It goes without saying that THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven’t read this chapter of Onyx Storm, please go read it first.

The epigraph is so interesting. Asher tells us he spent three months on Hedotis. He makes a great note here by admitting these people are intelligent and even wise, yet also artificial and deceptive. Again, one must ask: what is this isle hiding?

I love the playfulness of the words here: “What in Amari’s name am I supposed to say to that?” And it’s Tairn who answers this very question. Is this a hint? Or just coincidence?

“Tell her the truth. He loathes her,” Tairn suggests. He refers to Talia as “life-giver.” See? Again, dragons never use people’s names. In fact, oddly enough, I don’t think Tairn ever calls Violet… Violet! He only ever calls her “Silver One.” Only Andarna calls her Violet.

“That’s his mother,” Andarna argues. “What would you do, Violet?”

By now, you know I pay attention to every bit of color: “Everything is cream with touches of pale green and gold.” It reminds me of scribes in their cream robes.

“If I didn’t think Sgaeyl would torch me for willingly blocking the bond—even temporarily…” I wonder why Sgaeyl would want to keep the bond in place with Xaden being venim. Why wouldn’t she welcome a reprieve for a bit?

“I’d rather be powerless than potentially hurt you.” I think this is foreshadowing for book four. We’ve theorized quite a bit that Xaden is going to have to be without magic. It might also explain our ending and the bond between Violet and Xaden.

I don’t know if this mineral, viladrite, will play any role moving forward, but I think we should take note of it. It changes eyes to a purple hue. If nothing else, what an interesting fact.

“In a life without magic, the best medicine is time.” Again, a nod to Mirja’s theory about Xaden needing to be without magic for a while.

“Right or wrong, everything your mother did was to protect you and your siblings. She died protecting you.” Here we have confirmation that even other characters view Lilith Sorrengail as a morally gray figure—she did what she did, right or wrong, to protect her children.

“I’m aware in the moments I lack emotion. You and Garrick don’t need to share little oh-no glances—I already feel it.” Does this mean that only Xaden can realize his lack of emotion right now because he hasn’t progressed as venin? Or do all venim feel this absence? Are they aware they’re missing something?

“I get it now. It’s not just the power that’s addicting; it’s the freedom to not feel this.” That was such a human thing for Xaden to say. We all have our demons, and it’s true—in many instances, we want to sell our soul not for power, but for the control of not feeling our feelings. The pitfalls of addiction, as Mirja would so cleverly state in her theory…

Again, Hedotis is a rather… special isle. Violet calls it the blandest isle. Hedotis has stayed neutral—at least on paper.

“To make sure Andarna’s kind hasn’t chosen the blandest isle ever to call home, and we go. Hedotis hasn’t entered a war or aligned itself with any kingdom at war in its recorded history.” – Isn’t that strange? Could it be that it’s the same as Deverelli? Stays neutral in all things? Or are they covering something sinister?

“Don’t barter it away,” I beg as he stares at the sea, and the words spill out of me faster and faster as his eyes harden and he resurrects the defenses it took me a year to break past. “The pain. The mess. Give it to me. I’ll hold it. I know that sounds ludicrous, but I’ll find a way.” I lace our fingers. “I will hold everything you don’t want to feel because I love every part of you.” “You already hold my soul, and now you want my pain? Getting greedy, Violence.”

This reminds me so much of the Pandora’s box theory—and again, a nod to the chapters to come and some of the items they might acquire from other isles. How can one store a soul? How can one store pain, a mess? If only there were a box capable of holding such pieces.

Overall this chapter was for us to learn more about Xaden above all. Why his mother left. Where his mother is now and to feel his feelings. We get it why he is the way he is, seeing as he was abandoned as a child by his own mother. We also know where the chocolate cake comes from. And it broke my heart, that despite all this time, despite the loss, he still loves chocolate cake the most. For most of us, chocolate cake would taste of loss and abandonment and not of hope…

The chapter ends with Violet scheming, as Andarna puts it. And I have to say, I do enjoy her scheming. She excels at it, and it’s a great reminder of why we love the series so much.

Onyx Storm Read Along

• Onyx Storm Read Along: Prologue
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 1
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 2
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 3
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 4
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 5
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 6
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 7
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 8
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 9
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 10
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 11
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 12
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 13
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 14
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 15
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 16
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 17
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 18
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 19
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 20
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 21
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 22
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 23
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 24
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 25
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 26
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 27
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 28
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 29
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 30
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 31
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 32
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 33
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 34
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 35
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 36
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 37
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 38
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 39
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 40
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 41
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 42
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 43
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 44
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 45
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 46
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 47
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 48
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 49
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 50
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 51
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 52
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 53
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 54
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 55
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 56
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 57
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 58