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.

In one of her recent Q&As, Rebecca Yarros mentioned that there is usually a double meaning in the epigraphs, so we’re going to pay much closer attention to them. Chapter 17 opens with recovered correspondence from Violet’s father, Asher Sorrengail, to Violet.

He calls her his “brightest light,” and I have no doubt there’s meaning behind it. We also learn that she was taught only half of what she needed to know, and he feels like he failed Brennan and Mira when they crossed the parapet. But why was he so against them becoming riders? The most important piece of information here is that he explicitly tells her she cannot trust anyone.

It’s nice to learn a little more about how Sloane’s power works. I’m sure we all wondered how a first-year could possibly drain someone as powerful as Lilith Sorrengail—and yet, here we are. She really is just like a conduit.

Should we call the conversation between Sloane and Violet a truce? I have zero doubt that Rebecca Yarros has been building up to this moment for… well, two books! Their relationship is just complicated.

For now, we learn that Dain Aetos did really help and betrayed his father, yet again. Should we trust him now? I already felt like we had his redemption arc in Iron Flame, so I’m very conflicted about loving—or not loving—him.

One of our Easter eggs here is learning about Thoirt. Thoirt is a red dragon, and their ancestral hatching grounds were along the limestone cliffs at the edge of the Dunness River. I can’t help but think that every dragon’s ancestral hatching ground is tied to a specific god. I will form a theory for this and share it on the site asap.

We also get more insight into how Asher thinks. It’s actually pretty fun because I love puzzles! Most importantly, it shows that Asher Sorrengail really doesn’t trust anyone… and that he knew runes.

First love is irreplaceable. Raise your hands—how many of you thought it was Halden? But then again, irreplaceable? Too easy, right? And let’s be honest, Halden is every bit replaceable.

“Though I do remember Mira saying he’d been in a relationship with a rider a year or two older than him.”

This is the first confirmation we have that Brennan was in a relationship while at the Quadrant. So… we do think it was Naolin, right?

And there it is—we’re finally having the conversation about Violet’s first love. We’ve been theorizing about Violet and Halden for a while. Is it time for her to admit to everyone that she dated a prince?!

“My father couldn’t stand the first guy I really dated and never knew about the second.”

All right, so clearly, nobody liked Halden to begin with. And with this sentence, I assume we’ll never really learn about the second guy since he’s probably irrelevant to the story.

“You’re going to be the death of me.” […] “So you keep saying.” I try not to think about the other ways that statement could be interpreted.

Whoa, is Rebecca Yarros going there? Yep, I think she finally is. I’ve been saying this for ages—Violet might just have to be the death of Xaden. How it happens, we don’t know yet. But something tells me we’re going to be devastated.

“There’s that cold edge in his eyes that prickles the hair at the back of my neck.”

I feel like, for whatever reason, Violet can truly sense the darkness in Xaden. Have you ever wondered why? Why is she so susceptible to these things? It feels like perception, one way or another. I don’t have the answers yet, but it reminds me of how good he is with scents. Also, please note that she’s not mentioned Xaden’s smell of mint and leather at all!

It’s good to finally see how Vi’s squad fights together. We never really got the chance to see them properly—how their magic and power are just so lethal, especially when used collectively. When this part gets adapted into the series, I’m sure the director and producers are going to have a lot of fun with it.

“But I swear I can see just how green those eyes are from all the way down here.”

Well, hello there, community! You were all right. Aaric’s eyes—the ones Violet could recognize anywhere in the world? They were his brother’s. Prince Halden. We have official confirmation. Halden was Violet’s first love. And he is strikingly beautiful, with gorgeous green eyes and sandy hair.

We can all appreciate that they can be civil, though. So that’s something—even though it turns out he cheated on her with his professor?! As striking and powerful as he might be, we got an instant turn-off, didn’t we? Add to that the fact that he read her missive, and we officially loathe the dude.

It looks like Viscount Tecarus is unexpectedly helpful toward Violet and her mission, and I have to wonder why. Tecarus didn’t seem particularly… amiable toward her given what happened in Iron Flame, so it feels off that he suddenly wants to help. Is it because he wants protection under the wards as well? Is this just for personal gain?

For whatever reason, Halden also wants to help move things forward and get to the isles. Of course, we first need to retrieve something from occupied territory in Anca.

“Anyone who’s ever dated a rider knows their first priority—their first love—is their dragon.”

Well, at least the conversation with Halden moved the story forward, and we immediately realize that a rider’s first irreplaceable love is their dragon. Lilith’s dragon.

And hey, we end the chapter with Halden being shoved into a wall. Good for Xaden. And good for us!

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
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 59
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 60
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 61
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 62
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 63
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 64
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 65
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 66