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Onyx Storm: Chapter 5
Chapter five opens with Violet and co. sitting around and waiting for news about the treaty. Violet remembers that one of the venin had silver hair, and thinks that it was weird. No doubt we will discover why Violet's silver hair makes her the most special of girls at some point--is she also a secret venin? Half-venin? Daughter of a venin?
As they sit and wait, they notice some gossip is spreading throughout the room.
Okay, interesting. An unbelievably stupid thing to do during peace talks, but I buy it considering how the riders are trained and how murder-happy they all are.
I feel like I still don't understand the dynamics of the Navarre vs Aretian riders at all. We're told that there's animosity, but with all the revelations that have come out in the past two weeks, I feel like there should be more of a mixed reaction, or we should see how the Navarre government is spinning everything to maintain their control over their own people. The rebels had to fly to Basgiath and defend it because the military fucked up--shouldn't that have shaken some people's loyalty? What about the venin? What about the peace talks with an enemy that has always been presented as inferior to the dragons?
Violet's immediate response is to mentally consult the Codex and summon Dain, since she needs a wingleader to oppose a wingleader. Sure, that kind of makes sense. But isn't Dain also a rebel?
Also, if the Navarre riders' beef with the Aretians is that they deserted, you'd think they'd want to prove their point by not disobeying their leadership and fighting with the fliers,
Aura Beinhaven stands centered in front of the crowd, holding one of the daggers she usually keeps strapped to her upper arms against the tan neck of a terrified first-year flier.
Dain tries to de-escalate, but he's technically not in the chain of command anymore, so he gets ignored.
So, uh...this is dumb. Why aren't the dragons involved? Presumably they get a say in this peace treaty as well--the Navarre dragons care enough to show up, as do the gryphons, so why would Tairn and Andarna not show up? It feels like this is just so that Violet can be in danger. The book keeps telling me the dragons don't have to obey humans, but the dragons in this book that matter never do anything.
Anyways, the Navarre riders blame the Aretian riders for everything and want to kill them and the fliers. Cool. Like, if a portion of them were like this, I would buy it, but all of them being mustache-twirlingly bad makes the whole thing feel ridiculous.
Dain is challenged by Aura, but Violet intercedes because his signet can't defeat Aura's fire in combat...but Violet's lightning can. So she is going to fight.
Chapter end. Oh, we're back at these tiny chapters again. Cool. Who edited this book? Who hurt you?
The conflict of this book should be Violet deciding whether she's going to save Xaden and abandon the rebels, or stay with the rebellion and pass up a chance to save Xaden. Instead we have a lot of vague, confusing background politics and all her enemies have lost their remaining brain cells. Yaaaaay.
As they sit and wait, they notice some gossip is spreading throughout the room.
“You have to do something.” Sloane stares past me to Rhiannon. She hasn’t been able to look me in the eye since she siphoned the life out of my mother. “First Wing grabbed one of Tail Section’s fliers in the courtyard, and they’re forcing a challenge.”
Okay, interesting. An unbelievably stupid thing to do during peace talks, but I buy it considering how the riders are trained and how murder-happy they all are.
I feel like I still don't understand the dynamics of the Navarre vs Aretian riders at all. We're told that there's animosity, but with all the revelations that have come out in the past two weeks, I feel like there should be more of a mixed reaction, or we should see how the Navarre government is spinning everything to maintain their control over their own people. The rebels had to fly to Basgiath and defend it because the military fucked up--shouldn't that have shaken some people's loyalty? What about the venin? What about the peace talks with an enemy that has always been presented as inferior to the dragons?
Violet's immediate response is to mentally consult the Codex and summon Dain, since she needs a wingleader to oppose a wingleader. Sure, that kind of makes sense. But isn't Dain also a rebel?
Also, if the Navarre riders' beef with the Aretians is that they deserted, you'd think they'd want to prove their point by not disobeying their leadership and fighting with the fliers,
We burst through the doorway of the rotunda into the courtyard, and my gaze sweeps over the crowd, taking stock of the situation. There’s a clear division in the mass gathered in front of the dais, with most Navarrian riders standing to the left, at least half of them wearing sickening smirks while Caroline Ashton appears to take bets near the far staircase. The rest hold back the angry crowd of Aretian riders and fliers arguing directly in front of—
My heart lurches into my throat.
Aura Beinhaven stands centered in front of the crowd, holding one of the daggers she usually keeps strapped to her upper arms against the tan neck of a terrified first-year flier.
Dain tries to de-escalate, but he's technically not in the chain of command anymore, so he gets ignored.
My grip tightens on my dagger as color fills my peripheral vision. I look up to see both gryphons and dragons landing along the thick stone walls of the courtyard.
Great, just what we need in this situation: fire and talons.
“Are you here?” I ask. There are no black scales among the dragons, but I spot Cath behind the dais.
“Are you in danger?” Tairn asks, and I feel Andarna’s presence, but she remains silent.
“Not exactly, but—”
“Then I trust you can handle it.”
So, uh...this is dumb. Why aren't the dragons involved? Presumably they get a say in this peace treaty as well--the Navarre dragons care enough to show up, as do the gryphons, so why would Tairn and Andarna not show up? It feels like this is just so that Violet can be in danger. The book keeps telling me the dragons don't have to obey humans, but the dragons in this book that matter never do anything.
Anyways, the Navarre riders blame the Aretian riders for everything and want to kill them and the fliers. Cool. Like, if a portion of them were like this, I would buy it, but all of them being mustache-twirlingly bad makes the whole thing feel ridiculous.
Dain is challenged by Aura, but Violet intercedes because his signet can't defeat Aura's fire in combat...but Violet's lightning can. So she is going to fight.
Chapter end. Oh, we're back at these tiny chapters again. Cool. Who edited this book? Who hurt you?
The conflict of this book should be Violet deciding whether she's going to save Xaden and abandon the rebels, or stay with the rebellion and pass up a chance to save Xaden. Instead we have a lot of vague, confusing background politics and all her enemies have lost their remaining brain cells. Yaaaaay.