Book Review: “Ruthless Vows” By Rebecca Ross

Divine Rivals was up for the running for my top books of 2023 so I was beyond excited to start the second and final book in this series. We read Divine Rivals as my book club pick for November so we decided to read Ruthless Vows as Buddy read and me and my friends had a blast discussing this.

This is a second and final book in a duology so there may be spoilers ahead, proceed with caution if you haven’t read Divine Rivals.

“Their souls weren’t mirrors but complements, constellations that burned side by side.”

Rebecca Ross, Ruthless Vows

About The Book

Author: Rebecca Ross

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Published Date: December 26th, 2023

Page Count: 432 Pages

Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance

GoodReads Rating: 4.31

Format: Physical Book

“For anyone who sought a different realm through a wardrobe door, Who wrote a letter and is still waiting for a reply, Or who dreams of stories and bleeds words.”

Rebecca Ross, Ruthless Vows

Synopsis

Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.

Synopsis From Goodreads


Rating

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Review

Before you start reading this review I highly recommend reading my Divine Rivals Review. I also want to point out that their will be spoilers in this review so read at your own risk.

This book picked off only two weeks after the ending events of Divine Rivals so we really don’t miss anything and just jump right on in. I really appreciated this as I was worried we would have a time jump and would be going back and fourth on timelines but this was really straight forward and we quickly got into the action.

I really think this book could have been broken into two books. We receive so much information and have so many big things happen in the first half that at that half way point I was just mentally exhausted to the point where I took a few days off of reading to hype myself back up. I am not saying this as a bad thing though. Yes we had a ton of info thrown at us but it was all much needed information, I really don’t think Rebecca could have taken anything out to lighten it up a bit and I don’t know that I would want that in the first place. I just think we could have had two books because of the total amount of events and information and stretched this series out a bit longer because I need more of these characters! Another plus for it being so action packed was that it really did make reading this book fly by! It was truly unput downable (If you don’t count my mental exhaustion break lol).

I absolutely love that we got to see them write more letters back and fourth to each other. I was a bit worried this wouldn’t happen but looking back that feels like a silly thing to worry about seeing how the letters are such a huge factor into their relationship. Speaking of their relationship I have some thoughts… I want, no actually, I need more! By the end of the first book we had just barely fell in love with them before they tragically got ripped apart and in this one we did see their relationship grow but the epilogue left me wanting to know about their lives after. I really want to see them through to the end.

Can we talk about the way I literally was screaming when he found her in that wardrobe! The moment he remembered her and then had to immediately send her away and then watch her get shot at! My Heart! I was just rooting for them the whole time and truly did not want to see anything go wrong for these two, and man oh man did they find themselves in some incredibly sticky situations! This book kept me on my toes!

I will always recommend this series to people, especially those who are newer to fantasy just like me.

“Write me a story where there is no ending, Kitt. Write to me and fill my empty spaces.”

Rebecca Ross, Ruthless Vows

QOTD: What was the first Fantasy Series you ever read all the way through?

Book Review: “A Cat Cafe Christmas” By Codi Gary

This was the last Book I read in 2023 and it was such a perfect romance to end the year on. I am lucky to have friends who know my reading tastes so well that they can provider spot on recommendations, thanks @bees.book.buzz for convincing me to pick this one up during the holidays.

Donation Links

This book talked about how difficult it can be for some of these animal non-profits to make money, In light of that I am going to link the cat cafe’s websites I have recently been too along with their donation tabs if you feel so inclined to donate to one of these amazing places.

This was Kewpert Mayonnaise, he stole my heart! I was so sad I couldn’t adopt him!


About The Book

Author: Codi Gary

Publisher: Forever Books

Published Date: October 4th, 2022

Page Count: 375 Pages

Main Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

GoodReads Rating: 3.75

Format: Physical Book


Synopsis

Veterinarian and animal lover Kara Ingalls needs a Christmas miracle. Opening the Meow and Furrever Cat Café to find loving homes for adorable, adoptable cats was a dream come true—but with more cats than customers, it’s quickly turning into a nightmare. If Kara can’t figure out some way to get the café out of the red, it won’t last past the holidays.

Marketing guru Ben Reese may be annoyingly smart and frustratingly bossy, but when he hatches a plan to put the café in the “green” by Christmas, Kara realizes that she’d be a fool to turn down his help. And so what if he turns out to be an excellent problem solver and nerdy-hot—he can’t even handle fostering one little kitten. She needs to keep their relationship professional and focus on saving the cafe.

But if Ben and Kara can set aside their differences—and find homes for all the cats by Christmas—they might discover that, by risking their hearts, they’ll have their own purr-fect holiday . . . together.

Synopsis From GoodReads


Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

I really haven’t been reading a lot of romance books this year, they just haven’t really been doing it for me like they used too. So I didn’t think this would really interest me all that much especially a holiday romance as I don’t have a great track record with them. But this book was seriously so cute that I couldn’t put it down! I mean how could you go wrong with a book about a cat cafe?! I am a huge sucker for cat cafe’s, in fact me and Noah go to the local one a few times a year and even stopped by one while we were vacationing in Seattle!

This book talked a lot about mental health and the every day struggles people go through especially when having anxiety and panic attacks. I truly loved this representation! The way all the characters handled certain situations just made my heart melt.

The one thing that I truly loved about this book was how little spice was in it. I know this might seem weird to some people but I really just loved reading about the characters emotional connections and watching them grow closer together without physical intimacy being shoved down your throat. In my opinion this was a very cozy romance read and that was exactly what I went in expecting.

Something fun I loved about this book was that each chapter started with one of the adoptable cats names and their cute little bio. Because this was a Christmas read a bunch of the cats names were Christmas themed but they were at least very unique and that made the book just that much better. I highly recommend everyone to read this one!


QOTD: Have you ever been to a cat cafe?

Book Review: “Icebreaker” By Hannah Grace

Icebreaker was honestly a book I wasn’t all that interested in reading. I haven’t been in a romance mood lately let alone a spicy read. I also am not a sports romance girly in general so this book was flying under my radar for multiple reasons. However, I was sent this off of my wish list a few months ago and it was just screaming at me saying “I will give you all the winter vibes!” So I plucked it off of my shelf and gave it a try, here are all my thoughts, the good and the bad.

“You’re my favorite,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss her flushed cheek.  “Even if I had crab hands?”  “Even if you had crab hands, Anastasia.”

Hannah Grace, Icebreaker

About The Book

Author: Hannah Grace

Publisher: Atria

Published Date: February 7th, 2023

Page Count: 448 Pages

Main Genres: Romance

GoodReads Rating: 3.98

Format: Physical Book

“Of course, I know you really well, Anastasia. You’re my favorite subject.”

Hannah Grace, Icebreaker

Synopsis

Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team.

Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.

Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him.

But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot.

Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried…because she could never like a hockey player, right?

Synopsis from GoodReads


Rating

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Review

This book took awhile for me to get into. I honestly just struggled with the main character a lot so I had no desire to pick it up and read it. I am not sure what is in the air but I apparently have only been interested in reading books that have an unlikeable main character and it is starting to get on my last nerve. So now you might be asking “Why did you finish it if you couldn’t stand the main character?” That is a great question, I am still asking myself that very thing.

I would say the main reason I kept reading was because I knew a romance was going to be a quick read, especially one that had as much smut in it as this book. Secondly, I liked almost all of the side characters so they made up for it. i really liked that we got Nathans POV every other chapter, that was what really interested me and kept me going. I just really wanted Nathan to be happy even if it was with Stass.

Reading the back of this book you expect a lot of skating and playing hockey, well that was one part of the book I actually missed! There was way more sex scenes than skating scenes! The back of the book makes it sound like Nathan and Stass would be skating together for the whole book but that only lasted maybe 50 pages…100 if we are lucky but again it is barely mentioned, to the point where I forgot what this book was really about.

One thing That I want to really Highlight is the mental health rep in this book. There is one chapter in this book where Stass is having a therapy session and to be honest I almost Cried! This made her character feel more real and I really connected with that. Then we have Nathan who is constantly reminding her to take care of her wellbeing and pushing ever so slightly on her habits to help her create healthier ones and he does it in such a gentle way, my heart was swooning for this man!

Before reading this book I highly recommend looking up trigger warnings. Some of the ones I want to specifically point out because they have a huge presence is Eating Disorders, Body image, Controlling Friendships and Time OCD. Please make sure you take care of yourself when reading any book!

“Don’t give me that shit. I’ve seen what you have on your smutty bookshelf.”

Hannah Grace, Icebreaker

QOTD: Is there a trigger warning in a book that you refuse to read?

AOTD: Animals dying or any animal cruelty for me. I am known to DNF a book even 80% of the way done if I feel like an animal will die.

Book Review: “Love On The Brain” By Ali Hazelwood

This book was one that my friend @syds.bookshelves has been telling me to read for quite some time now. I finally caved knowing I did really enjoy “The Love Hypothesis” By the same author hoping this one would be just as great. Something I forgot about this author is that she is a huge raylo fan so some of her books feel like Star Wars fan-fic and I am not a Star Wars Fan at all, so when Star Wars gets mentioned I tend to roll my eyes haha. But this did not ruin the reading experience at the slightest.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a community of women trying to mind their own business must be in want of a random man’s opinion.”

Ali Hazelwood, Love on the Brain

About The Book

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Publisher: Berkley

Published Date: August 23rd, 2022

Page Count: 354 Pages

Main Genres: Romance, Fiction

GoodReads Rating: 3.93

Format: Physical Book

“if academia ever makes you feel like you’re not good or smart enough . . . it’s not you, it’s academia.”

Ali Hazelwood, Love on the Brain

Synopsis

Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project–a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia–Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school–archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it’s her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas…devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

Synopsis From GoodReads

“I love you, I think, and you are my home.”

Ali Hazelwood, Love on the Brain

Rating

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Review

Ali Hazelwoods books typically follow characters in STEM, which is a topic I know nothing about. This can worry me when starting a book like this Because if I don’t know much about the characters hobbies I may get bored and check out when reading about them. However this book was written so well that you really mostly focused on their love story. and their jobs were just there to move the story along.

Now one thing that did really bug me was all the Marie Curie facts. Look, I know this was a huge part of the book and pretty much the Main characters entire personality. But sometimes it felt like facts were just being thrown into here for no reason at all! I could have lived without them but that is just my opinion. If there wasn’t so much information on Marie Curie I probably would have rated this book a bit higher honestly.

Gosh, Levi is the most perfect man to ever exist! I truly love a man falls first trope and this book was the ultimate example of it. But as much as I loved Levi, I was beyond annoyed with Bee for 90% of the book. I really struggle with unlikeable main characters and Bee just drove me crazy! I really wanted to like her but her constantly reminding Levi how much he hates her and not giving him a chance to explain himself was un redeeming in my eyes. Thank goodness Levi is a saint or else I don’t think he would have fought so hard for her.

Regardless of some of the things I struggled with, this was still a super cute book. In fact, I even read it in one sitting so that attests to how much I did enjoy it.

“The real villain is love: an unstable isotope, constantly undergoing spontaneous nuclear decay. And it will forever go unpunished.”

Ali Hazelwood, Love on the Brain

QOTD: Whats your favorite romance book?

Book Review: “Divine Rivals” By Rebecca Ross

This was my Book Clubs November Read, cohosted by my bestie @IrelandsLibrary. I honestly had no intentions on reading this book until Ireland had suggested it as a book club read and of course it was a hit! I should have known she had great taste after her last suggest “Emily Wildes Encyclopedia of Faeries” which also had a very positive review from our book club members. I am starting to think she should pick all of our books from here on out!

“I never told you that I love you. And I regret that, most of all.”

Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals

About The Book

Author: Rebecca Ross

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Published Date: April 4th, 2023

Page Count: 357 Pages

Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance, YA

GoodReads Rating: 4.26

Format: Physical Book

“But I think there is a magical link between you and me. A bond that not even distance can break.”

Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals

Synopsis

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“I love the words I write until I soon realize how much I hate them, as if I am destined to always be at war within myself.”

Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

I have said this many times before, I am NOT a fantasy reader! So the fact I read three fantasy books in a row blows my mind. It also sacred me because I read this book Immediately after finishing Iron Flame so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to focus on the world building, but honestly this book was pretty easy to follow.

I absolutely love books with mixed media so the fact that they were sending letters to each other really grabbed my attention, I just wish their were more letters honestly. I heard someone say that because both of these characters are supposed to be exceptionally great writers the letters were perfect but the writing of the book its self was subpar because it had to make the letters stand out, Honestly I can see where they are coming from but that doesn’t change my mind that this book was phenomenal.

With that said, I still think that somethings could have changed in this book to make me like it even more but if these particular things changed I don’t see how she could have wrote a second book so for the plot line Rebecca was going for I couldn’t have seen this book being written any other way. And the cliff hanger we are dangling off of as we wait not so patiently for the second book to be released was something I did not see coming at all! Why did you have to do this to us?!

I am not usually one who likes an insta love story but this book really worked for me. Spoiler Alert, but they got married so fast! However my heart was rooting for them so hard! I think the reason for this is because Roman fell first and I am learning that I am a sucker for the guy falls first trope. I can’t wait to see where their relationship goes from here but I am not sure my heart can take it!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who might be on the fence, just go ahead and pick it up, you won’t be disappointed!

“It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are. Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.”

Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals

QOTD: What Romance Trope is your Favorite?

“I don’t think you realize how strong you are, because sometimes strenght isn’t swords and steel and fire, as we are so often made to believe. Someimes it’s found in quiet, gentle places.”

Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals

Book Review: “Iron Flame” By Rebecca Yarros

I finished “Fourth Wing” The night before “Iron Flame” Released meaning I started this book practically hours after I had finished the first. If I didn’t have a vacation to be on this would have been finished last week, that is how fast I was flying through this book. Luckily I did have some decent layovers that did let me read bits and pieces at a time but I had too many distractions to be bale to finish till I came back home. Now that I have finished the book I don’t know if I even have words…

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

Other Empyrean Posts

***Spoilers Ahead. Read at your own RISK***

Just as a warning this is quite a long review and overall deep dive into this book but I had a lot to say so I guess this was mostly for me to get all my burning thoughts out! I have provided a table of contents so you can skip to the parts you would like to spend time reading.

***Spoilers Ahead. Read at your own RISK***

About The Book

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Publisher: Red Tower Books

Published Date: November 7th, 2023

Page Count: 640 Pages

Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance

GoodReads Rating: 4.56

Format: Physical Book


Synopsis

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

Synopsis From GoodReads


Rating

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Review

I have waited a few days to officially write my review so everything that happened could really sink in. I am excited to share my thoughts and theories even the completely unhinged ones. This is going to be a long and rocky review so buckle up and lets go!

I have heard a lot of people say that this book is not a literary master piece so why are we rating it so high? I agree this series has its flaws but the emotions this series pulls out of people and the attachments we have over these characters I feel like is the true reason it is rated so highly. If a book can get me to audibly gasp or physically cry there is no reason I would be rating this any lower than four stars, which I know is probably crazy to some people but ratings change from person to person and our reasons will probably never align and that is OK!

You are going to read these first few paragraphs and be in awe that I rated this book so high. But please don’t question my logic and mostly my feelings because I think this book was an integral part to the overall series and everything that happened in this book is going to be so important later on. So bare with me… Ok.. Here we go!

The beginning of this book had a lot of info dumping that we had to trudge our way through that honestly didn’t feel like it was going to have any kind of pay off in the end. It almost felt like this whole book was just going to be a transitional book so book three could be a huge battle, which honestly may not be wrong. However, the first part of the book walked so the second half could RUN! With that being said I have heard most people struggle reading this book till shortly after part two cause that’s where things really start to pick up maybe even just before part two begins..

In fact I wrote this in my storygraph notes (Scene where Mira finds out Brennan is alive just before part 2) ‘Page 360’ “Mira! I am so happy they are all together. I love that she punched him. Also I think the book could have ended here and been an ok transitional book into the third one with a big war but we shall see.” I just think this happy family reunion was a good stopping point but Rebecca was like “Hold my Drink, we are going for a ride!” And what a ride it was!

“Less than a minuet” , Xaden whispers. “That’s all it took for you to fall out of love with me.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

Xaden will forever be one of my favorite male characters in books. I love me a protective man even when Violet says “You are starting to sound like Dain” I mean how dare you compare Xaden to Dain… Insert eye roll. Xaden is the ultimate shadow daddy and this book confirmed that. I am honestly upset with how little he was in this book, clearly my favorite character and I hardly got any scenes with him!

Xaden tried so hard to love Violet and give her the time and space she needed and asked for but Violet was giving him nothing! This leads me to my next gripe. Is it just me or is Violet a very unlikeable character? I could be in the minority here but she drives me crazy!


The Big Twists

Trying to avoid spoilers for this book was so hard and as I am writing this I can now see that I am a part of that problem… Oops.

I knew someone died at the end, even without spoilers you could have assumed this was going to happen. But for me it was because of my boyfriend, he decided to read the last chapter of the book (Nothing more) and by his reaction I just knew someone died and he was like “yup but I will not tell you who.” So during the book I would randomly be like “oh no, please don’t tell me it was Rhi…” or “Oh shit! Brennan doesn’t die does he?” Well, Noah stood strong, never giving me a single hint at who dies.

I get to the end and who dies? Oh yeah, her mother! Like what? Lilith wasn’t even on my radar of someone dying, meaning I didn’t think I would care if she died and man oh man was I wrong! Talk about Literal tears!

Lilith was 80% a bad guy to me. I figured she might turn good at some point but I saw her as a horrible mother until the middle of this book when she helped Violet escape and then the end where you can see under her tough shell is a mother who just cares about her children.

“She made it,” I whisper up to Liam.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

With all that said Liams death in “Fourth Wing” still hit me harder but this is a close second! (Surprisingly)

Speaking of Liam, I was so happy to see him in this book. His death really tore me apart because I loved his character. Reading this book gave me hope that we may be able to see him / hear from him more in the next few books. This makes me beyond curious to know what part he will play in the rest of this series.

The next thing that shocked me to my core was Xaden Turning into a Vennin! How could Rebecca do this to us?! Of course, the answer to that is for the plot. But what a way to break my heart! As mentioned above Xaden is why I am reading this series so god forbid something happens to him!

I mean look at that face, I was shook! I am honestly so scared for him in the upcoming book(s). I don’t know if my heart can take much more! He has had one rough go at life and he deserves to finally be happy.

“Welcome to our fucked up family. Guess we’re brothers now.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

Jack Being alive almost caused the destruction of my book. I was not ok! She killed him! How in the world could he possibly be alive?!

But what really stung was the fact that he was Vennin! What? How? When? Where? Why? I have so many questions and so little answers. Especially when he said we are already among you… now on my next re read I will be paying attention to every single character! I gotta hunt them all down!

“Was.” My gaze tracks Dain as he walks around the mat to Professor Emetterio. “He was my best friend.” For fifteen years, there was no one closer. I’d thought he was going to be my everything.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

In my “Fourth Wing” review I wrote “Dain has two fates he either dies or they make up and he joins the forces. God I hope they kill him! Traitor!!!!” Well it looks like he joined the forces. I honestly don’t know how to feel about him, I know I don’t trust him but he almost makes you want to give him a chance. But yet he is still Trash! He has a few more books to make it through and if I were him I would be counting my days!

God forbid Rebecca gives him a chance with Violet next book. That just might kill me.


Theories I Can Hop On Board With

***I have heard this various times on TikTOk I unfortunately don’t know who said what now with the millions of theories I have listened too. ***

  • Violets Second Signet is either Time Travel or A Direct bond with Malek
  • Andarna is a god of dragons
  • Liliths love of her life isn’t Violets dad (More of this on my own Theories where I add onto this in an unhinged way)
  • Violets Lightning is actually raw power so she can manipulate her power in more ways than she thinks
  • Violet can dream walk. (Her dreams with the Sage)
  • The marked ones mark is actually an extra power or a boost in power because a dragon gave them the mark and dragons only give marks as powers. The size of the relic represents their power. (Kayleigh Tiktok) I agree with this because why else would they be able to block out Melgrens power if they are in groups more than 3? This way they have a way to still go under the radar if needed. That is a blessing in of its self and the dragons don’t seem to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Theories I Don’t Love

***I have heard this various times on TikTOk I unfortunately don’t know who said what now with the millions of theories I have listened too. ***

  • Tairns previous rider was the one Lilith was secretly in love with
  • Violets dad is the leader of the vennin
  • Violet is inntinnsic
  • Liam Comes Back
  • Violets mom is vennin
  • Violet is vennin because Nolon was constantly healing her as she grew up, I don’t believe this because in the book she has a “Dream” with the vennin sage who said you will turn to save the one you love or die togetehr.

My Theories

Heads up. My theories are a bit out there so many of you may not agree but What If?

You can watch my Tiktok Theory Video to hear my exact thoughts and comment to see other peoples opinions as well.


My First theory is that the love of Lilith’s Life is actually Fenn Riorson… Yep you heard that correctly!

I think that Lilith has been helping the Rebellion the whole time and in the midst of it all she fell in love with Fenn Riorson. When in the end he became the very thing he despised, Vennin. On page 620 we read.

“We have tried every method we know of, as you requested. There is no cure. There is only Control.”

-Missive from Lieutenant Colonel Nolon Colbersy to General Lilith Sorrengail

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

I think she could have been trying to save him instead of killing him because he was the key to protecting not only the continent but most importantly her kids, which was her soul mission in life.

Why else would she entrust Xaden to protect Violet when she entered the war college? She had to know deep down Xaden would protect her at all cost and do the right thing for the marked ones, the continent and of course Violet.

Of course she could have been using the serum to heal Violets dad instead which is a possibility but I just don’t believe it. or I guess I don’t want to believe it if it is true.


My Second Theory is maybe a bit more believable than the first.

I believe that the leader of the Vennin is Xadens mom.

All we know is that she left him at a young age and he hardly knew her. I think she could have been vennin before he was born and so Xaden already has Vennin blood inside of him meaning maybe he is a direct line to the vennin thrown. This is why the leader of the Vennin is searching for him so hard.

I also believe this is why when Violet was in the arena she had to fight a vennin that was contained in Fenn Riorsons Chest. He knew how to capture them because of his wife which in turn when she left him and his son he knew he had no choice but to stop her Vennin ways.

Questions I Need The Answers Too!

If I have missed any details that should have given me these answers please let me know in the comments!

  1. Did Violets dad really die by Heart Problems?
  2. Will Xaden and Violet Be End Game?
  3. Who was the 7th rider?
  4. Who was the 7th Dragon?
  5. How were the dragons able to keep Andarnas Breed such a big Secret?
  6. Who else do we know is a Vennin?
  7. What is Violets Second Signet?
  8. Did Tairn actually know that Xaden was Inntinnsic because in fourth wing he said something along the lines of boy don’t you dare try and get in my head and read me. But when Violet found out he was so shocked! Of course he could mean tapping into the connected bond all four of them share but the worded has me questioning it.
  9. How did the Vennin get into Basgiath? And how can they still harness some power?
  10. I am interested to know how all of this would have played out if Violet really did get into the Scribes. Not really a question though.
  11. Do Vennin have to feed?

Poll Section

Favorite Quotes

Too Many To count but I don’t apologize, there are just too many good ones!

“I do. I’m sorry if you expect me to do the noble thing. I warned you. I’m not sweet or soft or kind, and you fell anyway. This is what you get, Violet— me. The good, the bad, the unforgivable. All of it. I am yours.” His arm wraps around the small of my back, holding me steady and close. “You want to know something true? Something real? I love you. I’m in love with you. I have been since the night the snow fell in your hair and you kissed me for the first time. I’m grateful my life is tied to yours because it means I won’t have to face a day without you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does, and when you die, I’ll meet Malek at your side. It’s a damned good thing that you love me, too, because you’re stuck with me in this life and every other that could possibly follow.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“My house. My chair. My woman.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“Violence, remember it’s only the body that’s fragile. You are unbreakable.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“Touch me and I swear to the gods, I’ll cut your fucking hands off and let the quadrant sort you out in the next round of challenges, Dain Aetos.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“I think I liked you better before you decided that feelings were something we need to discuss.”
“Sorry to inconvenience you, but this year the role of Violet Sorrengail”—he points to me—“ will be played by Xaden Riorson”—he taps his chest—“ who will drag her, kicking and screaming if he has to, into a real relationship with real discussions, because he refuses to lose her again. If I have to evolve, you do, too.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“But I’m begging you, Violet. Don’t offer me your body unless you’re offering me everything. I want you more than I want to fuck you. I want those three little words back.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“I bet we get seven inches tonight.” “Maybe more if you’re good.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“Because you didn’t fall for an ordinary rider. You fell for the leader of a revolution,”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“You should take her at her word. In fact…” Xaden doesn’t bother to lower his voice. “If you don’t, I’ll take personal offense. She made her choice, and it wasn’t you. It will never be you. I know it. She knows it. The whole quadrant knows it.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“No, Violet.” He lifts both swords overhead, then slips them into the sheaths on the pack behind him with practiced expertise and a hint of a smirk. “Just you and me.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“His jaw flexes, his hands curl at his sides, and his beautiful face… Well, he hasn’t looked at me with that much anger since discovering my last name at Parapet, back when he wanted to kill me. Guess I should be careful what I ask for, because I’m so fucked. “You aren’t where I left you, Violence.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“I need to know you’ll be here. That no matter what happens, you’ll come back so we can talk it out or fight it out.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“In a world of dragon riders, gryphon fliers, and dark wielders…” “It’s the scribes who hold all the power.” They put out the public announcements. They keep the records. They write our history.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame

“Well, this is awkward,” Xaden calls out.”

Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame