Onyx Storm: Chapter 17
Mar. 6th, 2025 03:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penwallaWe open this chapter with a quote from Violet's dad.
You know, it could have powerful emotional impact if we got to see Violet reading these words. So of course they're the chapter flavor quote.
Anyways, Violet is at the death rolls. Now that the riders aren't killing each other, they're reading out the names of the riders who have passed away in combat, including graduates. Then Violet meets with Sloane, who apologizes to her for her mother's death and gives her a bag from Jesinia. But it's actually from Dain! He did it! So why the fuck did the last chapter end with that ominous line about trusting him?
Violet tries to read her dad's journal, only to find it has a magical lock on it that will destroy it if she fucks it up. The clue is: "First love is irreplaceable." Violet has no idea what that means.
Next scene.
Violet and her squad are trying to decide what the answer to Violet's dad's journal lock is.
I want it understood that if the answer is 'Violet' I will spontaneously combust from pure rage.
They debate it up more, going through the first loves of both Violet's siblings, before landing on Violet's first loves. I feel like if I were in this situation, I might consult some poetry or something, instead of assuming the answer was someone I or a family member had dated. That feels like a weird choice both thematically and character-wise for Violet's scribe dad.
Violet then mentions her own first love, who her father couldn't stand, and her second love, who he never knew about. One of them has a name that's six letters, can't tell which from the way it is written.
Unfortunately, they then arrive at Xaden's second signet wielding class, so we're back to Xaden and Violet being telepathically horny for each other. I'm begging you, Yarros, let them have one (1) interaction that isn't about them boinking. Put some romance in the book. It'll be okay, I promise.
Xaden's brought Garrick with him to beat up the other riders this time. Violet and her squad decide they'll all attack him together. I guess that's not bad strategy. But then Xaden gets pissed when Garrick comes close to actually damaging Violet. They are literally in the military. But I will give Xaden slack because he is magically evil right now.
Violet and her squad are able to take Garrick down, but then--Prince Halden, aka the evil heir to the throne, shows up. So they need to hide Aaric, who, as you likely do not recall, is the second prince and enlisted in the riders under a fake name and ran away from home and somehow no one but Dain and Violet recognized him. All of that is silly, but it is fun and not revolving around Violet and Xaden's sex life, so I am willing to accept this plot with open arms.
Halden, incidentally, is hot. Violet spends three sentences describing him.
Naturally Halden is going to be Violet's evil ex, because if a man is hot and powerful he must be obsessed with Violet, it's the only way.
Halden hits on Violet but also has some important info: he's been reading Violet's mail and Vscount Tecarus is willing to arrange a meeting with one of the southern nations Violet wanted to meet with, but she needs to retrieve a magical citrine from occupied territory first.
Halden gives Violet a clue inadvertantly to the answer to her father's riddle, but he tries to touch Violet's hair and Xaden attacks him. Chapter end.
No, seriously, the chapter ends right there. After like two chapters where very little happened, we have a third chapter with a couple significant paragraphs and a cliffhanger that they'll definitely address on page 1 of the next chapter.
Sigh. I regret committing to doing one post per chapter for this book, I really do.
Xaden's behavior is so unhinged in this chapter that I have to assume we're going to find out the venin-ness is affecting his temper and his self-control. Otherwise he's just being an idiot about Violet for no reason.
See y'all next time :(
My brightest light, I meant to prepare you but only had time for half the lessons you need, half the history, half the truth, and now time runs short. I failed Brennan the day I watched him walk the parapet, failed Mira when I could not stop her from following, but I fear my death will fail you. Your mother and I trust no one, and neither can you.
—Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail
to Violet Sorrengail
You know, it could have powerful emotional impact if we got to see Violet reading these words. So of course they're the chapter flavor quote.
Anyways, Violet is at the death rolls. Now that the riders aren't killing each other, they're reading out the names of the riders who have passed away in combat, including graduates. Then Violet meets with Sloane, who apologizes to her for her mother's death and gives her a bag from Jesinia. But it's actually from Dain! He did it! So why the fuck did the last chapter end with that ominous line about trusting him?
Violet tries to read her dad's journal, only to find it has a magical lock on it that will destroy it if she fucks it up. The clue is: "First love is irreplaceable." Violet has no idea what that means.
Next scene.
Violet and her squad are trying to decide what the answer to Violet's dad's journal lock is.
“Are we wasting time by overthinking this? It’s obviously Lilith, right?” Ridoc asks as we descend the steps into the pit a few days later.
“Dad would have wanted me to overthink. And if I’m wrong, we ruin whatever’s in there.” I tuck my jacket under my arm and scan the bottom of the amphitheater in hopes of seeing Xaden.
“Maybe we’re not thinking fatherly enough,” Rhi muses.
“Good idea. So maybe it’s Bren—” Ridoc counts out on his fingers. “Never mind, that has too many letters. Mira is too short, but what about Violet?”
I want it understood that if the answer is 'Violet' I will spontaneously combust from pure rage.
They debate it up more, going through the first loves of both Violet's siblings, before landing on Violet's first loves. I feel like if I were in this situation, I might consult some poetry or something, instead of assuming the answer was someone I or a family member had dated. That feels like a weird choice both thematically and character-wise for Violet's scribe dad.
Violet then mentions her own first love, who her father couldn't stand, and her second love, who he never knew about. One of them has a name that's six letters, can't tell which from the way it is written.
Unfortunately, they then arrive at Xaden's second signet wielding class, so we're back to Xaden and Violet being telepathically horny for each other. I'm begging you, Yarros, let them have one (1) interaction that isn't about them boinking. Put some romance in the book. It'll be okay, I promise.
Xaden's brought Garrick with him to beat up the other riders this time. Violet and her squad decide they'll all attack him together. I guess that's not bad strategy. But then Xaden gets pissed when Garrick comes close to actually damaging Violet. They are literally in the military. But I will give Xaden slack because he is magically evil right now.
Violet and her squad are able to take Garrick down, but then--Prince Halden, aka the evil heir to the throne, shows up. So they need to hide Aaric, who, as you likely do not recall, is the second prince and enlisted in the riders under a fake name and ran away from home and somehow no one but Dain and Violet recognized him. All of that is silly, but it is fun and not revolving around Violet and Xaden's sex life, so I am willing to accept this plot with open arms.
Halden, incidentally, is hot. Violet spends three sentences describing him.
He doesn’t seem as tall as I remember—definitely a couple of inches shorter than Aaric—but he’s just as strikingly beautiful as the last time I saw him. His high cheekbones, the mouth tilted in a permanent smirk, and the perfect proportion to his features are enough to turn heads, but his eyes are the real showstopper. They’re as green as summer leaves. But man, do they wander.
“Learning, of course, like everyone else in this arena.” He flashes a smile, and the edges of his eyes actually crinkle. “Never figured you for rider black, but power looks good on you.”
Naturally Halden is going to be Violet's evil ex, because if a man is hot and powerful he must be obsessed with Violet, it's the only way.
Halden hits on Violet but also has some important info: he's been reading Violet's mail and Vscount Tecarus is willing to arrange a meeting with one of the southern nations Violet wanted to meet with, but she needs to retrieve a magical citrine from occupied territory first.
Halden gives Violet a clue inadvertantly to the answer to her father's riddle, but he tries to touch Violet's hair and Xaden attacks him. Chapter end.
No, seriously, the chapter ends right there. After like two chapters where very little happened, we have a third chapter with a couple significant paragraphs and a cliffhanger that they'll definitely address on page 1 of the next chapter.
Sigh. I regret committing to doing one post per chapter for this book, I really do.
Xaden's behavior is so unhinged in this chapter that I have to assume we're going to find out the venin-ness is affecting his temper and his self-control. Otherwise he's just being an idiot about Violet for no reason.
See y'all next time :(
