#Fourth Wing spoiler warnings

[violentdelightshavevioletends]

More Processing through Fourth Wing's Ending thoughts with me & SPOILERS!!! Day 2… (maybe 3… idk time😂 I’m running on 3 hours of sleep forgive me) of processing Fourth Wing’s ending (I’m only 1 chapter in to Iron Flame) & perhaps sleep deprivation is making me weak😂 or time is clarifying wounds but I kinda feel opposite of a lot of previous opinions right now So…

I’m sorry, I love you Violet; and honestly a piece of me (probably trauma) gets why she’s so hurt by Xaden. As someone that’s dated the wrong people I get it… betrayal hurts. When you’re that close to someone, things get messy; and if your heart was given on a platter, before that trust breaks it is terrifying. If you feel like they didn’t know you, didn’t trust you, didn’t think you worth it; or maybe you didn’t know them, couldn’t, and you just wanted to love them so much; because you love them so much. It doesn’t always matter if they warned you, it doesn’t always matter if they welcomed you it just leaves you lost. Even if maybe this time it is a right person… but I feel more sorry for Xaden.

Xaden who was a child. A child. Paying not only for his parents mistakes, feeling the pain of it not only in their execution and the trauma of watching it; but for 107 innocent children’s parents mistakes. It was up to him to keep those kids alive, while being a grieving traumatized child himself. He holds the weight of the world on his back rather literally. And he has since he was a child… that is a very long time to create a habit… to learn most people cannot be trusted and experience the distrust of almost everyone upon a mere first glance. And on top of that he is one of the few people who know the truth of their world, who has nothing left to lose himself, but everything to lose for everyone else. While being one of the few (if not only) people who have the power to take that information and actually make a difference, to be unpredictable & therefore avoid a pre-known future, to have the power & use ability to use it. And save everyone; 107 innocent lives, and an entire country. All the while not being the only one, he is not acting with all the control, he is a part of a much larger wheel. Every move he makes is watched, is a risk, for himself, for all he has left, and all anyone else has.

And that is not to excuse behaviors: he did not lie to Violet but he did not tell her everything, yet he did tell her that. He told her time and time again and while it was a classic “I’m not worth it” prove him wrong, he also proved it right; he never said he could say that, give that… and wouldn’t it be odd if he did? If he was willing to risk all of it for a girl he hasn’t even known a year; a girl who is the generals daughter, and best friend to a mind reader who could easily use that connection to betray them without her even knowing it. And yes, it’s different because it is Violet: Violet who is just as intelligent, could help so much, who has power, and above all is good; she wouldn’t risk those kids either. But taking that leap in telling her, while worth it, the risk was so high I understand why it couldn’t have been.

And also while I hate the rift this creates within them a little bit of me thinks it’s the only way they can go forward because Violet joined the rebellion by choice. She didn’t join for a guy, she didn’t join out of force, she joined because she saw wrong in the world and wanted to fix it. Because she is trustworhy, and good, and powerful, and brilliant. And maybe now they can finally speak without all these state lines and war divisions and fear between them.

Minus the fact it’s horribly complicated by grief, guilt, anger, confusion, and someone to blame.

But in that I really can’t stand the idea of any of that blame being put onto Xaden because of all people he is grieving Liam; his brother. His brother who isn’t alive, or a secret weapon of a rebellion to come back… one of the few people who knew more to him, and he is chalked up to be just another rider, another mark, another dead rider caught in a war of wrong things paying the price for debts that were not his own; like so many before (and what I fear to be) many after. Xaden doesn’t need the blame he already feels the guilt. He gave everything to protect the children of the rebellion, and he just lost one; one of his best friends & only family members left. He did everything he could to prevent it… but also he gave everything for that rebellion once again.

And that’s not to say he does not love Violet enough to do something, or love his people enough; no one is expendable to him and he makes it known right there & then. Run, leave, live… he practically pleads it. And when they do not he gives what else he can to saving as many people as they can… in that he loses them, he loses the last people he loves to fight for in the midst of fighting so others won’t. When it comes to Violet he does break the rules, he takes the step, he would’ve stopped it had he needed to… he flies for Liam still… he tries.

And she has every reason to feel hurt, to take space, to heal. Hell, to go on. But stuck this close and this far from one another is agonizing because he fucked up but it’s because of the situation… and while he messed up, it’s not all his fault either. Nor is this the point that should matter most. And while I’ve previously taken her perspective I just wanted to give a moment for his own cause they are both pretty heavy.

Now final new-ish point on the subject of all the intermixed and frankly “blame-placing”: that being Dain. Who may or may not have known, and may I be wrong, may he have involuntarily given Violet up or truly not known what that cost would be… while wrong… I imagine the price of Liam’s life will weigh heavily. Fucked up as it may also be he does care for Violet, it might not be in the right way… but if he didn’t know then maybe the unfortunate truth is none of them are the ones at blame.

Which leaves once again the rising question of General Sorrengail who I think is going to have a big secret and do something good for the rebellion and the Empyrean leaders who are probably awful psychopaths as I anticipate if correct.

So idk what this is but I guess there’s another perspective.

[violetsorengail]

Xaden growing colder throughout the book when the one thing Sgaeyl hates is the cold

[realitys-ex]

A Mediocre review of 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros

I'm going to be up front: It was awful, if you loved the book and don't want to be frustrated by someone who 'doesn't get it', all the power to you, and stop reading!

My review will only aggravate you to no purpose.

Also, I will be fully spoiling the book, so fair warning.

That aside...This book was bad. It checked off every trope on the list of 'shitty generic fantasy book with smut tropes' and wasn't even well written.

But hey, why don't we delve into why it sucked?

The writing itself was poor. I could barely make through the first 10 pages, and though it was better for the majority, it is some of the worst I've ever read for the back 10-20.

Next, the setting. Your M.C. is the daughter of the general of the Dragon portion of the Army, and though she was training to be a scribe, last minute her mother forces her to attempt to become a Dragon rider which is terribly physically difficult.

Oh, also like....50%+ of dragon rider trainees die.

Why? To prove that they will be tough enough to ride dragons. Would it work just as well if at every occasion they would 'die' they just... got drummed out instead? Probably! Would that save your best and brightest for other rolls in the military? Sure! Will they do that? No! Why? BECAUSE! (like, obv. there is the in world explanation that this way only the most dedicated apply, but.... that is clearly post fact. An excuse to allow there to be stakes rather than a true reason)

Next our fearless (or rather, fearful) lead runs into her romantic interests: The law abiding dude from her youth, and the edgy, sexy son of a rebel who has a tattoo marking him as such! (all the rebels children have these marks)

Why do they have these marks, and why are so many of them in the Dragon Riding School? Because they were allowed to live only if they watched their parents die, got these marks, and entered the school, which if they survived would turn them into some of the most powerful and dangerous people in the country.

WHO THE FUCK THOUGHT ANY PART OF THAT PLAN WAS A GOOD IDEA?

But, w/e, she will stay away from this sexy bad boy because he is 'toxic' and she doesn't do 'toxic'. the implication should be that she was in a terrible relationship before, which would give some fun character building.... but nope never addressed.

Against all odds she survives to dragon selection day, dodging classmates who are attempting to kill, which is more or less fine with everyone!

And she gets selected by the mythical Feather Tail! Now, dragons are divided along to axis: Colour and Tail type. Colour gives you your standard mixes, which says certain things about the dragons temperament (how to aproach it, intelligence, etc.). Tail type says.... also something about fight type? I'll be honest I was slightly zoned out there. But like there are club tails, sword tails, etc.

Now feather tails are crazy rare, and don't do combat, so she saves it from some of her classmates who were going to kill it b/c it was so weak, and b/c of this she gets selected by a Black Dragon (one of the best ones!) and also the feather tail!

Bonding two dragons, unheard of!

(TBH, this bit I was ok with, she isn't super special or anything, the black dragon was just 'oh, you saved a weak dragon, I like you. Lets bond' and the feathertail was 'oh, you saved me. Lets bond')

Now it turns out that Feathertails aren't rare! They are just children/babies. So aren't allowed to bond (also their magic works funky, but I'll get to that later).

Why aren't the dragons open about this? Fuck if I know!

Anyway, she continues to dodge murderous colleges who think there is a chance if she dies the dragon will bond with them instead (which apparently happens? wtf?).

And because her dragon is the mate of the dragon bonded to dark and sexy, they are bonded also!

So when their dragons are fucking, they both get super horny, but dark and sexy turns her down b/c she can't really consent.

UhHuh.

Oh, and now DarkandSexy needs her to stay alive b/c there is a chance if she dies her dragon dies, if her dragon dies his dragon will die (b/c mated pair), and if his dragon dies, he dies.

Don't worry everyone, they fuck and it is awesome for everyone!

Anyway. That is the book, there is actual plot of world politics, but eh. As shitty as that was, I am sure the sequels make it less stupid then it appears from the get go.

But yeah, 1, maybe 2 redeeming features from the whole book.

(The dragon bonds overall are actually kinda interesting, it's just with relation to everything else they become dumb. Like, ok. If you are unbonded and look at a dragon the wrong way, your'e dead. Fair enough. But... that still applies once you bond? Like Dragons see the bonded of other dragons as fair play? It seems that after a month it is pretty emotionally devistating for their humans to die. Why wouldn't there be social rules about that?

Oh and.... no one invented harnesess for dragons yet. You need to stay on your dragon via thigh grip. Sure makes for decent sex acrobatics... but wtf?)

Anyway....

Cons: -The first and last parts of the book(Arguablly the most important) are *terribly* written -The 'Constant risk of death' doesn't actually make sense -Everything done with 'children of the traitors' seems designed to set up a coup in like 10 years (which... if that was by design of someone who wanted a coup in world, 10/10, but I am not reading more to find out) -The secrecy around the young dragons makes no sense (like, there is a pseudo in world explanation to do with magic, but the dragons could said 'oh they are our young. no bonding.' and skipped the bit about magic) -NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT HARNESSES? I was legit confused about that the entire book! -The 'romance' in its entirety was awful -The way dragons interact with bonded, and students interact with bonded was illogical at best

Pros: -The magic system (such as it was) was actually kinda cool -The bonding system was decent -'Why main character is so special' was actually good!

Overall.... there were about 100/450 pages I enjoyed it. So I'll give it a 4/10.

I will not pick up a book suggested by this friend ever again.

[dragons-library]

IRON FLAME SPOILER:

Now that Xaden is a Venin you bet your ass Violet will want to get her hands on that Venin book Brennan has.

[unyieldingwings]

ONYX STORM SPOILER AHEAD

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RIDOC HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[pagan-corruption]

Violet in Iron Flame making sure Dain doesn't touch her again:

[callsign-blue]

On this day 4/21/24 at 11:18 am- I have finished Iron Flame and we have to wait till fucking January of 2025 for book 3….

Holy fucking shit there’s so much action and it’s literally insane. Also y’all have been too harsh on Mama Sorrengail… like I get it like she’s harsh but look how her kids turned out they are hardheaded stubborn so 10 toes down on what they think is right. She completed her goal and now she’s going back to the love of her life, a scribe..♥️ don’t care. I am 100% backing their mom.

Also Andarna being left behind like they could be more out there we just don’t know and if the dragons don’t know, the elders might know maybe they don’t even know. Because there is so much of the map that we have not even been to that could maybe be where they could be at her breed. Like they could be in the barren even though there’s not really any mountains like literally anywhere they’re hiding. Or maybe her family fled to give her a chance to live? I’m just just throwing these out here.

I’m going to have to read the last chapter over and over again, but you know I thought it was gonna be more intense honestly. From chapter 60 and on all, it is fucking intense but I thought it would be different. I don’t know like they get her, violet, surrounded still on the fighting field. They do the same thing for Xadan. And then you know either one gets tortured then it forces that one has to turn to save the other (lol hint hint)

I think Onyx Storm to do with both Xaden and Andarna. Not one or the other.

I think nothing really prepared me for Lilith Sorrengail end..like at all….

Also, I am so happy that Sawyer made it. Like there’s just so much going on in the last six chapters. I think the Venin, from what I have gathered do you want Violet, but to take her signet from her and then kill her. And I say that because The guys on page 593 the dark Wilder says “ I’m under orders not to kill, so let’s not make this difficult” also says “ you’ll be so much fun for him to wield” and obviously throughout the last few parts of the first book at Resson they were trying to at least harm violet or try to kidnap her. Her signet is legitimate power. She’s also the first Lightning user in they said decades or hundreds of years( I don’t quite remember, but it was a long time) You can see why they would want her specifically.

I find it very fucking interesting that they both have the same nightmares. They just never told each other about it like he turned for love and she will turn to save the one she loves.what the fuck

Also, it’s been coincide with that “ I have waited 650 years to hatch. Waited until your 18th summer, when I heard our elders talk of the week link daughter of their general, the girl forecasted to become the head of the scribes, and I knew. You would have the mind of a scribe and the heart of a rider you would be mine.”- Andarna. Her breed has to be the breed that wiped out the venin all those years ago because those numbers don’t just correlate for randomness. It just doesn’t make sense like for the love of fucking God it doesn’t make sense.(also I’m not religious that I’m just making a point.)

I also understand the reason why Violet is acting how she is with her now trust issue and being left in the dark is such a big thing for her. I think it’s just because she found her chosen family and finding out that there things being withhold from you, that are important, but not significant to the moment. Xaden is so patient and he definitely gets brownie points from me. He also has trust issues and not saying hes innocent in all this but they both have their reasons and they are taking healthy steps and moving forwards. Violet tends to be centered with knowledge and having that helps her make decided what to do next and move forward.

The conversations/arguments do get tedious, but considering a lot of her knowledge of The Continent and what happens and basically being lied to about their whole society will do that to a person because they think whatever they thought they knew they now have to rethink it. And it does suck being kept in the dark about stuff nobody wants to be kept in the dark, but in the end, she still loves him, she still chooses him.

[kkayslibrary]

This audio was made for this content. You can’t convince me otherwise.

[joellesolo]

Fourth Wing/Iron Flame spoilers, maybe??

I was trying to get ahold of the holiday edition of Fourth Wing yesterday and Target had it in stock and in the description it said two bonus chapters from the hero's POV so naturally I assumed Violet's, but then throughout the day on facebook everyone was saying the bonus chapters are Xaden's??

SO XADEN IS THE HERO?!

DOES THAT MEAN VIOLET TURNS INTO THE VILLIAN? DOES SHE BECOME A VENIN? OR WORSE... THE NEXT SAGE?!

I don't know. They sold out of the holiday editions before Michael could get over there after work of course. And I'm only halfway through Iron Flame.

BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING OKAY. Did anyone else notice that?!

[azsazz]

Drown in Me

Garrick (Fourth Wing) x Virgin!Reader

Summary: Anon Req: well I absolutely love Garrick. I just know he is such a softie with his partner. Just imagine that you too hate each other but something change during a mission or something and in a two simple word,, you fucked ". And you're virgin and he is so gentle and after he is so sweet.. Ohh I love this man

Warnings: Angst, smut, oral (f receiving), fingering, consensual sex.

Word Count: 4417

Notes: DOES NOT CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM.

I hope whoever requested this actually ages ago is still around. Sorry it took me so long. I'm obsessed with the beginning, it was so much fun to write 💙

_________________________________________

Chradh lands in the middle of the flight field with a roar that shakes the walls of Basgiath.

It’s directed at you, you know it is.

There’s no ducking away from the golden, narrowed gaze of the brown scorpiontail, nor his equally pissed rider. You swear Chradh is glaring at you, and he huffs a breath that reeks of sulfur.

Uisge, your green daggertail growls low in his throat. He stands tall behind you and equal parts of you want to preen and run, because standing between two dragons is never a good idea.

The Section Leader is not pleased, Uisge notes, and yeah, you already knew that.

Tell me something I don’t know, you retort, but lift your chin as you watch Chradh’s rider dismount with a grace you can only wish to emulate someday.

Your breath sticks in your throat at the sight of Garrick, despite the anger written clear on his face. He runs a hand through his now dry, wind-blown black hair, and you’d laugh at the way it sticks straight up if yours wasn’t still plastered to your skull after the unexpected dip you took during flight lessons today.

The Section Leader is not a strong swimmer. You wince. Yeah, that was found out during flight lessons today, too.

You’re frozen beneath that harsh look Garrick pins you with as soon as his boots hit the ground, his hazel eyes glowing with fire. He’s more than angry, he’s fucking fuming, and your boots squelch as you shift your weight to your other foot. You wince as the water from the soles of your boots floods your feet again. You hope you don’t look like a drowned rat.

More like a tiny, water-logged sheep, Uisge adds unhelpfully. Your shoulders fall in defeat. But a tiny sheep with sharp teeth. Head up, little one.

And well, a sheep with sharp teeth is better than a sheep with no teeth at all, so you raise your chin and patiently await your punishment.

Chradh pounds his strong wings, lifting from the ground, his annoyance with you and Uisge clearly over with. You’re sure the two male dragons are speaking through their mind connection, but you’re thankful that Garrick’s dragon is leaving the scene, even if everything that happens here will be seen through your section leader’s eyes.

It’s better not to have the audience for the reaming out you know you’re going to receive.

Much to your chagrin, Uisge follows.

Wait. Where are you going? We should be bearing punishment together! You can’t leave the sheep to face the wolf, you argue, because Garrick most definitely looks like a wolf right now.

I eat sheep and wolves for breakfast, Uisge replies. Is he insinuating that he’d like to eat you? You’re sure you wouldn’t taste good. And neither of them is secretly trying to fuck the other.

You gape, swinging your gaze to your dragon, but Uisge’s back is to you as he flies toward the vale, his daggertail sweeping in the wind.

Garrick approaches, the hilts of twin swords glow in the sun as it beams across the flight field. He could kill you in more ways than one with those weapons, and others, too, according to the neatly aligned patches that trail down the right arm of his flight jacket. Your jacket is bare, with the exception of the lousy wing and year patches you carefully sewed on. You’ve been awaiting receiving your signet patch, and maybe after what happened in training today, Garrick will get on that for you.

A distant roar has you realizing that you shouldn’t be lingering in the flight field lest the next wing prepare for training, so you spin on your heel and start for the courtyard.

Garrick catches up to you quickly, his strides longer than yours. His fingers are tucked into fists at his sides and there’s a low warning growl in his throat that tells you he’s not pleased with the way you walked away from him.

“What the fuck was that back there?” He questions, and you can hear him struggling to keep the anger from eking into his voice. Too late for that, you can hear his frustration clear as day.

Your boots squeak with each step you take and your damp leathers are beginning to chafe against your skin. Being in the blistering sun isn’t helping in the slightest, and you really wish your room was closer to the flight field right now.

And yeah, perhaps slipping off of Uisge’s back during flight maneuvers wasn’t your smartest decision, but you needed a bigger body of water than the bathtub to work on channeling your signet, and this was the only way you were going to get that done.

You didn’t expect Garrick to dive after you.

“I already told you; I slipped.”

“And I already told you,�� Garrick scowls, and it twists the pink scar on his jaw in a way that makes you want to trace it. “I don’t believe you.”

You set your jaw as you make your way up the stone stairs, trying not to cringe when every step fills your boots with water. You release your tense shoulders and attempt to drain the liquid from your clothing with a flick of your hand, but all you can manage to do is propel the water from your leathers into your boots.

It’s infuriating.

“You haven’t fallen off Uisge once during flight training, and all of a sudden, a few weeks after your water wielding signet appears, you go tumbling off into a lake?” He asks it like you think he’s stupid. You think he’s far from stupid.

I don’t, Uisge says, and you force your walls up with all of your might.

He’s been watching you?

You mutter, “I didn’t think you’d follow me.”

“It looked like you really fell off! You were under the water for longer than you should’ve!” Garrick says, and you frown. You couldn’t have been under the surface of the water for more than a few seconds. “What the hell was I supposed to do? Let you drown?”

He was much closer to drowning than you were, little one, Uisge’s voice creeps through your mind and you have to force the smile threatening to split your lips away.

“Uisge knows what I’m capable of,” you argue, but it falls flat at the outright disbelief on Garrick’s face.

“He knows what you’re capable of?” He scoffs, then tacks on a dry, mocking laugh. “You can barely even power an ink pen, for Amari’s sake.”

That’s because you’ve been focusing all of your energy on training your signet. Much more important that being able to power a stupid ink pen, in your opinion.

You stay silent so long that you’re on your floor before you know it. With an angered flick of your wrist, your locks click and your door opens an inch. You want to growl in frustration, that door should’ve swung open and stuck in the wall with the anger you attempted to force into it.

You’ll get there, little one, Uisge’s voice trickles through your walls. There really is no getting rid of him.

Leave me alone, Uisge.

I do not take orders from you, he retorts, but you feel him draw away nonetheless.

“Look,” Garrick sighs, shutting the door behind you with lesser magic. It’s an easy move that you have yet to master. “I can’t lose one of my riders to their own stupidity. I won’t let you.”

As his words settle in, you’re all too aware that he’s standing in the middle of your room, only a few feet from you, and the door is closed.

“I wasn’t going to die, Garrick. I knew what I was doing,” you answer, shrugging out of your flight jacket. Although it is no longer water-laden, the temperature in the room has risen, and you need out. You hang it on the back of your chair, missing the way that Garrick’s hazel eyes drink in the sight of the rest of your flight uniform. Today, you chose something thin and lightweight so you aren’t weighed down by the water you knew you were going to practice in. “I promise. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I do, though,” Garrick swallows, and you watch the way his throat bobs. Fuck, he can’t believe he’s doing this, but here the fuck he is, about to confess what’s been haunting him for weeks. You.

“Why?” You surprise him by saying. You cross your arms over your chest, not realizing that the move pushes your breasts higher. In your haze of annoyance, you fail to catch the way his eyes dip down for a peek. “I don’t see you jumping off dragons after any of the other riders!”

“That’s because I don’t have to worry about them,” he argues, taking a step closer. You’re a defiant little thing, so you move closer, too, which leaves your crossed forearms brushing his chest.

“You don’t have to worry about me!”

“I do!” He all but roars. You rock back on your heels in surprise but catch yourself.

Garrick runs a nervous hand through his hair. He’s no longer meeting your gaze, instead staring out the window over your shoulder. Something’s wrong. Something he clearly doesn’t want to tell you.

“Why?” You whisper.

“What?” He croaks; throat raw.

You glare up at him. You wish he would look at you. “Why do you have to worry about me?”

“I—” he trails off, helplessly, and you can see the way he’s talking himself out of admitting what’s on his mind. Maybe he’s even talking to Chradh.

“You what, Garrick?” You prod, an icy bite to your tone. “You think I’m weak?”

“No,” he answers vehemently. His gaze zeroes in on yours and he looks at you like he can’t believe you even said that.

“Then what is it?” You demand. “If it’s not because I’m the weakest link, then why are you worried about me?”

“Because,” Garrick roars, crowing in on you. You fall back but he keeps pushing forward, until your spine slams into the wall and there’s nowhere else for you to go.

Your arms fall as you brace yourself against the wall. Garrick’s chest heaves, and you swear you can feel the rapid beat of his heart from how close you stand. His front is plastered to yours, and there’s a flutter in your stomach that swirls at the fire in his eyes.

“Because I can’t get you out of my fucking head,” he admits, tone taking on a soft edge that converges right between your thighs. Your gaze flickers from one hazel eye to the other, confused at his sudden revelation. “Doesn’t matter where you are, what time of the day it is, you’re always on my mind.” He lifts a hand and gently brushes a strand of wet hair back that clings stubbornly to your cheek. The heat of his skin is searing, just like his words. “It’s like you’re a second Chradh,” he laughs drily, “Though you’re much prettier than him.”

You’re pretty sure that this isn’t real life. That your section leader didn’t just admit the very same thing you’ve been feeling for him since the first moment you laid eyes on him. It must be real, because you’re here, pinned to the wall by his big, strong body, and he’s looking at you like you might just reject him.

And you don’t know what the fuck to do. Sure, you’ve kissed people before, but you’ve never done anything more. You know for a fact that Garrick is well-practiced, with those broad shoulders and handsome face, his deep, dark hair and bright eyes that could surely turn anyone into a puddle.

The words stick in your throat. You don’t know what to say, where to start, and the longer you’re silent in front of him, the more apprehension creeps into his eyes. He shifts uneasily, and you wrack your mind for a response.

Ugh, just kiss him already, Uisge’s voice pops into your head.

Not now, Uisge, you bite, and then you heed your nosey dragon’s advice, and kiss Garrick.

You can tell he’s caught off guard by the way his body stills against yours. Still, you push onward, making it known that you’ve wanted him just as long as he’s wanted you by dragging your palms up his chest, reveling in every ripple of muscle you can feel through his flight jacket.

By the time your hands lock at the nape of his neck, Garrick’s hands are on your hips and his mouth moves against yours.

He lifts you into his arms, pinning you against the wall. Your legs wrap around his waist and he rolls his hips into yours as his tongue traces the seams of your lips. You gasp and Garrick slides his tongue into your mouth like he’s done it a million times. He brushes against yours tentatively, and when you don’t shy away from him, he advances.

One of his large hands slides up your waist, finding its way beneath the thin fabric of your shirt, exploring the smooth skin of your sides.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to kiss you,” Garrick mutters against the nape of your neck before sucking a harsh mark there. Your head thumps against the wall and your back arches into his body at the feeling of being claimed. It feels like threshing all over again, but this is better. Sorry Uisge.

Other than a rumble of protest down the bond, your stubborn daggertail doesn’t interrupt.

“How long?” you gasp when his lips find the spot that makes you melt into him. Your fingers scrabble against his flight jacket, nails scratching the thick fabric. Garrick growls in frustration, pulling back just far enough to drop his swords, unzip himself, and tear the fabric form his back. His black shirt follows, exposing those beautiful broad shoulders of his. You can’t help but trail your fingers across his pectorals and down his chest, admiring every inch of his body. Zihnal must be with you right now, because you’ve never felt luckier than you do right now.

“Since the day you chose Uisge,” he pants, helping you discard your own shirt. Your bra quickly follows, and Garrick’s hazel eyes latch onto your body like you’re the best thing he’s ever seen. Your nipples pucker under his heady gaze and he loses his train of thought in favor of bending down to suck a pert bud into his mouth, reveling in the way that you gasp and wriggle as he circles his tongue around the hard nub.

Threshing. He’s liked you since threshing, when you chose Uisge. You think it’s an odd way to phrase what happened that day, but in Garrick’s eyes, that’s exactly what it was. You, stubborn thing that you are, staring down the green daggertail with that look in your eye, the same one you always give him. The same one that makes his cock ache.

“Garrick,” you gasp, arching into him. He’s not close enough, not with your trousers still acting as a barrier from where he ruts his thick cock into you. Your fingers claw at the waistband of his pants. “Off.”

Garrick peels you from the wall, trailing his mouth back up to meet yours in a kiss that steals your breath. He’s very good at this, gentle, too, as he lies you on your bed and he works your pants loose from your hips.

“Fuck me,” he breathes when you’re fully exposed. A flush of red crawls up your body from your toes to your cheeks under that scrutinizing gaze of his. “Look at you.”

The sudden urge to cover yourself flares to life. You’re nervous, even more so when he drops his trousers and his cock bobs, heavy and swollen. Your mouth waters at the sight of him, all rippling muscle and perfect cock, his eyes only for you.

“Garrick,” you whisper, unable to keep the fear from your tone. While his cock is pretty, it looks like it’s big enough to rip you in half. You scramble away from him as he places a knee on the bed, feeling guilty at the confusion on his face. “I’ve never…” you trail off, cheeks burning red.

His uncertainty melts into understanding. “That’s okay, we don’t have to if you don’t—”

“No,” you protest, almost too quickly. Your voice has taken on a desperate volume, and you lower it before continuing. “I want to have sex with you, I really do,” you swallow, eyes dipping to his cock. It’s glistening at the tip. “I just wanted you to know, in case…” you trail off. In case he doesn’t fuck virgins.

The furrow between his brows creeps back. “I want you,” he presses, holding your eyes so that you know exactly how much this moment means to him. “If you want me, I want you. I’ve wanted you for so long.”

You nod, almost dazed. Even though he’s told you this already, the words send a current of excitement zipping down your body where it converges between your thighs.

You want him too.

“Come here, then, Garrick.”

He doesn’t have to be told twice.

Garrick kneels at the foot of the bed. He hooks his fingers around your ankles and carefully drags you closer to him, hazel eyes heady with lust. The effortless way that he tugs you to him has your pussy fluttering with need, a movement that he tracks.

When you near him, he slips from the bed, sliding to his knees. Carefully, Garrick tucks your legs over each of his shoulders, and you can feel each exhale he makes brushing your core. You bite your lip so you don’t release an impatient whine, but for Amari’s sake, you’ve never needed something so badly in your life.

“Is this okay?” he asks, tracing soothing circles into the meat of your thighs with his thumbs. He peppers kisses across the sensitive skin, grinning wildly when your hips buck beneath his mouth.

“Yes,” you moan, circling your hips as if to chase his lips. You want him on you now, licking you and teasing you and making you come on his tongue. “Please, Garrick, I—oh!”

You moan loud and wanton as the tip of his tongue flicks across your clit in an explorative swipe. Garrick locks that sound away in the back of his mind and dips down for another taste, scooping your slick up with his tongue. He’s going to enjoy the fuck out of drawing all these noises from you.

You’re fucking wet. The wettest pussy he’s ever had. You writhe against his tongue, panting and moaning at the different ways he uses his tongue. True to your stubborn nature, it isn’t long before your fingers are locked into his hair, guiding him while you chase your pleasure.

“That’s it, baby,” he says as he switches from tongue fucking you to sucking harshly at your clit. He nips at the joint of your hip when you keen in frustration. You even go so far as to lift your head from the mattress to glare down at him. His eyes fucking glow in response and he holds your needy gaze. “Take what you need.”

There’s a smart retort on the tip of your tongue but it melts into a moan of pleasure when his lips wrap around your clit and he sucks. Garrick adds his tongue into the mix, flicking it across your clit like he’s flipping through a never-ending deck of cards. When he adds a finger, your pleasure grows. When he adds a second, your orgasm crashes down around you in pure bliss. He doesn’t stop his attention on your clit until you’re a whining mess and trying to shove him off for a moment of reprieve.

“You did so good for me,” he murmurs across your skin, lips brushing your navel, your breasts as he climbs onto the bed. Your hands relax, melting down his shoulders, tracing the rebellion relic. “Do you need to stop, or can I put my cock in you?” He asks gently, with a firm kiss to your lips.

“Cock,” you echo, still lost in the throes of your orgasm. You’ll be damned if you miss that chance to have him wholly. “Need your cock.”

“That’s my girl,” Garrick whispers, and you preen.

He guides you into a better position, a pillow beneath your hips. His hand is warm on your calf as he directs you to hook your legs around his taut waist. You peer down at his cock, red and leaking and you’re more than ready for him. You’re a mess for him.

Your breath catches in your chest as he guides his tip in. His words are soothing, gentle as he runs his cock through your slick for easier entry. “That’s it, just like that. It might hurt at first, but I promise I’ll take care of you.” He says, and how the fuck can you not melt for him with those pretty words?

Each inch he presses into you punches the air from your lungs. Your body tightens as you stretch around his girth. His cock is hot, branding your insides.

Garrick senses your discomfort and pauses. The halt makes you whine. “How are you doing?”

“Need you closer,” you admit, screwing your eyes shut. You lift your hands and Garrick carefully lowers himself, trying not to lose his head and fuck all the way into you until his hips meet yours. He’s so gentle, so caring, and your heart swells because of it.

He presses his forehead to yours, thumbing a soft pattern against your cheek. “Relax,” he coaxes softly. Your eyes pop open, meeting those lovely hazel ones. “I can stop anytime you want.”

“I don’t want you to stop,” you answer, slowly unlocking your limbs. You didn’t realize that you were digging your nails into the meat of his shoulders, and you carefully retract your claws. “I want you to keep going.”

It takes agonizing minutes until his pelvis rests against yours. Garrick’s reassuring praises helped keep you calm, even made you wetter for him with that wicked tongue of his. He distracted you with kisses and promises, lingering touches and admissions.

Gods, you feel so full. You didn’t think that you’d be able to take him all the way yet here you are with his cock fully sheathed inside of you. It feels right. He feels like home.

On your own time, you give a tentative roll of your hips. Garrick bites his lip to contain the moan that creeps up his throat, but you do nothing to hide yours. Yes, you get why sex is amazing, and you’re about to find out what sex with Garrick is like.

“If you keep squeezing my cock like that, I’m going to meet Malek sooner than intended,” Garrick pants, but fuck if he doesn’t love the way you’re squirming on his cock, drunk off of the sheer size of him.

“Move,” you gasp, fingers tightening on the back of his biceps. “I need you to move, Garrick.”

He heeds your direction like the good rider he is.

He starts out slow, letting you get used to his size. He kisses the furrow between your brow, rocking in and out until it disappears and you’re whimpering for him to move faster. You’re soaking his cock, which makes it all too easy to maneuver quicker, shifting his hips until you’re crying out and your nails are locked into his skin of his back again, raking down his spine.

He doesn’t even care if you leave red traces down his back. He’d rather be reminded of this moment than the scar that’s forever marred into his skin.

“Yes,” you hiss, arching into him. Garrick sucks a mark into the plush skin of your breast before sucking your nipple into his mouth. “Yes yes yes!” He’s ravaging you in every way, feels like he’s using his air wielding to steal the air from your lungs. You know that your lack of breath is simply just from being in his presence, his dashing good looks have always managed to take your breath away.

Garrick is attentive, tracing every part of your body he can reach. He draws a map in his mind, committing exactly what places and noises correspond. He would stay buried in you for fucking days if he could, but the harder you let him fuck into you has his gut coiling, that familiar heat buzzing down his spine.

He slides a hand between your bodies and finds your clit like he’s been fucking you for way longer than one night. You tug his head down in a desperate kiss, whimpering in pleasure into his mouth as his finger draws tight circles around your sensitive nub, chasing you toward that edge that still feels foreign yet so familiar at the same time.

“Come for me,” Garrick whispers, and you have no choice but to listen to your section leader.

You topple over the edge of oblivion. It’s similar to the feeling you experienced earlier, when you let yourself slip from Uisge’s back. A freefall, yet it’s so much more than that. It’s strong arms crashing down with you, a cock between your legs that’s hitting all the right spots. It’s soft words of encouragement from a man you’d never thought you’d get to see this much of. Hazel eyes that you’re falling into.

Garrick comes shortly after you, when he’s sure that you’ve experienced the best first orgasm of your life with him. There will be no one who will treat you like this, he’s vowed to ruin sex with any other man for you. But he’s ready to stick around if you are, as long as you don’t go jumping from your dragon with a death wish without letting him know first.

“That was…” you trail off in bliss. There’s a satisfied smile on your face, one that makes Garrick preen. Your eyes are shut and the lazy way you stroke his hair makes him fall harder, melt further into your body. “Thank you.”

“No,” he counters gently, brushing your hair from your face. It’s damp for an entirely different reason than the lake now, stuck to your skin with sweat. “Thank you,” he says, and leans down for one more intoxicating kiss.

[violentdelightshavevioletends]

Welp… I’m bawling like a baby… just read Chapter 36 of Fourth Wing… and I am not okay.

[talesofkai]

to the booklr community,

I am a refugee from booktok, however I am not new to tumblr, I’m new to booklr. Romantasy is my favorite genre, I have completed the Maasverse & I am currently rereading Fourth Wing & Iron Flame for the third time in preparation for Onyx Storm! I prefer hard cover books & clean pages & I love reading with campfire background noise. My favorite tropes are enemies to lovers & forced proximity. My reading goal for 2025 is 42 books! The next series I plan on reading is The Cruel Prince & The Stolen Heir series. I love spice in books but will read books without it too. I HATE spoilers! I will ALWAYS give a spoiler warning in any post I make & I will be careful with what I reblog as well for any friends I make on here. I want to make friends that like reading romantasy and have read books that I have read so that we can giggle and kick our feet together in the DMs while talking about our favorite books and sharing fanart (:

I hope this reaches the right people 🫶🏻

[elpis-simps]

Just like Liam Mairi's death

Fourth Wing took 'ride or die' wayyyyy to seriously

[angstywaifu]

Black Dahlia Masterlist

One tragic day changes Dahlia's life forever. Despised by her father and brother, she's spent her entire life trying to be the child and sister she use to be. But nothing she ever does is good enough. She joins the Rider's Quadrant to prove them wrong. Garrick now in his second year has proven he is more than the mark on his skin to his fellow riders, and taken leadership of his own Squad alongside Xaden. Little does he know the girl walking across the parapet is about to send him on a rollercoaster of a year. Garrick Tavis x OC (Dahlia Aetos) WARNING - THIS SERIES NOW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM. I HAVE MARKED THESE PARTS WITH ❗️AS WELL AS LISTING A WARNING AT THE TOP OF THE CHAPTER. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ ONYX STORM, DO NOT READ THESE CHAPTERS.

First Year

No Daughter of Mine

What You Made Me

Bad Idea, Right? - Garrick

Third Squad.

Not A Good Idea - Garrick

Yield

Marked Like You

Prove You Wrong

10 Gold Pieces - Garrick

Keeping Tabs

Glimpse of the Past

Unexpected Feelings - Garrick

I'll Make This Quick

Little Girl Gone

Proven Wrong - Garrick

Mares In His Stable

Jealousy

I'm Trying - Garrick

Manifestation ❗️

Painful Touch - Garrick ❗️

Show Me ❗️

Somewhere I Belong

Aetos vs. Aetos

Would It Matter?

Give Them Hell

Stepping Up

Outsmarted

Frustration - Garrick

War Games

The Hostage

The First Betrayal

Reunification Day (Dual POV)

Prove Her Wrong

About Damn Time

Redacted Title

Redacted Title

Intentions - Garrick

Chantara

Second Year/Fourth Wing

39. Familiar Faces 40. Second Squad 41. Childhood Friends 42. Assessment Day 43. Together 44. RSC 45. RSC Part 2

[ally-writes-many-things]

You're Mine (X. Riorson) 18+

Xaden Riorson x reader.

Fourth Wing

Words: 1.9K

Warnings: Minor Spoilers for Fourth Wing

Summary: Xaden gets jealous of Garrick. It's also 18+

As Xaden and Violet engaged in their sparring session, a heavy sigh escaped your lips. It was evident that their connection stemmed from Violet's vulnerability and the promise he made to her older brother. If Violet were to meet an unfortunate fate, the likelihood of Xaden suffering the same fate was high. However, despite understanding the circumstances, a tinge of jealousy crept into your heart. Xaden had been devoting most of his free time to her, and it couldn't help but stir feelings of envy within you.

Releasing yet another sigh, you decided to leave the gym behind and make your way towards the third-year rooms. The sight of Violet fawning over Xaden had become unbearable to witness. She may try to seem disinterested, but it was evident to anyone with functioning eyes that she desired him deeply.

Immersed in the comfort of your night attire, engrossed in the captivating pages of a book, the distant sound of a knock reached your ears. You knew who it was but yet an overwhelming disinterest held you back from rising to greet them. Tonight, their presence was an unwelcome intrusion you wished to evade. Effortlessly, you extinguished the mage light with a flick of your hand, allowing the room to be swallowed by darkness as you delicately set the book upon the table. Rolling onto your side, you cocooned yourself beneath the covers and went to sleep.

***

As you sat in the bustling gathering hall alongside your squad, your eyes briefly flickered towards Xaden, who was seated among the other marked individuals. Curiosity lingered in the air as your comrades wondered why, as a marked one yourself, you chose not to join them. However, you had your reasons. You simply refused to make yourself a more conspicuous target by associating closely with the others.

"I came by last night," Xaden's voice came through your head.

You didn't even bother to look up from your tray. "I went to sleep early," You lied.

"I swore I could've saw the mage light,"

"I don't know what you're talking about," You said before placing the block between you and Xaden down.

You got up from the table and headed towards the flight field.

****

"Hey Garrick," you called out to Xaden's best friend, your voice echoing through the gymnasium. It was after class, and you were wanting to spar, though Xaden was noticeably absent. Most likely, he was off assisting Violet once again. However, Garrick was present, and you knew he made for a formidable sparring partner.

"What's up, (Last Name)?" Garrick responded, making his way towards you.

"Want to spar since Xaden is too busy with Violet?" you proposed, a hint of anticipation in your voice.

"Hell yeah," Garrick exclaimed, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "I always love sparring with you."

A soft chuckle escaped your lips as you swiftly discarded your jacket, tossing it aside. You rolled your neck, popping it before standing in front of Garrick.

You knew you were going to easily be taken down by Garrick but it was still a good learning lesson.

As Garrick rushed you, he swung a powerful right. You met him halfway, and lashed out with your own right. His punch was faster, and it caught you off guard. The punch landed on your mouth, you felt blood filling your mouth as you spat it out on the ground below you. “Good one but you won’t get another chance,”

You kicked out high and hard, catching Garrick square in the breastbone which you could tell knocked the breath out of him but Garrick recovered faster than you thought he would. “You gotta try harder than that,”

With fast reflexes, you skillfully evaded Garrick's oncoming attack, sidestepping his lunging right arm. Swiftly, you ducked under his extended limb and executed a graceful spin. This dance of evasion continued, leaving Garrick visibly disoriented. Sensing an opportunity, you swiftly drove your elbow into his side, causing him to double over in pain. Capitalizing on his vulnerability, you unleashed a powerful punch, connecting with his face.

However, in a surprising turn of events, Garrick managed to grab hold of you, causing both of you to tumble to the ground. As you found yourself positioned above him, ready to take action, he reversed the situation, and now he was the one on top of you, pinning your hands above your head, asserting his dominance in the sparring match. You locked eyes with him, a mischievous glint in your gaze. "Oh, is it too much for you to handle a woman taking charge?" You taunted, playfully lifting your leg to intensify the connection between you two.

A sly smirk crept across his face, his confidence evident. "Trust me, I can handle you just fine," he retorted, his voice laced with a hint of challenge.

A daring proposition escaped your lips, testing the limits of his bravado. "Care to prove it?"

Garrick's gaze momentarily shifted from your eyes to your enticing lips, but he abruptly released your hands and rose to his feet. "I'm sorry, but I can't," he muttered, hastily gathering his belongings and exiting the gym, leaving you with a mix of curiosity and disappointment.

***

Before you could even close your door completely, Xaden appeared in the doorframe. "Xaden," you greeted, shrugging off your jacket.

"What the hell was that?" Xaden snapped, his tone laced with an unfamiliar emotion. Jealousy.

Confused, you asked, "What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what I'm talking about," he seethed.

"Oh, you mean sparring with Garrick? I needed a partner while you were occupied with Violet," you explained casually.

Xaden's anger only intensified. "That's not what I'm talking about," he growled.

Frustrated, you turned to face him. "Then what are you talking about?"

In an instant, Xaden pressed you against the wall, his hand tightening around your throat. "You belong to me, and no one else is allowed to touch you," he snarled possessively.

Rolling your eyes at his territorial display, knowing what was going to happen, you decided to push his buttons further. "You never said we were exclusive," You taunted.

He firmly grasped your chin with his other hand, forcefully pressing his lips against yours. The intensity of his kiss was filled with a mix of possessiveness and longing, leaving no doubt that he desired you deeply. The passion between you both was so intense that you knew your lips would be swollen afterwards, but the thought didn't concern you. In fact, you reveled in the roughness of his touch, finding it incredibly arousing. The taste of him on your lips only heightened your desire for him, fueling the fire that burned between you.

You and Xaden have been close friends for many years. The bond between you two had always been platonic, until the overwhelming stress of the Rider's Quadrant pushed you both to give in to your desires during your first year here. Since then, you have being fucking.

As he gently withdrew his lips from your neck, his hand from your chin, and his touch from your neck, he traced a path with his lips along your jawline and down to your neck. Despite being aware of your sensitive spot, he teasingly licked from the nape of your neck to that sweet spot before playfully biting down. The sensation made you involuntarily press against him, feeling his presence against you. He continued to explore your neck, alternating between sucking, licking, and nibbling, leaving behind subtle marks that wouldn't draw too much attention.

With a surge of desire, you raised your hand and gradually unfastened the buttons of his leather jacket, one by one, allowing it to slide down his arms. Your fingertips trailed down his well-defined chest, and then you proceeded to unfasten his pants, eager to explore further.

You slipped your hand under his pants and started rubbing him. He moaned into your neck and let himself enjoy it for a few seconds before he pulled your hand out of his pants. He reached down and cupped your ass before walking over to the bed and laying on your back. "Sit up," He commands.

Complying with him, he proceeds to pull your shirt off and hurls it haphazardly somewhere in the room. With a forceful push, he guides you back onto the bed. In an instant, he pressed his lips against your boobz, roughly caressing your nipple with his tongue, while his hand squeezed the other harshly. This intimate exchange lasted for a fleeting moment before he switched his attention. A soft, voluntary moan escaped your lips, punctuating the shared pleasure.

You observed as he withdrew his lips from your boobs, trailing a trail of affectionate kisses along your body. His nibbles, carefully placed, left a mark of possessiveness, a silent declaration of claiming you as his, adorning your stomach. Aware of the limitations on your neck, he refrained from leaving any visible marks there. With a swift and confident motion, his fingers slipped beneath the fabric of your pants, where they snugly embraced your hips. In one fluid movement, he deftly lowered your pants and underwear. He spread your legs like butter and placed a kiss on your inner thighs before he rubbed your folds before slipping one finger in. "Who made you this wet?"

"Garrick," You teased as you threw your head back in pleasure.

He removed his fingers before placing his mouth on your core and just went to town without warning, licking your pussy in long, wet strokes. He takes one of his fingers and slides it inside of you. You gasp as pure bliss takes over. While he was curling his finger inside you, he was licking the nub of your clit. After a few seconds, he inserts another finger in you. He was hitting your g-spot every single time. As the familiar sensation was building up, so Xaden picked up his speed and roughen his touch. Once you came, he didn't stop there, he fucked you with his tongue over and over again until he knew you were thoroughly fucked.

You were left a panting mess before he finally removed his mouth, stood up and slid down his pants. He positioned himself between your legs and gave himself a few strokes to make sure he was hard enough for you before he pushed into you. Your eyes rolled back as Xaden softly said fuck. No matter how many times you and Xaden fucked, he felt just as good as the first time.

It didn't take long for him to start thrusting into you as fast as he could. He buried his cock deep inside of you as you wrapped your arms around his neck and your legs around his waist. He thrust in and out of her at the perfect pace. “Just like that, Riorson,”

You started to roll your hips, moving along with him, matching his pace. You two move perfectly in sync, your bodies aligned, even your breath in rhythm. You were breathing faster and faster as your climax was nearing. He took his hands off your thighs and flipped you over to where you were sitting on his lap for a deeper angle. He buried his face in the side of your neck and bit you gently, right in that sweet spot he found earlier. That pushes you over the edge. You grinded your body hard against him, the rhythmic contraction of your pussy squeezing his cock. "Xaden!" You yelled out as your high hits

“I'm about to cum.” He said as you rode him until he let out a deep groan.

He rolled you back over onto your back and before he pulled out he grabbed the towel he keeps on the bedside table so he could clean you up. "Don't ever think Garrick can fuck you as good as I can, babygirl. I've been fucking you for the past three years. No one knows your body like I do,"

[justallihere]

Okay, I did some laundry, I've had lunch, I've breathed fresh air and taken some deep breaths (did not touch any grass because it's covered in snow), and we're back. My wrap up thoughts of Onyx Storm are below! Be warned it's chock full of spoilers, and these are all my honest opinions. I haven't even given this a rating yet because I don't really know what I want to rate it! Nothing's really in order so sorry about that. But I look forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts!

I loved that the importance of the bond between dragon and human was emphasized so heavily in this book. That Asher called Aimsir Lilith's first love, Violet telling Tairn he's the gift of her life, that even Halden knew that the true barrier to her would be the dragon bond - and especially that when Xaden channeled again, in a way that he knew would irreversibly damn him, he did it for Sgaeyl. To keep her safe, because she chose him before and above everyone else.

I adored the Riorgail of it all. They were open and honest with each other, saying I love you practically every other breath, declaring their loyalty and devotion to each other in front of anyone who would listen. I loved that we got them as a team, facing stuff together and trusting that what they couldn't the other could handle it.

On the other hand, it may just be me but they didn't quite feel like themselves. Maybe because it was the first time we've truly seen them be public about their feelings, but they didn't feel like the same Xaden and Violet from the previous two books. Xaden felt so intense that everything he said gave me anxiety, devoted to the point of obsession. I would actually call Violet morally gray here, but it came out of nowhere; there wasn't a great transition into that change in her character, none of the hesitation or guilt I'd expect.

In short, they kind of felt like my Xaden and Violet and not canon? I loved them, but I'm not sure it matches what we know of them from FW and IF and the change in character didn't feel entirely smooth.

But Xaden IS her sword!!!!

The worldbuilding was ridiculous. Violet was dropping facts left right and center like the details of the aristocracy and politics at play were common knowledge - and maybe they are in world, but if they're that obvious then I feel like those details should've been worked into earlier books. I felt like I was floundering trying to keep up with all the new names and titles and roles.

In the same vein, the lore about magic made no sense. So only the Continent has magic but why? Was it drained from other places? Does it only occur naturally in certain areas? Dragons don't have magic that exists within them - they also draw from the source which? Hello hypocrites much? That was another thing that was said so casually, but that should've been one of those things we learned in Fourth Wing, at Threshing or right after.

There was too much happening with the plot to the point that I lost it completely. The trips to the isles were overwhelming. I know the venin and the irids were tied together, but those two things competed so much that I kept forgetting about whichever one we weren't talking about. Literally just. . . forgot about the venin there for a bit in the middle. We were looking for a cure but we were looking for Andarna's kind but we were trying to stop the venin and we were also gathering allies and making trade deals and none of those points were fleshed out completely.

The ending was vague and confusing in a way that made me frustrated instead of interested or anticipatory. I read the last two chapters three times and I still don't know what the fuck was going on there. So the Sage is. . . Fen? Is Garrick the one who also turned? Bodhi? Brennan? Ridoc? Fuck if I know. I understand the point of the marriage, to give Violet control over Tyrrendor legally, but I'm also pissed at the way it happened.

I know we don't want anyone to actually die, but I literally didn't even flinch when Mira's throat got cut open because I figured she'd be fine. There were no important deaths. Trager and Quinn didn't hit that hard. Not putting any of the main characters in significant danger makes the stakes feel lower than they should.

The fan service made me roll my eyes. I get it to a certain extent, but there were several times when I legitimately kind of felt like RY had been in fandom spaces or someone on her team was just feeding her popular theories to include.

The marked ones having second signets was. . . not my favorite choice, because logistically it doesn't make much sense. We should statistically see at least one of them go mad from the power instead of developing a second signet. And I actually think if that had been included it would have been more interesting! I'd like to see the reality of the risks that were taken to make the rebellion happen, but instead they just got really really lucky a bunch of times?

The use of the word Riorgail in print sent me to the fucking moon. No.

Violet's second signet. . . I don't want to talk about it.

Actually no I do. Since when are signets based on situational need and not who a person is at their core? Was that not what we were told previously? Am I tripping? I don't mind the power itself but I am confused.

Professor Riorson had me on the ground laughing. What the hell was that. There are enough barriers to their relationship, and that one felt too forced (but great fodder for smutty fic).

The characters and their relationships are the standout of the book and the series. I already said I loved Xaden and Violet here, but I also loved their friendships and how real especially the relationship with Brennan and Mira and Violet felt. The humor and the quips and the squad's constant support of each other was wonderful.

I'm holding onto those Sloane and Dain crumbs like a teddy bear you all have no idea. I love them.

Aaric being the one with precognition I didn't see coming, but I surprisingly liked it! I loved him stepping more into his role as prince and seeing how cunning and smart he really is.

Halden was unnecessary but I live for possessive and jealous Xaden.

Overall I think the pacing was crammed and the worldbuilding left me with more questions than answers, but did I still like it? Yes! I don't think it's my favorite in the series but it still was an enjoyable read. I'll want to read it again at some point I think, but not immediately!