Onyx Storm: Chapter 58-59
Jun. 22nd, 2025 04:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penwallaMiWe open with a quote about the best scribes can accurately observe and recount history, not just memorize facts. Which is very funny, considering all we know about the scribes is that their job appears to be to enact nationwide censorship of the history of Navarre.
Violet and co. are flying to Mira's rescue. Yarros likes to list the dragons that are present and let the readers infer which riders are there, which would be fine except that I have no idea who any of the dragons are except Xaden's.
Tairn gives Violet one of his patented pep talks:
As they land in front of a huge field of wyvern, Tairn mentions that Aaric was seen flying south with his dragon, away from the conflict. Tairn acts like he's running away out of cowardice, but it's obvious to me that he must be doing something plot-relevant and it's actually wild that neither Violet nor Tairn think of this. For that matter, I don't know why Aaric can't just ask Violet and co for whatever he needs here. They're all on the same side and Aaric obviously knew something about the temple earlier in the book that Violet hasn't followed up on.
Mira's dragon is chained up by the wyvern and Theophanie has her knife to Mira's neck.
Theophanie makes threats as Garrick delivers Jack and Xaden and Bodhi flank Violet. She tells Violet she will soon turn:
Violet prepares herself for the mysterious plan she and Brennan have concocted and hidden from us, the readers, despite this being a first person novel. You know, if this was done sparingly, I would not mind it. But this is Yarros's primary way of building suspense. She just won't tell us something that Violet knows by having Violet not think about it.
And then...
So I assume Brennan is here to heal Mira at the last moment? Though Mira has been less than worshipful of Violet so Yarros might kill her off, too.
Also, LOL at Theophanie being like "We're careful with our words" but also "We lie." Which is it? Are you cunning wordsmiths who speak half-truths to trick people or are you just fucking outright lying? Because if you're willing to just lie, why bother with the "that wasn't the exact wording of our deal" bullshit at all?
God, this book is stupid.
Let's do another one.
God, these are truly some of the sentences of all time. You don't need to tell us blood is crimson. You don't need to have it stream from a laceration. That's such an awkward way of saying Mira is bleeding to death.
Violet charges Theophanie to kill her, but Theophanie escapes on the back of a wyvern and Violet rushes to her sister instead.
Didn't Brennan save Sawyer's life when half his leg was ripped off? Didn't he save Violet when she was dying of poisoning? Like, we've never been told there are rules for mending. What makes this injury more extensive than Sawyer's whole ass leg? I guess in real life I would say the neck injuries are always worse because you can't tourniquet a neck, and it's not a great site to be compressing, so it's more likely to be fatal. But Brennan can do fucking magic, so like...what?
Sloane and the other cadets arrive to reinforce them as Violet lies on top of Brennan and Mira mid-battle, shielding them. Brennan is struggling to save Mira, close to death himself as he tries to mend her.
Because Sloane is now here, Violet begs her to use her power to boost Brennan by transferring him another rider's power. Sloane doesn't want to do this, but Dain convinces her to, arguing that his signet is useless right now anyway. It works, and Brennan stabilizes Mira.
No, I need to complain more about the medicine of this, I'm sorry. Brennan fixed Sawyer's traumatic amputation of his leg mid-battle but he struggles to close a single laceration to the throat? It would be one thing if she had lost too much blood already and he was trying to support her through the hemorrhagic shock, or if he was trying and failing to fix her brain anoxia, but that makes no sense.
The battle continues. Everyone is still following the plan, so Xaden and Brennan need to leave so Violet can do...whatever.
Oh, for fuck's sake. Violet, are you an idiot? We found out earlier in the book that Aaric knew something, and you ignored him then, too, and you just never followed up on that because Yarros prefers to spoonfeed you plot points as necessary.
Xaden kisses Violet and then leaves her with Bodhi. Chapter end.
91% of the way through and I know this book is going to end on a cliffhanger. And I know the next book will immediately resolve it in an unsatisfyingly easy way. What do we think will happen?
Hmm...ideally what I would like to see happen is the following:
- Xaden succumbing to being a venin in a way that has consequences, i.e. he hurts someone who matters or he loses something he cannot get back of himself
- Violet to fail at whatever her mission here is (I assume to kill Theophanie?) or to accomplish it but at great cost
- for someone unexpected to be revealed to have been a venin all along
What I think will happen is that Yarros will infodump more lore at the last minute and then end the book without resolving anything.
Violet and co. are flying to Mira's rescue. Yarros likes to list the dragons that are present and let the readers infer which riders are there, which would be fine except that I have no idea who any of the dragons are except Xaden's.
Tairn gives Violet one of his patented pep talks:
“Do not dishonor me with such emotions,” he lectures.Honestly Tairn is like the only character in this book who I consistently enjoy. At least he's funny.
“And how does Sgaeyl feel about me endangering Xaden?” I scan the clouds as best I can for the outline of wyvern, but the cover is thick and we’re moving too fast to be thorough.
“Had she not agreed, she would still be in Aretia, and your Dark One would be walking.”
Excellent point. “Theophanie took Mira because of me. I’m the reason she’s going through this.”
“You are our lightning wielder, and while your life may not matter more than other riders’, your signet does. You are the weapon and will have to learn to accept the sacrifice of others in your name if you want to win this war.”
Nausea churns in my stomach. “And you think I should have accepted Mira’s death as a sacrifice?” We burst through the clouds, and the field comes into startling view.
“If I did, I would still be in Aretia and you would be walking.”
As they land in front of a huge field of wyvern, Tairn mentions that Aaric was seen flying south with his dragon, away from the conflict. Tairn acts like he's running away out of cowardice, but it's obvious to me that he must be doing something plot-relevant and it's actually wild that neither Violet nor Tairn think of this. For that matter, I don't know why Aaric can't just ask Violet and co for whatever he needs here. They're all on the same side and Aaric obviously knew something about the temple earlier in the book that Violet hasn't followed up on.
Mira's dragon is chained up by the wyvern and Theophanie has her knife to Mira's neck.
Theophanie makes threats as Garrick delivers Jack and Xaden and Bodhi flank Violet. She tells Violet she will soon turn:
“You are,” she states like it’s certain. “In just a few minutes, in fact. I’m intrigued to see what the actual catalyst will be.” Her eyes light up. “Saving your sister? Defending your lover? The trite-yet-always-popular revenge? I’m betting on a combination of all three.” Her head tilts, and she rests her cheek against the top of Mira’s head. “Speaking of which, time is up—”
Violet prepares herself for the mysterious plan she and Brennan have concocted and hidden from us, the readers, despite this being a first person novel. You know, if this was done sparingly, I would not mind it. But this is Yarros's primary way of building suspense. She just won't tell us something that Violet knows by having Violet not think about it.
And then...
I lift my chin. “Both Jack and I are here. Our end of the deal is fulfilled, so let Mira and Teine go.”
Brennan’s hands flex at his sides.
“That wasn’t the deal.” Theophanie tsks. “I said we’d let Draithus stand, not that your sister would live.” Her mouth curves in a sadistic smile. “First thing to learn about us is that we’re careful with our words. And the second? We also lie.” She draws the blade across Mira’s neck and slits her throat.
So I assume Brennan is here to heal Mira at the last moment? Though Mira has been less than worshipful of Violet so Yarros might kill her off, too.
Also, LOL at Theophanie being like "We're careful with our words" but also "We lie." Which is it? Are you cunning wordsmiths who speak half-truths to trick people or are you just fucking outright lying? Because if you're willing to just lie, why bother with the "that wasn't the exact wording of our deal" bullshit at all?
God, this book is stupid.
Let's do another one.
“Mira!” I scream louder than a dragon’s roar as crimson blood streams from the laceration in my sister’s throat.
Everything seems to happen at once, like a group of musicians cued for a performance.
God, these are truly some of the sentences of all time. You don't need to tell us blood is crimson. You don't need to have it stream from a laceration. That's such an awkward way of saying Mira is bleeding to death.
Violet charges Theophanie to kill her, but Theophanie escapes on the back of a wyvern and Violet rushes to her sister instead.
“Move!” Brennan hits his knees, and I barely have time to yank my hand away before his is there. “You will live, do you hear me?” He slams his eyes shut and sweat immediately beads on his forehead as he leans over Mira.
Is it even possible? Brennan’s powerful, but I can’t think of a single rider who’s been saved on the battlefield with an injury this extensive. She goes limp and my heart seizes, but she’s still breathing despite the blood coursing down the sides of her neck.
Didn't Brennan save Sawyer's life when half his leg was ripped off? Didn't he save Violet when she was dying of poisoning? Like, we've never been told there are rules for mending. What makes this injury more extensive than Sawyer's whole ass leg? I guess in real life I would say the neck injuries are always worse because you can't tourniquet a neck, and it's not a great site to be compressing, so it's more likely to be fatal. But Brennan can do fucking magic, so like...what?
Sloane and the other cadets arrive to reinforce them as Violet lies on top of Brennan and Mira mid-battle, shielding them. Brennan is struggling to save Mira, close to death himself as he tries to mend her.
Because Sloane is now here, Violet begs her to use her power to boost Brennan by transferring him another rider's power. Sloane doesn't want to do this, but Dain convinces her to, arguing that his signet is useless right now anyway. It works, and Brennan stabilizes Mira.
No, I need to complain more about the medicine of this, I'm sorry. Brennan fixed Sawyer's traumatic amputation of his leg mid-battle but he struggles to close a single laceration to the throat? It would be one thing if she had lost too much blood already and he was trying to support her through the hemorrhagic shock, or if he was trying and failing to fix her brain anoxia, but that makes no sense.
The battle continues. Everyone is still following the plan, so Xaden and Brennan need to leave so Violet can do...whatever.
“You’re all right?” I locate my alloy-hilted dagger in the grass and put it back in place as I rise, then grab the package Sloane left behind, too. It’s addressed to Aaric and bears the unbroken seal of Dunne.
Why in all that’s holy would he send Sloane into a war zone to give me his own mail? I’m going to throttle him… as soon as I figure out what the fuck he’s currently doing.
Oh, for fuck's sake. Violet, are you an idiot? We found out earlier in the book that Aaric knew something, and you ignored him then, too, and you just never followed up on that because Yarros prefers to spoonfeed you plot points as necessary.
Xaden kisses Violet and then leaves her with Bodhi. Chapter end.
91% of the way through and I know this book is going to end on a cliffhanger. And I know the next book will immediately resolve it in an unsatisfyingly easy way. What do we think will happen?
Hmm...ideally what I would like to see happen is the following:
- Xaden succumbing to being a venin in a way that has consequences, i.e. he hurts someone who matters or he loses something he cannot get back of himself
- Violet to fail at whatever her mission here is (I assume to kill Theophanie?) or to accomplish it but at great cost
- for someone unexpected to be revealed to have been a venin all along
What I think will happen is that Yarros will infodump more lore at the last minute and then end the book without resolving anything.
We shall see.
