Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cassie's life seems picture perfect when movie star Alex River's ask her to marry him, but the honeymoon is barely over before the abuse begins. Only her pregnancy forces Cassie to flee to protect her unborn child but once her son is born she goes back hoping that this time Alex really has changed only to discover that he hasn't.

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Onxy Storm Questions

 This is sort of a follow up to the previous post who took the eggs and why? One theory was that someone took the eggs to Unnbriel in trade for their help with the war, but they demanded two of each kind so wouldn't that necessitate 12 missing eggs? 

Another possibility is that the eggs were given to the Irids. Maybe not just for safe keeping. The Irids were horrified by how Andarna turned out, and have a low opinion of the other dragon breeds. Maybe Andarna suggested it was the fact she was raised in Navarre by the other dragons that lead to her willingness to use her magic for violence. And that if the hatchlings from the other breeds were raised by the Irid they would be more peaceful like them. 

Did Andarna come back alone or was Leothan with her? Nothing suggest that Leothan was with her, but I have a suspicion that Andarna didn't just leave because she wanted to know her family but because she thought she could get them to help. In other words I think she always planned to come back. 

If Xaden took the eggs which everyone seems to think happened that means Tairn, Andarna and Saeygl were involved, and killed their elders. The dragons obviously have to know what happened but they aren't telling their riders. My theory is that dragons challenge each other for leadership. Tairn/Andarna (and Saeygl) took control of the Empyrean by challenging the Elders that died and winning. (Andarna was already a member of the Empyrean as the only Irid) Therefore now Tairn (and Saeygl) decide what the Empyrean will and will not do. Tairn at one point told Violet he was willing to break the Empyrean's rules. Or did the Elders actually die? Is it possible that the Elders took the eggs to a secret hatching ground and disappeared and that telling the humans they died was a way to explain their absence. Whatever is going on Tairn and Andarna would know, but they aren't telling anyone even Violet. 

As always the Dragons are the key.  

Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I hate writers that end books on cliff hangers especially whey they announce they are taking a break. If you feel the need to take a break from writing at least don't leave your readers hanging.

And really we haven't advanced much since Iron Flame

The book is consumed with Violet trying to find a cure for Xaden and Xaden trying not to use his venin powers. And I think this is an important point and if there is a path to Xaden's salvation it's probably this ...He never uses his powers unless he needs them to save the people he loves. Which makes it even sadder that at the end of the book he uses his powers to save Sgaeyl and turns fully venin. But and this is a big but...he apparently has a plan and Sgaeyl not only agrees to help him she gets Tairn to agree to allow him to see Violet and help with the plan if Violet agrees to it. Since Violet gets Imogen to wipe her memories we have no idea what happens after that other than Violet married Xaden and the head priestess of Dunne's temple gave her official blessing to the legal binding marriage. Tairn is "sleeping" and can't answer questions and Andarna isn't being her usual chatty self, although she does declare " I will not let them burn you". What we do know is that someone Xaden cares about turned venin and that 6 eggs are missing, four riders, their dragons and three elders were murdered in the valley and five riders were missing it's four now that Violet has returned.

Panchek was the traitor and Xaden allowed him to be ended by Berwyn. Since Berwyn is Xaden's Sage he can't kill him no matter how much he wants too but he does knock him unconscious.

I can't let Sgaeyl die. Can't leave him to stumble down the same path I did. Can't allow my friends to perish because I selfishly want to keep Violet by my side

If I understood the ending correctly Xaden killed all the wyvern in the pass.

As much as I don't want it to be I think Garric is probably the one who turned venin he is missing and the last time we saw him he was drained of power to the extent his couldn't use his second signet of distance wielder, and he wanted to find a way to help. If he channeled from the Earth he would have been able to reach Xaden. It can't be Bodhi because Imogen saw him throwing up, unless he is also a distance wielder, he never revealed to Violet what his second signet was. I really don't think it is Brennan as some fans have hypothesized as he would have no reason to turn. He was able to save Mira with Sloane and Dain's help. If he had been going to turn I think it would have been then in order to save Mira but by sending Sloan to Violet, Aaric (precog) sent them what they needed to save Mira's life. Aairic has been keeping his signet secret as it is one the authorities think of as dangerous.

Is Naolin Berwyn? A possibility maybe as he supposedly died "trying to" saving Brennan's life. The official story is that he died beside Brennan after draining himself. Maybe he turned venin to save Brennan. That would explain Tairn's attitude toward Xaden and his refusal to talk about Naolin.

Secondary to curing Xaden they were trying to find the Irids hoping they could help and Andarna wanted to meet her (den) family. The Irids turned out to be really judgy and disowned Andarna because she didn't turn out the way they wanted, as they value Peace over Warfare. When they refuse to help and disowned her Andarna's response is priceless.

"You preach peace while only having known its privilege", Andarna hisses in retort. "You are all a disappointment to me"

Leothan does show some interest in Andarna (he is more closely related to her than the others are) and when she disobeys Violet and protects Dunne's temple (like Aaric said to do) he intercedes to save her life by firing the wardstone at Aretia. He also offers Andarna a chance to learn their ways but she must severe her bond with Violet and go with him. Andarna chooses to leave with Leothan.

At the end of the book Andarna returns in time to help Violet defeat Theophanie and protect her when Violet is found in the courtyard.


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