This is essentially the continuation of the post that I did for Fourth Wing, but with Iron Flame. It goes without saying that this has HEAVY spoilers for both books, so if you have not read either book in the Empyrean series, well, you’ve been warned.
(All page numbers correspond with my hard copy of Iron Flame.)
Iron Flame Deep Dive for Part One
p.1 – “… Transcribed by Cerella Neilwart” Is this Jesinia’s mom? Same last name – like is she a scribe legacy?
– “… a new, three-inch scar on my abdomen …” her venin knife scar is the same length as all of Xaden’s 107 (108) scars.
p.2 – “‘Consider it a twenty-first birthday present.'” If Reunification Day is 7.1, Resson then was 7.2 … so Violet was unconscious sometime between 7.3-7.5 (or plausibly 7.4-7.6) … which means that there is a small chance Violet shares a birthday with meeeee.
– “… came in from Basgiath.” Why do we not learn exactly who this letter is from at Basgiath?
p.3 – “Brennan may as well be a stranger.” The dichotomy despite knowing him so well.
– “They seem to form a pattern, but I’m too close to see the whole of it.” I wonder what the pattern is …
p.5 – “‘… obvious thing … Major Ferris’ … Hawk Nose continues …” So with this conversation, Hawk Nose is Major Ferris, but I’m pretty sure that Hawk Nose is called Ulices later, so is it Ulices Ferris?
p.6 – “… most powerful in the room … ‘For now’.” So we all know that the thing with Xaden being the most powerful for NOW is in reference to Violet because of Tairn. But also, if she's only his 2nd rider only, how has he seen so much battle? It makes me also wonder how long Naolin was bonded with him …
– "‘Stop bringing logic into an emotional argument.’” So just like a hurt 21-year-old.
p.7/8 – “‘Xaden has already taken responsibility for her.’ Imogen sidesteps … ‘As brutal of a custom’ …” Imogen tries telling Vi this outside the assembly hall, not the flight field as Violet tries saying later – CONTINUITY ERROR.
p.8 – “Suri’s face … her gaze jumping to the silver half of my hair …” is there a reason Suri specifically looks at Violet’s silver hair? Or is it just exposition reminding us?
p.9 – “‘I’ll expect an update on Zolya’ …” Do they already know about Zolya falling?
p.11 – “… I glimpse a rune-shaped scar on his palm …” With all the talk of runes in this book, this rune scar on Brennan’s palm can’t be coincidental …
– “‘Naolin didn’t fail, but it cost him everything.'” Is that everything his soul? Or his life? Is he venin?
p.12 – “… abandoned after General Daramor ruined the land …” I still have so many questions about Daramor and this battle. Dude had to have been venin, right?
p.12/13 – “He glances at me, bewildered. … ‘Are you telling me you not only didn’t know’ …” It is a little ridiculous that they’ve been fighting/dealing with venin for six years and know so little.
p.13 – “‘… and we have six months or less …'” Given that the battle happens at Solstice and we’re in early July … yep, just under six months.
– “… wondering what reason Navarre would have to build lures …” There is something so much deeper than just Jack fucking Barlowe here …
p.14 – “The idea of him structuring my entire existence around facts …” Violet, your dad DID know. Remember the letter from the end of FW? Remember your logic-ing it out that he did know? CONTINUITY ERROR.
p.15 – “‘… and dragons were the only key to powering wards.'” But kinda? Does Brennan mean the alloy as well to powering wards? Because the alloy has dragon eggs as part of it so technically it’s still dragons. Unless he means something completely different …
– “‘ … information we wouldn’t have wiped.'” Or burned to Malek.
– “‘Something killed off the venin six hundred years ago …'” Would this information also be in one of the First Six journals as well?
p.16 – “The venin’s poison …” I wonder if this poison affected her somehow in terms of the nightmares/connection to the venin that she has? And since Xaden also touched that blood, is that how he’s also having the same nightmares?
p.17 – “… enormous, navy-blue daggertail …” Usually, color and tail are capitalized. Is it not here because it’s a description of navy blue as opposed to just Blue Daggertail? (potential CONTINUITY ERROR.)
– “Sgaeyl snarls at Brennan … ‘She’s aware … Just doesn’t like me. Never has.'” Does Sgaeyl hate Brennan because he’s the reason Tairn’s previous rider died? Or is there something else?
p.18 – The whole conversation re: Andarna and her coloring – it’s clear Tairn has no idea about her being another breed. I also wonder, with Violet referencing the color of dragon scales being hereditary BUT ALSO Tairn saying so few dragons know the color of scales a dragon will mature to … how does that even work? And like what color would a hatchling of Tairn and Sgaeyl be? I think I said this in the FW recap, but I need info on dragon genetics here, RY.
p.20 – “‘She already has the strongest shields … from learning to shut out Tairn.'” And her pain.
p.21 – “I nod and study the coppery streaks in her eyes.” Is this a teenage dragon thing? Is this just an Andarna thing? Dragon eyes are always only described as golden …
p.22 – “… despite having flown the last eighteen hours nearly straight through …” This has got to be because of the mountains, right? I’m trying to figure out distance via the map since on the map, Aretia almost seems closer than Athebyne to Basgiath … but also there is a mention of headwinds later, so who knows.
– “‘Those dragons … bonded humans only to protect their hatching grounds from venin …‘” Still curious on the weapon to kill the venin. And with the creation fable, I’m more and more convinced that the greater power of the sky means the dragons somehow.
p.27 – “… at the same time Rhiannon … walks out of her room with Ridoc …” Does this mean Ridoc finally saw Rhi’s dragon relic? (FW, p.195) And that Ridoc does go both ways?
p.29 – “… to tug me behind the first pillar … The red dragon hides us …” This is the same pillar in FW (p.19) Violet hides behind with Dain.
p.32 – Epigraph – “known about the Dreamless Sleep … duration varies from breed to breed …” So this might be why Andarna’s was also super long. But a different note on the epigraphs in IF as opposed to FW – they mostly fit with the information in their respective chapter for the entirety of FW with a few notable exceptions. In IF, this is not the case as much. And some of the notable exceptions are NOTABLE. And make me wonder if it was purposeful in some way.
p.33 – “… as though he’s telling the wings and not leadership.” Interesting note with Xaden trying to tell the cadets instead.
p.35 – “‘I chose to save your daughter.'” Oh Xaden referring to his deal with Lilith in this moment – I kept my bargain, bitch.
p.36 – “‘You’re such a disappointment, Violet.'” Col. Aetos rarely ever refers to Violet as a cadet. Didn’t when he ran into her in the stairwell in FW, doesn’t here.
p.37 – “‘Violence, indeed.’” A big sign of the shift between how Xaden treats Violet this year is how little he refers to her as Violence for good chunks of IF – especially up until Cordyn.
p.41 – Epigraph – Since Varrish was at Samara, they essentially swapped him and Xaden out.
p.43 – “‘… which were already scary as shit with Aetos stepping in for Riorson …'” Ridoc, are you saying Dain sucked and made things worse?
p.44 – “‘Can I offer a word of advice … Don’t get too close to the first-years …'” Who did Quinn get too close to last year? Because if it was anyone in the squad, it wasn’t clear in FW.
p.47 – “… Xaden asks, clearly losing patience.” Is this when his shields slipped for less than a second?
p.48 – Epigraph – I SWEAR I’d read this one before, that it was a duplicate from FW, but it’s not. And in my deep dive read, I couldn’t find anything referencing this, either. Stupid brain. And this one and the ch.4 epigraph could easily be swapped and I think it’d make more sense.
– “… Xaden growls, shadows whipping out from behind the pillars.” Or did Varrish catch this loss of control of Xaden’s?
p.49 – “‘They’ll split us up for as long and as often as possible.'” Welp, that’s going back to Carr’s worry from FW.
– “The affect he has on me …” Okay, finally found it. EDITING ERROR – effect, not affect.
p.50 – “‘… you don’t have a rebellion relic to hide your actions from Melgren if you’re caught alone.’” Does this mean the relic hides more than just the three? Also asking given Melgren’s comment of wanting to lay eyes on Xaden once a year from FW …
p.54 – “‘There are eighty-nine of you …'” This is where I got that CONTINUITY ERROR from FW (the p.291 note).
p.55 – “‘Humans aren’t the only ones keeping secrets.’” Tairn, do you just mean re: the venin? What other secrets are the dragons keeping?
– “‘No one wants my genuine reactions’ …” Lies, Ridoc, we all want your genuine reactions.
p.59 – “… who stands poised with a quill and the roll.” Why quills and not pens? Is there a difference in how the ink is for the scribes and official records?
p.60 – “She wouldn’t call the storm to kill me … but she sure as hell wouldn’t stop it …” Welp, that answers that theory.
– “… the three books on the craft of weaving fabric into traditional Tyrrish knots …” Are these books that got saved from the burning of Aretia? Or were somewhere else in the province?
– “‘Don’t even get me started this morning, Aetos …'” This whole bit from Rhi. I love you Rhiannon. So much. I think we all loved her in FW, but I love her EVEN MORE in IF.
p.61/2 – “… like the bull of a guy … ‘Jack Barlowe Junior’ …” In more ways than one.
p.62 – “His middle name I recognize …” … So his name is Cam Aaric Tauri … initials CAT. Now I really think he needs to get with Cat for sure.
p.68 – “I’ve danced with Malek more than my fair share … Maybe Sloane is right and he doesn’t want me.” Is there truth to this, Malek not wanting Violet?
p.72 – “‘If Solas … then I’ll take the eye I so graciously left him.’” And now I need to know about Tairn’s history with Solas. So many dragon grudges I need to learn about here, RY.
p.73 – Epigraph – So the green hatching grounds were near Basgiath, the black grounds near Aretia … where were all of the various hatching grounds? And what does that mean now for dragon genetics with all of them having to share the Vale? And is that why we have all these dragon grudges? An epigraph that only fits because it’s the book Violet is reading from in the chapter.
p.76 – “Professor Devera … she flashes a proud smile at me …” Is she Brennan’s contact at Basgiath? Is it Emetterio?
p.78 – “‘The last gryphon flier …'” Is this a CONTINUITY/EDITING ERROR, given that Markham is referring to the gryphon fliers by their proper term? This is the first time in Basgiath the term is used … and Devera uses riders the next page. So a Markham slip, or an editing error?
p.82 – “‘And Nolon keeps healing them as Varrish breaks them.'” Ridoc is so much smarter than he lets on (or RY makes him seem).
– “Professor Emetterio, our squad’s combat teacher …” I thought Emetterio was combat teacher for everyone …?
p.83 – “‘Sloane Mairi and…’ he reads from his roll. ‘Aaric Graycastle.'” Is this pause intentionally written?
p.85 – “The giant jerks his gaze from Nadine’s body to my daggers, to my hair.” Yeah, dude, EVERYONE knows Violet due to her hair – I don’t know how made that stupid mistake with Nadine.
p.87 – “His eyes are light brown but rimmed in red as though he’s on some kind of drug.” Okay. So I think RY SPECIFICALLY wrote this to throw us off. Given Jack Barlowe in FW and all the stuff later in IF, I think we’re meant to believe this assassin is venin. HOWEVER, if he truly is, wouldn’t he NOT want to kill Violet since all the venin seem to want to capture her and keep her alive to deliver to their leader? Also, she didn’t stab and kill him with a specific venin blade, so he shouldn’t have died by that logic (unless initiates are different in that way …). There’s also the EW interview where RY said we’d learn the difference between red eyes of venin, druggies, and bloodshot tiredness in book three.
p.91 – “‘You know what it’s like. People judge you by your last name all the time.'” This whole conversation. Ha.
p.94 – “‘But I need you to pay close attention to what happens when you leave in seven days …'” The search experiment. You were warned, Vi.
p.98 – “‘The Archives are almost empty on Sundays …'” Jesinia mentions dead on Sundays, but Saturdays end up being the dead meeting day. So is it weekends in general, or is this a CONTINUITY/EDITING ERROR?
p.102 – “… or he’s part of the classified-signet club.” But Dain has a signet patch despite his being classified, so if that’s the case, those rules changed.
p.103 – “‘I know nothing of your father’s research,’ Tairn promises. But Andarna has gone silent.” Is this also deliberate language? Does Andarna know more here?
p.104 – “He hits the sunburned grass …” Sunburned, or marginally drained by Basgiath venin?
p.107 – “… actually help me contain the burst of power crawling through my veins.” With the power overwhelming her … could the dragons *actually* use their bonded humans as a tool if they wanted to?
p.108 – “‘That’s no excuse to send me into something unprepared.'” Technically you were prepared by Xaden on p.94, Violet.
p.109 – “… I look to see a man in infantry colors sitting in a cage …” WTF is up with this?
p.110/111 – “A sensation of unwelcome familiarity crawls along my skin … There isn’t a horde of venin and wyvern waiting to be spotted …” Poor Vi has PTSD so damn bad and this year just isn’t helping and is making things worse. I think that’s half her problem in the first half of IF too – PTSD. For all of them. There needs to be a signet for mind mending.
p.113 – “‘You want to see brutal, go and visit one of the coastal outposts …'” More about coastal outposts being brutal – go Lilith for sending Col. Aetos to one. You knew what you were doing.
p.119 – “He steps back and pulls the door open, gesturing for me to walk out first …” Xaden is back to opening doors for her after his momentary lapse last year.
p.120 – “… the medallion in the hilt that’s a duller gray and decorated with a rune. ‘That piece is the alloy … it’s capable of…holding power.'” Does the rune help with imbuing? Is that why? I feel like it’s all about the runes.
p.121 – “‘Imbuing is a process … A rider has to pour their own power into it …'” Was Jack technically imbuing power into Violet during their fight?
p.123 – “Their dragons, Breugan …” So now we know Breugan is Carr’s dragon and if it’s a Scottish Gaelic translation like everything else, it translates to LIES.
p.128 – “They simply stay at my side, step by step …” Love that the rebellion kids – or at least the ones that know Violet and respect her – also stand by her side, treating her as an equal.
p.129 – “‘Pull it back, Jacek …'” Sometimes RY’s decision on when to use the first or the last name is confusing. See: Nasya.
– “… squad leader from Second Wing.” But on p.128, it says “against some others from Third Wing” – CONTINUITY/EDITING ERROR.
– “I’m the only one in our group who hasn’t had another attempt made on their life.” Is that not technically what Varrish did, pushing you to burnout? But, as we know from FW, your definition of an “attempt on your life” is different than the others.
p.130 – “A first-year from Third Wing … It had taken me … to find someone who could point out the girl earlier in the gym.” So wait. Which wings are there? All? SO CONFUSED.
p.133 – “‘The course humans wouldn’t have to take if they would simply stay seated, known as RSC …’” Tairn’s like, humans, never get off us, fuckers. I also wonder if he’s heard about this class from Sgaeyl when Xaden went through it.
p.135 – “‘Breathe, Maribel’ … ‘Mirabel.'” Okay, RY, which one is it? CONTINUITY/EDITNG ERROR. I presume the latter given p.139 …
p.136 – “… slightly surprised at my first instinct, which is to tell the infantry captain to fuck off …” Oh Violet. You have officially become one of those pompous rider pricks.
p.137 – “‘… we’re actually pretty proud of the concoction …'” I wonder, did Winifred develop it? She’s known for this stuff and we don’t hear her name AT ALL in IF …
p.140 – “There’s no variation for height or specialization …” Also no variation for people who might need modifications due to health or anything.
p.141 – “Baide … her hazy golden eyes …” The eyes are hazy – is this because of Jack being venin? We know her eyes get opaque by the end …
p.145 – “‘But it’s not like other dragons are waiting behind enemy lines to kill us.’ ‘You’d be surprised …'” So Violet’s right, but come on, like Basgiath is going to do any actual preparing for the real threat …
p.152 – “‘Saturdays are usually the day I work the Archives, when it’s quiet.'” But it’s also quiet this discussion, on a Sunday. Makes me confused with the p.98 discussion, unless it’s just WEEKENDS that are quiet and Jesinia just happens to work Saturdays …
– “Not only are our commissions lifelong …” Are rider commissions lifelong because of the dragon bond? And what happens if a rider would become king? Like, say, a certain first-year … but also Xaden …
p.153 – “‘And when he walked out of that secretive room … he was with an air wielder …'” Was that air wielder doing something to help Barlowe? And if so, what?
p.154 – “She’d help me break into the fucking Archives if I wanted.” And Rhi does do exactly that.
p.157 – “‘I don’t need to be part of your development era.'” Oh RY, you are SUCH a Swiftie.
p.158 – “‘I bet you keep him constantly annoyed … How glorious.'” I really wonder why Imogen is so gleeful about this.
– “… simply labels the enemy as General Daramor …” Daramor had to have been venin and it’s just not being said, right? Also this assumes that something happened in regards to stuff between the dragons and gryphons to separate them as they weren’t together to take down the common enemy at that point …
p.159/160 – “‘Before last year, I would have never considered that the safest place in the world was on the back of a dragon.’” Tairn, this is a compliment, you crank-ass.
p.161 – Epigraph – is this basically saying that there were dragon hatching grounds well outside Navarre that were lost, too?
p.162 – “‘Separating you two would be my first move if I was in a position of power.'” Is this what the venin want too? Or are they trying to turn both Violet and Xaden?
p.162/3 – “‘ … because you lied to yourself … just because Riorson thinks that works for him – it doesn’t, hence all your issues …'” Imogen is so the voice of reason here. And not wrong. Violet is just completely lost right now.
p.164 – “Professor Devera stands … her eyes downcast …” Devera knows how terrible this is and is grumbly with Markham.
– “But when did we close our borders?” This is a good question.
p.165 – “Fucking. Liar.” Oh, Markham in this whole thing is goooooood. From changing the tone of how the missive was supposed to be read to lying about the tales the Poromish are telling.
– “‘… we authorized classified missions … to reconnoiter …” But did you really? Or did you, and just lied about the findings?
p.168 – Epigraph – Secondhand, translated, translated and redacted. Such a wonderful way to think of what was lost.
p.169/170 – “‘And why aren’t your shields up?’ … ‘And it’s just us in here’ … ‘Hmmm’.” What’s with the shields needing to be up while she’s alone in her room? To make sure they’re second nature? Or some other reason?
p.174 – “‘I’ll know. I’m an incredible judge of character.’” Of course you’ll know, Mr. Intention Reader.
p.180 – “Dragons hold grudges.’” More on this. But now I’m wondering … are some of these grudges long-held because of the combined hatching grounds in the Vale and more breeds on top of each other when before, they’d be nice and separate?
p.182 – “… his morningstar tail …” Isn’t morningstartail one word? EDITING ERROR. I feel like there are a few of these errors in IF …
p.189 – “‘… to the saddle before I put it on …’” If there is anything I want out of a potential movie/TV series, it is to see Tairn put on his own saddle.
p.190 – “… stealing little pieces of my soul …” This takes on such a different meaning in this series …
p.192 – “‘It’s not me you have to worry about.’” Which makes me wonder, exactly how many classified signets with mind work are out there?
p.194 – “‘I haven’t seen runes like these in…a while.'” And when was the last time you did see runes like those, Mira?
p.195 – “‘… originate from the wardstone in the Vale …'” Weeeellll, it’s more on the grounds of Basgiath than in the Vale, but y’know.
– “‘Sometimes I can manifest on my own …'” I think you probably should be able to do this more than just sometimes, Mira, but Carr sucks, so there’s that.
p.197 – “‘And it’s hard to see combat … but if you don’t … present a stable, steady front …'” And here’s Mira saying, sorry Violet, I know you basically have PTSD, but just deal because you have to.
p.199 – “‘I just thought you might like to explore an aspect of Tyrrish culture.'” That’s not exactly it, Xaden, and you know it, you ding dong.
p.202/3 – “Rhi shoots me a look … not the place to explore her conspiracy theories …” Hers, or Ridoc’s, or both?
p.203 – “Sawyer makes a running motion with his first two fingers.” Is this actually a hint where we learn Sawyer wants to learn how to sign/is him trying to?
p.204 – “… Devera continues, running a hand up and down a faded scar …” Is this the same scar she sported new in the first Battle Brief of the year (p.76)?
p.205 – “‘The only unique thing we kept were our runes …'” So are runes actually still taught then, even if only in Tyrrendor? Would Amber Mavis have known runes?
– “‘Things are lost in translation.'” Oh how true this is in so many ways and in ways we probably don’t even know.
p.207 – “‘You’d think we’d be able to feel it?'” Actually Ridoc, I have this exact same question about the wards … because canonically, it doesn’t seem like you can.
p.210 – “‘Riorson told you he’d gone to Athebyne with his cousin … Second-years don’t get leave for that kind of flight …'” So it’s all because Bodhi went that they got in trouble. If it had just been Xaden (and, say, Garrick), all would have been fine?
p.211 – “There’s no way my mother sliced into Xaden a hundred and seven times.” Oh, but if Mira’s tried saying it, and now Dain … I think it’s true, Violet. On that note, how do so many people actually know about this?
p.215 – Epigraph – Is this basically saying that you end up trusting your squad more than your family, Brennan? And is that why it was so easy to let your family believe you were dead?
p.216 – “… his fingers ghosting over my cheek …” RY uses the term of “ghosting” for touches a lot … mostly in terms of Xaden’s shadows touching Violet, but also her using her lips to ghost over Xaden’s scars …
– “… when I’ve waited centuries …” But, as we learn, Andarna also waited centuries for Violet herself …
p.217 – “‘I need a firsthand account from one of the six … I know they exist …’” And yet, later on, you say you’re not sure one does exist. POSSIBLE CONTINUITY ERROR? Or just more proof of Violet’s scrambled brain?
– “… Xaden sweeps me to the side, putting me behind his back.” Clear instance of Xaden not standing beside Violet like he used to.
p.218 – “‘His intentions are pretty fucking clear.’” Or is this when Varrish reads Xaden, when Xaden reads him? Does Xaden have to drop his shields to be able to read someone’s intentions?
– “Ordering him around only makes him push that much harder.” Unless it’s you, Violet. Technically.
p.221 – “‘It means we’re not in the graded scenario.'” You say yes, Grady, but technically, you lie, since on p.224 you say the first lesson is that you’re always in scenario. Unless it’s always scenario, just not necessarily graded. Which lord semantics. Especially because a bit down you say, “I’ll let you know when we begin the scenario.”
– “‘We’re doing this for you, not to you.'” Dear sweet jeebus is BWC an abusive relationship.
p.222 – “‘Didn’t know you had it in you to break the rules, Violet.'” Oh, Violet breaks rules and bends even more. But technically, was sneaking out really outside the Codex? Because we all know that’s all that really matters …
p.223 – “‘I scream like a toddler …'” And now I really hope RY writes a scene where this happens because witnessing Ridoc do this – even in text? Hilarious.
p.225 – “‘… my signet … has to do with your bodily functions … I’ll know when you’re lying …'” Okay, now I really want a list of all possible signets … and how some mindwork-related signets ARE NOT executable. Or which ones aren’t.
p.226 – “‘Who do you think I got it from?'” This genius quip from Violet re: her mom.
p.228 – Epigraph – THIS BETTER NOT BE FORESHADOWING FOR VI AND HER SQUAD.
p.229 – “‘… you should practice on her.'” This comment to Dain means those with mindwork signets probably actually get shit training. Which might actually be in line with Basgiath, tbh.
– “‘It’s amazing what you can learn by simply observing.'” So either Varrish has spies everywhere, or there are a lot more people wandering around with classified signets that walk a fine line of executability …
– “‘We’re running out of civilians around here for Nolon to mend …'” TF? Civilians?!?
p.230 – “… he reaches for my face with both hands …” MY POINT EXACTLY. GFDD moments are both hands.
p.231 – “‘I think I’ve had my head buried in other matters …'” So Nolon is so bedraggled that he makes this comment, but then helps abduct Violet after the Archives break-in, which you’d maybe consider are related if he’s known her for so long? I need to get more Nolon (and his motivations) in book three …
p.233 – “Magic isn’t tied to objects like that.” Oh but it is, Violet, it is. Or can be.
p.235 – “A scribe cadet walks by …” Is this one who helped Devera with the Zolya announcement? And then maybe subsequently escapes with Jesinia?
p.236 – “ZOLYA FALLS TO DRAGON FIRE” – This is a few months later … is this the same Zolya problem mentioned earlier? (p.9) Did Zolya JUST fall?
p.237 – “‘We wouldn’t do this.'” You ain’t wrong, Sawyer.
p.241 – Epigraph – Funny little thing about menders here …
– “A small, almost soft smile curves his mouth … he nods at me …” Does Jack do this at Violet because he knows of the greater need for her (and/or Xaden) by the venin?
*p.242 – “… all stare at me like there’s a chance I might grow a tail and start breathing fire …” I’d have to make sure, but I feel like there are more references to Violet being somewhat draconian – in the sense of being like a literal dragon. Given her conversations with other dragons later in the book … is this second signet foreshadowing?
p.244 – Epigraph – … even with Xaden’s shields, he still felt the dragons mating. So, either he was at the point where he hadn’t officially mastered them yet, or dragon sex is just THAT overwhelming …
p.245 – “… as he spars with Garrick.” I know Garrick is stationed with Xaden (probably because nothing was left after they all thought these two were dead, but still kind of surprising they got put together …), but I am so sad we don’t see more Garrick. I agree with the Fantasy Fangirls Podcast – this book needed more Garrick.
p.246 – “… hundred percent black morningstartail …” Should that be Black Morningstartail? POTENTIAL EDITING ERROR.
p.256 – Epigraph – I like how this calls mindwork a lesser magic when clearly, it is NOT.
p.257 – “‘And as for losing the shadow wielder, she would be emotionally inconvenienced …’” Tairn says this, and then deflects Violet when she asks if that’s all she is to him. This supports my theory that yes, Xaden would die if Violet died, but Violet would not necessarily die if Xaden did.
– “‘… about the company the lieutenant keeps …’” First time (I think) Tairn calls Xaden something other than “Wingleader” (or maybe even shadow wielder).
– “Maybe I’m not the only one with bad dreams.” I don’t necessarily think the dragons *have* dreams, but it’s making me wonder if the dragons can sense human dreams. And it still makes me wonder how Tairn knew she was being attacked in FW …
p.261 – “‘Please. I know you better than that.'” Actually, Cat, you don’t. Sorry.
p.263 – Epigraph – … this technically doesn’t mean riders though, unless something similar is in the Codex, right?
– “‘To which I will remind you … Now cease this line of thinking.’” Tairn’s logic through this whole section. I love his arrogant dragon logic.
p.264 – “… their tails swishing in rhythm.” This visual is so dang cute.
p.265 – “‘You’re not the only one with bad dreams, you know.'” So Xaden probably has PTSD, too.
p.266 – “‘… I have no doubt that Varrish and Aetos …’” Does Tairn mean Dain? Because daddy Aetos is gone …
p.267 – “Fuck, I feel like Xaden of all people.” You should, because that is who you’re acting like.
p.268 – “… the little hallway that houses my squad’s chambers.” Interesting that they put all the squads together, but it makes sense.
p.270 – “‘In fact, we influence them.'” If you actually can influence a dragon, Varrish, are you venin, in league with venin, or just lying?
p.274 – “Maybe keeping his distance works for Xaden …” Clearly, as you learned from Imogen, it doesn’t work for him.
p.275 – “‘What we really need is a primary source, and I doubt the First Six sat around …'” And then you’re surprised when Ridoc mentions the journals EVEN THOUGH earlier, on p.217, you mention to Xaden that you remember your dad seeing/mentioning a firsthand account. POSSIBLE CONTINUITY ERROR?
p.278 – “‘You have the Empyrean gathered.’” Does the Empyrean now gather at Threshing just in case another shitshow happens like with Violet and her two dragons? Would they rather just be there and not have to be called instead of being called from whatever they were doing?
p.280 – “… when I spin to face the only one left …” It does make me happy that Col. Aetos is presumably spending a lot of money on assassins and wasting it when they all get killed. Yeah, he’s had a bit of success, but for the most part, the Resson crew is coming out ahead.
p.282 – Epigraph – THIS BETTER NOT MEAN ANYTHING REGARDING VIOLET ALWAYS REFERRING TO XADEN AS HER GRAVITY.
p.282/3 – Literally everything with Barlowe here. Is there a game he’s playing (re: venin)? Is this proof that whatever Nolon/Basgiath is doing to heal him actually sometimes works? Does word of this incident somehow get back to Varrish and that’s why Varrish refers to him as unpredictable?
p.289 – “… tugs me backward, setting me slightly behind him …” Again with Xaden putting himself in front of Violet as opposed to standing by her side.
p.290 – “‘Classified signet, remember?'” More proof that Imogen’s claim about her speed in FW during Squad Battle was more to keep her signet classified.
– “… it’s almost shocking how well he blends into the darkness.” It’s funny how well Andarna is able to do the same, but for different reasons.
p.292 – “‘Your shadows tell you that?'” Actually, Aaric, that is a good question. Can Xaden’s shadows just sense people, or can he actually hear through them?
p.297 – “‘It’s Halden’s destiny to be king. Not mine.'” Oh, does this mean that Aaric is somehow gonna be king in this series? Because … plausible.
p.304 – “‘… when Jack told me he saw you out here …'” FUCKING BARLOWE.
p.305 – “‘… when you risk the safety of every civilian in this kingdom.'” What about when you said you had your head in the sand, HUH NOLON? And worried about her knowledge?
p.306 – Epigraph – Again, I need to know all the mindwork-related signets.
– “‘She’s in Calldyr.'” Sneaking around Lilith’s back, are we?
p.308 – “… I look straight into those pale, soulless eyes.” No red rims for Varrish, but soulless sounds about right. Ahh, phrasing.
p.310 – “‘Maybe,’ Liam says …” LIAM! I love this Alex/Jesse-type situation like in the Alex the Fey series. And since that’s military-related, and RY is a military spouse, I have to think that this hallucination of a former squad mate has to be something common that’s been noted from military members that have gone through torture as a coping mechanism.
p.311 – “Xaden’s priorities have always been clear …” And yet, Violet, you’re being willfully blind to not accept that he’s been crystal clear that his top priority now is YOU.
p.313 – “‘… I was lucky enough to glimpse the most powerful rider of your generation fumble his shields like a novice once.'” Still trying to figure out when this was. Also, that rider is actually Violet, Varrish, so poop on you.
p.314 – “‘Can’t trust that kid for anything … Too unpredictable.'” Jack is such a question mark in so many ways.
– “Everyone I care about is safe. That’s what I grasp onto.” Violet is so self-sacrificing and loyal.
p.316 – “‘But logic says he’ll have to muddle through what you’re thinking first.'” Liam you are brilliant here. Pick and choose the memory for him.
p.317 – “‘… can,Aetos.'” There might need to be a space in here, but it’s hard to tell. This is an issue with a lot of the text in IF …
– “… he lifts his hands … his fingers push in on my tender, aching temples.” BOTH HANDS. I am telling you, it is BOTH HANDS for a GFDD moment.
p.319 – “… the Archives I worshipped alongside the gods …” Are you saying you thought of the Archives on the same level as the gods, Violet?
p.321 – “Shadows explode around us …” Violet making Xaden lose control NOT in bed.
p.325 – “Xaden lifts me into his arms …” Granted, Violet is in worse shape than she ever was in FW, but he still wouldn’t have carried her last year.
p.326 – “‘When you have children, we can discuss the risks you’ll take …'” Given that RY has six kids, this interchange is interesting. Unless it’s just something re: being a parent (of which I have no experience).
p.327 – “‘… certainly by the time you made captain or major, when Markham would start bringing you into the fold, as we do with most at those ranks …'” How on EARTH do you keep a secret THAT big with THAT many people? Out of all the “impossible” things in this series (dragons, magic, etc.), this seems the most unlikely.
– “‘… or your own naivete …'” So, there’s accents with protege (which I haven’t figured out how to do in WP), but not with naivete? They don’t have to be there, but I feel like if you’re gonna have them elsewhere …
– “I don’t want to hear a single explanation for such an unforgivable act.” Oh Violet, you KNEW it was your mom that put those scars there. You just purposefully kept your head in the sand despite all the hints.
p.330 – “‘I have no problem adding to my body count for the day …'” Garrick, don’t you mean Xaden’s body count? You almost seemed upset in the tunnel that you couldn’t kill anyone …
p.332 – “Fire erupts from Carr’s hands …” Okay, so this tells me that Carr is presumably a fire wielder (and a common signet. Ha. You’re not special, Carr.).
– “Time seems to slow as Bodhi steps forward … The fire dies, extinguishing like it was never there …” BODHI YOU ARE FUCKING AWESOME. This is the coolest signet. And again, I really need to know Garrick’s …
– “‘You taught us well, Professor … Maybe a little too well.'” Bodhi, I think you might be the only one Carr taught well.
p.334 – “Brennan looks down at me, his eyes wide with shock and a touch of fear.” Ha, Brennan looking at Violet with fear. That’s right, Brennan, your sister be hella powerful.
And since IF is a filler book that is NOT, there is SO MUCH information. The rest of the notes to come when I cover Part Two.
* Anything noted with an asterisk potentially could do with Violet’s second signet – the one she’ll get from Andarna and which RY has said has shown up in IF somewhere.
Girl Exploring Life 