S5 Ep7: S5 : Ep 7 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros - Part 3

Summary

Flights of Fantasy Podcast Summary
Episode: S5 Ep7: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros - Part 3
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Hosts: Anna, Kim, and Christina

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1. Diving Back into Onyx Storm

In this third installment of their discussion on Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, Anna, Kim, and Christina delve deep into the climactic events and intricate character developments that have captivated their hearts and minds.

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2. Unraveling Family Tensions and Betrayals

The conversation begins with a focus on the intense family dynamics, particularly highlighting Meera's discovery of Zaden's true nature as a Venon. Kim remarks at [02:06] how this revelation feels like a "triggering situation" for Meera, emphasizing the profound sense of betrayal she experiences.

Notable Quote:
Kim [02:06]: "It’s an extra jab that Brennan knows feels pointed because listeners."

The hosts discuss how Zaden's decision to confide in Brennan, a fellow mender, showcases his complexity and the weight of his choices. Christina praises Zaden for his honesty:
Christina [02:12]: "Kudos to you, Zaden."

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3. Multiple Points of View Enhance the Narrative

A significant highlight of the book, as noted by Christina at [03:10], is Rebecca Yarros's strategic use of multiple POVs. The introduction of characters like Imogen and Rhiannon enriches the storytelling, allowing listeners to gain diverse perspectives within the fantastical world.

Notable Quote:
Kim [03:23]: "It really helped humanize the dragons. It allowed us to see the inner workings of how the group dynamic works."

This narrative choice not only broadens the world-building but also deepens the emotional resonance, particularly during pivotal moments like Quinn's heartbreaking death.

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4. The Heart-Wrenching Moment of Quinn's Demise

One of the most emotional segments discussed occurs at [05:00], where Kim passionately reads Quinn's final moments from Imogen's perspective. The trio reflects on the raw emotion and the devastating impact of this loss on Imogen, a character known for her toughness.

Notable Quote:
Kim [05:05]: "I'm scared. I don't want to be scared."

Christina echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the depth of Imogen's loss:
Christina [06:42]: "Your heart just, like, aches for her because she's losing her best friend."

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5. Expanding the Magic System: Wielding and Signets

The hosts delve into the intricacies of the magic system, particularly the concept of signets. Imogen's ability to wield a second signet, allowing her to transform a shield into rock, is dissected as a clever addition to the lore.

Notable Quote:
Kim [07:35]: "It's some sort of wielding and it's very cool and seems very helpful."

They speculate on the implications of Bode potentially having his own signet, adding another layer to the magical dynamics of the story.

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6. Introducing the Pantheon: Gods and Goddesses

A pivotal part of the discussion centers around the introduction of gods and goddesses in the series. Anna expresses excitement about how these deities are woven into the world-building without being tied to any specific religion, hinting at future developments in books four and five.

Notable Quote:
Anna [07:48]: "It's more of how it's treated by the people around them and the temples and the priestesses."

The hosts ponder the significance of the goddess of love's dedicated island and its potential impact on Violet's journey.

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7. Theophany's Climactic Confrontation

The conversation intensifies as they explore Theophany's role and her confrontation with the protagonists. Theophany's inability to be affected by Bode's signet raises questions about her true power and allegiance.

Notable Quote:
Theophany [09:35]: "Magic requires a balance. It's the oldest rule there is."

Anna highlights the ominous presence of an unidentified "he" that Theophany refers to, suggesting the involvement of a higher power overseeing the events.

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8. Zaden's Redemption Arc and Emotional Turmoil

One of the most lauded aspects of the book, Zaden's redemption arc, takes center stage in the discussion. The trio marvels at how Rebecca Yarros transforms a once-loathed character into a nuanced and sympathetic figure.

Notable Quote:
Christina [17:40]: "Rebecca Yaros has pulled off a God tier of redemption arc from Dane Atos."

They analyze Zaden's actions, including his masterful use of shadows during battle, his deep love for Sigail, and his ultimate transformation into something more powerful, marking his ascension from initiate to Asym.

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9. The Mystery of Missing Characters and Future Implications

As the episode progresses, Anna, Kim, and Christina delve into the enigmatic disappearances of key characters and the implications for the unfolding narrative. They theorize about who might be missing, including potential red herrings like Garak and Panchik, and ponder the strategic theft of dragon eggs.

Notable Quote:
Anna [44:03]: "But it was just interesting that just the quote that Garak says, like, what else would he do?"

This segment lays the groundwork for future conflicts and alliances, setting the stage for anticipated developments in upcoming books.

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10. Dreamwalking and Future Communication

The hosts explore the concept of dreamwalking, particularly how Violet and Zaden might use this ability to communicate in future installments. They express excitement about the potential for deepening the romantic and strategic elements of the story through this mystical form of interaction.

Notable Quote:
Kim [52:50]: "I think that we're gonna see her dreamwalking in Zaden's dreams in the next book."

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Conclusion: Anticipation for What's Next

Wrapping up their extensive discussion, Anna, Kim, and Christina express their eagerness for the forthcoming books in the series. They highlight the rich tapestry of character arcs, magical lore, and intricate plots that Rebecca Yarros has masterfully crafted, leaving listeners eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Notable Quote:
Christina [54:49]: "We have nothing to do but spiral with our thoughts for two years precisely."

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Key Takeaways:

• Complex Character Development: Characters like Zaden undergo significant transformations, adding depth and relatability.

• Intricate World-Building: The introduction of multiple POVs, gods, and a sophisticated magic system enriches the narrative.

• Emotional Resonance: Moments like Quinn's death and Zaden's redemption arc provide intense emotional engagement.

• Future Plotlines: The mysteries surrounding missing characters and the introduction of dreamwalking hint at exciting developments in upcoming books.

Join the Conversation:
Engage with the Flights of Fantasy community on Instagram and TikTok to share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments from Onyx Storm. Your insights contribute to the vibrant discussion among fellow Romantasy enthusiasts.

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Cheers to all book lovers—happy reading and may your flights of fantasy continue to inspire!

Transcript

[Anna]

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

[Kim]

All right, welcome back to Onyx Storm Times, you guys. We are here to break down the ending. This is our third episode and wow, we are so excited to be here. We cannot wait to dive into the ending and just like generally, the end of this book that has taken over all of our lives and our hearts and our minds. But first, Kim, let's shout out some patrons.

[Christina]

Let's do it. Okay, so we are gonna be shouting out some of our tier two book bitches today. And today's shout outs goes to Trista M. Starlightbook Nook, Julia Bolton and Yesenia Solis Acebedo. Thank you guys so, so much for supporting us.

[Anna]

Starlight book nook.

[Christina]

I love. I know, I know. So fun.

[Kim]

We love you guys so much.

[Anna]

Really.

[Christina]

Y'all are the bestest. And we're so, so grateful to you guys. And I just still can't believe that we get to do this for a living. It's the craziest thing in the world.

[Anna]

The best thing ever.

[Kim]

It is the best thing ever. Thanks to you. We're just so grateful to you every day. Every day.

[Anna]

Okay, so spoiler warning for here on out for all things Empyrean. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yaros. Let's dive in. Let's dive in where we left off. Our heroes from our last episode. Violet wakes up after Indarna has left. Taryn has opened himself up to her to give her comfort. Meera and Brennan have it out, which we discussed, I think in part one and part two of our episode. The biggest thing to come out of the family disagreement is that Meera finds out that Zaden is venon and she is pissed. I mean, I would be pissed too, for Meera.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

You know, I think it's a triggering situation for her to feel like she's in the dark, you know, and this is a feeling of betrayal. Her brother was dead, but not de. Her father was keeping secrets. Mama's keeping secrets. And now Violet, her, like, trusted. Listen, I thought we were big sis, little sis. I thought we were stronger.

[Kim]

And I think it's an extra jab that Brennan knows feels pointed because listeners.

[Anna]

One thing we forgot to mention is that Zaden actually went to Brennan and told him himself.

[Christina]

Kudos to you, Zaden.

[Anna]

Yeah, kudos to Zaden for doing that and being like, I need you to help me. Because he's a mender. Brennan's a mender. And they basically been working in secret. And he's like, I didn't want to get your hopes up, Violet. And kudos to Brennan for not freaking turning him in.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Cause he's a little. Got a little Dane in him. I feel like sometimes he's very rigid.

[Christina]

Yes, absolutely. Very rigid. Yeah.

[Kim]

Well, I think he owed him from not turning him in for being alive the first time.

[Anna]

True.

[Kim]

Like, he kept that secret first. Touche.

[Christina]

Touche.

[Anna]

That's true. Touche. Okay, so let's move on. That's where we left off. Christina. Like the multiple POVs that Rebecca introduced at the ending of this book.

[Kim]

Yes, absolutely. One of our favorite pieces of this book, really, is that we got multiple POVs. We were all kind of expecting maybe a zaden thrown in there, because that's what we're used to. But getting Imogen and Rhiannon was such a treat. We all, I think, read that top of the chapter. I'm like, what? It was so much fun to read, so. And we also found out from our night with Rebecca, you know, our night, she sat with us on the couch, just us from our evening in New York, seeing Rebecca speak, that Rebecca had to fight for these POVs.

[Anna]

She did.

[Kim]

Which is so interesting. And I love this. I love that this is something she chose to fight for, you know, whether that be her editor or whoever. But this was important, and we found it important. It was so helpful, and it gave us this insight that we didn't even know we were missing.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

We were so happy with our dragons that we get to see all the time on page. But we didn't even think about really how wonderful and broadening to the world it would be to experience the other dragon relationships on page. And it really helped humanize the dragons. It allowed us to see the inner workings of how the group dynamic works. You know, like, while everything is happening in our normal, everyday life with Violet, all these conversations are happening. It's not like, oh, let's just bebop over to this class while that's happening. Randon's talking to her dragon. Riddick and Atram are, like, sparring. Like, you know, it's like everything is happening also at the same time around us. And this was a really fun insight into that.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And I think, oh, goodness. One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking moments of this book was Quinn's death. And seeing that from Imogen's point of view, I think it was so smart to put it from Imogen's point of view, because it was way more impactful than it ever could have been anywhere else. You know, getting to see this conversation and the inner monologue of Imogen. I'm going to read it, and I'm going to try to compartmentalize so I don't cry.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

Here we go. You can do it.

[Kim]

I can do it.

[Anna]

Pull out those acting strings.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Honestly, I feel like that's what makes you cry even more, is like you just feel it.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And it loves to give me the sexy things. And the crying things.

[Christina]

So sorry.

[Anna]

Sorry. I didn't mean to do that this time. So sorry. I do get a kick when you read the sexy scenes. It does make me. It does secretly make me giggle.

[Kim]

I'm glad it can bring you joy. Okay. Quinn. My voice shatters. Don't go. Don't leave me, I beg, wiping another tear as my vision blurs and clears. You're my best friend and I love you. Please stay. This is not how she ends. Not in some dark stairwell in Dreyfus. It can't be. I'm the one who's supposed to fall. She's supposed to live forever. You're mine and I love you, too. Her smile slips and another tear falls. I'm.

[Christina]

Oh, God.

[Kim]

I'm scared. I don't want to be scared. My face twists, but I mask it. Don't be scared. I shake my head and force a smile. My mom will take care of you. And Katrina, too. She's a little bossy, but she'll be thrilled to have another little sister. I talk about you all the time. They'll know who you are. Don't be scared. Her next breath is strained and watery. They'll know me. I nod. They'll know you, and they'll love you. Impossible not to love you, Imogen, she whispers, and her eyes flutter shut. I'm right here. I promise. But I can't force the words any louder as my throat closes. We made it a good one, God damn it.

[Christina]

Oh, God.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

It's really hard. It's really hard. When she says. When she says, I don't want to be scared.

[Christina]

Yes. That's what got me, too.

[Anna]

That's what got me. It's so real.

[Christina]

It's so real, you know?

[Anna]

It's really hard to read. And then at the end when she says, we made it a good one. And that's what Quinn says to Imogen when they go on the parapet for the first time, Quinn says, like, let's be friends and imagine's like, well, we might not last long here in the writer's quadrant, basically. And Quinn's response is, well, then let's make it a good one.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Like a good friendship.

[Christina]

Oh, God. She says, we made it a good one.

[Kim]

It's devastating.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And something about her saying the, like, they'll know me. And she's like, yeah, I talk about you all the time. As in, like, she's talking to her mom and her sister, who are dead. Like, about Quinn.

[Christina]

It's just like, I can't. It's so devastating. You so feel for Imagin. She's such a closed off, tough cookie, hard shell kind of person. And you see her be so soft with Quinn and it's devastating that she has lost that person that she feels like she can be her truest, like, softest self with. And your heart just, like, aches for her because she's losing, like, her best friend and it's just so sad.

[Kim]

And her one person, you know, I mean, like.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

That she's like this with, you know, we never see.

[Anna]

I think it's interesting and a good writing choice on Rebecca's part to showcase other writers losing people, not just Violet, because I think it humanizes those people, but also shows how war and battle doesn't just affect the main character. Right. It affects all the side characters and how that's going to affect them going forward.

[Kim]

Yes, 100%.

[Christina]

I agree.

[Kim]

It's such a beautiful building block. Yeah. Going forward.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Oh, God. It's just so well done. It's so well done. Okay, so another thing that happens in this scene that is important to note is we do see Imogen Wield us second signet. It's unclear, like, what this is called, the exact intricacies and how it works, but pretty much what happens is she's saving Dain's life by transforming a shield into rock. So whether that's, like, she can change things into rock, whether she can pull rock out and, like, morph it into something else, we're not sure. It's some sort of wielding and it's very cool and seems very helpful and it's fun. Now that she's introduced this, marked ones are able to have the second segment that we can get these reveals and they feel like they make sense in the universe. So totally props and I love it.

[Anna]

I love it.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Do we think Bode's gonna have one? We don't. Stay tuned for more on Bodhi.

[Christina]

I think so.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

I think so.

[Anna]

Oh, our sweet Bode.

[Christina]

Oh, Bodhi.

[Kim]

Okay, Anna, let's talk about the gods. Yeah.

[Anna]

The other thing Rebecca introduced way more in this book, which, you know, has obviously been very prevalent since we visited all these isles named after the gods and goddesses. Are the gods and goddesses like this aspect of this world that has only really barely like, skimmed the surface of in Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. And, you know, she said in the interview that we went to in New York that she is really laying the groundwork for books four and five with this. You know, she said it's not based off of any one specific religion. It's bas what came to her and what she wanted to put down on paper. I'm really interested to see where this goes in the next few books. I'm always a little wary when we introduce gods and goddesses, but so far I am really enjoying the way it is because it feels a little bit more omnipotent. I guess they're not necessarily here with us, but it's more of how it's treated by the people around them and the temples and the priestesses.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

And I am really intrigued by that. So I'm curious to see where we go with all of that. And like we said in the previous episode when we were island hopping, the only is we haven't visited is the island that's dedicated to the goddess of love. And what does that mean?

[Christina]

What does that mean?

[Kim]

That's amore.

[Christina]

That's amore. Chu samore cho sumore.

[Kim]

I totally agree. I think. Let's see how that goes. And how they're doing right now is good. I don't want to see them on page. I don't want to sit at a dinner table and have her have to talk to Dune and Malik.

[Anna]

But I like the dedication aspect of it. And the fact that Violet has been, quote, touched by the gods is going to be very interesting going forward.

[Christina]

I agree.

[Kim]

Let's just maybe quickly summarize some things that happen next. Okay. Let's set the stage for this final battle where we are. What's going on? All right, guys, here we go. Essentially, Violet Dream walks again and finds out that Meera's been kidnapped. She's being held for ransom.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

As are all the innocent people in this. This city of Dreythus. But that's neither here nor there. Okay. So in this dream, Berwyn, our sage friend, demands that Violet come along with Zaden's quote, brother. Okay. At first, me, the person who still thought that Berlin is his brother, I was like, this is the reveal.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

We've been waiting for their brothers.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Lies. So turns out it's not Bode, even though everyone else also thinks it's Bodhi.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

It's actually Jack, which, like, fuck.

[Christina]

Christ, I forgot. Fucking really?

[Kim]

Why are we bringing him back again?

[Christina]

Why are we bringing him.

[Kim]

Let him die.

[Anna]

He comes back for a second too. He's just like. And we're back in a box and.

[Christina]

We'Re leaving in a box and we're leaving.

[Kim]

The whole thing with him bebopping in in the box and then bebopping back out was, like, really frustrating to me because he still didn't die. Let's also keep that clear. The end of the storm has happened and he's still fucking alive. But okay.

[Christina]

Yeah, I agree.

[Kim]

All right, so, yes, they want Jack. We also get to see Brennan be this brilliant strategist that we've only heard tale of before, and he is good at it. Guys, I understand where this comes from with him. Yeah, he speaks some really hard truths to Violet. Pretty much. He's like, part of being a good leader is having trust in your people. You have to make hard decisions, but also, you can't save everyone. Okay.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

You got to trust your squad. And we each have to trust everyone to do their own job so you can do yours.

[Anna]

Well, yes, because, what is it?

[Kim]

More times more times more times more times. Okay. Also, something interesting to note here is an exchange between Zayden and Bode. More on Bode later, but I just want to read this quick thing here. He has been prepping him for this worst case scenario when he goes full Venon, and Bode will theoretically become Duke of Tirandor. He said it so many freaking times throughout this book, but this one in particular. In this moment, Bode says, I'm not your backup plan. You're the Duke, I'm the writer. That's how it's always meant to be until our parents got themselves executed. I will stand by your side and be your right fucking hand for the rest of our lives. But if you want a member of our family to hold that seat. He points to the throne. You'd better hold your own shit together.

[Christina]

Yeah, interesting.

[Kim]

Okay, more on that later. Kim, take us away.

[Christina]

Yes. Okay, so we get to Drey this. Everyone is in position. It very quickly goes to shit. And Theophany is pissed and slits Mira's throat. Y'all, I thought we were about to lose that bet to Fantasy fan Girls.

[Kim]

And I was like, God damn it.

[Christina]

No, but we didn't. We won. Turns out we won.

[Kim]

Get ready, fancy fangirls.

[Christina]

Yeah, we've got some fun things coming your way, so.

[Kim]

Sure do.

[Christina]

Mira is bleeding out. But all of a sudden, Sloane and Dane arrive. Yay. So helpful.

[Kim]

Also, the hottest moment of the book, so.

[Christina]

Oh, I'm about to get there.

[Kim]

No, sorry. That's a lie. That's blasphemous. It's one of our favorite moments of the book.

[Anna]

One of our.

[Christina]

Literally exactly. Which, like, who knew one of our favorite moments would be a Dane scene?

[Anna]

Not me.

[Christina]

Not me.

[Anna]

Who would have thought? Not me, not us.

[Kim]

No one's bingo card.

[Christina]

No.

[Anna]

No.

[Christina]

So Sloane has a note from Auric to Violet, and Violet's like, oh, my God. He's having her deliver mail in war times and tucks it in her pocket. And I'm like, violet, if you don't pull that fucking piece of paper out and tell me what is on that, she' literally like, oh, away for later. No, no, later Now.

[Anna]

It's literally a first year flying through battle. Dana's like, this fucking first year. Had to give you this fucking package. Yes.

[Kim]

Like, what? What? And we're like, oh, that can't be important. Carry on.

[Christina]

She's like, oh, my God. Male in the middle of a battle. Why do we think that is Violet? Do we think there could be a potential reason? Oh, my God.

[Kim]

Oh, my goodness gracious.

[Christina]

But okay, so Brennan is mending Mira, but he is burning out trying to mend her because she is, like, very near death. Yes, Salone is obviously a siphon, but she has been terrified to use her powers ever since Lilith died, helping to erect the wards. Not at the end of Iron Flame, obviously. Sloane is like, no, all I do is help people die and bring destruction. Like, I'm scared to use my signet. And we've seen this earlier in the book where she doesn't want to train her signet. And Dana's like, train your fucking signet. And they have a moment, and we.

[Kim]

Were so into it, she blushes and it's hot. And he's like, train your signet.

[Christina]

Signet.

[Anna]

Oh, I love it.

[Christina]

Okay. Yes, sir. And we all know Dane Signet is not needed in battle because he has to be touching someone's face, which, like, that's not gonna happen in a battle. So, like, tbd. Dane is really sort of useless in battle if we're being quite honest with ourselves. Like, I'm sure he's a great battler just in general, but, like, really, what do you bring to the table in a battle, Signet wise?

[Kim]

That's a great point, Kim. Fantastic. Point.

[Anna]

Especially because they can't fight hand to hand combat on the ground with Venon.

[Christina]

Right, Exactly.

[Kim]

Yeah. No.

[Christina]

So, like, really useless. But you know what he says? No, no. I will find a way to be useful.

[Kim]

Oh.

[Christina]

I encour encourages Sloan to siphon Dain's magic into Brennan to give Brennan power, to, like, finish mending Mira. Okay. Sloane puts her hand on Dane's arm, and she looks at him and she says, someone like you shouldn't have this much power.

[Anna]

What does that mean?

[Kim]

I'm sorry, what does that mean?

[Christina]

What?

[Kim]

So something about this strikes me as like, what would Sloan know? And I don't understand what it is. There's literally zero way this could happen. Yeah, but something how Sloan says someone like you shouldn't have this much power. Do we think Dane has a second signet somehow? Because she would be aware of, like, marked ones are allowed to have that. You're not a marked one. How do you have this much power? Oh, okay. I don't know how she would know that, but it just feels weird that she's like, what would she know? That she's like, you're not one of us. You're not like that. Yeah, you're not a marked one.

[Anna]

You know, I took it as like his power is just to, like, look into someone's mind. And is it stronger than that? Is there more to it?

[Kim]

It. Yes. Maybe that's it.

[Christina]

Then we realize, okay, but you guys, Rebecca, at one of her book tour chats, I think I saw a video where someone was like, who would win in a battle? Dane or Lilith? And Rebecca says, Dane immediately. And then she says, dane versus somebody else. And immediately she says Dane. Like, without hesitation. And I'm like, he would be Lilith.

[Anna]

What does that mean?

[Christina]

General Lilith soaring up. Literally, she goes, dane. And then it's like, Dane versus somebody else. Like, maybe Jack or something. And I can't remember. I'm sorry. And she literally immediately goes Dane.

[Kim]

Okay, that coupled with this line of someone like, you shouldn't have this much power means there's way more to Dane's signet than we know.

[Christina]

Because she's saying, like, in a battle, in a fight Dain would win over. I think I know it was Lilith, and I want to say it was Jack.

[Kim]

And like you just said, how is his signet useful in battle? It's not. He can't touch them.

[Christina]

That's literally what she said. And I was like, I'm so sorry.

[Kim]

Wouldn't it be so, like, Daddy Atos to keep something from him to Convince him that this is all his signet does. And really, he's keeping that for his own dude. You know? Like, he knows something. Him and Kar and Melgren and all these evil guys are like, no, no, no. Just tell him this is his signet. Train him on this. He doesn't need to know the rest.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

There's something else.

[Christina]

Yeah, right.

[Anna]

Interesting.

[Christina]

This is very, very interesting. And I think we are going to get to see a lot more of Dane in books four and five.

[Kim]

Agree.

[Anna]

God, don't. I hope so.

[Christina]

No, God, don't.

[Kim]

I don't. I know it.

[Anna]

God, don't. I know it.

[Christina]

Okay, so speaking of that, Stallone is really doubting herself. She's scared. She's like, I can't do it. I can't do it. Like, I'm scared. And Dane goes, eyes here.

[Anna]

I can't. Like, literally, I hate. Like, I can't believe I thought he was garbage. Trash, whore.

[Kim]

Oh, my God.

[Anna]

And now I am like, eyes here. Yes, sir.

[Christina]

Yes, sir.

[Kim]

Something about the eyes here is.

[Anna]

It's so hot.

[Kim]

I'm unwell.

[Christina]

I'm unwell.

[Kim]

It's a feral puddle level. Like, I'm fit. We're feral for this. We're a puddle. Like, something about the eyes here. And it's in this intense moment, and he's looking. He's like, eyes here. I was like, oh, wow. It's happened. It's officially happened. It's a shift over fully today.

[Christina]

I agree. So he's like, eyes here. And Sloane looks his way. Pull from the excess you feel in me and push the deficit in him. You're not a weapon of destruction. You're not Venin. You're the artery. Power chooses to flow through your life. And Sloane says, I'm going to hurt you. And Dane says, God's don't I know it. But you're not gonna kill me, no matter how badly you want to. Now do it. Do it.

[Kim]

Yes, sir. The way that Kim and I took this as God's. Don't I know it. And Anna took it as, like, God, stone. I know it. Let's go more times.

[Anna]

I was so literal. I was like, yes, it's going to hurt. She's literally siphoning power. Dane, suck it up. It's four times.

[Christina]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kim]

And Kim and I are like, God, stone. I don't. I know it.

[Christina]

Like, so now that's all I can think. It's gonna ruin me, Sloane.

[Anna]

Like, don't.

[Christina]

I know, but it's gonna be worth it.

[Kim]

Like, I love how like, you guys.

[Anna]

I'm like, it's literal. And you guys are like, we're in the middle of a battle and we're feeling sexy things. Yeah. But.

[Kim]

But, oh, no. I was like, the romance. This is the beginning of their love story.

[Christina]

This is it.

[Kim]

We're seeing it unfold.

[Anna]

Y.

[Christina]

Absolutely. Absolutely, guys.

[Anna]

So funny.

[Christina]

I have to say, Rebecca Yaros has pulled off a God tier of redemption arc from Dane Atos. Like, I have never seen a redemption arc like this in any book I've ever read. Like, we hated him in fourth wing. Hated him.

[Kim]

Remember all the merch, all the bookmarks, all the stuff people were making? Like, Dain's tears. Yes. Dane being a little bitch. Like, all this stuff. And now everywhere on TikTok, it's like, eyes here, atos. Like, eyes here, Dan.

[Christina]

Dan, eyes here, atos.

[Anna]

Like, I mean, obsessed, honestly.

[Christina]

Bravo, Rebecca. Like, this is fantastic. Fantastic. Okay, so we save Mira. However, Violet notes something interesting. After Mera is saved, Sloan had her hand on the back of Brennan's neck and on Dain's arm, she had to have two points of, like, physical contact with their bodies to siphon. Right. And this is what Violet notes. Weird. There's no mark at the back of his neck like he. Brennan carries on his palm. There hadn't been one on Dane's wrist either. What?

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

All right. Yeah.

[Christina]

I don't know. Someone help me break this down because I'm.

[Anna]

I have so many thoughts on this.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So we know that Brennan has a mark. We've all speculated about it. Like, we think it probably came from Naolen when Naolin was siphoning and trying to, like, resurrect or save Brennan's life. Right. And we think that the rune is probably because Naolin was channeling directly from the source from the ground to, like, replenish himself. Because there was nobody there to siphon from. Right. It was just him and Brennan. He can't siphon from anybody else.

[Kim]

And we think they loved each other, so.

[Anna]

And we think they loved each other. Actually, what Rebecca said in an interview is, why else would somebody die for somebody else? Like, what are those reasons? And she leaves it open ended. But I'm like, love, love, love. It's why Zaden churned.

[Kim]

But the same hope we have for Zayden that he turned for love, Therefore, he can be altered. He can be changed. It's what you turn for. Is that the same for Nalan? Is Nalan still alive and we're gonna have him have this?

[Anna]

Yeah. So my now crackpot theory. When Naelyn was brought up, she really made it seem like he was dead. But we know she could be. She didn' like a sneaky thing like wouldn't you like to know? Or well, let's wait and see. She really talked about him like Naolen was dead. And I theorized that. I think the reason why the one time Naolin is brought up in this book is Taryn. The amount of despair that he sends down the bond to Violet is so strong and he's like, we don't speak about the one who came before, but we have never seen that much despair. And so now I'm wondering, I think what happened is Naolyn turned to save Brennan and Taryn had to kill. Kill him because he turned Venon or Naolin said, you have to kill me. I'm not going to live this life. I don't want to be this person. Right.

[Kim]

Naomi may have asked for it as well.

[Anna]

Yeah, Naolin may have asked for it. And that's why Taryn almost died. It's not because his rider died. It's because he had to do it. But the thing is, is how do you kill a Venin if the fire doesn't kill them?

[Christina]

Exactly. How do you do that?

[Anna]

I don't even want to know the lengths that we had to go to to do it.

[Kim]

The words we've heard used is desiccated.

[Anna]

Right. But he can't.

[Kim]

I know. He'd have to. Physically. Yeah. I don't even know.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

I don't like that. Also, he's really mad at Seil after Zaden turns. And I wonder if the reason mommy and daddy were fighting is because he was like, you didn't make that hard decision. I had to make another piece here.

[Kim]

I can't remember now, but when we go through the timeline of Brennan, right, Where he like tells us what happened to him in book two and he's like, oh yeah. And then like explains. Then they get taken to the Veil and then this and this happened and the dragons and he ended up here in Orisha. Isn't there a piece where Naolin didn't think he actually did it? Like he thought that Brennan died? I don't know. I feel like there's a piece I'm remembering where like Naelyn didn't know that he had saved Brennan, had saved him. I feel like he's still dead on the ground. It's not like Brennan woke up and was like, could watch everything that happened to Naylan. Do you know what I mean?

[Anna]

I don't know when I went back and reread the scene in fourth wing. When they learn about it in battle brief, what Brennan says is, he. He never says he died. He said he gave everything.

[Kim]

Okay. Okay.

[Anna]

And that's the end of the conversation. And then in battle brief, they talk about how Nayland saved Brennan's life.

[Christina]

Yeah, it is very curious. It's a very curious situation.

[Anna]

The other thing that Rebecca kind of laid to rest. Cause people were, I think, was the question. And what she said was, guys, he freaking mends people. Like, every time somebody needs him, he's there.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

She said he's a dick for letting people think he was dead, but basically he's not Sus. And everyone's like, what about orange dragons? And she goes, you guys are so mean to my orange dragons. She said she thinks of them as ADHD representatives of dragons.

[Christina]

That's so funny.

[Anna]

She was like, brennan and Imogen, both are so rigid. And that's why they bonded the orange dragons, because they put them out of their comfort zone.

[Kim]

Yeah, I love that.

[Anna]

And she was like, they're not all bad guys.

[Christina]

Yeah, I love that.

[Anna]

That's basically what she said, so. Which was interesting. And I, like, kind of glad that she's just, like, putting things to rest.

[Kim]

It's what we need. She knows us as a fandom. She knows we'll spiral. She's got to cut it off somewhere.

[Christina]

Yes, exactly. And we love to see it.

[Anna]

Okay, so moving on, we have Theophany again.

[Christina]

Oh, God.

[Kim]

The little stalker that could.

[Anna]

The little stalker that could.

[Christina]

I can stalk. I can.

[Anna]

Okay. So Theophany shows up. Well, she's been there for a while, because mira. But we have two significant battles that happen, and they kind of get broken up because of the different pov, Right. So in the first one, Bode and Violet are together, but it turns out that for whatever reason, Bode's signet does not work on the ophany. Whether that's just Theophany or all venin a little unclear at this point. It's not explained beyond that.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Violet's like, you have to get out of here. Like, you are useless.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Like, you're a liability at this point.

[Anna]

You're a liability, and you're the heir.

[Christina]

Right.

[Anna]

And he's fighting back. He's like, no, I'm supposed to be here. And Cure's like, yeah, no shit. I'm pulling you. And he, like, literally, he's like, nope, we're going.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Anna]

He yoinks him, like, with her Claws and flies away.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Anna]

So we have Theophany, and there's a couple things that she says that are really interesting. Okay, okay, I'm gonna read both of these. She talks about, like, magic requiring a balance. It's the oldest rule there is. But once a century or so, we get a chance to skew the scales in our favor. And I will prove myself to him this time. Then she says, this a weapon like you talking to Violet. A weapon like you will only submit to someone stronger. So come, let's get this farce over with so you can begin your real journey. He's waiting. Glee lights her smile. Violet asks Berwin, and then she responds with, Theophany says, as if I would answer to that fool. I think not. So who is this him?

[Christina]

Who is this him?

[Kim]

I see. This is why I think it's bigger than just Andarna. I think she's important, too.

[Christina]

I agree.

[Kim]

And they're looking for her. She has to be trained. Not Andarna. Yes, it's both of them together, for sure. But there is someone. He. There's a he. And this is, I think goes back to why in that thing from Cosmo that the Sages not even important people. Like, they're Sages. Were pretty sure. They were like, no, no, we need her, not her. I don't know. There's something. There's another person, another being that we haven't met yet that's higher.

[Christina]

Higher than Theophany and Berwyn?

[Kim]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Anna]

I mean, Theophany says there are those that are older and stronger than me.

[Kim]

And maybe that's General Darrymore.

[Christina]

Could still. I was gonna say it could still be Darrin.

[Anna]

Could still be Darrimore.

[Christina]

Guys, this is so fascinating.

[Kim]

Yeah, it is.

[Anna]

So we have a couple. There's some povs that happen. And then we get back to Violet, and her and Taryn are having to fly out after Theophany because Theophany does her poof, be gone thing. And so a neck gets thrown over tearn. They fall to the ground. Oh, my God. It's really sad. Violet's like, we're about to die. But they're fine. They survive.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Anna]

And Theophany is there waiting, of course. And Violet finally remembers the pack, like, y'all being like, please hold. I forgot I have mail to open.

[Christina]

Hold on, Theophany. Actually, I do need to open this piece of mail.

[Kim]

Oh, hold on.

[Anna]

Hold that thought.

[Kim]

Yeah, if I'm gonna die, I better know what this says.

[Christina]

Theophany's like, oh, yeah, sure. No, go Ahead.

[Anna]

Sure. Yeah, I'll just. Okay, I'll wait.

[Kim]

I do love that Theophany's like, you know, I love a letter. So, like, I love.

[Christina]

I love a cryptic letter. Yeah, let's read.

[Kim]

That's my jam. So I like this for you. Go ahead.

[Anna]

Okay, so there are two notes in the package. Okay. The package contains a ceremonial dagger from the temple of Dune made from the temple itself.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Anna]

Okay, there's two notes. One note is directly from Arc to Violet, and it says, strike in the dark. Violet. Okay. And she's like, well, that's weird and cryptic.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Because, you know, nobody can just say, BT Dubs, I'm a Precog. Strike in the dark.

[Christina]

Strike in the dark and you'll know what it means when you get there.

[Kim]

But also, strike in the dark is still too.

[Anna]

Okay, I know.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So then there is a priestess message that was addressed to Arric. Okay. But it's still in there, and it says, a gift from one servant of Dune to another. I must warn you, only those touched by the gods should wield their wrath. I will pray to her, meaning Dune, because H is capitalized. I will pray to her that she need not use it to avoid reacquainting herself, Violet, with the other who curries her favorite. The path is still not set because remember, the priestess said, we cannot fully dedicate those whose paths are not chosen. And, like, fully set. That we can see.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

This is fascinating, but the priestess insinuates that Violet is also touched by another God. Yeah, she says, you know, to avoid reacquainting herself with the other who carries her favor.

[Christina]

Oh, I did not read this at all. I think I was in stress mode. This is the first time hearing of this. Like, what?

[Kim]

Yeah, it almost feels like, yes, she was touched by Dune, and that exists as a path, but it also feels like there's another God who is actively handling her fate, handling what's happening to her and inner workings into how her story plays out. Yeah, but the reacquainting is like. So she's met said God before.

[Christina]

Right.

[Anna]

I know. Which.

[Christina]

What?

[Anna]

To me, I always go back to Malik for some reason. Like, the amount of times that Violet has been. I don't know. She's not, like, necessarily near death, but she's had all of these people die near her. She's.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

I don't know. There's just something.

[Kim]

Does this go back to the illness? Is it like she would have died somehow?

[Anna]

Maybe?

[Christina]

Did Malik save her or something?

[Kim]

As a baby and Malik stepped in yeah. And therefore was a part of her path before she even went to Dune.

[Christina]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Anna]

It's interesting.

[Christina]

Or, or, or. Because we know that. We know that Lilith contracted an illness when Violet was still in her belly, in her womb. So, like, did Malik step in then, prior to Violet even being alive? Did he really help save Lilith?

[Anna]

She has a bigger prophecy.

[Christina]

Yes, exactly. Exactly.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And maybe. Maybe that's why Lilith got so mad that Asher almost dedicated her to Dune because she was like, what are you doing? Malik helped save me. Malik is the reason that Violet made it out of me alive. And you are going to royally piss him off if you go dedicate her to another God.

[Kim]

It's like, what have you done?

[Anna]

What have you done?

[Christina]

And she's horrified and she's so upset. And is that because potentially Malik for some reason? Because Violet is obviously a chosen one. I think we can all agree that 100%. Did Malik step in to save Violet via Lilith?

[Anna]

Right.

[Christina]

And then that's why Lilith is horrified by being like, no, no, there's nothing to fix. You don't need to fix her. This is because Malik stepped in and is like, she will still have some kind of illness. She will still not be 100%, but I'm going to save her.

[Anna]

I wonder if that's why she's not temple minded. Like, it could go one of two ways, right? All of a sudden you're, like, super dedicated. Like, you're super, you know, religious or she terr of bringing Violet near a temple.

[Christina]

That's what I think it is.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

Why else would Rebecca put that line in there about her mom not being temple minded?

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Theophany then says this because Violet brings up the temple to distract her because she realizes that Theophany was a priestess of Dune.

[Kim]

Yeah, yeah.

[Anna]

Before she turned Venon.

[Christina]

Yes, yes.

[Anna]

She asked her, like, do you not feel the pull? Like, do you not miss going to temple? And what Theophany says is, do you know the pain of never being allowed to return, of knowing that it would sever the very thing that's kept me untouchable all these years? Years. Like, I wonder if there's an aspect of, like, when you are dedicated. If, like, then going to another temple, like Dune and the goddess of love are the two ones that can only allow full dedication. Like, once you are dedicated to them, you're dedicated to them. That's it.

[Kim]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Anna]

So I wonder if that's what was so scaring Lilith so much, is like, we already had a God step in.

[Christina]

Yeah. This is like betrayal. This is like double crossing.

[Anna]

And we know that God, the goddess, they are wrathful.

[Christina]

They are wrathful.

[Anna]

That's why she kills her. That's why she's able to kill her with the thing. Because she betrayed the God goddess. She turned venom.

[Christina]

Right, Exactly.

[Kim]

I think this has some. This is really interesting. And what does Lilith call her illness in the first book? Like a curse or like a.

[Christina]

Yes, she calls it a curse.

[Kim]

Yeah. So isn't that something that you now thinking about a God has cursed you? Malik was like, okay, sure, I'll bring her to life. But this illness is a piece of it.

[Christina]

Like, but at what cost? Maybe that's the cost of it.

[Anna]

Magic requires a balance.

[Christina]

Exactly, Exactly.

[Kim]

I'll bring her back to life. But this is the piece.

[Anna]

Is that why they want her? Like, if the barons are the land of Malak, if she's touched also by Malak, Interesting. Is she somehow. This goes back to, like, her being immune somehow to the venom? Or like, she would be different for her because she was touched in utero?

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Oh, guys, I don't know. We're spiraling.

[Kim]

We're really. This is fun. This is fun. All right, we'll rein it in.

[Anna]

Anyways, so Zaden's POV is happening simultaneously to Violet fighting Theophany. And so his shadows are going crazy right now because he's trying to save Sigeil. And so this is when she realizes that Arryk is a Precog and that he said strike in the dark because all of the shadows are there and she's been training on that. Matt was Zayden in shadows, and she freaking goes for her because Andarna shows up. Yes. I still don't get how she knew to come back and how she got.

[Kim]

There so fast, but fine.

[Anna]

But she's there and we're gonna just fantasy reasons go with it right now. And Theophany looks at her and she says, irid. Theophany whispers with reverence, straining toward Andarna. And that's when Violet lunges and stabs her in the heart. Fire breathes through me until I am char and cinder in agony. And Theophany is, quote, desiccated, which we know is like a husk type situation.

[Christina]

Can't come back from that.

[Kim]

The fact that we've looked up desiccated and talked about it so much in this book is actually. It's alarming, but it's true.

[Anna]

It's used quite a bit.

[Kim]

We know it's husk and we are happy about it. Yeah.

[Anna]

Anyway, so that's what happens at Theophany. She's dead and gone. And I wish we had asked a few more questions.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

Wish we had a little sat down and chatted.

[Kim]

I don't know.

[Anna]

She might be.

[Kim]

We'll see. Can you dreamwalk a dead Venon? I don't know.

[Anna]

Are you pulling an Anna?

[Christina]

Are you pulling a. Show me the body.

[Anna]

Show me the body.

[Kim]

I'm pulling an Anna.

[Christina]

Show me the body.

[Anna]

I love it.

[Christina]

I love this.

[Anna]

I love it.

[Kim]

We don't know how Vin and die.

[Christina]

That's right.

[Anna]

I rubbed off on you.

[Kim]

Maybe her spirit's just gonna pop into another person. We don't know. She could dreamwalk.

[Christina]

We don't know.

[Kim]

We don't even know her real name. Guys, there's too much.

[Anna]

Listen, if she's touched by Malak, God of death, maybe she can dreamwalk into the dead.

[Christina]

Maybe.

[Anna]

Oh, that would be.

[Christina]

Ooh, I love that.

[Anna]

Real interesting.

[Christina]

That'd be real interesting.

[Kim]

Oh, goodness.

[Christina]

Okay, what's next?

[Kim]

Okay, all right, so just a few things we learned from Zaden's POV here. Okay, so, like, Zaden's POV is happening simultaneously, as Enna said. Pretty much, yes. Sigale is in snort in this net, and it's rough. And we do see Zaden be like, she is the first one that believed in me and loved me, and, like, I have to get her out. And it's so sweet to hear him. We know he feels these feelings for Sigail, but to hear him say it and, like, we hear his thoughts. I'm so happy this was from his pov. So we can really understand that depth of the love for Sigail that we knew, but it's just fun to see.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Okay, so Berwyn. All right, so pretty much we find out that Berwyn is, like, for lack of a better term, his vinin maker. Like, if you're a vampire and you have a maker that, like, turns you, pretty much that's what happens when you're Venon. Which is confusing because the way you turn Venin is you channel from the ground. So your maker doesn't actually do anything to you. It's kind of your guide, like your sage, for lack of a better term.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

But it is interesting how they stake claim of you. Is it because he was just physically there? Like, what?

[Christina]

Right.

[Anna]

Jack says you need a sage to help guide you.

[Kim]

Right. And therefore, Jack and Zaden are brothers, so that's fun. And it makes sense about the end of Iron Flame, where he's like, welcome to the family. Like calls him brother, whatever. Yeah. Okay, so a few facts we Learned during this POV. 1, Pancheck is a traitor. We don't know to what extent, but I knew the sneaky, sneaky Panchik was a bad guy.

[Christina]

Dammit.

[Kim]

Okay, so that's confirmed. Also, Berwyn is able to kill Panchik's dragon. Interesting. With a dagger. Also interesting.

[Anna]

Yeah. How?

[Kim]

Just how? Don't know.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Also, this is another desiccated. It's noted that the dragon desiccates.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

What does that mean? Why did the Vinnan all that's a desiccating power.

[Anna]

Do we think Panchec turned Venon and that's why his dragon desiccates? It doesn't say. He dies.

[Christina]

Well, haven't Venon always been able to kill dragons?

[Kim]

Oh, I don't know.

[Anna]

Not with the dragon. Not with the dragon.

[Christina]

Well, how did Liam's die? How did Liam's dragon die?

[Kim]

For some reason I thought that Liam's dragon died like a dragon to wyvern combat. Like he like attacked.

[Anna]

Got it.

[Christina]

Okay, okay, okay. Interesting, interesting.

[Kim]

So I think there has to be more here. And like, again, this is another piece where like, we don't understand how Finn and die. We don't understand how they kill each other. We don't understand desiccation and the dragons and the things. So we'll dig into that further in the next two years.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

All right, so another big piece here to kind of just like set the scene of what a catalyst for Xaden. Like he is already in the emotional place for Sigail. And then this piece happens. So someone turned. Who turned is the biggest question right now. But let me just read you this quote and we'll get more on that later. Okay, so quote is, I glanced past Berwyn, past Sigail and the Vinnin, to my new brother, the unconscious dragon lying in the valley beyond the canyon, guarded by seven women. How could he do this? Choose this? After watching me stumble and fall over the last five months, how could he willingly walk the path I've fought like hell to leave? He's the last person I ever would have expected to turn. And yet here we are.

[Anna]

Yeah. Wow.

[Kim]

Okay, so there's a lot there. We're gonna unpack. Like who we actually think that is in a wee bit with some receipts. But, like, that's just where we are. This is his mental place. And another piece of where Xaden is right now is this quote about Berwyn again, going back to. He's his Maker. He's his Vinnin daddy.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

He says I'd kill him if I could. Fuck. I thought I had. Which at the end of Iron Flame. Yes. We all knew it wasn't true, but sure, yeah. Yeah, I thought I had. I wonder how many initiates feel the same about their sage. At least one that I know of.

[Anna]

Who's that?

[Kim]

What do you mean?

[Anna]

Jack?

[Kim]

Jack doesn't want to kill him. Jack is like, reverent to him.

[Christina]

He loves him.

[Kim]

So what other Venon initiate is he in contact. Contact with? We don't know. At least one that I know of. But beyond the physical impossibility of it, he has something I need also. What does he have?

[Christina]

Hold on. Sorry. So is Zaden saying he can't physically kill Berwyn?

[Anna]

I don't think he can.

[Kim]

It's physically impossible.

[Christina]

Super.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

What does he have that Zaden needs?

[Anna]

Yes, that is the big. There are so many questions, but that is a big one.

[Kim]

Who's the other initiate that can't kill their sage?

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

He's like one that I know of. Feels that way about his sage. It's not Jack, like, wants to kill their sage.

[Kim]

There is another person who's been in that Zaden has been talking to, that's an initiate.

[Christina]

And we've just been keeping this from everybody.

[Anna]

Yeah, I don't. I have so many questions.

[Christina]

And his brain is short circuiting.

[Kim]

I mean, unless Jack somehow told him he wants to kill Berwyn, but I don't think so.

[Anna]

I mean, I can see Jack being very anti. Being told what to do.

[Christina]

Maybe he wants to kill him to, like, take his place.

[Anna]

Yeah, yeah. Like, I can see Jack being like, don't tell me. Lead me when I'm in the mood to be led. Which is never. And he's. He's wanted the power, but now he's like, yeah, I'm glad I'm venom. But I also don't want to, like, have to answer to this sage dude.

[Kim]

Or even it just being, like, kind of out of context. You know, him saying like, oh, yeah, no Berwyns. Both are dads now. And him being like, well, I'll see about that. I'll kill him. And Jack's like, good luck with that. You actually can't. I've tried, you know, something like, out of context.

[Christina]

Sure.

[Kim]

Where then, you know, would have loved that.

[Christina]

Because it can't be the person that just turned, because that person just turned. And Zaden is discovering this along with the reader. So Zaden has not.

[Kim]

It can't Be that person.

[Anna]

It can't be that person.

[Christina]

Right?

[Kim]

And we know this is an initiate. It's a new person.

[Christina]

Correct? Correct. Okay, so. Oh, dear. Here is what really does it for Zaden. This is what really pushes him over the edge. And it is, of course, Seil, which is his first love. Because, as we found out in this book, a writer's first love is their dragon. And so the sage threatens to kill Seil, and Zaden absolutely loses it. He says, how dare they pull my dragon from the scene, sky, snare and hurt the one who anchors my existence. I throw my blades into the air, fall to one knee, splay my hand over the canyon floor, and break. In my final act of resistance, I become the very thing I despise. Shadow streams through the canyon, thick as tar and black as ink, blacking out the afternoon sun. Afternoon. Let's pin that for later. Timing and turning the space pitch black. This is terrifying. Shadow plants my daggers in the chests of the two ven. And standing guard. Guard. Shadow drags Berwyn from Sigale and knocks both him and my new brother unconscious. My soul departs like a piece of ash from a fire, flaking free and drifting away as power consumes the space it once inhabited. I'm no longer on the ice. I am the ice.

[Kim]

Oh, my God. Is that good? It is.

[Anna]

So it's both, like, terrifying and also, like, kind of sexy. Just, like, watching powerful.

[Kim]

I need you guys to just picture this in your head, okay?

[Anna]

Okay.

[Kim]

They threaten to Gale and. And this. This exact movement. He throws the knives, drops to one knee, and like, slams his hand down. Just like, how dare you. And he's just like, bam. Oh, the shadows ripple and the shadows just erupt.

[Christina]

This is incredible.

[Kim]

Oh, my God, the imagery.

[Anna]

Talk about a movie moment.

[Christina]

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.

[Anna]

Here for it.

[Kim]

Love it.

[Christina]

So this part continues with Zaden channeling and his extraordinary power surges across the battlefield and it wipes out the enemy. He makes note of the people Violet cares about, and his magic does not touch him.

[Kim]

Him.

[Christina]

Isn't that nice?

[Anna]

I know.

[Kim]

But he's still in there. He's still in there.

[Anna]

He's still in there. Hey, he didn't cross the line.

[Christina]

That's right. He did not cross the line. And this is what he says about Violet. I love her. That is the emotion I cling to. The fire of pure power burning at the feelings edges. And I know if I take it any further, it will be the next and final piece to float away. I bare my teeth and yank my hand from the Ground gasping for a full breath as my heart thunders. So, guys, he is officially not an initiate anymore. He has ascended with. With this major pull.

[Anna]

He's an asm, so.

[Kim]

Okay, I thought he was an ASM already. No, no, this makes him an Asym. Got it. Okay. Got it.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Yeah, it's noted earlier, because I thought that, too, Christina. Yeah, Kim corrected me. She was like, no, he's initiate.

[Christina]

Yes. Because Violet brings it up to kind of, like, keep us in that he's still an initiate, but this obviously, is like, a huge, huge pull.

[Kim]

We're done. Yeah.

[Christina]

And he knows that he can't go back to Navarre or anywhere. Like, he has to flee.

[Kim]

Yeah, he has red eyes forever now.

[Christina]

He has red eyes forever. And Sigil. Like, the veins. You have red veins on your temples. And he can't hide it anymore. Like, he's going to have to come out. Okay, guys, this conversation, we have to break this down because.

[Kim]

Okay, yeah, let's break it down.

[Christina]

So Zayden says she promised. Okay. So Gail says even if she agrees, no one will.

[Anna]

She gets cut off.

[Christina]

She gets cut off. Oh, dear. Of course. Because of course she does.

[Anna]

Of course she does.

[Christina]

And Zayden says someone owes me a favor. Okay.

[Kim]

All right, let's break these down.

[Anna]

Break these down. Kim, give us the receipts.

[Christina]

So we think that the she promised is Violet's promise to Zaden about protecting Tyrandor. Zaden says this earlier in the book to Violet. It's not fair, and you might hate me for it later, but I need you to make me a promise. Swear you'll sound the alarm if I go too far, that you'll keep it safe, even if it's from me. Okay. And Violet reaffirms that promise to Llewelyn. Is that how you say. Hate that.

[Kim]

Love it.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

Zach is currently reading this book, and he was like, is Llewellyn a person? Is it a place? Who the is Llewellyn? And I was like, there is a.

[Christina]

Big thing on the Internet that's like. It is actually. Actually both.

[Anna]

It's like in the historical times where you became the Duke of Cambridge and everyone called you Cambridge because you're the Duke.

[Kim]

I was gonna say just putting Duke in there would have been helpful.

[Anna]

Yeah, it would have been nice.

[Christina]

Exactly. Yes, sure.

[Anna]

But no, also, I thought that.

[Kim]

Well, it was also where they grew up. I thought this was also Liam's the person who raised him. And Liam for a minute, too. That's also wrong.

[Anna]

It is.

[Kim]

No, there's. That's someone Else.

[Anna]

Okay, well, whatever.

[Christina]

Even more confusing, I don't know any of what you're talking about. So. So fantastic. I'm great. Okay, so the favor that Zaden says. Someone owes me a favor. We put these pieces together. That the high priestess of Dune wrote a letter to Zaden. And this is what was in the letter. The high priestess of Dune's temple has written to say that Dune holds you and Rhiannon in her regard and that she is in my debt and owes me whatever favor I see fit.

[Anna]

Oh, favor heavenly fire. But I. I will accept gladly.

[Christina]

I love it.

[Anna]

Love it.

[Christina]

Isn't this because that they defended the temple of Dune?

[Anna]

Because they listened. Well. And Darna listened to Aric.

[Christina]

That's right. And Darna listened to Aric. And they defended the temple of Dune. And so the high priestess of Dune wrote to Zayden is like, here you go. Here's a favor. And Zaden's like, perfect timing. I would love to take you up on that offer.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

Perfect timing not. But 24 hours later, I think I'm going to have to.

[Christina]

Exactly. We're going to catch this in real fast. Okay, Anna, run us through the final chapter, which is blowing everyone's minds.

[Anna]

I'm going to run through this and then we're going to break it down.

[Christina]

Perfect.

[Anna]

Violet wakes up in the courtyard in Orisha. It has been 12 hours. Remember, like Kim said earlier, it was afternoon, when Zaden goes apeshit with his shadows. And when she wakes up, it is 3:00 in the morning. It's been 12 hours. Okay. And Darna is there and she says, I will not let them burn you. Okay, we know that Taryn is also in a deep sleep, quote, a cycle of rest to recover. Okay, so these are all things to be fact. So we also know that they got sneak married. We have the official decree from the priestess of Dune. And Violet is wearing an emerald ring. The stone that's missing from the dagger of Arisha that is in Zaden's room in the little clear box that came from the God of Luck island.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Anna]

Imogen has wiped the memories. She turns to Imogen and she says, what have you done? Done? And Imogen says, what you asked me to do. So Imogen signet is to be able to, like, wipe memories?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So we think that she did this because Violet and ZADEN in those 12 hours, accomplished probably quite a bit besides their little sneak marriage. But I think that it's plausible deniability, which is the reason that Violet asked for her memories to be erased. Because Brennan is asking, where is Xaden? Where is he? And everybody is blaming Zaden for the shadows. Because now the shadows were out of control. Control, Guys, they might not have hurt the humans, but we have six eggs missing. And we have. All of a sudden, the wyverns, the Venin are gone and dead. And it's Zaden shadows that took over the entire city.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

So everything bad that happened, they now think is Zaden's. It was Zaden. It was Zaden. Everything bad was Aiden.

[Anna]

So Brendan is like, where is Aiden? Where is Aiden? And Violet can't remember. So we think the reason her memories were wiped was plausible deniability.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Anna]

So now let's go back a little. Christina was going through earlier with Zaden's pov. He sees the person who turned. How could he do this? We know it's a man. How could he do this? He's watched me struggle for the last five months. So it has to be either Garruk or Bodhi. Riddick did not know for five months. So I need you to understand. When they were in the Isle Kingdoms, it was a week or so before Zaden's birthday, which is March 31, I think it's at the end of March. It's his birthday.

[Kim]

It is, yeah.

[Anna]

And then this battle happens in May. If you do the timing with the amount of weeks that have passed. So it can't be Riddick or Sawyer. So it has to be either Bodhisattva. Garak. Now, why would Zaden need to sneak Mary Violet? We could argue that it's because it offers her protection. Like he says in Deverelli, before they go see King Cortland, he says, well, if you're my consort, it offers you protections. Could it be as simple as that? But we think it's Bodhi. Because if Bodhi is not there to be heir and Zaden is not there in the epigraph, and Imogen says, if we lose both him and Ryerson, Tyrandor falls to whomever the king appoints. I'd rather die than see an Avarian aristocrat on the burned throne mom and Katrina died defending. So that means that if both Bodhi and Zaden are dead, King Tari can appoint whoever they want. Tyrandor is the largest providence in Navarre. They have the biggest resources. They have taladium. They control the army that resides in Tirandor. That's in all the epigraphs. So it makes sense for Zaden to want to sneak marry Violet. If that somehow allows her to, then Become the ruler, the duchess in his stead.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Christina]

Totally agree.

[Kim]

And the reason he would need to do that is if the person he had been grooming is no longer able to do that.

[Christina]

Right.

[Anna]

You know, and this goes back to, like. People are like, but Garrick is missing at the end of the book, and he's the only one that's quoted to be said missing. But here's the thing is Rebecca said in one of her interviews, she said, I want you to look back and look at who never feels like they are enough. That's what she said about the person who turned.

[Kim]

Well, it's bode.

[Anna]

It's Bodie.

[Kim]

100%.

[Anna]

It's obviously Bodie, because Kim, what's his song to Taylor Swift? So song for Bode. Do you remember?

[Christina]

Oh, I look in people's window.

[Anna]

I look in people's windows.

[Kim]

Also, there's so much that also Theophany says to him. Theophany says, like, aren't you sick of being.

[Anna]

She says, tell me, do you not grow tired of being a less powerful version of your cousin?

[Kim]

I mean, if that's not telling.

[Christina]

Come on.

[Kim]

And also, the last time we see him, he's on his hands and knees. It is said that he's throwing up, but maybe he's not.

[Anna]

His dragon also was borderline, one could argue, fatally injured.

[Christina]

Uh oh.

[Anna]

And as we know, oh, Zaden turned to save Sigale. Why wouldn't Bode turn? Also, his signet does not work. He's actually, like, visibly upset about this. He says, my signet is always the balance. Like, why is it not working? In the very first chapter, Brennan comes in. In the book, Very first chapter, Brennan comes in. He's like, hey, we need you. We need to talk to. He's pointing to somebody else. And Bode literally says, oh, what can I do to help? And he says, you're not needed. Oof. And Bode's, like, good to feel needed seated and, like, walks out.

[Kim]

Oh, rough.

[Anna]

I'm telling you, it's like.

[Kim]

It just makes so much sense.

[Anna]

It makes sense.

[Kim]

My main sticking point is the sneak bear. We talked so much about Bode being like, I need you to be heir. You need to be able to sit on the throne. You have to be able to sit on the throne. And, like, that was the backup plan.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So, like, the reason that this all has to happen makes sense because the backup plan shot, so now we have to have the backup backup plan.

[Christina]

Exactly. This is plan C. And, like, throughout the book, they argued about it all the time. Like, Bodhi very much was like, no, I don't want this. I don't want to do this. And so that would make sense to me is Bodhi never wanted to be the heir and he never wanted to sit on the throne anyway. So he probably was like, yeah, if I have to turn to, like, fix things and do what I need to do, then, like, fudge it. Like, Ryerson will figure it out.

[Kim]

I'll do it.

[Anna]

Which one of you read the quote where he says, I am a writer and I will always be by your side? Because that was where I'm supposed to be.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

So why wouldn't he turn to be by Zaden's side? It's, like, misguided, but.

[Kim]

Well. And I. I have two things I want to say here. One, in the New York night, when we asked, someone asked her, very silly, like, what would everyone order at a bar? And Rebecca's answer was, zayden would get a beer and Bode would get a beer because Zayden got a beer.

[Christina]

Oh, yes. So many people commented that on that video. Like, did everyone hear what she said?

[Anna]

Pick up on that?

[Christina]

Like, yep, we sure did.

[Kim]

Is there a. I don't know, a thing that he thought he was being, like, valiant and he saw something happen to Sigail and, like, what happened to Zayden? And he was like, no, no, it's okay. I don't want you to go to asm. I'm going to go to initiate so I can save you. And then.

[Anna]

Yeah, I don't think it's power.

[Kim]

He was like, no, I'm going to go ASM you. And if Bodhi wakes up, he's like, no, no. We both could have been initiate and, like, kept it on the DL. We just would have done it together. And he's like, no, I wasn't aware of that. So now we're.

[Christina]

Yeah. You didn't actually run that plan by me.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Something else that people have said is that in the note that Zaden leaves for Violet, Zaden says, don't look for me. It's yours now. And people said, well, he can't be referring to Tyrandor because he always refers to Tyrandor as she.

[Anna]

That's not true.

[Christina]

That's not true.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

When he makes Violet promise to protect Tyrandor earlier in the book, he uses the word it. He does not use the word she.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

And I think that's very telling in this specific quote about the promise to take care of it.

[Anna]

Yeah, it's yours now. And I think that's what he means, like we got sneak married. You don't remember it? Yep, it's yours now.

[Kim]

How devastating to. We know just in those 12 hours that they must have like said goodbye. They must have done this whole big emotional goodbye. This whole big emotional, like this is our plan and you're not going to remember it and it's going to be really hard. But this is the thing. But they had those moments and then him having to write like. But all I can actually have, you know, and remember is just don't look for me. It's yours now and it's yours.

[Anna]

Where did he go? Like, did he. Okay, so hold on, a few other things. At the ending here, six eggs are missing. And Garak says one of Garrick's last lines is I can't walk again. Meaning he can't use his distance walker. He's burnt out. Even if I made it to Orisha, I'd never be strong enough to get back. Meaning get back to Dreythis and help fight. He turns and looks over his shoulder to Imagin. So I'd better find some fucking way to. To do something. People have thought that this means Garak is the one that turned. But I think he, he's not there. I think he went somewhere.

[Kim]

Yeah, I think it's a red herring.

[Anna]

I wonder, guys, what if he took the eggs?

[Kim]

That's what I was thinking. What if he took them and he's going to like barter them with maybe the irides or with someone with. Oh my God, the queen. What if he took them to the queen that wanted the eggs?

[Christina]

Yes, yes.

[Anna]

Because he was there. He knows that they wanted 12 eggs. And he says, Best I can do is six.

[Christina]

Best I can give you six.

[Anna]

Best I can do is.

[Kim]

It was a high stakes moment.

[Christina]

It was a tough situation. I just grabbed one of the.

[Kim]

I had to steal him fast. But then he distance walked them to her because what they were there to ask for was allies.

[Anna]

And she said, I'm not doing it without dragon eggs.

[Kim]

Oh no. And so maybe he took them and he walked them over there. Oh my God.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Yeah. Oh, no.

[Christina]

I think this is it.

[Kim]

Oh, no. Also, who else is missing?

[Anna]

We don't know. It's three unnamed people.

[Kim]

It can't be Imogen. Nope. And from where people actually have fallen, I don't think it's Rhiannon and Sawyer and Renick.

[Anna]

Mira's recovering. Brennan's alive. Im's alive. Oh, I think she checks on everybody's. She says people's names and I. Right. Doesn't she at the end of the book, doesn't she ask him?

[Christina]

I have zero memory of that.

[Kim]

But okay, maybe they don't know Quinn died. Fine. Maybe that's one. But Dane would have told. Or like, you know, Garrick would have.

[Christina]

Yeah, someone would have said something.

[Kim]

I'm just wondering if some people went with Garrick is what I'm wondering. Like, are people in this with Garrick? And that's why we're kind of grouping them together. Like this many people are missing.

[Anna]

Oh, I see what you're saying.

[Christina]

Oh, yeah.

[Kim]

So, like, Bod's one, but he's. We think Finn and Garrick. Garrick is gone. But, like, did two people go help him? Did this little crew, this mini quest squad take the eggs and go do this?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Or did Panchak steal the eggs because he's evil?

[Christina]

Panchak could be one missing.

[Anna]

Yeah, that was my first gut. Was. It was Panchak.

[Christina]

Oh, okay. Got it.

[Anna]

But it was just interesting that just the quote that Garak says, like, what else would he do? My other thought was, did he somehow just distance walk to the archipelago and start yelling for Andarna? And then he was like, andarna, we need you. Because Andarna miraculously shows up. But how the hell did she get there?

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

If he can't distance walk again, and.

[Christina]

We know Andarna cannot fly.

[Anna]

She can't.

[Kim]

I think she learned some Irid magic already. I think that she was like, my.

[Anna]

Person needs me, like, two weeks.

[Kim]

I think that maybe time spans differently there. And that would explain how she could live in that damn egg for 650 years. I think something about time for her species of dragon is different, can exist in different ways. You know, she could also speed up time and she could speed up time. Right. I think there's something with time and the dragons.

[Christina]

I agree.

[Kim]

Christine and I think she already went and, like, spent years of training. She's back and she's like, oh, I'm a professional. You're a dragon now. Yeah. And what does she mean when she says, I won't let them burn you? What does that mean?

[Christina]

Yeah, what do you mean?

[Anna]

I took that as because Taryn and Sigail are mated, if Zaden turned, she would know and that they would burn her as a traitor, because that's what they do.

[Christina]

Brennan is going to let them do.

[Anna]

That, I don't think. Well, Brendan's a human. I don't know that, like, he could overrule.

[Kim]

You think that the dragons would burn violence?

[Anna]

No, well, I'm just saying like. Or Melgren would get notified and somehow that. Because if Xaden's missing, that if she knew where he was, that's why. And she's protecting her because Taryn is asleep.

[Kim]

Which guys people are really nervous about.

[Anna]

Why I wonder if they had to break the bond because how else can they be separated for so long?

[Christina]

I hate it. I hate it. I also just don't. We're breaking a lot of bonds, guys. We're breaking a lot of bonds and I really don't like it. And I went out of the group. Group chat to be back together.

[Kim]

So Vin and don't have dragons.

[Anna]

No.

[Kim]

Right. But Jack still had his dragon. Until he killed it.

[Anna]

Yeah. That's why I thought if Panchik turned and his dragon died. That doesn't necessarily mean he died because Jack did not die when BAE died.

[Kim]

So do we think that Zaden. That had to have been a conversation in the 12 hours. Like in that 12 hours as well. They all had to have sat and be like, what do we do here? So Sigel can't come back and she was gonna be in trouble and then Taryn can't. Like what do we all do?

[Anna]

Yeah, that's. I think why the.

[Christina]

Oh, I hate that.

[Anna]

I also. Okay, so moving on from that to the dreamwalker aspect.

[Kim]

Yeah, let's talk about that.

[Anna]

I do think everyone's like freaking out because they're gonna be separated. We've already seen that Berwyn is able to dreamwalk. If he is the sage that is dreamwalking. And that's also a signet that he has, if we're correct on that, he's able to do it across great distances. Violet has shown already that she's able to dreamwalk. Specifically only into Zaden's dreams. Across great distances. Not only that, but listen. She says where she's in Zaden's dream. She's screaming his name to wake up Zade. And I shout. Before he can make it a half a dozen steps. He stops, then slowly turns to face me in the grass covered field. His eyes widen when he spots me, then narrow as he glances left and right. You shouldn't be here. You aren't safe. Like he knows, he says. I feel later on when he wakes up, he's like, I could feel someone in my dream. Then he shakes his head and stalks towards me. I take his ice cold hand in mine, then start. I can feel that.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So I do think that we're gonna see her dreamwalking in Zaden's. Dreams in the next book. And that is going to be how they communicate.

[Kim]

Agreed. And I'm gonna hate it, but I agree with you.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

I have a logistical question about Berwyn. So he was a sage. He's been referenced as a sage in the first two books until the end of Iron Flame, where then he says, like, I'm not a sage. I'm a Maven, or I'm a general.

[Anna]

He says, I'm a general. He doesn't use the word maven.

[Kim]

But don't we think that. Isn't it, like, in the breakdown that mavens are general? Like, isn't that interchangeable?

[Anna]

That's how it's described as a comparison, that the mavens are like the generals.

[Kim]

Got it. Okay.

[Anna]

But he calls himself a general. He doesn't say, I'm a Maven.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

And when Violet refers to Theophany, she refers to her as a Maven.

[Christina]

Interesting.

[Anna]

So I think Berwin's a little big for his britches.

[Kim]

Oh, see, I took that to mean that he's a Maven. He's like, you guys thought I was a sage. You were.

[Anna]

That's what I think. We were supposed to think that he was. Which is why I didn't think he died at the end of the last book. Because it's, like, supposedly impossible to kill a Maven, but he's referred to as a Sage throughout all of the dreams. And then when Zaden sees him, he says, I thought I killed you.

[Kim]

No. Yeah, I thought that we all, including Zaden, thought he was a Sage because we've never seen a Maven, so we don't know what they look like. And then he corrected. And so now he, like, we know he is maybe a Maven, because Zaden.

[Anna]

Refers to him as a sage, and Theophany refers to him as a sage.

[Kim]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was referred to as a Sage in Onyx Storm. I thought that after he said that, he's.

[Anna]

Yeah, he's referred to as a sage. Exclusively as a Sage in Onyx.

[Kim]

Got him. Okay.

[Anna]

Yeah, guys, that's it. Wow.

[Kim]

What a journey.

[Anna]

I mean, we have so many other things we could go on about. And you can join us on Patreon, actually, when this episode comes out, this will be a few weeks from when we've recorded. But this weekend, we are all getting together and we're doing a little girls book bestie weekend. And we have a special episode that'll be out for Patreon. All tiers where we're gonna be discussing like theories and Onyx Storm thought thoughts and stuff. So head over there. It'll already be out. Yeah, it'll already be out when this episode is released.

[Christina]

A very fun Empyrean Q A. So yeah, check out that over there. And of course, like, we have a ton of chapter chats that we did as we read this book. If you want to see our thoughts more in real time. And I'm sure we will probably be hopping on and doing more things because we just can't stop talking about it and it's going to be at least two years before we get another book and so we just, we gotta talk about it.

[Anna]

We have nothing to do but spiral with our thoughts for two years precisely.

[Kim]

So join us, won't you? Thank you for being here with us.

[Christina]

Yes, we love you. So fun.

[Kim]

We love this book so much and we can't wait to dive into it more as we go.

[Christina]

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 write and review us on your favorite favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us spread the magic of Romantasy to even more book lovers. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep reading, and remember, every good story deserves to take flight.