirandor, in part, at the very least, when he married Violet at the end. So I see this as light foreshadowing.

[Kinsey]

Aww.

[Hannah]

Proves her right, bitch.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, fuck Talia. When questioning Zaden's love life, Kat jumps to Zaden's aid and says, quote, they happen to be two of the most powerful writers on the continent. So in that way, his alliance with her is perhaps wiser. The two of them could break and reshape the continent if they choose to.

[Hannah]

Go Cat.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Hannah]

Honestly, how did we miss her? Adding her to our hot.

[Kinsey]

I liked her a lot in this book. She was great. But I think that what she said about Zaden and Violet breaking and reshaping the continent will literally happen. Especially if they demand sovereignty for Tyrandor. They're the most powerful writers of their generation, and that power comes with their political influence. Yay.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Well, and I also saw this as potential foreshadowing for them doing that now that Zaden is full out Venon, like, unfortunately, like, reshaping. Not on the same side, but, I mean, I'm still convinced he's like the spy, you know, like, he's gonna tear it down from the inside out, but that still is tearing it down. And what happens when you throw magic all outside of the balance? You know, that's a whole rabbit hole. But it all comes back. Oh. Oh, my gosh. I'm so excited about this one. Okay, so we got another gemstone the Triumvirate used Jade stones as voting markers for the squad passing their test. And the first mention of it is Nayari. She, quote, pulls a jade stone from her robe and sets it in front of her plate. Right after Mira gives her spiel that we covered in the discussion section about how, like, everybody really is wise and they're not acknowledging that. So that was her vote for yes. And shortly after, Rosalind pulls hers out, she's playing with it in her hand for a bit before she gets offended by Violet and puts it back into her lap. And I was like, what? What is going on? When I was rereading, like, what are they doing with these stones? Then I realized. So after Violet confirms she's bonded to an Irid, Roslyn finally places her jade stone in front of her plate as a yes vote. And we know that it's for voting because Ferris responds immediately by saying, two down. You're doing well. Unfortunately, it must be a unanimous decision, and I'm a little more shrewd with my approach now. The symbolism makes sense, as jade is often associated with purity, wisdom, and harmony. And I think that also speaks to how performative their wisdom is, using jade as a literal token with irony in the purity and harmony aspects of that love. Also plugging what will eventually be our bonus episode on the Gemstones, where I get to fangirl and talk about all of them. Yes. Yay.

[Kinsey]

We learned that the continent's name is Amaryllis. I decided to spice things up for once and research the name meaning. Ha ha, ha, ha.

[Hannah]

You're learning.

[Kinsey]

Yes. And I probably am not pronouncing any of these correctly, but while spelled slightly differently, Amaryllis. Amaryllis is a flower. We know that Rebecca loves to garden, and the flower signifies pride, strength, and determination. The Greek name amaryllis, or amarylis means to sparkle. Also, there's a snake in Brazil that is called Amarali.

[Carly]

Ooh, that's very Taylor Swift. I love that.

[Kinsey]

So when I Googled just, like, how the continent was spelled, it gave me the flowers and it gave me the snake.

[Hannah]

I really like the contrast in the snake, what that represents. And also pride, strength, and determination. Yeah, yeah, no, that fits really well with what we know of.

[Kinsey]

Plus, they have reptiles. They have the dragons.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Speaking of this name, we get the quote, Amaryllis. That's what both other isles have called us. Of course. Every other isle worships one member of the Pantheon. And though we celebrate all, we hold one above all others. Amari. Okay. Literally. This also prompted a FaceTime call, because this quote from Violet implies that all six of the major Isles worship one specific God, but Devarelli does not. Or at least Neyrelle, from the quote we mentioned at the beginning of this episode, literally says what you call gods, we call. I can't even remember science. Something. Something like that. But the point is, like, they're not worshiping a spec. Specific God that we know of or that they seem to claim, but they are. And so I find this quote to be so suspicious because it could have been worded in another way. Why is it that she says every other aisle worships one member except for the continent? Like, she gives that exception and the differences, and it's just. That's so suspicious.

[Kinsey]

It is, but even with Devarelli claiming they don't worship a God, they're, quote, dedicated to peace. I'm not gonna let that wording go.

[Hannah]

You shouldn't. You shouldn't. Especially with the Irids and them claiming to be of peace. And we can see how the six gods, six dragons, but then seven. Yeah, it's.

[Carly]

Yeah, it does make me wonder if there's a lost God at this point, just like there was a lost breed of dragons.

[Kinsey]

So I think there has to be.

[Hannah]

I'm, like, slowly becoming completely convinced it's my headcanon.

[Carly]

Yeah, I think it kind of is for me, too, at this point.

[Hannah]

Speaking of headcanon, your next one, Carly, is.

[Carly]

We get quote, what kind of information? Varys prompts me, his smile sharpening a weapon to destroy them. Perhaps she already is one. Zaden remarks as the door opens and Farris's eyes narrow on me slightly. Yeah, so Zaden is saying that she already is. I think this is foreshadowing that not only is Violet a weapon, I think she is the weapon that they're gonna need. I think that they're searching for this elusive weapon to defeat the Venn in vain. I think it's Violet.

[Hannah]

We've known for a while that, like, of course she is a weapon that can kill them. But what you're referencing, Carly, is this mysterious weapon that wiped out the Venn 600 years ago. And we've had so many conversations between Violet and Brennan where they keep talking about it, and I thought it was canon, period, not headcanon, that she was the weapon for so long. And I was like, why are they skipping over this? Why are they still looking for this other. And it's getting to the point where it's like, if it ends up being her, why are we dragging it out this long? Come on.

[Carly]

I think it's Because. And I think Brennan might already know this, that he realizes that in order to stop them, she'd essentially have to die. And I think he's searching for another.

[Hannah]

Answer, like, combust and kill all.

[Carly]

Burn out to kill them all? Yeah. Like, in exchange for killing them all.

[Hannah]

At one time, who tells them to stop looking for the weapon? Doesn't someone, at some point is like, we should just give up. Is that Brennan?

[Carly]

I don't think Brennan says that. I just remember him saying, like, you know, that they're searching for it. And I'm like, I think you kind of already have it. And I think maybe at this point he's realized it and he's searching for another solution and he hasn't told her.

[Kinsey]

I almost wonder if Lilith said something about the weapon.

[Hannah]

There's something that's making me feel like someone said to stop looking for it, and that's suspicious if that's the case.

[Carly]

I don't remember that off the top of my head.

[Kinsey]

Well, I've read plenty of series and I won't name names, but I've read a couple series where it's ended that way. But then it ends up being okay. So we'll see one of them being from childhood, but I will again not say. Anyways, as for chapter 36, there's a weird observation that Riddick made when searching for whatever poisoned Garruk. Violet instruct Riddick to look for something blue, and he responds with quote, you're telling me there's actually something colorful on this aisle? Why is it that this poison berry is the only colorful item on the entire island? Like, it just makes me. I don't know, is it God's blessed? Like, because the jade is probably imported. Like, their eyes are colorful, but everything else is so monochromatic except for this berry.

[Carly]

I do think it's telling that the poison is the one colorful thing on the island. And it kind of seems to be like, X marks the spot type of thing. Like, we should be looking at this more closely.

[Kinsey]

Our last chapter for this section, chapter 37, we are on Bloodwatch to see if we can catch anyone who doesn't bleed, because this means they're venom above the initiate stage. The first time I read the scene where Riddick was stabbed, I was one, panicking and two immediately thought that he could be Venon and that this explains why he was so suspicious throughout the book by insisting that he joined Violet for Quest Squad. However, now that I am not panicking and I have read and reread this scene so many Times I want to point out that there were only holes in his flight jacket and no holes in his shirt. He didn't bleed because he wasn't stabbed. Which means we also can't rule him out just yet for not being Venon, because we don't know if he would have bled if he was actually stabbed.

[Hannah]

But we just can't say this is proof anymore.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, we can't. It's a weird scene. But that being said, that line is.

[Hannah]

Doing a lot of work. It is with the two holes through the flight jacket, but specifically not through the shirt. Yeah, that's doing a lot of heavy lifting.

[Kinsey]

It's protruding from his side. But earlier when he was battling, she said that his jacket was zipped open. And so it's like, I don't really.

[Carly]

Know what's going on here.

[Kinsey]

She's trying to be weird about it. But that being said, even with the stabbing and everything else going on, I'd like to point out that when the Irids finally do appear a few chapters later, they revealed Zaden's eyes against his will, and it was red rimmed. But Riddick's eyes were completely normal. So if Riddick were Venon as well, I feel like his eyes would have also been exposed by the Irids. Unless, of course, it's possible for higher ranking Venon to hide themselves from initiates, Asyns and Irids. I don't think that's likely, but maybe. I don't think he's a Venon. But I do think this is still a super weird scene and I'm gonna be keeping my eye on Riddick during all of my rereads.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I think I'm on board with Carly's theory that he's not Venon, but there's something that he's doing. Something is going on that doesn't make him evil, but it makes him fucking suspicious.

[Kinsey]

There's some trick going on. There's something happening, but it's weird because there's no magic here. So it's like, how could he make a trick? I don't know.

[Carly]

Yeah, I definitely think he has motivations we don't know about.

[Hannah]

Yeah, exactly that. And finally, our last Easter egg, which we're saving our larger discussion on magic in Xelnia. But I wanted to point out how Violet described the magic before she put pieces together herself as they landed, thinking, quote, the excitement in the air is a living, palpable thing roaring in my ears louder than the waterfall in the distance, clinging to my skin with more tenacity than the Stifling heat and humidity humming along my veins as though their zeal is contagious. And the buzz from the crowd grows to a fever pitch. And a wave of energy rushes up my body, prickling the back of my neck in a feeling that reminds me of. I gasp. Magic. So literally in my notes, I was like, oh, my God, is she. Because I forgot they had magic there. I'm not even gonna try in front. Like, I totally forgot. And so I was typing in my notes and I was like, she's literally talking about magic and she' Energy fields does. That's it. Which she still is. But, like, I literally typed up in the first quote. The second I was like, oh, you're like. Yeah, she literally says it. So this is another example of what I mean by Violet being able to. Or is using energy fields, magic being a palpable thing to her, humming like electric energy. Rebecca did also say that we've only seen about 85% of Violet's first sickness, and I think that it's going to have something to do with energy. Energy field. I'm shocked. So, you know, I just really thought that was a brand new, really important theory to include.

[Carly]

Yeah, no, I've never heard that from you before, ever. You've never talked about it a single time.

[Hannah]

I'm building my evidence.

[Carly]

I love it. I love a theory that builds. And speaking of theories, let's talk theories, because we haven't done that at all today. Time for your signet sparring professors to help you hone your farsight and precognition signet.

[Kinsey]

I literally thought we've already talked about our theory.

[Hannah]

Okay. No, only three, though. It's okay.

[Carly]

Easter egg section's getting out of control.

[Kinsey]

It really is. It has slowly become our newest.

[Hannah]

That's why AR's prefix may spiral into theories.

[Kinsey]

Yes, and we have a lot to say. Anyways, this first one I have is super quick. After Garrick is poisoned, Talia is shocked about what happened and shrieks, you poisoned my son. But I think that's still part of the act, because before dinner, she tried to feed Zaden figs. Figs were the cure. So if Zaden did fail the test and ate the cake, he would have lived while his friends all died. So, to me, I don't think this is a coincidence. I think it was entirely planned. And she was still faking it, even up to the point that Garak was poisoned.

[Hannah]

I love that theory. The only thing I'm going to poke slightly is I think that the serving of the figs was actually just like a way to place figs to where Violet could access them for Garak. But I really like this theory. A lot of people think that she's referring to Garrett here about the whole son thing. And I have to. Just putting it on the record, I don't agree with that. I think it was just a. I.

[Carly]

Don'T think you attempted to poison anything. That makes sense. They're like, almost the same age.

[Kinsey]

Zaden literally has her eyes. Like.

[Hannah]

Well, not Zaden's. Not also. But it's like making them brothers, essentially, which I think some people are trying to also take to like. Like the brother at the end, kind of. It's. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

If that were the case, she could have taken the non heir son with her back to Hidadus and just like, left Zaden. But, like, they're literally the same age.

[Carly]

It doesn't quite work for me, just given the timing of it all, but maybe. Maybe there's something we just don't know about.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Because he's like, she remembers that the figs are my favorite too. And so I was like, was she trying to save him?

[Hannah]

I like it.

[Kinsey]

Who knows?

[Carly]

So I talked about this theory before, but back in Devarelli, King Cortland incorrectly assumed that killing a rider kills a dragon. And here in Hadatas, they also have this assumption, or at least are curious, with Faris asking, when you die, do your dragons. I think this is just adding to my theory that I had a few episodes ago, that dragons do typically die with their riders, but in places like the continent, they're able to make up for that loss with magic. Here in the Isles, the dragons don't have magic to pull on and can perish.

[Hannah]

At this point, I'm accepting that, and I don't want to. Like, you're forcing me. I saw this line and I was like, oh, sold. Sold.

[Carly]

Yeah, I'm nervous for our dragons.

[Kinsey]

I know. And unfortunately, we couldn't test this theory because griffins automatically die with their flyers. But we didn't have any dragonriders die in the Isles. We only had Trager, which we should.

[Hannah]

Keep that in mind. If we're thinking about if Rebecca originally planned for Garrick to die here because then that would have put his dragon potentially dying. So maybe he. If that's the case, maybe the reason that it was saved for book four is because Rebecca didn't want to give away that dragons also die when their rider dies on the Isles. I'm putting that out there. If he dies next book. And Carly's theory is correct. And we can trace this back. I want it. Just know that I said that here on April 21, 2025.

[Kinsey]

Perfect. And for our last theory, I think that Zortrys natural landscape protected them from being drained, unlike the other isles. So Xelnya is the neighboring island to Hydatis. It's the only isle with minimal magic. And it actually has color, even if it's not as rich as the continent. And unlike everywhere else, the people are welcoming and delighted to see the dragons. Violet describes the capital city of Zortrys as being surrounded by waterfalls and having a river that splits around the city that almost makes it appear like an island of its own. So it's like an island on an island. Hedadis, on the other hand, is extremely monochromatic. The worst Quest Squad has seen. They have no magic. The people there are awful, and they're aqua phobic. They don't like water. Okay. So I wonder if being surrounded by water acted as a barrier to keep the magic in and keep the bad, aquaphobic people out. What if Hadatas is the source of Venon or, like, the epicenter of where magic is drained? And the people of Hadatas are clearly hiding something by razing their cities. And Andarna was extremely uncomfortable on this island. So I think that Hadadus could be the source of whatever is going on of the isles, and that no matter what, Xortrys natural landscape protected them from also being drained.

[Carly]

Very interesting. Yellow.

[Hannah]

I thought that the waterfalls were so suspicious, but I didn't catch that. It was a. Like, visually in my head, I did not. I totally missed the, like, ring or the, like, river ring around it.

[Carly]

I noticed that they had seemed to only build up on that island and not out away from that. And I was like, that's interesting that they're only building in that one spot, and they just keep building up instead of, like, moving out to other parts.

[Kinsey]

Because it's the only safe spot.

[Carly]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kinsey]

And they're completely surrounded by water. Because just living on an island is not good enough. You gotta have an island on an island.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

And it's rushing water. Like, it's a waterfall and a river. It's not like a still, like, lake or a pond or anything like that.

[Carly]

Well, given that it's like this double ring of water, I wonder if it is something that, like, comes from the ocean that they're afraid of. Like, maybe for whatever reason, it can come out of the water, but maybe the interior water is fresh water and repels it.

[Kinsey]

That's what I was thinking.

[Carly]

It's weird.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Very odd.

[Kinsey]

All right, and that wraps up our Deep Dive episode of Onyx Storm chapters 34 37. Thank you so much for listening. Before we go, we want to give a special shout out to our newest Feathertail Patreon members Kelly N, Samantha G, Katie C, Allison Ora L and Kaitlin at. Thank you all for supporting the podcast and helping us to continue to create high quality content. If you'd like to hear your name in a future episode, you can join our Feather Tales Tier three and we'll make sure to shout you out in our next recorded episode as a Feather Tale.

[Hannah]

You'll also get exclusive ad free full video episodes with the option of audio only, early access to our regular season episodes, access to our book club Discord and Livestream meeting monthly voting privileges for our book club which is coming up. So keep an eye out, it's the perfect time to join and various PDF resources including Carly's weekly Onyx Storm annotations and more. If you'd like to join but would prefer to keep your name private, just let us know. You can check out our Patreon link down in the show notes to see all the perks across all three tiers. We also have a base tier for general support donations. Please note that Apple does now charge a 30% fee for Patreon memberships on iOS devices. We highly encourage and recommend using a web browser or desktop to become a member so you aren't charged that fee. Patreon, if you don't already know, is basically a way that we fund the podcast operation expenses. And how would you guys describe it? It's like a It's like getting to.

[Carly]

Be part of a little clubhouse where there's extra perks and you get to meet with other people and communicate with other people who love the same things you love.

[Hannah]

And if Patreon isn't for you, there are still plenty of ways to support us. Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify subscribing, recommending us to your fellow fellow Empyrean readers and simply tuning into each episode goes so far.

[Carly]

Thank you again for listening. Don't forget to join us for our next episode where we deep dive chapters 38 through 40. If you haven't already, check out our first season chapter by chapter's deep dive on fourth wing through the Lens of Iron Flame. There are over 30 hours of binge worthy content to explore where we pick up all of the things that Iron Flame changed about Fourth Wing, including all the times Zaden used his intrinsic abilities.

[Hannah]

I just want to point out that next week is Zinal's Gifts and we're deep diving them, so stay tuned.

[Kinsey]

I have been looking forward to this episode literally all season.

[Hannah]

We literally made it to where basically that's going to be the episode. It's like just the gifts.

[Kinsey]

Just the gifts.

[Hannah]

Yep. All right.

[Kinsey]

As always, we encourage you to email us all of your thoughts, theories and suggestions. Feel free to DM us on Instagram or join us over on our free Discord Group chat. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. It would mean the world to us.

[Hannah]

Until next time, dearest fantasy reader, Hope for luck, but prepare for chaos as we continue our journey through the Empyrean series. I can't wait.

[D]

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