Chapter 1 was a whirlwind of events that immediately captured my attention. The character dynamics and tensions within the building urgency of survival left me with a racing heart and sweaty palms. First let’s get into Violet. Violet is an immediately likable protagonist. Her strength lies in her knowledge of the world around her, paired with her awareness and care for people. She sees the value in life and emotion, which is seen with Dylan’s death. Dylan’s sentiment towards his lover back home is quoted by Violet as “…the most romantic thing [she’s] ever heard” (Yarros 17). We see that Violet yearns for a relationship and recognition from her mom, but she was seemingly raised by her introspective father, who was a scribe until he passed away from heart failure 5 years before the story begins.
I love the first chapters of fantasy novels, because the world building process is so fascinating to me. The first chapters, or even novels, of fantasy series are chalk full of important information. This book follows suit. I’m extremely interested in the concept of their magical powers, or signets, that are channeled through them by their bonded dragons. We know Violet’s mom is a storm wielder, which means that she can control the weather.
Along with the metaphysical elements of the text, we are introduced to the history of the unnamed continent. Navarre, the area where the story begins, has had previous conflict with another country in a period called the Tyrrish Rebellion. We learn that the conflict happened at least over a decade before the story begins, and that it was a tragedy that caused a lot of tension and loss. It’s hard to tell right now who the “good guy” is, but it’s safe to say that damning a group of children with a permanent visible signifier of their parent’s wrongdoings doesn’t usually allude to you being seen as morally valid. It’s giving…Nazi Germany.
I am not loving Violet’s mom at the moment. She seems to have the parental script of “you’re going to do it because I said so,” which is a weird narrative to throw at your 20 year old daughter, but I assume there’s a method to her madness. Violet’s older sister, Mira is described as a younger version of their mom. She’s tough and brutally honest, but she has a soft spot for Violet. You can tell she’s genuinely invested in her success and survival, and they share many cute moments together before Violet gets in line, including Mira braiding her hair so it doesn’t get in the way. Another moment I enjoyed was when Mira gave Violet armor made from scales from her dragon, Teine. We can also conclude that Violet was closest with her dad, who fostered and shared her love for books and knowledge. One of the books she is reluctant to remove from her pack is a book of fables that her father read with her in her youth.
There is a lot of emphasis on Violet’s body. Despite Violet’s physically small and fragile stature, she is quick and knows how to use a dagger. She is described as short, with brown hair that fades into a bright silver, light eyes that vary between blue and green, and having weak joints that break and dislocate frequently. Despite this, she is determined to survive and not make her sister an only child. She has tenacity from the beginning, and her courage is enchanting and inspiring.
We see more of her positive qualities with her kindness to Rhiannon, a woman she meets in line on the way to the parapet. We see her immediately take advantage of the situation by giving Rhiannon her riding boot to help her grip onto the parapet. It’s hard to tell if she’s following her sister’s advice by making alliances, or if she is ignoring that advice and making a friend immediately. Maybe a little of both.
We know she values relationships in her life, since she’s known this mysterious character, Dain, who’s apparently been in her life since they were kids. The tension is ramped up when her sister tells her to seek him out, and Violet describes the conflicting feelings she has for Dain.
When Violet reaches the top of the stairs she meets Xaden Riorson, the son of the main figure fighting against Navarre in the Tyrrish Rebellion. This is the same guy that Mira suggested she stay away from. Violet has an immediate attraction to Xaden when she sees him for the first time. He’s tall, dark and handsome, not to mention a powerful 3rd year in the Riders Quadrant. As he notices her and Rhiannon’s mismatched shoes, we can only wonder if he’s seeing Violet how we are seeing her–kind and loveable–despite their Romeo and Juliet-esque conflict. In the midst of this tense moment as he realizes she’s the daughter of his sworn nemesis, Dylan slips and falls to his death on the parapet. Violet is horrified, but Xaden smiles and tells her she’s up next, suggesting that he won’t need to kill her since the parapet will do the job for him.
Xaden seems like an asshole, but this immediate, intense attraction towards him tells readers that he is going to be a love interest at one point or another. The tension and gut-wrenching death in this first chapter sets the tone for the series. This novel is going to be fucking sick, but Dylan’s death won’t be the worst thing Violet witnesses in her time at Basgiath. Despite her fear, she is certain that she’ll survive, and I admire her perspective on her situation. I’m excited for the journey!
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