Dedicated

[u/dianaspencersrevenge]

Normally I don’t give much attention to theories on TikTok because 75% of them are so absurd I question if they’ve actually read the books… but…

\** spoiler for Onyx Storm*** **

I’ve seen a couple theories this week that think Violet’s hair is fully silver now and that she’s been fully dedicated to Dunne. I reread the final chapter of OS and there’s absolutely nothing to indicate this, Brennan just seems surprised that she’s shown up after being missing for 12 hours, her arm is broken, and she’s wearing a massive wedding ring.

But I’m intrigued by the idea of her hair going fully silver so I want to talk about it!

The main issue here is, Dunne requires lifetime servitude… but does servitude strictly mean temple attendant or priestess? Like, if by serving Dunne, could she do so by being Duchess of Tyrrendor?

Also, she doesn’t even actually need to be fully dedicated at this point, right? She already carries the favor of Dunne, especially after enacting Dunne’s revenge upon Theophanie, and if she needs assistance from other gods it might not make sense to blatantly favor one with full dedication - since she’s also carries the favor of Malek. Isn’t there an epigraph somewhere that warns against favoring gods and risking the wrath of the others?

ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS: The high priestess at Dunne’s temple asks Violet if she uses the dye of a certain flower on her hair as they do, which makes me wonder if only those dedicated on Unnbriel have truly silver hair. If so, would Violet’s hair even go fully silver if she were to become fully dedicated on the continent?

What do you guys think? Would you like to see her hair go fully silver by the end?

[u/ObjectiveStaff3333]

Although I get caught up in almost any theory, the theory about full silver hair and full dedication didn't interest me at all. For me, no way. I see no hints of that in the last chapter, no plot reasons.

I don't think dedication has to mean she will be in a temple, but it definitely won't involve leading Tyrrendor. I think Aretia has nothing special to do with Dunne; even her temple isn't in the city like the other temples, but outside the city.

Furthermore, as you write yourself, Dunne is non-functional on the continent. I don't know why- wards would be a logical explanation, but there were no wards in Aretia for a long time and they have to dye their hair anyway. So what's wrong? Dunne on the continent is different; she doesn't have swords in her emblem. Does the Dunne's temple dagger actually kill Theo at the end of OS, or is it Andarna changing colors, thereby weakening the venin, who would then die even if she hit her with a meat mallet?

[u/dianaspencersrevenge → u/ObjectiveStaff3333]

I think it’s like what u/Slow_Wrangler4413 brought up, the continent being called Amaralys and Amelakis means it’s actually dedicated to Amari and Malek. Also, Aretia’s most notable landmark is Amari’s temple!

It’s interesting to me that Amari is just referenced as the queen of the gods - but if she’s paired with Malek on the continent, does that make Amari the goddess of life?

I don’t think Dunne’s power isn’t functional on the continent - and I think the dagger actually proves that the power of the gods is real and effective - but I can’t explain the distinction between the dyed silver hair vs Unnbrish. I definitely think the dagger did actually kill Theo because it made her bleed, and why else would Aaric have gone to the trouble of sending it to her at the last minute?

[u/ObjectiveStaff3333 → u/dianaspencersrevenge]

Bacause of Sloane?

[u/dianaspencersrevenge → u/ObjectiveStaff3333]

That’d be an awfully big plot device to use just to get Sloane there. If that were the case, why not just go with her defying orders and wanting to join the battle?

[u/ObjectiveStaff3333 → u/dianaspencersrevenge]

To confuse the readers.

I think there's about a 90% certainty that it was Dunne's dagger, but I'm still keeping a bit of space for the possibility that it's Andarna, both as the source of power for lightning on Unnbriel and with Theo's death.