#56: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into chapters 16–32 of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… things just went from unsettling to straight-up unhinged.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

We start picking up on something Rebecca literally warned us about—there’s a double meaning in the epigraphs—and suddenly EVERYTHING feels like a clue. Letters from Asher? Cryptic. Lilith’s unsent messages? Worse. And the deeper we go, the clearer it becomes… Violet has never been told the full truth. Not even close.

Meanwhile, enter: JEALOUS XADEN.

Because Halden is back, asking Violet out like nothing ever happened, and Xaden? Oh he handles it. Shadows, threats, slammed-against-the-wall energy… we are absolutely feral. But beneath the tension, there’s something darker building, because Xaden isn’t just protective anymore. He’s shifting.

And we need to talk about that shift.

His power is different. Stronger. Colder. Controlled… until it’s not. The gold flecks in his eyes? Gone. The way he reads Violet? Sharper. And when things go down in Deverelli… he doesn’t hesitate. At all.

Yeah. We’re not okay.

As the squad heads to the Isles, the vibes somehow get even weirder. No magic. No connection. No dragons communicating, except Violet and Tairn. And yet, for Xaden… it’s peaceful. Which is maybe the scariest part of all.

We meet Narelle, uncover more of Asher’s hidden plans, and everything we thought we understood about the gods gets reframed—because in the Isles, it’s not divine… it’s something else entirely.

Because according to the Isles?
It’s not divine.
It’s science. It’s alchemy.
And whatever is happening between Violet and Xaden… might be something entirely new.

Oh, and then there’s the temple.

Silver-haired priestesses. Six pillars. A goddess calling Violet to choose her path. And when Violet says, “I choose him”… something answers back.

Lightning. Power. A force she swears she didn’t summon.

So who did?

Because by the end of chapter 32, we’re left with one terrifying realization:

Xaden might be becoming the storm…
but Violet?

She might be something even more powerful.

We’re breaking down jealous Xaden (bless), the Deverelli chaos, the venin evolution, the growing “cure” theories, and the very real possibility that Violet’s destiny has been set in motion long before she ever knew it.

Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#55: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into the prologue and chapters 1–15 of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… something is OFF. Like… deeply, unsettlingly OFF.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

We pick up in the aftermath of absolute devastation, and immediately the vibes are wrong. Jesinia is translating everything, secrets are surfacing, and Andarna casually drops that she may have altered a venin by changing her scales?? I’m sorry—WHAT? If that’s true, that could change everything we thought we knew about defeating them.

Meanwhile, Violet is no longer saying “I will not die today”… it’s now “I will save him.” And that shift? It tells you everything. Because at the center of all of this chaos is Xaden—and the terrifying possibility of what he’s becoming.

Because let’s talk about it.
The pull of power.
The connection to the earth.
The fact that he can sense venin.

Yeah… we’re not okay.And things only get weirder from there. Venin are infiltrating Basgiath, targeting the weak, and we meet a mysterious silver-haired figure who can wield lightning?! I’m sorry—since WHEN can venin do that? And why does she feel… connected to Violet?

The worldbuilding is going absolutely feral again—ancient journals, hidden runes, missing truths about Navarre, and repeated mentions of “the six”… except now we know there’s actually a seventh. (Hi, Andarna??)

We also get MAJOR red flags across the board:
Brennan looks exhausted in a way that feels familiar…
Xaden is unraveling—emotionally and physically
And Violet’s mother?? The more we learn, the less anything makes sense.

Oh—and can we TALK about that unsent letter from Lilith? Because not only does she clock Violet’s poor taste in men (same), but it raises a million questions about her past, her knowledge, and what she’s been hiding this entire time.

On the political side, things are escalating fast. Violet is charged with treason, alliances are shifting, and Xaden is officially named Duke of Tyrrendor—which is terrifying now that he is venin.

And then there’s the magic.
Signets are getting rarer. Stronger. Stranger.
We’re hearing about once-in-a-generation powers appearing at the same time.
And the balance of magic? Yeah… that might be breaking.

By the time we hit chapter 15, the tension is unbearable. Because Xaden himself basically admits that if it came down to it… he would choose Violet over everything. Over the war. Over morality. Over everyone.

And if that’s not foreshadowing something absolutely devastating… I don’t know what is.

We’re breaking down all the early clues, the venin infiltration, the Andarna implications, and of course… the growing fear that Xaden might be slipping into something we can’t come back from.

Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#54: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 53–66 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… I don’t even know how to emotionally process what we just read. The reveals? The heartbreak? The absolute spiral we’ve entered?

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

We jump right back into chaos as the battle intensifies and new powers begin to emerge—hello Sloane and that RARE siphon signet?! The stakes are higher than ever as alliances start shifting, especially between Cat and Violet (did hell freeze over?), and tensions explode both on and off the battlefield.

But the real emotional gut punch? Violet and Xaden.

These two are barely holding it together as secrets continue to unravel, and when Violet finally asks the question we’ve ALL been waiting for… the answer changes everything. Trust is shattered, lines are drawn, and suddenly love isn’t the only thing at stake anymore.

Meanwhile, the worldbuilding goes absolutely feral. We’re talking wyvern, venin, hidden runes, ancient journals, and the horrifying realization that Navarre has NOT been telling the full story. Like… at all.

And then there’s General Sorrengail.

Something is off. The physical changes, the secrecy, the knowledge she’s been holding onto… we get MAJOR clues that there’s more to Violet’s mother than we ever realized—and we are diving deep into the theory that could change EVERYTHING.

As the final battle at Basgiath erupts, it’s pure chaos. Dragons falling, riders risking everything, sacrifices being made—and one moment in particular that will absolutely destroy you.

The wards are on the brink. The truth is out. And just when you think we might make it out alive…

we get hit with THAT ending.

Like… Rebecca?? Be so serious.

We’re breaking down ALL the major reveals, the emotional fallout between Violet and Xaden, and of course… our unhinged theories (including the Lilith Sorrengail situation because I have QUESTIONS).

Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#53: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 40–52 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… the tension? The betrayals? The absolute chaos? We are so deep in it.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

We pick up with the aftermath of everything shifting, Andarna’s wing isn’t fully healed, Brennan is alive and thriving under a new identity, and Mira officially joins the rebellion after a very justified punch to the face. Family reunions here are… aggressive.

Violet realizes she might know how to raise the wards, but when it fails, she makes a bold move: Tecarus. Enter a literal palace, luxury vibes, and Xaden dramatically reappearing like the shadow daddy he is… only for things to spiral when we learn Catriona is his ex—and Tecarus’s niece.

Cue tension, jealousy, and THAT dress moment, when Xaden takes one look at Violet and says, "that dress… you’re playing dirty, Violence.”

But things turn deadly fast when Tecarus forces Violet to prove her power… by unleashing a venin. Casual. She survives, but at a cost: an alliance forcing riders and fliers together.

And spoiler... they hate each other.

On the journey back, everything goes wrong. A trap is triggered, Luella falls, Ridoc is injured, and wyvern close in, confirming the venin now know everything. The war isn’t coming… it’s already here.

Back in Aretia, tensions explode. Cat and Violet finally throw down, emotions are manipulated, secrets about Xaden’s past come out—and just when Violet is about to lose control…

Xaden steps in. And this man makes a statement.

After breaking up the fight, he takes Violet straight to the throne and reminds her exactly where he stands: “My house. My chair. My woman.”

Meanwhile, the bigger picture comes into focus: venin rankings, runes, rebellion relics, and the terrifying realization that this war has been building for much longer than anyone thought.

Then Violet cracks the code. The wards were never about riders, they’re about dragons.

And just when she’s ready to act—Xaden returns from battle barely alive… and immediately knows she’s figured it out. The question is… are they already too late?

Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#52: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 27–39 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, and you guys… the emotional damage? The secrets? The chaos? We are officially in the deep end now.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

After the attack scare, Violet races to find Xaden, only to discover him completely fine and sparring like nothing happened… while she’s spiraling. What follows is an intense reunion where Violet finally lays her heart out, and while she still can’t say the three little words, she gives him three of her own: “I need you.” And let’s just say… the tension breaks.

But reality hits fast. The mission continues, and we meet Catriona—Xaden’s stunning, very not-over-him ex. The tension is immediate, and things escalate when we learn the truth about the luminary and the dangerous cost it would take to get it… a cost that centers around Violet.

Back at Basgiath, Violet finally tells her friends everything, and instead of betrayal, she gets loyalty. Together, they uncover a hidden vault tied to the First Six, leading to a high-stakes heist that ends in success… briefly.

Because Violet makes one fatal mistake—trusting Nolan.

She’s captured, cut off from Tairn, and thrown into a brutal interrogation where Varrish tries to break her, but she doesn’t. Somehow, Liam is there with her, keeping her grounded, until Dain steps in, sees the truth, and in a shocking turn… kills Varrish.

Chaos erupts. Xaden arrives. And in the aftermath, Violet takes her power back and for the first time, she and Xaden are fully aligned.

Then finally… he says it. He loves her!

But the truth about Violet’s mother changes everything, revealing deals and sacrifices that have been shaping her life all along. With secrets exposed, Violet shares the truth through Tairn, and dragons and riders choose sides, following her to Aretia.

And just when it feels like everything is shifting…

Andarna wakes up.

The war isn’t coming anymore—it’s here.

Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#51: This week on A Novel Bunch, we continue our deep dive, covering chapters 14–26 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, where Violet Sorrengail’s second year at Basgiath escalates from stressful to straight-up sinister. Because the real enemy might not be across the border… but inside the Riders Quadrant itself.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Riders Survival Course kicks off with a twist no one sees coming. Violet and her squad are drugged with an herbal concoction that severs their connection to their dragons and signets, forcing them to survive the wilderness like ordinary cadets. No lightning. No dragons. Just a forest full of hunters.

It’s supposed to be a test.

But when infantry cadets start dying, it becomes clear this “exercise” is something else entirely.

Back at Basgiath, the questions keep piling up. Why are professors suddenly capable of cutting riders off from their dragons? Why are historical records about wyvern mysteriously missing from the archives? And why does it feel like the leadership of Navarre is hiding something bigger than anyone imagined?

Jesinia might be an ally… or she might be another loose thread in a system designed to bury the truth.

Meanwhile Violet finally gets the chance to visit Xaden, only for Varrish to sabotage the reunion before it even begins. Punishments are piling up. Surveillance is tightening. And the message is clear: someone powerful wants Violet under control.

Or dead.

When Xaden and Violet finally reunite, the tension between them explodes. The chemistry? Still undeniable. The trust? Completely shattered.

He wants three little words.

She refuses to give them.

And if fixing Aretia’s failing wards means digging into forbidden knowledge about the First Six, Violet may be forced to risk everything—including the people she loves—to find the answers.

But the real danger arrives when Varrish drags Violet and her friends into interrogation.

Poisoned drinks. Brutal beatings. Dragons cut off. Secrets demanded.

And just when it feels like things can’t get worse…

Jack.
Freaking.
Barlow.

The cadet Violet watched die is suddenly alive again—and Nolan looks like a man who’s been trying to resurrect the impossible.

As the chapter closes, another attack hits the border. Mira’s unit is involved. Xaden’s post is under fire. And Violet runs across Basgiath with one terrifying thought in her mind:

If he’s dead, nothing else matters.

The second year isn’t just testing riders.

It’s breaking them.

Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#50: This week on A Novel Bunch, we officially begin Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros and Basgiath isn't the only thing that's changed. The wards are cracking. The dragons know more than they're saying. And Violet Sorrengail wakes up to a truth that rewrites her entire life.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Violet is alive. Brennan is alive. Aretia is real.

Venin exist. Wyvern exist. And the war Navarre denies is very, very real.

Instead of returning to Basgiath as a hero, Violet walks back in as a secret. One of only a few who know the truth. And knowing the truth? It’s heavier than any weapon.

She’s still in love with Xaden—obviously—but she’s trying very hard to convince herself she’s not. Because how do you trust the man who knew your brother was alive this whole time?

Brennan isn’t exactly offering comfort either. To him, Violet looks less like a sister and more like Xaden’s greatest weakness. Brutal.

Back at Basgiath, the second year begins, and it’s clear this year isn’t about survival. It’s about control.

Dragons are bonding less. Assassination attempts are rising. Interrogations are coming. And leadership has shifted in dangerous ways. Dain is Wingleader. Rhiannon is Squad Leader. And Violet’s circle is smaller than ever... five survivors from eleven.

Andarna? Twice her size. No more time-stopping. Fully in her teenage dragon era. Moody. Defensive. Perfect.

When a first-year assassin snaps Nadine’s neck in front of Violet, something inside her fractures. This isn’t random. This is targeted.

Colonel Aetos wants her dead. Varrish is circling. Letters are redacted. Students are disappearing. And the Riders Quadrant feels less like a school and more like a trap.

Xaden returns—finally—but distance and secrets still stand between them. He’ll earn her trust, he says… but only if she’s brave enough to ask the questions she actually wants answers to.

And then there’s one name that shifts the air entirely:

Catriona.

The first year is when some riders lose their lives.
The second year is when the rest lose their humanity.

And we’re only thirteen chapters in.

Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#049: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Xaden Riorson’s BONUS CHAPTER (Chapter 9) from Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros… and let’s just say, seeing the rebellion king’s POV? Life-changing. Jaw-dropping. Unwell.

Let's get into it, Bunchies!