that bookish enby

• Thank God for small mercies, xaden and violet can be intimate again due to there being no magic and less of a chance that xaden will lose control. HE ISN'T GONNA ACCIDENTLY HURT HER!

• My girl violet violet is CLEARLY over the trails and tribulations that life is throwing at her. She very clearly just wants to stay Deverelli with xaden where she can look for a cure comforted by the fact that xaden wont loose controle

• But obviously xaden cares about violet and wouldnt ask her to leave her family and friends and dosnt want to force there dragons to stay in a place where there in physical pain due to a lack of magic

SOILERS

Chapter 24 offers a rare moment of humour as Narelle incorrectly assumes that xaden is Dain based on the way he sprang to Violet’s defence. (Apparently, gossip and assumptions were made about Violet’s love life, and Asher incorrectly predicted that Violet and Dain would end up together.)

Violet needs to answer three questions to get access to the books. Fair enough, as nothing in this book has been straightforward so far

The first question asked for the name of the manuscript that her dad left her. She got it correct (it was Subjugated: The Second Uprising of the Krovlan People). It would be embarrassing if she didn’t

The second question, which was for Violet to hypothesise why the uprising fell apart, was aimed at testing Violet’s critical thinking skills. Violet hypothesised that Deverelli promised dragons and then couldn’t deliver. This resulted in the midnight massacre and Krovla remaining a part of Poromiel.

Question number three has Violet reveal to Narelle that she left Halden due to him cheating on her with one of his professors. Was this question nessasery or was Narelle just wanting to gossip

SOILERS

Violet tries to be as good a friend as she can be to her squad and the fliers without letting xaden come into contact with magic. This means she pushes the flyers and their gryphons to the edge until they reach Athebyne, where she finally decides to stop for the night.

They encounter Tecarus (the jury is still out on how I feel about him). They inform him they have the citrine, and it’s made blatantly clear just how many hats xaden wears: lieutenant, rider, professor, or the Duke of Tyrrendor. Tecarus also reassures Xaden that his offer (of xaden being his guard dog in return for him being able to live in peace with Violet) was still on the table. at this point, I wish he WOULD take the offer and give my heart a break

Tecarus is adamant that Prince Halden can not show up at Deverelli in a basket, which is how he was transported to Athebyne. he instead offers one of his ships he can be transported by sea.

As they approach Deverelli 24 hours later, Violet begins to feel disconnected from magic, and xaden can’t speak to Sgaeyl despite Violet still maintaining her bond with Tairn and Adarna

The squad lands all the riders and fliers loose contact with their bonded creatures, except for Violet and Tairn, oddly enough.

Mira has protection runes and gives Violet one to protect her from the sun. It would be easier than putting suncream on, that’s for sure

Tacarus arrives whilst Halden is napping to let the squad know that Halden will have to go to the meeting with the Deverelli king alone, as he will only talk to fellow aristocracy

Before they all head to the market, the squad decides to nap. Whilst they do that, xaden relishes in the fact that he can let his guard down as there’s no magic and no risk of him losing control of his venin side

As all the dragons have left to hunt in far-off feids, the riders and the fliers have no other option but to ride horses into Matyas (the capital city of Deverelli)

They find out that Narelle can be found at the book shop due to the help of a cloth merchant, but shit hits the fan once they get in and speak the name, as they are promptly attacked by two assassins that xaden easily defeats.

Turns out this is a family affair as Narrelle is the owner of the book shop and the grandmother of the assassins, and at this point, the information in this book better be worth the hassle

Violet spends the next few days reading anything and everything on the topic of Deverelli, so she’s prepared for her meeting with the Senarium. once a scribe…..always a scribe…..i guess

We find out that Ridoc can freeze water, and that opens up the door for him being able to freeze the water in a human’s body, which is badass.

Now that they have the citrine, they’re all set for their meeting with King Courtlyn. Violet also receives some unwanted and unexpected pieces of news. Command is being transferred to Captain Henson.

there to look for andarnas kind in Aratia, only this time around

Violet is adamant that she will not be travelling with another squad that doesn’t trust or know one another, as that’s why Grady and Aura died (not wanting people to DIE is a valid concern to raise). Violet demands that she be able to choose her squad to avoid this outcome in the future.

SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM!!!!

4 days later, Violet and eight others (which includes Mira and Aura) cross to Samara. During the travel, Tairn reveals that Violet’s signet is getting stronger.

They find the house where the Amelian citrine is located and split into two groups. One to keep watch and the other to search. Unfortunately, Violet ends up in a group with Aura, a character I hate slightly less than General Aetos.

Aurora talks a big game about being Violet’s superior, but the minute Grady walks out of the house, her overwhelming fear gets the best of her, and she sets him on fire (with her signet). Needless to say, he dies.

Xaden rushes out of the house with the skill of impeccable timing. He’s known for at this point to protect Violet from the flames and her saviour complex.

At this point, the entire village is near enough aflame, and to make things worse, the flames have alerted the venin, so now they have that to contend with as well.

In the haste to escape, Aura is killed. Oh well…..And if I'm being honest, no tears were shed on my end. The only people that I care about getting away are xaden, Violet and Mira…..which they do…..so I'm happy.

Back at base, it’s discovered that the gem is burned, and concerns are aired about whether or not it will be accepted. I understand their concern, as the temperament and terms of an agreement that royalty often set in books like these can be fickle

With the stone, there was a letter left for Violet from the venin Theophanie asking why Violet won’t ask her for answers. It’s a good job Mira was the one to find the letter, as anyone else, and she’d be accused of treason.

xaden is JEALOUS. And I don't blame him if someone flirted with my girl right in front of me, I would have done worse. He covers up what was blatantly an attack on the crown prince by saying he was blocking a first-year student from a lethal attack.

He snaps at Halden and makes it clear that He doesn't control Violet and that she hasn't spared him a thought since she got with xaden. His jealousy and willingness to commit treason due to his jealousy is humorously hot.

Violet claims that she never told xaden about Halden, as he wasn't an important part of her life anymore, and I find it IRONIC that she got on xadens ass about keeping secrets when she knew she had no intentions of telling him about her previous partners.

Turns out Aimsir is the code to open the secret tome that her father left for her about the second Krovlan uprising. This book is vague as hell. Apparently, there's a connection between the uprising and the pursuit of feather tails (AKA andarnas kind), and if she wants to find a weapon to stop the venin, then she should go to Devereli from Cordyn.

The book implies that there's no Magic in Devereli, so she'll be safe, that she should look for Narelle Anslem, and that Violet should bring “the rarest item” she possesses

The Xaden jealousy saga continues as he finally asks about Violet's past love life. Specifically, if she loved Halden, where we get a spiel about how she didn't know what love was till she met xaden, which is a lovey-dovey way of saying: yes, but my definition of love has changed

Salone provides Violet with two books from Jesenia and one from Dain, and I'm amazed that Dain wasn't a COMPLETE pos and DIDN'T BETRAY VIOLET TO HIS FATHER! (yes, the bar is THAT low)

Unfortunately for Violet, her dad's book has a six-letter lock, the clue to which is “first love is irreplaceable”, which is misleading, as Violet has a few options/names to choose from (you go girl!)

Xaden’s second signet training lesson begins and is promptly interrupted by Halden, also known as Alric's brother, whom he's hiding from. Violet, being the good friend she is, tells Xaden to hide him.

It is revealed that Halden and Violet dated (which I oddly wasn't surprised by, but can't remember if it was spoiled for me or if I genuinely saw it coming)

My gut feeling that Halden is a piece of shit was confirmed when it was revealed that the relationship ended because Halden cheated on her. WITH. HIS. PROFESOR!!!!! He claims it was due to grief, but it sounds like he’s making excuses for his crappy behaviour.

Halden comes with political news/favours that Violet needs to complete to receive aid. A letter from Viscount Tecarus confirming that he was able to get her a meeting with King Courtlyn, as long as Violet can secure the Amelian Citrine

He brings news that Queen Maraya has offered the gem, but does not run a delivery service, and informs Violet that she will have to get it herself.

If Violet gets the Amelian Citrine, Halden will order Grady to go wherever Violet wants to search for Andarnas kind. I hate all the political hoops Violet is having to jump through. I had to reread this part 4 times to get my head around what she was being asked to do. But can't deny that I would probably ask for favours too if I were in a position of power.

SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM!!!!

The chapter starts with xaden shrouding himself and Violet in shadows (which gives them what I've been wanting for ages in this book: for xaden and Violet to have a moment alone).

But apparently, I can't have a moment of peace because Xaden then tells Violet she's the only one capable of stopping him, i.e., killing him, and she should focus on how to do that. nothing says romance like plotting your partners demise am i right!?

The squad plus the fliers end up in a pub after class (and after that emotional ambush, I don't blame Violet for needing a drink)

Violet reveals that xaden hasn't scared her since she was at threshing (If memory serves me right, this is when xaden nearly broke the rules to protect Violet for the first, but not the last, time). the only thing that scares violet is how hard she's fallen for xaden and how concerned he makes her for his safety

SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM!!!!

The day of the first training session arrives (im still amazed that xaden is now a teacher), and it has been adding additional pressure on to his and Violet's relationship due to General Aetos not granting them leniency from the “no teacher-student relations” rule. It is at this point I would REALLY like to emphasise how much I hate Dain's dad and how much I NEED Violet and xaden to be happy for once in this book!

Violet nonsuprisingly has been in the library researching the Deverelli Isles (even though the search party is actually going NORTH) in an attempt to distract/focus her mind on LITRALY ANYTHING but the tragic direction of her love life.

xadens' credibility is called into question due to him having graduated only the year before; it's a fair concern to have, but honest to god, first wing should be renamed the jackass wing (see what I did there ;) for how many of its cadets are insufferable. I mean, you can criticise without being a cocky wee shit! A memo that the first wing CLEARLY never received

The cadet who called xaden out is promptly challenged and swiftly defeated by xaden because he had come to the “signet training class” and decided to use a weapon instead of a signet. Stupidity at its finest, especially since xaden (along with Violet) is regarded as one of the most powerful cadets in the quadrant

Turns out xaden is doing this not because he likes it (a part of me secretly thinks he does) but to help them understand the weaknesses in their signets so they can account for them. hounrable but I do think he enjoys putting people on his ass too

SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM!!!!!

So as expected……..xaden is not having it. He refuses to stop seeing Violet which was to be expected. They try and have a moment alone (xaden goes more in detail about the whole “i-nearly-went -full-venin” situation and reveals that he only snapped out of it because his Dragon yelled at him) then general Aetos arrives to be a complete jackass about the situation.

Seeing as Violet and xaden were dating before xaden was made a professor, they try to ask for an exemption from the whole “professors-cant-date-cadets” rule but, fueled by what I can only assume to be rage and pettiness, general Aetos declines their request without a second thought. This man is determined to break apart my OTP!

Turns out General Aetos doesn't like xaden so to summarise his rant, he killed Varish. Violet decides to do an amazingly stupid but funny thing and as she walks out reveals it was actually her, not xaden, who killed varish.

This meeting for the Quest Squad is painfully frustrating.

Everyone is arguing about where to search.

the people chosen for the team is questionable

Aura - who Violet has nearly killed

Halden - violets ex

xaden (who invited himself) - violets current boyfriend

SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The story takes a right turn into banter town (which is much needed). The friendship boundaries of the squad are addressed (or, rather, the lack of boundaries) as Violet, Rhiannon, and the rest of the gang travel to the library. They roast each other about their love lives. Sawyer gets relentlessly teased about his crush on Jesenia, Riddick is called out for his bed-hopping behaviour, and it is definitely decided that Xaden and Violet act like an old married couple. It is small moments like this, where they act like the 21-year-olds they are, that pull the story together for me.

But apparently im not allowed to enjoy the light-heartedness for long because, once they reach the library, they learn that Jesenia is no longer on the adept path because they made up some random non-existent tests that she OBVIOUSLY failed because…….they were fake (which filled me with unending rage). But surprisingly, she's fine with it because she gets to help Violet research for her quest! Everything you've worked for is going up in flames! But sure! Act calm about it!

jesinia is specifically tasked with finding out if any of the books in basgiath mention Irid dragons and we see a new side to Jesinia and i love how sassy she is towards Ridoc.

They eventually come to the conclusion that they need Violet's father's notes, which, ironically, are hidden in what is now General Aetos’ chambers. I wish this guy would either die or stop causing so many issues.

We go to battle brief, where everything goes from bad to worse very fast.

There is a map that shows that the dark wielders have taken SO MUCH MORE territory than was initially assumed.

The cadets get MORE acquired reading (sucks to suck I guess)

It's revealed to the entire class that Violet's little theory about Venin being able to wield is true. But, come on, what else could Theophanie being able to control lightning mean?

Laughing my ass off! xaden is a teacher! I can imagine him being happy about that.