ONYX STORM: BONUS EPISODE

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Onyx Storm: BONUS EPISODE"

Hosts: Kennedy, Reggie, & Mikayla
Release Date: January 27, 2025
Podcast: I'll Read What She's Reading

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1. Introduction

In this special bonus episode of I'll Read What She's Reading, Kennedy, Reggie, and Mikayla delve deep into their collective experience with "Onyx Storm" by Rebecca Yarros. Having all completed the book, the trio shares their saved thoughts and feelings, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion about the novel's strengths, weaknesses, and standout moments.

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2. Ratings and Initial Impressions

Reggie's Struggle with Rating:
Reggie begins by expressing her dilemma over rating the book, oscillating between a 4.5 and 5 stars. At [01:11], she remarks:

"When I first finished or I think while I was reading the book, I was like, this isn't going to be a five-star read for me... but maybe it is."

Kennedy counters by ultimately awarding 5 stars, acknowledging the book's imperfections but emphasizing her connection to the characters and the world Yarros created:

"I just love this world and these characters so much, and I missed them, and I just had a good time. But it's not a perfect book..." [05:28]

Mikayla's Perspective:
Mikayla opts for a solid four stars, highlighting issues with repetitive dialogue and a desire for more complex relationships:

"There were a lot of things that were very repetitive... I just honestly wish this was a book where it was not just in Violet's point of view." [04:05]

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3. Character Analysis

Violet and Zaden's Relationship:
A significant portion of the discussion centers around the protagonists, Violet and Zaden. Mikayla criticizes the repetitiveness of their romantic interactions, particularly the frequent declarations such as:

"I lose control around you." [05:23]

Reggie, however, appreciates the depth these moments bring, suggesting that the obstacles they face underscore their profound love:

"Each of them is trying to figure things out... It just goes to show how much they love each other." [26:49]

Supporting Characters:
The hosts commend Yarros for enriching the narrative with well-developed side characters like Sawyer, Riddick, Bodhi, Garak, Cat, and Merrin:

"I felt like we became friends with all the characters... I loved that." [20:38]

Kennedy adds that learning more about these characters deepens the readers' connection to the story:

"You truly learned about Sawyer, Riddick, Bodhi, Garak, Cat, Merrin... I feel way more connected to the side characters now." [21:05]

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4. Plot and Key Moments

World-Building and Aisles:
The trio discusses the book's unique setting, particularly the different aisles or provinces, each with distinct cultures and environments:

"Each aisle had a different vibe... it was like, it didn't feel like the same place." [33:18]

Villain Introduction - Theophany:
Mikayla expresses frustration over the abrupt introduction of the villain, Theophany, and her overpowering presence:

"I hated how powerful she was... I wished there was more foreshadowing." [12:46]

Signet Powers:
A recurring theme is the exploration of signet powers. Reggie and Mikayla speculate about the nature and implications of these abilities, particularly Violet's newfound power as a Dreamwalker:

"A lot of people are saying she can kill people in their sleep... it will be a great way to communicate." [58:23]

Climactic Battles and Emotional Highs:
The hosts recount intense battle scenes and emotional confrontations, including pivotal moments like:

• Garrick's Vulnerability:

  "Garrick gets stabbed in the hand... I was like, can we just kill him?" [40:07]

• Violet's Inner Struggles:

  "Violet keeps telling herself she's gone... I felt so sad for Violet." [51:22]

• Riddick's Serious Side:

  "Riddick asks her some really big questions... he was the voice of reason." [54:30]

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5. Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Character Development: The deep dives into side characters enrich the narrative, making readers feel connected and invested.
• World-Building: The distinct cultures and environments across different aisles add layers to the story's setting.
• Emotional Depth: Moments of vulnerability and intense emotions, especially involving Violet and Riddick, resonate strongly with the hosts.

Weaknesses:

• Repetitive Dialogue: Frequent romantic exchanges between Violet and Zaden felt redundant to Mikayla and Kennedy, detracting from the story's flow.
• Abrupt Plot Elements: The sudden introduction of powerful characters like Theophany and unexpected POV shifts (e.g., Rhiannon) left some confusion and frustration.
• Limited POV Diversity: The book primarily follows Violet's perspective, causing the hosts to desire more varied viewpoints to enhance storytelling.

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6. Theories and Future Speculations

Potential Expansions in Future Books:

• Multiple POVs: The hosts hope for a broader range of perspectives to explore other characters' arcs and deepen the narrative.

• Signet Cures and Powers: Mikayla theorizes that characters like Sloan will play crucial roles in addressing the Venin affliction, possibly through innovative uses of their signets:

  "I think Sloan is going to play an important part with her siphoning signet." [89:13]

• Character Relationships: Reggie and Mikayla express a desire for more development in side romances, such as Jesenia and Sawyer or Garrick and Imogen.

Unresolved Mysteries:

• The Brotherhood's Identity: Speculations revolve around Bodhi being the enigmatic brother figure due to his actions and connections, though clarity remains elusive.
• Velvet's Memory and Future Actions: The trio is curious about Violet's memory wiping and its implications for her mission to save Zaden.

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7. Conclusion

The hosts conclude the episode by expressing mixed emotions about "Onyx Storm." While they appreciate the book's rich character tapestry and emotional moments, they grapple with narrative redundancies and unresolved plot lines. Anticipating the next installment, Kennedy, Reggie, and Mikayla eagerly await further character development and plot advancements, hoping for answers to the lingering questions raised in this bonus episode.

Notable Quotes:

• Reggie on Rating Dilemma:

  "Do we want to start with that?" [00:46]

• Mikayla on Repetition:

  "I have a hard time with it... it just wasn't messy enough, in my opinion." [04:33]

• Kennedy on Emotional Connection:

  "I feel like the big moments of this book that I loved made up for the fact that there were things that I didn't love." [06:16]

• Reggie on Side Characters:

  "The side characters really shined in this book." [20:17]

• Mikayla on Emotional Moments:

  "I was really sad for Cat." [47:46]

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Mikayla]

Hi, guys, and welcome back to I'll Read what she's reading. We have a very special bonus episode for you today and we're going to be discussing all things Onyx Storm. We all finished it and we just want to talk about it. We've been saving our thoughts and feelings for this episode, so I think we're all very excited.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I'm nervous too, for some reason. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

Why are you nervous?

[Reggie]

I don't know. I'm also. I just. I don't think I have any idea what you guys are gonna rate it. I can't decide. I. I think I might know.

[Mikayla]

I have. I don't know. I don't know what I'm reading it yet. Maybe I do. I don't know. I might change my mind afterwards, but. Yeah. Do we want to start with that?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, why not?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay. Who's going first?

[Reggie]

Who wants to go first? Anybody?

[Kennedy]

You guys are both looking at me.

[Reggie]

Kennedy just looks confident.

[Mikayla]

How about Reggie? Because she finished it first.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Let's go in the order that we finished it.

[Reggie]

You know, when I first finished or I think while I was reading the book, I was like, this isn't going to be a five star read for me. I didn't think it was going to, but like, the more I keep thinking about the book, the more I'm like, maybe it is a five star read for me. So I'm trying to decide if it's like a 4.5 or a 5. I can't decide. But the fact that I can't decide makes me think I shouldn't rate it 5 stars. I just know if I were to like, read it again, knowing what I know now, all the pieces fall into place, I would be like, oh, yeah, I don't know. I'll say my. Then should I tell my more my thoughts or do you guys.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, like, why would you give it five? Why wouldn't you give it five?

[Reggie]

I mean, there were so many epic moments in this book. I feel I didn't really have any crazy expectations for this book. I wasn't. It's weird though. I had an idea in my mind of how things were maybe gonna play out, but it wasn't anything I had like high expectations for and it was just completely nothing like I thought it was going to be. And I love that about it. But I also didn't love that at the same time because I felt like I left with more questions than I had when I started the book. So I felt like I didn't get super invested in it though, until like a little more than halfway through. There were still some really good moments in the beginning, but I don't know, I was kind of in this weird little funk the first half of the book. And I think it's because. And I don't. We can talk more about this if we want to. I know a lot of people on TikTok Goodreads Social media have just been saying how confusing things were in the beginning of the book. And I think had I had a different mindset when I first started the book, I would have enjoyed it more than I did in the beginning, if that makes sense. Because at one point I was like, I gotta just read for Vibes and not think so hard. I think I was thinking so hard about things that it was kind of ruining my reading experience a little bit. But that's like really the only negative thing I have to say about it. So that's kind of like a me problem, so.

[Kennedy]

But is it a you problem if everybody's experiencing that. Experiencing that problem, you know?

[Reggie]

Well, yeah, I don't know. I don't know. That's why I'm feeling a little conflicted. But the thing is, like, after I finish the book, I could appreciate a lot of those things in the beginning more, even though I wish I would had a little more clarity. And I don't know, so. But I thought it was. I think Rebecca Yarros is very brilliant in the way that she does things. And I just this. There's something about the ending of this book that felt very different from other books I've read. And I don't really know what it is, but. Yeah, I'll just leave it at that for now.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I agree with a lot of your thoughts. I think I'm gonna give it a solid four, in my opinion. There were a lot of things that were very repetitive and I had a hard time with it. Namely the we can't touch each other because I'm going to hurt you. That happened six times, you guys.

[Reggie]

Oh, you counted?

[Kennedy]

I counted.

[Mikayla]

That was too many in my opinion. Like, I got the point. I got the point across and I actually was kind of getting sick of them. Is that so bad? No, I just honestly wish this was a book where it was not just in Violet's point of view. Yeah, I just felt like everything was just repetitive when it came to her point of view of everything. And I don't know, I. I love the lovey dovey stuff, but I think it's to the point we get it they love each other. They're. That's their end game. It just wasn't messy enough, in my opinion.

[Kennedy]

You wanted more mess.

[Mikayla]

I wanted more mess. But that's okay. It was still good. Still good. That's it, I think.

[Kennedy]

And this might shock you guys. I'm gonna give it two stars. Just kidding.

[Reggie]

I was like, no, I knew you were alive.

[Kennedy]

I think I am gonna give it five stars only for the fact. Well, first of all, I read 275 pages today, so, like, it kept my attention. However, this is not a perfect book by any means. And I think, like, I agree with you, the relationship part was super repetitive. And also, I agree with Reggie's points, too. I think it just. For some reason, I think I just love this world and these characters so much, and I missed them, and I just had a good time. But it's not a perfect book, and there were things I definitely did not like about it. But for some reason, I just. When I finished it, I'm like, yeah, we're gonna give it five stars.

[Reggie]

I feel like the big moments of this book that I loved made up for the fact that there were things that I didn't love in the book. I could forgive a few things because of other moments in the book.

[Kennedy]

Mm.

[Reggie]

So.

[Kennedy]

But, you know, it definitely was repetitive at times, for sure. And I'm not trying to jump ahead, because, you guys, we do have a layout that we're going to follow for this episode. Okay. We're gonna go with the order of events, but the whole aisle thing, I felt like that was extremely repetitive. Like, going to each aisle and then having to fight these people and then going to the next. Didn't really love that. But first, so. Yeah, go ahead.

[Mikayla]

I think that would have been so much better if we got different point of view 100.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Because I think with her point of view being the only one, it just. That felt like it took forever. And I understand it did take a long time, but I think it would have been more entertaining through different eyes. I would have loved to see what all the other characters were doing when it was just Violet and Zaden.

[Reggie]

No, seriously?

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

So, yeah, continue. Sorry.

[Kennedy]

Oh, no, I'm. I'm. I'm great. Which I think we will eventually touch on the point of view thing towards the end of the episode, because that's going in chronological order. But, I mean, four stars is still a solid. Four and a half is a great rating. Five stars is a great rating. It just, like I said, wasn't a perfect book.

[Reggie]

I want to Know how you guys would rank all three books?

[Mikayla]

Yeah. A lot of people are saying this is their favorite.

[Kennedy]

I still think Fourth Wing is my favorite. And then I would probably say this one. And then I would say Iron Flame.

[Mikayla]

I think same.

[Reggie]

I'd say same. But I feel like Onyx Storm and 4th Wing would be.

[Kennedy]

I just think about.

[Reggie]

It's hard.

[Kennedy]

I think about how I genuinely felt reading 4th Wing and the entire book. I ate the entire book up. It. It's just number one for me. I also think that while I was reading this book, I was also confused at so many points. And once again, this is a very common theme that I have with Rebecca Yaros's fantasy books, specifically the Empyrean. Obviously she has this habit of introducing characters and then like, not really describing them, not calling things back. And so, like, I get confused of who's who and like a name would come up and I had no idea who they were. So to that point, I wish there was a character glossary. I've read a few fantasy books where there's legitimately a character glossary with people's names. And I do appreciate that she included the dragons names and their signets at the beginning of the book. But that wasn't even a comprehensive list. Bodhi and Garrick aren't on it.

[Reggie]

That is really weird.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Bodhi and Garak are not on it. So.

[Mikayla]

And like, those are the characters we already, like, know. Yes.

[Kennedy]

I needed a refresher on some of the ones anyways. Like the first years or some of the professors I just couldn't fully remember. Or even a character glossary of the new players in the sense of who rules each province.

[Reggie]

Well, there are like the world leaders, but yeah, there's like. I think that's the thing that was really difficult I had. I was thinking so hard about it and I kept going back to like, the map in the beginning, and then I was like, okay, I gotta just take a step back and know, like, okay, it's just a bunch of people with a common goal here and they're just trying to figure things out. And then I feel like I started enjoying the book a little bit more when I kind of had like, put that aside. But I didn't like that I had to do that. Yeah. Also, can we talk about how, like, did we talk about this together? How the aisles aren't even on the map?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I was annoyed about that.

[Mikayla]

I was.

[Reggie]

I don't even know where they are.

[Kennedy]

Because she would talk about the aisles and then I would flip to the map, and they were nowhere to be found. So, you know, now that I'm sitting here, should it be a five star read? I'm not sure, but I'm just gonna stick with my guns and just say it was a five star read.

[Mikayla]

If you ended the book and you're like, yeah, that's a five star read. Just stick with it. You know what?

[Kennedy]

That's true.

[Mikayla]

The entire time I was reading it, I was like, this is a four star read for me.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And I am a person who doesn't let the ending affect me. I have to take into account that the whole notebook. Anyways, let's get into it, shall we?

[Kennedy]

Yes, let's.

[Mikayla]

I just have to say I wrote this note at the very beginning, and I'm so proud of myself. I said, imogen, signet is legit. So cool, but also so scary.

[Reggie]

Yeah, Imogen.

[Mikayla]

Yes. I wrote that in the prologue. The prologue, I said. Because literally the entire time I was like, is this, you know, what is the word? Foreshadowing? The entire time I was like, is this foreshadowing? Is this foreshadowing? Is this foreshadowing? I knew Imogen's thing was going to come into a big play.

[Kennedy]

Well, we haven't really seen her signet in action before.

[Reggie]

I was wondering if just the beginning with Jack, because I think a lot of people have speculated that she had used on her before, but I think.

[Kennedy]

Didn't Rebecca say she had? Am I making that.

[Reggie]

I think she has said that. That's what I'm a little confused about.

[Kennedy]

Maybe she was referencing this book.

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Mikayla]

I don't know. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Her signet is crazy.

[Mikayla]

I also in the prologue said, he's a runner. He's a track star. Referring to Zayden.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Can I just say before we dive in.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

What did he. Well, what did you guys think of Zaden in this book?

[Mikayla]

It was such a 180.

[Reggie]

Did you. Did he move up your list for you, or did he go down the list for you? Because I've seen some conflicting things on TikTok today about Zaden.

[Mikayla]

I don't think he moved down for me.

[Kennedy]

He definitely didn't move down for me.

[Reggie]

Oh, he moved up for me so hard.

[Kennedy]

If anything, he. Yeah, I was gonna say he moved up.

[Mikayla]

I like a funny guy, so.

[Reggie]

Ugh. Riddick put him in the top.

[Mikayla]

We're jumping the gun.

[Kennedy]

Yes, we are jumping the gun. We're going in order here.

[Mikayla]

So pretty much the start of the book is literally the Venin in the school. And it introduces a character. Did we see her in Iron Flame? No, no, not at all.

[Kennedy]

No.

[Mikayla]

I think she just had to make this character up from her butt. To be honest, I hated her. I hated how powerful she was.

[Kennedy]

Are you talking about Theophany?

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Reggie]

She drove. Yeah. I kind of feel like she just came out of nowhere. I wish there would have been some sort of foreshadowing.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

In the other book with her.

[Reggie]

I mean, I don't know how we would have gotten that.

[Mikayla]

Well, because we only got the sage.

[Reggie]

The one. Yeah. And the one in the dreams.

[Kennedy]

Oh, his name starts with a B. Bray.

[Reggie]

Braille.

[Kennedy]

Braywin, Something like that.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Berwin.

[Mikayla]

Berwin.

[Kennedy]

Berwin.

[Mikayla]

And then she just pops up trying to save Jack. I just. I hate the toying. I know. That's a good villain. You know, it's a good villain when you hate them to their being, which I can appreciate. Like a good. I think she had to. I don't think the other Sage was.

[Kennedy]

Well, we thought he was dead. Yeah, yeah, we thought he was dead at that point.

[Mikayla]

I also don't think he was powerful enough. I think she had to create a villain that was going to be strong enough. Like more powerful than that. Sage Braywin. What?

[Kennedy]

Berwin Berwyn, I think is his name. And I mean, I found it interesting since, I mean, this is jumping ahead, but it does have to do with Theophany. I mean, one, she had the silver hair that immediately intrigued me because. Why does she have silver hair? What's going on? Is she related to violence? You know, my thoughts, I spiraled. And then obviously we come to find out she's a lightning wielder, but not really. I think that just made for me. It leveled the stakes up.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe I was understanding this incorrectly. Some part of that was just like my brain was hurting so bad. But was it her mom's sister?

[Kennedy]

No, she just shared the same signet as her mom.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Like at one point, Lilith and Theophany had met each other.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

I think in battle at some point. And then Theophany made it sound like Lilith was scared. So then she stayed within the wards. So she would never meet someone who had the same power and who was stronger than them.

[Reggie]

There's for. It's almost like there's a. What do they call it in the book? There's like a venin for that reflects each.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, Writer.

[Mikayla]

Writer.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Somehow they're equal or whatever you want to call it.

[Mikayla]

Interesting.

[Reggie]

So who's Violets.

[Mikayla]

Violets.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Mikayla]

All right. Or was. I don't know how to say her name. Theop.

[Kennedy]

Theophany.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I didn't listen to the book, so I took.

[Kennedy]

It's fine.

[Mikayla]

The pronunciations were. Were out there for me. I wonder if she then became Violets because Lilith died. I don't know.

[Reggie]

Yeah, that's. That's all a little bit fuzzy to me.

[Mikayla]

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

[Reggie]

I'm sure we'll make more sense of it in the next book. But.

[Kennedy]

But yeah, I mean, she was a great villain.

[Mikayla]

Also. I feel like we didn't see very much of Jack at all.

[Kennedy]

No.

[Mikayla]

And here's. Here's what. Here's my issue with this book. I think she introduces too many characters and doesn't know what to do with them all.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, she kind of forgets.

[Reggie]

I thought Jack was going to play a much bigger part in this book. Not saying he didn't, but, like. Yeah, I wanted more of him. I loved when they were, like, interrogating him and all that stuff. I thought we'd get a little more of that.

[Kennedy]

Were you guys surprised that most of the excerpts were literally from the first few chapters of the book?

[Mikayla]

What?

[Kennedy]

Expert. The excerpts that were posted on social media, all of that.

[Reggie]

Oh, I didn't really put that.

[Kennedy]

It was all mostly from literally the prologue in the first few chapters. I appreciate that personally, because it doesn't spoil anything.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I didn't see.

[Kennedy]

But I mean, from the excerpts, I mean, you know, we got. She posted Jack's, like, dialogue of Jack. And so in my head, I thought he was going to be a way.

[Mikayla]

Bigger part of his book. Oh, that's what you mean?

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Okay. Okay.

[Kennedy]

But I mean, he's in the epilogue, he's in the first few chapters, and then he disappears until the end of the book. Yeah, there wasn't even. They didn't even. For some reason, I was under the impression in this book they were going to, you know, test on Jack, try to figure, find a cure and use him a lot more to try and find a cure. And he was nowhere to be found.

[Reggie]

We can put a pin in this. And also, I'm not trying to jump the gun, but I just was reminded of something I saw online today. I don't know where it's at in the book, but I'm just wondering. I just don't want to forget this. Apparently there's a description of Jack at the end of the book, and it doesn't say that he has red eyes. Like, it describes exactly what he looks like. And it doesn't say that he's described as looking venom. Did he? They don't have to talk about that.

[Mikayla]

They brought him. Yeah. And then he disappears.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. They take a bath.

[Mikayla]

They don't talk about him at all. He's there. They say he looks sickly.

[Reggie]

Okay, we don't remember. I just like remembering. I don't know where it's at. But anyways, moving on.

[Mikayla]

Moving on. Also, I was giggling at an unsent correspondent on chapter three.

[Reggie]

Oh, which one is it?

[Mikayla]

Sometimes I worry about Violet. She has your sharp wit, quick mind, and steadfast heart paired with bullheaded tenacity. When she finally and truly gives that heart, I fear it will overrule the other gifts you've given her and logic will cease. Cede its voice to love. And if it's her first two layers liaisons that indicate of what we might expect. God's helper, my love, I'm afraid our daughter has atrocious taste in men.

[Kennedy]

I love it, but honestly, just, like. Not that it foreshadows a ton, but, I mean, there is no reasoning with her when it comes to Satan.

[Mikayla]

No, I love it, but I just was laughing so hard at that.

[Kennedy]

I. I did love that. I did love that.

[Mikayla]

Also, this is kind of right after this little thing. It's like in the very beginning, I was just so sad for Sawyer.

[Kennedy]

I know.

[Mikayla]

I was just, like, heartbroken for him. And I was just like my baby.

[Kennedy]

My Sheila.

[Mikayla]

And so, yeah, I would. I just kept thinking about him and. Because they recruited him to go down into the archives, and I just love how much he just gets all giddy around Jesenia, and I just think it's so cute. I see. I just. I can't wait. I hope there's more perspectives because I just want to be in the brain of him and going through that trial and the difficulty and then also kind of like getting him, like, trying to learn sign language and, you know, connecting with Jenya. I don't know. Sorry.

[Reggie]

I feel like the side characters really shined in this book. Oh, for sure. I think that's one of the things I loved the most about this book is because even though there were so many new characters introduced, I felt like I became friends with all the characters that we were familiar with in this book, and I loved that.

[Kennedy]

Well, just think about how much you truly learned about Sawyer. Riddick, Bodhi, Garak, Cat, Merrin. I feel like Rhiannon was kind of not A part of the book very much. I feel like she was definitely more a part of Iron Flame and Fourth Wing, but I truly feel way more connected to the side characters than I did in the other books. You learn so much more. I mean, even the whole situation with Marin and her family.

[Reggie]

Yeah, well. And also just getting so many, like, there. I got it. I felt like we got more of their personality, because when I was rereading the books, I'm like, okay. It's like, Riddick's the funny one. And then, you know, you got, like, Imogen. She's just, like, really, like, bad a. Like, you know. And I felt like I could finish this book and I could tell you so much more about them and why they are who they are, so.

[Kennedy]

Which this is. I hate to jump around like this, but since we're talking about this, let's just. Let's just talk about this.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

I want to get your guys's opinion on. And once again, if you guys feel. If you feel like. Just hold on, Kennedy. We can come back to it. Part of me wonders if the reason why we learned so much about the side characters is because she's going to add additional point of views in the. In the next book.

[Mikayla]

I certainly hope so.

[Reggie]

I hope so, too.

[Kennedy]

Which we can get into the specific point of views once we reach the end of the book, when we're discussing that. But I, I, I, I don't fear. I hope that is why, Because I would love that so much.

[Reggie]

So I would do.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Continuing on.

[Mikayla]

Well, in chapter 10, we learned that Garrick is a distance wielder, which, you.

[Kennedy]

Know, everybody thought that might be Violets. Did anybody have any theory about Garrick being the distance wielder?

[Mikayla]

I don't think so.

[Reggie]

Not that I saw.

[Mikayla]

I didn't think Violet was going to be the distance builder.

[Kennedy]

Well, everybody had theories about that. I put in a Fable update. If I can't have Zaden, I will take Garrick. I love Garrick.

[Mikayla]

I do, too.

[Kennedy]

Once again, going back to the side characters, I just feel extremely attached to them now.

[Mikayla]

I do. I do, too.

[Kennedy]

Garrick.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I do, too. Yeah. Also, this is literally chapter 12 and the argument of I lose control around you already happened twice.

[Reggie]

Okay. Let me say something, though. I know. I can see why you're. You were annoyed with it, but in a way, I kind of liked it because I felt had they just been going at it the entire time, it would have, like, not.

[Mikayla]

I just would rather them not have even started.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I don't know. I think I kind of liked it a little bit because it just. It felt like very dangerous. And then when things started to happen, it was kind of like it felt.

[Mikayla]

Horny teenager to me. Yeah. And I understand, like, when you love someone, you want to have those kind of relations, but I'm like, it. It just felt like horny to me. I don't know. And I understand. I. It just happened so many times. I would have understood if it happened like a couple, like three or four. I'm not kidding. When it happened like six or seven times.

[Kennedy]

A part of me wonders because going into this book, I was curious. I mean, Rebecca has said multiple times at their end game. And I was kind of curious about how are you going to keep the tension and keep people interested in this relationship if you've already said their end game? And it's almost like because it was. I do agree it was repetitive. And I don't know how she would have gotten away with keeping the tension without something like that, but it almost feels like maybe it should have been an unspoken thing and they didn't have to talk about it so much, you.

[Mikayla]

Know, I don't know.

[Kennedy]

Because she had to create some sort of tension. Like I said, otherwise we would have. They would have literally just been going at it the entire time. We going to talk about him being professor?

[Mikayla]

That's next.

[Kennedy]

Professor Zady, you guys.

[Mikayla]

That's the tension. That's the tension right there.

[Reggie]

Literally.

[Kennedy]

In our fable, we have a fable where we talked about this book. So many people hated that. They hated that he was a professor. I ate it up.

[Reggie]

Oh, I loved it.

[Kennedy]

I was obsessed with it.

[Mikayla]

I know exactly why too.

[Kennedy]

Lance Ryan. But you guys, my. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when they're in that. I don't want to call it a coliseum. What do they call it in the book? The place where they're training their signets. And Zaden is their teacher.

[Reggie]

And he was a good teacher.

[Kennedy]

Oh, my gosh. He was fighting with the one cadet and he just turns and winks at her. I was walking on the treadmill and I about fell off the treadmill.

[Reggie]

That's why I'm like, he's moving up the list for me.

[Kennedy]

And then Kate, it's forbidden. They can't touch. They can't. They can't sleep in the same room. He takes the shadows, makes it dark in the arena, and then he comes behind her.

[Reggie]

Yeah, see, I was eating all the tension up because to me, I think had it not been there, and I know Mikayla thought It was too much. And maybe it was. But I liked that there were a lot of obstacles because we were almost thinking that the obstacle in this book was going to be that there was, and we can get to this in a second, that there was going to be some sort of love triangle thing. And for a second, I'm like, why did I. Why did I Kind of. But in a way, it kind of solidified that. I'm like, you know what? Maybe I. I didn't want that because I think it just goes to show, like, how much they love each other. And obviously, there's a lot of different ways that you can show love. And I think we got some good examples of that.

[Mikayla]

Oh, for sure. But no, and I. And I. I appreciate tension. I am a girl who loves tension through and through. It's just the conversation of. You make me lose control.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

That conversation happened so many times that I was like, I get it. I just wish they would have, like, skipped that conversation and just been like. Like, you know why? And then call it that. Like, they can start, like, making out.

[Reggie]

Or, like, take her out to dinner.

[Kennedy]

And then it could be like, we can't. We can' they end the scene.

[Mikayla]

And they end the scene. But it was that conversation over and over and over again. I lose control around you. We can't do this. And it just.

[Reggie]

Cute Teddy swims lose.

[Mikayla]

And I wasn't upset for them. Like, you know, push.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah. What about that chair scene, man?

[Kennedy]

Sorry.

[Reggie]

The shadows. Sorry. Have you seen the people? I'm sorry. You've seen everyone try and recreate it. I was a little confused.

[Kennedy]

I was a little confused when I read it. I was like, hold on, let me just go back.

[Reggie]

And then everyone's like, let me show you how what happen happened. The bravery that you. The bravery.

[Kennedy]

No, I literally went back and was like, hold on. What's going on?

[Mikayla]

What. Let me reread that.

[Kennedy]

And I'm.

[Mikayla]

I'm not. I. I love that, how much they love each other. It's just a conversation that I was just like, okay, I get it.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, you.

[Mikayla]

You can't lose control. You don't want to hurt her. It's just that, that conversation. Yeah, I'll hurt you.

[Kennedy]

I'll hurt you.

[Mikayla]

I lose control. And I was like, I get it, I get it. But besides that, I love the tension. I loved the professor at first. I was like, I don't know how I feel about it, but I feel like it. It spruced it up a little bit and made it a little. And I Will get into this later.

[Kennedy]

Well, this kind of leads into the next topic that we're going. We want to talk about. So it leads. It also has to do with the professor thing. When. Because we want to talk about Halden next, right?

[Mikayla]

Chat.

[Kennedy]

Halden enters the chat. But when they are at Takara's place, right? They go to Takara's place and Zaden has this conversation with Halden.

[Mikayla]

He's like, am I here as a professor? Am I here as a duke? Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And then he like scoops Violet up.

[Mikayla]

I just thought that was hilarious. Really cute too.

[Kennedy]

Just that the mind that he has. He has just this. Anyways, I just loved that. But Holden enters the chat.

[Mikayla]

Holden enters the chat. Jealous. Zaden.

[Kennedy]

I'm here for.

[Mikayla]

That was good too. Yeah. But the thing is, is like, I wanted it a little bit more. Like, I kind of wish that, like, Violet would have entertained the thought of them going out to dinner.

[Kennedy]

Have closure.

[Mikayla]

Have closure. I understand why it didn't happen because, like, as I was reading, I was like, holden is actually the douchiest person I've ever met in my entire life.

[Reggie]

Everyone knows a Halden.

[Mikayla]

Everyone. Like. And so I was like, I'm glad this is not getting entertain. Entertained because I'm like, within the first conversation, I was like, I'm. I'm done with this character. I don't even want. Because I'm like, I wanted it to be someone that was actually like, had a chance. Had a chance. Or like, was actually like, well.

[Reggie]

And she said it was just a pretty face.

[Mikayla]

Yes. Basically, ARC is so like, if it was not Auric, but Halden that had the same personality and wasn't like that douchebag. I wish, Yeah, I wish that could have been a thing where he's like, I just want to like, talk about it. And then Violet be like, okay, we'll just talk about it because Zaden her aren't technically dating anymore. And then it just close at that. Yeah. And just to see him still kind of like get upset about it. I knew it wasn't going to happen. Especially after literally the first few chapters. I was like, there's no way.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

There's no way there's going to be a love triangle. There's no way there's going to be anything. I just wanted to see a little bit more of jealous Aiden because it helped happen like that. And that was it. And it was so good. It was really good. And I wish there was just a little bit more.

[Reggie]

See, I want to go like, read that all over again.

[Mikayla]

Where he likes.

[Reggie]

I was kicking my feet.

[Kennedy]

Breaks the wall.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

So good.

[Kennedy]

He's like, sorry. Yeah. And then. Okay, this is still on the topic of Halden, but the visual of him.

[Mikayla]

Being buried in the basket.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

He. Wait. I had this thought he was giving Prince Charming vibes from Shrek. Oh, my gosh.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, he was. And that makes me, like, I was giggling so much. I was just envisioning.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Cherry chefs want to taste.

[Reggie]

Oh, my gosh. Yes. We gotta make a tick tock of that asap.

[Mikayla]

That was all I could envision with. And that, like, that's where I, like, also knew. I was like, this is. This is never. There's never anything for him to be jealous of because, I mean, he looks ridiculous.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And I was like, dang.

[Reggie]

And even, like, all the friends, they're like, oh, you didn't think you would tell us that you were dating a prince? Like, she's like, you know, he's just a pretty face.

[Mikayla]

Oh, I can't.

[Reggie]

Also, he's twins with Auric. Aren't they twins?

[Kennedy]

No, he's older. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Well, because I was, like, trying to figure out the age gap.

[Mikayla]

They look really similar, though, but they.

[Reggie]

The age gap thing, because he. That's what I couldn't. Was trying. Was a little fuzzy on.

[Kennedy]

I don't think they're twins because she.

[Reggie]

Was dating him when she was 18.

[Mikayla]

And he was older.

[Reggie]

I guess the age gap is what I was confused by.

[Mikayla]

Maybe she was 17.

[Kennedy]

I didn't catch any ages.

[Mikayla]

I know, I know. I just know that there was like. Because he's. He's in.

[Kennedy]

He's. He's. He's in line to be the key.

[Reggie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was just trying to, like, figure that out.

[Mikayla]

I know they have the same eyes and that's it. Same eyes.

[Reggie]

I need some fan Art of.

[Mikayla]

Arc. Okay. So after the hall all. All Holden enters his chat. You know, we get jealous. Zaden. It's when we get into the Isles chapters.

[Reggie]

Taking a little journey.

[Mikayla]

Taking a journey, which I will say I.

[Reggie]

There were things that got really repetitive about the Isles, but there's also some very memorable things that I will never forget in these books, which we can talk about in a second. But I also thought it was kind of cool that each. Each aisle, province, whatever you want to call it, had a different vibe. What's the word I'm looking for?

[Mikayla]

Scenery.

[Reggie]

Like, they were all very.

[Kennedy]

Because they were each, like, they had a different culture.

[Reggie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It was like, kind of like, oh, we're just taking. I don't know. I liked that it didn't feel like it was the same place.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Place.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I had on here.

[Kennedy]

But we did skip one thing I want to talk about really fast.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Everybody who still hates Dane. I'm not really sure why I feel like he's redeemed himself. Like he's, he's, he's chilling now in my mind because without those, without the notebook, the notebook of her dad, Dane had to go get the notebook for her. You know, I was a little bit worried. Is he going to betray her? Betrayed her, but he gets the notebook. Also with the notebook, I thought that the password was going to be like a way bigger deal.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I thought it was going to be kind of like an Acotar riddle type thing.

[Reggie]

I did see her fable.

[Mikayla]

What was the.

[Kennedy]

It's her mom's dragon's name.

[Mikayla]

Ah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But anyways, Dane gets the journal for her and redeems himself because without that journal, the aisle, they wouldn't be traveling to that.

[Mikayla]

Yes. Dan was already redeemed in my.

[Kennedy]

But you know how many people still hated Dane on Tick Tock? I'm like, why is he so bad?

[Mikayla]

I mean he was. I just really think he was just unaware.

[Kennedy]

He's misunderstood. Yeah.

[Reggie]

I saw a thing of Rebecca recently talking about because like Dane's her. One of her favorite characters. She loves him.

[Mikayla]

She said from the first book and.

[Reggie]

She was saying that she's like, think about it. Like he didn't know his dad was bad at all. He trusted his. His parent. She's like, if you're. You have a parent that you love and you trust, you're gonna. You know what I mean? It's like he just was doing what he thought he was supposed to do. And so I mean, maybe there's more to it. It's a little more shady. Whatever. But like she was also saying she's like, he's like 19 or however old he is, like 20 years old. Like give him a break. And yeah, he had redeemed himself for me in Iron Flame. But Onyx Storm, I almost wanted more of him.

[Kennedy]

He was kind of in the background a lot. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But there were some like, good moments.

[Kennedy]

But he was on the quest squad.

[Mikayla]

He was on the quest squad and.

[Kennedy]

Riddick wants a patch for that.

[Reggie]

And there was a good. What was. Well, I wish I would have saved the. The quote where everyone's like, who is it that says this is who you're taking? Like you're taking your.

[Kennedy]

Your ex Wasn't it Mira?

[Reggie]

I think it is. Mirror. She's like, you're taking your ex prince boyfriend, your professor slash duke duke slash kind of ex boyfriend. Anyways, I just thought that was really funny. Yeah, there were some funny moments in the aisles. I don't know what you guys want to touch on first, but, I mean.

[Kennedy]

I'm trying to remember the order of the aisles that they go in. The first one they go to is the book place. No, it's the one where it's the three of them are fighting. It's Dane, Violet, and Zaden. Isn't that the first one they go to?

[Mikayla]

No.

[Reggie]

1 where the girl gets the claw through her spine.

[Kennedy]

That's not the first one.

[Mikayla]

No, the book one is the first one.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Where they go to the bookseller shop.

[Kennedy]

Mm.

[Reggie]

And we get the lady because right after that, she thinks that Dane.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I love that.

[Kennedy]

That Zayden is Dane.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. It's like your father guessed this, that Dane was going to be the one. And they're like, oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

And Zayden is just like, this happy go, lucky dude. And he's just chatting up. Chatting it up with Dane. And everyone's like, are you okay?

[Mikayla]

This is the first time where the.

[Kennedy]

There was no magic. Yep, you're right.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it was so funny how confused everyone was about Zayden's, like, personality switch.

[Kennedy]

But you want to know what's so fun to me in that situation is as a reader, I wasn't confused because that's how he treats Violet.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But everybody else was like, who is this little softy guy?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Like, there's even that moment where he's, like, bathing her. I know. That's, like, later in the book. And she's, like, saying how you're jumping so far ahead. I didn't know how far that was. I'm just saying, like, just to go along the lines of, yeah, he's a softer saying. Like, no. Yeah, I'm seeing. Like, this doesn't surprise me, but if anyone else saw, like, how sweet he's being with me.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

They would have no idea. So, like, I liked that. Yeah. His more, like, happy sweet side. Funny side got to be shown because, yeah, he. Literally everyone's intimidated by him all the time.

[Kennedy]

And also when they're riding on the horses and Riddick goes, I'm so glad I got on this horse. Can I just get a novella from his perspective? Just him.

[Reggie]

Him and his dragon.

[Kennedy]

Just him. Oh, you know, their conversations are just talk.

[Reggie]

So good.

[Mikayla]

Oh, I just love Them. It reminds me of Toothless from How to train your Dragons. Like, their relationship. So. Sorry, I didn't mean to.

[Reggie]

Well, I just can't remember the order of the titles.

[Mikayla]

Page 450, the one you're talking about.

[Kennedy]

The washing the hair thing. Yeah, okay, we'll get to that. We'll get to that. So, yeah, they go to the book one first and she passes the quiz.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I'm like, you know, I thought her mom was. Was ruthless, but I also think her.

[Mikayla]

Dad is so ruthless.

[Reggie]

100%.

[Kennedy]

They just expect a lot of their children.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, a lot. A lot. I think actually, though, you kind of have to be harsh in that world for sure. Because if not, you're setting your children up for death, so. Because at first I was like, why are they so hard on them? But I feel like I understand why they had to be, because I feel like they loved their children so much that they had to be harsh.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Because, I mean, they wouldn't be where they are if they weren't as harsh as they were. I mean, they loved their kids and that's why they were that harsh.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Which we learned about Violet's mom in the last book.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah. And then after that, they go to the weird leopard. Oh, wait, do they only go to three?

[Kennedy]

The weird leopard one is the book one. Because, remember, they drop Tokaris, takes Halden.

[Mikayla]

Oh, you're right. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

That's the same isle. Yes. With the panthers.

[Mikayla]

Okay. And then they go back and drop off Halden.

[Kennedy]

Or does Dakar take him?

[Mikayla]

No, they go back and they bring Arc.

[Kennedy]

Yes, that's right. Yes. He said, we're going to ditch this bag, the basket, sack of potatoes, and we're going to bring back the better brother. The better brother. Which, honestly, I was so here for Arc getting stabbed in the hand. And just. Honestly, I was like, can we just kill him?

[Reggie]

We.

[Kennedy]

Let's just kill him, Holden.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I was like, wait, what about Halden? Not my baby Orek.

[Kennedy]

And then Darna wanting to eat the panthers. It just.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Literally, the panther in the mouth. I'm drooling.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Okay. And then after that, it was Mom, Right?

[Reggie]

Mommy.

[Mikayla]

Satan's mom.

[Kennedy]

I can't remember the order of the aisles.

[Reggie]

I know. They. They all are a blur to me. I feel like I read that forever ago. I know it wasn't forever ago, but I think.

[Kennedy]

Or was it the one. The three fights. Oh, the one where they go and I can't remember the order.

[Mikayla]

I think the three.

[Kennedy]

There wasn't really anything Else that happened on that aisle. So we can just kind of. They got in a fight with three people, and then we can continue on.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I don't remember if that one's first.

[Kennedy]

It's not first, because they don't.

[Mikayla]

I mean, second.

[Kennedy]

There wasn't really anything other than that that was significant about it, though.

[Mikayla]

No, no.

[Kennedy]

That's where they get their 4, 000. That's where they get their army is that aisle when they fight the three people and then they agree to give them that.

[Mikayla]

I think that's third.

[Kennedy]

Okay, so we're doing his mom's one next.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Wait. Yeah, the fighting one is important because that's where they get their soldiers and her hair.

[Reggie]

Yep. Yes.

[Kennedy]

Okay, so let's do his mom. Their mom's first. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I was just depressed that entire time.

[Kennedy]

But honestly, relatable. Never mind. I'm not gonna say that. Relatable. I had a parent that got a new family as well.

[Mikayla]

So I think the saddest part about it all was I saw a TikTok about this was that Zaden was actually going to eat the cake.

[Kennedy]

Mm.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Like, I think he just wanted to have a parent that felt like they cared. And then it being poisoned.

[Reggie]

The funniest part is next to the chef, like, storming into the kitchen.

[Mikayla]

Also, who was it that ate the kitch? Garrick was like, oh, half of it's gone.

[Kennedy]

Okay. But also, my heart was racing during that sequence because not only did I think Garrick was gonna die, but then the chapter ends, and it's like, ridic has been stabbed. And I was like, oh, no, no, no. It's literally just his jacket.

[Reggie]

The jacket. And he goes, I don't like to sew.

[Mikayla]

He's like, I punch.

[Kennedy]

Hate to punch.

[Reggie]

So.

[Mikayla]

No, it's like the aisles, they were great. I just really wish I would have had different perspectives on them because they would have been so funny. Because, like, there are so many different, like, comedic relief moments that. Because, like, I was mourning for Xaden, but Riddick. Riddick.

[Reggie]

I love that so much.

[Kennedy]

But this. Okay, I do have to say I really love the scheming on the island. The fact that Violet set in motion this plan to poison these people and Darna was stationed outside his. Aiden's brother's rooms. I feel like that aisle really showed genuinely how intelligent Violet is.

[Mikayla]

Oh, for sure. No, she. She really is. She's got that scribe in her.

[Kennedy]

She's got scribe. But then also sad for Xaden because, like, mommy.

[Reggie]

Yeah, Also, I know his mom's just gonna be the most beautiful woman.

[Mikayla]

Sure.

[Reggie]

Can't wait to see who plays her. Seriously. But, yeah, that was sad.

[Kennedy]

But honestly, the crazy thing is, is, like, for some reason, when I read that it was his mom, I really wasn't that shocked when it was like, Zayden's. When we find out his mom's right there, I just was kind of like, okay.

[Mikayla]

I feel like. Yeah. I also wasn't very.

[Kennedy]

Because.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Mikayla]

I feel. I don't know. I feel like she set it up in a way where I was like, they have to have known someone that they're going to see on these islands, you know?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Okay. And then after that was the fighting one and her hair.

[Kennedy]

Yes. Which we don't really come to find out until later why she really does have silver hair. We just know that the. What are they called? Acolytes. I don't think that's the right word.

[Mikayla]

Priestess.

[Kennedy]

Yes. Yeah. Priestesses. Is it Dune or done.

[Mikayla]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I think it's Dune.

[Reggie]

Dune.

[Kennedy]

So they're priestesses of Dune.

[Reggie]

War.

[Kennedy]

And is Dune the God of war? The goddess of war. Thank you. Because I couldn't keep them straight.

[Reggie]

All right, here we go.

[Mikayla]

I don't. So thank you.

[Reggie]

It's not my list that I made. It's a list someone else made. Okay, so we have. Malik is the God of death.

[Mikayla]

Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

Dune, goddess of war and strength. Xeno, God of luck. Amari, queen of the gods.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Reggie]

Loyal goddess of love. And he, Dion, God of wisdom.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Yes. Okay.

[Kennedy]

So she's the goddess of war. Okay, that means. Yeah, I mean, we find out. Yeah. The silver hair. We also find out that I legit.

[Mikayla]

Thought we weren't gonna get any answers about her hair.

[Kennedy]

Me too.

[Mikayla]

And I was going to be pissed off.

[Kennedy]

Is it also there where she realizes that the mark on their. On the priestess's foreheads match Theophany's? I think it's there. She also realizes that.

[Mikayla]

Oh, okay.

[Kennedy]

Because they have the same, like, marking on their forehead.

[Mikayla]

Wait two seconds.

[Reggie]

We don't have to put this in the episode, but Because I think this is when they're on the isles, this funny moment when they're in. Is it. Is Deverelli one of the isles, or am I making that up? When he goes and gets her the nightgown.

[Kennedy]

Oh, it's.

[Reggie]

Someone posted this.

[Kennedy]

It's the book one.

[Reggie]

Because he goes back into the shop, but Zaden couldn't speak the language, so Dane was. Dane had to Go translate to get the sexy nightgown for Zaden to give to Violet. I didn't catch that yet. Someone posted that as a TikTok, and I was like, wait, what? It literally said.

[Mikayla]

Just went in there and grabbed it.

[Reggie]

And was like, you're laying it on thick, Ryerson. But I still smile when I take the reins. I'm going to ask. Ask about our merchant. Don't leave without me. He glances back at Dane. Let's go. Crowfish offering me another precious grin, he disappears into the store, followed quickly by Dane.

[Mikayla]

I love that. I love that. I don't know. I feel like between the. I mean, that is kind of awkward, but I feel like between them, it's.

[Kennedy]

It's whatever.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, it's whatevs.

[Kennedy]

I mean, let's face it, every time love, they bang. Everybody knows it because there's lightning. So, you know.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

No shame. They don't got no shame.

[Reggie]

No shame.

[Kennedy]

No shame.

[Reggie]

I appreciate it.

[Mikayla]

Okay. And the last and final one. No, not the last one. The one where they receive the gifts.

[Kennedy]

The. What's the.

[Reggie]

What's the God of luck to. Oh, Zinn.

[Kennedy]

All. Honestly, I kind of loved it in the sense of. I don't know. It just felt unique.

[Mikayla]

The fact that they just drove. I really liked it, but I. My jaw was on the ground.

[Kennedy]

Oh, when. When he dies.

[Mikayla]

Is that his name? Trigger Traeger. Yeah. I was so sad. Especially for Cat. Yes, I was.

[Kennedy]

She finally moves on. She's find this man that she's infatuated with.

[Mikayla]

And let's not forget, he has been infatuated with her for so long.

[Kennedy]

So long. They didn't have enough time.

[Reggie]

But here.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I was so sad. But I kept questioning. I'm like, when is she gonna kill someone? Because nobody had died.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I was like, someone's gonna die. Someone's gonna die. Didn't think it was going to be him, but I. It also didn't click to me until literally the last sentence of the chapter, because he draws the arrow.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And then all of a sudden, he's Violet and Riddick catch him and he's just dead.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. And then I also felt so sad for Violet, literally having to say, thank you.

[Kennedy]

Savage.

[Mikayla]

No, I really did like it because I feel like it brought a different dynamic to the stories. And I think that's how she made it different, because I feel like all the other ones were just talking and negotiating. It was quick and it was. Yeah, it was quick. And then after that, they go to this random island to Burn him. To burn him. And then who shows up? The Irids. What's up?

[Kennedy]

What's up, Cheese? Which I'm not saying it was a letdown, but I was just building that up to be such a bigger thing in my head, and it just was kind of like I was pissed off. Boop. Here they are. And they hate her. They hate Aunt Darna.

[Mikayla]

I was. Yeah. My perfect, sweet angel baby. And I'm so angry. I'm not a fan of them at all, actually.

[Reggie]

Yeah, they, like, just, like, no big deal. They're like, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Just like, you disappoint me. Just absolutely horrible to. Poor Andarna. Sends Andarna into a spiral. It was honestly heartbreaking.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. And then them having to, like, go back and say, like, we failed.

[Kennedy]

And Zayden feeling like it was his fault.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because he had the red irises. That whole. It just was very anticlimactic. And also, I just was pissed off.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Well, I. I just hated the security complex that they had. I'm like, you think you're all that in a basket of biscuits when you get. Yeah. I don't know. I just. I hated the fact because I think it's more, in my opinion, honorable to care about more than just yourself.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Selfish little. For sure. Sorry. You know, because they were like, why did you bond like humans are? I'm like, no.

[Reggie]

Also, she was a child.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Well.

[Kennedy]

And then they were blaming Violet.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

They were like, you bonded with an infant dragon. You took her into war. You did this. Oh.

[Mikayla]

And then they're like, you're being violent.

[Kennedy]

I'm like, well, even Andarna makes a comment where it's, like, not calling them privileged, but she basically says, you guys. I don't know if she uses that exact word. I think she does, but she basically is like, you guys aren't in. Of course you're saying this because you're not in the circumstances where you need to fight and you need to have violence.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

You know, she is wise beyond her years.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. No, I think she does say, like, she says, you're privileged to not know.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

What it's like. Yeah. Anyways, they just actually kind of pissed me off.

[Kennedy]

They redeemed themselves later, though.

[Mikayla]

Not really. In my opinion, kind of a little.

[Kennedy]

Bit like a baby amount.

[Mikayla]

Stop taking notes after that. Well, I have two more things after that, but.

[Kennedy]

So then they go back. They're. They're going back to Basgayeth.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And they just go back to class.

[Reggie]

Well, yeah. Well, no. Well, Violet is unwell.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yes.

[Reggie]

This is where we. At the bathtub.

[Kennedy]

Oh, okay. Take the reins.

[Mikayla]

What do you mean?

[Kennedy]

So.

[Reggie]

And Arnalise.

[Mikayla]

No, she's not gone. We're not.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah. Not yet.

[Reggie]

Well, what part are we at?

[Kennedy]

Because they come back and raise the boards, and then Endearna leaves.

[Reggie]

They're just back at school. Okay. Sorry.

[Mikayla]

I was.

[Reggie]

I got ahead of myself because I was. Yeah. I was trying to find a quote, and then I got in the wrong chapter.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. So they. The Irid situation happens.

[Mikayla]

They fail.

[Kennedy]

They go back to Basgayath, and they're just back at class. And Zaden's broody. This is when he's really broody. Violet's thinking that he's given up. She's so sad.

[Mikayla]

And then he has. He leaves.

[Kennedy]

Yes. He leaves.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And then she's trying to.

[Mikayla]

Still kind of pissed off that they made runes such a big deal.

[Kennedy]

And then there was, like, nothing.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. She's trying. She's not very good at runes. They're just basically, you know, being kids at college. Yeah. Going to a war college. And then I feel like the next big thing that happens is them going to Arisha.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Mm.

[Kennedy]

They go to Orisha because it's their cycle to learn about runes.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because they go through cycles, and all of them are together.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And squad. The whole squad. And we find out. Brennan tells her that Zaden hasn't given up. He's trying all these. He's been sitting in that with the hatchling eggs and all of these different things.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And he's not giving up.

[Mikayla]

I think it's also really sweet that.

[Kennedy]

Zaden told Brennan and Brendan's been trying to mend him.

[Mikayla]

Wait, we forgot one thing. One thing. We forgot one thing. It's when. Why I always get Garrick and Bodhi. He has to have a talk with Violet and alone in the woods.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Oh, you're talking about Riddick.

[Reggie]

With Riddick.

[Kennedy]

Riddick. Riddick finds out he's Venice.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

Because he finds out from the Irids.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yes, correct.

[Reggie]

And the. The tree.

[Kennedy]

The whole.

[Mikayla]

It would have been a lot bigger.

[Reggie]

Yeah. That was funny. That was funny. I. That whole scene was so sad to me, because. Well, first of all, you see Riddick as this, you know, just the funny guy, the comedic girly. And he just gets so serious, and you just know he just cares about Violet so much.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And he asks her some really big questions, and I really liked that because I think a lot of what he said is what Violet needed to hear. And it kind of Just solidified.

[Mikayla]

I think he was the voice of reason, for sure.

[Reggie]

Oh, I want to find the chapter, though. That's how.

[Mikayla]

And I. Yeah. Anyways, I just thought it was really. It was, I think, a really tender moment. And I also really appreciated that he backed up everyone else. And he was like, you need to tell them yes.

[Reggie]

Yep. So he's like, where's the line? At what point is he too far gone for you to defend him?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

He.

[Reggie]

Yeah, he makes her answer the. Like, he makes her answer.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Cuz he's like, what if he hurts the people you love?

[Kennedy]

What if he hurts Taran and Darna?

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. No, I think. Yeah. My baby boy. I just love him.

[Kennedy]

He's just amazing.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I think he really carried the book for me.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure. Part of me wonders if Rebecca saw how much people loved Riddick.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

With the small amount of time he got. And if she wanted to give him more because people love him.

[Reggie]

I love that she had that moment with Riddick.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Over. The queen is dead.

[Mikayla]

Super important, right? She's just dead. And then cats. Uncle becomes the king. Or not uncle.

[Kennedy]

Dad, it's her uncle.

[Mikayla]

It's her uncle becomes the.

[Reggie]

So maybe the next important thing is Violet telling her friends that Zaden is.

[Mikayla]

Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

Because Riddick tells Zaden, he makes the deal with Violet that he will do something if Xaden hurts her. That's the line. But then he makes a deal with Zaden saying, I won't tell anybody, but I have to tell.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Our OG Squad.

[Mikayla]

The squad.

[Reggie]

Squad.

[Kennedy]

Squad.

[Reggie]

What a loyal group of friends. You know, I just. I just love a good friendship in books. It just makes my heart swell.

[Mikayla]

Oh, also, it was very interesting we forgot to mention this when they were at the isles. How she was able to wield during one of the fight scenes.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yes, that's right. It was the one when they got all their army.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. That's very interesting.

[Kennedy]

Well, she was able to talk to her dragons the entire time.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Didn't get that answered.

[Mikayla]

But we didn't get it answered.

[Kennedy]

Maybe we'll get it answered later. Hopefully another book.

[Mikayla]

Just another one we have to wait two years for.

[Kennedy]

Okay, so she tells her friends, Zaden peaces out, and. Yeah, he peaces out. And then they go to Arisha.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And from there.

[Mikayla]

I feel like so much happens.

[Kennedy]

So much happens in the last. How many pages of this book? Because we're at.

[Reggie]

What? We're at like, 400. So we got a little. This is like the last 120 pages.

[Kennedy]

Oh, man.

[Reggie]

So don't.

[Mikayla]

Oh, we get the scene where they finally.

[Reggie]

Chapter 49.

[Kennedy]

Oh, he comes.

[Reggie]

Our mouths collide as we ignite.

[Kennedy]

So, yeah, that 73.

[Mikayla]

Actually, that chair scene.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I believe so. 49. I think it's 49, because I know that the ones I've seen on TikTok where people are trying to recreate the chair situation, I swear, they say it's chapter 49.

[Mikayla]

Oh, it is. 49.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So they figure out a way. So, you know, 400 pages.

[Mikayla]

He has. He has. He has.

[Kennedy]

He has the iconic line, grab hold love.

[Reggie]

And then, of course, what happens next? They're under attack.

[Kennedy]

Oh, but because wait.

[Reggie]

But wait.

[Kennedy]

They fall asleep together. We find out she's a dream builder. Dreamwalker.

[Reggie]

Oh, was that in the next one?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it's in chapter 50.

[Reggie]

Oh, yes, yes.

[Kennedy]

We find out she's a dreamwalker.

[Mikayla]

I don't think anyone guessed that.

[Kennedy]

I didn't see anyone theorize that. But you know what? Now that I know that people out.

[Reggie]

There that were apparently based off I call BS whatchamacallit thing I saw today. But what do you guys. How do you guys feel about her second signet?

[Kennedy]

I mean, Rebecca came out and said she. She did say. When you find out what it is, you're not going to think it's impressive, but it really is.

[Mikayla]

A lot of people are saying that she can kill people in their sleep.

[Kennedy]

Also, it'd be a great. It'd be a great way to communicate with people from long distances.

[Reggie]

Well, also, think about the next book.

[Kennedy]

Oh, oh.

[Reggie]

Think about how she's gonna use that.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah. I mean, when I first find out, it's hard because, you know, you hear all these theories about these really crazy signets, and it's hard not to be let down that that's what it was. But I do think it's gonna be very useful and really cool.

[Reggie]

I've also been seeing people say that maybe it's not specifically dreamwalking, it's more mind walking, and that she'll be able to. It's not just a sleep thing, because I would be terrified to go to bed at night.

[Kennedy]

Here's the other weird thing is I. I do kind of like that idea because obviously there's multiple times where she doesn't say things out loud. She says it in her mind, and then Zaden responds to her. And I know that could be tied to his In Tiznik signet, but to me, that's not reading intentions. So what if she can somehow, like, project things in People's minds. Do you know what I'm trying to say here?

[Reggie]

Yeah. I feel like it's. The more that I think about it, the more dangerous. But I like that we don't know.

[Kennedy]

A lot about it.

[Reggie]

At the same time, I couldn't believe that we were this far into the book that we finally learn it. And I can see why Rebecca would say that, oh, you might be like, underwhelmed when you learn of her signet, but I think it's going to be really cool to see how she uses it, especially in the next book.

[Mikayla]

So I think it also, not that I'm not saying I don't want this, but I think it could make her op, like, overpowered. Like, if she can just get into anyone's.

[Kennedy]

Like, she's too powerful like that.

[Mikayla]

I. Yeah, I'm trying to set my expectation. Expectations low because I also don't want her to be, like. Not saying I don't want her to be this powerful person, but I think she has found a lot of power in her weaknesses. And so I don't want her to just be like this lightning wielder that can just enter into people's brains and then just kill them. Yeah. You know, like. Yeah, I don't want that.

[Reggie]

Well, like, their wards would have to be down. I don't know. I think it will be interesting to see how this progresses.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I don't see necessarily her like, going into people's dreams and being able to kill them. I think it will be a really great way to communicate in the next books.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. It was curious why it was only Zaden and Mira's dreams, though.

[Kennedy]

Marin, Marin, Marin.

[Reggie]

I think she'll. It's one of those things she's just going to have to, like, learn.

[Mikayla]

But dreamwalker, there you have it. She's a dream walker.

[Kennedy]

That's her second signet.

[Mikayla]

What's after that?

[Kennedy]

They get attacked.

[Mikayla]

Oh, yeah, they're getting attacked.

[Kennedy]

And then the Irids come and bring up the wards and Arisha and they take away Andarna.

[Reggie]

Yep.

[Kennedy]

And internal leaves.

[Mikayla]

That actually sucks so bad. I don't understand it. I still don't understand it.

[Kennedy]

Understand what? Why she left. Yeah, to be with her family.

[Mikayla]

I guess.

[Reggie]

I just. Yeah. She's never known who her family is, so I feel like.

[Mikayla]

But then.

[Reggie]

And I know it's like you got your loyalty or rider, but I kind of felt like if she wouldn't have gone with them, things probably wouldn't have played out how they did in the end. I don't Know, but she came back. Yeah, she did. She kind of. I know it was longer than two seconds that she was gone, but it was kind of like it came back. And I was like, oh, okay.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I just found it so interesting that the Irids can just create their own bond and sever their own bond at any time.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But I mean, when it came down to it, I don't think it was in Darna that actually severed the bond. I think it was the other dude.

[Reggie]

Well, Violet says, have to.

[Mikayla]

She has to do it. I don't think the other aids could sever the bond.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I, I. When I read it, it kind of sounded like he did it for her.

[Reggie]

So basically, the Leothan is saying that she's. Because of her age, he's making her feel very, like, small. And, I mean, we know Aunt Darna is still young, but she basically, he says, what would you have her do? And he asks Violet, and she says, I developed my cigna out of sheer need for her. And so she says, I love you, and I want you to feel complete. I want you to be safe and thriving. I want you to live, even if it's not with me. So then he says, admirable. I understand. Your choice. And then. Oh, yeah, right here it says, yearning floods the bond so deep aches within my own chest and the pain of it sucks the breath from my lungs I force my head to nod Feeling everything she can't say she starts to say, I don't know how and then it's gone.

[Mikayla]

Maybe they did.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

So I kind of feel like, in a way, Violet gave permission.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure. Yeah.

[Reggie]

And so therefore still was sad. Yeah. So that's when she goes back and she just keeps telling herself she's gone, she's gone, she's gone. And she is in a very sad state. And we get that he's watched her hair. Brennan and Mira, the quote.

[Kennedy]

But. Yeah, what's the quote?

[Mikayla]

May I wash your hair?

[Kennedy]

Wow.

[Mikayla]

I wrote that down.

[Kennedy]

Almost sucks. I'm such a sucker.

[Reggie]

Yeah. But then they walk out, and then they catch this crazy conversation going on between Mira and Brennan, basically alluding to the fact that Violet has Venon. She's like, basically.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I don't really get that.

[Kennedy]

Okay, so the grandma said their grandma Asher takes Violet to basically become a priestess of Dune. Dun, dun, dun. Dune, Dune. But it never actually, like, goes through.

[Reggie]

Well, they're trying to heal her chronic illness.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yes.

[Kennedy]

But then the. The high High priestess basically says she still has a Choice. And there's some, like, weird wording where it's like, her heartbeats or basically. Basically alluding to the fact that. Are you on that page? There's a certain spot of dialogue where it's alluding to the fact that it's like Zaden. That's the venom, not her. Hold on, let me find it. What chapter are you on?

[Mikayla]

Oh, yeah, because you are.

[Kennedy]

Gets upset that Mira gets upset. And then Zaden goes, they're not talking about her, they're talking about me. And that's how Mira finds out that Zaden is better.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So.

[Mikayla]

So they were seeing that in her future.

[Kennedy]

Yes, but it's.

[Reggie]

You will believe me, because it happened. That's why she refused to speak to either of them. The priestess started the process, then told mom and dad that they only accepted children whose futures are certain. And Violet still had paths to choose from and said. And so the priestess had told Violet when they went to that place. Tell me, did you choose this path yourself? So she's starting to connect the dots that. Well, not really connect the dots.

[Kennedy]

Well, this is what the priestess says to her parents. She said, the heart that beat for you or within you would do the wrong thing for the right reason. And then that's when they're like, oh, they're talking about Zaden, not you. So. And that's how Mira finds out that Zaden is venom.

[Reggie]

Yes. And I feel like we.

[Mikayla]

That's why she has only partly silver hair. Yes.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And I feel like there's more we could talk about for, like, theories wise. But I say we. We move along.

[Kennedy]

I agree.

[Mikayla]

I only have one theory, and I'll save it for the very end, I think.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, let's talk about theories at the very, very end for the next book.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So, I mean, yeah, Mira finds out and she leaves. She leaves. But Zayden says to Violet, mind to mind, she has no intentions of telling anybody. And she sticks true to that.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. But then she gets herself into a load of crap.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

It's captured by Theophany.

[Mikayla]

Theo.

[Kennedy]

Theo.

[Reggie]

That's what. Yeah, Theo. Or I was calling her like T.

[Kennedy]

That's a good one. Yeah. T. T. She gets picked.

[Mikayla]

Well, doesn't she? When she sends a letter to Violet, doesn't she only sign with it? Yes. Yes.

[Reggie]

Ye. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So, yeah, T. You find out T has been captured, all shiz breaks loose. And how many pages is this?

[Reggie]

Like 460.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. What happened? Seriously, in like, 50 pages. So much happens. So then they devised this plan to save Mira and also the diver. Diverelli. Diver.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Something.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

They have to divide and conquer. Basically, they have this conversation with Violet, and, you know, Brennan's like, she knows that you're gonna try and save everyone, so you've got to make a choice. And Violet chooses Mira, but she gets her. Are you going into that? She gets her throat slit. You guys, I was unwell.

[Reggie]

Oh, I was so unwell.

[Mikayla]

I knew she wasn't gonna die.

[Kennedy]

You know what? I don't care. Because the scene where all three of them were together and Brennan's trying to mend her and Violets, that I could not handle the three of them. I could not handle it. I couldn't.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I was unwell.

[Kennedy]

It really was.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I have two. I only have two siblings, so I was, like, feeling.

[Mikayla]

I don't know why. I just. I just knew she wasn't well.

[Reggie]

I didn't think that she would be able to. Because Violet specifically says something like, he can't save her on his own. But then we were. I think we had already known that Sloane.

[Kennedy]

We.

[Mikayla]

They saw her dragon.

[Reggie]

Oh. Because at that point, Arik had already swooped in, and he already knew. Had a little package for her.

[Kennedy]

He kept making weird comments, and I was like, bro, how do you know this? I'm like, you obviously can see something.

[Mikayla]

Literally.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Five or six lines before, like, the. Is like, r can see into the future. I was like, like, arc.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Literally only, like, five or six times before the.

[Kennedy]

Well, no, I knew that he could see something when he told her that you had to go protect the temple. I'm like, how does he know that?

[Mikayla]

Like, why is he telling you to.

[Kennedy]

Go protect the temple?

[Mikayla]

I thought it had to do, like, royalty wise.

[Kennedy]

I was like, this man can see something.

[Mikayla]

I didn't put that together.

[Kennedy]

I was like, arc, you're being weird.

[Reggie]

Do we want to jump to art? I just have another comment about arc, but do we want to finish talking about Mira?

[Mikayla]

Oh, yeah, Probably.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So Sloane shows up. There's a little glance, a little. I don't know. Something, and when I tell you I'm here for it. Between Sloane and Dane.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Because Dane, she's after her.

[Reggie]

Heck, yes. Yes. Heck, yes.

[Kennedy]

Give me that.

[Reggie]

Lovers, please.

[Mikayla]

I don't think she necessarily hates him. Well, I mean, it was his dad's.

[Kennedy]

Fault that his brother died.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

But the way she reacts in one scene, in the very beginning, it looks like her. It says, like, specifically, like, she looks hurt instead of, like, angry, because, like, yeah, Dane specifically said something to her, and, like, she was, like, sad that Dane was saying it. I hope they get together. They better.

[Kennedy]

I'm here for it.

[Reggie]

I love it. But the five of them in this little huddle and everyone else is, like, just standing guard.

[Mikayla]

Like, this is when I get confused because Jack has entered the picture, and he. Then he leave. Where does he go? What happens? And then he's in the box.

[Kennedy]

He's in the box. And the dragon takes him away.

[Mikayla]

Okay. And then T is also there, and she just, like, dips.

[Reggie]

No. That everyone else is, like, fighting him off. I don't know. I just imagined it is like, well, who.

[Mikayla]

Who would be fighting them off? Because they're in this huddle. Who is there? And Zaden's gone, though.

[Reggie]

I thought he was still there.

[Mikayla]

No, he had left.

[Kennedy]

I want to say it's their dragons.

[Mikayla]

Is that their dragon?

[Kennedy]

I think it's their dragons fighting them. Because I do remember there was a line of. Of text where she talks about Taryn flying over in, like, the big shadow. So I think it's their dragons.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

But anyways, Sloan is siphoning from Dane to Brennan.

[Reggie]

Sloan makes a comment saying that Dane is. Has more power than I thought. That was interesting. She makes some comment saying that he's more powerful than she knew he was.

[Kennedy]

Okay. Guess what? Does he have a second signet, too? You get a second sign.

[Reggie]

I bet there's just something more to his.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Signet that maybe we don't know. Or maybe he doesn't know. But I thought that that was interesting.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I. I would really, honestly hate if everyone started getting second.

[Kennedy]

Me too. Me too.

[Reggie]

Because it makes it not like in other books.

[Kennedy]

It's like.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Everyone gets.

[Mikayla]

You get a mate.

[Reggie]

Everybody gets one.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So, yeah. Mira comes to blessed day.

[Kennedy]

She gets.

[Reggie]

Praise the Lord.

[Mikayla]

She is okay.

[Kennedy]

She gets taken.

[Reggie]

Bye. Bye.

[Kennedy]

And then Taryn takes her dragon.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Back. And she's.

[Kennedy]

And Violet's all alone, all lone off. Tea dun, dun, dun, T. T. And then it just was confusing me.

[Mikayla]

Why T was just, like, disappearing and then going to a different location. Like, why did she disappear from that spot? Because Taran gets her. No, Segale gets her.

[Kennedy]

Something scared her off, and we didn't know. We don't know what. Is that right? No, no. That was a different time. That was a different time. Never mind. When she just, like, randomly disappears because Seagal gets her.

[Mikayla]

Oh. Maybe her wyvern picks her up. So T is. I love this nickname we have her. Is, like, draining the land. And Violet is having to, like, run away. And then Sigil comes, and she's like, no, you have to go back with him. And then she likes her. Toss her. And then turns like, I got you. And then they are like. Like, go. Where do they start heading into this, like, valley thing. And then they get trapped by a giant rope or, like, big old net. Net thing. Yeah, they're, like, falling.

[Reggie]

And Taryn. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And Segue's also caught.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Where did this rope come from? Or this?

[Kennedy]

I have no idea. I don't know. From the air magic.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Sometimes.

[Mikayla]

Okay, here's the thing.

[Kennedy]

Sometimes the battle scenes, I get real confused, and I just.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I'm there for the vibes as.

[Kennedy]

Long as I. Yeah, that's true. The bulk of it, I'm. Okay.

[Mikayla]

Think her strengths are battle scenes. Battle scenes. That's okay.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I think her strength lies in training scenes. You know, I think that just when battle scenes come, there's just a lot of elements that.

[Kennedy]

Well, the dragons. And they're flying.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I get a little lost.

[Mikayla]

And then. Okay, then they're, like, in this valley thing. And the. Her wyvern. I don't know where he goes. Strike. Does Violet strike him down? And then it's just T. It's just T. And Taryn is in the rope thing as they're trying to, like, cut him out.

[Kennedy]

And then she pulls out this knife thingamabobber. Oh, that aric.

[Mikayla]

Oh, gave her. Yes. In the package.

[Kennedy]

And a note falls out that says.

[Mikayla]

Strike while it's dark. Yes. In the darkness.

[Kennedy]

And the darkness comes and. Oh, at that point, we all know who the darkness is.

[Mikayla]

Zaden.

[Kennedy]

But it switches POVs to Rhiannon.

[Mikayla]

Oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Rhiannon's the first one.

[Mikayla]

Was she the first one? I thought she was gonna die.

[Reggie]

I feel like there was a lot that really.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I don't understand why. I don't understand why we got her pov.

[Reggie]

Well, I thought before her pov, I thought Violet was.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, me too.

[Reggie]

Had just offed.

[Mikayla]

Or. I thought she was going to die because they were pulling a Divergent.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So she says, you're right. I can't be everywhere.

[Mikayla]

The last one, you know.

[Reggie]

T's eyes widen as I arch my neck against the blade. So I thought she literally was like, I don't want to turn, so I'm just gonna lean into that blade.

[Mikayla]

I guess that's kind of confusing.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So that I literally stood up and I was like, what? Like, did she just really do that? So then it switches to.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, Rhiannon.

[Reggie]

Rhiannon. And I was like, Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Are we even gonna get Violet's point of view again? I was freaking out because I'm like, did she seriously just, like, there's no way she just killed herself.

[Kennedy]

I was shook that we got Rhiannon.

[Reggie]

So I kind of feel like she was the last. I mean, the POV of hers was a little, like, nothing too exciting.

[Mikayla]

Just think it was necessary at all, either.

[Reggie]

I feel like. Like, it was put there to kind of make you panic a little more. So then it didn't go right into, like. You know what I mean?

[Kennedy]

But why wasn't it. I mean, what was the point of her POV at all? She could have done just Imogens. Like, Imogens felt more purposeful to me than Rihanna.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I don't know. I don't even remember.

[Mikayla]

I think it was definitely for the next book.

[Reggie]

Yeah, maybe.

[Mikayla]

I mean, setting it up, but I'm like, if you would have added just images, I would have been like, okay, we're gonna be getting multiple point of views in the next next book.

[Kennedy]

I mean, really, the only thing that happened in Rhiannon's point of view is just kind of showing her leadership. Yeah. Her leadership and them fighting.

[Reggie]

It was kind of crazy. Like, we didn't get much for in the book, but when we got Imogen's chapter, I immediately go, oh, no. Oh, no. Like, I was freaking out.

[Kennedy]

Oh, because the memory thing.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

That didn't even cross my mind.

[Reggie]

I was thinking. I'm like, why are we getting her? Like, because at first, I was like, okay, Re's point of view, whatever. But we got Imogen. And I'm like, I started to panic. I didn't know why. I didn't know what was gonna happen at this point.

[Mikayla]

I was not.

[Reggie]

Okay, so we have Imogen's point of view, essentially. She has this little, like, you know, she loves Garrick. There's a little exchange between. Not, like, anything crazy, but you just know.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

She's head over heels for that man.

[Mikayla]

Because he picks up both of them.

[Reggie]

Yes. And Quinn passes away, which.

[Kennedy]

That was so sad.

[Reggie]

We never had much from Quinn, but I was sobbing.

[Mikayla]

I was really sad.

[Reggie]

That was so heartbreaking. And their little exc. Change. Like, how they became friends. Getting to hear their backstory.

[Kennedy]

Her saying her mom and her sister are waiting for her.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And they know her.

[Mikayla]

No, literally, when. That tells the backstory of them going across the parapet and then her saying. Literally the thing.

[Reggie]

Where?

[Kennedy]

Where is it?

[Reggie]

Oh, I'm Quinn Hollis. I've decided we should be Friends, you do realize we're about to cross the walkway.

[Mikayla]

No, she says, right here. We made it a good one. And then it says, will make it a good one. Yeah. Oh, then it might be a shorter friendship, but we'll make it a good one. Oh, I was crying.

[Reggie]

That was so heartbreaking.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I was unwell.

[Reggie]

So I feel like we kind of got that point of view to kind of see where the Garrick is kinda.

[Kennedy]

He's also very tired.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Poor guy.

[Reggie]

Yeah, he's been hopping around.

[Mikayla]

I honestly. Okay. I thought Rhiannon was going to die because we didn't get very much of her, but she is an important character. Like, I thought she was going to be the one that died. I don't. She didn't kill off, like, any important people.

[Kennedy]

No. But I mean, she did the most egregious offense of all at the very end.

[Mikayla]

I. I don't know if I can talk about it.

[Kennedy]

Are we. Are we getting into the very end now? We are.

[Mikayla]

Right?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Because then it's Zaden's point of view. Right. Or is it violent?

[Reggie]

We got Teddy Hamilton. Nope. We get. We get Violet one more time because she has changed. Yes.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Strike in the dark. So I guess we kind of got ahead of ourselves. This chapter comes after Imogens, and Taryn says, you have been the gift of my life.

[Kennedy]

Yep.

[Mikayla]

No, I. She tells that to him.

[Kennedy]

Yep.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah. She says to Taryn, you've been the gift of my life.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Immediate crocodile tears down my face. Yeah. So, yeah. She defeats T. And then we get saved. Then. Oh, yeah. Because Andarna yells, violet. And then cheers. Nothing.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Before we get to Zayden, so. And Darna comes back.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

But I guess I'm kind of confused because it takes a really long time. I guess we don't know where they rest.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. We don't know where they're actually. Because they found them.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

The Irides found them. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I don't know. I guess I'm just, like, confused about the whole situation. Like, she leaves.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I. Sure.

[Mikayla]

Then she comes, like.

[Kennedy]

I hope we get the answer in the next book.

[Mikayla]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Because we don't really get much of her when she comes back. That's really just like Andarna, because T.

[Kennedy]

Slams into something and it ends up being Andarna.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[Reggie]

Yep. A wall that snarls. And Orna. And then she says, irid Stone doesn't kill Ben. And then Violet.

[Kennedy]

Boom.

[Mikayla]

Kills her.

[Reggie]

I. Elise the bolt Turning in fire. Anyways, then we get Zaden.

[Mikayla]

Zayden.

[Reggie]

Zayden.

[Kennedy]

Here's the thing. I knew he was going full venom at the end.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Like there was no doubt in my mind. Yeah, there's.

[Reggie]

They were not gonna cure. I knew very early into this. But look, they're not curing anytime soon.

[Kennedy]

And, I mean, I knew it would be to save everyone. I. I mean, I didn't understand the depth that he would be able to go to. To literally kill almost every wyvern and all these people for his friends, but.

[Reggie]

He did well, also.

[Mikayla]

What's the brother thing?

[Reggie]

Okay, well, we should.

[Kennedy]

Are we gonna.

[Reggie]

I just want to say something about the whole thing with Sigil.

[Kennedy]

Oh.

[Reggie]

I just think that that just. I don't know, that my heart just was doing a lot of things.

[Kennedy]

What does he say to her? He says something. Am I. My book is right here. Let me grab it.

[Reggie]

Well, she says to him, or he says.

[Kennedy]

He goes. He says, am I?

[Mikayla]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

Oh.

[Kennedy]

He goes, will you forsake me now? What is there left of you to forsake? And then that's when he has Scale and Zaden come up with this plan that we don't know about.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And they're, like, talking about it, but we don't know what they're talking about. Yes. Because she says, he says, there's no other way.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Reggie]

And Pancheck Berwin, which.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, we also have this bomb drop. The Pancheck is the person that's been betraying everybody all along. Guys, I'm. I'm not gonna lie. I can't remember who Panchak is, but I was like, I know he's an important person at best, Gaieth, so. But, dang, that.

[Reggie]

Well, yeah. And Segal says, do not do this to save me. How dare they pull my dragon from the sky, snare and hurt the one who anchors my existence.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I just feel like. I think one thing I really do love about these books is that the human relationships are so important and so strong and, like, I love that so much. But the relationship between rider and dragon is just, like, something that I can't really seem to comprehend in a way, because it's fantasy, but it's like he loves. He loves his people. He loves his people so much. But just that line, the one who anchors my existence, it's just punch to the gut. I just could not breathe well.

[Kennedy]

And it almost felt. I mean, obviously, he was kind of choosing Violet in this situation, but, you know, the end of Iron Flame. He chose Violet over scale. But I feel like in this situation, he was choosing scale over Violet because he was saving scale directly.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And I love that.

[Kennedy]

But we do need to also talk about the brother thing.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

Who do you guys think the brother is?

[Reggie]

It's got to be Bodhi.

[Kennedy]

That's what I thought.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Because Garrick. I'm getting the impression Garrick's going to get the eggs. He's. Because he says to Imogen that he's got a. Like, he's like, I can't walk there, and he's all tired. I'm assuming he's something with X Bodhi, because Zaden says.

[Kennedy]

He'S watched me this entire time. Why would he willingly choose this?

[Reggie]

Yeah. And that's not something Bode wanted. Like, he never wanted to. You know what I mean? Like, to rule.

[Kennedy]

But also, the other reason I think it's Bode is because we find out in Violet's POV that they're married. And then he's. In the. In the note, Zaden says, don't come for me. It's. It's yours now.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

I interpret it as Tyran. Doors. Hearse.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

So if Zaden's gone and Bodhi is still there, it wouldn't. Bodies.

[Reggie]

Bodhi's gone.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I know. That's what I'm saying. That's why I think he's the venom.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Bodhi's the venom.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

The brother.

[Reggie]

Because if he wasn't Venon, he'd be back. He would be back to rule. He would be there. Where else would he be?

[Kennedy]

Zayden would be.

[Reggie]

There's people missing.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So they've had to have taken in some people.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. So I don't know. That's my thing.

[Reggie]

I did a lot of Googling on this and looking on, I don't know, socials, and I feel like most everyone can agree from what I've seen that Bode is the brother. The brother.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So those 12 hours, man, what happened? We had a wedding. We didn't get to see it.

[Mikayla]

But also, how absolutely talk about that pisses me.

[Kennedy]

Oh. If we don't eventually get her memories.

[Reggie]

Back and see that it. Yeah. Something's got it. Or like him telling her what happened, you know, when they finally. Things fall back into place. Because, you know, that. That had to have been so heartbreaking. And also, like, she. That could have been the last time she ever saw him, and she doesn't even remember.

[Kennedy]

But also a part of me feels like he's not. I don't know why I interpreted it this way, but a part of me feels like a part of him still isn't fully vented. Like, he's still himself to a degree.

[Reggie]

Because of the way of he marriage he gives his soul. I was reading something that someone was saying that, like, watch. As cheesy as it is, watch the cure to ven and be love, because. Yeah, I know. I know. But it's just like saying that, like, the venom can't love. They don't actually. They don't know how to do that. But he was able to still, like, give a part of himself to her, so it's. I don't know. I mean, that would be cheesy, and I wouldn't love that.

[Kennedy]

Well, I mean, think about it. So. Well, there's a. Imogen knows.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, well, she did what Violet asked. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Imogen knows what happened.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But in Zaden's chapter, it said that he. There's. There's a. There's a paragraph that says, I love her. It's the emotion he clings to. He can feel the. He feel the power. But if he takes it any further, it will be the last. The last part of his soul will float away, and then he takes his hand off. So I do not think. I don't think he's full, Ben. And yet I do think there's a part of him that is still not fully venom because he was able to withdraw himself.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And then they freaking get married. And we don't have it. We don't freaking have it. I. I finished the book, and I have never felt so empty in my life.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

I was like, this. This is it.

[Reggie]

And the note.

[Mikayla]

I was like, well, that's obviously not gonna work, Zaden. She's gonna come find you in her dream.

[Reggie]

In your dream.

[Kennedy]

Like, and Imogen knows all. If we don't get Imogen's POV in the next book.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I almost would have rather Imogen's point of view after that. Just kind of, like, everything leading up to it, and then it ends.

[Reggie]

Like, with.

[Kennedy]

Oh, like, not getting Violet's point of view at the end.

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

Maybe.

[Reggie]

I kind of like it, though.

[Mikayla]

Well, no, no. Like, we do get Violet's point of view, but I'm saying, like, we still don't know all the answers, but leading up to Imogen doing it. So we're still in the dark, but, like, we still, like, get Imogen, like, going.

[Kennedy]

And. Yes.

[Mikayla]

And then, like, then it's going dark, because then it would almost be like we went Dark. And then it was Violet waking up 12 hours later, and you're like, what just happened? And so, like, there's that gap still. But you're like, okay, well, it happened. What happened? And then Violet's awake in this random place, and then it's been 12 hours. And then Imogen was like. Like, you asked me to do you. Like, this is what you asked of me.

[Kennedy]

But what in the world could have happened for Violet to want her memories?

[Reggie]

Oh, no. I think it's so she can't. They don't.

[Kennedy]

So she can't find him.

[Reggie]

They don't. If she. If someone gets a hold of her and is able to figure out where Zaden is, what she know? Like, I saved something. Let me find it.

[Mikayla]

Well, who would want to get a.

[Kennedy]

Hold of her besides, I mean, Etos? Yeah, but I don't know anybody.

[Mikayla]

I don't think he could touch her anymore because. Do you think she's going back?

[Kennedy]

I mean, at this point, I'm like, it's. You don't go back to school. You don't need the school.

[Mikayla]

No, the only thing she needs to learn is the freaking runes, and she.

[Kennedy]

Needs to learn the cure, which I still believe. I think. Michaela, you said this. I still think that the cure has to do with the runes. I think the runes are gonna. It's gonna help.

[Mikayla]

I think so, too. I also wrote down this note. What if Sloan can siphon it out?

[Reggie]

They haven't tried siphon it out using, like. Like, what.

[Kennedy]

What if Sloan somehow, like, siphon something because, well, this is the earth. The Irid said that once. That's what. Their soul's gone. Their soul is completely gone.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. So that's why.

[Kennedy]

What if she can, like. Yeah. Somehow siphon from the earth back? I don't know.

[Mikayla]

I think we're gonna get a lot more of Sloan because she was too scared in this book. I think Sloan is actually a key part of this next book because I think Sloan is actually going to be the one that cures it all. Because I just don't think we know the depths of her power.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Like, I don't know if Sloan is going to siphon it into a rune or, like. Like, so, like, it just stays somewhere. Because I don't think they can just siphon into the earth because that's exactly what a venom does, is they just, like, suck the power. The power out of the earth. So I think. I don't know. I don't. Or, like, I don't know if Sloan is going to have to, like, siphon a rune? I don't know. I think Sloane is going to play an important part in it.

[Kennedy]

I mean, there's an interesting piece of dialogue that Dane says. He literally tells her, you're not like the Venin.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah. Because she is like, I. I take away.

[Kennedy]

But what's to say she can't put it back in?

[Mikayla]

Yes. Yes. Because. Or take away.

[Kennedy]

Take away the Venin. Yes.

[Mikayla]

Because she was. She was, like, scared to siphon to Mira. And Dane was like, you're not like the venom because she killed Lilith. But I'm like, what if she could actually cure by killing the venom portion of them? I don't know. That's just my. That's. That's the first thing that came to my head. That's like. My only theory is that Sloan is going to play a really important part with her siphoning signet. That's it. That's all I have. Because I think I set myself up with all these series, and I'm really glad with all the direction that she went with it, but I think I set myself up with these series, and I just need to go into the next book. No theories. Yeah, for sure.

[Reggie]

Funny that we didn't get anything with Naolin. Seriously. I thought that was the one thing that we were gonna get 100. I was like, yeah. I was like, at the very least, like, Naolin's gonna pop up.

[Kennedy]

But also, the weird thing is, I feel like Brennan was also not super present in this book. We didn't get a lot from him either. Like, he was there, but also, like, not at the same time.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Once again, I think she was just dealing with a lot of characters, and that's why I think many Point of Views would have done some help.

[Reggie]

I just hope that we get multiple point of views in the next book. It will be interesting to see if she includes Zaden's in the first.

[Kennedy]

I hope she doesn't. I hope she doesn't.

[Reggie]

I want us to be in the dark.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Also. But where's Riddick?

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Mikayla]

Like, where is he?

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

He has no mention of it. Where is he?

[Reggie]

I'm scared.

[Mikayla]

Well, that's what I'm saying. I think there's just so many characters that she can't possibly, from one point of view, name where all these characters are at. Because Violet's in as much as the dark as we are.

[Kennedy]

I think. I think it genuinely. Well, I just found it interesting that she did decide to Add Rhiannon and Rhiannon. Rhiannon and Imogens into the last little bit of the book. And I hope it was because she's going to do multiple POVs in the next one. I do think it would make it a lot more interesting.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I kind of worried too, when we got, like, Rhiannon's and I thought that Violet was like a goner. I was thinking, is this literally how things end for Violet and Zaden somehow? And the next books are kind of like, you know how you've seen another fantasy series where it's like, that kind of chapter's closed? But I'm like, she's not gonna do that. But I can see. I would be shocked if it's mostly Violet's point of view for 80% of the book.

[Kennedy]

Well, she's just gonna be in the dark.

[Mikayla]

I. I can't do another book with her. Just her point of view. Yeah, I can't. And I. I love Violet and I feel like she really redeemed herself from the last book, in my opinion, but I just can't do it anymore. It's just the same things.

[Reggie]

And I wanna.

[Mikayla]

I wanna see all these other different characters and I want to see. Because Violet can't be everywhere at once.

[Kennedy]

Well, I think she's done such a great job at creating these really interesting side characters. It would be a disserv include their point of views at this point.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because I think a lot of people are so attached to those side characters and I think it would add intrigue and also just make the story that much more epic.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Because I just see the next book, I'm like, now it was, let's find the cure for Xaden. Now it's just going to be, let's find Xaden, Where's Waldo? And still find a cure. And so, I mean, a ton of stuff can pop up that's brand new, and we're like, what? But I think there was enough talk and stuff in this book that, yeah, it make. It makes sense to see where some of these other side characters go. Especially, like them trying to figure out what their second signet is or, like, how that's manifesting. Also, there's like so many little side romances that I'm like, I want more. Give me Jesenia and Sawyer.

[Kennedy]

Give me.

[Reggie]

Give me Garrick and Imogen. I want all of it. Sloan, who was rewith in Iron Flame, she. She had like a girlfriend.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But then she didn't.

[Mikayla]

She said they had too many.

[Kennedy]

They were on and off responsibilities.

[Reggie]

I can't remember her name, but I don't even think she was in this book.

[Kennedy]

I think she was mentioned once in the sense of they asked her about her and she said they're on and off. When they can be together, they're together, but they're not, like, together.

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

Like, I just. I would love to hear more of that, for sure. So. Yeah. But as far as the memory wiping goes, I truly think that there's no other reason that her memory. She would let her memory be wiped unless it was something to protect Satan. So I feel like there's just something that he's trying to do that we just don't know about, and that's her protecting him by forgetting all of that. But also, I'm like, why did you have to forget the actual wedding part?

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

There did. Something is.

[Kennedy]

Was there.

[Reggie]

It happened something.

[Mikayla]

It happens too often.

[Kennedy]

Do you.

[Mikayla]

We get no weddings. They're just married magically. And I hate it.

[Kennedy]

Do you guys think. I had a friend text me and say she thinks that the bond between Taryn and Scale is severed and that's why Taryn's sleeping. That's why he's in, like, a slumber.

[Mikayla]

I don't.

[Kennedy]

That didn't cross my mind. But she just brought up to me and I was like, well, maybe, you.

[Reggie]

Know, if the theory of Naolin being Taryn's past rider and that bond was broken between the two of them. What am I trying to say?

[Mikayla]

Do you think Naon's actually going to be a thing, though?

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I don't know. At this point, I don't.

[Reggie]

But even if he doesn't show up, I'm just saying the fact that, like, Taryn has had a bond broken with a writer because. Right.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Mikayla]

I don't. I don't think. I think Sigel is blocking.

[Reggie]

She's just heartbroken.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I don't think, like, it's actually severed.

[Reggie]

But why is it maybe Zaden.

[Kennedy]

Why is it injured?

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Mikayla]

Because with all of the webbing things, he's like, how long is this going to take you to recover? And he's like, just like, rest. Because something. I can't remember what it was. I think he's just injured, but I don't know. Maybe that is the case. I would find that. Really?

[Kennedy]

I feel like that would be hard to do.

[Mikayla]

But yeah, because I don't think it would Be severed. I think she's blocking or like, I don't know. Because Zaden and Violet can't be severed unless one of them is dead, right?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, they're so.

[Reggie]

Yeah. The rules. I.

[Kennedy]

But also they put up their own mental blocks.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like, what if Flay is just a mental block?

[Kennedy]

I think the reason she said that was because Taryn is in a slumber. I don't think there was anything mentioned between Taryn not being able to talk to scale. I think it was just she thought because he was sleeping.

[Mikayla]

Interesting.

[Kennedy]

Taking a nap.

[Mikayla]

He's taking a little nappy poo. He deserves a nappy poo.

[Reggie]

I mean, we can always end it and talk more. But one other thing to keep in mind. I'm just bringing the Naolin thing back. Naolin was a siphoner, was he not?

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

He siphoned, so it makes me wonder if he is Venon. You know how everyone has someone that they mirror of a Venin and then her and Dane and then. I don't know. I just think that knowing that he was a siphoner makes me question if maybe he actually will appear. But. But I don't know.

[Kennedy]

You know, love, hate relationship with theories. Because I do. It's fun to talk about them, but.

[Reggie]

Also we can sit and think, ponder on it for the next two years.

[Kennedy]

It gives you. It gives you the expectations that aren't realistic. And we've got two years for the next book, which is a shame because that ending is not okay. It's not okay.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But Rebecca, you deserve a break. Take a break and give us a banger.

[Mikayla]

Just kidding.

[Kennedy]

Give us a banger.

[Mikayla]

She does. She does deserve a break. I actually would have just preferred it to come out, like, towards the end of the year.

[Reggie]

I'd rather waited. Yeah, like a little six.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure. Like, wait longer for this one and then wait less for.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I agree. I think it's just gonna be interesting to see if the TV show comes out, comes out before the next book.

[Kennedy]

Give us a casting. We're waiting.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I mean, I feel like there's so many more things I could say, but we have taken up a lot of your time. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Longest episode ever.

[Mikayla]

There was just so much to unpack with this book. And we tried to do it in an organized way.

[Reggie]

Forgive us if we get ahead of ourselves, but I just think it is. So did you guys see that Goodreads update? I don't know who it was that was saying, like, I love that we are all reading this book right now, and that's girlhood. Like.

[Mikayla]

But yeah, yeah, I did see that. But it also. It was so cute how many men were reading it with, like, their wives or significant others. And I was like, I think that's just humanhood. Like, I think it's just really cool that there were so many people and, like, all of, like, the significant others that were trying to get the book for, like, their spouse or their boyfriend, girlfriend. I. I was like, this is so cute. I just love it. I love it.

[Reggie]

Books bring people together.

[Kennedy]

We're all in this together.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And it shows. Then we start with some lyrics and we take it. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Oh, High School Musical.

[Reggie]

We're just gonna do some little step.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Taps. And with that, we're gonna.

[Kennedy]

Well. Well, actually, not yet. If you guys are listening to this podcast and you've made it through, go watch our vlog. Because there's a vlog coming. There's a vlog coming. We went to normal the same time we vlogged our experience.

[Reggie]

So head over to YouTube. Watch us watch. You guys all recorded yourselves crying at the end.

[Kennedy]

It's a good one.

[Reggie]

I was really trying hard not to, like, finish up a storm.

[Mikayla]

My me yelling at my husband, go away.

[Kennedy]

You want to know what's funny is Kyle did come in while I was reading the last, like, four pages, but I stopped my recording.

[Reggie]

I literally made my husband leave the house. Well, I said, you are not allowed to come home until I tell you I'm done with this book.

[Mikayla]

It was the last two lines that he walked around. I said, no, get out. I'm almost done.

[Reggie]

I also could not believe the ending was, like, the ending. I turned my book, and then I was like, there's no.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Like, that's the end.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Oh, I can't wait to see your guys's reaction.

[Mikayla]

I know. I can't. I. I was very unwell.

[Reggie]

Same.

[Kennedy]

Very ironically. I think I probably gave the least reaction, which normally I feel like I give the most reaction. But you guys, I think it was just. I had read 265 pages today, and.

[Reggie]

I was like, like, you're a champ.

[Kennedy]

Anyway. Yeah, that's all we got for you.

[Reggie]

Well, make sure you're following us on Instagram and TikTok at while she's reading pod, in case, you know, you made it to the end of this episode and you don't know who we are. Did we even start the episode off when we. She's reading?

[Kennedy]

We did.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

You know, it just feels like. It just feels like a year ago.

[Kennedy]

I don't think we said our names. Doesn't matter.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I said.

[Mikayla]

Anyway, it's a bonus episode.

[Reggie]

We'll sign off with our names.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Reggie]

I'm Reggie.

[Mikayla]

Hi, I'm Mikayla.

[Kennedy]

And I'm Kennedy.

[Reggie]

Thanks for watching by.