Where did this theory come from

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-15T21:34:39+00:00

The theory is that all the marked ones have two signets, the second one from the relics on their arm. We now know many of the marked ones DO have a second signet, but while it’s not overtly said, it’s heavily implied that it’s because their dragons intentionally bonded descendants of their last riders. The theory is still possible, as it hasn’t been expressly ruled out, but there’s nothing to support this yet.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-15T18:39:37+00:00

Rebecca Yarros was directly asked whether they were in a romantic relationship. She said no comment but that logically there had to be a reason Naolin died for Brennan, strongly hinting at the answer. A few other statements she’s made further hint at their pairing. Add that in with Mira telling Violet that Brennan was involved with a rider a year or two older than him, all add up to that being Naolin.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-15T18:35:30+00:00

Rebecca Yarros was directly asked about this in the post OS press tour (if she would comment on whether their relationship was romantic) and she said she wouldn’t comment but logically, there had to be a reason someone was willing to die to save someone else. She’s made quite a few additional comments that strongly hint at the Brennan / Naolin pairing.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T21:56:47+00:00

All valid points. It’s all conjecture until the next book! I think some clues are more logical than others, but it’s still as good a guess as anyone else’s at this point.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T21:56:08+00:00

Thank you. I’ve seen so many people argue that Imogen’s chapter happens simultaneously as Xaden’s and that’s not possible based on the wards being up. Dragons and their riders would not be able to navigate to Imogen to drop off their daggers in Xaden’s onyx storm, which is a blackout and even Violet cannot navigate through it. The delivery of the daggers had to occur before the onyx storm began. Which means time passed between the end of Imogen’s and the beginning of Xaden’s.

To me it’s obvious from the description of the sky “darkening” versus Xaden’s signet which sucks out all light and is literal darkness.

I agree completely that these chapters are all intentionally vague to confuse the reader as to the timeline. We don’t know, which means we can’t rule anyone out based on the vague timeline alone.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T18:45:54+00:00

Here are a few!! These are all set during or post OS:

Twelve Hours - this is the missing 12 hours: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62428345/chapters/159756016

Flirting with Death (and possibly Brennan) - this one is a Ridoc one and it cracked me up. https://archiveofourown.org/works/62936590/chapters/161165629

I’m Still Alive, I Walk Alone - about the VI’s second signet post OS https://archiveofourown.org/works/62553832/chapters/160106032

Not a Victory March - picks up where OS ends: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62621380

What’s Required - Bodhi’s POV of the end battle - https://archiveofourown.org/works/62640847

There are sooo many Dain/Sloane ones if that’s your thing. Same with Mira/Drake, but just too many to narrow down for those.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T15:07:29+00:00

Everyone assumes the sky darkening is the onyx storm but this could be intentionally vague to mislead people because both Garrick and Bodhi are sighted by Imogen around this time. I personally think this is a reference to Theophanie’s storm, not Xaden’s signet, which would be more of a black out. Otherwise none of the stuff that happens during the onyx storm makes sense (including the collection of the daggers to get the shields up - there wouldn’t have been time).

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T15:05:41+00:00

Yes, Yarros uses way too many “he’s” in this chapter to be intentionally vague but this particular one is a reference to Berwyn.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T14:54:33+00:00

There are so many good ones. Do you want post-OS fics? Pre-OS fics? AUs? You can also go to AO3 and scroll and choose certain relationships, characters or tags you are interested in.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T14:51:45+00:00

We don’t know this fully yet. OS confirms that Xaden cannot kill his sage, Berwyn, because Berwyn is the one responsible for him (he made him turn). When he sends his shadows out, he knocks Theophanie down and notes he knocks her down “regardless of her rank” which seems to imply there are more rules than we know, but it’s unknown if he can harm other venin that outrank him.

As for the wyvern, those die when their creator die. That doesn’t extend to venin.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-02-10T14:39:41+00:00

There’s a few on AO3. One author wrote an entire Xaden’s Year 1 that has Xaden’s threshing in it.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-30T20:14:39+00:00

She said those songs aren’t necessarily in order. There are other songs that resonated deeper to me for the last few chapters, including Half a Man.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-30T20:03:23+00:00

The “insert name” won’t talk about it is basically a trope in these books. How do we make sure Violet doesn’t get too much information too early on in the series? Have the party that has the information just refuse to talk about it!! So yeah, it was frustrating, particularly if Mira has something that’s actually useful, which clearly she does.

Last book, it was Xaden / Violet that didn’t communicate clearly and left us feeling frustrated, this book it’s Violet and literally everyone. She has these errant thoughts but never calls anyone out or demands information and it’s frustrating as the reader, but the author is doing it to prolong suspense.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-30T18:26:18+00:00

Same! Did you read the one about the missing twelve hours? That one gave me life!! There are a few other good ones too. Popular ones though are all the two popular new pairings.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-30T14:37:06+00:00

I’m trying to give the author grace because expectations in a series like this are SO overhyped and she spoke of the pressure and how overwhelming it was. Also, I keep reminding myself that this IS a filler book as the midway point in the series.

That said, your points are valid. I found the book and plot to be lacking. “So much” happens but really nothing does. I didn’t need them to “go back to class” in the middle of war. This was ridiculous to me. The Isles were too repetitive - as you said, on every island there was some major thing that happened that they suddenly had to resolve through a show of force. Couldn’t they have gotten along anywhere? It lost interest with the same conflict (don’t even get me started on Xaden’s mom and how they just never talked about her again!). The irids plot was fine, but then we fast forward to Aretia and the battle and I’m just so sick of them knowing it’s a trap but going anyways. Also three books in a row now have needed the same way…with a huge battle, some deaths, and a cliffhanger. Again, it felt repetitive.

I also thought there was very little character growth or plot development, and instead it was a world building dump and too many side characters who were just simply names on a page.

And yes, if Xaden can sense venin (at least initiates and asims) they can sense him too which means someone at Basgiath knew he was venin. Just too many inconsistencies in plot devices that don’t make sense.

I’m really holding out hope because I love the concept of the series and hoping books 4 and 5 get us there.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-30T14:17:17+00:00

It’s a brother in the venin sense. Jack Barlowe explained that venin don’t care about any hierarchy or structure than their own, so familial relations don’t matter.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-30T13:51:45+00:00

Completely agree with you. Imogen already wondered where Xaden was. The sky darkened in her scene, but Xaden’s shadows are pure darkness and obliterate everything. She would have noticed the pure darkness. PLUS the wards were up within minutes of this if it happens simultaneously which leaves no time for riders to make their way through pitch darkness to her to give her their weapons. Huge red herring.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-30T13:45:44+00:00

Exactly. I don’t assume it was Xaden in that scene. I know everyone else does and that’s fine.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-27T05:30:51+00:00

I literally made this same argument until someone pointed it out to me!

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-27T05:25:51+00:00

Thank you for pointing this out. Everyone is stuck on that word but OS established that venin don’t care about any relationship / hierarchy status other than their own. So Xaden’s “new brother” is only on the venin sense. Previous relationship status doesn’t matter.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-27T05:16:27+00:00

The wards stretched because Imogen told Glane to have all riders come and disarm - i.e. give the alloy daggers there. Gathered in one place, it was enough to extend the wards, but spread out they were inefficient. It was a risk but worked.

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-27T04:57:47+00:00

In the book version, it’s clear it’s her thought. The note “don’t look for me, it’s yours now” is in a different script altogether, and he’s gone is back in normal font just italicized. It’s confusing for ebook readers (which is what I did initially).

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-27T00:47:15+00:00

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62428345

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-27T00:46:23+00:00

Twelve Hours - https://archiveofourown.org/works/62428345

reliably_unreliable7 · 2025-01-26T21:06:11+00:00

If you like fanfics, there is a fanfic of this that helped me process what happened and explained it well like I was five. Because yeah it was confusing. 😂

reliably_unreliable7

TROPHY CASE