Do you remember the first time we got bonus chapters? We were over the moon, because reading the narrative from Xaden’s POV is just WOW. Welcome back to the read-along. For those of you who are not new here, thank you for your patience. I’m now back in the game. So let’s begin.

It’s an interesting chapter to pick for the first POV. I think it tells us the author really enjoyed crafting this chapter to begin with. It’s also well picked, because Xaden clearly has his shields firmly in place given the proximity to Aetos. That doesn’t mean he’s not using his signet, though.

Welcome to the chapter of learning more about Sgaeyl too. I LOVE Sgaeyl. In fact, I wish we’d get a whole book dedicated to the dragons just to understand the relationship between Tairn and Sgaeyl.

“I could snap her neck and no one in this room would interfere. But the hundred and seven souls I’m responsible for would pay the price.”

This is the first clue that while he might want to harm Violet, he clearly cannot. The first clue that there is more to it. As we learn in subsequent books, it was Lilith who agreed to let them enter the quadrant in exchange for a favor at a later date. The favor… Violet.

I love reading that Xaden had already figured out she’s poisoning her opponents and clearly wants to teach her… to survive. He likes her. It’s evident and a major turn-on, of course.

“Going for blood today, are we, Violence?” I whisper.

And there it is. Violence. The first time he says it. Oh, so beautiful.

“Violet is too soft of a name for her. Too breakable. I’m well aware of the shit people talk about her bones and joints, but from what I’ve seen, the woman has a core of steel.” I love that he notices so much more about Violet. That’s why we love Xaden, of course.

“and gods she smells really fucking good like—”
This part is very important. I really want to know what Violet smells like. In fact, we should have some fun and ask each other… what do we think she smells like? He’s all mint and leather. Is she vanilla and berries? Sea salt? Gardenia?

“Warmth flares in my chest in appreciation of her discretion, her quick observation that this lesson isn’t for public dissemination.”

We always learn everything from Violet’s POV, but it’s nice to learn more about her personality through someone else. She is naive and trusting, as we see above when she takes his hand. She is also intuitive and quick.

“The shadows on the mat give her away, and I twist and duck as she jabs forward, the knife slicing through the air where I’d been standing.” I love this so much. Imagining that he can somehow sense or anticipate her shadows just as much…

“I fucking hate you.”
A corner of my mouth lifts. Gods, she’s just as merciless as Sgaeyl when it comes to her tongue. “That doesn’t make you special.”

Interesting. He doesn’t mind this part. Even I minded it when she swore at him. I was like, girl, come on. But clearly he appreciated it in a weird, twisted way. Also interesting that he compares her to Sgaeyl. Blue dragon. Who or what is blue? Dunne. We know Violet was at least partly dedicated to Dunne. Tairn chose Sgaeyl as a mate, and then Violet as a rider. Tairn seems to have a thing for “blue,” so to speak.

“And it’s not the palpable hatred in her ever-changing eyes, either.”
Ever-changing eyes. Eyes are very important in this novel. I do think the fact that her eyes shift between hazel and blue tells us a lot. Different paths she’s yet to decide on. Different gods she’s yet to pick.

“The speed with which she processes information and compartmentalizes her feelings is such an advantage, and I doubt she even knows it.” There is so much Violet still needs to learn, no doubt. But it’s impressive to learn all this about her.

“A rib shot would have worked just fine.” Then I lead our hands around to my back, leaving myself vulnerable for the first time since I walked into this prison of a war college. “Kidneys are a good fit from this angle, too.”

I LOVED this. He made himself vulnerable… for her. For the first time since walking the parapet.

“I have to get the fuck off her before she realizes she has another weapon at her disposal when it comes to me.”
Be honest. Did you think he was obvious? Are the leathers good enough to keep him… to himself? Haha.

“Oh, Violence, you’re good, but I’ve known better poison masters. The trick is to not make it quite so obvious.”
Brennan would give one of his frustrated sighs if he knew just how obvious his little sister was. “Then again, he’d also try to kick my ass for the position I have Violence in.”

Ok, so this is important. So far we assume the “best” poison master was Papa Sorrengail. He taught his children very well. But Brennan is somehow still better than Violet. Is it because of age and experience, or actual skill? Which begs the question: if Papa Sorrengail is so good with poisons, and his chest issues started right after Brennan’s supposed death, how did he not realize he was being poisoned? Was he being poisoned?

“You in the mood to spar with first-years?” Garrick asks, keeping pace with me once I’m a few steps from Second Squad, a smile tugging at his mouth. “Or just that particular first-year?”
“Sometimes I hate how fucking observant you are.”
“It’s hard to miss the way you look at her,” he says, lowering his voice.

It’s important to note that Garrick, too, is very observant. Clearly we need to learn more about these characters, and the only way to do that is through Xaden’s POV… or their own. Violet can only know so much about Xaden’s inner circle.

Continue with the Fourth Wing Read Along

• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 1
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 2
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 3
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 4
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 5
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 6
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 7
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 8
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 9
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 9 – Xaden’s POV
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 10
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 11
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 12
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 13
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 14
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 15
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 16
• Fourth Wing Read Along – Chapter 16 – Xaden POV