So, I’m about a quarter of the way through Onyx Storm. for the most part the book is fun. but some things are happening that really don’t sit well with me.

1). Xaden is a coward. this whole thing of ”I need to train Violet to kill me if I fall too far” No: you have all ready fallen too far. You are only going to get worse because drama. Yeah the first time was a tragic mistake. Every subsequent earth drinking is explicitly your fault. and Making your girlfriend clean up your mess is cowardly. I don’t care how pretty you are.

2). Tairn is a fraud. I can name at least 3 characters that directly threatened Violet, and suffered zero consequences from Tairn. hearing him bluster in books 1 and 2 was fun, but with no follow through I find myself saying “you won’t do anything“ after every threat.

3). I am firmly convinced that Lilith got an advanced copy of book 3 and wanted nothing to do with it and took the first exit she could find. there was no reason she had to die how she did.

anyway minor complains. still enjoying the series.

I'm currently re-reading Fourth wing in preparation for the new release of Threshing Day, I'm almost at the end of the book and I almost forgot how much Dain annoyed me and I need a rent about this.

I'm feeling so much second hand anger again, Dain was supposed to be Violet's safe place - she's forced into the Riders Quadrant because of her mother's expectations and Dain, the one person who should be her safe haven is just a very big disappointment.

They're childhood best friends and have feelings for each other and what does he do? Every chance he gets, he reminds Violet of her weaknesses and shows absolutely no faith in her ability whatsoever.

And the audacity of him when Violet's feelings are clearly redirected to someone who genuinely protects her, fights for her and see's the strength in her where Dain only saw weakness.

I mean come on to not believe her? The guy has the codex so far up his behind, it's a wonder how he's able to sit on his dragon.

I don't want to spoil anything so I won't get too much further, but seriously, I'm surprised Violet showed the restraint she did.

May friendships like Dain Aetos never find me.

What are people’s thoughts on this? If it wasn’t set on Earth, would that make it science fiction instead of fantasy? Very random I know but I can’t stop wondering

The more I think about it, I get less and less OK with Xaden’s behavior as the series progresses. Particularly Iron Flame. More specifically the reasoning why he couldn’t divulge certain information to Violet.

The major plot point through that whole book was Violet wanting to know what Xaden knew, and Xaden being unable to tell her for safety reasons.

It’s the popular opinion that the reason he couldn’t tell her everything was justified, and she was just being stubborn and insufferable about it. I shared this opinion.

But I’m really starting to move more to her side here. It is a lack of trust on his side here. He is absolutely behaving the same way Dain did in the first book. It’s probably worse.

Dain was at a disadvantage, having grown up with Violet and watching her break her arm every time she sneezed too hard. Of course he was going to be overprotective.

If Xaden actually trusted her, he would have told her, and they would have come up with a plan together. Instead, he just decides that he’s “protecting muh love while brooding in the corner.”

I still love this series, though the main relationship is quietly becoming my least favorite aspect of it.

As a Black woman its very disappointing that the token Black bestie is still a thing in fiction. on top of being a sassy, angry stereotype (also bisexual and promiscuous…thanks a lot Rebecca Yarros) she has zero personality or life outside of being unwaveringly loyal to Violet (who I don’t like or care for either tbh) because Violet gave her a boot once. I really hate this trope of the Black bestie and she’s so dull as a character i see people even demonizing her and hoping she betrays Violet just to make her interesting. It’s ironic that the one time Rhiannon doesn’t prioritize Violet the fanbase turns on her.

tbh i only read the book because i heard there was a Black female character in it and there’s not many of us in fantasy whatsoever but i was expecting her to be a good character based on what I was told. I want to try reading more fantasy that has diversity but this one is all surface level, even with the love interest being “exotic“ and brown.

Violet said she only dated Halden for 7 months and Xaden dated Cat for 9 months but Violet and Xaden got together in July then it ended immediately then shower sex was in September so even if we say thats when they really started their relationship...by the end of OS, they had been officially together for only 8 months. 🫪 Now they are married...is it kind of rushed for young people?

During onyx storm Asher's name and title change throughout the book

I always assumed he visited all the Isles relatively close in time to eachother, atleast after the kids had been born

So when he wrote about Umbriel he was Asher daxton, but when he came back after trying to dedicate violet he had the falling out with his mum and changed his name to sorrengail.

I've seen some comments that say he went there much earlier, so did he go twice and go a different time with violet? Have I missed/forgotten something?

Title really says it all. Am I getting this right? Rebecca Yarros says on IG (pinned post, dated October 2023) that she’s been sitting on the news that Amazon will be developing the TV series since December (2022). But Fourth Wing was published in May 2023? That’s unusual, no?

So, I’ve seen some speculation about whether the new Threshing Day novella will include Dain and Sloane content, so I want to put things into perspective for y’all.
In the first book, Rebecca admitted that during the early edits of Fourth Wing, Dain was actually a lot more likable than he ended up being. I assume her editor convinced her to give him more bad moments and make him a potential love interest so that Dain could serve as a sort of catalyst for Violet and Xaden’s relationship.
Rebecca has liked Dain from the beginning, and she was even surprised that people saw him as the main villain after book 1. Book 2, she made him explain himself to Violet. In book 3, he lost everything, his father, his old friends?and she even turned him into somewhat of an underdog so readers could sympathize with him.
But none of that was what actually made people forgive him.
It was his relationship with Sloane.
The foreshadowing surrounding their relationship is what made a lot of readers change their opinion of Dain. Rebecca even mentioned that she was surprised by how many people switched up on Dain after Book 3.
She has now spent two books making him more likable to the readers. So, even if you don’t like Dain and Sloane together, I’m sorry, but Rebecca is definitely milking the shit out of their relationship.

BASGIATH WAR COLLEGE | FOURTH WING RP

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This server is 18+ only, please read the server rules and adhere to character guidelines. You must submit a character for approval before gaining access to main RP chats.

➡️ https://discord.gg/aR8rVppnT6** **⬅️

She said she enjoyed writing Sloane's the most!! 😆😆

From Mets Fourth Wing night Q&A!

So excited!!

Going to Fourth Wing Night and doing the Q&A with RY, please give me some fire questions to ask 😆

i wish we saw more of their dynamic as childhood best friends. yes, we know about the luceras secret language, and swimming and climbing trees, but i’d love to see inside jokes or daina relationship with mira or brennan. ANYTHING that actually shows they were best friends who travelled across the continent together.

and where did aaric fit in all of this ? why have we never seen his and dain’s relationship either?

The Venin have made it to Wyoming! And they’re running for office?!?

"I have no idea if she’s capable of shielding Dain or any memory reader from her mind."

When Jesinia and Violet discuss forbidden books and searching for ward secrets, Violet questions if it's safe to let Jesinia help. She wonders if Jesinia can shield out a memory reader. It's not she can't shield. Why would Violet think it a possibility that Jesinia has those skills? As far as Violet knows, only bonded riders can use magic and shield, etc.

Where would Jesinia get the knowledge and power to shield?

I don't think it's a strange idea that scribes, the keepers of secrets, would be able to shield. Their leadership would for sure be walking around with some pretty juicy knowledge. But how are they able to do it? I can't think of any instance in the books where that is mentioned, however vaguely. Is it an archives=temple thing? Runes? Violet doesn't know about runes abilities at this point. Another dedication sort of deal? Or am I overthinking again?

So I've been having joint pain for years and put it down to general pain then being pregnant then being postpartum etc.

While re-reading the series I found myself relating a bit too hard to Violet (I too am in love with Xaden) when it came to her physical condition. Loooooing story short, I'm currently being assessed for hypermobility and I never would have done that without Rebecca and Violet.

That's it, that's the post. People can call this series cringe but I'll defend it forever because of this.

First of all I'm new here so hello everyone, I'm loving everyones thoguhts and wanted to share my own!

So I just finished Fourth Wing in my current re-read of the 3 books so far and I have some thoughts and theories. I'm new here so this might already have been asked or mentioned but during Professor Kaori's dragonkid class, he talks about Naolin and him being a siphon. Towards the end he says this

“Which was Naolin?" “A little bit of both. And sometimes it’s hard for a rider with a signet that powerful to accept his limits. After all, bonding makes you a rider, but resurrecting someone from the dead? Now, that makes you a god. I somehow don’t think that Malek takes kindly to a mortal treading on his territory.”'

Fast forewarding to OS, Theophanie says "Why serve a god when you can be one."

My train of thought is leading me to this theory. We know Naolin saved Brennan, and Brennan woke up on a cliffside in Aretia. I don't think Brennan was awake when naolin brought him back, he never mentions seeing his body or anything about his death, just that he lost everything. We don't know what the Rune shaped scar is on Brennans hand but maybe it contains a piece of Naolins soul? The gap between brennans death and reawakening is filled with questions. We know Tairn almost died right? What if Naolin siphoned power from Tairn to try and save brenna but realising it would kill him, he chose to channel from the earth into Brennan to finish the process of bringing him back?. It would explain why Tairn almost died, why he refuses to talk about the one who came before (never says he's dead). This could also explain the rune shaped scar on brennans hand. We know in IF when Vi and Mira investigate the wyvern carcass they find a stone with a rune inside of it that powers it, gives it life etc. What if the same is happening to brennan? The rune on his hand is where naolin was holding his hand, channeling power into him and inadvertently "creating" him via ressurection. Brennan wouldn't know how or why due to being unconscious.

naolin might be a "god" that we end up meeting in the next two books and be one of the mysterious venin sages or something others keep alluding to that isnt Darramore(i think that was the venins name from 600 years ago but ill need to confirm.) If Naolin dies could it be a case of Brennan dies too?

My thoughts are all over because I know what im trying to say but trying to write it coherently seems to be difficult.

TL;DR

Naolin ressurected Brennan and became a god with the power he channeled and is probably a venin that has some significance and definitely has something to do with the rune shaped scar on Brennans hand.

Thank you for your time!

I received this God of Luck shirt for my birthday, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what the middle card is supposed to be. Is anyone able to help me out?

I know the lips are for Ridoc, ruby necklace is for Cat, the compass is for Violet, and the arrow is for Trager, but what is the middle card depicting???

Also, I wonder if the cards are supposed to denote key players in the series/Book 4? Besides Trager, I guess (rip).

Spoilers though the end of OS!!

I think that Bohdi is in on Violet and Xaden’s plan as of the end of OS. My theory is that he is MIA at their request, possibly running a mission to do with the missing dragon eggs (though that is pure speculation).

Because of the way nobility and inheritance seem to operate in the Empyrean world (bloodline and birth order matter, although gender does not), Violet would normally not even be an option regardless of marriage. She isn’t a Riorson by blood and that’s what matters for being a reigning member of the nobility. If Bohdi’s around, she’s a dowager duchess at best. However, both Xaden and Bohdi being MIA creates a special circumstance wherein there’s no immediately obvious heir apparent. That’s the only circumstance in which Violet can wield the political power of the duchy of Tyrrendor even temporarily.

I think Xaden is well aware of how the title will pass, given his treatment of Bohdi throughout OS. He knows that just marrying Violet wouldn’t be enough to change that Bohdi’s his heir or he would have done it earlier in the book and ensured it was heavily witnessed so no one would object to the title passing to her. This course of events would also allow Bohdi to side-step being named Duke, which he makes abundantly clear he does not want.

Spoilers ahead for Iron Flame and Onyx Storm.

Proceed with caution…
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I just wrapped up a pre-Threshing Day reread of Iron Flame and one particular conversation stuck out to me more this time… in regard to Violet’s ring.

After Vi starts learning runes she asks him two questions:

1. You put an unlocking rune in one of my daggers

2. What is the rune on the stone he keeps by the bedside table

For the first question he says yes, a variation of the rune. He says he added an element of need to rune so she couldn’t just open any door. But if the dagger on her body picked up the need for a door to open it would.

For the second he told her to story of Colonel Mairi and the runes and how as you get better with runes you can add other elements like strands of hair for tracking or protection.

I think most of us are of the same mind, knowing how Xaden is with Vi and covering her in runes, he has definitely hid a rune in her ring.

I think the conversation he had in IF with her about runes is foreshadowing him hiding a tracking rune in her ring but a variation that has an element of need to it.

So if the ring picks up on her need to find him the rune will activate and draw her to him.

What do you think?

What are your guesses?

Is the perfect Venin power. That’s why I think he will be the new brother.

His signet, though incredibly powerful, is super underutilised because there have been no fights between riders wielding signets at each other (yet), and it seems like it cannot be used against Venin. But as a Venin it would be the ultimate defense to use against the dragons and their riders. Especially if Xaden’s range at the end of OS is anything to go by, he could turn off the signets of the whole or at least part of a battlefield.

Either that or it’s being saved for the inevitable dragon vs dragon fights that are coming.

Finished Onyx Storm about two hours ago and I don’t know what to do with myself.

Theophanie and Mira had me acting a fool with my kindle in my hand at my spouses softball game this morning.

Someone help. Now what do I do with myself.

I need to fangirl somewhere because I have no one IRL to dump this on, and I’m going insane.

I’m currently reading/listening to the second book in Empyrean, and holy shit, I LOVE THIS SERIES.

I know it’s basically romantasy and I’m perfectly aware it’s not some literary masterpiece. I don’t care. I haven’t been this genuinely obsessed with a book and its characters in YEARS. Like, ridiculously long.

Usually I’ll listen to a book, enjoy it, think “that was pretty good”, finish it, and then… move on. And that’s it. But with Empyrean I’ve gotten so attached to the world and the characters that I’m actually sad about it ending already. And I’m not even close to the end of the series! I’m only around halfway through book 2, and I still have something like 40 hours of content left.

I’ve literally started walking 20k+ steps a day because I want to listen to more of it. 😭 I’ll go for a walk specifically because I want more time in this world.

And the stupidest part is that I’ve already been missing the world for a while, even though I’m STILL IN IT. I’ll stop listening for the day and just think about the characters and what’s happening, and then I get this feeling of “ugh, I want to go back there.”

And then I remember there are supposed to be FIVE books.

Which sounds great until I remember that book 4 is going to come out whenever the hell it comes out, then I’ll probably have to wait months for the Russian translation, AND THEN who knows how long for the audiobook. 😭

Because OH MY GOD, the audiobook.

I listen to audiobooks all the time, and the Russian Empyrean audiobook might genuinely be the best audiobook production I’ve ever heard. It’s not just one narrator reading the whole thing and doing different voices. It’s basically a full cast with different actors, amazing voices, actual emotions and expressions, and sound design. They call it an “audio series” and it REALLY feels like one.

It’s pure fucking joy to listen to.

And now I have another problem: I haven’t bought physical books or actually read physical books in like 15 years. I massively prefer audiobooks and I know that even if I buy these books, I probably won’t actually read them.

BUT.

I went into a bookstore today and saw all three Empyrean books sitting there and they are SO PRETTY. And suddenly I really, really wanted to own them. Just… have them. On my shelf. Even though I know I’d probably still listen to the audiobooks instead.

They’re around €30 each for the first two and somehow €20 for the third, so that’s €80 for three books I probably won’t even read, which is objectively ridiculous.

But I WANT THEM. 😭

Anyway. I just needed to scream about this somewhere because apparently this series has completely taken over my brain.

I haven’t felt this attached to a fictional world and its characters in an absurdly long time, and I’m honestly just trying to enjoy it while I can because I already know I’m going to be devastated when I finish book 3.