Latest / Deep Trope Fantasy & Romance Podcast / The Incendiary Deep Dive (Ch. 33–43): The Reverie Ball, Molochai's Bargain, & Ary's Feminine Rage
Transcript
- Rachel: Welcome to Deep Trope, where we go deep into fantasy and romance books, one trope at a time. I'm Rachel, romantasy theorist. Kate: And I'm Kate, lover of all things dark and spicy. Rachel: And today is episode four of our six episode deep dive of the incendiary by LJ Claren. Kate: This episode will cover chapters thirty three to forty three of the book from the perspective of two people who have read the full book. So that means spoilers. If you don't know what the earth shattering last three words of the book are, pause the podcast and come back once you've finished reading. Rachel: We're still a new podcast, so we truly appreciate your support by liking, subscribing, leaving a thoughtful review, and sharing with a friend. Our goal is to make sure every fantasy and romance reader has a book bestie to gush over their favorite theories and their favorite spicy moments. And we absolutely love chatting with you. So be sure to connect with us on social media. You can find us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook at Deep Trope Podcast. Kate: And finally, before we begin, be sure to check the content warnings for the book, because all trigger warnings from the book apply to this podcast. Today's episode contains detailed descriptions of Ary's attack, so please take care. And we're two unfiltered opinionated millennials, so maybe grab your headphones if you're around little ones or anyone easily offended. Rachel: Alright, let's dive into it. So we start at chapter 33, which is an Ary POV chapter, and it is the Reverie Ball, which is absolutely Kate: Ooh. Rachel: beautiful. The courtyard and main hall are overflowing with colorful flowers to celebrate the gods. And there's essentially a rainbow of massive floral bouquets representing each of the gods in order of the months. So it starts at Nevelin's sky blue hydrangeas to Nyxar's dark purple and black violets. And on the reread, I literally could not wait to get to this part because it just sounds so beautiful. I love the magic slash religious system in this book because of the beauty and the idea of rainbows everywhere to celebrate the gods is just beautiful and so unique. Kate: Yeah, I really loved this. And I know that there are some like religious festivals and things around the world that are a lot more colorful than the ones that I got to experience in Roman Catholicism. But Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: so I I love to see just like you said, like the beauty of it, the fact that like celebrating the gods is meant to be like a fun, beautiful kind of experience. And this was also fun because Ary doesn't really know it yet because she hasn't experienced it, but it is this is kind of giving her a little glimpse into the culture of the caves as well, because one will Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: see later in the book her kind of experiencing that for the first time, she's just blown away by things like the colors and the warmth of it and like how everyone is kind of connected. And so this is like a little glimpse of that and it's great. Rachel: Yeah, yeah. I know, especially since she grew up. I mean, not that she remembers much of her life, but it was just this cold, desolate, really lonely existence. And this is really Kate: Yeah. Rachel: like a little bit of culture shock for her. Kate: Mm-hmm. In a in a good way. In a v a very Rachel: Yes. Kate: positive, like, this this could be fun. Rachel: Mm-hmm. So a moment for the fashion, as always. The black dress that Gemma sent Ary is quite revealing with her newly formed curves. It has silk straps that hold her breasts in place, but reveals an excessive amount of skin between them. And the bodice is sparkly and sheer, and the skirts are layered silk and lace. And it's traditional to select one god and wear a flower that represents them. So of course Ary chooses a red fire lily honoring Helios, Gavin's birth month. And here's where things Kate: And sorry, that is Rachel: No, go ahead. Kate: that's a good visual because that's what's adorned around the cover of the book, right? Our fire lilies. Rachel: Yes. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Good point. And here's where things get interesting. Ary says, thinking of Gavin, quote, and fire and heat eases the cold ache she has had in her chest since the second trial, a pain she has tried and failed to heal. Quote, it was the month that the gods brought the one person into the world who sacrificed everything to ensure I wouldn't be alone. And as we mentioned before, we think this ache in her chest. Happened when Gavin died, indicating that they're physically bonded, not just emotionally. It's very interesting that these two lines are combined because Ary was born in Nyxar, a month of cold and darkness, the complete opposite of Helios. And it seems like maybe the gods created them as two parts of one soul. Kate: absolutely love that. Like not just faded mates, but literal soul mates. I Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: love that. Rachel: Mm-hmm. I'm convinced that that's really the definition of the two of them, like beyond our typical fated mates, as you said, literal two parts of a single soul. Kate: Wow. Rachel: And I think that's also going to mean that when they both discover their powers, as we see at the end of the book that Gavin has them, that uniting them is really where like the full force is gonna come from. Kate: I'm so excited. Rachel: Fingers crossed. Kate: Yeah. I really want us to be right on this one. Rachel: It's also worth noting that Mavic describes Ary as quote hotter than Helios and Aesta's love child. So Aesta is the goddess of light, while Helios is the god of fire. Now, I don't know that I'm convinced that that's what she is, but I don't know. It was so specific that it definitely made my spidey senses tingle. Kate: we did we do think that she is very possibly a god or a demigod. So a demigod would mean that she would be the product of other gods. So listen, I'm not ruling it out either. I don't know for sure because we really haven't heard that much about Aesta yet, you know? But we did note a lot of references to light in relation to Ary in both this book and the first one. Like remember when Gavin sees her healing? For the first time, and he describes it as like taking some of her light, referencing her life force. And then he also called her something along the lines of everything goodness and light. So, like, we have already been noting the references to light in relation to Ary, and in contrast to the references of darkness in relation to Gavin. So I'm just saying it's not totally Rachel: Yeah. Kate: out of the realm because we've already noted. Some of those references before. Rachel: You're right, you're right. And I think when we talk about Gavin and the potential that he's a demigod, we keep connecting him to Nyxar. The thing that's getting me hung up with this line is the role of Helios. Because while we connect Gavin with Nyxar, he was born during Helios, and I can't figure out if that's like Just there to throw us for a loop or not. Because I wouldn't imagine Kate: Well Rachel: that he's related to Helios and Ary is too. Kate: No, but if he's related to Nyxar and Ary was born in Nyxar and she's related Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: to Helios and he was born in Helios, maybe it's just a, like you said, two halves of the whole where Rachel: Yeah. Kate: they just find their other part in each other. I don't know. it still feels connected, even if Rachel: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Kate: they are like like the months are just opposite for them. Rachel: Yeah, yeah, good point. All right, so I guess we'll call that a theory that Ary is potentially a child of Aesta and Helios, and Gavin is a child of Nyxar somehow, or a descendant of Nyxar. Kate: Yeah. Because and you know, it's it's a kind of half baked theory, but I it I feel like it has legs. Rachel: Yeah, I agree. Elias toasts the room and we get a word from the language of the gods. Quote, until then, we toast in honor of each soul unfairly ripped away. Tallai! We're definitely going to note any and every time the language of the gods comes up because I'm personally convinced the magic system is tied to it somehow. Kate: I'm hoping that we'll learn more about this when we see Ary learn more spell magic from Simeon, 'cause I feel like that's when it's gonna come into play when, you know, like his grimoire and and things that we've learned about of is the are there spells written in those languages? Rachel: Right. Right. Yeah, I agree. I just it's interesting that this word worked its way. it's obviously a cheers type word, Kate: Mm-hmm. Rachel: but it's interesting that it worked its way into their language because we really don't see them using that language. that's something that I know that we're not entirely sure if they use it or not, but we think that maybe the Incidi Insidions might be using it. So it's interesting that it's used here. Kate: Right. I mean maybe is this like a special toast for Reverie in particular? Rachel: Mmm. I th maybe Kate: You know, like maybe because it is like a celebration of the gods and so you would use a special word for that. I don't know. Rachel: that's interesting. so maybe like when they have their like religious services, they have l words from the language of the gods that they use. Kate: Maybe. I mean, like how some Catholic churches still do their Mass in Latin. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Interesting. Kate: To feel like extra connected to the gods. I don't know. Rachel: Yeah. Elias asks Ary to dance, and of course she negotiates. If she says yes, will he leave her alone? Kate: Yeah. Rachel: Sparks fly, but like she tells Mina just before the dance, she finds Elias attractive, but she has no feelings for him. Elias uses the dance to share an update with Ary. He believes Draven Finch was responsible for Isaiah Cross's death, and since he's been missing the past two days, The two of them are going on a mission to find him. Hello, forced proximity. but why is it just the two of them? He sent the rest of his men away on a more important mission to find the butcher of Nyrida He doesn't trust the men or want them inside the fortress, but killing the butcher would potentially earn back his trust. Elias warns her not to taunt the men when they get back, Ug, and tells her to start keeping her head down. Double Ug. You are the problem, Elias. By not holding your men responsible, you look weak and you're the one allowing this to happen. Kate: One hundred percent. Like that's exactly the issue in all of these scenarios of like making her responsible for protecting herself against these men instead of making sure that they are responsible for not fucking with her in the first place. Rachel: And I mean, I don't know why I'm surprised. This is something that we see in normal, like real world society every single day. Especially Kate: Yes, constantly, constantly. Rachel: in like Academic and military scenarios where there are like levels of bureaucracy that sort of like protect people. so it's not surprising, but it's just infuriating to read about. Kate: It is. Especially I mean, I'm I'm very sensitive to this right now because of current events and conversations happening right now of people just saying, like, well, you put yourself in that situation with these men. What did you expect to happen? It's like, okay, so you're admitting that women should just assume if they're in a a room with men that they will be assaulted? Rachel: Right. Right. Kate: That's just the assumption that you should have. So the women need to be the ones responsible for protecting themselves in a situation like that, instead of just saying, Hey, don't fucking assault people. So yeah, Elias. Rachel: I cannot wait until I cannot wait until Queen Ary reveals herself and like puts a stop to these shenanigans. Kate: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Elias, you are perpetuating rape culture. Rachel: Alright, so now we're going back in time, 393 years, to a Gavin POV, and nine years have passed since Ary's disappearance, and Gavin is starting to feel the results of aging. His back hurts after a long trek through the Warrich Mountains. In total, he and Ary were only together for four months and married ten days, but the years have done nothing to dull the pain of losing her. Thanks to a note from Simeon, he's aware that Ary is still 19 and sleeping, and he's worried he's already outaged her too much to ever win her back. After years of searching, he's finally found Simeon's cabin and bursts through the door, demanding, where is my wife? Simeon is described as having silver hair, nearly white, with spectacles and green eyes identical to Ary's. He's poised and intelligent. But thin and weak looking. So this doesn't sound attractive to me, thin and weak looking, but LJ commissioned some character art of Simeon that was definitely hot. So I don't know why she's doing this to us, but now I'm torn. Kate: I think that if we got a shirtless pic of him like we have for Gavin, that maybe you wouldn't be as torn. Because I think any man with good cheekbones can look hot sitting down reading a book. Rachel: Okay. Yeah, which is what he's doing in that that art. Yeah. Kate: Exactly, exactly. He's posed in like the one way that he would look hot as like a like a hot scholar kind of guy. But if he Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: stood up and took off his shirt and was like standing there like like the Gavin picture that we love, you would not be as conflicted, I don't think. Like yeah, like concaves. Rachel: Yeah, you're right. His chest probably goes in compared to his the rest of his torso. Simeon is infuriatingly calm, some would say punchably calm, while he says the rudest shit to Gavin, who, rightfully, punches him directly in the face. Kate: I love this for him. Rachel: I mean, he really deserved it. Like that calmness. Kate: Mm. Such a like a a Rachel: Yeah, I would have done the same thing, Gavin. Kate: he's a like a cocky bitch of Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: just he's so arrogant of like he Rachel: Yes. Kate: is so sure that he knows exactly how everything's gonna play out, and all his little pawns are doing their little dance exactly how he wants. And then little does he know that Gavin is about to fuck his shit up. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Exactly. Simeon tells Gavin he has no idea how reckless he was, that he ruined her just because he wanted to put his cock in her, and goes on to tell Gavin that men fell head over heels for Christabel as well. And one day, when Ary wakes up, with no memories of him, she'll have plenty of men to choose from. When Gavin begs Simeon to put him to sleep like Ary, Simeon refuses and reveals her memories are lost forever. I know Gavin had to find Simeon first, but wow, it's a shame he didn't just go straight to Molochai because could things have gone any worse than they did? Kate: like we said before, Simeon really created his own worst enemy here by underestimating Gavin's devotion to Ary and the lengths that he would go to. I also question here whether Simeon knew that Gavin was Molochai's son at this point. Cause like I assume he would have been more careful about how he treated him if he knew. But it would also kind of be surprising if he didn't know. Like he seems he has his little spies everywhere and he knows all these things that for him to not know or not be able to get that information from Ary before he put her to sleep, it but it really seems like he doesn't know. Rachel: I know. I I'm wondering can Simeon sense magic the same way that Molochai can? Or sense power? Kate: I I don't know. I don't know because we know that Molochai's magic is different than Simeon's because he went back to get that extra dose. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Kate: And so I really don't know where they overlap. but it's possible that he would. And if he if he could do that, then you would think that he would sense something in Gavin. Rachel: Yeah. Well, the suspicious part of me assumes that Simeon could sense it, that Simeon knows who Gavin is the entire time. And that's part Kate: Mm-hmm. Rachel: of the reason why he stole Ary from him in the first place. Because Kate: Right. Rachel: he got mad. we know during their origin story, he got mad when he found out that they were together. At least we think so. Because when she comes in and in tears and breaks up with him, and then she comes back after her mom dies and Remember, we weren't sure what Simeon threatened because Gavin like cut sorry off. But we kind Kate: Mm-hmm. Right. Rachel: of assume that he threatened Gavin, because at this point, what else would he be threatening? And Kate: Right. What else does Ary have to lose? Rachel: exactly and so I just wonder if like was he just mad because this was not part of his plan, or was he mad because he knew the danger of the two of them together? Kate: I again, I just like with with the kind of person that Simeon is, I would be very surprised if he didn't know who Gavin was. And so that makes this interaction very stupid for Simeon. If he knows who Gavin is and he's still treating him this way, that's that's dumb. That's dumb behavior because then he knows that he has somebody else powerful to go to to get what he wants. And I don't know. obviously I I'd not to say that Simeon would be able to foresee exactly what would become of Gavin in this scenario and like what would happen if he went to Molochai, but you see a desperate person Who wants something that you have access to, and you know that if you turn them away, they have the only other person that they have to go to that could give them what they want is like the most evil being that has ever been, or that you are aware of. And like sending a desperate hurting person to somebody evil like Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: that, like you you have to know that nothing good is going to come from that. Rachel: Yeah. Yeah, that's a miscalculation on his part. Kate: Yeah. Again, assuming that he knew, which is what makes sense to us. Rachel: Yeah. Alright, so now we're in an Elias chapter, and we get confirmation that Elias has been dissatisfied in the bedroom ever since Ary walked in on his threesome. He can't get Fera out of his mind. And as he stands in his private shower, we get the only true spicy scene of the book as Elias pleasures himself in the shower, imagining everything he would do to Fera. As he comes all over his shower wall, he groans, What the fuck? He's frustrated because apparently he came harder than he had in months at just the thought of her. I'm glad we got this scene because I just can't believe we didn't get any Gavin Smyth solo scenes in either book, whether Kate: Mm. Rachel: jerking it in the woods during his trip to Brinnea with Ary, or just thinking about her during the flashback scenes. Kate: Agreed. And I mean I'll I'll take whatever spice I can get. You know that. But I did enjoy seeing a fuckboy like Elias have to kind of confront actual thoughts and feelings for once. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: And that was fun. Rachel: Yeah, yeah, that was fun. He's feeling more than just attraction to Fera, but frustrated because fucking anyone other than his queen was supposed to be only fun for him, nothing more. And we get this foreboding line. No, that Brinnean was a godsdamn witch. This line is so concerning at this point in the book because it seems like Elias could really turn on Ary at this point. They forged this unlikely alliance, but Elias trusts no one, especially a woman who is an outsider and who won't submit to him. And he can't get out of his mind. And yes, we no, we don't actually see him turn on her, but as you're reading that this the first time, that's the process that was happening, at least in my mind. Kate: Yeah, no, I agree because this this was making me think like, okay, he's getting really frustrated at the fact that he likes her and she's Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: like rejecting him. And it just made me think about that bullshit reality that we exist in that men are afraid that women will laugh at them or reject them, and women Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: are afraid that men will kill them. And So that's a situation that Ary finds herself in a lot. but Rachel: Yeah. Kate: especially here, where like Elias has all this power, and you see him getting worked up and frustrated at the situation Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: with Ary, and she's, you know, again, at this point, still rejecting him. And who knows what could happen with that? Because we don't know that Rachel: Yeah. Kate: much about Elias at this point. And what we do know is Not all that great. Rachel: That he has really shitty friends. Kate: He has really shitty friends. He does not protect the people in his ranks very well, especially the women. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: you know, so like like I don't I'm not surprised that you felt that way at this point because he really could have have, you know, flipped on her. Rachel: Yeah, and it's really also the specific word witch how many times have we seen in books and history men being attracted to women? And as you said, either the women reject them or for whatever reason, that's not an option for them. And then it becomes like their life mission to end this woman. It was even one of the storylines in One of the practical magic books we covered in magic lessons. And like the origin, really. Yeah. Kate: Yeah. Yeah. No, it's it's a very unfortunate reality that women live with of you know, being afraid to reject men because they could turn on them at any time. Rachel: Yeah. Alright, so now we're back in an Ary chapter, present day, and Eli and Ary are setting off on their mission, but not before Sophia Bruta stops Ary to tell her what she really thinks of her. And Ary handles this hilariously, simply smirking and telling Sophia, we'll see, when she claims that Eli will fuck and chuck her. you know that this just got under Sophia's skin. People like this just Kate: Mm-hmm. Rachel: want a reaction and Ary refused to give it to her. Ary and Eli set off on one horse, but Ary insists on sitting behind him, which is, of course, not in the spirit of the one horse trope. Kate: Maybe Elias still enjoyed it though. Like sometimes big men like being the little spoon. Rachel: I mean I think he still did enjoy it. He like chuckled to himself when she got on the back and then when she would like fall asleep despite her best efforts not to and like lean on him, he would smirk. Kate: Mm. Rachel: So we learn that Draven Finch's mother was a messenger that went missing four years ago. When Finch abandoned the barracks and Eli searched his belongings, he found letters between Molochai and Finch claiming that Molochai had his mother. Eli believes that Isaiah Cross discovered that Finch was communicating with slash potentially working with Molochai, and that's why Finch killed him. Since Finch visits the spot his mother went missing from every year, That is where Eli and Ary are going on their mission. Ary uses the opportunity for a little Q&A, and we learn that they kept the queen hidden in the north because until recently, Molochai didn't travel there. However, Simeon believes that Molochai could sense the gods awakening in Ary, which is why he and his Insidions have been pressing north. Kate: So this was interesting because remember in Tovik when everyone was so confused and trying to find out why the bomb went off there when there was supposedly no way that Molochai could know that Ary was there? Like if he could Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: censor power and they knew that that was a possibility, then wouldn't they have known that that was like the motive for that attack? Rachel: You're saying wouldn't Simeon have known? Kate: Right. Or even just Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: the army, I I guess the people there the people there might not have been as like informed of, you know, Molochai's advances and things like that. But I don't know, it just seemed like there was a lot of mystery around the bombing and the timing of it and things, but this seems like a pretty clear cut, like, well, yeah, he could sense her power. Rachel: Right, I definitely agree. I think they've been pushing further north because of Ary. I just don't know when Simeon shared that information with Elias. maybe that's something they figured Kate: Right. Rachel: out after that bombing. Kate: That's true. Rachel: During the summer months, they ensure that each town has guards present because that is when attacks are most likely. This bothers Ary because she's seen the direct results of a winter attack like we just described. So where is this misinformation coming from? Kate: Maybe some of the Molochai spies that are in Eli's ranks. Rachel: Maybe, but they I think Elias is aware that there are attacks in the winter. He obviously knows that these attacks happened. So I think it's like I don't know why they're pulling back, whether it's just that they do not have enough people. I don't know what the reason is, but obviously Simeon and Elias are just like deciding to say that the store I feel like they've just decided this is the line. This is the line that we're gonna go with, that it's more present in that it's more common in the summer. Kate: I mean, it would line up with Simeon's kind of just his his general messaging of trying to make it seem like they're they're they're so in control, nothing to worry about, Rachel: It's it's Simeon's MO Yeah. Kate: you know, the reason that we don't ward these areas is because we don't need to, or the reason that we don't have soldiers there is because we don't need to, not because we can't. Rachel: Yeah. Yeah, not because I don't have enough power to protect every single town. Kate: Right. So yeah, it maybe it's just part of Simeon's attempt to stranglehold the control. Rachel: I also wonder if there's something to do with the months or like the actual months of the year. Cause I know we theorized around like something happening with solstice. Like I wonder if there's certain times of year that they're like, this is a more important, like magical moment. I don't know. Kate: Like like magic is stronger during certain parts of the year. Rachel: Yeah. Kate: Maybe. Rachel: I don't know. Molochai likely knows the location of the caves, but they are protected by the wards, which is concerning, especially since Ary can feel the wards becoming weaker. Despite her best efforts not to touch him, Ary falls asleep leaning against Elias. Oopsies. And that night when they make camp, things get complicated when Eli is bitten by a poisonous snake. And Ary is going to have to suck the venom out to cover up her use of her healing magic. So, would we call this like sexy venom sucking? Kate: I feel like maybe you're grasping for a trope here. I don't I don't know that this is one. Rachel: Well, I think it I think the trope is she heals him. Kate: Yeah, I think so. Rachel: Ha ha ha. Kate: I don't I don't think we've seen enough instances of sexy venom sucking for that to be the line. Rachel: The vomit-inducing experience of sucking someone's blood, combined with the weakening effects of using Viridian's magic, are immediately obvious as Ary becomes woozy. Elias is impressed by how she wraps his bandage, and here we get a bit of a nurse patient, she heals him trope. So it's described as Ary placing Eli's right knee between her breasts so that she can wrap the wound around his arm. Which confused me because I assume he was sitting against a tree with his leg folded up. But why would she do that? Why wouldn't she just go to the side of him? Kate: I don't know. I just appreciate it when someone uses their tits as tools. Think it's resourceful. Rachel: Yeah, but she's the like she describes it as like, I don't know what else to do. This is so unfortunate. Kate: Well, it worked out. I think it was fine. Rachel: Yeah. As Ary lies on her sleep mat, Elias becomes uncomfortable with the silence and reveals a secret. He thinks Simeon is keeping things from him, and he doesn't understand why Simeon didn't kill the butcher when he took the queen. Finally, our boy is starting to think. Kate: Amazing what he's capable of when he stops shooting his brain cells out of his dick for like a few minutes. Rachel: Elias becomes flirty, and when Ary turns him down again, they reveal some truths. Ary has never slept with anyone, at least not in this lifetime. And Elias, fueled by something in his flask, admits he uses sex as a distraction. His entire life has been planned out for him. He's known of the queen's whereabouts for three years, but has been preparing his entire life for her. Sex helped him have fun and relieve the constant pressure. So I wonder what backstory Simeon gave Elias, because Elias knows he's been groomed to be Ary's commander and husband his entire life. But he only learned about her location three years ago. So where did he think she was? We never really learn if he knew she was asleep for 400 years. yes, later on he is surprised that she wakes up with her with no memories. He is surprised by that. But we never actually learn if he knew that she was asleep for 400 years. But since he's older than Ary, technically, it implies he had to know that piece. Because otherwise, how could he have been raised his whole life for somebody who didn't even exist when he was born? Kate: Well, the prophecy. Rachel: Good point. That's right. So he still believes the prophecy. Kate: Yeah. Yes. Yes. But I still really want to know what Elias thought that her reality was, because it seems like he believed that Philip and Elowen raised her and she just like whether he believes that they were like her real parents or not, I don't really know. But it seems like like he was under the impression that she just led a sheltered life in. The isolated Northern Territory. But if that's the case, then what excuse did they give him for making him wait three years to bring her to the caves? if he found out her location three years ago, like what is it just that they were waiting for her to come of age? Because three years ago Ary would not have been of marrying age, technically? Like, I I just don't know what the purpose of not telling him. that she lost her memory too. Like I feel like that would be a very helpful, important piece of information to know about someone that you're meant to marry. Rachel: Right. I think he was under the impression, which is accurate, that they were doing it to protect her from Molochai. So that she was sa like he Kate: Right. Rachel: says she was safer there. So I don't know if he has the full context of they were actively suppressing her powers. He definitely feels guilt over when he thinks that she's dead, he feels a ton of guilt over the fact that the end of her life was desolate as she was mourning her brother. And father. but yeah, I de I do have questions, especially because he is so smart and like he's so in some scenarios, he's really able to like pick people apart. Like, even at the beginning of the book, Kate: right Rachel: he's like Gemma literally just looked at the wall for a second and he's like, She's lying. Kate: Mm-hmm. Yeah, so like I I'm just trying to imagine, like, best case scenario, things had gone as they were planned. Elias meets her as he's intended to, you know, Gemma brings her to him at the caves like they were supposed to. They meet, and like what And and he just has to like she she's just gonna tell him that he she has no memories and she's just gonna like reveal all that herself and I dun I don't know. I'm just like Rachel: Well well no, the plan I believe the plan was to take her to Simeon first. I think that was Simeon's plan. Kate: No well she was supposed to go directly to the caves. She wasn't supposed to meet Simeon somewhere. Rachel: right, that's that was Smyth's lie. Kate: Yeah. Rachel: But don't you think that Sm Simeon would have been at the caves? Kate: I mean, yeah, probably, but still, like she would have met with Elias right away, I assume. Like, once Rachel: Yeah. Kate: she got to the caves, I don't think that they would have been like separate I don't know. I mean, obviously we don't Rachel: Yeah. Kate: get to see any of that, but I'm just trying to think of like what was the scenario going to be and like what was the purpose of them like keeping so much information from him or not giving him at least enough of the backstory so that he would kind of understand what state she was in when they met. I don't know. Rachel: Well, this again goes to, I think, our theory that Elias was just conjured by Simeon and he's thinking of him as my tool. And even if he wasn't conjured, let's say that he's just a normal person, that Simeon has groomed for Ary. I think he literally is like, this is my tool. I I don't think he's thinking what thoughts is this guy gonna have? Kate: Right. This guy has the thoughts that I put there. Rachel: Yes, yes. Kate: Yeah. Rachel: Elias continues to word-vomit his feelings. He should have been the one to retrieve Ary. He was horrified when he found out fucking Elowen abandoned her. And I was very glad to hear Eli using our name for her as well. And he Kate: Same. Rachel: And as I said, he was absolutely gutted that his queen spent the last five months of her life in mourning. And then Elias. makes a bad choice and makes another move and Ary turns him down again. Despite feeling attraction to him, only Gavin is in her heart. And we've seen it several times now. Ary has had the opportunity to hook up with Elias and she feels attraction, but she just won't betray Gavin like that. Kate: Yeah, and it it this is one moment again that made me think that maybe Ary is demisexual, to feel satisfied sexually, she needs to feel love or at least a deep emotional connection first. Cause we see that later too, you know, when she's like kind of trying to hook up with Eli, but she's just like feeling nothing and is just like devastated because she, you Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: know, is not in love with him and probably never will be. You know. Rachel: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think whatever label you want to put on it, she's obviously in love with Gavin. And therefore the idea of even considering another person is like not feasible to her. And we're returning to a Gavin flashback. So now it's 393 years ago, and Gavin is traveling to the desert region of southern Tugaf to find Molochai, who apparently lives in an extravagant black sand castle. I assume that it has to be black sandstone. But perhaps this is just some kind of Ursula magic at play. And as we get the tour, it's very like rock star chic. Like everything is shiny and black. And I'm, as I'm reading this, thinking like a BAM Margera or like a Travis Barker would really like it there. Kate: I do think that there are some methods to use like actual sand to build permanent structures. Like as long as you use the right kind of bindings, I think that it can act like a kind of concrete. Rachel: That's interesting. In the throne room, Gavin's deadbeat shadow dad appears in all his shadowy glory. And interestingly enough, Gavin senses Molochai's shadows whispering to him. Quote, incomprehensible but urgent and pleading, they beg to escape and destroy, just barely restrained by his grasp. Molochai is, of course, an asshole to him, and Gavin describes Shadows clouding his vision as he fights his urge to kill him. That certainly feels like a hint about his inherited shadow powers. Kate: Yeah, I have a feeling that most people don't hear the shadows speaking to them when they enter this place. So seems unique Rachel: Yeah. Kate: to Gavin. Rachel: Yeah. We learn more about Molochai's shadow magic, which apparently has excellent hearing because he says his shadows heard Gavin introduce himself to the guards outside of the castle. And I wonder if this gives us clues about how Uncle Simeon is seeing and hearing everything. Like perhaps he has light magic and that's how he's like spying on everybody. Kate: So it would be like like there's like an intricate network of light sources that gather information for him from long distances. Like something like like Rachel: I think so. Kate: a whisper down the lane of like like this light over here heard something. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: Like a like the tree roots thing where like the jungle is all connected through yeah, something like that. But it also kind of sounds like the shadows are sentient, which is like very creepy. Like they he Rachel: I think that's I think that's common in romantasy because in fourth Kate: I know. Rachel: wing, ga in fourth wing, Xaden can hear things through his shadows. Kate: Mm-hmm. So it's like because it's it's like it's not described as I heard it through my shadows. It's like my shadows heard you. Rachel: Yeah, I see what you're saying. Yeah, that is creepier. Kate: Yeah. Rachel: Yeah. But again, exactly what you're describing. If Molochai can hear through the shadows in the same way is Simeon manipulating the light. I don't know. Kate: Maybe Rachel: I don't know. Maybe not, but I there's something he has to have some kind of creepy magic that's allowing him. Kate: I I really I know. I really want to know what it is. because it is creepy because f as far as we know, he's a pretty good distance from Ary every time that they interact that way. so, you know, like what Rachel: You think he just has a magic eight ball? Kate: Maybe. Rachel: Or like an enchanted mirror. He seems like the kind of creep that would have an enchanted mirror. I feel like I could see that happening. Kate: He does. Yeah. Rachel: But then you would need like mirrors in other places, I think, because I think that's how they work. Well, I guess they can work whatever way they work in this in this world. Kate: I don't know. I've seen I mean in fairy tales and things we've seen a magic mirror that like remember when when Belle uses the mirror Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: to see her father in the woods, like all scared and alone? There were no Rachel: yeah. Yeah. Kate: mirrors in that in those woods, so Rachel: Okay, well I like to think that Kate: Ha ha ha. Rachel: Simeon, as he's like working on his hair, because I do imagine he has like Kate: Like a quaff. Rachel: like a quaff, yeah. so as Simeon's quaffing his hair, he is looking to see what everybody's up to that day. And then he's talking to his magic eight ball on the side as well. Kate: Yeah. my gosh. Like Simeon would have was it like in in Batman the the whole like display in the Batcave of all of the different screens surveilling the entire city? Yeah. Rachel: Ugh yes. Yeah. Yeah, no. yeah, Simeon Kate: Creep. Rachel: and all of his flock cameras. Kate: Yeah, exactly. Fucking creep. Rachel: Yeah. We don't learn much about Gavin's mother here, but we do get a description of her. Blue eyes, black hair, a thin beauty with long legs. Unsurprisingly, she sounds beautiful. And while we know that Molochai raped her, we also have our thoughts on whether Gavin's mom was potentially a god or a descendant of Nyxar, and that's why he targeted her. And this description of her here is very much in line with what we know about Nyxar's description. And the colors associated with that god, even the blue like the blue eyes stood out to me. Kate: Mm-hmm. Rachel: And then here's a line that may support our theory. Quote, she had some spirit at first, though she was willing enough when she understood the consequences. Kate: So I've heard other creepy men describe a woman fighting for her life as a woman, quote, with spirit. And it makes me feel sick. There's a Rachel: Yeah. Kate: particularly nasty scene in the movie Ever After, which was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I loved that movie. And this Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: scene always grossed me out so much when she's sold to that creepy old man. And Rachel: Ugh. Kate: he says, like, I need a young lady with spirit. And he's like all close and like spitty, and it's so fucking gross. And this just like gave me those vibes so much. Rachel: Yeah, that is gross. But I was more so like, and you're totally spot on with that. But I was Kate: Yeah. Rachel: more so interested in what the consequences were. Because reading it from the perspective of how you've just described, it sounds like it's literally just a rapist describing holding a woman at knife point. But I wonder if it's more complex than that. Perhaps there were repercussions with the magic or like the world. the same way that Ary felt that she had to do certain things for Simeon because the world w could die. was there some similar thing that Gavin's mom was experiencing from Molochai? Kate: What what would have come from him attacking her that would be worth her submitting? Rachel: Like the fact that this kid need to happen. Kate: But we had also theorized that Molochai might not know about the kid. Rachel: I know, but now maybe I have a different theory. Kate: Okay. Okay. Just making sure that you're aware that those are at odds with each other. Rachel: Yeah, I I'm not consist I don't I don't care about consistency. We're just throwing a throwing some options out there. But Kate: Okay, okay, fair enough. Rachel: I mean another thing could be like maybe for maybe he ha somehow was like, I can steal your magic. Maybe I don't know. I don't know. I'm just I just that line just was interesting to me. Kate: Yeah. Yeah, it's true. Because yeah, you could like surface level it's just like the consequences were, I'm gonna kill you. Right. But it could be Rachel: Right. And I just I guess I'm just reading into it a lot b Yeah, it could be more because I'm just reading into it a lot because it's like okay, do this or I'm gonna kill you. But in theory he also killed her anyway. I mean I guess not. If we're reading if we're believing what Gavin believes, she just died from childbirth, but I don't know. Yeah, I Kate: But we're not necessarily believing that. I don't know. Rachel: think I think we've abandoned that. Kate: But but but just like every every reference to his mom is so vague Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: but just enough to be like, what's her deal? And that's why that's Rachel: Right. Kate: why we're spiraling and that's why we have so many conflicting theories. Rachel: Yes. In The Silversmith, Ary describes a tether with Gavin, which we think played a role in her resurrection. Perhaps Ary's soul-level connection with Gavin is also what prevents him from going full insidion, because we get several lines in this chapter to support the theory that Ary unknowingly saved Gavin by owning a piece of his soul. So, some examples: when Molochai's guards lead him into the castle. Gavin describes a feeling of evil crawling up him, wanting to take control. And we get this line quote, evil wanted me, but if she was in my heart, it couldn't have me. Not fully. And then when Gavin makes his fairy deal with Molochai, we get another, even stronger clue. I felt the oath snap into place and my soul break into pieces. I mourn the loss of each piece, even though the strongest one. Would always survive in this world as long as she existed. I had given it to her along with my heart the first moment I saw her. With her, it would stay sound asleep, safe wherever she was. This made me think of the dream that Ary had in The Silversmith, where she described her soul as several disjointed pieces. Kate: Yes. Yes. That's exactly what it sounded like. she described the pieces of her soul though as scattered all over the place. So Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: I 100% believe that one of those pieces is almost certainly with Gavin. But where are the others? Are they with the Selvaren? Like the different pieces Rachel: Great question. Kate: of her soul that are the gods? I don't know. But I also want to go back really quick because you used a term you called it Gavin's fairy deal. And I don't think we've met any fairies in the story. I don't think that we're going to. So what it can you describe that term for me? Because I don't know that everyone might be aware of what what you're talking about. Rachel: Okay, and I apologize if anybody's been confused because I think I've used it in reference to Simeon and Molochai before. and yeah, I I'm I think I've used it before in this series, but essentially in romantasy and fantasy, the rules with fairies are that you really sh shouldn't make a deal with them. Or if you do, you need to be very careful about the way the deal is worded because fairies are tricky and they're gonna trick you. And that is exactly what happened to Gavin. Exactly what happened to Gavin. He thought he was making one Kate: Yes. Rachel: deal, but the words meant something else. Kate: Molochai, that tricksy little fairy bitch. Rachel: Yes, yeah. So whenever I call it a fairy deal, that's what I'm referring to. And I think that Simeon made one as well. And I think that Molochai made one as well. I think we just haven't seen them yet. Kate: Mm-hmm. Yep. Rachel: Because typically in stories where they happen, there's not just one. there's examples of other ones too too. Kate: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Well, because in in a reality where these kinds of blood oaths and binding agreements can be made, there's bound to be like a whole spider web of nasty consequences whenever they're Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: they exist, you know. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Exactly. Kate: But yeah, back to the soul pieces though. I do really want to know where the other pieces of Ary's soul are. Cause I feel like that's gonna be a big deal. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I'm so torn on it because like she doesn't seem like someone she seems like a whole person. You know what I mean? Kate: Yeah, I mean most of the time we do see her like most of the time it seems like she's a whole person when she's with Gavin. Rachel: Mm, good point. Kate: But when she's away from him, I definitely see, you know, she like in later chapters, she starts to go back into her like her depression. She's feeling numb and not herself. so maybe with Gavin, when her soul is more whole, she feels like herself, but 'Cause the way that Gavin describes it is like the biggest part of his soul. what is it? The the strongest part of his soul survives in her. So even if her s the rest of her soul is scattered, the strongest part of it, if that exists in Gavin, then it would make sense that she feels more whole when they're together. Rachel: That makes sense. That makes sense. And why she was so weak at the beginning of the Silversmith. I there's so many things that made her weak at the beginning of the Silversmith, but that would just add to it. Alright, so we're back in Ary's POV, and it's the morning after her heart-to-heart slash Eli's failed attempt to make out with Ary again. And Eli apologizes for his advances and insists that Ary call him Elias or Eli, what all his friends call him. So maybe some growth here, like he knows he was shitty. Kate: I mean, I guess acknowledgement of the problem is step one, but there's a lot of steps after that. Rachel: Ha ha ha. Soon after, they find Finch, and in a scene straight out of a Western movie, Ary jumps from the horse she's sharing with Eli to Finch's horse and takes him down so Elias can stab him with a needle of sleeping potion. They tie him up and bring him back to the barracks. Elias calls everyone to the courtyard, announces Finch's crimes, and sentences him to death by Ary's hand. Ary finally reaches into the spoke to access Effusia's power and eases Finch's fear and pain. She knows his crimes, but he was doing it for the love of his mother, and she wishes to show him mercy. Just as she's about to make the killing blow, she turns to Elias and tells him that Finch doesn't need to die. Quote, a life for a life kills us all eventually. I choose to be merciful. Any other way is yours, not mine. And as she leaves, she hears Elias complete the execution. Thank God she didn't go through with it, since if they couldn't forgive this guy, you know they won't be able to forgive the butcher in book three. Kate: I know, but I think it's just setting up another conflict for her. Like since Elias does go through with it, I think it's going to put them at odds again when she tries to bargain for Gavin's life and Elias wants to execute him. Rachel: I'm sure that they're going to be at odds. And I guarantee that's going to be a major conflict in the next book. but either way, I think it was a good move that she didn't do it. I mean, she didn't believe in it. She didn't want to kill him. And she was already this Kate: Yeah. Yeah, no there Rachel: outsider. It would have, at the in the moment, it would have made her more of an outsider there. First of all, because what right does she have to kill some to execute somebody? And second of all, when she reveals herself finally. That's the first thing that people know about her. Ary heads to the showers, the one place in the fortress where she finds refuge, then cuddles up in Gavin's sweater for bed. I didn't catch this line until the reread, and wow, it just makes what happens to her in the showers so much worse. Kate: Same. Yeah, I didn't catch that the first time either and just yikes. Rachel: So we're back in a Gavin POV 391 years ago, and Gavin learns after the fact that the only binding words in a blood oath are those spoken by both parties. So Gavin accidentally agreed to kill any name that Molochai gives him. And he describes it as a compulsion. The blood oath created a connection that allows Molochai to speak directly into Gavin's mind. So a little bit of a theory here. I assume that Molochai has some kind of a blunt bond with his Insidions, also allowing him to speak into their minds as well. Kate: I think the more mind speak we get in this series, the more that I'm convinced that Gavin and Ary have this ability. So that was my first thought when I heard that Molochai can speak into Gavin's mind. I'm like, well, certainly then Ary and Gavin will be able to do that. But I think that that your theory makes sense. And I think that we had kind of touched on that in the Silversmith Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: as well when we were thinking about like what actually motivates the Insidions, because Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: Seems like the Blood Oath is a great way to get an army of sycophants that literally can't say no. Rachel: Yeah. Yeah. Also, I know I theorized that maybe there was something other than just evil driving Molochai, but I think I need to walk that back because when I was rereading this chapter, I realized just how definitely evil he is. Because Gavin describes Molochai as forcing him to kill the men first, so the women and children would watch on in terror before their own demise. And That's just disgusting. we know he orders him to kill men, women, children. I I just I don't know. I hearing that, I was like, okay, he's just a bad guy. And then Gavin has another line that makes me think that he inherited Molochai's evil power, even if the goodness in him typically overpowers it. Quote All I knew was that evil and bloodlust had always lingered within me, now my father wielded it at his will. Kate: Yeah, definitely concerning for Gavin. that he's it's just seems like he's all gonna have this constant war internally between these two sides of him. The goodness that Ary brings out in him, and then and maybe maybe that he got from his mother. We don't know. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: and then this evil that is Molochai, because yeah, there's no fucking way that this dude is getting a redemption art. He's straight up evil. Like even if he's not fully in control of everything because of whatever deal he might have made with whatever god or powerful being he bargained with. But like remember that he went back to the source and asked for more. So even if he made a bad deal to begin with, then he was like, This is worth it. I don't like I'm happy. I don't mind Rachel: Yeah. Kate: these consequences. I don't mind being evil. I want more. So he Rachel: Yeah. Kate: went back and made another deal. Rachel: Yeah. Yeah. I also wonder, it's just so he's so evil. I actually wonder if Molochai specifically bargained away his soul for more power, if that's what the trade was. Kate: Maybe. I mean he certainly wasn't using it. He's like, This is useless to me, so you can have it. Rachel: Simeon finds Gavin standing in a village of dead bodies, covered in blood. He's horrified to learn of the deal Gavin made with Molochai and tells him Ary will never love him again. Kate: Simeon is just such a manipulative asshole. His fighting style is like a mean girl in middle school, like going straight for your emotions first, since he knows that he's physically weaker. Rachel: I really think that at this point he's like, okay, I messed up because now I have this guy as like the biggest monster opponent that I can imagine, right? Like nothing can stop him. He just killed an entire village. How is that even possible? You know? And Kate: Mm-hmm. Rachel: I think he's like just trying to essentially force him to take that poison. Like I think that's what his goal is at this point. Kate: Do you think he knows about the poison or knows that Gavin would kill himself? Rachel: Well I don't even think I don't think he has the poison yet. I don't think he even has the poison yet because Ary's asleep, but I I think that he's essentially trying to goad him into just giving up. Kate: Yeah, of if your only existence or only reason for existence is to get Ary back, she will never take you back now, so give up. Yeah. Rachel: Yes. Yeah. Kate: Well, how did that work out for him? Rachel: Back in Ary's POV, Ary awakes to Mavic and Mina's concerned faces. She's sick and has been sleeping for 16 hours. And they wake her up because she needs some water at this point. Why is she so ill? Ary assumes it was healing Eli combined with sucking out the snake venom. Perhaps she swallowed some. But she also is confused because she thought that she felt fine by the next morning. So I wonder, could it have been finally tapping into Effusia's power? Or did someone poison her? Or is this somehow a result of Gavin's death? I think there's something else at play here. Kate: I think it could be a combination of things, but my guess would be that it has more to do with healing Eli and Gavin's death than the Venom or Effusia's power. Since Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: this is like right after Gavin died, I feel like that impact would be at its greatest at this point. Rachel: Yeah, I also wonder, so when Eli apologized in the morning, he refilled her canteen for her. And I don't think that he intentionally poisoned her, but I wonder if there's something in that water that affects her powers. Like we know that magic comes from somewhere. in the land. they use this phrase that it was beneath the earth when Simeon and Molochai made their deal. And I wonder if potentially there's something in the water where they were that could affect her powers. Kate: Maybe. It didn't cross my mind at all. Rachel: Well, the refilling her canteen stood out to me. That bothered me. Cause that was like the one thing that Gavin taught her. Kate: Yeah. Yeah. I mean also the night before when they were talking, like were they was Eli drinking something? Rachel: Eli was, but Ary wasn't. Yeah. Kate: Okay. All right. 'Cause I was gonna say, like, Eli was definitely acting drunk, but he actually was. Okay. Rachel: He yes, he and he was drunk. He was drinking from his flask. Mm-hmm. Kate: Right. Rachel: Ary was not. So she's not she's not Kate: I don't know. Right. Rachel: it's not a sixteen hour hangover that took her magic. Kate: Yeah. Rachel: Mina and Mavic tell Ary that training was canceled for the day, and some of the men recently returned with positive news, and they've been celebrating all day. That night, Ary musters enough strength to take a shower but hears heavy footsteps. When she attempts to tap into her powers, she can't reach them. Despite calling out that the stall is taken, Micah and Hendrix Sharpe, Otis Stoll, and Alec fucking Gerard open the door to her shower stall. This is not good. Ary can't reach her powers, and in her sort of sick haze, she forgot her knife. So she's weaponless and weak. And Gerard tells her they're celebrating. The butcher of Nyrida is dead. And this was truly shocking to read the first time. That specific line. Kate: Yeah. Yeah. Because like I I will admit, once I learned that he was dead, I did not believe that he would stay dead, but I also was not expecting him to die. You know? So Rachel: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Kate: like yeah, reading this the first time and especially hearing it from them, you Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: know, I thought that we were gonna see like if if we would get a death like that, I thought that we would see it. Rachel: Yeah, yeah. Agree. Gerard describes the butcher's scars and tattoos, confirming it was him, despite Ary's disbelief. And this is so painful. She's literally getting the worst possible news of her life while standing naked and wet in front of four very dangerous men. Also, fuck Ezra, because I guarantee he's the one who gave those specific descriptions of Smyth. Kate: Yeah, you're probably right. Rachel: 'Cause everybody else Gemma definitely wouldn't have. I don't know. I guess Caz and Finn could have unknowingly done that, but I think it was Ezra. Kate: Well, he's the one that would have the most motive to do that. Rachel: Mm-hmm. And then we get the most shocking line. Quote, Molochai was right. Our queen is quite difficult to resist. Apparently, after their queen died, they switched sides and teamed up with Molochai. And quote, when he revealed you were still alive, we'd already realized the many benefits of aiding the enemy. I'm sorry, what could those benefits possibly be? Many? are the Insidions getting power from Molochai somehow? Kate: I would think that they must be, especially if they have some kind of blood bond with him, like they would be getting something from that. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: it would also benefit Molochai for his forces to be kind of like supercharged in some way. Plus, maybe they're getting like other just unsavory benefits, like women to abuse. Like given the disgusting nature of these men, I think that would count as a big bonus for them. Rachel: Yeah, that's true. Gerard reveals that they buried Gavin 10 feet in the ground, and they won't be staying long enough for Elias to punish them for whatever they're about to do. Because they need to report this interaction to Molochai, who told them to break but not kill Ary. Alec Gerard then gropes and licks Ary, then pushes her to the shower floor, and the men began to kick her. They force her legs open, and this is very concerning. And then they cut the words slut and whore on the inside of her thighs. When they leave, Ary's embarrassed to feel relieved that they didn't do more. and this is horrifying. And like as the reader, yes, agree with Ary. Thank God they didn't do more, but they still really truly degraded her in such an awful, like humiliating way. Kate: The scene was really, really hard to read. It was it was brutal. And yeah, I mean I I felt the same way too. I was like thinking that we were gonna get even further assault here, Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: but it didn't really make it much better that they didn't. Rachel: Ary wakes up in a warm bed in a cabin by the sea with Gavin. She apologizes for telling him to go in Brinnea, and they tell each other, I love you. They both lament that they never have enough time together, but Gavin insists she needs to wake up. So we get some hints about the depth of their connection, adding to the clues that we have about Ary and Gavin's soul level connection. There's a quote from Ary that says, My lost, reckless soul had attached itself to him when he came for me in Warrich. And Gavin says, My soul will find yours again, I swear it. Ary wakes up back in the showers of the barracks and forces herself to stand, and we get this epic female rage. line. Quote, you will fight, you will survive, and you will apologize for nothing. and here we see exactly how far Ary has come since the Silversmith. When the ginger creep attacked her in the Silversmith, Ary immediately gave up and Gavin was desperate to bring back the fight in her the next day. Begging her to want to survive. Here, Ary wanted to fight, but couldn't, right? She couldn't reach her power. But still, afterwards, she manages to pick herself up off the shower room floor and is determined to fight back. And it feels like we are truly about to enter her feminine rage era. Kate: was so glad to see this shift in her. And Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: I've said it before, but just this this awakening of her will and her determination is just so awesome to see. And she's Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: so strong and she's so determined. She's already proven that the these men failed in their mission to break her. Right. Like if Rachel: Yeah. Kate: that was their goal to break her for Molochai, they failed. She's not broken. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: But I also have a question that I did not put in this outline, but do you think that Ary and Gavin in this little dream that she had were connecting in another realm? Rachel: Yes. I think this is exactly the same as when she went Kate: Yes, me too. Rachel: to the cabin in the Silversmith. I think it's the exact same. Kate: Yes, yes. Rachel: Yeah. Kate: That's what I thought. Okay. Rachel: Yeah. All right. Well, that note of feminine rage brings us to the end of our coverage for today. So, Kate, do you want to count off our tropes and theories? Kate: Yep. Alright, so our tropes for this episode, we got the Reverie Ball, so a ball with some great fashion. Love that. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Kate: We got a Where is My Wife? Rachel: Yes. Kate: some solo shower sex. We're still counting it because we we do not get Rachel: We're counting it. Kate: very many we we don't get many spicy scenes in this book, so we're counting that one. forced proximity. A one horse. I'll count it as well. It wasn't a traditional one horse, but we'll take it. we've got binding blood oaths, or fairy deals, as Rachel calls them. we got a she heals him, and we've got lost powers. Rachel: All right. Some good ones. Kate: Good list, as always. And then a quick recap of some of our theories. again, we had a few half-baked ones in this episode, but all right, so the theory around Ary's origins, again, we already had the theory that she was she's a god or a demigod, but this episode, we think maybe she could be a child of Aesta and Helios. it was an offhand comment, but we don't really believe in offhand comments. we believe that everything is literal. So Rachel: Mm-hmm. Yep. Kate: another theory, Gavin's mother was a god or a demigod, potentially related to Nyxar, which is why Molochai targeted her. And again, we went into that in a little bit more detail in last episode. And then we have Molochai has some kind of blood oath or blood blood bond with his Insidions and can speak into their minds and control them in that way. Molochai bargained away his soul for more power when he like went back to the source of power for more. And then as always, Ary and Gavin. are w now we're calling them soulmates. We were calling them fated mates. Same kind of theory, but we think like literal two halves of one soul, soulmates. Rachel: Yep. Yep. All right. Well, thank you for joining us for today's episode. We know this was a tough section of the book to revisit, but join us next week as we really see Ary's feminine rage in action and the reveal of her true identity. Kate: I can't wait. That's gonna be a good Rachel: Yeah. Kate: one. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to drop us a comment or a review. We love hearing your theories and reactions, especially when we have some of these half baked theories. What do you think? Do you think we're on Rachel: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Kate: to something? Let us know. Rachel: Yeah, help us cook Kate: Ha ha ha. Rachel: All right, see you next week. Kate: Bye.