#I don't think Violet has dragon daddy Issues but I DO

[shayennelovesbooks]

What does it say about me that I didn't bat an eye when Xaden "betrayed" Violet but my heart dropped when it was revealed that Tairn knew about it?

[dearaliya]

Iron Flame: A Prelude, Romance Edition

Dear Aliya,

I am VIBRATING out of my SKIN.

So, Iron Flame releases soon and I am highly excited, as is everyone! But with that excitement comes ever so slight fear. A lot has been said about the main leads of the book Violet and Xaden being in such a good (good???) place in their relationship so early on in the series. Why? Well, when you're promised a slow burn enemies to lovers and those enemies are already lovers in a five-book series you can't help but wonder if the fire we saw burning was the wrong fire. We can comfortably say that the enemy in question is probably not Jack, which I can absolutely live with, but that then leaves us a few options.

Shall we dot point?

Xaden Riorson What's he doing here? A fair question, I am sincerely hoping that in her anger Violet is counting him as her enemy once again. It'll take a lot of winning her over, but I think our guy can do it! I am cheering in the bleachers for our resident shadow daddy to pull himself up by the bootstraps and win his girl back.

And, we're in the lead gang! We know their dragons are mated, which puts us... uh... Xiolence (we'll workshop) fans in a pretty good position and let's be real, Xaden confessed that he'd been in love with Violet for a long time.

In saying that, I can think of a handful of other male love interests that were this deeply in love and it took them right off the deep end. I can't tell if it's the author hammering us over the head that he's still very in love with her or if he's turning into a man possessed with lust.

See where the stress comes from?

Dain Aetos This guy again. Look, I don't love the situation on our hands here but I've since taken a closer look. He's fitting enemies to lovers at the moment as well as childhood friends, I don't think Dain has dropped out of the race just yet. Violet has given him second and third chances, a fourth is not out of the question.

The only issue I can see is that he's a mind reader and a snitch in a world where Violet now has the biggest secret ever.

Oh, and he's a dick, so two issues.

A secret third option I've been shaking my brain like a snowglobe to watch all the brain cells swirl around for a thought and I've managed to have one. We know the Gryphon riders aren't the bad guys, Violet might need just a biiiiiiit more convincing. You know who might be the one to convince her? Whatever Gryphon rider is feeling up to the task to try and romance the girl with the dragon tattoo (and silver hair).

It's not quite enemies, but I've read stories where the enemies in question were less enemies and more two people who didn't like each other for a hot second so we seem to just be slapping the label on any old ship dynamic.

Ah well, just a few more days and we'll have a whole book to inhale and discuss further!

Nothing more comes to mind, so I appreciate you listening to my thoughts. I’ll see you next time, stay well!

Hannah xx