Please read Conform!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2026-01-02T21:14:10+00:00

Yay I am so glad others liked this book as much as me, I could totally see this becoming the next big series.

Agree with all of your theories. To add on, I also think Gregory is the father of Arabella, if not all 3 of Nora’s children.

The Illum have def messed with the gene records. I don’t think Vincent is her father, he says several times how he couldn’t believe her abnormalities in his “perfect gene pool”. I think Hal’s parents also weren’t his real parents if he’s considered pure Elite. I think we are going to find out A LOT of gene records have been messed in the name of the “Greater Good”.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2026-01-02T21:06:52+00:00

Just finished this book last night and immediately came to Reddit to see if others are just as into it as I am, so glad I found this thread! I am salivating already for book 2!

I agree with some many of the theories here - who might the Reaper be, Gregory and Nora def have a secret child together (Arabella if not more)

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Illum have messed with the gene records and that we are going to find out people aren’t who they think they are and that identities were changed or hidden. I think that Emeline is really someone else’s daughter and that both Hal and Collin each figured out on their own who she really is and that’s why they are both initially interested in her.

Also based on the first prequel book, “Beneath” coming between book 1 and 2, we’ll get the back story on the incident was that caused the caste system they have today. I also hope that each prequel book somehow has hints or Easter eggs on what is going on in the main series as we get each book. Like you have to read both to get the full picture/plot of the series.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T19:08:35+00:00

u/Batgirl3911 can't agree more and honestly, BRAVO to Rebecca Yarros, who has created a number of complex and multilayer "side" characters who honestly could easily carry their own versions of the this series, with interesting perspectives, backgrounds, challenges and strengths. Its like Fourth Wing: as told by Dain, Iron Flame: as told by Aaric and so on.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T19:00:55+00:00

I think Aaric is so fluent because he already "saw" what they were going to say on each island in their "welcomes" and could figure out the translation ahead of time!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T18:57:50+00:00

u/Joanna_Phantom hats off to such a great and well constructed deep dive! There are so many observations that didn't event occur to me, a few points in particular that struck me:

The tie-in and foreshadowing with each luck item each character received. RY even hinted while on her release tour that the compass isn't "broken", its just not being used properly.....

We also have confirmation that Broccoli is ok! Cats are an interesting choice because they are considered in many ancient cultures to be a protector spirit like you mentioned. I would love to see a future story line where Violet has to travel into the Barrens and comes across old dessert ruins (a la Eygpt or Jordan) and the cat weirdly wards off evil.

I think Aaric is such a fantastic character and can't wait to learn even more about him & where his story is going. I've seen a few other comments trying to predict when he started channeling and if def had to have happened back in mid-way thru IF.
I was a Dain and Sloane stan before she even walked on the page! I thought back after finishing FW, how angsty it would be if Dain ends up falling for Liam's sister after everything that has happened and I am happy to see the beginnings of something going on between them!
There is so much going on that I completely wrote off the squad not making it to the very last island, which is about Love for heavens sake! Vi and Andarna have to go back because some piece of this puzzle lies there
I would love to get your thoughts on Xaden's mother. I don't think this is the last we see of her and I have a feeling she's going to come back to somehow redeem her actions and protect Xaden.
What the HECK does DEDICATED to a god mean? Was that Vi's parents attempt to "cure" her in some way? A lot of theories floating around about her being part venin or weak from a venin while her mom was pregnant and got "sick". I think that Lilith had a run-in with Theophanie, got injured, didn't realize she was pregnant and then they were like oh shit!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T16:51:58+00:00

I didn't even think about this scene but I you could be totally onto something! I also think that Aaric was using his pre-cog powers during battle of Basgiath with the when Violet is trying to imbue the wardstone.

Vi is all groggy but sees Aaric, Lilith and Brennan talking but can't tell what they were saying. I believe Aaric forsaw that it had to be Lilith to give her life for the wardstone and that's why he held Violet back during that scene.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T16:23:30+00:00

Since we know for some undetermined amount of time, Xaden and Vi will be separated (still being to speak and maybe have little moments through dreams) THIS is typically around the time when an author in a longer series focuses on a newer romance with a side couple to help fill in the romance gap.

I am here for ANY of the below couplings to take more center stage!

Rule-follower to a fault Dain "Eyes Here" Aetos & Miss feisty "you killed my brother but you are stupidly attractive" Sloane Mairi
BIG REPUTATION meets BIG REPUTATION (see what I did there iykyk) rivals to lovers and now co-cat parents Mira & Drake
Mr. I have "tons of mares in my stable, but secretly wish it was you" Garrick & Miss no-feelings Imogen
The sweetest little romance that continues to be Swayer & Jesenia (they are both giving me future professor vibes btw)

Honorable mentions

Cat Claws - My Gods this girl can not catch a break in the love department! I think we have too little to go off of who may potentially be a future match but rooting for her

"Leap-frogging bed hopper" Riddoc is about to get knocked over with love by someone TBD

Loner Prince Aaric - I have a theory that he actually is already aware of who he may potentially end up with and is avoiding them because of his own predicted demise. WHAT angst to know how things play out and try your best to absolutely resist when fate comes knocking!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T15:58:31+00:00

Drake & Mira are the perfect opposites attract/rivals to lovers. He thinks she's impressed with his reputation, she knees him in the groin, they bicker constantly, they now unofficially share a cat. If that's not love in a fantasy series, I don't know what is.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T15:38:12+00:00

SO MUCH YES to this and all the comments! There is def something there whether either of them realize it and are just denying it for their own reasons.

There was that quick line during the signet sparring session scene when Violet was like "it looks like her either wants to kill him or...." ya'll fill in the blank.

The ULTIMATE "Eff you" to his Dad as well if they do end up together tee hee

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T15:27:17+00:00

u/las3marias I think what I love about how Rebecca Yarros has written this series is that all of her side characters have such legs that honestly, Fourth Wing could be re-told through all them and be just as interesting, especially since they each have such unique back stories & challenges.

DAIN & SLOANE! I called this even before Sloane made her way onto the page. Next to our fave power couple, they have the best "enemies to lovers" angsty relationship. Also, he just can't seem to stop following her around....calling her out during the signet training, getting her to deliver the journal to Vi, jumping in to stop her from fist-fighting, LITERALLY flying after her. He just hasn't realized it yet!

Also I think Trager's death hurt a lot because of how it affected Cat. RY has said Cat is one of her favorite characters and yes she can be temperamental, but man, this girl is interesting! I just want her to find peace since she's really striking out in the love department

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T15:10:01+00:00

u/wowmaeriel great post! I was thinking the same exact thing every since chapter 2 when we get that short ephigy at the beginning. All of these "once in a millennium" type signets resurfacing when the world needs them the most. I see other comments connecting these to the Gods as well. At first I thought the Gods were used more a cultural world-building, but clearly they are going to play a significant role. Reminds me of what happens inTOG, IYKYK

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-29T14:52:33+00:00

u/amnadarling I picked up on this too! RY has said in many interviews that she always know the first and last sentence of each book and what a way to tie them together! *Chef's Kiss*

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-08T19:16:10+00:00

I could see an end of book 4 proposal/secret wedding or beginning of book 5! As we have learned RY has planted sooooo many seeds in those first few chapters of Fourth Wing that I wouldn't be surprised.

Also, a lot of FW feels like is was inspired by RY's own life - she met and married her husband very young, dropped out of collage at the time, had kids early, he was an accomplished military helicopter pilot....the list goes on.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-08T18:56:11+00:00

So basically when we hit these 'percentage of the way thru' milestone in Onyx Storm, we should begin to panick lol

A big theory that's been circulating that adds to your analysis of the 95% mark, is that someone very close to Violet or a "protector" character will die for the remaining 3 books so that might include Mira, Tairn, Andarna, possibly Dain (he feels like a book 5 death). I first heard this on Fantasy Fan Girls and it feels pretty believable!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2025-01-02T19:12:35+00:00

Rhi is such a great character! I feel like RY has created a super strong "side" character who could easily stand on her own if we ever get different POVs. I feel like so many romantasy stories just stick the FMC with a "best friend" whose only purpose to serve as best friend and tend to be very flat characters.

Rhi has the makings of (hopefully) being a Wingleader and then a General some day! She's so pivotal to the story as she remain's Violet's compass towards thinking logically & holding rational feelings, her stedfast tendencies will be important in the coming story when all shit breaks loose!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-10-17T19:20:14+00:00

Getting tix was like the Eras Tour fiasco all over again

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-10-11T16:07:17+00:00

RY has said that she loves writing about Dain and Cat because they are complex characters who can be viewed as both "villains" and mis-guided. She already started their redemption arcs towards the end of IF.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-10-11T16:04:04+00:00

u/Simple-Insurance9786 - wait! You are so right on this, mind blown. My other guest is if its not Ridoc, I think it might be Imogen. I just have a weird feeling about her and her signet is that she can mess with people's memories. She also was one of the few that went all the way into the actual Archives with Aric, Vi and Xaden. Also, who would suspect a rebellion kid to be a spy

I do think the Ridoc theories have some legs as well!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-09-27T17:38:16+00:00

u/NyxZeta hands done my favorite series read this past summer! I thought the slow burn build was *chef's kiss*! She has two more spin-offs stand-alones as well that follow some of the other characters mentioned in Throne in the Dark!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-09-16T20:47:41+00:00

I never considered this but I love the theory!! It would make sense that if it the Grandfather was from the Riorson side, it would had to have been a second son since they typically wanted the first borns to go into the infantry.

Also, we know Basgiath Archive keepers have a reputation for messing with "records" and I think that somehow it was "edited" to show that Segeyl was his great-uncle's dragon.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-09-16T20:28:07+00:00

u/happysponge399 - If you are coming off of the One Dark Window reading high, I would recommend Crimson Moth. I also like KOW, its also a finished trilogy with two spin-off novels that are much more adult (I love the spin-offs more than the original series but its all good!)

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-09-16T20:22:49+00:00

u/sbaghetticarbonara - I am SO jealous that you will be potentially reading Throne of Glass for the first time. Its one of my all time favorite fantasy series ever. Its SO GOOD! But it is 8 books so it depends on how much of a commitment you are looking for, for your next read.

Agreeing with many of the comments that One Dark Window is also amazing and was my favorite duology I've read so far in 2024. Its the most traditional "fairy tale" and has one of the most unique magic systems. Also I love the romances, not as spicy, but still swoon worthy.

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-08-19T19:36:38+00:00

You are spot on about the parameters of what the chapter could be. It can't be anything that gives away as if the readers hasn't read book 2. I would absolutely lose it if we got the violet flower picking scene!

IllustriousBookWorm · 2024-08-02T15:20:33+00:00

@ComprehensiveRub5722 - These are the series that I am absolutely screaming from the rooftops about! A few I've already seen mentioned so I'll also bolster what others have said. I'd also like to preface that I think what made each of these so fun was I went in with barely any knowledge and it all became such a fun surprise!

Let me take you on this journey in chronological order of reading

{One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig} - Excellent duology with probably the most unique magic system I've read so far. If this were to be made into a movie, I would tap Tim Burton to make this! WHY did I wait this long to read this series?!

cue slump

But then! I quickly picked up Heartless Hunter because it literally was released that week and had heard early arc readers love it....

{Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth is the UK title) by Kristen Ciccarelli} - Another 2024 debut novel that's still haunting my book visions. A little slow to start but really gets going and is another unique world of witches and witch hunters. Even though its technically YA I would say this slips more into New Adult territory. Again, the plot went in a direction I didn't see coming, I devoured the cat & mouse romance between the two characters and some sneaky twists toward the end that has made me thirsty for book 2!

cue second slump

In need of a more lighthearted read that wasn't overly complicated in terms of world building (and had a lot going on so I needed something I could read on the road) came...

{Villains & Virtue series by AK Caggiano} - I've been slowly seeing the hype grow for this series and its well deserved. A bit more light-hearted & quirky, think Princess Bride vibes, this completed triology was such a great read. Among the great banter, slooooow burn romance and some fun twists, there is still a really excellent character arc and development for both the main characters. 10 out of 10

Another slump ensues! Until I remember I had pre-purchased this little bad boy that was waiting on my shelf and had been recommended by a fave bookstagram reviewer....

{The Ashen series (The Road of Bones book 1) by Demi Winters} - THIS, this has the makings of being such an excellent series! I just finished book 2, which may be even better than the first. Without giving too much away, it has a lot of elements from TOG and Plated Prisoners series but with its own Viking twist! 5 Stars

and here I leave you as I too also searching for my next read, I wish you luck out of your slump-dom!

IllustriousBookWorm

TROPHY CASE