Dragons in the Details

The Iron Squad Fantasy Draft!!

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with a FUN twist on their usual deep dives - it's IRON SQUAD FANTASY DRAFT time! We're taking a break from our usual theory-heavy episodes to play a little game. Some of it's serious, some of it's silly, all of it's fun.

For each category, we each get to pick one Iron Squad member, but we can't pick the same person. Our draft pool includes Dain, Rhi, Ridoc, Aaric, Sawyer, Maren, and Cat.

First up: Who's the most powerful member of the Iron Squad? Is Cat more powerful than we thing? And how powerful is Molvic?

Things get juicy when we debate who's most likely to betray Violet. Ronnie picks Ridoc (but only because he'd think it was for Violet's own good), while Abby makes a compelling case for Maren, whose parents were killed in a trap meant for Violet. We also tackle the most unlikely couple in the Iron Squad (Rhi and Ridoc give major sibling vibes) and whose signet would be the ABSOLUTE WORST to accidentally wield during sex (freezing your partner mid-moment? No thank you, Ridoc!).

The laughs start coming when we pick whose signet would be the BEST to accidentally wield during sex (Cat, obviously - emotion manipulation has its perks!), who will play the biggest role in upcoming books, and who our personal favorites are. Poor Sawyer barely gets any picks throughout our draft, confirming Rebecca's admission that she hasn't given him enough attention!

In our wildest Precog Corner yet, Abby dives into the fascinating mythology behind our Iron Squad members' names. Did you know that Aetos means "eagle" in Greek and refers to Zeus's childhood companion who was later the object of Hera’s jealousy? The parallels to Dain, Violet, and Xaden are too eerie to be a coincidence. 

Ronnie counters with a theory about the cure for Venin that might just change everything: What if there IS no cure because channeling from the source is simply a choice that Venin have to stop making? What if the entire series is actually a massive allegory for addiction? The implications are chilling!

We wrap up with our current reads - Abby's loving "This Is How You Lose the Time War" (a tight, dense novella about two beings on opposite sides of a time war falling in love through letters), while Ronnie's rereading A Court of Thorns and Roses and discovering all the hidden gems she missed the first time around.

Spoilers for the ENTIRE Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

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Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We REALLY appreciate it!

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Time Stamps:

00:00 - 04:44: Intro - Coca Cola still hasn't called

04:45 - 08:32: Announcements and podcast milestones

08:33 - 12:26: C/O/SM

12:27 - 18:16: Draft rules!

18:17 - 33:32: Who is the most powerful member of the Iron Squad?

33:33 - 41:39: Who is most likely to betray Violet?

41:40 - 46:51: Most unlikely couple in the Iron Squad

46:52 - 50:24: Whose signet would be the worst to accidentally wield during sex?

50:25 - 53:32: Whose signet would be the best to accidentally wield during sex?

53:33 - 59:19: Who is most likely to die?

59:20 - 1:05:05: Who will play the biggest role in upcoming books?

1:05:06 - 1:07:36: Who's your favorite member of the Iron Squad?

1:07:37 - 1:18:18: Precog Corner: Dain's name, what if there is no cure?

1:18:19 - 1:22:10: What we're reading!

The End Of Onyx Storm Part 2 - Violet’s Version

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with their deep dive into the final chapter of Onyx Storm! Buckle up for "The Ending of Onyx Storm (Part 2): Violet's Version" where we dissect every shocking detail of that cliffhanger ending that left us all shattered!

We kick things off with the an unusual question: how did Violet get to Riorson House ? We discuss distance wielders, siphons, and why Garrick might NOT be Venin after all (or is he?). Then we tackle what that mysterious "shape moving in the shadows" really is—spoiler alert: it's probably not Xaden!

Next, we dive into why Brennan's eyes bulged when he saw Violet. Is her hair fully silver now? Does she have a tattoo? Or is something even more dramatic happening? We explore why Andarna is so confident she can protect Violet from being burned, and what that means about her time with the Irids.

Things get wild when we discuss those missing 12 hours that Imogen wiped from Violet's memory. We start by discussing the timing and location of Violet and Xaden’s wedding - how could they have gotten married in Aretia when Xaden maybe can’t go in the wards anymore? And either way wouldn’t everyone have been looking for him? Did they actually get married in Unnbriel, and if so are Andarna’s time manipulation powers back?! Plus, we identify the four missing riders (our money's on Xaden, Garrick, Bodhi, and... DAIN?!) and debate who murdered those three elders in the valley (hint: it wasn't Xaden!).

Our most compelling theory yet emerges when we analyze that cryptic note: "Don't look for me, it's yours now." What exactly is "it"? We make a shocking connection between Malek, souls, and why Andarna is so determined to prevent Violet from burning. Could Violet now be dedicated to the god of death himself?!

We round it all out with our wildest Precog Corner yet, where Ronnie theorizes that Tairn might have been forced to kill Naolin after he turned, while Abby drops a bombshell about the true name of the continent and what it reveals about the gods!

Spoilers for the ENTIRE Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

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Time Stamps:

00:00 - 02:50: Intros and episode overview

02:51 - 07:44: Announcements and social media shout-outs

07:45 - 11:33: Jess's theory about Xaden sneaking into Violet's bed

11:34 - 18:19: Setting the scene for Chapter 66

18:20 - 22:18: How did Violet get to Riorson House?

22:19 - 29:33: What is the shape that moves in the shadows?

29:34 - 35:59: Why do Brennan's eyes bulge when they see Violet?

36:00 - 39:48: Why would they burn Violet?

39:49 - 47:26: The missing 12 hours and time manipulation

47:27 - 52:17: Who are the four missing riders and their dragons?

52:18 - 57:32: Who murdered the elders in the valley?

57:33 - 1:03:22: Where did they get married and why?

1:03:23 - 1:11:14: Why did Tairn need a cycle of rest?

1:11:15 - 1:19:30: What is "it" in "it's yours now"?

1:19:31 - 1:24:05: Why did Imogen erase Violet's memory?

1:24:06 - 1:34:44: Where is Xaden now?

1:34:45 - 1:39:42: Precog Corner: Tairn and Naolin's fate

1:39:43 - 1:44:51: Precog Corner: Amari, Malek, and the continent

1:44:52 - 1:51:41: Reading Corner: Empire of Storms

1:51:42 - 1:54:33: Wrap-up and social media information

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with part one of their mind-blowing deep dive into the ending of Onyx Storm! We're kicking things off with a return to our Diet Coke discourse (and bubbly drinks in general) before diving head-first into what happens to our favorite shadow-daddy on top of that hidden sun-soaked canyon. 

We start by tackling the burning question that's keeping us all up at night: who is the brother that turned Venin? We bring receipts analyzing every possible candidate - from Bodhi (on his hands and knees "retching" in the town square... or channeling?), to Garrick (mysteriously missing at the end), to Aaric (who would be the last person Xaden would expect to turn). The evidence points to someone who felt they "weren't enough" during the battle, and we're ready to name names!

We explore the mysterious line about "the one who thinks himself my brother" - is it a person or could it be something else entirely? And what about Berwyn's cryptic comment "I have another" when Panchek claims to be the only one who can give him access to his son? 

Our investigation gets wild when we discuss which initiate wants to kill their sage (besides Xaden). Could Naolin still be alive? Has he been Venin this whole time? And what does Berwyn have that Xaden needs so desperately? We theorize it might be knowledge about dreamwalking that could be crucial to whatever plan Xaden has set in motion.

We round it all out by analyzing why Xaden tells Sgaeyl "it is the only way" - what happened that made this path the only viable option? And what's the real purpose behind those Rhi and Imogen POV chapters? (Hint: it might have something to do with those missing 12 hours we'll discuss next episode!)

In our wildest Precog Corner yet, Abby theorizes about Bodhi's name meaning "awakening" or "enlightenment" in Buddhism and what that could mean if he's Venin offspring destined to evolve, while Ronnie explores the fascinating possibility that Venin can sense pain even when there’s no magic!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

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00:00 - 5:54: Sparkling Water, Avril Lavigne, no skips albums

5:55 - 11:29: Intro + Opening Thoughts

11:30 - 23:43: Corrections, Omissions, Social Media - Gifts, Irids, and Venin; Were Aaric and Andarna working together, Mairi family + Maorsite

23:43 - 29:01: How we felt about the ending of Onyx Storm

29:02 - 49:16: Recap of the ending (through Xaden’s POV)

49:17 - 1:05:57: Who is the brother?

1:05:58 - 01:11:10: Who is the one who thinks himself the brother?

01:11:11 - 1:14:50 : Who is Berwyn’s son? (Probably not Jack!)

1:14:51 - 1:21:14 Who is the other initiate who wants to kill their sage?

1:21:15 - 1:26:32: What does Berwyn have that Xaden needs?

1:26:33 - 1:28:33 Why this ending was “The Only Way”

1:28:34 - 1:35:42: The purpose of Rhi and Imogen’s POV Chapters and why doesn’t Rhi know about dragon’s farsight

1:35:43 - 1:43:58: Pre-cog corner - Is Bodhi the key to the end of this series? Do Venin have abilities even when there's no magic?

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with their most compelling theories yet! Join them for a deep dive into the most intriguing dreams in Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm. Fair warning: things get complicated, theories get elaborate, and we're seriously considering that the Venin might be running some sort of magical MLM scheme.

What Madness Awaits You This Episode

Dreams, Schemes, and Thoughtful Theories

• The Venin MLM Conspiracy: Seriously, how do they have so many signets?

• Violet's Hidden Superpower: What if the Venin are actually trying to stop time?

• The Perfect Spy Theory: How Violet accidentally became the ultimate spy

1. Dream #1: Where we first suspect the Venin are up to no good

2. Dream #2: Foreshadowing some spice

3. Dream #3: This changes everything

4. Maren's Dream: Violet becomes spymaster

5. Dream #5: Who's hair is that?!?

6. Dream #6: The juicy one

   Precog Corner Gets Wild

• Why does Leothan think that dream-walking is dangerous?

• Siphon deep dive that'll make your head spin

What Makes This Podcast Your New Obsession

Dragons in the Details is where Empyrean series fans come to:

• Analyze every detail with the thoroughness it deserves

• Develop theories that are elaborate but surprisingly plausible

• Discuss character development like the complex topic it is

• Appreciate romantic tension in all its forms

• Hunt for Easter eggs with dedication and coffee

  Episode Breakdown (For Your Convenience)

• 00:00 - 03:26: Why audiobooks give us the ick (but hey, Onyx Storm's audiobook is out!)

• 03:26 - 08:34: Setting the stage for dream chaos

• 08:35 - 21:11: Brennan conspiracy theories with fresh evidence

• 21:12 - 33:02: Dream #1 and our MLM theory that we're totally serious about

• 33:03 - 38:38: Dream #2 predictions that'll blow your mind

• 38:39 - 48:47: The time manipulation bombshell

• 48:48 - 52:35: Maren's dream gets us theorizing hard

• 52:36 - 1:15:56: Hair mysteries that keep us up at night

• 1:15:57 - 1:26:32: The dream that made us lose our minds

• 1:26:32 - 1:29:52: General dream madness

• 1:29:53 - 1:38:07: Pre-cog corner where we get really nerdy

• 1:38:08 - 1:43:05: What we're reading (spoiler: it's Sarah J. Maas)

Find us being ridiculous on:

• Instagram: @dragonsinthedetailspod

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• YouTube: @dragonsinthedetailspod

• Discord: Dragons In the Details Pod Server (where the real chaos happens)

Email us your theories: dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - We love hearing from fellow fantasy enthusiasts!

Please rate, subscribe, and review! It helps other readers discover our analysis.

Fair Warning: We spoil EVERYTHING in the Empyrean Series. Like, everything. You've been warned.

You'll love this if you're into: Rebecca Yarros' intricate plotting, Fourth Wing series obsession, Empyrean universe deep dives, fantasy romance that keeps you up at night, thoughtful book analysis, Violet and Xaden's complex relationship, dragon rider fantasy, romantasy that takes over your reading list, BookTok discoveries that become life-changing reads

Characters we're invested in: Violet Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson, Brennan (questionable), Tairn (dragon perfection), Sgaeyl, Bodhi, Ridoc, Lilith, those terrifying Venin, dragon riders in general, the Basgiath War College crew, signet powers we wish we had, dream walkers, time manipulators

Subscribe to Dragons in the Details where no theory is too unhinged and no detail goes unanalyzed. We're your trusty captains in the world of fantasy romance!

Your favorite crazy book theorists and co-hosts Abby and Ronnie sit down to talk about YOUR THEORIES again in Onyx Storm: Mailbag #2!

We start off strong, with Abby realizing that Cath is in fact a man and not a nickname for “Cathy.” We then dive into whether Cath’s breath smelling bad is actually a clue to Cath’s age, and ponder if he might actually be way more important than we thought.

We debunk the popular “Ridoc is a venin” theory with some very key evidence from the Cliffs of Dralor. Sorry guys, Ridoc’s definitely not a venin - but we’re still not sure why he hates sewing. We get into the Battle of Suniva and try to figure out how long the venin have been secretly stealing daggers, and conclude that when Devera tells us something’s important, we should listen.

After that we discuss Tairn and Codagh’s lineage and get into the “Is Tairn really Thereux?” question. We get into some of our wildest theories to date with speculation on Brennan’s identity (why did Violet think he would know Old Lucerish?) and realize that Lilith has known about the Venin for way longer than we thought. 

To round it out, we talk about the symbolism of Bodhi’s name (and Cuir’s name) and ponder what role they might play in the larger story. We wonder why everyone seems to always forget that the irids are invisible and could literally be anywhere, at any time (looking at you Unnbriel), and conclude with a fun reading corner on Crescent City (no spoilers! We promise.) 

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series

Follow us on social media:

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Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #bodhi #cath #lilith #theophanie #ridoc #venin #codagh #alloy #daggers #dragons

Time Stamps

00:00 - 02:59: Intro

03:00 - 07:49: Is Cath an elder? And also a man?

07:50 - 13:18: Ridoc is NOT a Venin

13:19 - 19:50: The Venin have been after the Daggers this whole time (or, why we should always listen to Devera)

19:51 - 24:54: Is Tairn secretly Thereux? (Spoiler: Probably not)

24:55 - 30:15: Why are the wyvern snatching up dead gryphons?

30:16 - 33:28: Ok, so like, what’s the deal with Brennan?

33:29 - 38:00: Lilith has known about the venin for way longer than we thought

38:01 - 40:08: How much magic can venin channel

40:09 - 43:32: The symbolism of Bodhi’s name

43:33 - 46:00: Violet’s just a big battery (And also, we’re starting to forget our own theories)

46:01 - 50:24: Why is everyone forgetting that the irids can turn invisible?

50:25 - 54:06: Are the isles the gods?

54:07 - 01:01:25: Reading Corner (We’re both reading Crescent City!) and Conclusion

Your favorite crazy book theorists and co-hosts Abby and Ronnie sit down to talk about the history of Navarre in Onyx Storm: History Part 2 - The Second Krovlan Uprising, The Tyrrish Rebellion, and Other Fun Stuff!

We start with the Second Krovlan Uprising, where we explore what REALLY happened when Deverelli brokered that mysterious deal between an unnamed Isle kingdom and Krovla. Why did the Krovlish Raiders try to cross into Navarre at Athebyne? Was Unnbriel the unnamed isle, or did Violet jump to conclusions? And what's the connection between the feathertails the raiders were looking for and the feathertails that Asher was studying?

Then we jump to the Tyrrish Rebellion, examining the motivations behind Fen Riorson, Lilith Sorrengail, and other key players; looking deep into Fen’s alliance with Viscount Tecaurs, and discuss the shocking revelation that "other dragons" were hiding in Aretia! We bring receipts on Lilith's capture of the rebellion leaders, Brennan's supposed "death," and the rebellion relics. Why does Sgaeyl hate Brennan so much? And what was Naolin's ACTUAL fate??

We round it out with a look at Basgaiath War College's founding (how could it have been built on Runes?!) and the various cover-ups throughout Navarre's history. When did they start erasing the Venin from the archives? Why is there no irid in the Rotunda at Basgiath? And why are the Venin traveling along bodies of water??

Our precog corner gets WILD this episode as we theorize about a secret Irid den in Aretia, water dragons, and the possibility of another continent! Is this why Asher pointed Violet toward these specific historical events? The blanket of lies is starting to unravel!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series

Follow us on social media:

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Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks 

Timestamps:

00:00 - 5:26 - Intros (Please don’t spoil Throne of Glass for Abby)

5:27 - 9:26 - Announcement (We’re on discord now! Dragons In the Details Pod Server)

9:27 - 20:56 - Corrections, Omissions, Social Media Shout Outs

20:57 - 43:55 - The Second Krovlan Uprising

43:56 - 1:31:52 - The Tyrrish Rebellion

1:31:53 - 1:38:12 - The Founding of Basgiath

1:38:13 - 1:47:22 - Undocumented History, including the Venin Cover-Up

1:47:23 - 1:51:26 - Precog Corner!

1:51:27 - 1:53:33 - What we’re reading + Outros

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with a mind-blowing deep dive into the mysterious history of Navarre in Onyx Storm: History Part 1 - The Origin, The Great War, and The First Six!

We kick things diving into the fascinating world of the Fables of the Barren - that antique, heavy tome that holds the key to understanding the REAL history of this continent! We explore where this rare book came from, why Asher made sure Violet knew these stories by heart, and what it means that this knowledge has been passed down through generations while being erased from official records.

Then we tackle the mysterious origin story of the three brothers who fought to control magic in an ancient kingdom. One brother bonded to a gryphon, one to a dragon, and when the third grew jealous, he drew directly from the source, losing his soul and waging war on the other two. But what of the third brother who commanded the sky to surrender its greatest power vanquished his jealous sibling "at a great and terrible price." What was that price? And is Violet about to pay it?

We dive deep into the conflicting stories about who first bonded with dragons - was it one of these brothers or the legendary First Six? And why would dragons know about runes before humans had access to magic? 

Next, we explore the Great War and unification of Navarre, examining why the Isle Kingdoms once fought alongside Navarre and Poromiel against the Venin but now refuse to get involved. We bring receipts on Warrick's decision to prevent gryphons from channeling within the wards and Lyra's opposition that led her to create a second wardstone at Aretia. Why did dragons turn against gryphons after fighting alongside them? And what's the connection between the hatching grounds and this mysterious conflict?

Our precog corner gets REALLY wild this episode as Ronnie speculates on the origin of Runes. Meanwhile, Abby drops a bombshell theory about why Andarna’s not fond of pits. Could this explain why the Irids hate violence so much?

We wrap up with our current reads - Abby's deep into Crescent City and worried about Hunt becoming the next Tamlin, while Ronnie's finished book three and is keeping her lips sealed!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

Follow us on social media:

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Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #history #greatwar #fables #venin #dragons #griffins

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 05:26: Intro and scheduling chaos

05:27 - 09:26: Corrections, omissions, and social media shout-outs

09:27 - 20:56: The Fables of the Barren

20:57 - 33:55: The Origin Story of the Three Brothers

33:56 - 43:55: Who really bonded with dragons first?

43:56 - 59:52: The Great War and Unification of Navarre

59:53 - 1:07:12: The Wardstones and why gryphons can't channel

1:07:13 - 1:18:07: What ended the war with the Venin?

1:18:08 - 1:24:45: Precog Corner: Runes as an ancient language and pit-fighting Irids

1:24:46 - 1:29:52: What we're reading and outro

Your favorite crazy book theorists Abby and Ronnie dive deep into the mysterious world of signets in episode nine of Dragons in the Details! Get ready for a wild ride through the magical powers of the Empyrean series as we unpack everything you need to know about who can wield what (and why some people might be lying about it)!

We start with a confession: Abby attended Onyx Storm Trivia and didn't win first place! The shame! Then we jump into our signet roundup where we analyze Violet's lightning wielding abilities and question what it means that she's actually wielding pure power. Is she a conduit making everyone around her more powerful? The evidence is starting to stack up!

Then we tackle the burning question of Venin balance - does Violet even have a balance? Theophanie's cryptic words suggest she might not, but we have some compelling theories about Jack and his mysterious power display in Fourth Wing that might contradict that!

We dissect Xaden's shadow wielding and intention reading abilities, which seem to be growing stronger since his transformation. Who's the balance for his intention reading now? We think it might be a certain Colonel. Plus, we explore the mystery of Garrick's distance wielding (why hasn't he been carrying Xaden to Violet's bed every night?) and Bodhi's second signet.

Our deep dive continues with Mira's ward creation abilities that defy explanation - how can one person do what normally requires seven dragons and a wardstone? We also examine the confusing case of Ridoc and Liam's ice wielding mix-up (oopsie or carefully laid groundwork?), and examine Imogen's earth wielding ability.

The biggest mystery of all? Why Dain has so much power. Could Cath's baf breath be a clue to something significant? And what about those six most powerful signets mentioned in the epigraphs? We break down which signets might make the list and why summoning might be more powerful than anyone realized.

Our precog corner gets wild as we theorize about dragons gifting powers, time manipulation, and whether Carr is intentionally teaching riders to burn out! Plus, a last-minute theory about who else might be talking to a certain deceased character has us questioning everything we thought we knew about the afterlife in this series.

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

Follow us on social media:

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Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! It helps our baby podcast find its way in this world!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #bodhi #signets #dragons #venin

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 01:15: Intros and Abby's trivia confession

01:16 - 05:26: What signet would you choose?

05:27 - 11:58: Corrections, omissions, and social media shout-outs

11:59 - 20:06: Violet's signet roundup and Venin balance commentary

20:07 - 24:54: Jack's mysterious power and potential balance theories

24:55 - 30:15: Xaden's shadow wielding and intention reading

30:16 - 35:35: Garrick's distance wielding and Bodhi's secret second signet

35:36 - 41:13: Lilith, Theophanie, and Brennan's signet balances

41:14 - 47:22: Mira's ward creation abilities and possible explanations

47:23 - 51:26: Riddick, Liam, and the ice wielding confusion

51:27 - 58:06: Rhiannon's summoning and other rider signets

58:07 - 1:02:01: Signets we don't know and theories about Sloan

1:02:02 - 1:10:44: What's going on with Dain?

1:10:45 - 1:24:05: The limits of signets

1:24:06 - 1:33:36: Which six signets might be the most powerful?

1:33:37 - 1:49:13: Precog corner

1:49:14 - 1:50:03: Wrap-up

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with a mind-blowing deep dive into the mysterious isle of Deverelli! This episode was born from a throwaway theory that grew into something we just couldn't ignore - and trust us, you're going to want to hear this one.

First, we tackle our favorite Deverelli moments - Ronnie loves when Xaden shows his softer side in the marketplace (and everyone is completely shocked), while Abby confesses her favorite part is when Xaden wields from the alloy to protect Violet (no judgment here!). We discuss how Deverelli represents Xaden's last moment of peace before everything falls apart, and how it gives us a glimpse of what their lives could have been without war and magic.

Then we dive into our main theory about Deverelli's true nature and its relationship with the gods. We bring receipts about how Deverelli doesn't worship any gods (which might actually be the wisest approach), explore the fascinating phrase "the word is the blood," and examine how Violet's challenge with Narelle mirrors what should have happened on Hedotis. 

We explore the mysterious runes on Deverelli and why some work while others don't. Why does Violet feel the urge to weave runes when entering Deverelli's airspace? And what's the deal with those crossbolts that can supposedly kill dragons without magic? Something doesn't add up!

Our investigation takes an intriguing turn when we discuss Courtlyn's collection of magical artifacts. Why would the ruler of an isle without magic be collecting magical amplifiers like the Aemilian Citrine? What does it mean that he's called "keeper of the troth"? And what exactly was the bargain between Courtlyn and Fen Riorson?

We round out the episode with a fascinating look at the vibrant waters surrounding Deverelli compared to its muted land colors, and contrast this with Hedotis's strange aquaphobia. Could there be magic in the water that Deverelli understands but Hedotis fears?

In our wildest precog corner yet, we theorize about a mysterious study on Venin subjects removed from source magic. Could there be a connection between this study and the isles? And what does it mean that there were at least 46 different test groups? The implications are chilling!

We wrap up with our current reads - Ronnie's devouring Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series and can't put it down, while Abby's halfway through A Court of Thorns and Roses and has thoughts about Tamlin, Lucien, and why the fandom exploded from this series.

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

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#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #deverelli #hedotis #courtlyn #narelle #venin #gods #isles

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 01:27: Intro and Diet Coke discourse

01:28 - 02:52: Episode overview and disclaimers

02:53 - 04:16: Favorite Deverelli moments

04:17 - 05:59: Xaden's last moment of peace

06:00 - 12:26: Is Deverelli the true Isle of Wisdom?

12:27 - 18:16: Narelle's three questions and their significance

18:17 - 21:30: Cat's ruby necklace tangent

21:31 - 28:27: Deverelli's dedication to wisdom vs. Hedotis

28:28 - 33:32: Runes and their function on the isles

33:33 - 38:17: Magic artifacts and Courtlyn's collection

38:18 - 42:21: Crossbolts and what can kill dragons

42:22 - 46:51: Courtlyn's titles and the mysterious bargain with Fen

46:52 - 48:12: The mysterious italics voice

48:13 - 58:34: What we're reading (Crescent City and ACOTAR)

58:35 - 01:00:10: Outro and social media information

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with an episode filled with YOUR theories -  “Onyx Storm: Mailbag #1”! We're diving into your wildest theories, burning questions, and brilliant observations that have been flooding our DMs and comments. Get ready for some mind-bending discussions that might just change everything you thought you knew about the Empyrean series!

We kick things off with Claire's fascinating question about the paradoxical nature of alloy - how can something simultaneously kill the Venin while also serving as their power source? We bring receipts from across the series, examine the role of runes, and uncover a bombshell revelation from the final chapter of Onyx Storm that might completely transform our understanding of those mysterious daggers (hint: it's not just Venin who should be worried)!

Then we tackle Nicole's brilliant observation about Violet's wyvern-hopping escape from Theophanie's draining. We dissect what it means for something to have "had its magic repurposed" and why that creates a barrier against draining. Our investigation leads us down a rabbit hole about what wyvern actually are and why Violet specifically needed to reach the flesh of the creature. 

Next, we explore Kathy's prediction about the Tyrrish crown and its appearances throughout the series. From Maren's dream to Bodhi's conversation with Theophanie, we track every mention of this supposedly non-existent crown and what it might mean for Tyrrendor's future. 

We dive into lovebug2110's brilliant theory about Andarna's ability to break magical bonds and what this might mean for Xaden's connection to Berwyn. Could this be the key to understanding the shocking ending of Onyx Storm? We examine what it means to "bend, shape, and break" bonds as you see fit, and theorize about what exactly happened between Tairn and Sgaeyl.

Finally, we round things out with a lively discussion about the mysterious italicized voice in Violet's head. Is it her inner monologue? Future Violet? Andarna communicating across time? Dune herself? Or something far more unexpected? Our commenters have some fascinating theories, and we weigh in on each possibility!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

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Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #andarna #venin #alloy #daggers #dragons

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 02:59: Intro and disclaimer

03:00 - 08:34: Claire's alloy paradox question

08:35 - 15:24: Nicole's wyvern barrier theory

15:25 - 22:00: Kathy's Tyrrish crown prediction

22:01 - 27:29: Lovebug's theory on Andarna breaking bonds

27:30 - 36:16: The mysterious italicized voice debate

36:17 - 39:07: What we're reading/watching and outro

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie dive deep into the mysterious Isles and Gods of the Empyrean series in this mind-bending episode! We're finally tackling all those burning questions about the divine powers that shape Rebecca Yarros' world, and trust us when we say this one gets juicy!

We kick things off with a deep-dive omissions corner about dragon ages. After some detective work about conflicting quotes, we've uncovered that someone is definitely lying about their age. Looking at you, Sgaeyl and Tairn!

Then we jump into our main topic - the Isles and their connections to the gods! We explore why these mysterious lands aren't on any Navarian maps despite surrounding the continent "in every direction." How did Asher visit them all? Did he work with the irids? And why did Asher die so young?

Our deep dive into Unnbriel reveals some fascinating connections between dragons and this mysterious island. Why did Tairn kept cutting off Violet's thoughts whenever she started connecting dots about claws in emblems and faded tattoos? The evidence is mounting that Tairn has definitely been to Unnbriel before, despite what the Queen claims about not seeing "fire breathers in centuries." 

Our Hedotis analysis gets wild as we uncover some seriously sketchy behavior from Faris and the Triumvirate. From his suspicious red ruby to his purple eyes and complete disregard for his wife's life, something isn't adding up. We present our theory about what might have happened 150 years ago when they razed the entire city and rebuilt it with "intention."

The gifts from Zyhnal provide some of our juiciest theories yet! From Ridoc's kiss on each cheek to Cat's ruby necklace and Xaden's glass box "the size of his foot," we analyze what each might mean for our favorite characters' futures. The symbolism runs deep, and we're convinced these gifts will play crucial roles in upcoming books.

We round it all out with a fascinating discussion about Malek, who might not be the nefarious underworld figure we initially thought. Our analysis of how souls are "commended" to him suggests he's more like a guardian of heaven than a collector of the dead. Plus, we explore the compelling evidence that Violet is touched by multiple gods, with her multi-colored eyes potentially representing an "amalgamation" of divine influence.

In our wildest Precog Corner yet, we theorize about why exactly six dragon eggs are missing when Marlis requested twelve, and what connection this might have to the six gods. We also question whether Tairn might be much, much older than anyone realizes - perhaps old enough to have witnessed events from centuries ago!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

Follow us on social media:

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Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you! 

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #andarna #sgaeyl #dragons #isles #gods #dunne #hedeon #zynal #loyal #amari #malek

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 05:26: Intro and dragon age discrepancies

05:27 - 12:04: Corrections, omissions, and social media shout-outs

12:05 - 22:38: Why aren't the Isles on maps and how did Asher visit them all?

22:39 - 38:02: Unnbriel and Dunne

38:03 - 52:35: What's up with Hedotis?

52:36 - 1:16:42: The gifts!

1:16:43 - 1:22:14: Loial deep dive

1:22:15 - 1:28:00: Amari deep dive

1:28:01 - 1:37:21: Malek deep dive

1:37:22 - 1:45:13: Precog Corner

1:45:14 - 1:48:25: What we're reading

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie dive deep into the mysterious Isles and Gods of the Empyrean series in this mind-bending episode! We're finally tackling all those burning questions about the divine powers that shape the Empyrean, and this one gets juicy!

We kick things off with a deep-dive omissions corner about dragon ages. After some detective work with conflicting quotes, we've uncovered that someone is definitely lying about their age (looking at you, Sgaeyl and Tairn)! The math simply doesn't add up.

Then we jump into our main topic - the Isles and the gods! We explore why these mysterious lands aren't on any maps despite surrounding the continent "in every direction." How did Asher visit them all? Was he working with the Irids? And why Asher might have dropped dead of a heart attack at such a young age?

Our deep dive into Unnbriel reveals some fascinating connections between dragons and this bellicose island. Why does Tairn kept cutting off Violet's thoughts? Why does he say he remembers the layout of the city? The evidence is mounting that Tairn has been to Unnbriel before, despite what the Queen claims about not seeing "fire breathers in centuries." 

Our Hedotis analysis gets wild as we uncover some seriously sketchy behavior from Faris and the Triumvirate. From his suspicious red ruby to his purple eyes and complete disregard for his wife's life, something isn't adding up. We present our theory about what might have happened 150 years ago when they razed the entire city and rebuilt it with "intention."

The gifts from Zyhnal provide some of our juiciest theories yet! From Ridoc's kiss on each cheek to Cat's ruby necklace and Xaden's glass box "the size of his foot," we analyze what each might mean for our favorite characters' futures. The symbolism runs deep, and we're convinced these gifts will play crucial roles in upcoming books.

We round it all out with a fascinating discussion about Malek, who might not be the nefarious underworld figure we initially thought. Our analysis of how souls are "commended" to him suggests he's more like a guardian of heaven than a collector of the dead. Plus, we explore the compelling evidence that Violet is touched by multiple gods, with her multi-colored eyes potentially representing an "amalgamation" of divine influence.

In our wildest Precog Corner yet, we theorize about why exactly six dragon eggs are missing when Marlis requested twelve, and what connection this might have to the six gods. We also question whether Tairn might be much, much older than anyone realizes - perhaps old enough to have witnessed events from centuries ago!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @dragonsinthedetailspod

TikTok: @dragonsinthedetailspod

YouTube: @dragonsinthedetailspod

Discord: Dragons In the Details Pod Server

Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you! 

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #andarna #sgaeyl #dragons #isles #gods #dunne #hedeon #zynal #loyal #amari #malek

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 05:26: Intro and dragon age discrepancies

05:27 - 12:04: Corrections, omissions, and social media shout-outs

12:05 - 22:38: Why aren't the Isles on maps and how did Asher visit them all?

22:39 - 38:02: Unnbriel and Dunne

38:03 - 52:35: Hedotis and Hedeon

52:36 - 1:16:42: Zehyllna and Zyhnal

1:16:43 - 1:22:14: Loial deep dive

1:22:15 - 1:28:00: Amari deep dive

1:28:01 - 1:37:21: Malek deep dive

1:37:22 - 1:45:13: Precog Corner

1:45:14 - 1:48:25: What we're reading and wrap-up

***Quicksilver Spoilers***

Ronnie and Abby sit down to discuss one of the books they both chose to cure their Onyx Storm hangover - Quicksilver by Callie Hart! They compare Saeris and Kingfisher to Violet and Xaden, applaud the intricate and fun world building, and agree that Carrion is the real MVP of this book. Plus there are some fun moments where we discuss what voice we gave to the Quicksilver. This one's light on theory but big on fun!

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Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review!

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are back with a DEEP DIVE into the mysterious Venin in this week's episode of Dragons in the Details! We're unpacking everything we know about our creepy (and possibly confusing) villains - and as per usual, the more we find out, the less we know!

We start by exploring the Venin's forms of power and what makes them so dangerous. From their ability to channel directly from "the source" to their fascinating array of signets, we break down what powers all Venin share versus their unique abilities. How come some venin seem to have multiple signets? And what about that weird moment when Jack pushed power into Violet instead of draining her? The implications are wild!

Then we dive into how and why the Venin recruit - is Berwyn dreamwalking into potential recruits' minds? We theorize about the connection between the Venin strengthening and the dragons refusing to bond with humans. Is this just a coincidence, or is something more sinister happening? And who taught the Venin runes? We have some shocking theories about a certain missing father that will make you question everything you thought you knew!

We explore the significance of Wyvern and what "repurposed magic" might mean for the future of this conflict. Could the Venin be planning something even more devastating with dragon scales? And speaking of devastating - we tackle the big question: are all Venin actually bad? The evidence might surprise you!

Our most mind-blowing discussion centers on what really happened to Naolin. The official story has more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese, and we bring receipts! Between Brennan's mysterious rune-shaped scar, Tairn's suspicious behavior, and the timeline of the Tyrrish Rebellion, something doesn't add up. Could Naolin still be alive? And if so... where has he been hiding?

In our wildest Precog Corner yet, we theorize about who "the one who watches" might be (the mysterious Venin leader everyone seems terrified of), and Abby drops a bombshell theory about Basgiath War College that will change how you view the entire series!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

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Instagram: @dragonsinthedetailspod

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Discord: Dragons In the Details Pod Server

Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #venin #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #naolin #brennan #wyvern #dragons

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 02:17: Intros and disclaimers

02:17 - 13:33: What we think of the Venin as villains

13:33 - 18:03: The Venin's forms of power - what they all share

18:03 - 22:15: Signets we've seen Venin wield

22:15 - 29:42: How and why do the Venin recruit?

29:42 - 38:13: Why are the Venin strengthening and attacking now?

38:13 - 46:01: Who taught the Venin runes? (The Isaac Mairi theory)

46:01 - 58:08: The significance of Wyvern and repurposed magic

58:08 - 1:07:08: Who might secretly be Venin? (Aetos, Varish, and more!)

1:07:08 - 1:16:12: Are all Venin actually bad?

1:16:12 - 1:33:08: What really happened to Naolin?

1:33:08 - 1:43:31: Precog Corner

1:43:31 - 1:46:43: What we're reading (Quicksilver!) and wrap-up

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie dive DEEP into the enigmatic parents of Violet Sorrengail in "Onyx Storm: Lilith and Asher Deep Dive"!

We kick things off with the burning question: was Lilith a Venin? The evidence is compelling but contradictory! We analyze those suspicious bloodshot eyes Violet remembers from childhood and that chilling quote about Lilith sacrificing "her very soul" at Basgiath. But if she channeled from the ground, how did she hide the physical changes? And why would she die from Sloan's siphoning if she could just channel more power? Something suspicious is going on here.

Then we tackle why Lilith was so cold to Violet compared to her other children. Was Liliths tough love designed to prepare Violet for her “path”? Remember that heartbreaking moment when Lilith says "everything was to get you to this moment"? Did Lilith know how her story was going to end?

We dissect Asher's books and the timeline of his mysterious research trips to the Isles. How did a scribe manage to visit all these dangerous locations? We track his journey from Second Lieutenant writing about Unnbriel to Lieutenant Colonel documenting the Krovlan uprising, uncovering clues about feathertails, unnamed Isle kingdoms seeking dragons, and Asher's surprising Tyrrish sympathies along the way.

The plot thickens when we analyze Tairn's suspicious behavior on Unnbriel! Every time Violet starts connecting dots about the claw symbol or the crossbolts, Tairn snaps "focus now, analyze later." And what about that moment when Tairn says "I was there, I remember"? What isn’t Tairn telling Violet?

Our wildest theories emerge when we discuss whether Asher had magical abilities. Why did he call Violet his "brightest light" years before she manifested lightning powers? How did he know exactly when he and Lilith would die? And what's with those italicized thoughts in Violet's head throughout Fourth Wing? Is someone in her head?

Listen to the end to hear our wild precog corner theories about Asher’s “heart attack” and whether or not he’s actually dead. And as always, we come with receipts. Happy listening!

Spoilers for the entire Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @dragonsinthedetailspod

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Discord: Dragons In the Details Pod Server

Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We really appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #asher #lilith #venin #dreamwalking

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 01:35: Intro and disclaimer

01:35 - 06:09: Was Lilith a Venin? If so, was she cured?

06:09 - 13:22: Why was Lilith so cold to Violet?

13:22 - 33:32: What clues did Asher leave in his books and when did he write them?

33:32 - 44:05: Tairn's suspicious behavior on Unnbriel

44:05 - 57:10: Was Asher a Venin? Was he a rider? Did he have magic?

57:10 - 1:07:25: The mysterious italicized thoughts in Violet's head

1:07:25 - 1:27:28: Precog Corner and wrap-up

Your favorite literary chaos agents Abby and Ronnie are BACK with part two of our DEEP DIVE into Xaden Riorson! After talking for approximately five hours of our lives about this brooding shadow wielder last week, we're  tackling the rest of our burning questions about everyone's favorite angsty wing leader!

We start by analyzing those dreams where Berwyn visits Xaden. We bring receipts showing that until Onyx Storm, Berwyn didn't even KNOW Violet was dreamwalking - meaning everything he said was meant for Xaden's ears only! We dissect the cryptic messages about Xaden being "a pattern not seen in centuries" and how he hasn't "grown into his full abilities" yet. Is it his intinnsic abilities? His shadow wielding? Or something else entirely?

Then we jump into the mysterious "something" Xaden lost that the Venin want. Could it be the Sword of Tyrrendor that keeps appearing in the dreams? Why would a Sage need a sword when he's already so powerful? We theorize about what this could mean, especially if our crackpot theory about Berwyn being Xaden's grandfather turns out to be true!

We round it out with the BIG question: Why Xaden and Violet? We explore how they're perfect foils - lightning/shadow, light/dark, warmth/ice, mind walking/mind reading, power creating/power draining - and how their relationship might be the key to restoring balance in the world. We dive into the gods' involvement, with WILD evidence that Violet is touched by Dunne and possibly Malek (that "reacquainting" line is highly suspicious), and how Xaden is constantly compared to Dunne himself!

Our Precog Corner gets REALLY unhinged this week as we theorize that Xaden will have to DIE to be saved! We bring receipts from across the series about Xaden being "willing to let Violet burn him" and how they might both "meet Malek" - but will they have to die to do it? Could Andarna's flame "alter" Xaden back to human? The blanket of lies is starting to unravel!

We wrap up with some recommendations for what to read if you're stuck in an Onyx Storm rut (nothing helps, but we try anyway).

Spoilers for the ENTIRE Empyrean Series

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @dragonsinthedetailspod

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Discord: Dragons In the Details Pod Server

Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We REALLY appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #andarna #venin #dreamwalking #lightning #malek #dunne #gods

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 03:35: Intros and recap of Part 1

03:36 - 10:11: Berwyn's dreams and what they reveal about Xaden

10:12 - 18:05: The mysterious "something" Xaden lost

18:06 - 27:06: Why the Venin want Xaden (his mind reading abilities and more)

27:07 - 35:15: Why Xaden and Violet? The perfect foils theory

35:16 - 42:48: Gods involvement - Dunne, Malek, and the "reacquainting" line

42:49 - 46:08: Precog Corner: Xaden's death and resurrection theory

46:09 - 47:19: What we're reading (Sally Rooney's Intermezzo, Banks' new album, and Quicksilver by Callie Hart)

Your favorite crazy book theorists Abby and Ronnie are back to dive DEEP into the character of Xaden Riorson in this wild first part of our two-part character analysis! Get ready for some serious theorizing about our favorite shadow daddy!

We start with some quick corrections from last week's episode - Abby points out that Violet can wield lightning in dreams (which might mean she'll face off against Berwyn there!), and drops the bombshell theory that Violet must be projecting her memories to Jesinia for the books to be written in first person. Meanwhile, Ronnie clarifies her stance on dragons as sources of magic - she's rejecting the propaganda that dragons are true sources and believes only the Source, ground, sky, irids, and Violet are ACTUAL sources!

Then we jump into our Xaden analysis, exploring what makes him so compelling as a character. We debate which book version of Xaden is our favorite (Iron Flame vs. Onyx Storm - we're divided on this one!), and discuss whether he had to turn Venin at the end of Iron Flame. Was it truly necessary, or could there have been another way?

We get into some shocking theories about Xaden's family tree, including the revelation that his grandfather was documented as his great-uncle and never made it out of the Rider's Quadrant. Could Xaden's grandfather actually be a certain sage?! The evidence is mounting - the tan arm, the youthful face, the sword of Tyrrendor... does this explain why the venin are targeting him?

We tackle the burning question: Is Xaden good? Abby speculates that Xaden hasn’t been entirely truthful about his second signet (with receipts from Fourth Wing!), and we explore the possibility that he blackmailed his way back into his title rather than reluctantly accepting it. But is this part of a larger scheme with Aaric to ensure Violet becomes Duchess of Tyrrendor? The plot is thickening!

Finally, we analyze whether Xaden has fully turned Venin or if he still retains his humanity. We examine the parallels between Andarna leaving Violet and Xaden turning, and how both were tethered back by someone they love. We conclude that while Xaden may be fully Venin, he's NOT beyond redemption - Violet's love has locked itself into his ice, keeping a piece of his humanity intact.

This episode got SO in-depth that we had to split it into two parts! Join us next week for the continuation of our Xaden deep dive!

Spoilers for the ENTIRE Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @dragonsinthedetailspod

TikTok: @dragonsinthedetailspod

YouTube: @dragonsinthedetailspod

Discord: Dragons In the Details Pod Server

Email us your questions and theories at dragonsinthedetailspod@gmail.com - we love hearing from you! 

Please remember to rate, subscribe, and review! We REALLY appreciate it!

#onyxstorm #ironflame #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #rebeccayarros #fantasy #podcast #bookstagram #romantasy #empyrean #rebeccayaros #book #booklover #bookstagram #booktok #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #irid #romantasy #romantasybooks #tairn #violet #xaden #venin #dreamwalking #sgaeyl

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 01:23: Corrections and omissions from last week

01:24 - 03:07: Violet projecting memories to Jesinia theory

03:08 - 05:19: Are dragons true sources of magic?

05:20 - 08:34: What we think of Xaden as a character

08:35 - 16:29: Which book version of Xaden is our favorite?

16:30 - 19:41: Did Xaden have to turn?

19:42 - 31:10: Xaden's family tree and grandfather theories

31:11 - 44:38: Is Xaden good? Mind reading and blackmail theories

44:39 - 52:01: Xaden and Aaric's possible scheme for Tyrrendor

52:02 - 1:05:03: Has Xaden fully turned? Parallels with Andarna

1:05:04 - 1:09:36: Closing thoughts and announcement of part two

Your new favorite literary chaos agents and theory enthusiast Abby and Ronnie begin their coverage of the Empyrean Series with a  DEEP DIVE into our favorite plucky heroine, Violet Sorrengail! We're kicking off our Empyrean series analysis with the character who started it all - and buckle up, because we have THOUGHTS.

We start with our personal journeys into Rebecca Yarros' world. Then we dive into the burning question: what does it mean that Violet wields pure power in the form of lightning? We bring receipts from across the series showing how the Venin keep saying she "commands the sky" and can "draw directly from the source". How does that tie into those origin story epigraphs about the three brothers? Is she channeling from Tairn, or is she actually drawing power from the sky itself?

Then we tackle dreamwalking - what are its limits and why is it so dangerous? We analyze the differences between what Berwyn does in dreams versus what Theophanie says in real life (spoiler: they're not the same!), and theorize that Violet's dreamwalking might evolve into something much more powerful. Could she eventually walk into people's minds while they're awake?! The possibilities are endless.

We explore why Andarna waited 650 years to hatch for Violet (this can't be a coincidence, people!) and what it means that Andarna says they "want the same things." We dissect the timeline and realize Andarna's conception predates the unification - why was she left behind when all the other Ereds left?

Next, we break down all the possible paths Violet might choose - is it just rider vs. scribe? Xaden vs. Dain? Or is there a third option where she chooses herself? We analyze the combat scenario in Unnbriel and what it reveals about her future choices. Plus, we dive into which gods might be courting her favor - is it Dune, Loial, or Malek? Or is it all of them?

Finally, we tackle why Violet's hair is partially silver and what her incomplete dedication to Dune might mean. Why did Asher try to dedicate her without Lilith knowing? Was he trying to save Lilith or the entire continent?

In our first-ever Precog Corner (where no theory is too unhinged), Abby predicts Violet will become Queen of ALL Navarre and General of the armies, while Ronnie drops the BOMBSHELL theory that Violet might be part-Venin - the "evolved offspring" the Irids mentioned! Could this explain why she's the exception to the balance and why her power is attracted to Venin?

Spoilers for the ENTIRE Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm)

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Time Stamps:

00:00 - 01:45: Intros and our journey into the Empyrean series

01:46 - 19:40: How does Violet wield lightning? What does it mean that she wields pure power?

19:41 - 33:32: Dreamwalking - what does it mean and what are its limits?

33:33 - 46:01: Why was Andarna waiting for Violet to hatch?

46:02 - 59:57: What are the paths that Violet might choose?

59:58 - 1:14:49: Why is Violet's hair partially silver?

1:14:50 - 1:25:17: Precog Corner: Our wildest theories about Violet's future

1:25:18 - 1:26:02: Wrap-up and contact information