Hold steady, Violet. Iron Flame page 312
Jack Barlowe has just saved Violet’s life… What do you think about this development? Is there something more sinister taking place? Or has Jack actually turned over a new leaf?
Ridoc met with Jesinia while Violet was on duty. The good news is that they know where the journals may be. The bad? They need a royal and they need to be stealthy. Aaric is happy to assist in the cause, despite the clear tension between him and Xaden. They manage to make it into the vault fairly easily. Unfortunately, looking for the journals takes longer than expected. Their return to the entrance before the Archives shuts is very limited. Imogen and Violet make it, but Aaric and Xaden might not.
Do you think that the King knows that Aaric accessed the wards in the vault? How do you think this will impact the revolution? Will it clue the King into what is going on under his nose and Aaric’s knowledge of what’s going on?
While the retrieval might have gone well and Violet and Xaden know that they are on the right track, Violet is tricked by someone who she used to trust. Nolon has drugged Violet and subsequently aided Varrish on getting his hands on Violet. What do you think encouraged Nolon to do this? Do you think Varrish knew what Violet and her friends were up to in the Archives?
Chapter Thirty-Five is perhaps the most difficult to read in the entire book. Varrish now has hold of Violet and he does not intend to let her go. What do you make of Liam returning to Violet. Do you think he has been sent by Malek as a kindness?
Dain was called in to read Violet’s memories. Do you think she was truly successful in only show him her memory? Or do you think he managed to glimpse past that all? What do you make of him helping her in the end?
10 responses to “Iron Flame Readalong Day Seven”
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Listen I will never trust Jack Barlowe, and as much as this seems like his redemption arc I just don’t believe it.
I think someone will be alerted for sure, whether they give that information to the King I’m not sure. I can’t imagine him having a direct line to these things if he only uses it as bragging rights. If he does find out I think at worst he’ll realise his son is now a rider and try and impact things from there.
I think Nolan did this out of a sense of urgency, he loves Violet but he’s terrified of what this betrayal might mean for the greater good.
I don’t think Varrish knows what they were doing or even all of whom was involved, but he’s gonna do everything he can to find out.For me personally, I definitely experienced Liam as a hallucination in her time of need and not as a spirit present with her in the room.
I do believe that Violet’s mind is stronger than Dain’s power and that she’ll be able to lead him in her mind. He seems to not have a full handle on his power yet anyway.
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I can’t tell if Jack has been brought back to life as “a new man” i.e. a whole new personality, or if it is all just a front.
I don’t trust him…I think the King was definitely alerted to the breach in security of the wards surrounding the journals. He knows something/someone is onto them and is planning something. Alarm bells are triggered for sure.
I was shocked that Nolan seems to have betrayed Violet. Is he on Varrish’s side?? Or is he being somehow blackmailed to work for Varrish?
I think Varrish suspects that Violet and her friends know the truth but he needs concrete evidence.I love that Liam “is back”, albeit as a ?hallucination. It is comforting, while having to read the unpleasantness of Violet’s torture. I don’t think it was sent by Malek. It is Violet’s way of clinging into something good and pure during all her pain, to keep her from breaking.
Extreme relief that Dain has turned a corner and helped Violet escape Varrish!
No doubt he will have many questions after what she showed him of her memories. -
I don’t know what’s happening with Jack, but I don’t trust him.
I think that the king knows what’s happening. But this might tell him where his son is.
I don’t know what Varrish has over Nolon to do that. But he definitely knows what they were up to.
I definitely think he was sent as a kindness. It’s unfair that Jack could come back but not Liam!
I think what he had done finally caught up with him when he felt Violet’s pain.
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I still don’t trust Jack Barlowe.. like why would you save someone that essentially sent you to your death??
I’m sure the king must have been alerted when Alaric set off the alarms but how that will impact the revolution- only time will tell.
I still can’t believe Nolan did what he did. And I most definitely do not trust Varish.. he knows that they are up to something but what it is, I’m not quite sure he realises.
I feel like Liam being sent to Violet may have something to do with a possible second signet – because a) she has two dragons and b) Andarna is entering her adulthood phase so she is possibly getting her second signet?
I think Violet was successful in showing him what he needed to see. She has been working hard on building up her blocking technique, so I really feel like it worked.
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• I kinda feel like Jack is being fake nice for a reason…
• The King does seem protective over his things and had the ward/rune in place,breaking that alerted him.
• I knew Violet shouldn’t trust Nolan after the whole Nolan being sus while reviving Jack. Nolan however has been brainwashed into thinking Violet is on the wrong side. Varrish manipulated him a lot. I think Varrish has an inkling but doesn’t know everything or have proof
• Maybe? It breaks my heart everytime and I miss Liam so much. He deserved better… that chapter was emotional. I love that Violet went to him in her dark times and had him there in whatever illusion way by her side. It felt bittersweet reading about him again too.
• I think she succeeded well, I’m like 90% sure. Then again it’s Dain and I don’t fully trust him. So we’ll see…
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Shock, sickening shock, no way – Jack has no leaf to turn – he is supposed to be a dead stick!!
Yes because a royal can only access it – he must know – I hope he would speak with his son and know what is really happening in his kingdom.
Yes I think Varrish knows what they did – Nolon’s involvement really surprised me – he seemed like an ally – but the more that is revealed the more I think he is down right evil. Maybe Nolon was threatened or he is as warped as the rest of them keeping the Venin a secret.
Such a heartbreaking chapter – Malek absolutely gave Violet a kindness.
I think he was but I still don’t understand where he stands – he must of glimpsed something but Dain right now is such an unbalanced character – I do think his loyalties will always lie with Basgiath and the rules he lives by.
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Okay, OKAY – I have a prediction about Jack. I think his signet is super important and that’s why they had to bring him back to life. Maybe it has something to do with other signets or maybe he can interfere with Xaden and Violet’s relationship? Do I think this why he saved her? No. I don’t know why he did that…I don’t trust him.
TBH, I don’t even think the King knows where his kids are…or that he has any or else half the Kingdom might be alerted that one of the prince’s may be missing.
The gasped I gusped when Nolon betrayed Violet hurt my chest. I needed to put the book down and recover because I felt betrayed. How dare he. I think Nolon doesn’t know everything that’s going on either that or my man just doesn’t care that civilians are dying. WE DO NOT SPEAK OF VARRISH – BURN HIM AT THE STAKE.
Violet is not having a good time and hallucinating but if it makes her stronger, then I hope that Ghost Liam and her are besties and that he hangs around forever.
Are we still pretending to care about Dain? I’m a Libra guys – once you hurt me, I cut you off. Who is Dain?
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I think the reason why Jack was brought by back is sinister. Perhaps now he’s recognised a powerful ally in Violet.
One reason for Aarics appearance in the book appears! I think whoever set the ward would probably get alerted. I can’t imagine the king really doing that but I’m sure they’d let him know once they have the information on it. He would then realise his son is a rider but since he’s bonded I don’t there there’s much he could do about it.
I think Nolon did this urgently to find out what was in the satchel or they had been alerted and were checking for it. I’m sure Nolon wants to protect this knowledge from getting out. I think Varrish took the opportunity to get Violet for something so he has the excuse of keeping her captive – to kill her or to get information from Resson or the rebellion.
I think there’s something suspicious about Liam being back, as a spirit. Maybe something about her bond being blocked brought this about. Though it could be a hallucination as we can see, Violet is someone who cannot get through things alone.
I think she was successful since she feels like she grips his presence, and her shoving all her pain at him at the end made him stumble back. I think he’s used what Varrish would want to hear most so he could attack him because he realises Violet was right this whole time. Hopefully this is the start of his redemption arc!
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Firstly, OMG, that artwork just broke my heart!!
I honestly do not know what to think about Jack Barlowe – I actually want to know why they expended so much energy bringing him back to life/saving his life. Maybe he has turned a new leaf – but it’s difficult to know for certain.How would the king know? I havent thought too much about it – maybe he doesn’t care enough.
I think Varrish has something over Nolon, or Nolon thinks Violet has betrayed him somehow. It was a very weird flip, considering his help during the interrogation trials with the squad. I don’t think Varrish knew, or he wouldnt have poisoned her.
Violet needed someone to help her through, but also help with the guilt she has over Liam, so I think that’s why he appeared. However, I don’t know if it was Malek.
I think he’s been trying to help her all along – he’s a victim of the system and I think if she was successful in showing him the truth, he would follow them.
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I thought it would be Jack, just because I hoped he had changed. If he changed, I’m not sure. I really hope that he has turned a new leaf, but we still don’t know why he was saved and what his purpose is.
I think that there must be some sort of ward that alerts the king that the vault was accessed. No one will leave that area without some sort of protection. I think this will impact the revolution since the information will be very helpful. I think this will be the time that the king realizes his son has entered Basgiath under a false identity and he might come search for him. This scene was so intense, I couldn’t read fast enough.
I was so disappointed in Nolon. How could he! Varrish must have either spun some lies to Nolon to convince him to do this, or he threatened Nolon with his safety. That’s the only reasons I can think of him betraying Violet. I don’t think Varrish knows just yet what they were up to in the Archives, but I think he’s trying his best to find out.
Liam visiting Violet, that was so emotional! I think it was a hallucination, Violet needed to find some form of comfort.
I think he only saw what Violet showed him and this kind of convinced him and made him see what is really going on. I still don’t trust Dain, but maybe he will see reason and change his beliefs. He might be trying to deceive Violet and make her believe he is now on her side and just her for information to pass on to Varrish, I don’t know.
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