penwalla

Okay, the chapter opens with this quote.

It is unwise to favor one god above another. Better to shun them all than show favoritism amongst a jealous, prodigious pantheon.

—Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

( you know yarros is a mormon yet she did not bring that energy to these books )

The chapter opens with Violet being anxious about the upcoming mission, because Xaden's eyes have not returned to normal.

I hate that we’ve lied to Halden that this is only the Unnbriel trip, but there’s a growing part of me that just doesn’t care.

He’s a fucking liability.

( you hate lying to halden? that's who you hate lying to? REALLY? )

The chapter opens three days later, in fucking Battle Brief. I'm sick of Battle Brief. I need to be free.

It's very crowded, because more fliers have arrived from Poromiel, and it's very stressful, because the venin are advancing in Krovla. Violet feels like shit because she went straight from her mission to class with no break per Aetos.
( what is aetos going to do if she misses class? give her detention? )

Forgot to do these back when they were due, but whatever, it's my blog and no one is reading it.

( read a decent amount )

Xaden, Violet, and Halden versus three panthers and all the king's men. What could go wrong.

They're trying not to kill any of the opposing guards, in the interest of salvaging diplomacy with Deverelli. Like many writers, Yarros seems to think being knocked unconscious and dying are mutually exclusive options. This is a ubiquitous misunderstanding in media, so I'm not going to hold it against her, but I will say it here: if you are hit in the head so hard you pass out, you can die from that. Sometimes it's a concussion and sometimes it's a fatal hemorrhage! Woo!
( ok medical PSA over. let's get to it )

Violet rides Tairn to Halden's rescue.

She asks him if he is in pain, and he denies it, but in a way that makes it clear he is in pain and doesn't want to admit it.

( he's literally petting his evil cat and doing cannabilism. nuanced villains when )

Xaden and Violet fuck. I'm not going to recap that bit, I don't think these sex scenes are great but they're also not egregious, if you like romance novels I think they're fine. Once the banging is over, though, Violet suggests they stay in Deverelli with Tecarus for a while to keep Xaden safe from the venin inside him, so that they can keep working on a cure.
( sure, just abandon the war. that seems fine )

Narelle is a good guy. We know this because she immediately starts talking about how Xaden is hot and his and Violet's relationship is super special.

I shake my head. “Deverelli don’t worship gods.”
( there's still so much book left )

Hey, so what exactly is the Krovlan Uprising? Who are the Krovlan people? Who were they uprising against? I ask because the opening quotes from this book keep referencing Violet's dad's research about it but I actually have no idea what the fuck he is talking about.
( worldbuilding? i never knew her )

Violet suffers under the heat as she and her dragon-hunting squad swoop down towards Deverelli, which is an island nation. They're greeted by archers with enormous crossbolts, or at least the largest ones Violet has ever seen. Have we ever even seen crossbolts before? They've been mentioned, but that's all.
( maybe they're tiny arrows but violet's never seen one before )

Violet and her new squad arrive at Tecarus's palace on their way to Deverelli.

Tairn wants to ditch Halden and his guard, who are being carried as well as all the riders/fliers and are therefore a burden. Frankly, it seems silly to send your heir on a dangerous mission where he could easily be killed and if I were the king, and had already had one son die and another go missing for a year, I would not be sending my remaining child off willy-nilly. Just appoint a Navarrian ambassador or at least send your kid with more than one guard.
( also maybe dont pick the guard he's fucking )

Violet opens the chapter with a list of things she's doing. She's reading every book about Deverelli, going to class, modifying her saddle, and practicing her wielding. In addition, she's interrogating Jack.
( preparing to be a mira/drake hater )

Violet and the irid-searching squad are setting out to retrieve the citrine they need to meet with the Deverilli king. Tairn reminds Violet as they set off that she can't be separated from Andarna for long, and that she'll start to feel the pain in about twelve hours.
( fire safety...poromiel doesn't know )

Chapter start. Violet rushes to Halden's aid and is relieved to see Xaden hasn't skewered the crown prince of Navarre for touching her hair.
( he's so normal )

We open this chapter with a quote from Violet's dad.

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

( violet's evil hot ex )

Violet and Xaden are on the mat together. They've been doing an extremely bad job of acting like they don't want to fuck for the past chapter, so Xaden does the audience the favor of blacking out the entire fighting space so no one can see them. This also means that Violet can't see him, and is forced to use her powers to light her way. They could have a fight where Violet actually demonstrates all her supposed ability, but instead this is just them being horny for each other for a bit in private and then class is over.

At the end of this scene:

“Why only me?” I repeat, more than aware of the other cadets staring as I find my balance, studying me as if hoping to discover a mark, since Xaden walked away unscathed. “Xaden!”

He doesn’t so much as pause his ascent. “Because you’re the only one capable of killing me.”

( i love having my time WASTED )

Here we go. Violet's here for her first signet sparring course, pining for Xaden's hot body all the way. She and Xaden have some telepathic banter where she tells him all the research she's doing offscreen. I wish we got to see some of that on the page in place of all the things we actually have been forced to endure. The lesson opens with Xaden thrashing one of the riders who has doubts about Xaden's ability.

( believe me buddy so do i )

The chapter opens with Violet reeling from the revelation that Xaden is...dun dun dun...now her professor.

I would like to reiterate that this is a stupid conflict.

( continuity? i don't know her )

The chapter opens with another quote that spoils a future plot point: Jesinia being dismissed from the scribe quadrant. We then go to Violet and co. on their way to the Archives. Sawyer is ribbed for having gotten cleaned up to go, and he has a wooden leg now. They then move on to a full page of talking about Violet and Xaden's relationship, and there's no new insight, just a bunch of jokes about how in love they are that remind me how boring this book is.
( who edited this. answer for your crimes )

You might be angry when you realize I didn’t wake you to say goodbye. But it’s only because I no longer fully trust my ability to walk away.

—Recovered Correspondence of His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor, to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

STOP SPOILING YOUR OWN BOOK IN THE OPENING QUOTES.
( jack barlowe: evil and boring )

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