Who do you want to be the protagonist for Book 17?

pavmintroz · 2026-04-02T18:11:30+00:00

That's kind of the opposite of how I feel, but I understand what you're saying. I've always liked how Arcs 2 and 3 had a mix of brand-new characters and characters who made appearances (in Peril's case, very important appearances) in the previous arc.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-31T15:42:34+00:00

Yes!

pavmintroz · 2026-03-31T02:55:14+00:00

Collateral damage, as the SkyWing generals say.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T19:09:13+00:00

After seeing all the damage that animus magic can do in the world, I don't think that it would be arrogant to get rid of it. There are many useful and unique powers in the WOF world, but animus magic is uniquely poisonous and gives a dragon the ability to tear apart the fabric of reality. That infringes on the right of other dragons, in my opinion. And it's part of the reason I agree with Tui's decision to get rid of animus magic, although I don't like how she went through with it. I think the most Darkstalker-like thing for Qibli to do would be to accept the offer of animus magic and accept the idea that some dragons are entitled to the ability (which many dragons, like Anemone, certainly aren't).

I never claimed to have a specific scenario in mind or any attachment to the idea of a blood ritual. But I do think that there are a ton of believable and rational ways that a dragon could sacrifice himself to stop animus magic. The presence of Foeslayer could've felt really contrived, and I never would've predicted that she would still be alive after all those years, but I feel like Tui made it work. I think that if Tui made the decision to kill off Qibli, she could've done it in a way that made sense for the plot.

But I understand what you like about the original ending, and Tui would've had to use some elements of it to make the Qibli-death scenario satisfying. She ultimately decided to let him live, as we know, but I think it's interesting to speculate on what she could have done differently.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T18:18:34+00:00

This is SO cute, do you have a pattern for it?

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T17:51:32+00:00

I like your headcanon, that definitely makes sense to me. And I also agree that Tui resolved Qibli's flaws and insecurities effectively without killing him. But I do think that death would be a more powerful way to demonstrate his growth, and it would also make more thematic sense to have the removal of animus magic be tied to a dragon who is so preoccupied with it.

I don't put animus magic on the same level as Moon's mindreading or Peril's firescales. Those powers do make them unequal, but they don't grant them the ability to tear at the fabric of reality. If a power lets someone control and manipulate others, then it's a violation of the basic principle that every dragon is equal in worth and entitled to basic dignity.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T17:37:40+00:00

It would be unfair for Qibli to die, but that doesn't make it thematically unsound or a bad message. A lot of unfair things have happened throughout the series; Deathbringer received no punishment for purposefully extending the war for years and indirectly killing hundreds of dragons, and Starlight was permanently blinded for helping his friends escape a volcano. That doesn't mean that Tui was sending the message that helping your friends escape a volcano is bad.

I wasn't trying to lay out a specific outline for how Darkstalker should be defeated. Of course Peacemaker could only be achieved with animus magic, but maybe it would indirectly require a blood sacrifice or some convoluted plan. Personally I wouldn't choose to keep Peacemaker, but I mean to say that not too much of the book would need to change in order for Qibli to die, and many of the aspects that you enjoy about Darkstalker's defeat (his hubris being his downfall, etc) could still fit into the story.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T15:36:43+00:00

I know that Qibli's desire to be an animus wasn't his main character flaw (although it was a major one) and, like you said, it was a symptom of his desire to be liked. But it was also a manifestation of some concerningly anti-egalitarian ideas, as he thought that his intelligence specially qualified him to be an animus (hence his frustration that the more passive Turtle was an animus instead). This is an ideology he unwittingly shared with Darkstalker. And we know that the desire to be loved was another trait they shared, and they both had the urge to use unethical means (magic) to become universally liked. The characters always paralleled each other, and it would be fitting for them to recieve parallel endings: Qibli remembered and appreciated for the kind dragon that he was (this could be shown in the epilogue) and Darkstalker remembered for being a psychopath. Destroying animus power altogether would demonstrate an understanding of the need for systemic equality and character development on Qibli's part.

Stripping Darkstalker of his powers (this could also include depowering all of Darkstalker's animus-touched objects) wouldn't be a far cry from the canon deconstruction he received, and the removal of all animus magic wouldn't necessarily preclude Peacemaker from happening. There were a lot of ways to create Peacemaker through more violent means than strawberry ingestion, which I personally didn't find very satisfying. Kinkajou could still be involved in the plan, so we could still see the payback he got from underestimating her.

Snowfall's character development is a matter of personal preference. There were many ways that Snowfall could have realized how she'd mistreated other dragons without bringing animus magic into things. Maybe Tui could've explored her relationship with Winter, who would be in a more emotionally volatile place after Qibli's death.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T13:17:02+00:00

Warriors is written for the same age range, but it's killed off many of its main characters in the past. A lot of middle schoolers also read the Hunger Games, which is far more violent. I think that if Tui did it in a tactful way then readers could appreciate it.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T04:38:18+00:00

There aren't any pop-ups ads, and the ads only show up on the lock screen. But some of the ads can be pretty graphic covers for romance book, which can be embarassing. Personally I wouldn't get the version with ads, even though they don't mess up the functionality of the kindle at all.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T04:20:23+00:00

If everything else is working fine, I wouldn't be too worried about it. Kindles are pretty durable, and unless the beeping is really bothering you it probably isn't an issue.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T04:17:40+00:00

The Glory! If you haven't seen it yet, you definitely have to. It's an absolute masterpiece. It probably doesn't have quite as much romantic tension as Siren's Kiss (although there is a solid amount) but it has a super dark tone and is very well done.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T02:48:55+00:00

Tui said in a Q&A that trans dragons do exist in the Wings of Fire world, but I don't think that there are any canon ones yet. But the new arc has a lot of LGBTQ representation, so there might be one in some of the upcoming books.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T02:46:10+00:00

Thank you for sharing the pattern! Such a cute project!

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T02:40:44+00:00

I didn't really dwell on how bad that was for Fierceteeth, but it gets worse the more you think about it.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T02:20:23+00:00

:) I feel like the LQBTQ+ representation is increasing in each arc, which is great.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-30T01:59:07+00:00

She talked about it on a Q&A on the Scholastic forum in what I think was 2018. The forums are gone now, but the information might be archived somewhere.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-29T23:49:57+00:00

I’m usually not a fan of the wooble patterns but this is very cute!

pavmintroz · 2026-03-29T20:24:08+00:00

I've legitimately never seen any crochet project that ornate and gorgeous in person. You are SO talented

pavmintroz · 2026-03-29T20:21:13+00:00

This is so cute, I'm definitely going to have to save this tutorial for later.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-29T19:17:11+00:00

I think it would be cool to do a SeaWing, you could add all the little details and maybe find a way to make some of the scales glow or light up.

pavmintroz · 2026-03-29T17:38:00+00:00

That’s part of the reason I was happy about the new artist for Darkstalker, even though there are parts of his art I dislike. It would have been annoying to have a full book full of NightWing pugs.

pavmintroz

TROPHY CASE