S5 Ep5: Ep 5 - Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros - PART 1

Summary

Flights of Fantasy Podcast Summary

Episode: Season 5, Episode 5 – Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros – PART 1
Release Date: February 18, 2025

In this engaging fifth episode of Season 5, the Flights of Fantasy hosts—Christina, Kim, and Anna—delve deep into Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. They explore intricate character developments, unravel complex plot theories, and celebrate pivotal moments in the novel. This detailed summary captures their insightful discussions, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

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1. Book Overview and Initial Reactions

Christina kicks off the episode with palpable excitement about finally reading Onyx Storm. She expresses the collective anticipation shared among the hosts and listeners alike. Kim introduces the structure of their analysis, mentioning that this discussion is part one of a three-part deep dive, with the final episode focusing solely on the book's ending and speculations about the forthcoming fourth installment.

Christina [00:35]: "The gym of our lives. The bell of the ball. All of the things we can't wait."

2. Plot Fundamentals and Key Themes

The hosts summarize the book's setting, highlighting the immediate aftermath of Iron Flame. Kim outlines the primary conflict involving Zaden's Veninism—a pivotal element known only to a select few characters, including Imogen, Bode, Garrick, Quinn, and Violet.

Kim [02:34]: "Zaden is Venin. Currently, only Imogen, Bode, Garrick, Quinn, and Violet know about Zaden's Veninism. I love that. Veninism."

They discuss the significance of Antarna's fire, emphasizing Rebecca Yarros's deliberate choices in the narrative to foreshadow future events.

Kim [03:50]: "Andarna's fire, the fact that she burned that Venin at the end of Iron Flame, means that she is different. I mean, obviously, she is. She's a seventh breed. But, like, her fire is special."

3. Character Dynamics and Relationships

A substantial portion of the discussion centers on the evolving relationship between Zaden and Violet. The hosts commend the authorship for portraying their bond with stability and growth, contrasting it with previous angst-filled interactions in earlier installments.

Anna [12:28]: "There is so much communication happening. We are not keeping secrets. We are not bickering with each other."

They highlight specific moments that showcase their deepening trust and unwavering support for one another, such as when Zaden leans on Violet after a family tragedy, demonstrating vulnerability and mutual reliance.

Kim [14:33]: "She got behind the chair and, like, oh, it's just so sad. It's like a little boy who hides in the corner."

4. Theoretical Explorations and Lore Insights

The conversation ventures into intricate lore, particularly focusing on the concept of signets—the magical symbols that grant the characters their powers. Kim reveals key insights from the book, confirming that second signets often accompany rebellion relics, a theory previously speculated by fans.

Zaden [37:36]: "often accompany the rebellion relic, something we've theorized now it's canon."

The hosts dissect the epigraphs and quotes from the book, connecting them to broader themes and future plot developments. They speculate about the "six most powerful signets," drawing parallels to classical mythologies and establishing potential lineages and roles within the story's universe.

Christina [31:38]: "The rarest of signets. 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."

5. Notable Quotes and Their Significance

Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize several poignant quotes, attributing them accurately with timestamps:

• Professor Amaterio [31:38]: "The last time a Shadow and Lightning wielder fought side by side, they managed to drive the Venn back into the Barrens for a few hundred years. We'll figure out how to do it again."

• Zaden to Violet [18:36]: "A kiss isn't enough. It never is with us. ... The only person I can't fathom losing that control with. And yet here I am, unable to keep three fucking feet away from you."

These quotes serve as critical touchpoints for understanding character motivations and impending conflicts.

6. Character Spotlights and Development

Theophany, a pivotal character whose true nature and allegiance are subjects of intense speculation, receives considerable attention. The hosts debate her motivations, connections to other characters, and her role in the overarching narrative.

Kim [24:04]: "I think there's something really special about Andarna. It goes back to her scales and the fire."

They discuss the implications of her actions and the hints Rebecca Yarros drops regarding her identity and future relevance in the series.

7. Host Interactions and Community Engagement

Interwoven with their analysis are lighthearted interactions among the hosts, showcasing their camaraderie and shared enthusiasm for the series. They also acknowledge and appreciate their Patreon supporters, integrating community engagement into the discussion.

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Concluding Thoughts

The Flights of Fantasy hosts provide a comprehensive and passionate exploration of Onyx Storm, balancing in-depth analysis with entertaining banter. Their ability to weave together plot summaries, character studies, and speculative theories offers both new listeners and long-time fans valuable insights into the complex world Yarros has created.

Highlights:

• Character Growth: Significant development in Zaden and Violet’s relationship, emphasizing trust and communication.
• Lore Deep Dive: Detailed examination of signets and their historical significance within the series.
• Theoretical Insights: Speculations on upcoming plot points, including the roles of key characters like Theophany and the implications of second signets.
• Notable Quotes: Carefully selected quotes that underscore major themes and character dynamics.

As the hosts prepare to continue their discussion in the upcoming parts of this episode, listeners are left eagerly anticipating the next installment of their thorough examination of Onyx Storm.

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Notable Quotes:

1. Christina [00:35]: "The gym of our lives. The bell of the ball. All of the things we can't wait."
2. Kim [02:34]: "Zaden is Venin. Currently, only Imogen, Bode, Garrick, Quinn, and Violet know about Zaden's Veninism. I love that. Veninism."
3. Zaden [18:36]: "A kiss isn't enough. It never is with us. ... The only person I can't fathom losing that control with. And yet here I am, unable to keep three fucking feet away from you."
4. Professor Amaterio [31:38]: "The last time a Shadow and Lightning wielder fought side by side, they managed to drive the Venn back into the Barrens for a few hundred years. We'll figure out how to do it again."

By meticulously dissecting these elements, the Flights of Fantasy podcast ensures that their audience remains engaged and informed, fostering a vibrant community of Romantasy enthusiasts.

Transcript

[Christina]

Welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your Romantasy podcast book club. I'm Christina, joined by my book besties, Kim and Anna, and together we're diving into the characters, theories, lore and magic behind all your favorite fantasy romance books. Guys, it's here.

[Kim]

Hello.

[Christina]

Welcome to Onyx Storm season. It is finally here. The wait is over. It has arrived. We have read it and as hopefully have all of you. And we literally are just giddy to dive into this. It is.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

The gym of our lives.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

The bell of the ball. All of the things we can't wait. Okay, Kim, also shout out some patrons for us. Other bells of the ball, please.

[Anna]

Other bells of the ball. I would love to do that. So, as you guys know, one of the tier 2 benefits from our patreon is that you get a special shout out in one of our episodes. So in this episode, we are going to be shouting out Christina Velasquez, Tanya S. Brooke Davis, Raysa O. And Jess Smith. Spencer.

[Kim]

Hi.

[Anna]

Hi. Thank you guys so, so much for supporting us. You are the reason that we are able to continue to do these episodes, truly. And we are just so, so thankful for all of you.

[Christina]

We are beyond thankful. We love you so much. Thank you.

[Anna]

Yes. Okay.

[Kim]

Okay, guys. All right, so let's do this. Let's dive in. I'm gonna give a little spoiler warning. So, listeners, we actually have our initial reactions to finishing the book up already on a main feed. And if you want to see the video of us, we recorded it in a super cute podcast, York City, the day after we finished.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And that's up on our patreon for tier 2. So if you want to hear, like, what we thought just after finishing our, like, gut reactions, all of our, like, kind of crazy, quick, unhinged, you know, theories that we were thinking at the end, go listen to that and come back here because this is the start of our deep dive.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

Okay. So we will be breaking these episodes into three parts because there is just too much to discuss to keep it to one or two episodes. Our final episode will actually be dedicated solely to the ending of the book. Okay. We will be breaking it down and dissecting everything that happened and sharing all of our thoughts into, like, what we think might be coming in book four.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Kim]

So these episodes are not necessarily going to be in chronological order. There will be some of that, but we've broken it up into, like, you know, characters, deep dives. We're basically going into this with the knowledge of the entirety of the book. So please keep that in Mind.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

So, without further ado, this is your official spoiler warning for all things Empyrean and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yaros. Let's go.

[Anna]

Let's go.

[Kim]

All right, so book three picks up, like, immediately after the events of Iron Flame. Okay, Sawyer's in the infirmary. Poor Sawyer. Oh, what a journey. He's recovering. Violet is compartmentalizing her mother's death, and Zaden is Venin. Currently, only Imogen, Bode, Garrick, Quinn, and Violet know about Zaden's Veninism. I love that. Veninism.

[Anna]

Venanism.

[Christina]

I love Venanism.

[Kim]

So basically, just the Rebellion relic holders and our marked ones. Well, the Inner Circle. Marked ones, I should say.

[Christina]

Correct.

[Kim]

And that's where we pick up. Yeah, and we dive right into the prologue. And, guys, Rebecca gave us answers on page two.

[Anna]

Yeah, she did.

[Christina]

She did not mess around with these answers.

[Anna]

Guys, I love it.

[Christina]

They were from the prologue all the way through. She was just. That's right. It was amazing.

[Kim]

We're just going to answer some questions right off the bat. And I was like, please, please do, because we haven't been spiraling.

[Christina]

It was amazing.

[Kim]

So the biggest one that she said was about Antarna's fire. And we, all of us were correct in this thinking that Andarna's fire, the fact that she burned that Venon at the end of Iron Flame, means that she is different. I mean, obviously, she is. She's a seventh breed. But, like, her fire is special.

[Anna]

Yeah, it is.

[Christina]

The Smoking Head. The Smoking Head. The head was smoking.

[Kim]

The Smoking Head.

[Anna]

We knew it had to be something, and it was. Love it.

[Kim]

So the quote that Andarna says, she says if I somehow altered that venom inadvertently while changing my scales, then the rest of my kind should know how to. To master the tactic. How to change him. Cure him. The him being Zaden. Of course.

[Anna]

Of course.

[Kim]

I think that's really key to note here that she makes a point to say that she altered the Venin inadvertently while changing her scales. She says the term altered. She doesn't say. Yeah.

[Anna]

Oh, I didn't pick up on that.

[Kim]

Altered, I think is interesting.

[Christina]

Yeah, altered, as in, like, altered him back to human. That's why I could kill him. Oh, maybe.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

And therefore, I can alter you back to human to cure you, theoretically.

[Kim]

I want us to pin this for Kim when you go later in your section, because this is very interesting, this terminology.

[Anna]

Yes, yes.

[Kim]

So altered the Venin inadvertently while changing her scales. And I think that's also the big, important thing. Okay. Is the changing of the scales.

[Christina]

Yes, it's definitely important.

[Kim]

Okay, so we knew this. She's super special. Basically what they come to the conclusion of is that they need to go and search for the rest of her family. Okay. We've got to find a cure for Zaden and this kind of becomes their mantra. Or Violet and Andara's mantra for majority of the book is like, leave no stone unturned. We are going to find a cure. There's no other way to go about this.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And that is basically what their driving force is. The entire book.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Okay, so, Christina, will you take us through some highlights from the beginning?

[Christina]

I would love nothing more. All right, so let's break down some highlights from these first few chapters.

[Kim]

Everyone.

[Christina]

Ladies and gentlemen. All right, so there's a lot that happens in this first five to six chapters when you're reading it. And then when you finish, you kind of like zoom out and look at them from the scope of the whole book. And there is actually not that much that happens here.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But it's actually mainly her setting up plot points that are going to come later in the book. So she's really giving us a lot of groundwork here.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So we're going to quickly summarize some key things from that groundwork. So, okay, basically, Navarre and poor Emil are in negotiations. Okay. We're trying to figure out a peace treaty. It's not going well, but that peace treaty would provide safe haven for poor Emil's people and specifically the flyers at Basgayev. However, tensions are high, folks. Nobody likes each other. And if we remember, the wards at Basgaeth were successfully erected at the end of Iron Flame. But with a major caveat being that the wards do protect from Venin, but they do not allow for flyers to channel from their Griffins. Yeah, a little unfair. We'll get there. So that also speaking of unfair is a major non negotiable for Tokarys and Queen Mariah of Poromil and. Yeah. Which is basic value.

[Anna]

Sure.

[Christina]

Like, they want their people to be able to channel magic. It makes total sense.

[Anna]

Absolutely.

[Christina]

Unfortunately, not to the Nevarians. So, unfortunately, Nevarre having been at war with Bor Emil for years, therefore, there's a lot of distrust. There's a lot of things built up there inter our magical Frisbee. Okay, so y'all friends, Friends. We will be referring to the tempered ruined disc as the magical Frisbee because it is in our mind. That is what it is. Okay.

[Anna]

Exactly.

[Christina]

So they are one and the same.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

And turns out that whole journey and lesson learned there with the magical Frisbee was just to showcase to us. Runes can be altered after tempering. That's it. That's the lesson. That's the takeaway.

[Anna]

There we go.

[Kim]

That's it.

[Christina]

How long did that take?

[Anna]

Could have summed it up. But why would we do that?

[Kim]

I spend an embarrassing amount of time rereading that same paragraph over and over again going, what did I miss?

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

There is something very important here.

[Christina]

Something's levitating. No.

[Anna]

Twas an example. That's all it was. That's all it was.

[Christina]

So cut to Violet and co doing exact example. Right? We have a super secret mission. We go to alter the wards to allow the Griffin Flyers to be able to channel and use their magic. And the Nevarian leadership is none too pleased. It's safe to say they are about to execute her for treason, actually. So they pull her out of class.

[Anna]

Casual Tuesday casual.

[Christina]

So they bring her in and you know. But luckily, guys, luckily, a royal official pardon was signed the night before clearing all those who defected to Erasure and Iron Flame. Hello.

[Kim]

I was like, well, that's convenient.

[Anna]

I love when that happens.

[Christina]

It was mighty Heavenly fire of Rebecca.

[Kim]

It is.

[Christina]

But you know, it gave us this moment that will live rent free in my brain of the rest of the scenario just glaring at her and Zayden being there, sitting there smirking and in his head looking at her. And if you silence everyone else in his head he just goes, brilliant, reckless woman. Oh, God.

[Anna]

Love it.

[Christina]

So, yes, speaking of the sudarium. The sudarium is made up of the rulers of each province in Navarre. They have been elected to such position. Speaking of elected, they have also officially elected our boy Zaddy to be the Duke of Tirandor.

[Kim]

Yeah, they have.

[Christina]

Very incredibly important plot wise and also really giving us some sexy historical vibes while we're at it.

[Anna]

I know, Yes, a sexy duke. We'd love to love it.

[Christina]

Don't countach us.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Christina]

Yes, Anna.

[Kim]

Okay, so I do have a little hot take here, and I think we chatted about this a little bit privately. Why is nobody on the Scenarium questioning the fact that Ven and are here? It was supposed to be some big top secret, right? And nobody knew. Yeah, and the only way to keep a secret is. Is to not tell people.

[Anna]

Or kill them.

[Kim]

Yeah, or kill them. As Daddy Ato tries to do and Baris tried to do in book two.

[Anna]

Right.

[Kim]

But like, literally, they're all so mad at Violet for like leaving because of The Venin. It's like misdirected anger.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

It's like, why are we so mad at Violet and all these people that quote unquote defected to Erasure, when in reality it's your own fricking government. That was like, yes, Venon.

[Christina]

What?

[Kim]

It's a child's fairy tale. They're not real.

[Christina]

Not real?

[Anna]

You're crazy.

[Kim]

Like, what?

[Christina]

In my head, when I first read this, I was like, oh, they all just must have known. But no, no, they couldn't have all known.

[Anna]

Not all of them. I mean, some.

[Kim]

I just don't see how you keep it a secret if everybody knows.

[Christina]

Well, like, people from outside the wards knew because they were battling them.

[Anna]

Sure.

[Christina]

But the people in Navarre, like, those people, we didn't just tell Random Joe Schmoduke.

[Anna]

No.

[Christina]

Like, he didn't need to know. He wasn't on the intel list.

[Kim]

I don't think the Duchess of Moraine was aware.

[Anna]

Yeah, well, I'm just wondering though, if maybe everybody on the Scenarium knew and then everybody else is like, they're not being brought into the storyline for some reason.

[Christina]

Like, they're not privy.

[Kim]

Shush, shush, shush. Go sit it down.

[Anna]

They're having like, private conversations within themselves. Like, hey, guys, what the fuck? Like, they said Venom weren't real.

[Kim]

Yeah, I mean, I guess. Is it just like, so is it like every time a new duke or duchess comes to power, like, so, btw, yes. Here's the fables of the Baron. It's all true. Yeah.

[Anna]

This is actually a textbook. This is not a storybook for children. This is actually real.

[Kim]

And you are sworn to secrecy.

[Christina]

Exactly. The thing that I found also confusing about this is nobody is like, what? A seventh breed of dragon. What? And darn, is this crazy. Where are they? Like, all these things? It's just like, nope. For considering how much of a big time deal secret. At the end of Iron Flame, when Antonia's like, I can only tell you and it's a big secret and I'm the only one that exists and no one knows. And then everyone's like, so we're all in agreement. We gotta go find the seventh breed of Dragon Den. And that's the whole plan. Like, nobody was like, shocked by this?

[Anna]

Nope.

[Kim]

So a seventh breed, you say? Fascinating.

[Christina]

Everyone was like, well, we've known about them. We've just been waiting, killing our time till we needed to go get them.

[Anna]

Right?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

What is happening?

[Christina]

I'm assuming, I guess that happened in the break of that two weeks from the Prologue until first page. We get two weeks, right?

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So I guess those happened off page, but would like to see some pushback.

[Kim]

Just a little. Just a sentence.

[Anna]

Yeah. I agree that it was weird where the anger was being directed at and it felt like an incomplete circle of just a storyline of people being like, okay, but wait. Hey, though, just, like, while I have you here. You have lied to us, though, for centuries. Like, I just want to be clear. That is true.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Anna]

Okay. No, that's all I need. I'm going to go to class. I just got it. Wanted to clear that up. Like, no one is.

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Anna]

Everyone's like, Violet, you garbage, trash. You deserted. But no one's ever like, well, but like, actually, though, no, now the Venin are real. So, like, can we circle back to.

[Kim]

The Venin issue at hand? And everyone's like, nope, nope. We're just mad at the deserters. It's like, oh, okay.

[Christina]

It felt like it was like, well, I mean, clearly everyone's whole sole focus is being mad at Violent and Zaden. Because everyone else's lives also revolve on Violent and Zane.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

As they do ours.

[Anna]

No, true.

[Christina]

You know, it did feel a little like, eitos can be mad and hate her, but does everyone need to be out to get her? Like, okay, right, I get it. Like, ATOS is just our big bad. But, like, totally decided. Would not give a shit about Violet deserting.

[Anna]

No. And they should not. But speaking of Zaden and Violet, can we discuss our Duke and Duchess?

[Christina]

That's a Duke and Duchess.

[Anna]

The Duke and Duchess of Dirandor. Let's discuss them. Because they were such a joy to read in this book. And I just feel like, look at the growth that we have had from Iron Flame.

[Kim]

Leaps and bounds.

[Christina]

So much.

[Anna]

There is so much communication happening. We are not keeping secrets. We are not bickering with each other. We're not being like, you didn't ask the right question. Well, I didn't know the right question to ask. Well, that's not my fault. I have to keep secrets. Like, just tell me. There was none of that.

[Kim]

You mean the Ric? Play by play.

[Anna]

Exactly, exactly, exactly. And I feel he summed that up pretty well to be.

[Kim]

I mean, perfectly.

[Anna]

Were any lies told? No. No, they were not. Now, I want to ask you guys this, and I'm curious for your perspective on it, because looking back now, I feel very strongly that I think it was very purposeful on Rebecca's part to make Iron Flame so full of angst so that she could show growth on Violet and Zaden's part in Onyx Storm because I truly don't think we would have appreciated their relationship in this book so much if IR Flame was not written the way it was. How do you guys feel about that?

[Christina]

I 100% agree. I think it was necessary. It walked so we could run romantically. I think it was necessary in their broader journey. If we look at it later as a five book journey, it'll seem like an important piece of time in their relationship. Reading it, not knowing that was coming was the frustrating part.

[Kim]

Sure.

[Christina]

But she had to do it.

[Kim]

I think we got a lot of the BS out of the way and this book solidified how strong their foundation is now as, like, a couple. And I think that that's clearly because of the ending of this book is going to be very important and pivotal in, like, what's to come in the book four if they're separated.

[Anna]

I agree. And I just feel like it was really nice to have them be such a stable foundation for us as the reader. And it made us feel very comfortable and relaxed in their relationship. There was never any stress or worry, at least on my end, like, oh, my God, are they gonna break up? So let's highlight a couple examples of some of our favorite moments of Zaden and Violet's relationship in this book. So when Zaden sees his mom in the Isle Kingdoms, this was so sad and so upsetting on his behalf. And I think this would have been a moment historically where we would have seen him really pull away from Violet. And Violet would have been very unsure about how to approach him and support him. But he really leaned on her. He was so vulnerable with her, and she listened, and then she went to bat for him.

[Kim]

I love that.

[Christina]

So good. Such growth.

[Anna]

And I was so proud of Violet, too, for, like, walking right up to him and being like, okay, I'm gonna sit on the floor with you and we're gonna talk about this.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Kim]

She, like, got behind the chair and, like, oh, it's just so sad. It's like a little boy who hides in the corner.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

You know when they're, like, scared.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And she just goes and sits next to him and she's like, you're not gonna be alone. You're not gonna do this whole thing where, like, you push me away and you're sitting with your feelings.

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Kim]

Not happening.

[Christina]

No Jikka Banks today.

[Kim]

I'm here for you. We don't have to talk, but I'm here.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And I loved that.

[Christina]

And that's what he needed. It's what he needed in that moment. And I think him not pushing her away was really important. This is a big step for them because he talks about, like, I would love to not feel this. And she's like, don't shut me out. And he says, never. And then he keeps talking. So that was a huge, huge moment for them.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

And again, I think this is such a great example of their growth as a couple. Their communication with each other, their confidence in each other. Violet is so much more confident in how she approaches him and how she communicates. Communicates with him. Iron Flame was so just like, I don't know what to say. I don't know what to push, like, when to push or when to not. And now she's, like, so comfortable with him.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

So confident with him that she's like, no, yeah, we're gonna figure this out, and I'm gonna have your back, and I'm gonna go to bat for you and stand up for you. And I'm love to see it.

[Christina]

Agreed. I love to see it.

[Anna]

So speaking of Violet, she was so incredible in this book, showing him such support and patience with Zaden. Obviously, like, struggling a little bit with, you know, the whole being venom thing.

[Kim]

Fine. Yeah. You know, no big deal.

[Anna]

No big deal. He hates him throughout this entire book. And he tries to tell her, like, you should hate me, too. Like, you shouldn't trust me. You should stay away from me. And she literally was like, all right, cut that shit out. Like, we're not doing that.

[Christina]

We're done.

[Kim]

Yeah, we're not doing that.

[Anna]

We're done with that. Like, he doesn't trust himself. He doesn't think Violet should trust him. But Violet never, ever lets him feel that he is unworthy of not only her love, but the love and respect of his friends that know.

[Christina]

Yes, 100%. I thought that was really important for everyone's journey in the book, the reader, too, to not have to worry about that, you know?

[Anna]

Totally.

[Christina]

Yeah. I just think it was written well that, like, it makes sense that he would feel these feelings. Like, we had to put some of it in.

[Kim]

Sure.

[Christina]

It just clocked with his character, but I think it was enough where it was. Made sense, but it wasn't annoying. It wasn't like Edward Cullen. We were all very scared about that. It wasn't that.

[Kim]

I've seen so many people talk about comparing it to Edward Cullen and, like, the. In the sex scenes where he's like, I can't trust myself. I'm dangerous. Yeah. And, like, Bella's Like, I trust you. You won't hurt me. And then it's like sibling, like, literally, Violet, it's like, girl, you have a death wish. But it's also so hot.

[Anna]

Like, so hot.

[Kim]

Like, but don't we love to read it?

[Anna]

We love it.

[Christina]

We do.

[Anna]

Yeah. I just overall, really, really loved. There was no miscommunication. And, like, we've talked about it really just made us feel so grounded in their relationship. And then we were really able to kind of focus on everything else going on in the book because we weren't so worried about, like, oh, my God, are they going to have another argument and break up again? It's like, nope, they're together. They're in game.

[Christina]

Yes. I loved it.

[Kim]

I think that we made Violet such a central part of his tether to, like, his humanity and his control is, I think, going to be a big part coming in book four. Because she is what stops him right in the end. It's her love that makes him pull back so that he still has that little aspect of himself. Or that's the way I read it. But also it reminds me of that. I don't know if it's an epigraph or if it's somebody talking about something that happened, but the Vennans, like, wipe out a whole town. But there was this one Vennon, and she leaves one house standing and everybody in that home. And it's from the male's point of view, the only surviving adult, which means. Means that the other two had to have been children. And he says she is just as beautiful with her dark black hair as the day I married her or met her. I can't remember if it says married or met.

[Christina]

Wait, what? I totally forgot about this.

[Anna]

I have a vague memory of this, but.

[Kim]

So it's recounting a town being wiped out, and there's only one home that was left unscathed, which to me meant that that Vennon was emotionally tied to that family.

[Anna]

Yes, right.

[Kim]

It sounded like a husband and a wife and their two kids, and she somehow turned and she. The whole town gets wiped out, but she doesn't tie touch that home.

[Christina]

That's interesting.

[Kim]

There's something about her that stopped her. The love.

[Christina]

There's a hope. There's a hope. Yeah.

[Anna]

There is hope. I love that. And that's so interesting. So let's end, like, some of our favorite moments with this sweet quote from Zaden to Violet. And he says, a kiss isn't enough. It never is with us. His fingers find the bottom of my Coronet braid. And he tugs, tilting my face toward him. You want me the same way that I want you. Wholly, completely, with nothing but skin between us, heart, mind and body. All I want is to lose myself in you. And I can't. You are the only person in the world with the power to strip me of every ounce of my control and the only person I can't fathom losing that control with. And yet here I am, unable to keep three fucking feet away from you.

[Kim]

I wanna cry.

[Christina]

It's so good. It's so good. And that's a perfect example of the juxtaposition of where he is mentally. And it makes sense. But then he just can't. He can't.

[Anna]

Can't do it.

[Kim]

I can't quit you.

[Anna]

That's right.

[Christina]

And I love it.

[Anna]

It's so good. Oh, my God.

[Christina]

All right, Anna, talk us through another interesting character in this book.

[Kim]

Yes. Okay, so I want to chat about Theophany, which I finally said correctly. Okay. Theophany, AKA Silver Haired Girly, AKA Mia Thermopolis, whatever you want to call her.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

A woman of many names.

[Anna]

She's got a lot of names. That's right.

[Kim]

Okay, so we have Theophany. This is the first, I think, big pivotal point in the book. And it's around chapter and chapter 11, and Violet and her squad are sent to Samarra by Daddy Atos as punishment for altering the Wardstone. We end up going from Samar to Newhall to try and save Maren's family because this is when Violet does her dream walking.

[Christina]

Now, looking back, it's very obvious, very obvious, very clear.

[Kim]

They all agree. They're gonna go to Newhall. They're gonna save Maren's family from the Vennon, and who is it but Silver Haired Girly Theophany. Okay.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Kim]

So obviously, this is like we. This is not. Obviously. This is not the first time we've seen her character. Right. She was earlier in the book, which was the excerpt that was released to Cosmo magazine back in November. We have a whole little mini episode on that. Wherever you stream podcasts, you can go listen to it. So we're. We kind of skipped over that for this episode.

[Christina]

The way we all spiraled in the wrong direction.

[Kim]

Yeah, the way we all spiraled. We were wrong.

[Anna]

We were completely wrong.

[Kim]

Okay. But I do want to break down some things that we learn about her character and some of the reveals that we get. Okay. And obviously she's dead and gone at the end of this book. Well, desiccated is the word they keep.

[Christina]

Using, okay, that's an interesting word, but.

[Kim]

Desiccate to me means like incinerated.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So desiccated is having had all moisture removed. Dried out, lacking vitality. To remove the moisture from something caused to become completely dry.

[Kim]

Like a husk?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Yes, like a husk.

[Christina]

Wow.

[Anna]

Like the withered, desiccated landscape.

[Kim]

That makes sense. The way that they drain the life from the land when they're with or die. They defecate. They probably, like, shrivel up.

[Anna]

Exactly.

[Kim]

Think of it. It like a mummy.

[Christina]

Like a mummy.

[Anna]

Yeah. Almost like. Like a husk. Like a husk of something. Like, you know, I almost feel like it's like a snake skin.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Science. Science lessons with Kim.

[Anna]

Don't like it. My favorite.

[Kim]

Okay, so, I mean, this is the first time I feel like she's dead.

[Anna]

Dead.

[Kim]

I said it. I said it. I actually don't need to see a body.

[Christina]

It's on record.

[Anna]

I know. I just feel like we keep getting these interesting characters and then they die. And I'm like, but you had answers, so why did.

[Kim]

No, like.

[Christina]

Agreed. That's a frustrating piece.

[Kim]

Why did nobody ask her?

[Anna]

Well, like, the whole Lilith journals thing, we thought we were gonna get so much from Lilith's journals, and we really didn't get that much. And, like, she's dead now, so can't ask her. And I don't think Theophany was keeping journals. So, like.

[Christina]

I don't think so.

[Anna]

I don't know. Maybe. But, like.

[Christina]

Yeah. And like, I. There are things that we need to know. Yes. What happened? How did she go from priestess to.

[Kim]

Which is why I, like, want to spend time talking about. Because I think she. Okay. I think she's dead. It. I mean, I don't know how we come back from desiccation.

[Anna]

No, you're right. I mean, that's.

[Kim]

But I also am, like, I feel like she's going to be important.

[Christina]

Could there be something because she was a high priestess. Is there still some little, like, piece of her that Dune can like.

[Kim]

I don't know. Dune's the one that killed her.

[Christina]

Yeah, I know. But still, I don't know.

[Kim]

The goddess was like, yeah, no, I'm killing you with my marble from my temple.

[Christina]

You're right.

[Anna]

So I think we can all agree that we think she was a priestess of Dune.

[Kim]

Yeah, that's confirmed.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Because she was.

[Anna]

Yes. So she was a priestess of doom.

[Kim]

And I think she was fully dedicated.

[Anna]

Yeah, right, right.

[Christina]

Agreed. Agreed.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

That's why she has all silver hair.

[Anna]

Right?

[Kim]

Yes, that's right.

[Anna]

Silver hair girly from Cosmo.

[Kim]

So I do want to talk about this. There's a few things I want to chat about with Theophany.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Kim]

She doesn't seem to like Berwyn. She says this when Violet is, like, bringing up Berwyn and, like, do you answer to him? And she said, as if I would answer to that fool. And there's, like, more than one time where Berwyn is brought up. And it seems like the two of them are competing. Berwin wants Violet and Theophany wants Violet. And she's like, I will be a better sage to you. Come work for me. Come work under me. I will treat you better than Berwyn. And I don't know what's going on between the two of them because I can't tell if it's, like, a healthy dose of venom competition.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Or if there's, like, more to it. Like, is there? I just feel like Theophany, there was more to what she wanted than what Berwyn wanted. Their goals did not align. I think.

[Christina]

Yeah. There's still so much about this whole motivation that there's a piece missing.

[Kim]

I don't think there's a whole piece missing.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

I mean, she talks about andarna in chapter 10 or chapter 11, and she says, you truly don't know what she is. Is, do you? What a prize you've won.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And it's throughout the book, anytime Andarna is in front of Theophany, she's looking at her reverently.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Like that term is used, Rev.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So to me, I almost don't think that Theophany wants Violet so much as she wants Andarna. And the way to get Andarna is to.

[Anna]

Through Violet.

[Kim]

Violet.

[Anna]

Yeah, I agree with that.

[Christina]

I think that might be it.

[Anna]

Which was really interesting when we saw that switch kind of happen. Like, when we figured it out, we were like, oh, she doesn't want Violet. Violet. Which we thought this entire time, she wants Andara.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And like.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Why?

[Kim]

Goes back, I think, to what we think might be going on with Andara and the Seventh Breed.

[Christina]

Agreed. But I think there's also some piece of Violet that's special. Like, there's still the thing where the Sage told her at the battle at Reston, like, you command the sky. Like, all that stuff is still true. All these other Venin were like, we need her. Not the silver haired one. We need her. Like, and maybe that's. We need her because of her dragon. But I think there's a piece there that I feel like I'm missing.

[Anna]

Agreed.

[Christina]

Of the Venon motivation. And why then Berwyn wants her. Okay, but then why did we need Zaden? We needed Zaden to turn for her. But then, like, we need. It's like the two of them somehow there's another piece there.

[Kim]

I know.

[Anna]

I agree. Christina. I agree.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Do you think that Magic balance, Right?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Is there a Precog on their side?

[Christina]

Oh, okay.

[Kim]

Is there somebody who's like, yo, this is how we have to make this happen. We gotta go through all the back channels. We gotta get Zeta, and then we gotta get Violet. That's how we get Andarna.

[Christina]

Uh huh. Uh huh.

[Kim]

You know, like, we have to lay the groundwork in that way. I don't know.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So far we're seeing shadows and shadows. We're seeing storm wielder. Storm wielder.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

I'll get to the dreamwalker thing later. But I think Dreamwalker.

[Christina]

Yep. Yep.

[Kim]

I wonder if there's something like that.

[Christina]

That's interesting.

[Anna]

I could see that.

[Christina]

Imagine, guys, the end of, like, book four, and it's like Violet becomes vented. And then some Precog's like, see, I told you. All the pieces. I'm a mastermind.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

I'm a mastermind.

[Anna]

I told you. I'm a mastermind.

[Kim]

I love it.

[Christina]

We know she loves Taylor. Exactly. We do.

[Kim]

True. So like we said, we find out. You know, at first we think she's a lightning wielder, but turns out she's a storm wielder. She's the answer to Lilith's power, not Violet.

[Christina]

So.

[Anna]

Interesting.

[Christina]

Sorry, I had to have a quick. Quick question.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

When they say answer, they mean the balance, right? That's like, what's. They're interchangeable. Okay. Got it.

[Kim]

Yeah. Sorry. Yes.

[Anna]

So they're matching. So they're not a counterbalance to each other. What does that mean? So, like, they match, but they're not like opposing signets, where it's like.

[Kim]

No, they're not opposing.

[Anna]

So they're like, one can start storms, one could stop storms. Like, they're the same.

[Kim]

It's control storms. Yeah.

[Christina]

I think in general, it's like, same signet. One's good, one's bad.

[Anna]

Got it. Okay.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So then, yeah, maybe there is a Venin Precog.

[Kim]

Could be.

[Anna]

Do we think. We don't think Melgren is a Venin.

[Christina]

No, I think you might be.

[Kim]

Oh, really?

[Christina]

Melgren? Yeah.

[Kim]

I don't think Mel. We've never seen the dude. Right? Oh, no. We have in book two, a theory from Trisha.

[Christina]

Shout out to Trisha, is that maybe Melgren did turn. So then we needed another. He kind of had Precog, like, different kind of precog. So if he turned, then we needed another Precog to appear. And that's when Auric got his signet, because it manifested so late.

[Anna]

It did.

[Kim]

It did.

[Anna]

He was a late bloomer.

[Christina]

Like, maybe it manifested whenever it.

[Kim]

Like.

[Christina]

Okay, this is the balance. Melgren's gone now.

[Kim]

Okay, so the Andarna. You truly don't know what she is, do you? What a prize you've won. I just. I think there is something really special about Andarna. It goes back to her scales and the fire. And I think we're gonna learn a lot more about her in book four. I hope so. This other thing I thought was interesting that Theophany says. She says sometimes I forget just how short a mortal memory can be. Insinuating that she's, like, very old. And she, you know, she references, like, the word immortal comes up. And I just find it really interesting that her power. Okay, to be fair, she's not a lightning wielder, which a lightning wielder, I guess, hasn't been seen in centuries, since the Great War. But.

[Christina]

Interesting.

[Kim]

Yes, very interesting. But is a storm wielder also super interesting?

[Anna]

Because I think so.

[Kim]

There were so many things that I. My crackpot theory was that she was one of the first six.

[Anna]

One of the first six, yeah. Yeah, we had talked about that in our chapter.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Because theophany means. Literally, it means God's appearance or divine manifestation. So then I went and looked up Lyra, because we only have two names for the first six, and only one of them is a woman. And Lira Michael of Moiraine Michael literally means who is like God. So Theophany, God's appearance, divine manifestation. Michael, like, you know who is like God.

[Christina]

Totally.

[Kim]

And then this line from Violet, she looks at Theophany and she says. Says dismissive gesture that reminds me of the Duchess of Moraine. Oh, I know this is, like, so stretching it, but Lira Michael is of. She's from Moraine. It's Lira Michael of Moraine.

[Anna]

Fascinating.

[Christina]

That's interesting.

[Anna]

That's very interesting.

[Christina]

I like that.

[Anna]

Yeah, she put that in there on purpose. Like, she put that line in there on 100%. Like, that's such a random name to throw around.

[Christina]

Like.

[Anna]

Oh, really? It reminds me of the Duchess of.

[Kim]

Moraine, who you not like, cat with her, like, nobility or. No, it's the Duchess of Moiraine, I.

[Christina]

Think you're onto something here.

[Anna]

Agreed.

[Christina]

And we don't know. We don't know what happens to Vinin. Berwyn probably wasn't his original name. Maybe when you become Venin, it's like when you become a pope and you get a new name, you like, get a new name. And her name is Theophany. Because she's like, I was for Dune.

[Kim]

Did you watch Colin Crave last night?

[Christina]

I did.

[Kim]

Great movie listeners.

[Christina]

You know what I mean? Like, she was like, oh, Trying to think of her a new name. And she was like, oh, I was a high priestess for Dune. So that makes sense. I think you might have something here. Maybe she is Lira. Maybe in some of Lira's journals at some point we're going to see her become a high priestess for Dune. And we're like, what? Like, you know, I don't know.

[Anna]

I think it makes sense to change your name when you become Venon. Especially if she was like this priestess, like this holy priestess who had devoted her life to a God. Yeah, it would make sense that she. Okay, hold on, hold on. Okay. In her mind, tell us. Venin, like, think that they are gods, basically. Like, they think that they have these all powerful, especially the Mavens are like, yes. Incredibly powerful.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

And it would make. She makes a comment, like talking about being a priestess and talking about that and then moving over to being a Venin. And like she lost. Lost that.

[Kim]

She says, why would I be a product of like the priestess when I could become a God?

[Anna]

Exactly like that. Exactly. So she says that. And so in my mind, if she's like, well, I'm basically a God now. So I'm going to change my name. I'm no longer Lyra, I'm Theophany. Because when people are in my presence, they are in the presence of a God.

[Christina]

Oh my God. That's it.

[Kim]

Interesting.

[Christina]

And it would also be like a fuck you to do. Like, it'd be like, haha.

[Anna]

Exactly, exactly.

[Christina]

I love it.

[Kim]

There is this also crazy theory. So we have all the aisles, right? They're all named after all the gods and goddesses, right? Right. And then Amaryllis is actually Navarre. There's no Malak. But what if the barons are Malak?

[Christina]

Oh, that makes sense.

[Kim]

They're death. It's death. There's like a river of Malak or some sort of Bay of Malak. That's new to the map this time.

[Anna]

Oh, is it now?

[Kim]

And it separates the barons from poor Emil.

[Christina]

Wow.

[Anna]

Oh, that's Interesting.

[Christina]

That's interesting.

[Kim]

Like, what if she forsook, took the priestess Dune, and then was like, I'm going to be with Malik.

[Christina]

Oh, that's interesting.

[Anna]

That's interesting.

[Kim]

Dedicated her or. I don't know if you dedicate. You don't really dedicate yourself to Malik.

[Christina]

That we, like, kind of like.

[Kim]

Yeah, it'd be interesting.

[Anna]

That's so interesting.

[Christina]

I mean, I think there's some potential there for sure, but I. I like the idea that. Yeah. When you're a Ven and you change your name and maybe she's Lyra. We're sticking to it. Let's talk about the segments. Okay, guys. All right. I'm gonna read you an epic, and then I'm going to read you a quote, and then we're going to talk about them. Okay?

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Got it.

[Christina]

So this is an epigraph from chapter two. The rarest of signets. 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 again. A study on signets by Major Dalton Cisneros. Okay, but before we unpack that little tidbit, I do want to couple it with this quote. Okay, go for it. From Professor Amaterio saying, the last time a Shadow and Lightning wielder fought side by side, they managed to drive the Venn back into the Barrens for a few hundred years. We'll figure out how to do it again. Okay.

[Kim]

So interesting.

[Anna]

This is fascinating. So interesting.

[Christina]

It's so fascinating, and it feels like such foreshadowing. And I really feel like before this book, I would have read this and be like. But I don't know if Rebecca's, like, at this level of giving us this foreshadowing Easter eggs. And now I think she is.

[Anna]

Oh, yeah.

[Christina]

I really think that this is what we're doing.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Christina]

And I. I am fascinated by it. I cannot get out of my head the number six. And, like, what that means and, like, the amount of times we're using six.

[Kim]

So many times.

[Christina]

Oh, my God. It has to be important. Like, I don't understand how we're gonna do it, but it's so important.

[Kim]

So the rarest of signets, which we've started to talk about, like, you know, like, it goes back to that quote that Emma Terrio says that the last time a Shadow and Lightning wielder fought side by side was that was during the Great War.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So if to me, and I could be wrong, but I'm reading that as two of the original Sigma had shadows and lightning. So then what were the other four? Right? Could it be precognition? Could it be Auric? Could it be. Garak is a distance Walker?

[Christina]

We know. We haven't seen that in years.

[Kim]

We haven't seen that in years. I'm just so curious to see.

[Christina]

Is it fact? Is it canon? Is that what we're saying? That the original six are the six most powerful? They are the same people, Right? That's the same thing. That the original six had the six most powerful signets. Right.

[Kim]

I mean, that's my understanding. If you put these two quotes together.

[Christina]

Right.

[Kim]

I mean. But only ones have the six most powerful walk the continent, Simon. Simultaneously. I don't know what other six we refer to.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And then the fact that Emmaterio says, like, since the Great War, which would have been the original six. I just feel like that has to be. Has to go together.

[Christina]

Well, we talked about this as well in Iron Flame with the Ward stuff. Right? Because it's like we need the six most powerful signets together, and they had to make that decision. Who's the six most powerful that are here? And, like, then their dragons did the things.

[Kim]

Right, right.

[Christina]

But so then it's already in our head at some point. There's a deciding factor. These are the most powerful six. So they have to be the first six. Also, there's six breeds of dragon. It's just. It's. Yeah, it's a lot.

[Kim]

So there's also six. There were six pillars. I don't know why this drove me. I like. Okay, there's six pillars at the Temple of Dune in Unbriel. And there's six little icons. Icons.

[Anna]

Icons.

[Kim]

There's six icons.

[Anna]

I love that.

[Kim]

That are engraved into them, and they each represent things that are important in war. There's a. Do you have them in front of you, Kim? There's like, a fire book.

[Christina]

Oh, maybe those are the signets.

[Anna]

The original six signets. Yes. Oh, my God.

[Kim]

Okay, so the icon. So it's a sword, shield, fire, Water claw, and a book. Okay, so book. Could that be like, Precog? I don't know. Seeing what's to come.

[Christina]

This is fascinating.

[Kim]

Water, ice, Riddick.

[Christina]

Ooh. Yes. Because he can do the fancy thing with the water.

[Kim]

Yeah, he can do the fancy thing with the ice and then fire. I don't know.

[Christina]

We'll get a fire wielder at some point. Something with fire.

[Kim]

Yeah. Shield. Mira is a shield. That's obvious though.

[Christina]

Uh huh.

[Kim]

Claw.

[Christina]

Yeah, claw's tricky.

[Anna]

So the theory of the Sith is kind of matching riders with the gods.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

And basically saying, you know, obviously we've talked about six gods, six first riders, six Nevarian dragon den, six missing eggs.

[Kim]

Sure.

[Anna]

Rebecca did confirm at our book talk in New York that the gods are going to play a much bigger role in books 4 and 5. Christina just read that. Really interesting quote. Violet would be Dune. They said Zaden for the goddess of love. I don't know how to pronounce it. Like Lowe.

[Kim]

I actually have a whole thought on that.

[Anna]

Because he turned for love.

[Kim]

Because he turned for love.

[Christina]

Ooh.

[Anna]

Riddick would be Zinal, God of luck. Brennan. Malak, God of death. Because he was basically brought back almost from the dead.

[Christina]

Love.

[Anna]

Rhiannon is Amari, queen of the gods. And I. I love that. Did you read the whole thing? I read about Rhiannon. Okay, so Rhiannon would be Amari, queen of the gods. And then Auric would be he, God of wisdom. Because his father is King Tari the wise.

[Kim]

Yes, yes. So wait, who is Violet? I missed it.

[Anna]

Violet is Dune, God of war.

[Kim]

I love that.

[Christina]

Cuz she's touched.

[Kim]

She's touched by Dune.

[Anna]

Okay, Rck, he says in Ox Storm that he prefers Zenal, and it seems like Zenal favors him too. He gets very lucky. And he has a brown dragon. Okay, Brennan. His chosen name is. I don't know how to pronounce it. I'm sorry. It's Anur, which is translated to resurrection.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

He's come back from the dead. Okay, so Ran, and the first time that we meet, Ran and Violet thinks that she looks like Amari.

[Kim]

Oh my God.

[Anna]

Okay, And Rhiannon, the name Rhiannon translates to queen of the gods. And it's noted that she looks like Amari, who is the queen of the gods. And her name means queen of the gods if you translate it.

[Christina]

This has to be something.

[Kim]

I love it.

[Christina]

I've read theories where people like, she is somehow Amari. She's somehow. I don't know if it's that, but I think she is somehow. This makes sense to me. I like this. She is going to be connected to Mari. And that also makes sense. She's leading stuff. She's like the squad leader. She's in charge.

[Kim]

Exactly.

[Anna]

She should be a leader.

[Christina]

She's a queenly. Like, oh my God, I love this.

[Kim]

Oh, I love that.

[Anna]

Sorry, this was not a theories episode, but like I just read this and when we were talking about. There's so many hints in this book that, like, the first six. The first six. The first six. And then all of these writers, their signets are manifesting and they're becoming so much stronger. And it's giving. Like there's going to be another six.

[Christina]

Yes, it really is. It's giving like we're building our Avengers team. It's all happening. Everyone's getting their things at the same time. And I think it's going to keep unraveling as we go, that we're going to keep getting hints to, like, who is this? Who's going to be important? Like, stuff like that. Do you know what I mean?

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Okay, totally. I completely agree.

[Kim]

I'm so here for this.

[Christina]

Okay, so speaking of signets, we got to talk about second signets.

[Kim]

Wow, wow, wow.

[Christina]

Specifically how they relate to our Mark twins. Okay. This was one of the first big fan service reveals of the book. There were quite a few, but this was one of the first big ones because just everything surrounding second signets has been such a huge conversation and discussion in the fandom. There's just so many questions around them, so many theories, and she. She just flat out answered him definitively in a casual conversation. Yeah, she just very much was like, well, let's get this sorted out, friends. This is the deal. So starting with Garak and Liam, let's just like touch on them first. So Zaden confirms for us officially that second signets can often accompany the rebellion relic, something we've theorized now it's canon. Yep. It's quote often enough to be sure that Kaori can't possibly have accurate records, but not too completely that anyone questions why I only present with one. Yes, very helpful little Heavenly Fire, but I'll take it.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Okay. We also get confirmation again, quickly and casually, of both of Garrick's signets.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Christina]

Because a reminder, everyone, we still didn't know the first one until this reveal where we got both of them kind of simultaneously.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

Yeah, interesting. Okay. But turns out he has and was a wind wielder. Okay, that apparently has already been happening. We didn't know.

[Kim]

Yes, apparently.

[Christina]

But now he is our distance walker.

[Anna]

Yeah, he is.

[Christina]

Which hasn't been seen in centuries and which we also call after that interview with the desert island.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

10 points for Hufflepuff. I'm the only Hufflepuff. Sorry, 10 points for.

[Anna]

For all the houses. Yeah, okay.

[Kim]

For all the houses.

[Christina]

So, yes. All right. Which leads us to one of the biggest Ongoing questions, quite literally for years in the fandom since fourth wing of Did Liam wield that ice at the battle of Ressin? And we're here to tell you friends, he did.

[Anna]

He did.

[Christina]

He answers a resounding yes.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Christina]

And yep. So pretty much the quote is, she says, I once thought I saw Liam. And Zaden cuts her off and says, wield ice. Yes.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

And that's it.

[Anna]

And that's it.

[Christina]

And that's it.

[Anna]

That's all we get.

[Christina]

Quite literally. That's all she wrote. That's it.

[Anna]

That's amazing.

[Kim]

I just. It's fine.

[Christina]

It's fine. We're moving past it because we have to. But also, we're never gonna know what the original decision was there.

[Kim]

I just don't love that Violet never said anything.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Throughout the entirety of Lost book, she never at once was like, you know what's funny is that one battle I thought I saw Liam wield, and then nobody was like, don't, Don't.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Nope.

[Christina]

Nobody was like, is wasn't.

[Anna]

Wasn't there ice?

[Kim]

No.

[Christina]

I guess I was just so caught up, you know? But anyways, now we know.

[Kim]

Anyways.

[Christina]

Okay. So now we know. And really, it gives us a lot of peace in our heart that now we know.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But I think the most interesting piece of this whole reveal is really the involvement of the dragons and their decision to bond with the relic holders. So Zaden tells us, quote, our dragons came looking for. For us. They knew what they were doing. Violet interrupts and asks, like, if the dragons were giving them a better chance at survival. And he says, quote, more like building their own army. More signets equal more power.

[Anna]

I love that.

[Christina]

And this is so telling. It's so interesting. It gives us some insight into the Empyrean, which we are craving to have knowledge about. So we're just like eating at any breadcrumb. But we know the Empyrean is split on the Venant issue. Right. And like, keeping it a secret and not keeping it a secret.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Tyan mentions that in the previous book. So we're assuming that dragons who were sympathetic to the Tearish uprising, because also, that's who they're writers were. Realistically. Because it's bonding a descendant.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Made sure to bond the rebellion relic holders, like, these kids who were kids of their previous writers, like, it is the generations. So I just love the idea of these dragons, like, biding their time, sitting in the veil, knowing, hey, guys, this is our year. They're coming up. They've come of age, like, this is on threshing day. They all are like, here we go. I'm going to go. You know, and they just like find them and go specifically for them and like, something about that.

[Kim]

I think there's way more reason to why dragons are bonding less.

[Anna]

I would just thinking that.

[Kim]

Yeah, I was just such a mind meld lately, Kim.

[Anna]

I was literally about to be like, guys, is that why Violet keeps talking about the fact that less dragons are bonding every year? Because they're holding out, they're waiting.

[Kim]

They're holding out for the offspring of the rebel who hold rebellion relics? Like, they're like, nope, we're waiting canon.

[Anna]

We've solved it.

[Kim]

You know, there's nothing else going on.

[Christina]

No, nothing else.

[Anna]

No.

[Christina]

But I love that theory. And maybe it's not even that. Maybe they do just want a more powerful army. But for me, it's like an emotional thing too. Like, I saw what happened in my writers, you know, this line. And so like, I'm going to stick it to him. I've been waiting like 100% trying to get revenge and like getting these kids the chance and getting them extra powers. And I just, I love, love, love it. The fact that the dragons are involved and it makes it less of a cop out to me that just all the mark ones can have rebellion relics. It makes it interesting.

[Anna]

I agree. Christina. I liked this explanation of that. It's the dragons that are driving it. So there's not just this like, convenient plot hole.

[Kim]

Agreed.

[Anna]

She's like, well, the dragons are the ones doing it. So like. And the dragons choose their rider.

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Anna]

So what are they to do?

[Christina]

What are they to do?

[Kim]

And if they are bonding with people who they were in their family previously, that also leads to second signets.

[Christina]

Well, exactly.

[Anna]

Yeah, exactly.

[Kim]

Is the rebellion relic giving them second signets or is the fact that they bonded to a dragon from the family line giving them second signets?

[Anna]

Oh, I would think it was the relic because only one generation has the rebellion relic.

[Christina]

Oh, yeah, right.

[Kim]

But if those dragons are purposely bonding within their family line because. Yeah, right. Because that's what he says. The dragons are bonding with people with rebellion relics because it makes them stronger. And we get a second signet, it.

[Christina]

Gives them two signets.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And what he said is, like, everyone with a rebellion can have two signets. It depends on if the dragon comes to get them. Pretty much. Right. Is that what he's saying?

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So it's almost like the rebellion gives them the option of having a second signet.

[Kim]

Because if a dragon like Sigale bonded with him like she was waiting for him.

[Christina]

Yeah, I don't know. We'll circle back on that. Anyways, the only other thing to really mention about signets here is that we do get hints and clues of Zaden's signet strengthening, we assume, from his villainism. Again, this is very hard to pin down and pinpoint, since Zaden and the reader don't really know much about his intensiveness to begin with. And we all spent majority of the book thinking every single morsel of a clue and hint about anything. Intensic was Violet's second signet, and we were wrong. So more on that in the next episode. But, yeah, that is happening.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

Again, it's hard to pinpoint, but it is happening.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

All right, so let's go to the archives. Kim.

[Anna]

Okay, so we go to the archives, and we meet Sassy Jessenia, which love it. Loved. We love to see it. Jessenia. She was giving sass. I was here for it. She was putting Riddick and Solyra in his place. It was fantastic. Sweet Sawyer is still trying to learn to sign, bless his precious little heart. And they are just really. I just. This relation, it's not a relationship. It's nothing. But it's so sweet and so innocent and pure, and I just want to see more of it in the next book. I just want them to be together because they're precious babies, the both of them. They are, however, sweetest. Violet, finally, for so long, is finally like, oh, my God. Okay, wait a minute. I need to go get my dad's research that has been in his home office this entire Time Lord, if we remember, Papa Sorrengail was researching the Second Crawlin Uprising and Feather Tales. This was brought up in book one, you guys.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

She was brought up in Fourth Wing and in Iron Flame. And she's like, I mean, just. I'm not gonna think about it anymore. And it's like, but do. But do.

[Kim]

But do. Please think about it.

[Christina]

But do.

[Anna]

Please think about it. Yeah. Look alive, Violet.

[Kim]

It's war times.

[Anna]

You know what it is? It's war times.

[Christina]

War times.

[Anna]

So she finally is like, yeah, I think we should go retrieve that information. Only issue is, of course, that Daddy Atos has now taken over for Lilith. He's running Biscayeth. So he is living in those quarters. Yes, but the biggest thing that we find out is Papa Sorrengal's name. Guys. Yes, he has a name. He is not just Papa Sor. He has a name. His name is Asher. His full title was Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengale. His last name was Daxton, but he took Lilith's name when they got married.

[Kim]

He did.

[Anna]

Which we love that. And now we all can't wait to go back and find all of the Colonel Daxtons that wrote some of the epigraphs in the first two books. Because he. Yes, that did happen.

[Kim]

There's three of them.

[Christina]

There's three of them.

[Anna]

Maybe we'll do, like, a little mini theories episode on Patreon or something, kind of breaking that down. Because we knew. We suspected that Rebecca was gonna do this, that she was gonna put his last name in the previous books as, like, a little Easter egg.

[Kim]

I love it.

[Christina]

I thought it was really fun also, the way she sprinkled in, like, oh, no, it's Daxton.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

Oh, no, it's Sor. Andel. Like, it, like, went back. It kind of gave us an idea of the timeline and, like, the fact that, you know, there was more to the story than just him being sor. Andal.

[Kim]

100%. Yeah.

[Anna]

That was such a great touch by Rebecca, and I was really impressed by that. The. That she was plotting the epigraphs to slowly transition to Asher Sorrigale.

[Christina]

Agree.

[Anna]

And so then you could kind of tell, like, oh, this is when they got married.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And this is when he took her last name. So. Dane. Guys. Dane.

[Kim]

What a. What a journey. Wow.

[Anna]

What a journey.

[Kim]

Hello.

[Anna]

Dane, just step the fuck up in this book. And I loved it. I don't know how you can walk away from this book and not be like, yeah, I'm rooting for Dane, damn it.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

There's no way you can walk away from this book and not be like, do I find Dane. Dane. Sexy?

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And amazing. I surely do.

[Anna]

Dane, eyes on me. Ato.

[Kim]

Eyes on me.

[Anna]

I.

[Kim]

The way that.

[Christina]

On that line, I was like, okay, Dane.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Christina]

Is happening.

[Kim]

What is happening right now. You've upgraded from trash receptor.

[Anna]

He's still garbage. Trash.

[Christina]

Or it's actual sorcery that. I think he's so sexy now. Like, it's actual sorcery. On Paige.

[Anna]

Agree.

[Kim]

Rebecca said he's the only one of the characters who has a headboard. Like, he's that potential together.

[Christina]

That's right.

[Kim]

She was like, he's had a headboard since he was 17, guys. Okay. And he's got a matching duvet cover set.

[Christina]

But. But he has a headboard, though.

[Anna]

But he has. So he does have a headboard. So he does. She goes.

[Kim]

Riddick sleeps on a mattress on the floor.

[Anna]

A Thousand percent.

[Christina]

Yep. Well, he's a frog. He's a leap frog.

[Kim]

Frog freak.

[Anna]

He's a frog freak. He leaps around. Would I still be into it? Yeah. Yeah, I would. I don't care. It's on the ground.

[Kim]

Leap into my bed.

[Anna]

Exactly. So Dane really shows up in a big way for Violet. Yes, he did. An Iron Flame, too. I have been on the Dane redemption train since Iron Flame, but I feel like in this moment, she's like, listen, I need you to go get the research from your dad's quarters. He's like, on it. Say less. I will help you. And he does. So she gets the research. There is a password. Long story short, it is the name of Lilith's dragon because there's, like, this whole thing about you never forget your first love, and they have to kind of decode it, and we find out that it's the name of Lilith's dragon because every writer's first love is their dragon. So he writes her a letter at the beginning of the research, and this is part of what it says. Remember what I taught you about history. It is simply a collection of stories, each influenced by those that happened before for and steering the ones to come. I wrote this study so it could be read by others, but understood by you. If time is sweet, peruse at leisure. You'll find the connection between the uprising and the pursuit of Feather tales to be both alarming and enlightening. But if time has indeed run out and you seek the weapon to defeat those you've only learned about through lore, then abandon your robes and ride for cordon.

[Christina]

Oh, yeah. I love this.

[Kim]

I love it.

[Christina]

I love the sense of urgency of, like.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

If that's happened, you abandon those robes.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Like, path A is like perusing leisure.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Path B. Abandoned the ropes. Ride for cordon.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Thank you, Papa.

[Christina]

Choose your own adventure, Papa. Asher.

[Anna]

Exactly.

[Christina]

I loved it.

[Kim]

And that's where we're going.

[Anna]

And that's why Violet is so frustrated with them trying to run the quest for in Dara's kind, because they want to go to all these different islands and, like, pop back and rapport.

[Kim]

Want to go to the Emerald Sea.

[Anna]

We don't have time for that. We don't have time for that. So at the end of the letter, Papa Sor. I know his name is Asher, but I like Papa Sor.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

He says, I'm so sorry this falls to you, my brother. Brightest light. Trust only Mira. Love, dad.

[Kim]

Trust only Mira. Very interesting.

[Christina]

It's hard that, like, there are pieces I'm not liking about Papa Asher, like, reveals. And then there's things I do love. It's like he's a complicated man, but also trust only Mira, I think is telling.

[Anna]

Very interesting. Brennan's dead in his mind. Yes.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

True.

[Kim]

Yes. So he thinks Brennan's dead.

[Christina]

I feel like there's something there with, like, the. Mira has a thing she has to do. Like, they're together somehow. Like, I don't know.

[Kim]

Oh, I think Mira is important. Which we get to. To with what Norell says to her later. Yes, exactly.

[Anna]

Exactly.

[Christina]

Also interesting. He's not like, trust your mom. No. Right.

[Anna]

Because Lilith's still alive as well.

[Kim]

Oh, I feel like Papa Sorrengail was laying the groundwork. It's like, very. I don't know, Star Wars Y Lord of the Rings Y With, like, everyone is dead now. If you find this.

[Anna]

Oh, yeah.

[Kim]

So only Mira. Trust only Mira.

[Anna]

So he just already was like, lilith and Brennan are going to be gone. But Meera will have made it.

[Kim]

Mira will have made it.

[Anna]

Okay, well, Anna, will you take us to meet a Professor Sexy Zaddy?

[Kim]

Oh, I absolutely will. Please listen. The man of many names. Okay.

[Christina]

That's right.

[Anna]

That's right.

[Kim]

We're in part two in this book. Exactly.

[Anna]

Theophany and Professor Zaddy.

[Christina]

I loved this.

[Kim]

We have Professor Zadi. Yes. Please sign me up for his class. I will sit first row. I will be very attentive.

[Anna]

We will ace every quiz. We will be the best students. We'll be the best girls.

[Kim]

A tell me I'm good.

[Christina]

Would you say I'm doing a good job the way we all read that back blurb? And we're like, but no way. He's actually a teacher. Like, what? She'd make him, like, professor. And she was like, yeah. In fact, I did.

[Anna]

And we were like, thank you.

[Kim]

I love. Okay. So he walks in and they're like, introducing Professor Zaden. And immediately everyone's like, but Violet and Dana are like, oh, fuck Codex.

[Anna]

We're gonna break up. Like, immediate thought.

[Christina]

And everyone's like, immediate, Immediate.

[Anna]

What's the problem?

[Kim]

I was just like, girl, you're leading a revolution. Like, I think we can break the.

[Christina]

Codex, but we're beyond the Codex. I did love that. Zaden was like, no, that's not a thing.

[Kim]

That's not. Not a thing. No, absolutely not.

[Anna]

Her and Dane are like, damn it. He's like, oh, bad luck, Violet. And she's like, yeah.

[Christina]

She's like, well, drat. He's like, what are you talking about? It's a book It's a book of rules. Like, no, just fuck the book.

[Kim]

But you know who doesn't think it's just a book? Daddy Atos. And he has literally spies following them around the school to make sure that they don't touch or look at each other.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Kim]

Okay, so Zaden is in charge of sparring class. Because we quickly realize that we can't just fight ven in hand to hand combat on the ground, because up they can sack the light from the ground and therefore kill you. So we have to be able to use our signets. And so now we have transitioned from, like, our challenges just being physical strength to actually learning how to challenge each other and fight with our signets. Which seems like that should have been happening already, but whatever. Nobody asked me for my curriculum, so.

[Christina]

This is why Car, I think, is evil. Why would he not help them train their signets?

[Anna]

Right.

[Kim]

There's a lot of evil professors, I think. Okay, so they're working. I think there's a little foreshadowing here. One of the big takeaways is that we get to see Ry and Violet and their little squad realize that we can't just fight somebody with a signet by ourselves. We have to work as a team. That's when we're strongest. Which really foreshadows what happens at the end of the book. Right. We're learning how to stay in our lane, trust our squad mates to handle what they need to handle, which is really important at the end of the book. The other big takeaway from one of the classes is Zaden and Violet sparring. Okay. And he's like, you gotta let go. And she's like, I'm gonna hurt you. And he's like, no, you won't. And I'm like, well, she might, but okay, well, okay, it's fine.

[Anna]

He can handle it. He can handle it.

[Kim]

So battling. And he's like, I have to teach you. You have to be able to find me. And she's like, what the hell do you mean? And he's like, well, my shadows. Apparently there are different threads of shadows. And he's like, the truest of my threads you'll be able to find. And she's like, but why do I need to find you? And he's like, because you're the only one capable of killing me. And I think it's like, this is his whole battle. The whole book is, if I lose control, somebody has to be able to stop me. It's you, Garak, or Bodhi. And you're the only one who can actually kill me with lightning.

[Christina]

Right? What's Garrett gonna, like, blow his wind at me? Yeah, it's not gonna do much.

[Kim]

Bodhi's apparently only has one signet that we know of, and it's countering signets.

[Anna]

Yeah. Okay.

[Kim]

Doesn't seem to work on Benin, so that's real unfortunate.

[Anna]

Yeah. So basically, useless. Cool.

[Kim]

Useless. Which brings us to the final episode later. Okay, the most important thing, though, that came out of this part in class. And I just need to take a moment of silence for Christina here. Halden shows up. Okay.

[Anna]

Yeah, he does.

[Christina]

And Christina fucking Harbor.

[Anna]

She called it called Kit. Let's take a moment for Christina. Clap, Christina. Everybody clap for Christine.

[Kim]

Clap, clap, clap.

[Anna]

I mean, thank you.

[Christina]

I never die on hills the way I died on this hill. And I am alive.

[Anna]

You were alive and well on that hill.

[Christina]

Thank you very much.

[Kim]

You planted that flag. And you said, I'm not moving.

[Anna]

That's right.

[Christina]

And I said, this is where I live now.

[Kim]

This is where I live now.

[Christina]

I also want to thank all the patrons who watched me talk this theory through for 30 minutes by myself on Patreon. Just literally by myself for 30 minute video. But by the end, I was like, I think that's it, guys. Okay, here's what it is. It is that Halton's direction, love. She broke up because he was a prince. Like, oh, my gosh.

[Kim]

Yeah, I love it. And you were right. The eyes.

[Anna]

Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Loyal best friend here. Christina posted a reel about this, and some people were like, oh, that's stupid. That's not right. You're wrong. You're wrong. Well, who's wrong now? You? Because Christina was right.

[Christina]

Well.

[Anna]

And the eyes were true.

[Christina]

So I'm not gonna say I told you so.

[Anna]

I will.

[Christina]

But I did tell you.

[Anna]

She told you.

[Christina]

My best friend. Well. And she'll.

[Kim]

But she told you so.

[Anna]

She told you so. Okay, so let that be a lesson.

[Kim]

Love it.

[Christina]

Thank you, guys. This is the best.

[Anna]

Sorry, I'll calm down.

[Christina]

So, yes, Halden is there, though.

[Anna]

Oh, yeah, he is.

[Kim]

Yes, Halden is there. We find out that they were officially dating. And Violet caught him and his professor having sexy times. And she said, nope, shut the door, walked out, never said anything else to him again. And I love that. I love that we ghosted him.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

I love that energy.

[Kim]

And so then Holden's all like, okay, but, like, let me take you to dinner and let me apologize. And she was like, that was three years ago. We've moved on. I think you need to move on to Hi.

[Anna]

Do you see who I'm with? You're the worst.

[Kim]

Do you see him? That body?

[Anna]

That body, though, please.

[Christina]

You wish you could be an iota of this man.

[Anna]

Exactly.

[Christina]

Also, like Halden. We knew Halden was going to suck. We knew he was going to be, like, a little princeling. And he also delivered on that.

[Kim]

Oh, yeah, he did. Okay. So the important thing, though, that Halden does bring with him is a letter from Takara saying that King Cortland of Devarelli will meet with them if he has brought an Emilian Citrine Jewel. Okay. The A Million Citrine Jewel is a lesser magic amplifier worn by one of the members of the First Drift. Okay, so actually, the first time this is mentioned is in Fourth Wing when Violet is crossing the parapet and she's doing, like, her little nervous tick scripting where she's, like, citing facts, and she talks about a jewel and it having powers and being able to, like, hold minor magics.

[Christina]

Interesting.

[Kim]

Don't know if that's gonna be important later, but I think it might be. So we have to go get this Citrine Jewel. It's outside of the wards. It's in kind of like a destroyer.

[Christina]

Yeah, of course it is.

[Kim]

Of course it is, because that's what we have to do.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

But, guys, Zaden, everybody has been wanting. Jealous Venin Zaddy. And we fucking got him. And it was delicious. Oh, yeah. It was so hot.

[Christina]

This is what we've all wanted. And she also delivered. It was exactly what we wanted. The jealousy. So hot.

[Anna]

So hot.

[Kim]

So he overhears the conversation, and Halden asking her out in the signet sparring class, and he. He, like. Oh. Accidentally, his shadows knock Alden back.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So good.

[Kim]

So then he shows up to Violet's dorm room, and he, like, is there. And he's like.

[Anna]

He's. He's upset, he's mad.

[Kim]

He's, like, huffing and puffing like he ran there. And she's like, dude, what are you doing here? Like, we're getting to get in trouble by Daddy Atos. And he's like, did you love him? And it's emphasized by, like, periods. Did you love him?

[Anna]

Did you love him?

[Kim]

And she's just like, what are you talking about? And she's like, oh, my God, are you jealous? And he says, yes, love, I'm jealous. He splays his hand over the small of my back and tugs me toward him. I'm jealous. Jealous of the armor that holds you when I can't. The sheets on your bed that Caress your skin every night and the blades that feel your hands. So when the prince of our realm walks into my classroom and starts talking to the woman I love with what can only be considered intense familiarity, and then has the audacity to ask her out right in front of me, naturally, I'm going to get jealous.

[Anna]

Yeah, you are.

[Kim]

And I was like, tell me more.

[Anna]

Say more things.

[Christina]

Tell me how you're jealous the way that I am. A feral puddle. Every time he uses the term love to her. I don't understand.

[Kim]

It's so hot.

[Christina]

It's so hot. Especially at one point, he goes, fuck, love. Oh, God. Oh, God.

[Kim]

Fuck love.

[Anna]

I was like, oh, that's doing some.

[Kim]

Oh, my God.

[Anna]

I'm gonna be straight up honest with you.

[Christina]

Oh, my God.

[Anna]

I'm into it.

[Christina]

Did I just black this out? Did he call her love in the first two books? Or did we just start this? This book?

[Anna]

I don't think he did, no.

[Kim]

No. And actually, it's very contentious. A lot of people don't like it, apparently.

[Christina]

Oh, God.

[Kim]

They're like, she's violence. I'm like, okay, yeah, but love. Love, yes, love. Yes, love. Listen, the God of love, goddess of love.

[Anna]

Oh, we solved it. That's it. That's it.

[Kim]

Okay. So he's like, jealous daddy. And he's like, did you love him? And she says, well, I don't know. We were, like, 18. I don't know. I think I loved him, but it's nothing compared to what I was.

[Christina]

A dum, dum, dum, dum.

[Kim]

It's so sweet. He's, like, knowing he's been here, and he taps a space for her heart is. And that's what breaks him.

[Christina]

This sweet boy.

[Anna]

This sweet boy.

[Kim]

She, like, holds him, and she's basically like, no one could ever hold the space that you do. In my heart. I love you unconditionally. It's the sweetest moment between them, and I just love it so much.

[Christina]

It's better than we even dreamed.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

We were like, oh, we want him to be jealous and, like, throw him back with shadows. And then he gives us this.

[Kim]

And it's vulnerable.

[Christina]

Oh, it's so good.

[Kim]

It's jealous, hot, possessive, you know, but in a good way. And then he's vulnerable about it.

[Anna]

Oh, my God. God, I love.

[Kim]

They're so toxic. I love them. I love it.

[Christina]

Chef's kiss. Chef's kiss.

[Anna]

Love it.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

Also, Violet makes a note that when Zaden is talking about Halden, he says, I saw his thoughts basically insinuating that he didn't just read his intentions, but he read what was in his mind. And this happens a couple times throughout the book. And Violet goes, wait, that's not how your signet. And then, of course, Zaden cuts her off.

[Christina]

Yeah, exactly like what I was saying. It does happen. There are clues to it, but also, like, we don't really learn more about it because we still don't even know much about his intensiveness to begin with. So it's hard to say what is normal. His normal intensiveness and what is strengthening. Yes.

[Kim]

The only person who knows he's an intrinsic is Violet. So the only person he's truly able to use his, like, full extent of it on is around her.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So, like, who's to say that he's not learning more about it as they're together? If he's able to, like, strengthen it?

[Anna]

I'm sure he is. Yeah.

[Kim]

Also, the Venon aspect could do that.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Okay, so really quickly, we go to Anka with the original Quest Squad. Okay. It goes to shit. Because nobody listened to Violet, and she was like, we can't. You know, like Papa Sorengel says, we need to go to war with people that we trust implicitly. And she doesn't trust anybody there except Zaden. Arrah's a mess. She kills Grady because she fricking hears a stone fall and it scares her. And she's like, boom. Fire.

[Anna]

God. What? A little bit fire.

[Kim]

Wyvern kills Ara, which nobody is sad about. Sorry, Ara.

[Christina]

Fine.

[Anna]

Bye.

[Kim]

The biggest takeaway from this failure of a trip is what Papa Sorrengel wrote and that you have to trust people implicitly when you go to war. Which brings us to one of our favorite scenes.

[Anna]

Oh, Christina, I'm so excited, guys.

[Christina]

The way we will not shut up about how much we love Riddick in this book.

[Anna]

Never.

[Christina]

The way the entire fandom will not shut up about how he is the MVP of this book. He is such a joy. He is such a treat. And the character growth that we see from him in this book is just outstanding. It's so beautiful. This is a quote that exemplifies it. So Riddick says, quote, I just need to go. He looks away and grips the orange with both hands. One of us needs to go with you. Ever since pain flashes through his dark brown eyes as he brings his gaze back to mine. Ever since ATH Bean, one of us has been by your side. Except the time you snuck out on your little siblings only trip to cordon, the school splits and we go with you. Basgaith falls under attack, and we're there, heading in to pour Emile. For Merryn's brothers, it's us. We get separated, and you either get dragged into an interrogation chamber and tortured for days or nearly roasted by Ara's fire. And I know I can't be the only one who thought it. If Liam had been there keeping watch over you, it never would have happened. I just think bad things happen when we aren't together. Rhe can't go. She has an entire squad to lead. And Sawyer's still recovering, which leaves me. And if Ryerson had been 100% sure of his ability to keep bad things from happening, he wouldn't have assigned Liam to our squad in the first place. The guy's powerful, but he's not infallible. Sawyer says, and you are.

[Kim]

I love this.

[Christina]

And Riddick says, I'm just as good of a fighter as any of you. And while you've been focused on rehab and Rhiannon is chasing first years to keep them in line, I've been the one reading every fucking book Jesenia shoves at me and spending extra hours training. It really pisses me off when you guys act like my sense of humor somehow lessens my ability to show up for our squad.

[Anna]

Oh, fucking snaps for Riddick.

[Kim]

Thank you, Riddick.

[Anna]

Oh, my God.

[Christina]

Incredible. And. And what I love so much about this scene and the way he says this is. He's not just saying, like, I want to be there. He's proving why he should be. He's proving why he is the one who should be there. And he recognizes that his humor makes people overlook his skills, but then he's pushing back on it. It's not just him, like, volunteering. It's him being like, I'm demanding to be here, and this is why I deserve it. Like, this is why it needs to happen, you know?

[Kim]

Yes. He's equally as capable as everybody else, and he listed the reasons why. Like, he said, we're trusting each other, and you guys have to trust me to do my job. I'm funny. I'm fucking hilarious, and I'm really sexy.

[Anna]

Yeah, it's a total package.

[Kim]

But, like, I'm also a really fucking good fighter.

[Christina]

Yeah, but I'm also really good.

[Kim]

I fuck like, a third year.

[Anna]

Yeah, he does.

[Christina]

And he fucks, like a third year, guys. I just love that he is our comedic relief. We also are guilty of this, you know? So it's like, in this moment, he's making them and the readers reassess him as a character he's also, for us, being like, right, this is my role in the story going forward. Like, I'm not just the funny.

[Kim]

100%.

[Anna]

Yes. I love that he said that.

[Christina]

It's so good.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

Oh, also, he can do cool things with the oranges. His signet's special. He's going to be special. No one's able to, like, actually take the water out to, like, freeze the water out of the orange. So he's a special boy as well.

[Kim]

Telling you that's important.

[Anna]

It's giving maybe one of the six.

[Kim]

It's definitely important at the end of the book.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

It absolutely is. Yes.

[Christina]

All right, so let's go to Kim.

[Anna]

Okay, guys. Violet gives a fuck. The patriarchy speech. Keychain on the ground. We were always skipping town.

[Kim]

Love it.

[Anna]

I loved this so much. She finally gets to kind of snap back at m4rkim, who, if we remember, is the head of the square scribes. Violet was his protege. He was her mentor. Violet was going to be the. You know, the head of the scribes. He was training her and she went away, and now he's pissed about it. And she really hasn't spoken to him since it all came out that M4RKIM knew about the scribes. And I think, yeah, especially for Violet, this is such a betrayal because she's the heart of a scribe, and scribes, their whole being is focused on truth and knowledge and finding that knowledge and disseminating information to everybody and getting all sides of the story and knowing. Knowing that her mentor, the person she looked up to more than almost anybody, maybe, other than her father.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Knew about the Venin, kept it from people, and therefore betrayed his own people by keeping that knowledge a secret. I think is the ultimate betrayal to Violet. And she cannot get over it.

[Christina]

She can't.

[Anna]

I don't blame her.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So after the failed mission, she goes back to the scenarium and she's like, okay, we're gonna do this my way, because this was a failure. And now we're gonna do it my way or it's gonna be the highway and Markham's. And everyone's like. And she goes, you don't speak. I snap, meeting his gaze for the first time in months. Not to me. As far as I'm concerned, you have the credibility of a drunkard in the integrity of a rat. You dare complain about missing six years of information on erasure when you've hidden centuries of our continent's history from public knowledge?

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Yes. Thank you, Violet. Thank you, Violet. And he says, you cannot speak to a superior officer, let alone the commander of a quadrant, with such disrespect. And she says, in case you missed it when I crossed the parapet, I am not in your chain of command. Then fucking Daddy Atos is like, but you are in mine. And I speak with the authority of Melgren. Shut up. And she says, and I speak with the authority of Taryn and Darnet and the Empyrean. Or did you forget that two Dragons also lost their riders?

[Christina]

Fuck yeah.

[Anna]

Violet is a boss ass bitch. And I love it.

[Kim]

Love this.

[Christina]

Great. I loved every bit of this.

[Kim]

I'm turned on. I'm like, God damn, Violet.

[Anna]

Violet. Yes.

[Christina]

That was good.

[Anna]

I love to see her stepping into her confidence and her power. She seems so much more confident in herself when she stands up to Ara Benhaven. And she's going to be like, no, you come for Dane. Like, you're going to fight with me if going to do wielding like that. She's standing up to Markham. Like, I love this, Violet.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

I just love to see it.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

So we have that whole shebang. And Halden's being a little boy, because of course he is.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And he's whining, but he's like, fine. You can pick your squad. Whatever.

[Christina]

Lean, fine, and sweetest Riddick.

[Anna]

He's like, in kind of standing, like, in the meeting or whatever. And Violet goes up to him, and she's like, oh, my God, I'm so proud of you. Like, there's no outburst. And he was like, I kept my inside thoughts inside.

[Kim]

I love it so much. It's like, right after his beautiful speech. And this is why he's so brilliant. Like, he's such a fun character.

[Anna]

Agreed.

[Kim]

Agreed. I love it.

[Christina]

So good.

[Kim]

Okay. So the Quest Squad goes to Devarelli. We have Halden going with us because King Cortland of Devarelli will only meet with a member of the nobility family.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And he's bringing the jewel to hopefully get Cortland's agreement to become allies with them in this upcoming war against the Venon VI is on, like, a separate little side mission that nobody knows about. I mean, except for Zaden, Riddick and Meera. That they're all gonna go look for Papa Sorrengail's, the books that he left. Right. In Devarelli. So they stop at Corden. They stop there with Tokarys, and then they are gonna go on to Deverelli. I wanna talk about this for a second. They cross over, right? They leave the wards, then they cross over into this area where the Isle Kingdoms are. And that's where magic is supposedly. Like, it disappears. There's no magic. Okay.

[Christina]

Right.

[Kim]

Nobody is able to communicate with her dragon except Taryn, Andarna and Violet. Their group chat is alive and well. Okay. Their dragons are all supposedly feeling uncomfortable with the loss of magic. Zaden even says that Sigail is in pain because she doesn't have the magic. Taryn makes a note, though, that Andarna seems totally fine. Okay. And who is the only group chat that's alive and well? Andarna's group chat.

[Christina]

Exactly. Wow.

[Kim]

There's something very special. And we know that the Seventh Breed lives somewhere in this area of the Isles. Right. And somewhere outside of the magic realm. Okay. They don't seem to be struggling.

[Anna]

Nope.

[Kim]

And Darna doesn't seem to be struggling.

[Christina]

Right.

[Kim]

Which makes me think that the way that she is channeling is different.

[Anna]

Agreed.

[Kim]

However, she is channeling.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

So which brings me to this. The sky versus the source, like, being the ground, which is what Venon derived their magic from. Okay. When Violet is flying to Anka to get the Citrine Jewel, she leaves the wards. Okay. She goes. It's like Baron the Venin have destroyed the land, she says. And I am struck with the oddest urge to try and pluck strands from the very sky and weave runes. Which is very interesting, because that's not how you weave runes. You channel your magic from your dragon, and that is how you weave the runes. Okay. And she says she wants to pluck them from the sky.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Also, she sucks at weaving runes.

[Anna]

Yeah. She hates it.

[Kim]

Yeah. The fact that that seems to be like her first instinct, that's weird.

[Anna]

It's strange.

[Kim]

Very interesting.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Then also, Mira, when they cross over into the Isle Kingdoms, she hands out these little Runed discs. She gives one to Violet, and it's an amethyst disc with a sun protection rune. And Meera says, basically she's doing a little science experiment. We're trying to see if runes can exist and work outside of magic, if they work independently of magic. So she's like, will you just hold this and see if you, like. Protects you from getting sunburned. Didn't think anything of it at the moment. It's brought up again later. At least one more time, if not two more times. And what Violet said says is that she wasn't getting sunburned, that Meera's was working. Or if it wasn't Meera's, it was the same rune on the dagger that Zaden Gave her during her first year. So she's been walking around with a rune on her dagger for a year that is protecting her from the sun.

[Anna]

Oh, yeah.

[Kim]

Can she potentially channel from the sky? From the sky using Andarna? But the thing that is inhibiting her is this freaking dagger with a rune protecting her from the sky. The sun from the sky, which is her ultimate power. She could command. What does the Venin say to her at the end of book one? You could command the sky to surrender all its power.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Why would Zayn put that on there? Why was that on the dagger?

[Kim]

I don't know. She's fair skinned. I don't know. You don't want her to get sunburned.

[Anna]

She's a delicate flower.

[Kim]

She's a delicate flower.

[Christina]

Oh, my God. Zayden. Okay. Yeah. Wow.

[Kim]

Isn't that interesting? I love that.

[Christina]

I think that's just fascinating.

[Kim]

Why are we bringing this up? Why is the group chat working? Violet channels lightning. Whether or not she wants to act ignorant about the fact that she did or didn't, she channels lightning.

[Christina]

One trillion percent.

[Anna]

Yeah, for sure.

[Christina]

Wow. I love that. And that makes so much sense.

[Anna]

Agreed.

[Kim]

Okay. So anyways, we are. We're over there. It's like golden retriever Zaden, he's so happy. He's at peace. There's no magic. He doesn't feel the pull to, like, channel, you know, use to channel. And it's just. He's happy and he's like. They're riding on horsebacks and he's making jokes. That so cute, guys.

[Anna]

It's fantastic.

[Kim]

It's fantastic. It's a love it. We love to see it. So they end up at the bookstore where Nerl is, okay? That's where the woman, the old woman that they're supposed to go meet, she takes one look at Zaden, and it's clear that, like, Zaden and Violet are a couple. And Papa Sorengale must have been talking about De Atos to her a lot in the past. And she goes, well, he described you almost perfectly, Deitos. The way that line made me lose it.

[Anna]

Oh, my God.

[Christina]

Hackling.

[Anna]

Stereotypical.

[Christina]

And what really made me lose it was Mira losing it. Like, Mira loses it. Yeah.

[Anna]

She was like, I can't. I actually can't.

[Kim]

She said, I can't. I literally can't.

[Anna]

I gotta.

[Christina]

I'm obsessed.

[Kim]

And Dana's like, this is awkward. You hate me again. We were just having a good time.

[Anna]

You ruined it, Narelle.

[Christina]

Back to square one.

[Kim]

Okay, so we're there. They get the stack of books.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

I think this is interesting to note. The epigraph that is kind of right before this. It's from Lilith Sorrengale, which we speculated. These unsent correspondences are recovered. I think are actually her writing to her. Her deceased husband as like a form of therapy. Like talking to him about her kids.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

Because they're unsent. They're recovered. So she says. She won't understand why you've kept her in the dark. You left too soon. Left too many of your plans unfinished. Now we can only hope the bond between our daughters is strong enough to endure the past they've chosen. They'll need each other to survive. So this is after her husband's dead. This is after Brennan is dead. It's just her two daughters to rely on. And I think she's referencing Mira. She won't understand why you kept her in the dark. You left too soon. Now we can only hope the bond between our two daughters is strong enough. And we see this. Mira's upset. Meera feels like she's in the dark. Norell even says to her later, we all have a part to play in what's coming to us. Because Mira's like, oh, yeah, Am I allowed to touch the books? Like, they weren't left to me.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And Norell looks at her and she says, we all have a part to play in what's coming for us. This one is simply hers. Like meeting Violet. While he was busy raising Violet for this particular mission, your mother was raising you. I wonder what legacy you've inherited.

[Christina]

And this is what I was talking about earlier. I was like, where he says, only trust Meera. Like, I feel like there's some sort of prophecy or something set up. They were set in motion for the two of them, whatever their paths are, to, like, be, ultimately help each other, you know?

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Yeah. I thought she was talking about him keeping violent in the dark about, like, the Venin. And, like, that's what I thought too. First, all the. Like, her being touched by Dune and all that jazz.

[Kim]

Yeah, that's true. I think that can be equally true, too. But I think there's a level of mirror that's jealous.

[Anna]

Oh, for sure.

[Christina]

Oh, totally.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But also the thing of. You left too many of your plans unfinished is really interesting to me. Like, what plans were unfinished.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Agree. Papa Sorgheil. Like, I'm sorry, but I don't know. I'm a little upset with you, sir.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

There was too many.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Kim]

Too many things that we've Laid around the planet.

[Anna]

Yeah, for sure. With no answers.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Kim]

And she's a child.

[Christina]

Yeah, agreed.

[Anna]

It's giving Dumbledore.

[Kim]

It's giving Dumbledore.

[Christina]

It is. All right, what's next?

[Kim]

So really quickly we get back, guys, it's sexy time. It's Zaden. He says, I'm done being polite. And y'all, there is no magic to hold him back.

[Anna]

That's right.

[Kim]

It is so sexy.

[Christina]

It's so good.

[Kim]

It's so playful. It's so fun. They break a table because what is a sexy time with violence, Aiden, if they don't break a table?

[Anna]

Absolutely. It's standard furniture.

[Christina]

Be warned. Yeah, it's so good.

[Kim]

It's so hot. And then knock, knock, knock on the door. They get interrupted. Zayden's like, what the fuck?

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

He just yells, yes, the table is broken now. What do you need? He opens the door a little bit, and it's Riddick. And he's like, you two totally broke it, didn't you? And Riddick asks on the edge of laughter, he's like, like that armoire no one was supposed to notice. Getting hauled out of her room during first year. And Mira, like, whips her head. The what?

[Christina]

What?

[Kim]

Obsessed.

[Anna]

That was my favorite part, where she was like, I'm sorry.

[Christina]

I'm sorry.

[Kim]

My little baby sister is breaking furniture having sex.

[Christina]

What?

[Kim]

Like, I'm sorry.

[Anna]

Not even.

[Christina]

Just like, a chair, an armoire.

[Anna]

Like, a huge piece of furniture.

[Christina]

So good.

[Kim]

I love it. So basically, Riddick's like, cool, so you're done breaking tables. Halden's been captured. And Satan's like, I'm sorry. That's not my problem.

[Anna]

Yeah, sucks for him.

[Christina]

We'll be going back. Sexy time. Bye.

[Kim]

Yeah, but basically they're like, you're the next only nobility here. The Duke of Tyrandor. So you need to go and get him back. And he's like, great, Violet, let's go. Which brings us to Christina.

[Christina]

So they do go, guys. And pretty much they go through a rigamaroo. They end up going into this dinner party from absolute hell.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

There is some interesting foreshadowing where he's like, oh, yeah, she's my consort. And Violet's like, what? We didn't discuss this. And he's like, oh, well, no, we need to. When would be a good time to discuss it? And she's like, when we're not risking death. And he's like, like, well, that's never. So when we might not die, we'll table it. We'll talk about it later.

[Anna]

Love it.

[Kim]

But it really is interesting.

[Christina]

Foreshadowing the perfect example of him being like, no, we're long term.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Christina]

You're my equal. I want everyone to see you as my equal. We're together forever. This is where my mind is.

[Anna]

Oh, they are.

[Christina]

And it's so sweet. All right, so we get to the dinner party. This was absolutely wild. Oh, God. King Cortland is absolutely a bananas character. It's like, he's this almost like, eccentric millionaire, but has notes, checks and balances. He's this, like, wild guy. It's so wild. I feel like Rebecca had fun writing him because it was so crazy to read. So he just doesn't give a fck about anything. And turns out they're kind of like the Fae. Like, you don't make a deal with the people of Devarelli if you can't follow through. If they broker a deal, they're probably trying to scheme you out of something. And if you break it, it's. They're gonna kill you.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Christina]

So pretty much that does happen. We pretty much, for lack of a better term, Game of Thrones. Halden's guard. So Halden's guard, who loves him. Oh, turns out her head's on the platter. Guys. Her head's on the platter, y'all.

[Kim]

Was not prepared. Oh, Rebecca turn.

[Anna]

Took it.

[Kim]

She went broadbent levels here. Okay. If you know, you know.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

Yeah. And that's because basically, Halden stole stuff from the king. He was trying to steal stuff from Cortland because he's entitled in a little.

[Kim]

Oh, God. So stupid.

[Christina]

Hence the beheading. Which leads us to King Cortland. Again, eccentric. Looney Tune.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Being like, oh, pause, everyone. My little ones have arrived. It turns out his little ones are huge, white, scary panthers. And they just, like, traipse on in. And at first I was like, oh. It's kind of like he has, like, a zoo. Like, okay, there's cats.

[Kim]

It's his menagerie. Yeah. Nope.

[Christina]

They're scary. They're scary. They're bad. They're bad kids.

[Anna]

They're bad cats. Bad kitties.

[Christina]

So then quickly, chaos just ensues. And Cortland is like, kill them all. I grow tedious and tired of this. Please kill them all. Except for Takara's. And so the guards and the cats are, like, attacking them. And it's all very scary. And pretty much Violet's in a very bad position. She's about to die. And so Zaden is like, what am I to do? I Must channel.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So he does and it's not great, but I do love that he then is like. He's so sexy. And he's like, they hurt you. And she's like, I know, but this.

[Anna]

Is such bad timing.

[Kim]

But he uses her conduit to channel.

[Christina]

Oh, yeah, sorry.

[Kim]

Which I don't know if that's important or not. If that. If it's supposed to work outside the wards, but it does. Oh, or not the wards. In the Land of no Magic.

[Christina]

In the Land of no Magic. He uses the alloy from her conduit to channel. Yeah, so that is interesting.

[Anna]

Either way. Yeah, not good.

[Christina]

Not good. No bueno. So Violet then jumps into crisis mode and she's like, okay, I love you. You gotta trust me. Just sit down and put your head in your hands and do not move till I tell you. Yeah, I gotta single handedly save this entire operation. I will get back to you.

[Anna]

Because everyone around me is just fucking up left and right.

[Kim]

Who runs the world?

[Anna]

Girls.

[Kim]

Girls.

[Christina]

Violence. Violence.

[Kim]

Girls.

[Christina]

Okay, so then she's pretty much like, go. I'll see you in a week at best, guy. If no one can see your eyeballs like bleep. But sneaky, sneaky. Vi is like, okay, come on in. This is my little one. And it's Andarna with his kitty cat dangling in her mouth.

[Anna]

I love it.

[Christina]

Like not eating her, but also she's being so gentle.

[Anna]

Yeah, she's like, andarna, be gentle.

[Christina]

No teeth marks. And then King Cortlandt's like, shera, no. It's so good. Okay, so then pretty much Violet uses this threat to his cat. And also the shell from Andarna's egg is like a trade to smooth things over. Yes, he agrees. He pardons Aiden, it's all fine. But we do want to note something here regarding Andarna's eggshell.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

So this is the quote. Violet thinks quote, I run my finger along the inner edge, picturing her biting her time for hundreds of years. Listening, waiting. A charge of energy runs up my arm and I lift my brows at the sensation.

[Kim]

It's very interesting.

[Anna]

What do you mean?

[Christina]

What does that mean?

[Anna]

What do you mean?

[Christina]

What do you mean?

[Kim]

Why is there power? I mean, is it just because it's like a special egg? Or is it because it's Andarna's egg?

[Anna]

Right, exactly. Do empty eggshells have power?

[Kim]

They do because they're used to make alloy. They're one of the things that's used. They can hold magic for a while, apparently.

[Anna]

Got it.

[Christina]

But it's something about, I think, them physically being here too, because she feels this, like, energy is because Andonna again. And Donna can do all her magical thing, like, there's still magic here for her conduit.

[Kim]

Before Zaden sucks the life out of it is warm to her touch, which she notes. She goes, oh, that's odd. Like, why?

[Christina]

Violet, Come on.

[Anna]

Say more things. Follow up things.

[Christina]

Oh, God. All right, Kim, take us back to Basca.

[Anna]

Okay, so we get back to Basgaeth. Violet, no thanks to Halden being a complete and total fuck up, successfully negotiated an alliance with the Isle kingdoms. And she is now prepping the Quest Squad for their big trip. Only, like, bummer, as Christina noted, is that Zaden's golden flecks in his eyes are now amber. After the little slip in Devarelli, they have not gone back to golden. They are staying amber. Which is unfortunate.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

But had to be done, you know, war times. So I would love to introduce you to the official Quest Squad. Okay. It is Violet, Zaden, Dain, Friddick, Garrick, Meera Cat, Trager, Marin, and Drake. And surprise. Aric is coming.

[Christina]

Yay.

[Anna]

Aric rocks up and he's like, well, Holden, you're a baby back and you can't control your emotions. And there needs to be a royal to go meet with all these kings and queens who will only meet with a royal, you know, ambassador. And it can't be be you because you have the emotions of a toddler. So I'm going to go. And Halden's like, okay, okay.

[Christina]

I loved this. I especially love that Halden didn't know where Arc was. In Halden's mind, he thinks that he's disappeared.

[Kim]

Yes. He's like, daddy's been worried. Daddy's had the whole country. He's like, I don't know who he's been using to search, but I've been right here.

[Anna]

I've literally been here.

[Kim]

This, like, no one's come a looking. No.

[Christina]

Also, he's like, I haven't missed you. So goodbye. Farewell. Goodbye.

[Anna]

Exactly.

[Christina]

It's so good. I love that moment.

[Anna]

Yeah. So that's kind of the end of this. Holden does look at Violet and he's like, Violet, like, stressing out about Arc being safe. And Violet says, I won't let anything happen to him. Halden nods once. I'll hold you to it. He looks at each of us in turn and the promise morphs into a threat. All of you. That's weird.

[Kim]

Which is interesting.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

I feel like he does care about his brother.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Layers. He's an onion.

[Anna]

Layers. We love an onion.

[Kim]

He's a stupid onion.

[Anna]

He's a stupid onion nonetheless. Onion nonetheless. So that is where we are going to end part one. The Quest Squad has been assembled, but we have not gone on our trip of the Isles. We'll save that for part two. Two. But I think that's it, guys. Well, friends, that wraps up another episode of Flights of Fantasy podcast. Don't forget to join our book club community on Instagram and TikTok at flights of Fantasy Podcast where you can share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments with us and fellow listeners. We'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us spread the magic of Romantasy to even more book lovers. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep reading, keep and remember. Every good story deserves to take flight.