Ep 1 Onyx Storm: Prologue - Chapter 6

Summary

Fantasy Fangirls Podcast Summary: Episode 1 - Onyx Storm: Prologue - Chapter 6

Release Date: February 3, 2025
Podcast Title: Fantasy Fangirls
Hosts: Nicole and Lexi
Book Covered: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Empyrean Series)
Spoiler Warning: This summary contains spoilers for the entire Empyrean series, including 4th Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm.

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Episode Overview

In the inaugural episode of their deep dive into Onyx Storm, sisters Nicole and Lexi embark on dissecting the prologue through Chapter 6 of Rebecca Yarros's latest installment in the Empyrean series. Balancing chapter summaries with insightful analysis, the hosts explore character developments, plot intricacies, and the expanding lore of the series. This episode sets the stage for understanding the evolving dynamics between characters and the looming threats within the fantasy world.

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Battle Brief: Prologue and Chapters 1-6

Prologue Overview ([05:54] Nicole):
The story picks up immediately after the events of Iron Flame, featuring Xaden sneaking out for a clandestine meeting with Jack Barlow. Violet, determined not to be left out, follows him into the dungeons, leading to a tense encounter where the Venin infiltrate. Darna reveals new aspects of her magic, including the ability to roast Venin, hinting at future power dynamics ([06:24] Nicole).

Chapter 1 Highlights ([06:24] Nicole):
Two weeks post-battle, Violet and Taryn patrol with their squad amid cold-weather challenges. They nearly collide with fellow cadets Iotram and Riddick but continue their patrols to report to Aura and Ewan. Tensions rise as Imogen advises Violet to find new accommodations for warmth, leading to subtle conflicts within the squad.

Chapter 2 Highlights ([07:43] Lexi):
Violet, Riddick, and Ri confront Venin disguised as scribes, resulting in swift combat where Violet lethally attacks a Venin impostor. The introduction of Xaden's shadow powers becomes evident as he intervenes, decimating the remaining dark wielders. Post-battle, Zaden negotiates personal time with Violet, deepening their relationship but introducing new revelations about his abilities ([06:24] Nicole).

Chapter 3 Highlights ([09:18] Lexi):
Violet faces the Scenarium, the highest aristocratic council, to advocate for her and Darna's involvement in a crucial mission. General Melgren opposes her pleas, highlighting the political complexities and resistance Violet faces within the military hierarchy.

Chapter 4 Highlights ([09:18] Lexi and [22:07] Nicole):
The narrative shifts to personal struggles as Violet grapples with leadership responsibilities and Zaden's loss of control due to his Venin transformation. The bond between Violet and Zaden is tested as Zaden battles internal turmoil, fearing he might harm Violet. The hosts discuss the psychological impacts of Venin transformations and the resilience required to maintain personal relationships amidst chaos.

Chapter 5 Highlights ([26:04] Nicole):
Violet and Andarna discuss the revelation of Violet being the seventh Dragon breed, a pivotal plot point that underscores Violet's unique role in the impending conflict. The conversation delves into the strategic importance of dragons in combating the Venin threat and sets the foundation for Plan A and Plan B in Violet's mission to alter the Wardstone.

Chapter 6 Highlights ([36:30] Nicole and [46:04] Lexi):
Political maneuvering intensifies as the Scenarium debates alliances to counter the Venin menace. Negotiations with Poromiel falter due to Navarre's reluctance to integrate Flyers into their protected wards. Violet's determination leads her to consider clandestine actions (Plan B) to modify the Wardstone, defying Scenarium's directives and highlighting her proactive stance in leadership.

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Step Into The Cauldron: Key Insights and Theories

Character Development:
Violet emerges as a reluctant yet compelling leader, torn between her desire to save Zaden and her responsibilities toward her squad and kingdom. Her evolution from a protective sister to a decisive leader is a central theme. Zaden's internal conflict as a Venin struggling to maintain control adds depth to his character, emphasizing the theme of inner battles and trust.

Foreshadowing:
Nicole and Lexi identify several instances of foreshadowing, including:

• Imogen's Mentions ([18:44] Nicole): Suggesting potential betrayal or significant events involving Imogen.
• Darna's Magic Revelation ([05:54] Nicole): Hinting at future confrontations where her ability to roast Venin will be crucial.
• The Epigraphs ([138:23] Lexi): Indicating the significance of rare signets and the convergence of powerful characters, drawing parallels to historical or critical moments within the series.

Theories:

1. Venin Infiltration ([57:37] Nicole): The Venin masquerading as scribes implies a deeper conspiracy within Navarre, potentially facilitated by characters like Panchak.
2. Zaden's Role and Control ([76:43] Nicole): Zaden's possible affiliation with higher Venin ranks or his struggle to maintain autonomy raises questions about his true allegiance and future actions.
3. Plan A vs. Plan B ([26:04] Nicole): Violet's strategic options to either negotiate publicly or act covertly to adjust the Wardstone play into broader themes of rebellion and reform within the governance structures.

Notable Quotes:

• "Every bite's a big deal." – Nicole [00:18] (Skipped as it's part of the ad)
• "Violet is the most powerful dragon rider on the continent and at the end of this book she's the Duchess of Tirandor. She's a badass." – Lexi [13:52]
• "Let's really dive into this book, shall we? Let's have some fun here. Let's go ride our dragons." – Lexi [14:29]
• "You can choose both." – Violet [93:37] Nicole
• "With that speech, at least Duchess fucking swoon." – Nicole [154:17]

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Sip Tea With The Suriel: In-Depth Lore Exploration

The Scenarium Explained ([146:04] Lexi):
Nicole and Lexi delve into the intricacies of the Scenarium, the highest-ranking aristocratic council in Navarre composed of representatives from six provinces. They draw parallels to traditional aristocratic systems, comparing titles like Duke, Duchess, and Earl to real-world equivalents. The Scenarium's role in treaty negotiations and governance is emphasized, highlighting its influence over pivotal decisions affecting the kingdom's stance against the Venin.

Aristocratic Hierarchy and Politics ([146:04] Lexi):
The discussion outlines the ranks within the Scenarium, detailing the roles of influential characters such as:

• Duchess of Moraine (Eileen): Portrayed as disdainful towards Violet and interested in political marriage to strengthen alliances.
• Duke of Caldir: Described as authoritative and perhaps unapproachable, balancing the power dynamics within the council.
• Duchess of Elsam and Duke of Luceres: Brief mentions highlight their respective provinces and influence within the political landscape.

Wardstone Mechanics and Magical Integration ([146:04] Lexi):
An exploration of the Wardstone's role in maintaining magical wards across Navarre. Mira's clandestine efforts to modify the Wardstone to allow Flyers to wield magic without compromising the wards' integrity are discussed, stressing the technical and political challenges involved. The hosts theorize on the potential consequences of altering such a pivotal element of the kingdom's defense mechanism.

Signets and Their Significance ([138:23] Lexi):
The rarity and power of signets are analyzed, linking them to divine blessings and their roles in historical conflicts. The epigraphs from Chapters 2 and others serve as a foundation for understanding the unique abilities of characters like Violet (Lightning Wielder) and Zaden (Shadow Wielder). The alignment of signets with deities suggests a celestial influence on the characters' destinies and the impending war against the Venin.

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Conclusions and Future Directions

This first episode of the Deep Dive series sets a comprehensive foundation for understanding Onyx Storm. Nicole and Lexi effectively balance plot summarization with analytical discussions, offering listeners both a recount of events and deeper insights into the series' lore and character motivations. The introduction of complex political structures, rare magical abilities, and evolving character relationships positions the Empyrean series for intricate developments in forthcoming episodes and books.

Looking Ahead:
Episode two will continue covering Chapters 7-12, expanding on Garak's second signet and introducing Theophany, a pivotal character in the series. The hosts tease further exploration of precognition, factional politics, and the strategic maneuvers of key characters in their quest to combat the Venin threat.

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Notable Quotes Recap

• "Violet is the most powerful dragon rider on the continent and at the end of this book she's the Duchess of Tirandor. She's a badass."
  — Lexi [13:52]

• "You can choose both."
  — Violet [93:37] Nicole

• "With that speech, at least Duchess fucking swoon."
  — Nicole [154:17]

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Disclaimer:
This summary is intended to provide an overview and analysis of the Onyx Storm Deep Dive podcast episode by Fantasy Fangirls. It is designed to be informative for those familiar with the series while serving as a comprehensive introduction for newcomers. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

Transcript

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

All day with Jack in the Box's all day big deal meal. You get to choose from four entrees like the supreme croissant and five tasty sides, plus a drink starting at $5. So hurry in or take your time.

[Lexi]

You've got all day at Jack.

[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

I'm Lexi, older sister and Fantasy Lore nerd.

[Nicole]

I'm Nicole, younger sister and romantic at heart.

[Lexi]

And today is the day where we are kicking off our deep dive of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros with Episode one as we cover the prologue through Chapter six. But before we begin this epic deep dive, please listen closely to our spoiler warning. All of our episodes include spoilers for the entire Empyrean series, including all of 4th Wing, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm. That's right. Even though this episode one focuses on the prologue through Chapter six, we are pulling in themes, foreshadowing lore and other tidbits from the entire book. So if you have not finished Onyx Storm, we love that you're here. But this deep dive episode is not for you yet.

[Nicole]

So if you don't know why my guy Professor Grady takes a serious no dive out of the gate in this book, then please go finish Onyx Storm. We will be here when you're done.

[Lexi]

Also, if you are new to Fantasy Fangirls, first of all, hi, we're so happy that you're here. Just want to let you know you don't need to listen to all of our fourth Wing and Iron Flame episodes to dive right into this. You'll quickly catch up on the jokes and such, though if you do want more Empyrean content, you have more than 60 hours of it to go back and listen whenever you want. Next, we at Fantasy Fangirls are adults who say adult things about adult books. In other words, friends, this podcast is rated R. We get a rise and.

[Nicole]

Shine finger bang this episode and I will take every minute to highlight the delicious lines that come with it. So please do be mindful of those little listening ears.

[Lexi]

Additionally, we are so excited to see you at upcoming live events, but I guess first of all we should probably address that oh my God. We interviewed Rebecca Yarros at the Onyx Storm Dever Tour yesterday. We are recording this episode several days before the interview, so we can't refer to it yet, but wow. Just wow. What is this life preemptively celebrating.

[Nicole]

We will also be at Romanasy Bookcon in Los Angeles this February 20th through 22nd where we cannot wait to do an Onyx Storm live show, speak with incredible authors and of course see many, many of you.

[Lexi]

We'll also be featured guests at Enchanticon in St. Louis, Missouri August 15th through 17th and back at the Dragon Gauntlet in Boyne City, Michigan September 12th through 13th. Then romanticy Bookcon again, this time in Orlando from October 23rd to 25th.

[Nicole]

Check out our website for more information and tickets to all of these events.

[Lexi]

Last thing before we jump into this Onyx Storm Episode one. If you love Fantasy Fangirls and want more Empyrean themed events, more content, more community and just so much more all around, please check out Fantasy Fan Club.

[Nicole]

We have three membership tiers that you can join. Number one, the Cadets, which includes access to our Bop in Discord where we're all just freaking out about this book. You also get live Q&As from Lexi and I, a book club with exclusive author interviews like this month where we are interviewing Callie Hart who wrote Quicksilver for our Quicksilver book club. You also get trivia, community events, promo codes for live events plus 20% off all merch that is for $6 a month. Or you can join the Dragon Riders which includes everything from the cadet level plus early access to ad free episodes, our full episode outlines and special voting privileges that is for $10 a month. Then we have our Iron Squad which everything from the previous two tiers plus lots of behind the scenes content from Lexi and I, a welcome gift giveaways, a private Discord channel that is just popping off like crazy as we're speaking right now and your name shouted out on the podcast that is for $25 a month.

[Lexi]

Join the party at fantasyfangirls.com fanclub. The link is also in the show notes and really and truly, thank you so much for supporting us as we've turned this podcast into our livelihood and literally a dream come true. It's all because of you.

[Nicole]

And now it is time to meet with the Scenarium Dun dun Dun to.

[Lexi]

Start off every episode. Nicole, this is the honor of summarizing what happens in this stretch of chapters. So take a seat and listen up because Battle Brief is in session for the prologue through chapter six of Onyx Storm.

[Nicole]

Prologue Our story starts off right where Iron Flame ends with Xaden sneaking out of bed for a midnight rendezvous with Jack fucking Barlow. Violet, not in the mood to be left out of yet another secret, follows Xaden into the depths of Buzzguyth dungeons while Eth dropping on the oh so secret conversation and Darna drops some juicy new details about her magic. It feels different when she changes colors. Oh, and she can roast Venin. Cue Lexi screaming right here and then basically shops up about it for the rest of the book.

[Lexi]

Cool.

[Nicole]

And Darna. Meanwhile, Jack fucking Barlow is explaining to Xaden that his control over his Veninism won't last and he might as well just turn Violet in before she ends up having matching I just got drained by a venom tattoos with Dain. Chapter 1 Two Weeks Later Violet and Taryn are flying patrol with fellow squad mates and brrr. It's cold in here. There must be some venom in the atmosphere. There isn't. After nearly colliding with Iotram and Riddick, who almost take an early exit like Dylan, Iron Squad goes to report on their mostly uneventful patrol. They report to Aura and Ewan, who are the two biggest douche canoes rowing down a river of self inflated importance. Unwilling to share any additional info with, quote, a bunch of deserters. Guess they'll all be ignorant to part that they saved their asses last book, but it's fine. Imogen pulls Violet away and informs her that maybe she should find a new bed to warm, to which Violet gives her a very polite very demure. Fuck you. Violet meets up with the rest of her squad second years at the infirmary where they're ready to have a chill day visiting Sawyer. But in the middle of giving Sawyer a pep talk, a scream pierces the air. The Venin are in the walls. Dun dun dun. Chapter 2 Violet, Ri and Riddick run to save whoever they can and kill the intruders when esc scribe flies into their path. Wait, this scribe is high.

[Lexi]

Nope.

[Nicole]

The Venin are pretending to be scribes, but quick to the draw, Violet launches a alloy hilted dagger into his chest. Heading down the stairs, Violet and co are met with a sight of four dark wielders attempting to free Jack fucking Barlow. One of which is a silver haired Venon with a poorly aged forehead tattoo. And she just disappears. Which sent the fandom, yes, including us into a spiral when that excerpt dropped. But don't worry Violet, because your tall, brooding, dark handsome shadow daddy has arrived. Arrived and encases the room in total darkness, killing the remaining dark wielders. But don't worry Riddick, you almost had one. After leaving their not so productive debrief with Panchak, Zaden negotiates for a quick seven. Well, five minutes in heaven with Violet. But instead of spending his time making out in the closet, Violet and Zayn use these precious five minutes to re solidify their relationship. But right as the timer is about to ding ding ding, Zaden drops a new nugget of info. He can feel them calling, feel the source. He can see. Sense the other venom like he's a walking Ouija board. Chapter three Time's up, lovebirds. Also, Violet has a meeting with the Scenarium. Upon entering the not so welcoming meeting room, Violet is prepared to fight for Indarna's demands. But she is shut down before she can even say supercalifragilistic expialidocious by stupid head General Melgren. After being forced into a corner with no say who is on task force Grady's version, Violet leaves feeling dejected, hoping that Duke Llewellyn will have better luck negotiating on Indar's behalf. The next morning Rise and shine, sleepy heads. Violet slowly tries to get out of bed, but a shadow says no, no. And bang bang, fingery bang. I said grab the headboard.

[Lexi]

Not like that.

[Nicole]

Bang. Chapter 4 Realizing Xaden in a moment of losing control channeled from the headboard, Violet attempts to talk Xaden off a ledge. Tis but a scratch. After quick post intimacy politics chatter this is Lexi's dream. Big brother Brennan decides that is now the Perfect time to knock on little Sisa's door. While everyone is squabbling in the hallway, big sister Mira arrives. So she wasn't off doing shady shit or abandoning her family. Phew. Glad that Iron Flame theory is debunked. After Mira gives Violet the rundown on New Runes, everyone scatters, leaving the Sorengel siblings to bicker about everything. Mira drops the bomb. The oration wards only have six months until total failure. Six months? Time to activate plan. How much treason is too much treason? Chapter five later in the Gathering hall right as the second squad tea is getting pipin hot, the first years come rushing in. Someone is trying to start fight club in the courtyard, but apparently everyone is talking about it. Rushing to the quad, Violet and co are met with the sight of Aura binding challenging a flyer in a one to one challenge, pulling on his big boy wing leader pants. God damn it. Dane steps in to take the challenge on behalf of the flyer, but Ara is only wanting to face the strongest Duration rider, so Violet steps forward ready to lightning fry her ass. Chapter 6 Violet pulls a Grade A revolutionary speech out of her hat just in time for the professors who have been watching this like a reality TV show to step in and tell everyone to scatter. Time for a quick politics check in because Brennan and Llewellyn have some good and not so good news to share. Not so good? Prince Halden is here and he is one stone's throw away from fucking up everything which causes Violet to stare like a deer in the headlights. Not the ex boyfriend. Speaking of Halden and the Scenarium, only three of Andarna's demands got a passing vote. Oh, and his grace Zaden Ryerson is now the 16th Duke of Tyrandor. So with plan A failing, that only leaves Plan B. Who's ready to commit some treason?

[Lexi]

Me. Oh Nicole, that was absolutely fantastic. And you know what friends? This episode is sponsored by Squarespace. We all know that an effective website is essential to the success of small businesses and starting that process can be really overwhelming. But luckily Squarespace has had our backs for all of our website needs.

[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

All right writers, it's time to dawn our signet power and discuss key insights, character analysis, lore, foreshadowing theories, and so much more. I'm so excited. But first we need to talk about this beautiful dedication quote to the ones who don't run with the popular crowd, the ones who get caught reading under their desks, the ones who feel like they never get invited, included or represented. Get your leathers. We have dragons to ride. Oh my goodness. I just get chills every time I read this because it speaks to so many of us. Rebecca Yara's commented on the dedication in her Good Morning America interview saying quote, I was the kid that was caught reading under desk in school and made fun of for being smart and things like that. I think that with the chronic illness representation it's so important for people to feel seen and that's what the dedication is for for people like me, so that they can feel seen. I genuinely believe one of the biggest reasons the Empyrean series is so popular is because it does make so many readers feel seen and so importantly, its main character has Ehlers Dano syndrome and we're right there with her as she overcomes the challenges and others perspectives of her that come come with it. This series is all about embracing who we are and persevering, standing up for ourselves and what is right. And that truly speaks to the hearts of us readers. It also ignited a love for reading for so many of us who haven't had fun with books like this since we were kids. And now it's like who cares if we're lost in our silly fantasy world with dragons, let's ride.

[Nicole]

And I also think that so many of us feel connected to Violet. She was the bookish, quiet sibling. She wasn't cool or famous for warfare like her siblings. She was huddled away and tried to fixed as we learn later on in this book from Asher and getting dedicated to Dune. But look where she is now. She is the most powerful dragon rider on the continent and at the end of this book she's the Duchess of Tiran door. She's a badass. It's a reminder for all of us readers that who we used to be does not have to be who we are or where we are going. And yet you, as you are right now, still have dragons to ride.

[Lexi]

Okay, let's really dive into this book, shall we? Let's have some fun here. Let's go ride our dragons.

[Nicole]

Let's go talk to Jack fucking Barlow. Oh.

[Lexi]

Oh man. Well, let's start with Onyx Storm gives us our first prologue of the series, and I absolutely love that. It's Violet's POV from the final chapter of Iron Flame, which was Xaden's POV as he gets out of bed and goes to talk to Jack after he wakes up from the nightmare reliving how he turned Venon. Zaden's fingertips trail over Violet's cheek as she sleeps. He whispers I love you and gets out of bed, dresses quickly and silently. Maybe not so silently leaves the room to go down to the dungeons and talk to Jack. He moves unseen in the shadows. Remember how his signet power has increased since turning Venin? He sidesteps two drunken infantry cadets, then slips past the yawning guard at the entrance to the interrogation chamber. Now let's switch to Violet's POV in the prologue of Onyx Storm, where the story begins with her following Zaden after waking up when he leaves the room. Haha. Not so sneaky sneaky, huh Zaden?

[Nicole]

I love that the opening line of this book is quote, where in Malik's name is he going? Given the role that gods play in this story, it makes so much sense that the first line of this book is referencing a God. It just so sets the tone for the role of religion that is really heavily introduced in Onyx Storm.

[Lexi]

That's such a good point. Even on my first read, I noticed how much more deity references there are from the get go than we've previously gotten in the other two series. Yes, there were definitely gods, but they were not mentioned nearly as often as they are now. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Yes. I also love how there's this extra insight that we never really got to know in the final chapter of Iron Flame. You mentioned, like passing the two drunken infantry cadets, Violet passes those two as well. Like it's just all these little layers. It's knowing now as we reread that final chapter of Iron Flame that Violet was right behind him. I love that little extra insight, even though there's not really any hint to knowing that Violet's there. Trust me, I checked the last chapter of Iron Flame. But it's so fun to reread with that little extra context.

[Lexi]

And then the only way she knows where to go is the pull of their bond, because after all, he's enveloped in shadows. And remember that the reason he left the safety of their room was to go talk to Jack about how to cure this.

[Nicole]

When you mentioned she's only able to track him through their bond, this is also foreshadowing for when he later is teaching her and he's like, you need to know how to find me. You need to know how to kill me. Which we'll get to that later.

[Lexi]

Well, she's always been able to do that because remember at Samara last year?

[Nicole]

Exactly. It's connecting that to now a deeper meaning of, you'll now know where to find me. Zaden's gone at the end of this book. Would she be able to track him through that? I don't know. That's a far distance. But that's something I'm going to watch out for on this read.

[Lexi]

Other things we learn about in Violet's POV that answer this fandom's year long questions from Xaden's pov. Number one, when he was around everyone waiting for Sawyer to get out of surgery, Xaden had to keep his head down so no one would notice the faint red circles around his irises. So no one. They haven't faded yet and he has to be really careful not to be noticed. Number two, we also find out that Bode and Garrick guarded him to help ensure no one notice, confirming for us that Violet is not the only one who knows Xaden has turned Venin. Bode and Garrick learned quickly too, but the three of them are the only ones who know for now.

[Nicole]

First up, what I would have given for that conversation, like, how did they react? I see Garrick being livid. Like he snaps at Zaden quite a bit throughout this book because he's pissed at what he did. And I see Bodhi just being purely shocked.

[Lexi]

Yeah, me too.

[Nicole]

Me too.

[Lexi]

I imagine when they saw Zaden after the battle and they're all, you know, making sure that each other is alive, that's when they notice the red. And in a twisted way, it's really sweet that he can't hide the secret from his best friends and instead of shunning him, they immediately go into bodyguard mode to protect him.

[Nicole]

Yeah, it's also interesting having Garak and Bodhi being the first to know, given that these are the top two contenders for at the end of this book who turned quote, brother.

[Lexi]

Oh, I can't wait to talk about the possible new brother at the end of this book. I know we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but there is a really good argument for Auric being the new brother too. Don't worry, friends though. We will talk about all of this at length. Just not in episode one. We have too much else to get through.

[Nicole]

When we first read that Bode and Garrick found out about Zaden, we were shocked because fully thought that Violet was going to have to keep this secret under lock and key again. But after reading the first two chapters and the prologue, it makes so much sense. Zaden would not want to slip up and risk exposure or more importantly, risk Violet getting hurt. So having his two closest confidants keep watch on him is a really smart move. And while we're on the People who Do Know About Xaden, at the end of this chapter, Violet thinks about meeting someone who she can trust to know the truth entirely. Imogen. This choice makes so much sense. Not only does Zaden have her loyalty, we've seen that on the page from book one with under the Tree scene and everything, but Imogen also can wipe people's recent memories, so if anyone finds out by accident, boop. Memory gone. No worries. Or Xaden might talk in the middle of the night with Cough Cough Jack Barlow, and then Jack Barlow could blab it to the next person his ass sees. So boop. This is my memory erasing.

[Lexi]

Yes, that's exactly why she shares this with Imogen. How handy to have Imogen when it's important for Jack not to remember this because then he could use this information as leverage. Also, I love how this book opens with Violet needing to get Imogen to wipe a memory and the book ends with Imogen telling Violet she wiped her memory because Violet told her to. It's such a full circle moment.

[Nicole]

Oh, I love that. I didn't even think about that now because in Darna name drops Cure, which is Bodhi's dragon, Crod, which is Garrick's dragon, and Imogen's dragon, Glayne. Let's do a quick reminder about what these three dragon names mean. And really quickly for consistency's sake, we are going off the pronunciation that is done in the audiobook. Cure Bodhi's dragon means to place, to put, to add. I'm not really sure how that ties into Bodhi quite yet, but I'm excited. Krad Garruk's dragon means pain or torment that's concerning. And Glein Imogen's dragon means clean or pure, so that makes a lot of sense with like puring or cleaning off someone's recent memories. That's how I take it at least.

[Lexi]

Me too. Speaking of dragons, let's move to answer three we get from Violet's pov Sigaille is in a rage, which we could gather from her not talking to Zaden at the end of Iron Flame. She is also still bonded to Xaden, which some readers weren't convinced of. That was definitely a theory going around. Taran is unsurprisingly pissed and also sad. Number four, Violet is not afraid of Xaden and she trusts him. There was a question mark of why she would be willing to sleep beside him knowing he's Venon at the end of Iron Flame and it's addressed quickly here and will be a theme throughout the whole book. Zaden belongs with Violet mine and she knows he would never hurt her. Being Venon doesn't change who he is in her eyes, but in his eyes.

[Nicole]

We can already tell that there is quite a change as she reaches for Xaden mentally through their bond quote there's only a thick wall of chilled onyx. The language of Chilled Cold Ice is going to be a huge theme for Xaden throughout this book. Yes, I will be tracking all of it through a segment that I have.

[Lexi]

Decided to call Ice Watch Baby Ice Ass Baby. Oh I'm so excited. The song's gonna be stuck in my head for the next 12 weeks.

[Nicole]

Right now this mental pathway is only being described as chilled, showing that he's very much still off the ice. Just a little, you know, little cold.

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

You know what I took this morning? My ritual Stress Relief. We have a long day of recording ahead and that was a needed, needed thing this morning. I also took my new probiotic from Ritual as well. And here's what I love about ritual. They not only are really pretty, which I never thought I needed in vitamins, and they're also really good for you, but they also are yummy like I like took my probiotic this morning and it was like, it's almost like peppermint and I loved it. It was great.

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

Besides Zaden and Darna also has the spotlight in the prologue. The end of Iron Flame left off with her roasting of Venon. Never forget the smoking head that I was so adamant about giving quite the seventh Dragon DIN download and being key to properly lighting the Iron Flame to reactivate the wards. After the battle, Violet told Andarna she needs to talk to Taryn, insinuating it's time to inform Taran that she is not actually a Black Dragon, but the seventh Dragon breed that only the Elders know about, which would exclude Taran. Now, approximately 12 hours later, Taran and Sigail are are preoccupied with Zaden's decision to pull from the source, so neither of them is in a mental state to talk to Violet and offer any insight into why Xaden is risking himself to be seen. But while they're absent, Andarna is right here for Violet. I love their bond so much and we see it so clearly from the first few pages of this book. They have this emotional warm and fuzzy connection that is so unique and unlike Violet's relationship with Taryn, as great as that also is in their own way, we've seen this bond between Andarna and Violet on full display since 4th wing. Like when Violet found out Meera was okay after the Montserrat and Indarna was the only one she wanted to seek out so she could let down her guard and be vulnerable in her feelings. Here in Darna comforts Violet in her grief with the snow falling now that her mother is gone and no longer wielding the warmer weather storms prevalent in the Battle of Bisgaeth, which all this weather and storm talk from the very beginning of this book is major foreshadowing for Theophany's storm wielding reveal. Especially as we'll find out lol manifested her storm signet in response to theophany what exactly all that means we will figure out in the deep dive.

[Nicole]

Inarta's first reaction to Violet regarding Zaden state is a very tarn answer. She says in regards to what would Mira do? Quote she would have already slain your lieutenant and been confident in her choice and Darna views Taryn as a role model and while we'll be getting into this later this episode, Taryn can be very black and white when it comes to thinking, so it makes sense that her first reaction is to be very much in the same Taran mindset. Especially after the line from Indarna in Iron Flame where Violet Violet states that her scales aren't really black and Indarna says quote no but he is and I want so badly to be just like him.

[Lexi]

I love how this observation from Andarna is still helpful though for Violet as it helps her recognize she needs confidence like her sister in this moment. One more thing to set the stage for this book as Violet comes into her own finding her confidence and stepping into the leadership role. It starts here with quote but confidence? That's not a bad idea.

[Nicole]

But Indarna and Violet are not black and white thinkers like Taran. So when Violet brings up that Zaden is not a soulless Venin and she begs Andarna for the love of Amari to be on her side and Darna concedes quote I am as unknown as he is and you still trust me. I will not be another battle you have to fight. Oh my God. This right here is why Violet and Andarna are such a good team. They're not black and white thinkers. They are outside the box and put themselves in other people's shoes thinkers and look at situations with the whole picture in mind.

[Lexi]

Now that the news about her being a seventh dragon breed is out, Andara is able to openly long for her family. No more pretending and secrets. She is stepping into this identity as someone different and unique and with that comes isolation. She wants to find her family and learn more about her den that she belongs to. Again, one more thing to set the stage for this book.

[Nicole]

This showing of loving support and similar line of thinking from Indarna is quite at odds with Taryn. He is on Violet's side agreeing to go off on this long long journey even though he says it like he's flying without warming his wings and prep for carrying and darn a longer distances like I love that and Darn is like I will be on your side no matter what. And Taryn's like, I'm going through my own training mod, Taj. Isn't that enough for you? But this unflinching support is not to be seen as faith in Zaden or as Taryn likes to call him, the Dark One. This really got me thinking, because, yes, Taryn is protective of his mate, he's protective of Violet, and Zaden disappointed both of them with his choices. So just by being in this position that Taryn is in, it makes sense that he would be pissed at Xaden. But we've wondered endlessly on the podcast if Naolin turned Venin to save Brennan. Naolin was Terence previous writer. So what if this outright anger and lack of trust is also because Terrence been through this before he saw a writer turn and go beyond redemption. It's like he's saying, I've seen this film before and I didn't like the ending. Later, Violet brings up Naolen to Taryn. He interrupts her by saying, quote, we do not speak of the one who came before. An agonizing pain floods their bond. It makes me wonder that if this is the case, did Naolin and Taryn stay bonded for long after Naolen supposedly turned? Did Taran break the bond right away? Did Taryn stay and try to help Naolin turn back? And then when Naolin was lost to the power, it shattered Taryn's trust?

[Lexi]

Based on the vague timeline we've gotten from both Kaori and Brennan, I'd be surprised if, let's say, more than a day passed before he broke the bond. Taryn is black and white. You turn Venon, you're cut off in his eyes. But let's talk about that very important detail of Andarna scorching the Venin during the battle. She points out that, quote, magic feels different when I change color. Maybe my use of power in that moment altered the Venin, weakened her enough to blister. We will learn later from the Irids that Irids are magic, which I understand is different from the other dragon dens who source their magic from the Earth, or at least the environment around them them. Hence why they suffer when they're not on the continent. But the Irids, including Andarna, are fine.

[Nicole]

Also, potentially why Violet can wield and talk to her dragons on the Isles where there isn't any magic. It's almost like. And Darna is her power bank, her power source. And only those who are connected to it can access it.

[Lexi]

I have so many questions about all of this, and I Will say, I'm actually quite surprised we don't learn any more about this. Changing colors and magic differences in regard to the Venin in Onyx Storm. But more seeds are planted about the Irids being the weapons. They shut down the idea that there is a cure to being Venon, but they never confirm or deny that they are the weapon that defeated the Venom in the Great War. And Papa Sorgael, of course, will mention the weapon in his letter to Violet. Good thing we have a whole episode dedicated to the Irid meeting where we will explore all of this in way more detail and what it may mean for the rest of our story.

[Nicole]

I'm calling this a plot and drop. It's absolutely like here's some plot and then drop. Stop it. It's going to be on the list of things that are going to keep me up at night between now and book four. Does this mean that when Violet channels from a certain colored Andarna that her magic slightly changes? What do the other colors do? If one color can potentially roast Vennon, what happens when she's red or chameleon? I don't like.

[Lexi]

What? By the way, right before Andarna torched the Venin, she blended in with the cliff and looked like a giant boulder. Then here's the passage about her color. It springs forward from the cliff like a projectile, expanding, changing colors, sprouting wings and claws and black scales. Black is in italics. Immediately afterward, Andarna breathes fire on the Venin. So when Andarna changes her color to black, the magic within her felt different. And that's when she was able to roast the dark wielder. Like Violet mentions, this could alter everything. And this brings them to a twofold conclusion. Andarna's kind might be the key to defeating the Venin if her use of power can alter the Venon. And secondly, on a similar note, if her magic can alter the Venin to defeat them, maybe her power can do the opposite and cure Venon too. Who better to find out how to master this tactic and explore all the possibilities of how changing skills changes magic that affect the Venin than the rest of her kind. Violet starts overhearing, probably right after the cliffhanger of Iron Flame, because Iron Flame ended with Jack saying quote, and yet you just did. All this time you've been convincing everyone you're the hero and now you'll be the villain. Especially in her story. Welcome to our fucked up family. Guess we're brothers now.

[Nicole]

Which that word brothers I feel like has an extra level meaning now that we know the ending of the story, Zaden refers to the newly turned initiate as brother. Now, is this a. Like, once you've reached a certain level, you start using the term brother. Like, once you become an Asym, you're officially inducted to the frat, and that's just how you refer to your fellow Sage team members.

[Lexi]

Now, I don't think it's so much like that as it is a term just embraced by Venon. And Jack is proud to be a Venin, so he embraces this concept of Venon family, that the Sage is a maven's petal, whereas Xaden only uses the term because he's accepting that he is indeed one of them. So then we get the first thing that Violet hears in the prologue of Onyx Storm, and that is Jack telling Xaden, quote, you can fight it all you want, but that power is streaming through her veins. There's a reason the higher ups want her. A little brotherly advice. Fall in line and find someone else to fuck.

[Nicole]

Oh, this right here. So we know from Theophany later that she wants her as her pupil. Is this because Violet is the strongest writer of their generation and they want that wildly powerful weapon on their side? That's what I'm thinking. Now a few other questions though. Is it could be yes. And to these as well, though, is there a specific mission that Violet needs to go on? Is she wanting closer access to Indarna? Or is it what we guessed in the predictions episode as well? Like, is Violet the super juicy power source that would sustain them more than the Earth ever could? Is it D all of the above?

[Lexi]

I wonder if the prophecy with Violet having multiple paths and that's why she couldn't get fully dedicated to Dune also might play a role in why the Venin want her. Especially Theophany, who is hell bent on taking Violet as her pupil for herself. She had been a high priestess after all. Anyway, we'll be talking a lot about why the Venin want Violet throughout this deep dive as we pull out reasons from the pages and discuss theories.

[Nicole]

Now, Jack admits later that he isn't fully privy to all the info of the Venin because they have rank like within the Nevarian military. But he does say to Zaden, quote, who knows, they might let her live just to keep you on a leash, which implies that they might eventually kill Violet. Is this the actual answer? Like, they want Violet to kill her? Or is this just Jack running his fucking mouth about plans he has no idea about? I'm leaning towards the latter because it's Jack.

[Lexi]

I kind of think he wants her dead so badly that it's his own wishful thinking. But the Venin clearly know that Violet and Zaden are a pair. And here's when we get that first mention about a leash. Lots more of that to come. Violet's also like shit. Jack knows he's Venon. While I'm sure Xaden's eyes gave him away, I assume Jack can sense Zaden, since initiates and Asymms can sense one another.

[Nicole]

Before we move on, I've got a quick question for our audience and that is when was the last time you needed to go to a doctor but you pushed it off? Maybe you made the excuse I'm too busy writing an outline I have to reread On a Storm for the eighth time or my personal favorite, I have to scour the Internet for the most unhinged theories possible. I think we've all been there. Booking a doctor's appointment can be so daunting. But thank you to Zocdoc. There's no reason to delay. They make it so easy to find and book a doctor who is right for you.

[Lexi]

ZocDoc is a free app and website where you can search and compare high quality in network doctors and click to instantly book an appointment. We're talking about booking in network appointments with more than 100,000 doctors across every specialty from mental health to dental health, primary care to urgent care, and so much more. You can filter for doctors who take your insurance, are located nearby and are a good fit for any medical need you may have.

[Nicole]

My favorite part of zocdoc is the ease of scheduling. Once you find the right doctor you can use their actual appointment openings. Choose a time slot that works for you and instantly book a visit. Appointments made through Zocdoc can also happen really really fast, typically between 24 to 72 hours of booking. You can even score same day appointments.

[Lexi]

We use Zocdoc and you should too. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and go to Zocdoc.com FF to find an instantly book a top rated doctor today. That's z o c-o c.com ff zocdoc.com ff two weeks later sorry friends, I'm not as good as nickel like that. But anyway, it's two weeks later. Let's set the stage for what's been going on these past few weeks. Weeks since the Battle of Bisgaeth. The Cenarium, which is the King's council that includes the highest aristocrats from each province is currently on the fourth day of unprecedented peace talks with Poromil as the two kingdoms negotiate terms to ally and fight against the Venin together. So it's clear that the secret's out about the Venin, and instead of hiding behind the Nevarian wards, it's time to work with Por Meal against the common enemy for the sake of humankind as a whole. Nevarr understands that the Venin war is on their doorstep step or more accurately, at their ward's borders. And this problem isn't going to just go away where they can pretend it doesn't exist like Navarre was previously doing. As much as the Navarrian citizens, specifically writers don't want to ally with Poor Meal. They've been enemies for centuries after all, conditioned to hate each other and fight against one another.

[Nicole]

But poor Emile is not cozying up to Navarre willy nilly. They have publicly declared that they will walk after the seventh day if terms cannot be reached. We're on day four now, so three days left before they pull out and say fuck you Navarre and we'll keep fighting this war on our own like we have been doing for centuries. Basically, we don't need you. Because while Navar agrees they should work together, they are not willing to open their protected borders to Poor Meal refugees. Bad luck, Navarre. Or let their flyers into the writers quadrant at Bestgaeth, which is largely because the flyers wouldn't be able to protect themselves against the riders. Navarre's wards obviously prevent fires from wielding. However, the Duchess of Moraine later in the scenario mentions how they cannot let their Queen quote forces in, to which Violet replies, what the fuck are you talking about? They're cadets. This just shows that they are not only flexing the hahaha, we're stronger than you, we can wield. They're scared of them. They're scared of these quote forces.

[Lexi]

So Violet has a separate agreement with Viscount Dakaris. Quick pause on who he is. Dakarys is the heir to the poor Emil throne and Cat's uncle, who we met in Cordon last book. Violet's agreement with Dakarys involves figuring out how to adjust the Bestgaeth Wardstone to include letting the flyers wield. Mira is currently at Oratius secretly looking into how this is possible. If the flyers can wield, they can protect themselves at Bisgaeth and therefore be able to enter the quadrant, which will be huge in the negotiations between Navarre and Poor Meal, as long as they don't get caught. Because messing with the Wardstone is definitely treason for these riders. And it would be a full blown war with the Flyers if Navarre caught them and accused them of tampering with their ward. Right now the two kingdoms are basically at a standstill. Their politics are very different from each other for starters. And if Nevar is unwilling to help Poor Meal citizens and Flyers, then what does Poor Meal get out of this alliance?

[Nicole]

With the Revelation that there is a seventh Dragon breed that may be able to help defeat the Venin, Violet has been waiting for more than a week to meet with the Scenarium, which I'm not going to lie, Scenarium. I know you're on a tight deadline, but this feels like it should be a very high priority meeting. And Darna is the only remaining Nevarian seventh Dragon Den after all.

[Lexi]

Like we mentioned during our reactions episode, we were initially surprised that the secret of the seventh Dragon Den is out now, but it does make a lot of sense because for one, there needed to be an explanation for the words reactivating, and Violet thinks more along the lines of Liryre. It isn't in anyone's best interest to hoard this knowledge and keep it secret. Number two in the prologue she and Adarna come to the conclusion that the seventh Dragon dragon breed could alter everything, and Darna uniquely can roast Venin, and her den may be the key to defeating Dark wielders. Plus, Violet is on a mission to find the cure for Zaden, and Andarna's den may be the answer, so they're willing to do whatever it takes to explore that possibility. Number three this war against the Venin is an all hands on deck for both Navarre and Poromiel. So if there are more dragons out there, especially dragons who might be able to roast the supposedly fireproof Venon, then yes. Yeah, that's not information to keep to oneself. Part of me wonders if Coda actually shared the news with Melgren, or was it Violet who passes info along to leadership literally right after the battle?

[Nicole]

Good question. I don't know. I could see it both ways. However, knowing the two kingdoms are desperate and needing to find the seventh Dragon Den, Violet in and Darna are in a unique position and they're planning to take a list of demands for their very necessary participation in this mission. That, among other things, gives the oration writers a pardon after deserting and gives Violet control of the Task Force Quest squad to find the seventh Dragon Den.

[Lexi]

But goeth writers, mostly second and third year cadets, have been going out on patrols hunting down Venin after they scurried away when the wards came back up during the Battle of Bisgaeth. They're going out on patrols searching for the Venin and have slain 31 venin so far. But now it's been three days of quiet. Zaden has been responsible for 17 of those dark wielder kills because he is able to sense them, so there's literally a tracker on them for him. Well, speaking of Xaden, he also doesn't want to know too much information from Violet because he doesn't trust himself to not accidentally be a leak to the Vinnin. There is a weird bond between the Venin that we still don't know very much about, and he'd rather be safe than sorry, so he purposefully wants to be kept in the dark about Violet's plans to fix the wards so the flyers can wield within them.

[Nicole]

Along these same lines, Xaden is mentally shielding Violet out most of the time since he's turned Venon because he doesn't trust himself to keep it open and thus risk losing control. So they haven't been communicating like they used to through their bond as he goes with his better safe than sorry approach.

[Lexi]

In the midst of all this going on between the kingdoms and at Bestgaeth, there have been no classes as the professors have been a little busy, which means no news from the front and no leadership to direct these killing machines, who are a little lot tense these days. When half the cadets left and split the dragon riot in half back in Iron Flame, new wing leadership was selected here at Biscayat. So now we've got lame ass Ewan Faber as wing leaders leader of the Buzgaoth fourth Wing, while Dain is wing leader of the Orishan fourth Wing. That mostly went to Orisha last book. There is a lot of friction between the Navarre cadets and the Erisian cadets. The Navarre writers hate the Eritian writers for leaving and considering them traitors, while the Erisian writers argue they came back and saved their asses. Which all just adds fuel to the flames as these groups of people need to start working together. Writers and soon flyers too. But there's just too much baggage, too many vendettas against the other side to come together the way that they should.

[Nicole]

We learn that thanks to the venom patrols, we have lost multiple riders in these last two weeks. And I quote in first Wing, third Wing and our own Claw section have suffered losses, AKA fourth Wing. I'm just going to say this once, you know who's not listed on this list. Second Wing continuing to stay sus second wing. I'm on to you. If you have no idea what I'm talking about. Listen to our Iron Flame coverage. Luckily, today does not seem to have quite the lethal outcome of other patrols. Nope, just a super snow storm. But pause because this is one huge howling windstorm that's making it impossible to see everything. Which it dawned on me. What's this storm Theophany's doing? We know that as this is happening, the Venin are within the walls. Or they're sneaking into the walls. Theophany is not a lightning wielder. She's an extremely powerful storm wielder. She could literally be making it impossible to see shit over the storm covering up the Venin who are getting into the school right now. Especially because not Violet thinks about her mother, the very powerful storm wielder. And it just kind of almost connects the two powers on the page. God, I love this book. On a reread.

[Lexi]

I never thought about that while reading. I thought storm wielding didn't include snowstorms, but you're right because actually in was it Iron Flame, we did get like a Lilith had like frost starting to come around and it was like, oh man, she's pissed. Oh, interesting. I guess I just assumed that is just freaking freezing right now at Buzgaeth in January. While Violet is relieved they haven't encountered any Venin for three straight days, Taryn isn't so comforted as he shouldn't be because nope, they're not out and about. At least a few Venon are starting to infiltrate Bestgaeth pretending to be scribes.

[Nicole]

In this impossible to see anything. In Storm, Violet and Taryn are almost taken out by a set of wings and claws. But phew. It is not a wyvern. It. It is instead Riddick and Iotrom, Riddick's brown swordtail. They are just dropping out of the sky directly on top of Taran and Violet. Which is odd because this barely happens due to dragons being able to communicate with one another in the riot. But alas, Iotram and Riddick were in a fight over wanting to go back to Orisha and launch Quest squad for the Seventh Breed from there. And I will just say this once. They still have half wards in Oratia. It's not the smartest political plan, but I don't entirely disagree with Iotrim because first and foremost, they're just at peace more in Oratia. So just, you know, for the mental health, it'd be nice. It would also be a hell of a lot more time efficient they wouldn't have to fly 18 hours, then get to Oratia, then go to the Isle Kingdoms or Cordon or whatever. And also they wouldn't have to deal with the fucking Scenarium or Melgren. And they still have half wards.

[Lexi]

So the politics they have to deal with, with the stuff here and the Scenarium, and to go on the task force to go get Darna's kind.

[Nicole]

Down, girl, down girl.

[Lexi]

Politics, though, are here. You gotta stay here.

[Nicole]

However, Iotrim in his anger blocked out not only Riddick, but also the rest of the riot, making it impossible for Taran and the other dragons to know where the hell he's going. So he just dropped out of the sky.

[Lexi]

So, not gonna lie, this encounter with Riddick and his dragon raises some eyebrows. Eyebrows. And this action is an extreme example of the dragons arguing with their writers about wanting to go back to Orisha. But this encounter between Aytrom and Taran could be evidence of Riddick hiding something from the rest of the squad. Let's go down a three rabbit hole, friends. For instance, Taran notes that Aytrem should know better than to close himself off from the riot simply because he is arguing with his rider. And in chapter 10, Violet will be surprised that Garruk's dragon Crud blocks out his riot to protect his riot writers secret second signet. Dragons blocking out their riots on behalf of their writers isn't unheard of, but it's definitely not common and seems to only be done in dire situations. Which begs the question, is Riddick hiding something more than just arguing with his dragon over going back to Orisha? There's a theory floating around that he has a second signet, or the more common theory Riddick is Venon. Let's go through the evidence. Number one, the fact that his dragon blocked out the rest of his riot makes up possible Riddick was controlling his dragon in this moment. Number two, his ice wielding signet is extra powerful and we know Venon signets are extra strong. Number three, he is insistent on going on the Quest squad. Maybe it's not to protect Violet and it's actually to gain intel for the venon. Number four, and this is the biggie. In chapter 61, Rhys POV, we see Riddick defeat a Wyvern. And based on the description, a lot of readers think that he drained the Wyvern. Personally, I can't get behind this. Riddick is a Venon theory. Is this chapter one run in with Taran a little weird? Yes. Does it mean Riddick's a Venin? No, because all the evidence that I just laid out supporting it can also be explained by other things like that he is an extra powerful ice wielder who froze a wyvern from the inside out because he's been practicing, hence the wyvern cracking when it falls to the ground and because he's a good friend to Violet and how his dragon is pretty young and a little silly like ridiculous is. But it is something to keep an eye on as we keep deep diving the book. I'm definitely of the impression this run in is more to illustrate the start of book tensions between dragon and rider as everyone wants different things. So while there is that want to return to Orisha and leave the hostility of Bisgaeth, the potential alliance with Bormiel requires them to stay here where they can help the flyers. And plus Zaden knows it's in his and others especially Violet's best interest to stay within the wards.

[Nicole]

Right off the bat of this book we can tell that Violet is taking a very hands on approach to this mission. She is stepping up so much that when she talks with Imogen later this chapter, Imogen remarks, quote, I can't wait for him Zaden to discover you're leading your own rebellion. This is in reference to knowing that no matter what, they will need to find Indarna's kind Scenarium approval or not, and how she is researching Slash, planning on altering the wards to protect the flyers and get opportunities for them to protect themselves in the deadly writers quadrant. We will discuss this more later this episode, but it's important to highlight up front that like it or not, Violet, you are stepping into a leadership role. But she doesn't want the responsibility of leadership, nor does she think she has the leadership mindset. She thinks, quote, I'm not leading Zaden Dane re their leaders. They inspire and command for the good of the unit. I'm just doing whatever it takes to save Zaden. The reluctant leader trope, which is one of our favorites, will be a throughline theme for us in the coverage of this book, and it's one of the reasons this quickly became one of our favorite books of the series. Exactly.

[Lexi]

Here we are in the book's opening, with Violet's initial mindset about leadership clearly laid out for us. She doesn't consider herself a leader, she's not consciously choosing to be one. But soon enough, like literally in a few chapters, leadership will fall upon her and she just needs to step into that role. Unapologetically, Imogen relays that she, Garrick and Bode recommend Violet and Zaden maybe not sleep in the same quarters anymore. It's a clear statement that they're worried for Violet's safety and can't trust Zaden when they're both at their most vulnerable states. Ooh, good foreshadowing there for a second signet. I didn't think about that before. He may not have done anything to provoke this since he turned Venin, but the simple fact that Xaden is Venin and cannot be trusted to stay in control is eye opening, especially from his closest friends. And again sets the tone for this book.

[Nicole]

Violet at the beginning of Onyx Storm is facing her own inner battle. A battle against against logic. We knew going into this book Violet wants one thing to cure Xaden and we are seeing that right off the bat. Our mind of a scribe believes with her whole heart that she is in the right. That because Xaden is still Xaden, the man who above all loves her, because of that he has not lost his soul. Alas, my dear Violet, just because Xaden isn't draining you in your sleep does not mean he isn't different or altered. There's also this line that Violet says Xaden is not a soulless venom. By the way, this is the second time in the first two chapters of this book Soless has been used. It also has been used regularly in the previous two books around describing Venon. You know who else was described as such? The man, the myth, the soulless writer himself, Verish, and of course the Sage, who we now know as Berwin. Multiple times.

[Lexi]

We'll see this crew's concern in action in chapter four, when Garak, Imin and Bodhi are outside Violet and Zaden's room. When they oversleep, Violet realizes that they're here to check that Xaden didn't kill her. And while I admire and respect her trust in Xaden, it's a genuine concern that their closest confidants are taken seriously. Zaden being Venon is a big deal, I'm sorry to say that, but it's just true and it should be treated with care. And they're not letting their feelings about Xaden get in the way of what they know Venon are capable of. Zaden is now unpredictable and they're prepared for any outcome, even if it means considering him quite dangerous and capable of anything.

[Nicole]

Because that's what Venon are. And no matter how much they like it or not, Zayden is indeed altered and Venom now.

[Lexi]

And now Zaden he's like a little baby venom. Sounds like he might need some Haya vitamins, you know, to become a big and strong venin. If you're a parent of a little one like I am, you also know the struggle of getting the kids to take daily vitamins. And Haya has been a game changer for making vitamins fun. My kids literally look forward to it every single morning.

[Nicole]

Typical children's vitamins are basically candy in disguise, filled with two teaspoons of sugar, unhealthy chemicals and other gummy junk growing kids should never eat. That's why Haya was created the pediatrician approved super power chewable vitamin. While most children's vitamins are filled with 5 grams of sugar and can contribute to a variety of health issues, Haya is made with zero sugar and zero gummy junk, yet it tastes great and it's perfect for those little picky eaters like mine.

[Lexi]

Really it is hard to get my kids to eat the healthy stuff that they should be eating. I promise I put vegetables on their plate every single day. And at at least they do have their high of vitamins. Like it does make me feel better. And again they love to pick out the colors. I have to hide the bottle which is like a really fun yellow color. I have to hide it because otherwise they will keep trying to get it and like grab it from the counter. So they love it so much. And then I also recommend checking out their new kids probiotic and nighttime essentials.

[Nicole]

We've worked out a special deal with Haya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 55.0percent off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to haya health.com FFG this deal is not available on their regular website. Go to H I Y A H E a l t h.com ffg to get your kids the full body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults. Violet joins the rest of her second year squad in the infirmary to visit Sawyer. Quick refresher from the ending of Iron Flame. Second squad were all fighting in the air and Sawyer lost his leg to a quick wyvern snack after being rushed to the healers. Because remember, menders can only fix what's broken. Not missing altogether, Sawyer goes in and out of surgery after the battle. Now here we are two weeks later and we can tell Sawyer might be surrounded by friends, but he is deeply emotionally wounded just as much as he is physically. He has yet to show any signs of trying to get back on his feet, which it's been two Weeks.

[Lexi]

Fair.

[Nicole]

He needs time to heal. But he's also been in talks with Col. Chandler, who has been coming to see him. This is the commander of all retired rifle writers. You can feel it in his dialogue. He is ready to give up on his dream of being a writer. There is no sense of hope or what if when it comes to prosthetic possibilities, again, as of right now, which. It just breaks my heart where Sawyer is at the moment. He didn't give up after no dragon bonded him his first year. He had to sit out and watch all the others learn and solidify their Dragon Rider status. And now here he is a year later. He's having to do it all over again. It's just Sawyer. I love you.

[Lexi]

Thankfully, he has a squad mates and closest friends to support and help him. They know when to hold his hand and offer assurance, and they also know when to give Sawyer tough love. He doesn't feel like he's part of the team anymore, and they are right there to be like, no, we are all in this together. Still. One of my favorite things about the series is the found family. And we see this on full display here with their support of Sawyer as he navigates what life looks like as a writer without his life like.

[Nicole]

But then a shriek from outside the infirmary sounds, and an infantry cadet stumbles in with gray handprints marking the sides of his neck. I love that even the Venin now are, like, with two hands.

[Lexi]

Okay, but here I am curious how the infantry guy got away from the Venin. Starting to drain him. Maybe I'm too conditioned with the riders and don't give the infantry enough credit. So yay for him getting away from the venom. Huzzah for you and Patrick, Guy.

[Nicole]

Alas, the Venin are within the walls. Ri Riddick and Violet run out of the infirmary, leaving Cat to protect whoever she can, and Marin, Cat's best friend, to protect Sawyer. Not without Winifred yelling, violet, don't go out there, ma'am. I know you're trying to keep her safe. That's very noble. Do you know what your husband did last book? Anyway, the trio runs out of the hall to a sight that makes them stop dead in their tracks. The hall that was previously lined up with infantry cadets who were wounded from the battle of Misgayeth are now rows upon rows of drained, desiccated bodies. Oh, dear. This is chapter two.

[Lexi]

That's bad.

[Nicole]

As they make their way out of the eerily quiet hall, a scribe flies out of the stairwell ahead of them. But it's not A scribe because as his hood falls back revealing red rimmed eyes. Eyes with spider webbed veins. Hello asum level Venin. Which makes me wonder since the Ophani is down below. Are these Venin all hers or like is that how they travel? Do they travel within their I'm going to go back to my voice team reference. Do they travel within their voice team or is this Berwin's voice team? Because they're going to help Jack and I think we know Jack is on Berwin's voice team.

[Lexi]

I would assume Berwin had something to do with it since Jack seems to be his son that Pancheck is trying to help him retract retrieve. Though Theophany obviously wants him too because he's a security risk. That's what she says to Violet later on. So I think that they want him for different reasons.

[Nicole]

I love that he's a security risk. That makes so much sense before this scribe. Not a scribe, it's actually a Venin even has a moment to reach under his robes. Violet has struck true with her alloy hilted daggers, embedding them in his side and he dies. How did Violet know that she was throwing a dagger at a Venin and not at a wandering scribe? Since she would have had to throw the daggers within milliseconds of seeing his eyes, Violet instinctively knew that a real scribe would not be running towards the action. Instead they would be running towards the archives. Whether that's to save themselves or save the books or save D all of the above.

[Lexi]

TBD I think books in chapter one Violet and Imogen were walking through the crowded tunnel where the overflow of now dead pageants are and we got this observation quote I spot a group of hooded scribes moving among them. No doubt still working to get accurate accounts of the battle. The way that they were silently doing this and for how fast all these patients were drained. I think it's safe to say that these scribe disguised Venin were draining them as they moved among these patients. They were able to do so sneakily because the patients were supposed to be tucked in their beds sleeping. So they killed them based on the context before and after this infiltration. I'm leading toward this being a unique instance and I think Panchak definitely facilitated this for the Venin, ensuring they have access to the scribe robes and such. It's also probably, probably the one and only attempt to this extreme. If Xaden hasn't said anything about sensing them within the walls later on or even before this.

[Nicole]

Yeah, I. I agree with you on this. Especially because later, after getting debriefed from the Venon attack, Garrick says regarding Pancheck, quote, he didn't even seem phased that they were working to rescue Barlow instead of going for the Wardstone. Yeah, because he's working with them. Because Panchak is in on this, which. This does give us a timestamp stamp around when he started working with the Venin, I think.

[Lexi]

Oh, I definitely think it was before this.

[Nicole]

Really?

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

I went back to Iron Flame and there's a few mentions that, like, I'll say could be sus, but there's much more of him meaning Panchak, like, balking at leadership or even Zaden. But I don't know if that's just his character and that's who he is. Venon sympathizer or.

[Lexi]

No, I definitely think think it was before. Just because it's not outright on the page doesn't mean it wasn't before you.

[Nicole]

Learned your lesson from Jack fucking Barlow. As for this being a unique instance, I was pretty gung ho about this absolutely having happened before. There's that moment in Iron Flame where Violet and Ri are walking to battle brief and quote, a scribe cadet walks by and I can't see who it is with the hood up. That's odd. Usually they're only in the quadrant for death roll or whenever M4RKIM needs extra people. This absolutely could have been a Venom dressed up as a scribe. Because of how Violet's reaction around this and all of this kind of stuff. I definitely think you're on to something, that this is not a highly regularly occurring thing. I think it's happened once or twice.

[Lexi]

Though, so I think that scribe with the hood up back in Iron Flame that you were just describing, I think it was a scribe cadet helping Devera get the missive about Zolia falling to battle brief. Because right after Violet sees that hooded scribe unable to tell who it is, her and her squad walk into battle Brief where the news breaks that Zolia has fallen, and we later learn Devera is behind it. Maybe it was even Jinia helping her, since she's catching on. But I believe that there are Venin lurking within Biscaya that specifically target the scribes. Never forget Nasya and how he's always asleep.

[Nicole]

Yes, he's being drugged, I swear. Poor guy.

[Lexi]

Jack will share in chapter 12 that if you've never wielded like scribes, you would need instruction to know how to pull from the source. And he also will say, quote, initiates asams, we're all traceable to one another. But the great hall could fill with sages and mavens, and I'd never know. Neither would you. Makes you wonder who's been channeling here for years, doesn't it? Who's been trading information for power? So it's not out of the question that there is a scribe who's also a higher up Venin hiding in plain sight who may even be recruiting scribes and teaching them how to become Venon. However, it's not not in line with scribe behavior. Could there be a few who lust after that kind of power? Absolutely. But the want for power is not within scribe values. Like, for instance, I could see infantry being far more susceptible to wanting to turn as a power grab. So I'm leaning toward this infiltration being one that Pancheck helped them with. And the Venin disguise themselves as scribes because they're the easiest to hide in plain sight. With their quiet demeanor and hooded ropes.

[Nicole]

Our trio runs towards a stairwell, and after the question of up or down is asked, a shout is let out from below. Looks like that question answered itself, as Riddick says, quote, Great. Down the stairwell to the torture chamber, where an untold number of freshly fed dark wielders wait. Good times.

[Lexi]

I have to be honest. I don't think the Hufflepuff in me would have the courage to do that. I would go hide somewhere else.

[Nicole]

I would need to compartmentalize real hard if I was doing this. As they run down the stairs, they hear metal clanging, and the Venin yell, quote, stop playing with your kill and help us get this door open. And it dawns on Violet that they've come for Jack fucking Barlow.

[Lexi]

This Venin rescue mission for Jack begs the question, why do they need. Why always how my questions about Jack start. Why do they feel the need to rescue him? Him, we don't get confirmation. But there is that line from theophany in chapter 58 where she says, quote, I won't make the same mistakes with you, Berwin made with Jack. He spills his sage's secrets too easily. So while there is probably an added layer to why these higher ups want Jack back, I think the main reason is to shut him up from spilling too many venom secrets in Bisguy's custody.

[Nicole]

Let's do a quick meet the Venin of this antechamber. Two Venon are dressed as square scribes working on the cell door for Jack. We can also assume that these are two of the scribes who were probably freshly feeding that Violet and Imogen Saw earlier, there's a female who has short blonde hair and a ruby hilted sword who is held up to the guard. I searched both books for anyone who we know who has short blonde hair. She also has like high cheekbones and I could not find anyone. So this is a new Venin and the fourth is at the edge of the shadows. This venom has a long silver braid and a faded forehead tattoo. Who looks at version Violet smirks and then poofs away. Theophany, my girl, welcome to the chat again. Going back to Lexi's belief and I'm hopping on this train here with you Lexi, that all higher Venin can absolutely disapparate. Once you pull from the energy of the world enough times, you almost like unlock the ability like writers can do with lesser magics before they manifest their signant. We will later learn that Theophany was a high priestess of Dune and when you are dedicating to a particular goddess, your hair turns silver and when you're a high priestess, you get a forehead tattoo. So much around Dune and the dedication that we are going to save because we have enough to cover this episode for later on in the deep dive. With Theophany now gone, all hell breaks loose.

[Lexi]

Though it is so awesome seeing our beloved second squad working seamlessly together, they are such a great team.

[Nicole]

Violet throws daggers but misses because they're too damn fast. And the Venin start to retaliate back. But the Ruby Sword wielder yells not that one. We need her. Which Violet believes they need her in order to control Zaden. Even though they've definitely never said this, this is just her assumption based on what the Sage said to her in, quote, her dreams last book dreams that we now know are Zaden's. But then the shadows move from the edge of the chamber and explode throughout the room. Quote in a sea of endless black I instantly recognize as home. Oh. A band of darkness wraps around my hips and yanks me backward, then brushes my cheek gently.

[Lexi]

Violet immediately knows that any threat to her life has been extinguished, leaning into the notion that even if he is Venon now, she still trusts him with her life. After all, Zaden isn't like these Venin who are Asam. Yet we get a reminder of his rank, which is Second Lieutenant and the rank that Allgaeth graduates immediately have. And real quick, let's walk through officer ranks, lowest to highest, so we're all on the same page. It goes Second Lieutenant, then First Lieutenant, which is what? Mira was three years out of the quadrant when she was introduced in 4th Wing next is captain, then major, then we have lieutenant colonel, then colonel. And while the US military has more ranks between colonel and general, we can assume in this world after colonel, it is general. Back to the scene at hand. Zaden's Shadows stab the three remaining Dark Wielders with alloy hilted daggers.

[Nicole]

And when the Shadows are tracked back to their initial place, all the Venin are shriveled up and dead. And we get this quote. Tell me something. Violence. Why is it always you? What an entrance, my guy.

[Lexi]

At least thanks to Mira's words at Jack cell, he wasn't able to hear or see anything outside the chamber unless someone opens the door. So luckily no one did that. So as far as we know, he has no idea what just happened outside his cell. However, interesting that it doesn't seem this guy is using the same tactics to prevent him from draining like they did all of Iron Flame. Since he's draining everything he can in the cell, he doesn't have much longer to live without his power supply and he's leaving his food untouched. I wonder if because he no longer has his dragon, he needs a constant power supply and regular food and supply substance doesn't cut it for him anymore. Or he turned asam when he drained to stay alive after his dragon died, as Berwyn alludes to being possible in Zaden's POV chapter 65. And frequent draining is the only way to stay alive once when you level up from initiate. But Scae is obviously not trying to cure him anymore with Nolan and the air Wielder to prevent him from touching the ground. And I'm assuming they're not bothering to control him either by forcing him to take the serum like they were in the prologue. The last chapter of Iron Flame. The serum again, as far as we know, blocks Venin, including Jack, from channeling any kind of power.

[Nicole]

Speaking of draining the world, you know what's been draining me? Having to keep up with making sure my body gets all the nutrients it needs. Especially in this super busy time at FFG. But when I take my AG1, I know that I am prioritizing my wellness and being kind to my gut.

[Lexi]

Jake and I absolutely love AG1. We make sure that every morning, no matter how busy busy we are, we get our scoop of AG1. He always makes mine for me and I always appreciate it. There's something so great about walking out the door in the frenzy that is trying to get my kid to preschool or settling down at my office right here. Just knowing that I've already gotten a good head start to my daily nutritional needs from just one scoop of AG1.

[Nicole]

Absolutely. For me, my favorite thing about AG1 is how easy it is to incorporate into my daily routine. I have been drinking the same smoothie every single day for seven years. I kid you not. And all I do is literally add it to my smoothie. If you're watching on YouTube, you just saw me finish it. It was freaking delicious. Yes, I had AG1 in the smoothie. You just drop it into your smoothie or even into water or a milk of your choice and you are good to go.

[Lexi]

So this new year, try AG1 for yourself. It's the perfect time to start a new healthy habit. And that's why we've been partnering with AG1 for so long. AG1 is offering new subscribers a free $76 gift. When you sign up, you'll get a welcome kit, a bottle of D3K2, and five free travel packs in your first box. Nicole and I do not travel without our AG1 travel travel packs, so make sure to check out drink ag1.com FFG to get this offer. That's drink ag1.com FFG to start your new year on a healthier note, let's.

[Nicole]

Take a moment and talk about Zaden because we've heard how he is up until this point from third party Information. But after the fight with the Venin and shaking off a very reluctant to leave Violet alone with Zaden chaperone Garrick, we get insight into how he is dealing with this new added element in his life. Life. First, he is grateful for his new bodyguards and knowing that what they're doing is important not just for him, but also for Violet's safety. But damn, does he miss being alone. And honestly, fair, if I was constantly surrounded by people, even if I knew it was for my own good, I would get so annoyed. Like I'm. I'm too much of an introvert for that.

[Lexi]

After he channels all that shadow power in the chamber against the Venin, Garruk as well as Violet, Pilot is understandably hyper aware of Xaden's eyes. The question of did he channel from the source is always there, especially in big signet wielding moments like that. But luckily in this instance, Zaden didn't. That was all channeling from Sigail baby. And from this conversation we get between Xaden and Violet with her pointing out he wielded his signet today behind the wards. It makes me realize he doesn't usually use a signet anymore for two reasons. Number one, he tries to stay in control and not truly trigger the possibility of pulling power from the source. And number two, we learn that wielding signets can attract the Venin. And I wonder if him also being Venon makes it that much easier for them to sense him from afar.

[Nicole]

Yeah. Secondly, we see firsthand just how pissed Sigail is and not speaking to him through their bond. But their bond is still intact and he is able to channel from her just like he just did. Which side note back to the Naolin did indeed turn Venon and Tank. Taryn needed to break the bond and that's why he's so pissed. Another reason Sigail could be extremely pissed is because she saw what happened to Taryn and she's livid now knowing that she's about to be in that same amount of pain and it's going to affect both of them. So that's just another element to that theory. Thirdly, there is no horizontal hanky panky for Xaden and Violet because part of their sexcapades include them losing control with each other. Never forget quote I've never lost control like that from book one.

[Lexi]

Good Gabriel impression. And also, we can't forget how much Violet loves to make him lose control with only her.

[Nicole]

Yeah, she does. Zaden is not letting himself do anything close to Violet that would result in him losing control and thus risk hurting her. And while he's not pulling away from her as a team, unlike an Iron Flame, they're now using the term we right off the bat when it comes to plans.

[Lexi]

Thank goodness. I know that was a huge thing for a lot of readers in Iron Flame. We talked a lot about how it made sense for their story arc, for their character development, for what they were each going through. But it is so wonderful to see these two so great together and just fully embracing that they are a couple and that they can overcome anything, however intimately.

[Nicole]

Zaden is creating distance between the two.

[Lexi]

Of them for the greater good. But oof, yes, poor them.

[Nicole]

Get to that in a minute. Lastly, while Violet might trust Ven and Zaden completely wholeheartedly, based on all her previous data points on how he's never hurt her, he most certainly does not trust himself. This is one of those moments where I really want to take a second and look at things from both sides. Violet is someone who is very data and examples and history. She makes decisions off of previous knowledge, which is one of the reasons reasons she was so flipped upside down last book. Everything she knew to be true wasn't and she knows Xaden and knows him on a soul deep level and because of that nothing in the past would ever equal him acting differently and hurting her now. Now could this be considered denial that he has indeed changed even remotely personally I think yes. But I don't mean that like she's burying her head fully in the sand. Also, I want to take a moment and look at Lilith's unsent correspondence to Asher from the epigraph of chapter three quote I know I love saying that.

[Lexi]

That was who's Asher Nicole.

[Nicole]

Quote When she finally and truly gives that heart, I fear it will overrule the other gifts you've given her and logic will cede its voice to love. I mean Lilith ain't wrong. She is in denial that Zaden could ever hurt her, not even considering it as a possibility. So when Garrick throws the quote I thought you'd at least be logical Violet. She thinks she's being logical and she thinks they are acting off of emotion with little to no evidence. However, I personally think their evidence is pretty sound with all the venom they fought. But that's just me. Remember half of last book they were off fighting dark wielders and holding the front while Violet was in class in Oratia. So they do have more active evidence. Also when Garak tries to convince them that changing their sleeping arrangements is a good idea. Such side note Zaden's voice edges on icy, ice cold, etc these are all terms that are frequently used describing Xaden and the Venon changes within him. In this book Violet is quite literally denying the changes right in front of her eyes. Meanwhile, let's look at this all from Zayden's point of view. He knows he's never done anything to hurt her, but he also knows that the rules of the game have changed. He would never hurt her purposefully, but part of being Venon means losing parts of yourself and he doesn't know which parts of himself are going to be the next to go and if his control and or his mental faculties are going to be one of them. And if that happens there's a high possibility something could hurt Violet. There's this ever stress of I could literally become someone I don't recognize at any moment hanging over Xaden. Hence the tripling down on control over himself and his mental faculties. Violet can think of only one way to prove to Zaden that he is not changed and he is indeed still whole. She says do you still love me? Because if he still loves her, then yes, Zayden is still Zayden no matter what I want to take a moment and go to the ending of this book. Xaden is channeling and his soul is drifting away on a spring breeze. Then Violet says down the line, I love you. And it's as if his soul stays tethered to himself in that moment. So if Violet's way of thinking here is sound, then yes, yes, Zaden, even Asam Zaden is possibly still himself.

[Lexi]

But we also can't forget what Jack warns, which is once Zaden turns Asam, he'll forget all about Violet. Now this is Jack fucking Barlow. I can't believe how much I am having to bring up Jack fucking Barlow. I mean, I don't say that as like a bad thing here at all, but like if you know me and you know my personal vendetta against him and I'm having to pull his quotes as like evidence here. Oh man. Anyway, this is Jack fucking Barlo, who wouldn't know love even if Caroline Ashton gave him the best blowjob ever. But this is the narrative that Xaden is being fed. He's going to lose himself and he's consciously holding onto his love for Violet because it's that strong. She is that much a part of him. Not just a soul that he's losing, but him at his core. Even if he was a maven, then we get quite the reveal. Zaden can sense Venon. Ah, so that's why he's such a good Venon hunter. They may as well have a tracker on them. Which, by the way, I love that this is comforting for Violet. Yes, they were attacked from within reason recently. But hey, if it happens again, we've got Zaden as the alarm bell. He knows he's changed at a core deep level as he can feel these Venant calling to him. Just like he can feel the powerful source pulsing beneath his feet. We'll keep exploring exactly what that means for Zaden throughout the Deep Dive. But for now I want to point out the general consensus that Zaden's soul is no longer his own. Sigail can sense that Xaden isn't whole anymore. Violet doesn't equivalent him to being a able to sense the Venin as losing part of his soul. But I think our girl's in a little bit of a denial, as we've been saying. And I'm not. I'm not blaming her for that. I would be too if I was with Xaden and this was happening. You know I can fix him, right? More than anything, I'm just obsessed with learning more about this unique venom magic. There is so much about them that we don't know. Where the magic doesn't seem as cut and dry as regular society with dragons, Cygnus and Wards. What's also concerning that other venom can sense Zaden. More specifically, any Sages and Maven among them at Biscaya like Jack will mention. Jack will explain why they sense each other like this. Quote again, here I am quoting Jack Barlow. Okay, quote. When we're new, we're not as adept at hiding ourselves, I'm told. If so will be found and raised by an Elder, usually a Sage. But in rare cases, a Maven may take interest. This means that if there is a high level Venan undercover at Biscayath, which definitely seems very likely, they probably already know Xaden is a Venin. Unless Xaden is innately good at hiding himself from others, he's already a master at it with shielding and hiding that he's an Intensic. All this icy walls that he's putting up. Yes, it's definitely to protect himself and to protect Violet. But what if it is also also keeping him hidden from being able to be sensed by these other Venin too?

[Nicole]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lexi]

Moving on to politics, let's meet the Scenarium, shall we? Real quick, they are today's archives topic, so we're going to keep this high level here and go into more detail during that segment. But it's important to know that the Scenarium is the highest ranking aristocracy in the kingdom, made up of the six provinces leaders. This meeting also includes poor meal provinces or at least Braveric. So yeah, it's a big deal for Violet to come before them. Thanks to her upbringing with her mom as a highly esteemed general. She recognizes many of the faces, but they are not friendly toward her. Navarre is pissed at Violet and her companions for leaving Bisgaeth and taking more than half the Dragon riot, leaving them in their eyes exposed for the Venon attack that came to this guy. And while it's not on the page, I wouldn't be surprised if the scenario like look at this mess of yours that we now have to clean up.

[Nicole]

Violet might know who everyone is, but let's do some quick introductions, shall we? First up, the newbies, the Duchess of Moraine, who has a giant ruby jostling around her collarbone. I am really not trying to get obsessive over Gem Watch. And while I think the gems from last book with like Surrey or maybe even the ruby sword that the Venin earlier had could be crystalline gems from chapter One of fourth wing that amplify minor magic here. I just think the Duchess of Moraine is showing off her wealth. Then we have the Duke of Caldeer. This guy's ego makes me feel like he thinks because he's from Caldir, he's the most popular guy at the party. He gives me the like I'm the closest to the highest seat of power and therefore I'm better than you all Fives. We all know who exactly I'm talking about there. We all know someone like the Duke of Caldeer. Then we have the Duchess of Elsam. And last but not least, the Duke of Lucerys. The seat of power of the Deakinshire province is never mentioned outright, but we can still assume they're here. Now onto some people. We do do know General Melgren, the leader of the Nevarian army. While he is being quite an ass in this scene because he's pissed at, you know, half of Bezgaeth, AKA his someday army to command for leaving to Oracia and now claiming to fall under other command. I do want to point out that based off the epigraph in chapter one, he is in favor of having an alliance with poor Emile, even if it's temporary. So he's an ass, but he's at least being semi reasonable. Ish. Next we've got Llewellyn, who we can.

[Lexi]

Gather is the current Duke of Tian Door, even though that's never said explicitly on the page.

[Nicole]

Yes, and while we never have met Llewellyn, he is someone we have definitely heard before. He has been secretly representing Oratia for years at the Scenarium and back in iron flame chapter 48 epigraph quote. As a result of the Treaty of Oratia, the power to represent the province of Tyrandor in the King Cenarium has hereby been transferred from the House of Friarson to the House of Llewellyn. That's him. Llewellyn is not to be confused with Duke Lindell. Lindell is the guy who fostered Zaden and Liam and prepped them for the writers quadrant.

[Lexi]

Not gonna lie, we were all confused and we assumed that they were the same person and that Llewellyn was the last name and Lindell was first name. But nope, two different people. These two high up aristocrats have been working together to help the marked ones. And while they're both both dukes, Llewellyn is the higher up duke with the power to represent Tyrandor while Lindell is the Duke of Assumably his own territory within Tirandor. Right off the bat, things don't go according to plan for Violet within Darna's demands. Turns out while Violet is allowed to be part of this task force Quest squad because her seventh Den Dragon is necessary to this mission of finding the rest of her kind, Captain Grady will lead this task force. Ah yes, Professor Grady, who taught RSC and Iron Flower Flame. The guy who teaches cadets to withstand torture and drugs them so that they're cut off from the dragons. And also the Professor Nicole is writing for. At least before Professor Zaddy.

[Nicole]

Apparently I have a thing for professors who turn out bad or die. At first there was Professor Carr, then Professor Grady. Professor Zaddy's gotta be okay, right?

[Lexi]

Yeah, maybe, eventually. But we're not there yet. We will dive into this whole task squad in episode three because. Because we have questions about what the hell Captain Grady is doing and if there's ulterior motives. But for now, the reason Grady was selected for leading this mission to find the seventh Dragon Den is because of his experience behind enemy lines. Which actually does check out with him being the RSC professor. I wonder what kind of formal shit he's been through. But that's the thing. Behind enemy lines has a new definition now. And I can't help but wonder if this was short sighted of Melgren to appoint him for a mission that isn't against their usual enemy. Unless it was Daddy Atos who appointed Grady. In which that's an entirely different theory. Rabbit hole that we will go down in episode three.

[Nicole]

I was gonna say episode three. I'm foaming at the mouth because I will happily dive nose first into that rabbit hole. Because I think that's entirely what happened.

[Lexi]

They need strategy and smarts for this mission to find the seventh Dragon Den. It's not just another mission across enemy lines, which apparently Grady doesn't have. Again, we'll go crazy with theories in episode three because we are very suspicious. He purposefully derails the mission and that calls into question the people who appointed him. To ensure the mission fails. Melgren is issuing this assignment of finding the seventh Dragon Den as a sign of good faith with the Eretian riot. In other words, the Eretian riot will stay here at Bisgaeth instead of splitting their forces again while this task force goes to a truth help from Andarna's kind. The hopeful outcome of this mission, increasing their numbers and finding the key to defeating the Venin is also the only thing holding together the already difficult negotiations with Poor Meal. Meaning it's in Poor Meal's best interest to ally with Navarre if Nevarr is trying to locate and recruit the seventh den in this continent's fight against the Venin.

[Nicole]

Llewellyn begins to read off and Darna's demands that she has quite a bit of sway to make. And before Violet finishes her sentence of needing six riders, and I'm assuming the end of that sentence was two flyers given that Drake and Cat are in her demands of the mission. Later in chapter 20, Mel Melgren cuts her off saying that she will take no one because she is a cadet. We are in Violet's POV so we know that she believes she is fully capable to run this mission. But for one moment I want to put ourselves in Melgren's point of view. He is the highest ranking army person you can be in Navarre. I can see and sympathize why he believes. It's almost like a third grader is telling a full fledged 30 year old how to do their taxes. I get that he believes she is not qualified to put together a mission. She is a cadet. Do I think he could have remained calm rather than interrupting her and yelling yes, yes I do. Because at the end of the day, Violet does have the ultimate card to play. If you don't give my dragon what she needs, Taran and Andarna will leave. Which also means Violet and Zaden will leave too.

[Lexi]

So while Melgren stays firm in his resolve that Grady is in charge because it's a quote, non negotiable military operation, not a class field trip, they will compromise by considering approval for Andarna's other.

[Nicole]

Demands the next morning. Rise and shine sleepy heads. You slept in. But boy oh boy, they do not get out of bed. Violet rolls over and sees Zayden still asleep. And she thinks about how this last week has been really hard on him. Quote, being consistently torn between his duties as a writer and navigating the responsibilities he carries for erasure in a space that doesn't recognize it. You know what's not on this list of worries for Xaden? Being Venom, Zayden is waging a war within himself that would lead to quite a bit of stress, I think.

[Lexi]

Oh, I love you Violet. You are in denial upon waking up.

[Nicole]

From a full nice sleep, both she and Satan. So we can't just say she here forget that things are indeed different now and that he does have these limitations. But before we get into that realization of reality, let's just live in the moment for a second. A band of shadow Wraps around Violet's waist and Zaden begins to slowly kiss up her neck. With one word being passed between the two of them. Mine. I love that it's not just him who says it, but it's her too.

[Lexi]

Ah. Mine. Mine.

[Nicole]

Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. Flipping her onto her back, Xaden rises above her and responds back with yours. I'm just giggling and kicking my feet in the air. This is all the chapter three. I love it. As Violet checks out his body, her fingers ghost over his scar on his heart. This is the one that he got seconds after putting her in Brennan's arms. And Brennan started mending her after her injury from resin. This is a scar that says he alone bears responsibility for Violet in Tyrandor. That makes me wonder, is she going to give herself a similar scar to bear the responsibility for Xaden next book? Especially given that at the end of this book, Xaden's assumed to have killed four riders, several elders, all their dragons, and stolen six eggs. So, like, not a good look. Back to sexy time. I am floating this entire thing. You cannot stop stop me.

[Lexi]

Quote.

[Nicole]

How do you want me to take you, Violet, here on your back with me above you, before you, on your hands and knees with your ass in the air against the wall so I can drive harder astride, so you can control the pace? Tell me, good sir, I need to calm down. Z to use his fingers and riles her up quite quickly. He says, I can feel it. I can feel you. And as his head lowers to to hers after staring at her longer than a moment, I think that this is when he stops forgetting because he can feel the power, the energy, the source within her. Given that Violet is literally wielding power right now, she's about to burst. This is why I think that she would make the ultimate super juice for the venom to drain.

[Lexi]

Zadie will say after finger banging bang is over, that if he could just take care of her, hopefully that would be enough for him. But yep, I think you're right. When his eyes flare, he's like, shit, I remember, remember. But he wants to live in the moment and take care of her, hoping it'll be okay from his end.

[Nicole]

And only when Violet sends the image of them breaking armoires down the bond. More on this in a moment. Does Xaden say fuck love, which oh my God, I am feral feral for this man. Using the word love multiple times in this book. That's favorite. Favorite pet name. Favorite goes to the top of the list.

[Lexi]

All right, well, I'm sorry to do this, but I have to splash a bucket of cold water on you and everybody and Violet and Zaden. Because like we were just saying, the second Violet's power rises, as it tends to do in classic shall I get the wing leader fashion, he feels it and starts to lose control. I'm under the impression that Zaden feels the same call to Violet's power as the power within the ground pulsing beneath him. Violet is power and it triggers him. Calls to him to take, take, take. The theme that becoming Venin is represented as an addiction is so strong in this book. And here we see him actively fighting it as he loses control with the woman he loves. Literally, because Zaden Ryerson put his hands on the headboard and not in the way we like it. He channeled without meaning to, draining the wood on the headboard just a teensy tiny bit, leaving two faint marks of discoloration where his thumbs had been. Not going to lie, this was startling to see in chapter four, but also I'm not surprised that he accidentally channeled while being intimate with Violet. Now more than ever, he needs to be in complete control of himself and with her, he loses control, which is sexy and hot, except for the whole Venin. And this is actually bad thing.

[Nicole]

Ice. Watch, baby. She reaches out for him and only finds a wall of sealed chilled onyx. Luckily, it is not full ice, which means he definitely did not pull a full Venon. But the chilled language already being the third mention of this cold connection to Ven and Zaden. But it's only chapter three. Four is immediately putting us readers in the I underst. The cold scale equals the venom scale. I also have to highlight again how Violet's simultaneous denial of him changing and determination to keep him is all right here on the page. Zaden is distressed and totally freaked out that he lost control in this manner. And Violet is smiling and saying how Satan, you just did us a favor. You can touch me and. And it's totally fine. I'll come give you a blowjob and show you just how fine it's going to be. When she sees that he did channel, she shakes her head and immediately says, quote, that's nothing. It's barely there. She is determined to make him feel that nothing is different. And I'll give her that. But there's the I'm not going to live in reality aspect of this for right now.

[Lexi]

This is all just for right now.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

On the bright side, Xaden locked it down pretty quickly and he regained his control again, showing that while it is A slippery slope. He's still very aware and doing the best that he can. And while he didn't feel himself take anything, there is just again that tiny bit of drainage from the wood. The life which equates to magic within the wood. But at least his eyes aren't red. So that's very good. Now we know that it is possible to channel a teeny tiny bit and not impact your eyes or even make you feel anything. I was thinking maybe this is how some venom get their power feed without their eyes showing the telltale signs, but I don't know. The way that Zaden had to lock it down fast makes me feel like this is all about staying in control and fighting the urge pulling away from what now feels so natural. Which other Venin don't necessarily feel.

[Nicole]

We have to talk real quick about this memory sharing ability that these two have with each other. While getting steamy, Violet can tell Xaden was holding back. So holding onto their bond with a vice like grip, she pours the memory of the armoire breaking from book one. We know that this is just one of several times throughout this series that they have shared this type of bond. And to be quite honest, I never really thought anything of it because sharing memories just seemed kind of natural until this line from chapter four. Quote I'm not sure how I even did it. Is the thought sharing an intention forensic thing or a bond thing? It's happened more than once with us. This right here tells me that there's way more than just what's on the page bond between them. There's a huge mate theory going around right now which we will cover fully in another episode. Because I I don't think that this is an intrinsic thing because Violet has now done it with Xaden, not just him sharing memories. And we know she's not an intensic.

[Lexi]

With all this talk about Zaden knowing he needs to stay in control and realizing he he failed this test of being intimate with Violet. Our guy holds up some boundaries with the woman he loves. He doesn't want to have these boundaries, but he knows it's for the best. After realizing he pulled from the source without thinking, without choice. Quote and if it had been you, I would never have forgiven myself. He can't fathom accidentally draining Violet who is the ultimate power source. So back to steering clear of activities where he can't be trusted to lose control. AKA only kissing aloud between them. As much as it pains Violet to adhere to these boundaries, and as much as she she trusts him not to pull from her because she can't slash, won't grasp how much he has changed and is unpredictable. She does agree to it, not because she agrees with his thinking, but because she respects him and his line in the sand.

[Nicole]

Do you think that in book four he's ever gonna accidentally drain even just.

[Lexi]

A tiny little bit from her? Yeah, there's a lot of foreshadowing for that.

[Nicole]

Yeah, I think so too. Reading this part, I can't help but think of the line from Rebecca Yarros's Variety article. Actually that came out after Iron Flame. Rebecca said, quote, welcome to conflict. How do you keep a couple together and apart and together and apart for five books? Would you like some conflict? Have some conflict. And that's exactly what this is here. These two are together unlike they were in Iron Flame kind of. But we immediately have that oh my God, they're intimately not together. And then we will later have they're finally intimately together again moment. We get to have that over and over throughout the series. Series with the same couple. I honestly think that's pretty masterful romance writing for a five book series. For a lot of romance series is when the couple finally gets together, the tension tends to leave. And that's part of why we fall in love with these stories in the beginning and why we love the first books or the beginning books so much. But now we get to have this over the course of three and the way that this book ended, I'm definitely assuming four books. And I love that. That just really keeps the relationship interesting for us readers. After the party in the hallway where it seems like everybody and their dog is standing outside of Violet and Zaden's bedroom, which quick pause. Do you think that they were out there before or after the orgasmic lightning strike? Like, or do you think that's what called them? Be like, oh shit, maybe she's defending herself.

[Lexi]

I like to think because of their room's sound wards, they wouldn't know one way or the other. There are those words, that's true.

[Nicole]

But he did put those wards not only in their oration bedroom, he also put it in her best. We do get a familiar face. Finally, back in our story, everyone's second favorite older fantasy sister after Lexi Mira. Mira has been on quite an adventure to erasure, bringing back a new conduit for Violet from Felix. Quick reminder that Felix was Violet's mentor in Oracia for her signet, who taught her that her power is much more than just flashy lightning. He specifically is teaching her small, precise strikes that she can wield more controllably.

[Lexi]

And her conduit is instrumental in helping her control all that power.

[Nicole]

Then Mira pulls out a wooden runed practice disc. I need rune for dummies. Professor Lexi, can you take the mic for really quick? Because I have no idea how this.

[Lexi]

Works, I will do my best to explain what the hell Mira has accomplished. Because yes, there is a lot of confusion in the fandom, understandably so. First of all, again, Mira has been in Orisha on a hush hush mission to figure out how to adjust the wards within the Bisgaeth wardstone to accommodate Griffin flier magic. Because the Orion wardstone differs slightly from bisgaas, there are runes within both ward stones that combined with fire from all seven dragon breeds, activate wards. Or should I say fully intact and long term secured wards, unlike what Arisha has now, which are partial wards and they're starting to fade. However, the runes within Buzgae's wardstone purposefully nullify flier's magic, while the runes within Orisha's wardstone enable flyers to wield magic as well. When the wards are up, as we learn from Lyra's journal entry, chapter seven epigraph quote, all who channel from dragon and griffin alike should flourish under the wards. And now Arisha will have that haven should one of the others ever return. And when we get to the Bisgaeth ward stone, there's quote the top line of runes differentiating Navarre's wardstone from Orisha's. So back to Mira. Her goal has been to figure out how to nullify a rune without altering the other runes also tempered into the material. She and Trissa, the cadets runes professor and an Orisha assembly member managed to alter the material the rune is tempered into without destroying it, and therefore all the other runes also tempered into the material. So in this example, right now with the wooded rune practice disc, there are three runes tempered into it, one for levitation in the middle, then two that are overlapping Sound shield and warmth. The wooden material has been altered with a growing plant cutting through the line that makes the warmth rune. This is thanks to one of the other assembly members, Signet, being a plant wielder. And by altering this wooden material with the plant where the warmth rune is tempered, the warmth rune is nullified, while the other two runes in the wooden disc, levitation and sound shield, are still perfectly intact. So what does this mean for the Buzgaeth wardstone? They'll need a metal wielder, AKA Sawyer, to alter the iron wardstone material like the plant wielder did to this wooden disc so they can nullify the rune on the Wardstone that prevents flyers from wielding. Think of altering the material as reforming clay. The material itself is still there and not broken or removed, but the outcome is different through the alteration. And in this case the outcome is nullifying a rune with the material getting reformed. Because this task is literally messing with the Wardstone that keeps the entire kingdom protected, there are definitely some major risks to it, which is why this is all very hush hush right now. More on Plan A and B shortly.

[Nicole]

What? Wow. Thank God for Professor Lexi. But it turns out that Mira was doing more than just learning super complex runes. Upon learning that Violet will be sent out into danger again beyond the wards. This is so that she can find and darn as kind to help solidify the wards and Oracia. Or at least that's what Mira believes her anger of feeling left out of yet again another sibling decision. It makes Mira snap and she says that maybe, just maybe, they have six months before the oration wards fall completely. This was quite surprising to learn, especially because Lexi and I were pretty convinced that it would be like maybe a few weeks before the wards fell. Meanwhile, Violet was keeping her fingers crossed for a year or two. That does not mean the wards will go from halfway hunky dory all the way to zero overnight. Slowly over time, throughout the last third of this book, we will learn that the wards are weakening, allowing the venom to come closer and closer and closer with each pass passing day. The grim news does nothing to change the plan of Brennan. Brilliant strategist. While he does not want his little sister into trouble, he does state how the danger of this is so much bigger than just these three siblings, and so much bigger than just protecting Violet. It's about saving hundreds of thousands of promish lives. Let's take two seconds to look at this from Brennan's pov because first up he doesn't know that they did find a way to keep the flyers protected under Nevarian wards yet. But secondly, for six years Brennan has been detached from the family. In fact, we know how he felt about Lilith and her choices last book he did not feel too warm and fuzzy towards the soaring gales, specifically Lilith. He also has been fighting a losing war. He's been making complex difficult decisions like this for six years. Whereas Mira, when Brennan air quotes died, and especially when Asher died, Mira took the role of protecting Violet. Neither of these two siblings are in the wrong in my opinion, but it show how much the last six years have affected their different Decision making?

[Lexi]

Absolutely. Anyway, our favorite squad is waiting for the results of Plan A. Which Plan A is Mira presenting her findings to the Scenarium about fixing the Wardstone to be able to include flier magic within the wards. Plan A involves the sign off from the Scenarium to make these adjustments to the Wardstone so negotiations with Poor Meal are easier once Navarre can guarantee the flyers can safely wield with within the wards. Plan B is our crew fixing the Wardstone in secret, which is of course what they'll end up doing no matter what. Violet is determined to carry out this plan because it's part of her agreement with DACA and time's ticking. She only has two more days now to uphold her end of the bargain. If she can ensure the flyers can wield within the Nevarian wards, therefore making it safer for them to be at Biscayath and protected from the writers who hate flyers, then Tokaris will give her full access to his life library. Full access to his library means access to everything poor Emiel knows about Venon, which is quite a bit. And that translates to a higher probability of learning about a potential cure for Xaden. So bottom line, if Violet can make sure the flyers are protected and able to wield within Nevar's wards, then she has way higher chances to gaining knowledge to curing Venon, AKA saving Zaden. As Andarna says, every possible path. These two are not putting all their eggs in one basket and I love it. As they wait to see if plan A works out, Reed mentions how there seems to be some kind of love triangle between Avalon, Baylor and Kai and this drama is messing with squad interpersonal dynamics. First of all, where else have we heard about these interpersonal dynamics? The first six they had drama among themselves that I'm still so curious about. But anyway, I also love that Rebecca.

[Nicole]

Yaros hates love triangles. And with Avalon, Baylor and Kyrie obviously expects that there's one there. It's almost like Rebecca. Rebecca's like here's one with minor characters so we never have to touch it. I love it.

[Lexi]

Also, if you're wondering who the heck these three squad members are, they're all first years in second squad who went to Arisha with the rest of the Traders. Avalon is a writer from Moraine. Her signet will manifest later this month and she will be a fire wielder. Baylor Norris is another writer. We assume he is a descendant of Aaron Norris who built the Scythe way way back when.

[Nicole]

Then also we know that Baylor later this book will manifest Farsight, just like Liam.

[Lexi]

And Kai is the only remaining first year flyer in second squad. He's the most advanced with his lesser magic abilities. It's a little confusing how all the flyers haven't been allowed to enter the Quadrant until today as the first years give them a tour. But Meren and Cat were with Sawyer earlier, before the Venin infiltration. And Kai seems to have been here too. So I'm assuming this tour and previous rule that the flyers aren't allowed in the Quadrant applies to new flyers, the ones who are not already at Bisga and came to help for the battle.

[Nicole]

See, I thought it meant that they weren't allowed to enter the Writers Quadrant because if Kat and Marin were in the infirmary, that means they were in the Healer's Quadrant. Right now we're in the Gathering hall, which we don't know if that's in the Writer's Quadrant.

[Lexi]

I assume that it is is just for the writers because they're saying that only writers. That's true Writers are left. Yeah.

[Nicole]

So maybe Cat and Marin were able to be in the infirmary because they were in the Healer Quadrant, not the Writers quadrant. But now with the getting the tour and all that kind of stuff, now flyers are allowed to enter. But what's this? A rider runs into the Great hall over to first Wing. And just like a massive game of telephone, the hall's voices grow louder and louder with all the gossipers until they leave, leaving only Oration cadets remaining inside.

[Lexi]

That's not a good sign.

[Nicole]

But Balor to the rescue. He comes running inside with Sloane, Liam's little sister. And we're finally let in on what the fuck is happening. Aura Bynhaven, the wing leader of 2nd Wing and the senior wing leader of the Quadrant, has grabbed one of 4th Wing Tail Section's flyers and and is insisting a challenge at knife point, running out of the hall. Violet recalls Article 4, Section 4 of the Codex, which we will soon find out from Dane states that quote, a wing leader has the authority and duty to maintain and then he gets cut off. But I'm guessing the ending of that is maintain order of some sort.

[Lexi]

That's my guess. I just did a search and we have not seen this particular.

[Nicole]

The same search. Yeah. So because they need another person of equal or higher power to have hopes of even de escalating the situation. Violet shouts as they're running out of the Gathering hall, quote Dane, we need you. And he takes off running after them. Even though Aura Byhaven will shut this article 4 section 4 down instantly saying that Dane is no longer in command because Ewan Faber is now the wing leader of the Nevarian fourth Wing while Dane is the wing leader of the Oration fourth Wing and they do not acknowledge because the writers consider them a bunch of traitors. I am not going to lie. As wonderfully laughable and useless as Dane can be considered later on this book until he saves Mira. I love this moment where Violet calls for him and he just comes. You can really feel the foundation of their friendship far before 4th Wing began on the pages of Onyx Storm. Especially when Violet later thanks him for how quickly he came in and quote our eyes met and for a second it hits me how different things might have been if he had shown me the same faith during my first year as he did today. Dane. God damn it Dane. Or as our friend Stephen Walker, as our friend Stephen Walker calls him or suggested we call him, I should say golly freaking Daddy Dane. Which I'm not gonna lie, I'm super.

[Lexi]

Here for it's the new version of Dane with a sprinkle of redemption arc.

[Nicole]

And a sprinkle of Daddy into it. I love it.

[Lexi]

But not to be confused with Daddy Atos who is bad.

[Nicole]

That's true. We got two different Daddy Dain knows he fucked up her first year and I really do commend Dane for trying to repair that friendship while also not pushing. Get ready for me to praise Dane a lot in this book. We have come so far in our Dane coverage since 4th Wing we've all.

[Lexi]

Had a collective redemption arc with him.

[Nicole]

Out in the courtyard it is absolute mayhem. There is a clear division with half of the riders being loyal to Navarre AKA they did not leave during the end of Part one in Iron Flame.

[Lexi]

Whether by their own choice or their dragons made the choice for them. Remember when the resin memory was shared to convince people not everybody received the memory because their dragons did not want them to get it and so their dragons made the choice for for them.

[Nicole]

And the other half of this courtyard is oration, meaning they did leave for oration last book and came back for the Battle of Best Gaieth. But with today being the day that the flyers get a tour of the quadrant or a fucking Bind Haven stands front and center holding one of her daggers against the neck of a first year flyer. Great girl or a Bind Haven.

[Lexi]

Over these past two weeks Violet notes that, quote, Commons and the Gathering hall are condemned, congested with aimless, worried, agitated cadets hoping to survive the next patrol and looking to take their frustrations out on someone else like I said earlier, they are trained killing machines and they don't have a purpose beyond patrols right now. Remember how Violet said to re and Iron Flame quote, we are the weapons and this place is the stone they use to sharpen us. These cadets are in the dark about what's going on beyond this guy, which feeds into this agitation and there's no leadership to help them with all these pent up emotions resulting in a tinderbox here. Basically it's Lord of the Flies in these chapters. We're also getting a lot of show don't tell with how tense things are, like how Violet and CO are always having to keep their backs to the walls to prevent getting snuck up on. We saw this in Iron Flame as an extra precaution against the assassination attempts and it's such a strong way of illustrating the constant danger they are in and how they're very aware of it.

[Nicole]

The majority of the first section of this book is the tension between the oration writers versus the Nevarian writers. It is easy because we're in Violet's POV to look at this from just the oration writer mindset and think the worst of the Nevarian writers, especially given how unhinged or a fucking bindhaven is acting in this scene. But just for a moment, I do want to do apparently what I'm doing all the time in this episode. And that is look from this from both sides. First up, let's look at the oration writers though. Yes, they left halfway through last book, but as Dain states, they chose the truth about the Venin and chose to help those who Navarre wouldn't. And even though they were pissed at Navarre for keeping the secret and not helping those in poor Emil, they came back to fight and protect Best Gaieth at the end of the book. Even the flyers who have the most reason to hate the Nevarians and Bezgaeth who can't even use or powers inside the wards, they still came back to help the wounded during the battle. So it makes sense that they're like, you fucking assholes, we helped, we saved you. But now let's look at the Nevarian because they believe that the only reason they were attacked by Venin in the first place is because they weren't at full strength. And it's only because half the riders left. That was what allowed the Venin to get in and break down the wards in the first place. I will personally argue that this actually runs a lot deeper than just the choices the oration writers made last book. In order to look fully at the Navarre inside pov, we have to look at how the Nevarian cadets were also raised. These are people who were trained to kill the weakest link in their wing. Think back to Violet in fourth wing, who didn't even question when people were like, you're the weakest link. Goodbye. It's just how she even was like.

[Lexi]

Oh, I totally get their perspective. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Yes, exactly. Like, this is just how life is in Navarre. And they were trained and brought up to hate this enemy for centuries that they fought for centuries. But then I also want us to think about during Iron Flame, the hike up the cliffs, the ration riders were not like, okay, let's all be buddies. They're not far off. From what Aura is mentioning here, the flyers have not crossed the parapet. They did not climb the gauntlet. And now do they what, Accept these cowards who are the flyers? That is what the Oration cadets were saying. Plus, in Iron Flame, they had their whole challenging each other to get over your agitation. Yes. In that moment, people were not screaming challenge, challenge, etc. And they didn't have a metaphorical and literal fire starter or a bind haven. But it wasn't that different.

[Lexi]

Exactly. The Eretian writers honestly had the same set about the flyers back in Iron Flame. Then the flyers coming to their aid in battle. It really changed their perspective. Now the Nevarian writers are expected to feel the same practically overnight, and that's just not going to happen. Just like it didn't happen for the Eretian writers right away back in Iron Flame.

[Nicole]

Yes. Now, are the Nevarians going to quite utter extremes in this scene? Yes. Aurra is literally about to kill someone just because they're, quote, a cat coward. But they're not like, it's just because they didn't cross the parapet, or it's just because they weren't born in a var. Their mindset is a product of their upbringing. However, you make a great point about them being forced to think differently overnight. That is just not going to happen. I do think it's interesting showing how much they are a product of their own making, which Violet will address. How they can be different than the generations that came before them. But that's me getting ahead of myself. Before we get into the who's who and where and what's happening in the scene, we do want to address really quick, quickly. The biggest, I'm going to call it criticism, but that feels really strong of a word that we've seen around the book, Onyx Storm and that is, who are you people? We will get into all of that in a moment. But I also want to say this because in this moment, in this unsanctioned challenge, it is supposed to be disorienting with all the names being thrown around and not really a whole lot of context of who's who. We as readers are not supposed to understand what's going on because we're in Violet's head and. And she's frantically trying to put the puzzle pieces together. We, the readers, are supposed to also feel that anxiety, that tension, the confusion.

[Lexi]

See, I think of it more like we are so in Violet's head that we don't need to be like, and this person is a third year. It's more like the description that they are a third year. And then a few sentences later, a name is attached to it. And for me, that feels very immersive. But yeah, the truth of the matter is we readers don't. We don't have to know the ins and outs of all these characters. And I say that as a deep diver, we don't have to know their names or exactly who's who, at least for most of these characters here. But real quickly, by the way, if you are confused by all these names and you do want to know who they are, we have a very handy dandy character guide that lists all these people through Onyx Storm, Chapter 9. This series is set in large group settings and that means a lot of characters to make it realistic and give the world building more depth. So out here in the courtyard, there's a clear division between the Nevarian writers who are eagerly awaiting the bloodbath they expect from this confrontation, and the Arishan writers and flyers trying to protect their own. And there's no leadership in sight. Marin is holding Cat back as she angrily tries to accept Aura's challenge. Since the first year Flyer Aura has at Dagger Point is terrified to. But another third year Nevarian writer from second wing, Kev, holds her sword threateningly close to Cat's stomach. Violet stands up to Kev, telling the second wing third year, this isn't how we treat our fellow cadets, embracing that these flyers are part of the squads and cadets here too. Imagin comes to Violet's defense, which, by the way, I love, and offers that if Kev's going to raise blades, do it with someone her own year. Because also imagine is of course a third year. Meanwhile, Quinn forces one of the third year flyers, Nev, behind her, and steps up to square off with the Navarrean Rider in first wing named Headley. Again, you do not have to know all these other random names, but I'm sharing them just in case you would like to. Violet reminds Kat that there's no winning here for the flyers. The political climate is just too fragile. If a flyer bleeds, there's no way Poor Meal will agree to an alliance. And if a flyer accepts the challenge and hurts a writer, then the flyer will confirm everything bad that the Nevarians have thought about them and again majorly jeopardize an alliance. This isn't about getting the Nevarian writers to accept accept the flyers because the oration writers already have. The most important thing right now is to de escalate this lose lose situation. But the Nevarian writers aren't about that and certainly don't care about jeopardizing this alliance. As they chant challenge, challenge.

[Nicole]

You might be thinking a whole lot like Auric in the scene. Really missing the professors right about now. Which yeah, because the people who have the highest authority are the ones who are starting and egging this shit on in the first place. And also the people who are starting this, AKA the wing leaders. They have authority only over their own wing. There is no single person who has the authority to command all of Bezgaeth. AKA someone like a professor or I can't even believe I'm saying someone like Panchak. Like why am I wishing Panchech was here?

[Lexi]

Oh, you suck Panchak. I will say I think technically Aura is the one in out of everybody because she is the senior wing leader of the quadrant.

[Nicole]

But I take that as she has final say over the other wing leaders, but not over everyone in the quadrant. Like for instance, like if the wing leaders are all making a decision, she would have final say. But it doesn't. She doesn't command someone in fourth wing.

[Lexi]

So when Aura offers to accept another for the challenge or watch this first year fly or die, then taunts at the ven and only attacked because they knew Bisgaeth wasn't at full strength because half the cadets and riders turned traitor. Ultimately it's Dain who steps up as a leader with a speech that doesn't quite do it. But you know what? I'll give him an A for effort though.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Which brings us to Violet. Taryn trusts Violet to handle herself in this situation, knowing she is not in danger and she needs to do this on her own.

[Nicole]

I love the moment where Violet asks if Auric has an affinity for public speaking. Of course his answer isn't entirely no. We will later learn that he is quite the diplomat. He just doesn't like to be. But also it shows us just how much Violet is that reluctant leader she is leaning on and hoping for others to step up. But when they don't, it's up to her to take the torch.

[Lexi]

And take the torch she does. Or a taunts Dane that if he defeats her, then the flyers can live to see the morning. Which by the way, the wording on that is still very suspicious because that's only till the morning, then challenges are just gonna happen the next day. But anyway, if Dain fails, then this courtyard is about to turn red, red, red. Which would be bad, bad, bad. In hand to hand combat, Dain might stand a chance. There was a reason he was chosen as a wing leader after all. But Aura isn't abiding by challenging rules. Go figure. And she's preparing to wield. As a fire wielder, she will absolutely beat Dain in a challenge where signets are being used. Since his memory retrieving signet is very handy. Get it? Handy. Except in combat. With Andara's encouragement that Dane is not the strongest, it dawns on Violet that this is indeed her fight. She is the most powerful cadet here, whether she wants to lead or not. And being the most powerful comes with a sense of responsibility that Violet doesn't necessarily want. So with this realization, Violet flings a dagger at Aura right as she begins to wield fire toward Dane and pins her glove to the the deus, distracting Aura from torching Dane. We get the iconic Violet line as our girl officially steps into her badass era. Rebel is so outdated. We perform the term revolutionary. And if you're going to wield, then it's me you'll be dealing with. For our girl Violet and Aurora, lightning definitely beats fire.

[Nicole]

I love this because it calls back to Violet in Iron Flame, noting that Brennan is using the term revolution rather than rebellion like Fen Ryerson. I just. I love that callback. So good.

[Lexi]

Exactly. Well, and then also the very last line of fourth Wing too. Welcome to the revolution. Yes. Yes. Before continuing, I wonder if this is the moment that Rebecca Yarros has alluded to in interviews when she says that there is a moment in Onyx Storm when Violet truly realizes that she is the most powerful writer. As power crackles through Violet and she releases is a wave of power. Lightning splits the sky, causing the crowd to quiet and Aura's mouth just hanging open before she lowers her hand in a silent nope, nope, nope, nope. Oh, I can't wait to see this on the TV show either. Like, what an epic scene this is gonna be.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God. I can already feel Moira, Wally Beckett just, like, foaming at the mouth for this. As Riddick says.

[Lexi]

Shh.

[Nicole]

It's more fun when she blows shit up. This scene will never not give me chills. Because. Because as Aura Bynhaven accuses the ration writers of choosing poor Emil over Navarre, Violet says, quote, we can choose both. This is what this book, if not this series, is all about. It was the previous generations who looked at it as either or. And when they chose Navarre, they changed the history text. The next generation taught that text, and the one after that learned and believed it as truth. Quote. They lied and hid. They were the cowards. But we don't have to be. As we discussed earlier, this is a society that does whatever it takes to not be the coward in the room, because you will be targeted and killed. And here is Violet rewriting the narrative, saying that they are actually the strong ones. And the cowards are those who lied and changed history for their own benefit for generations. And instead, they, the writers, and the flyers in the courtyard are actively getting to choose to be the thing that writers value most for the first time in history. As Papa Sorrengale said in his letter to Violet in Fourth Wing that he hid in the Fables of the Baron, it only takes one generation to change history. Back to Violet's speech in Onyx Storm, quote. But they're failing. Just like every generation before us has failed. And if we do the same, you've seen what's out there. Either this alliance begins right here with us, with our generation generation, or we will be the last Dragon Riders and Griffin flyers on the continent. Papa Sorrengale may have been talking about those who erased previous history, but brilliant fucking woman Violet here is looking at it differently. And while it may not land fully with our stubborn ass by Haven, it does land with some people in the crowd. Mainly the professors who were watching this entire time. As the professors come in, Immaterio says something quite interesting. Interesting quote. The last time a Shadow and Lightning wielder fought side by side, they managed to drive the Venom back into the Barrens for a few hundred years. We'll figure out how to do it again. Alarm. Alarm. Alarm.

[Lexi]

What?

[Nicole]

Okay, first, who of the first six were Shadows and Lightning? Was it the two who were in love? Warwick and Lira? Which is beautiful. History repeating itself, writing. Or could this maybe not be one of the first six? Because they did have other Allies. Also, I guarantee you that Xaden was thinking of this exact line from Emmaterio when Lynx manifests Shadows later this book. Because that was right before Zaden goes off to Tyrandor and makes his very realist plans for someone to take over his role as Duke and Slash or Duchess. It's almost like his role of Shadows is now being fulfilled by someone else so he can go off and do his thing.

[Lexi]

I. I respectfully disagree.

[Nicole]

Tavera is ready to shut this shit down because vacation is over. Classes start 9am sharp tomorrow. Treaty or no treaty quote. And that includes every cadet. No matter what color leathers you prefer, you are released from doing whatever it was you thought you were doing here. This is why Devara is goat. Every professor I have have expressed loving has gone down bad. And I am going to loudly and proudly proclaim that I love Professor De Vera. Because she has to be safe, right?

[Lexi]

I don't know if she'll make it out of the series. But yes, I think that she is safe. In which she will not be a bad guy. She's been my favorite since the beginning. She gives Major Professor McGonagall energy.

[Nicole]

Yes, agreed. Also, what a flex.

[Lexi]

So after all this, where thankfully no one died. All in due time, Aura. We meet up with Llewellyn, Brennan, Mira and Zaden, who's ready for more politics. And we learn that the two kingdoms have reached terms for the riot to stay. Huzzah. But with a new arrival that is complicating matters. The Prince of Douche canoes, Halden, who is apparently coming with the task force because a royal capable of speaking for Navarre is needed for where they're traveling.

[Nicole]

This actually brings me to a question, because Violet dated Halden when she was 18 and they dated for under a year. So did Brennan know about Halden? I don't think so.

[Lexi]

I don't think he does.

[Nicole]

So he's just like yeah, like Holden's come. Or I mean Arik brings it up first. But Rx like oh shit girl, I'm so sorry. And Brennan's like here's the information. And I'm just like oh Brennan, you were dead. During this time before Violet's head completely explodes around the edge. The idea of her ex boyfriend going on Quest Squad. Llewellyn and Brennan are like, can we get back to politics please?

[Lexi]

There's the rest of Andarna's demands, which the scenarium was rather agreeable to after they got scared by Violet threatening to leave again with her dragons. The scenarium has Agreed that all those who flew for Orisha will be welcomed back with a full pardon for their treason within the now negotiated accord with Arisha. This pardon will be signed in the morning, which is very important for the nickname next episode.

[Nicole]

As for the rest of her demands, we already know that the Quest Squad is in Professor Grady's hands, but Andarna will not be submitted for any type of examination. As if they could freaking try. Also, Andarna has full access to the King's forest to hunt whenever she pleases. But that demand was just for fun. I want this short story side quest. Like that sounds amazing. Just. And Darna frolicking with like the deer and the. Because she's not.

[Lexi]

She's.

[Nicole]

I know she'd eat them, but I still want that. So anyway. But what about what was at the top of Andarna's list? The flyers must be kept safe, and all squads with flyers will remain intact. Sadly, while Mira fought bravely to change their minds, the scenarium voted 6 to 1 against it. And Navarre's wards are not to be taken tampered with.

[Lexi]

And we can very very, very strongly assume that the one who did vote for it was Llewelyn.

[Nicole]

Now, while Violet is disappointed that this did not go her way, she's not how headstrong Violet would normally react to this kind of failure, which causes Mira to narrow her older sister eyes and brows and just just be super sus about Violet. Mira knows that that Violet is planning on acting on this regardless scenario, vote or no. Which is why next episode Mira will be on guard for the night that her and her squad go to tamper with the warts. That is some big sister energy right there.

[Lexi]

As Llewellyn and Brennan confirm the news that the alliance has unfortunately failed for now because Navarre won't risk tampering with its wardstone to allow the Flyer's ability to wield. They reiterate that treaties like this take time and the moment Monarch of Port Meal Queen Mariah has a deadline in two days. So knowing there won't be an agreement within two days, flier cadets will stay safe in Orisha, where the wars still hold for these approximate six months. And hopefully Queen Mariah can get her nobles back to negotiations at a later time. But what's this that Llewellyn says quote, enjoy your win? Zaden. What does this mean? After everyone else leaves, Zaden shares the good but actually bad in his opinion news, King Tari gave him back his title and seat in the Scenarium. Hello, Zaden. Ryerson Duke of Tyrandor.

[Nicole]

Hot now. Zaden is a, quote, traitor. He led the riot of oration riders to fly away from Navarre. He's also the son of Fen Ryerson. Why would they do this? Let's talk about it. Llewellyn, the man who's been acting as the rep of Tyrandor on the Scenarium, and Lindell, the duke who fostered Xaden, have both been sanctioned, AKA pardoned for their role in hiding Orisha. So they've gotten a demotion in aristocracy. However, they told the scenario that giving Xaden his title back of Duke of Tirindor was the price for keeping the oration riders in Bezgaeth and fighting for Navarre, AKA they wouldn't leave again. This is how terrified Nevarian leadership is of losing this riot and the numbers that they bring. That they literally gave the son of Fen Ryerson back his dukeship and seat on the scenario.

[Lexi]

I'm just going to say this once. Does it make the most sense that Zayden, one of the revolution's leaders who split the riot, is replacing two sanctioned aristocrats who got sanctioned because they're loyal to him? Not really. Which is why we have to lean into this being the price to keep the riot's strength intact. We're going to just stick with that. Our sweet shadow daddy, Duke of Tirndor, is not so happy about this, though. In fact, it's the last thing he wants. Because Zaden recognizes now that he's Venin. It's only a matter of time before he's too far gone and he knows he can't rule as a Venin. He believes he's the last person for this title. He cares too much about Tirindor to put his province at risk for his inevitable demise. Now it's not just him and his loved ones or the marked ones he's been responsible for. It's all of Tirandor. Not just symbolically, like it kind of has been before, but now, officially, the largest province now depends on him when he knows he can't be depended on, especially for much longer. Quote, the only solution I can think of is you, he says to Violet. And this is our neon sign. Foreshadowing, foreshadowing with the weight of this.

[Nicole]

New responsibility, causing Xaden to feel like there's almost like this countdown on his control over his own mental faculties. He makes Violet promise him something. Quote, swear you'll sound the alarm if I go too far, that you'll keep it. It's safe even if it's from me. Foreshadowing, foreshadowing, foreshadowing. I want to address this Keep it safe for a second because I've seen a theory floating around the the interwebs explaining how with the second half specifically of this book, they talk about Tyrndor being a she. And then Zayn's note to Violet at the very end is quote, don't look for me, it's yours now. But he does always call Tyrandor a she. However, here he is saying keep it safe, life, and he is referring to Tyrandor. So I can say with almost 100% certainty and confidence that in his letter at the very end he is also saying keep it safe, AKA keep Tyrandor safe. He knows that when he went asam, that was too far. That was the step over the line. And he knows he is no longer what Tyrandor needs to keep it safe. I mean, it's fair, he can now be summoned by his sage just to name one of the things. Yeah, it makes sense that he's not the best leader at the moment, but Violet, back to the scene at hand, believes so wholly that, quote, he'll never go too far, he'll never lose his soul. So I nod. I promise. Oh, I bet she regrets those words at the end of this book, and her belief in Xaden of never going too far. Because yes, seeing that, I bet you anything it's one of the things that contributed to her wanting to have her memory erased.

[Lexi]

But in this moment, Violet knows that she needs to uphold her end of the bargain with Dakarys so that she can access his vast library with everything anyone knows about Venon. So Plan B is officially about to happen. Go behind the Scenarium's back and fix the Wardstone to allow the Flyers to wield. Next episode, let's move to the Power of Precognition as we turn our full attention to other important foreshadowing moments for the rest of this book, as well as more speculations for books four and five.

[Nicole]

And Darna tells Violet, quote, you can grieve, meaning her mother, and Violet basically says, no, no, I'm not going to. This line is exactly what Violet will say to Andarna when the Irids reject Andarna later. This book, to which Andarna will retort back that Violet didn't grieve. Taryn doesn't either, and Violet replies, I'm getting there. Look at that character growth. Violet thinks how Mira will kill Xaden if she finds out about him Being Venon, which isn't far off, she will attempt to pull a dagger on him. And if it weren't for Violet, you know, talking about her down, I think there would have been a Zaden Mira face off for sure. Violet thinks that the sacrifice that Zaden made during the Battle of Bezgaeth and how he killed, quote, the Sage, their general, which is just mocking us, I think. I think that's just mocking us. Spoiler alert. He ain't dead. And also, what the fuck is his rank? He's a Sage. I know, but I'm still confused.

[Lexi]

Yes. So he's a Sage, but he's not a Maven. So a little bit of backstory story is all of Iron Flame. We were calling him a Sage because he was called a Sage. And then at the very end, in his face off with Zaden, he's like, sage, I'm a general, and their Mavens are their generals. So we automatically made the assumption, as did the entire fandom, that he was a Maven. But now we know that he's actually a Sage and not a Maven. So I'm going to say maybe he was a general before he was Venon. So he's just kind of holding onto this title. Violet says mira doesn't know how to fail. And I know she didn't die this book, thank goodness. But I'm still very concerned for her and that this is foreshadowing that she will somehow, someway fail. As much as I don't want to even put that out there, Violet says.

[Nicole]

To Imogen, quote, even in the moments he's lost control, he's never hurt me. He never will. Well, later, this book, when Violet and Riddick talk about what is the lung line, we know that this is it, him hurting her. And while we don't know what happened in those 12 hours, we can strongly assume that she was hurt emotionally. And so that never will is not really holding very strong.

[Lexi]

Yeah, there's too much foreshadowing throughout the whole book that Violet's line is him hurting her and he leaves, and she wants her memory wiped. Now, I do definitely think that the memory wiping is also definitely, definitely motivated by her not wanting to know where he is, not wanting to know exactly what's going on for the protection as well. So it's more of, like, a logistical and strategic reason, not only emotional, but the two go very much hand in hand, I think, here. Caroline Ashton. I'll be honest, I thought we were going to get a big. She was in on it. The Whole time reveal this book and all that's mentioned is that the Truthsayers clean cleared her. I refuse to believe that's it. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but still. Is she just evil in the way that she's attracted to power and meanness and that's why she was such good friends with Jack? Or is there more to her? I don't care if the true Sayers cleared her. She absolutely cannot be trusted. I have not cleared her yet, personally. Although, to be fair, it does feel very fitting that it's her who is facilitating bets at the Aura First Flyer Challenge.

[Nicole]

What?

[Lexi]

A. And I do not use that term lightly. I don't know if this might be foreshadowing in a future book, but I'm calling it now. Aaron Norris, who built Bisgaeth Taran, even says, quote, pay attention to the present, not the past. And by that simple call out, I'm noting it as an Easter egg for something.

[Nicole]

Later, Violet thinks that maybe Malik, the God of death, will curse her for keeping her mother's journals. Now, knowing what we know about the gods, I am only further cemented in my belief that something around keeping things from burning it equals something.

[Lexi]

Violet trying to save the lieutenant on Jack guard as he bleeds out from the slice to his throat hits different. After finding out what happens to Meera, at least Meera was able to be saved.

[Nicole]

All the foreshadowing for Riddick going on the Quest Squad mission.

[Lexi]

And his jokester. But serious nature when Violet thinks, quote, I can't quite tell if he's teasing or serious. After Riddick assures second squad he'll keep her safe on the mission.

[Nicole]

We already get an Isle Kingdoms drop. All of the foreshadowing that this is indeed where we will go, this book. I remember reading that line from Xaden at the end of chapter three, and I was like, oh, my God. Yes, let's go. We strongly assume that Asim Zaden is with Berwin, because the level that he's at, he cannot resist the call from his sage. But it is not confirmed that he is indeed with the other Venom. He could be off on his own. Where? Far, far away. Far enough that Violet can't even sense him or find him. So lines like this quote, not sure if the Isle Kingdoms would be far enough. Could be foreshadowing. But I am still leaning towards him being with the Venin, knowing how their magic works. Next, all the Tearish aristocracy talk from.

[Lexi]

Violet asking Zaden if he wants to speak for Arisha. And he responds that he just owns the house. House, quote, which is probably a good thing since I'm well Venon great on the battlefield, but not a good governing quality.

[Nicole]

Or Xaden says, quote, killing me isn't required to annihilate the Teish aristocracy. Which, yes, there is, Bodhi Plan A. And plan B is Violet. Which, speaking of which, Arryx says that Violet's speech at the end of this stretch of chapters would make Violet a great politician and quote, definitely nobility. To which Zaden Ryerson replies, quote, with that speech, at least Duchess fucking swoon. Oh, speaking of Tyrandor, lines like this about Tyrandor attempting to previously secede. Do you think that Tirindor will be united with Navarre at the end of this? Or is it Audi 5000?

[Lexi]

Oh, definitely done so. And I could see Violet next book leading that charge. Especially with the foreshadowing we get here when Xaden says, quote, now who sounds like the Separatist? Also, we get foreshadowing for the erection wards to fully function. Violet notes how Orisha needs another of Andarna's kind to fire their ward stone, which is one more reason to go find the seventh Dragon Den. And those six months they think they have. Yeah, it's less than that. Luckily. Leo Finn to the rescue.

[Nicole]

Violet mentioning to her squad that ha. That venom with the silver hair. That was weird, right? As if we as a fandom weren't already freaking out over the silver haired venom. From the excerpt in Cosmopolitan. This would have sent us spiraling because yes, it is very notable, Violet. This next one might be speculative, but I don't think so. I want to take a moment and highlight some new character development we see from Bode in this stretch of chapters and especially later this book. When there's the hallway party. When Mira comes back, Xaden and Violet come out. Xaden is being called to a meeting with Brennan and as they're walking away with Gabriel Garrick towards Llewelyn, Bode calls after them, quote, anything I should know about? And Brennan dismisses him. To which Bode says sarcastically, quote, good to feel needed. I can't help but think of Bode being like Aaron Burr from Hamilton and from history too. He's not just in a musical, he always feels like he's second to the great Alexander Hamilton. And as his song states, he wants to be in the room where it happens, but because because of that feeling of always being just slightly inadequate, it causes him to reach for more power and become narrow minded on getting ahead, leading to Alexander's death at his hands. I'm not spoiling it. It's literally in song one of the opening of the show. This. It's also history. So there you go. This feels very much like Bodhi's story arc, minus killing Alexander, AKA Xaden, because I truly do not think that would happen. While we don't have confirmation as to who the brother is at the very end, little remarks like this from Bode give him the character motivation to want to pull from the source. At least I think so.

[Lexi]

Yes, I do think that as far as character motivation, Bodhi is the highest probability there. Yes. While Arik will reveal himself as King Tari's youngest son soon enough, he hasn't yet amid everything going on. But Llewellyn now knows and mentions maybe Arryk should put his father out of his misery as they all search for him, which we'll later find out. They've been looking in all the places Halden would be, like brothels and such, showing how little they truly know Arryk, his priorities and values. And we also get a lot of foreshadowing for him as a reluctant leader and his role. He's like, fine, I'll step into this book. Like when Violet thinks how Arrik is the most observant of his brothers and asks if Arryk is good at public speaking, to which he's like, no, thank you. But guess what? He is, as we'll find out of the Isles. And then when Llewellyn says that the kingdom would have benefited from Arik being firstborn, to which he says he'll dismantle the family business before he rejoins it. Ah, I'm gonna hold on to that line for later theorizing. Speaking of Tari Suns, I love the Halden foreshadowing. We get Arc shooting Violet a knowing look when the oldest prince is mentioned, or Mira studying Zaden and Violet intently. And my personal favorite, when Taran uses Halden. At this point of the book, when we were reading it for the first time, it's like, oh my God, they are exes. And also, I just love being back with our favorite curmudgeon of a dragon.

[Nicole]

We have donned our signets, so now let's tap into our mind of a scribe and examine the meaning of key epigraphs from this stretch of chapters. Or I guess key epigraph, because we really only have one. The stretch.

[Lexi]

But don't worry, it's long enough for it to be all of them. Chapter two's epigraph. And I'M sorry, I just have to quote the whole damn thing. From a study on cygnets by Major Dalton Cisneros. Quote, the rarest of cygnets, those that rise once in a generation or century, have manifested concurrently with an equal twice in our records, both critical times in our history. But only once have the six most powerful walked the continent simultaneously. As fascinating as that spectacle must have been, I would rather not live to see it happen. Happen again.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Lexi]

It is especially interesting that this is the epigraph for chapter two, where we see Second Squad and Zaden in their badassery when the Venin infiltrate. So let's break this down. The rarest signets are defined as showing up once in a generation or a century. Which rare signets do we know from the series so far? Re's ability to summon. Because from fourth wing, chapter 23, Violet says, I haven't read about a signet power like that in a century. Of course, we have Violet as a lightning lightning wielder, where it's mentioned multiple times in the series that she is the first writer with the signet in more than a century. Garak, who will soon find out, is a distance wielder. Can't wait for next episode with that. Zaden says in iron flame, chapter 56, quote, there hasn't been a distance wielder in centuries, which I love you, Zaden, but you liar, liar, pants on fire. You know about Garrick. The point still stands, though, I think it's safe to say Aric's true Precognition signet falls under this once in a Generation Rare Signet 2, considering precognition isn't supposed to even be a thing. At least according to Jack fucking Barlow and how esteemed and powerful Melgren Signet of Battle Foresight is. From Fourth Wing, chapter three, Violet says, quote, Melgren's dragon gives him the signet ability to see a battle's outcome before it happens. There's no beating that. And now we have Arryk, who has true precognition, where battle foresight seems to be just one aspect of his signet. I'm also going to add Zane Shadow Wielding to this list, though it's not specified. He is the first in his generation with the signet. And Lynx will get the signet too, which will explore what that means when the time comes. But in Fourth Wing, chapter seven, Violet thinks, quote, shadow wielders are incredibly rare. And in Onyx Storm, Chapter 6, we learn from Amaterio that, quote, the last time a Shadow and lightning wielder Fought side by side, they managed to drive the Venom back to the Barrens for a few hundred years. Which brings me to the next part of this epigraph that describes how two of these rare sacred have quote manifested concurrently with an equal twice in our records, both critical times in our history, but only once had the six most powerful walked the continent simultaneously. While I don't think it's outright confirmed, we can highly assume two of these first six were a lightning and Shadow wielder based on what Amaterio said. However, I love the part about manifested concurrently with an equal. I can't help but think how magic likes all things in balance, and it's like the magic magic of this world or the gods know what signets are needed for this point in time to bring balance to the world. Like Violet with her lightning wielding and zading with his shadows. As the next big war with the Venom breaks out, it makes me very curious about the last time this happened, since there seems to be only one other time. Two other rare and powerful complimenting signets existed after the Great War. Maybe it was during the second Crowland Uprising. You all, I'm so excited for that episode, but we're not there yet. Or maybe 400 years ago ago when Poor Meal and Navar officially went to war with each other. We could honestly spend a whole episode talking about this. And I know we have to move on to the archives, but let's quickly dive into the potential role the gods play with this Acotar podcast on TikTok. Link in the show notes presented the theory that the six gods blessed or touched the first six who hailed from the six provinces, which resulted in them having such powerful signets. Six gods, six first riders, six breeds of dragons who bonded. And now in the present day, what if some of the writers we know, like the ones I just listed, are also blessed or touched by these gods? As a reminder, the six gods are Malak, who is the God of death, Dune, Goddess of war Amari, Queen of the Gods, Zanal, God of Luck. Lwyl. I hope I'm pronouncing that right. Goddess of Love and He, God of Wisdom. This theory continues with pairing our present day powerful writers with equal each God. So we have Violet and Dune because of her partial dedication to Dune and how she was seemingly able to wield lightning on Dune's isle of Umbriel.

[Nicole]

And then there's Zaden and Loial. There's the Chapter 49 epigraph that says quote, While most deities allow temple attendants to choose their timeline of service, Only two require a lifetime of dedication. Dune and Loyal for both love and war change souls irrevocably. This is pretty self explanatory. Zaden is steadfast in his lifelong love for Violet and says she owns his soul.

[Lexi]

Then we have Riddick and Sinal. While I didn't include Riddick on my rare signets list, there's a lot of evidence that Zenal is with him throughout this book. And you know what? He is a very powerful ice wielder too. Then for Malik we have either Mira, Brennan or Sloane. So the argument for each of them are Mira literally escaped Malik and it was like Malik listened to Violet when she said Malik can't take her sister Brennan because he was resurrected or as close to it as possible, or even Sloane because she has the direct ability to counter or contribute to Malik's ability to take people. Then we have Rhiannon or Auric representing Amari Ri because when Violet first meets her in Fourth Wing, Violet compares her to looking like Amari. Plus Ri is a natural leader, a queen in our eyes.

[Nicole]

Also Rhiannon is a Welsh name that means great Queen, Queen or Goddess.

[Lexi]

The argument for Auric is that he is likely going to be king and also will probably potentially replace Melgrin as the most powerful leader due to his precognition signet. And lastly Dain or Arryk for Hedion. Dain's signet is a way to obtain information and knowledge. Plus he was trained by Papasaurengail too, with Papa Sorrigal hoping that he would become a scribe. And once when Dane does have the correct information, he makes the right choice, like when he joins the revolution. While he wasn't on my list, we can't forget what Sloane says about how like him shouldn't have this much power towards the end of the book. So I think there's more to Dane's power than we currently know. Or Arryk whose signet is the ultimate source of knowledge that no one else knows. Plus he's obviously very intelligent with languages, culture and history. Now I also do want to point out that he Dion is the God of wisdom. And mostly what I've been saying is knowledge. And the book is very clear that knowledge and wisdom are two very different things. So interesting how we could potentially weave that in. Auric definitely has great wisdom to round this all out. While not related to signets, I'd also like to point out that there hadn't been a Black dragon since Tarin a century ago until Iron Flame when Taran says that According to Coda, two more Black Dragons have hatched in the last year. I think more Black Dragons are hatching because the world slash gods knows that they're needed for this big war, even though they're just little baby dragons right now. This is something that's really been building up and here we are at its climax.

[Nicole]

Yeah, something I'm really looking forward to in the Deep Dive is tracking who these six writers are going to be. Because I think that this is a direct one to one comparison. There are six writers that change the course of history. I believe fully that there's going to be six, maybe even seven, since that seems to be the magic number now. Writers who are going to change the course of history now in this next great war. So that's something I'm really looking forward to tracking. But let's move on because now it is time to step into the archives where each episode Professor Lexi educates us on a world building topic to help us better understand this world and the mess magic within it.

[Lexi]

Our very first Onyx Storm Archives topic is the Scenarium, because a lot of readers were like, what the heck is that? So let's dive in, shall we? First of all, Scenarium in Latin means composed of six in a group. In the Empyrean series, they are the King's Council and the highest ranking aristocracy in Navarre. These representatives from each of the six provinces govern the kingdom and handle important political decision decisions, including treaty negotiations and defensive agreements. It's unclear if the commanding general of Navarrean armies, AKA Melgren, is also part of the scenario, or if he is sitting in on these talks because it's that connected to the current ongoings. Let's quickly go through what the rankings of aristocracy include in Navarre, at least as far as we've learned so far. The rankings we see within the Empyrean universe mirror that of traditional aristocracy with a few shortcuts. Besides the reigning monarchs, the King and Queen, here are three other titles we've seen in our story so far, and here they are in descending order of rank. Duke and Duchess. They are the highest and most important nobility Rank. There can be multiple dukes in one province, but there is only one Duke of Insert province here. For instance, Lindell was a duke in Tyandor, but Llewellyn was the Duke of Tyrandor and reigned over Duke Lindell. Then we have an Earl. We have we hear this rank once in reference to the Earl of Llewellyn when he's demoted from Duke for his secret loyalty to Arisha this whole time. In our traditional world, Earl originally functioned essentially as royal governors in charge of collecting taxes and with authority over their own regions or shires. So if you think about it in Game of Thrones terms, because that's where my mind always goes. There's obviously the King of Westeros or the King of the Iron Throne, and then the north is ruled by House Stark, who in this terminology would be like the Duke of Tirndor and resides in Winterfell or like Arisha. And then a lesser duke or earl would be like House Bolton or Reed or Karstark, who rules over a region in the north and answers to House Stark. Important to note that poor Emiel has viscounts but Navarre doesn't. In fact, as far as we know, there are no dukes or earls in Poromil, and Viscount seems to be the step down from the monarchy based on Viscount Dakarys being named Queen Mariah Gaia's heir. Let's talk about what we know about how the Scenario conducts their business. We know that when Mira presents her case to the scenario for adjusting the Bisgaeth Wardstone to allow flier magic, they put it to a vote. A majority vote is needed before a decision is made because Mira lost her case 6 to 1. While we can assume someone could request an audience with the Scenarium, this would probably be exceptionally rare and most would be summoned or have to have an invitation to meet with them. They also seem to be the judges for when someone stands trial for treason, at least in Violet's Almost case that we'll get to next episode. All right, shall we go through everything we know about each member of the scenario? Xaden is given his title back after both Lindell and Llewellyn are sanctioned for their roles and hiding Arisha, thus becoming His Grace Lieutenant Zaden Riderson, 16th Duke of Tirandor. Then we have former Duke but now Earl Llewellyn and assumably also Duke but now Earl Lindell, who are both vital in keeping Orisha's goals over these last six years before Zaden's title was reinstated. In our story, Llewelyn served as Tyrandor's representative when House Ryerson was removed from the Scenarium six years ago after the rebellion failed and the Treaty of Ricia was formed. He also currently acts as Xaden's proxy when he's away. Lindell fostered both Zaden and Liam Rip at Trevane with Llewellyn's help, he made sure the boys fostered were as prepared as possible before they went into the writers quadrant. Tirandor is the southernmost and largest province with a geographical advantage due to its coastline and the cliffs of Draeler. It provides the majority of conscripts, including presumably all of the marked ones. Orisha is was its capital for the other five provinces. We don't know much about their dukes or duchesses, like not even a name for most of them. But here's what we do know. The province of Moraine's Cenarium seat is held by Duchess Eileen. She is described as having a high pitched voice and wears a giant ruby necklace gym watch. She is disdainful towards Zaden and Violet and is pretty angry that Zaden let her rebel. Rebellion, excuse me, revolution. And goes without saying she doesn't trust him. On that same note, she has proposed marriage between her daughter and Zayden in hopes of getting her bloodline not only in Moiraine, but also Tyrandor. This is one of about a dozen marriage proposals Zaden gets since getting his title back. Since Zaden isn't married and doesn't have an heir, the other provinces want to form alliances with Tyndor in the form of political marriages. So we can also assume that's a pretty regular thing that happens among the provinces. A little bit more about Moiraine. It's where Brisgaeth is located and this province is in the north along the coast of the Emerald Sea. Characters we know who are Moranian are Terra, Avalon and Lira of the first six. Moving on to the Duke of Caldir. We don't get much in physical descriptions about the Duke of Caldir. He has a short blonde beard. That's about it, though it does seem he runs most of the meetings as he appears to be leading the conversations most of the time. We also learn he's had at least four concerts in as many years. Caldir. The province is home to Caldir city, where the king and royal family reside. It's also where the rebellion executions took place. It is one of the three provinces that kept their language during unification, now known as the common language that is spoken throughout Navarre. Many people in the Caldir province are loyal to Hedian, the God of wisdom. If the wars weren't extended, most of Caldir would be unwared. Unfortunately, we know next to nothing about the last three Cenarium members and the provinces they represent. There's the Duchess of Elsam, who has dark brows and long dark hair long enough to brush the table when she leans forward. Very important information, am I right? But hey, I got to include it. Elsam is also one of the three provinces that kept their language during unification. Then we had the Duke of Luceres. Luceres can be pretty remote, and it's another province with a northern coastal border. This is where Daddy Ato was stationed in Iron Flame for his bad, bad, bad behavior. Violet's grandma Niara, her father's mother, lives here as well. Characters from Lucerys include Sawyer, Lynx, and Warwick of the first six. Last but maybe not least, we don't know Deaconshire. We know so little. We don't even know if they have a duke or duchess. This is the other of the three provinces that kept their language during unification, and it's the burial site of one of Violet's grandmamas. Like I mentioned earlier in in the episode, the Scenarium is negotiating a treaty with Arisha and Poromiel, so I won't repeat myself with all of that. This includes an alliance between the kingdoms and hopefully pardons for the Orisha riot who left in the first place. However, at this time, King Tari is not willing to take Poor Meal citizens under the protection of the Warts. Navarre is also not willing to let the Flyers stay at Bisgaeth because they can't protect themselves from the hostile environment with the writers previously trained to kill flyers. So without anything to gain from an alliance, poor Emile is threatening to walk. Their only incentives for this alliance are weapons and keeping their people safe. And if Navarre can't promise that deal, then why shouldn't Poor Meal keep attacking Navarre outposts to obtain alloy hilted daggers for their own defenses? Cygnisen is especially ready to walk. The only things everyone can agree on right now is that Flyers will be allowed to tour the quadrant with their squad's first year riders. Remember, remember, these are the combined rider and flier squads from Orisha back in Iron Flame Part two. And the other thing they can agree on is the task force to find Andarna's kind. This is in Poor Emiel's interest too, because Queen Maria hopes that the seventh Dragon Den might know how to defeat the Venin, given the age of Andarna's egg. So I'm assuming they don't know about how she can roast the Venin. These negotiations are wearing on all involved, as we've seen from Brennan and Llewellyn. Which yes, Brennan is part of these negotiations, not because he's with the Scenarium, but because he is part of the representation for the Orisha assembly, like Zaden here at sca and he is the translator Slash Middleman between poor Meal and Navarre. So step one to making any progress in these negotiations help ensure the flyers can wield within the functioning Nevarian wards so they can protect themselves at Biscayeth. And stay tuned for episode two.

[Nicole]

Let's close out this episode with with taking flight with our favorite moments. We are right back with Sassy and Darna. And when Taran chastises her for how her wings won't hold the weight of ice and Darna mocks him. Quote, your wings won't hold the weight of this ice, and yet yours miraculously carry the burden of your ego. Fucking iconic. I love her. Another thing I just love is that iotrim is 22. Like, I just. I picture him, him and Riddick just frat bros at a party after three glasses of jungle juice with the hype of playing beer pong. They are the epitome of bros, and I love it so much.

[Lexi]

They're so perfect for each other. I want a Riddick POV so badly. Speaking of Ayatron, we get a description that Taran is almost twice his size. The brown swordtail isn't considered a small dragon like BAE was, Rip. So this just illustrates how gigantic Taryn is.

[Nicole]

Taran calling Zaden the Dark One. Like, if that's his way of coping Mood.

[Lexi]

I'm telling you, he's channeling Major dad who doesn't approve of his daughter's boyfriend energy. I love his line where he's like, quote, do not mistake my unflinching support of you, my mate, and Indarna for any form of faith in him. He's got his priorities straight and no matter what, he is loyal. He will forever be Joe from Princess Diaries for me, all things Kat in.

[Nicole]

This chapter straight stretch, I am quickly becoming a cat Stan. Like, I love her so much. From her trying to start shit with Violet when she's all riled up and Violet instantly shutting this down. Like, shut up. You don't need to do this to her. Saying that she can tell sometimes why Xaden chose Violet. This is after Violet's speech, although because it's cat, she would never miss a chance to point out how. Took Violet long enough to step in though. So good. Imogen saying that Xaden should stop doing stupid shit that needs to be covered up. Iconic.

[Lexi]

Another Imogen moment when she's like, message delivered. I'm done with this conversation. It's such a callback to Iron Flame. And true to Imagine's nature, they're co conspirators with a vested interest in keeping each other alive, as Imogen put it in Iron Flame. But let's be honest, Imogen, you're friends with Violet whether you admit it or not.

[Nicole]

We get some very swoony Zaden Ryerson moments when Violet falls asleep reading and he he bookmarks her spot with a dagger. And when he holds the door open for Violet, it's just a nice callback to the moment in Fourth Wing when he opens the door automatically for Violet because that's how his father taught him and Violet's like whoa. Like hot. Garrick and Imogen, her note about him looking oh so rested even after a night with a Griffin flyer and how the flyer must be disappointed.

[Lexi]

So I actually put this initially under foreshadowing for Garak and Imogen. Garrick teases Imogen that she sounds jealous. We'll learn from Quinn as she dies RIP that Imogen does indeed have feelings for Garrick and that she should tell him maybe someday, depending on Garrick's current state and location, which is very questionable.

[Nicole]

By the end of this book. Brennan notes how he has to beg sign to stay at the table for negotiations Negotiations Sign first to leave, last to arrive. Not great hangs Cygnason.

[Lexi]

I definitely got a chuckle out of Dane saying quote, you pretty much described how Violet was raised when Riddick sarcastically says he feels protected and nurtured. We are starting to get more backstory between Dane and Violet and I love it. I felt like that was a little bit lacking in Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and we're really getting like a peek behind the curtains now.

[Nicole]

Now.

[Lexi]

Yeah. What a first episode. Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for listening to this Episode one of our Onyx Storm deep dive. So much for making it less than two hours. There's just too much to discuss and we are too excited.

[Nicole]

We will see you all again for next Monday's episode two where we are covering chapters seven through 12. We cannot wait to talk about Garrett's second signet and the introduction of my favorite favorite character, Theophany. I'm so excited. Also, in case you don't know, our next book series that we are covering after Onyx storm is the Kindred's Curse Saga by Pen Cole. Starting with book one spark of the Everflame in April 2025. Links to get the books are in the show notes and it's also a phenomenal audiobook.

[Lexi]

We love to give the biggest warm welcome welcome welcome to our newest Iron Squad members.

[Nicole]

Thank you so much for joining Jennifer, Joanna H, Christine L, Jenna G, Lisa Yu, Tori Amber H Kelsey T Elizabeth Alicia K Jamie C Iris D Ashley G Jen A Chelsea Lulu Erica Nicole K Corrie P Megan Celia Y Cassandra.

[Lexi]

W Danielle R Allison Sarah Beth M Amanda K Sarah V Hannah Hannah Tabitha C Caitlin P Kelton H Rhonda R Alyssa D Caitlin P Lexi A hey, that's like me. Hi Maria L Thasani M Katie C Andrea F Cyra Tiffany R Shannon M Jess B Sandra May Annie RG Nicole.

[Nicole]

P Haley G Courtney V Alex Baps, Brianna C Cody D Jessica Tara G Hannah Ali T Crystal Ali S, Amanda M, Alicia S and Jessica W wow. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

[Lexi]

We can't believe how many of you have joined the Iron Squad and we just have to say thank you so, so so much. We appreciate you. Thank you for supporting the show and for being on this journey with Nicole and I. It means the absolute world to us. And if you're like, hey, I want my name shouted out on the podcast and you showered with all the love to join our fan club [e-mail] fan club. Of course, the link is also in the show notes.

[Nicole]

Thank you as always to our resident scribe, curator, AKA our content researcher Brooke and of course our Executive producer AKA our sanity manager Hayden. Hayden's going to be working a little overtime this weekend coming out for Rebecca Yarrows Live. We love you Hayden.

[Lexi]

Fun fact, when we got the email inviting us to be the moderators, we don't do anything, anything big without Hayden. He literally is our sanity manager and we need him to hold our hands. So we immediately booked a flight out. It's like come on Hayden, you're coming to Denver. So we're so excited. We are very active on social media and posting lots of extra Onyx Storm content including a mini archives and trivia the week of every new episode. So please be sure to follow us on Instagram and TikTok at Fantasy Fangirls Pod and also hit that subscribe button on YouTube. It makes us so happy and we love it.

[Nicole]

Speaking of things that make us happy, please take a moment to rate and review this show. If you listen to any podcast, it does not just have to be fantasy fangirls and you take five seconds to hit that little five star button. Write a little love note in the review section. It is one of the best things that you can do for any show you listen to and we're so grateful for all who have done it already. Last but not least, it is time to share this episode with your friends. Fellow fantasy fan girl Empyrean friends. If you and your friend group have been waiting for the Deep Dive, Episode one. It is time to hit that link. Who can be the first of the group text to send the link? Is it you? Is it you? Yeah. I'm challenging you.

[Lexi]

Or. Or if your friends are super confused and you've listened to this episode, give them this episode. Because you can be like, hey, here's a way for you not to be so confused. Here you go. Hey, thank you so much, everyone. We appreciate you, and we can't wait to keep on this journey. Bye.

[Nicole]

Shadow Schneekin with Zaden. Shadow Zayden, Shadow Schneeken. Like an asap. Like, blow on the blow. Blow. The ASAM is like, almost. Well, that might be book four.