Oh, good gracious! I just finished reading this Built to Break series 1-3 plus part 4 chapters 1 + 2 last night. It has happily entertained me for the last week, so thank you for both writing and sharing these plots. Overall, I found the story to be highly engaging--I was always eager to pick back up to see what would happen next. Not very much predictable, so it kept me guessing. Xaden's mother's part was definitely a new avenue of thought for me, her being involved with the venin in any way, and I do wonder how that will impact the rest of the story. I'm also interested in learning more about Violet and Malek's connection. I'm familiar enough with Critical Role and D&D not to be thrown by the idea of paladin's or champions or what have you. I do find it interesting you went with Malek and not Dunne, even knowing you were still in the process of reading Onyx Storm. (I'm hoping we will find out more about that in the next two books!) Death and not War, but then, your plot line does lend itself strongly towards Death. I'm enjoying learning more of your perception of the venin. Your characterization of Naolin is entertaining (and I can't help comparing his experience to what we learned in Onyx Storm) and rather aligned to the original story--kudo's to you for predicting/anticipating that. Your use of the gold dragons, the idea of the Barren's having their own riots, the hierarchy system of the venin, and their overall purpose of invading the rest of the Continent... what is it they want? What resources do the other three countries have that the Barrens needs? I can't imagine that it's just the magic? The magic doesn't replenish itself in the earth, does it? Yet they've left areas and pockets alone. They haven't completely sucked all of the Barrens dry... I just... struggle to understand the greed and need of some to control/own everything. I mean, anyone in upper management knows how much extra work it can be--especially if you don't have the right people to delegate--all the messy little problems that people expect you to fix, all the plans and projects that need your approval, and all the mistakes and screw ups that are blamed on you, whether you had anything to do with it or not. Ugh. Too much work and responsibility. Unless you're looking to get away from having anyone tell you what to do (which is a falsehood anyway--there's always someone who's going to tell you whether you can or can't or should or shouldn't do something...and it gets tedious having the blood scrubbed out or the bodies disposed of). All that brings me back to the question of what does the Venin Lord want and how will Xaden's connection play into that? Speaking of familial ties... What the fuck with the Sorrengail parents?? Okay, the idea of Papa Sorrengail using his baby as part of an experiment or research project, I can get behind that, but I think I struggle with the idea of him putting her in any actual harm--especially when she was still little. Make a deal with a venin? Sure, yep. Get his baby hurt? Yeah, I'm iffy on that. And if Lilith knew, why was she so okay with Violet being alone in the Archives with him so much? As much as I struggle understanding Asher's complicity, trying to understand Lilith's is... Yeah, that final betrayal really lost me. For a while there, I thought the unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage warnings would apply to her--the back story of her, Asher, and Varrish was intriguing. A good motivation for hating the guy, for sure, even if it was "an accident". And I can follow with the infatuation/being in love with someone enough to stick with them in the case of staying with Asher, let alone having children with him. Because, after the first time, it's more likely that each of the Sorrengail siblings were more likely planned than "oops" babies... A venin attack being the cause of Violet's condition both in hair and body is a reasonable track to follow. But I really struggle with how she can go from "everything I have ever done is for my children" to... that final Betrayal. I find myself questioning not only her motivation but also yours. Why destroy a character that so much effort had been invested in redeeming? Especially knowing she could have just as easily been killed in battle or some method other than matricide? You could have just as easily had the hit squad go after Aetos -- he was one of Violet's interrogators, yes? He was working with Varrish, probably? And that aligns better with the chances of him being a part of Malek's quest... Lilith pushing Violet down the stairs--while absolutely awful--is not nearly the same degree as shoving her off her dragon. And, really, a fall down the stairs--that doesn't kill you--is a rather good way of keeping a person bound to where they are, and we all can agree with like the fact Violet stayed in Aretia. Violet becoming Liam's shadow was adorable. Her integration to the group, a lost waif, slotting in... The descriptions of how the Riders Academy in Aretia is both similar but different from Basgiath... And then the decision for Liam, Im, and Violet to go to Basgiath--I was a little surprised that you didn't call for an exchange type program. Something for "good faith". Ten-twenty of our cadets for ten-twenty of your cadets for a year. Builds good relations. Blah blah blah. It would have been a way to get Bodhi and Sloane to Basgiath. Build out some of the other supporting characters. And also, it would be a natural next step after the War Games. That torture, though... Ugh. Brutally, painfully, horrifyingly descriptive. Varrish pushing cadets to past the breaking point in order to turn them venin... interesting theory (and one I can totally get behind). Tairn biting him in half so they can get back to Aretia and their mates? 100% support and cheering. Reintroducing Dain--gods, I understand his need to believe in authority and the rules, even into his twenties, but please let him redeem himself or just kill him off. Talk about an enemies to lovers troupe for the readers and a character! And Halden... {heavy sigh} He will provide annoyance, tension, and hopefully some comic relief. I question his forethought not to approach the outpost commanders about the bodies. I question his forethought to going to his baby brother for advice. I question why Cam is still going by Aaric, especially to his brother. The riders I can see still calling him by his assumed given name, even Dain might have gotten used to it, but I would imagine he still slips, but Halden probably exclusively still calls his baby brother Cam. The signets you decided on for most of the characters has been fun. I'm slightly worried about Violet's all-powerful mimicry, though. Has it every existed before? Is it just because of her need to do everything or is it something to do with Malek? Why did Momma Sorrengail go to the temple of death when she was pregnant??? I also wondered if the unplanned pregnancy might have been Mira and Garrick, but you went and tried to kill off Mira?!?! And then for Malek to say they come back funny, changed??? What's going to be wrong with Mira??? I adjusted quite well to the idea of Mira-Garrick and then Mira-Garrick-Imogene. And while on the topic of pregnancies, I wondered if Violet and Xaden might discuss the possibility of--not "trying" again, but maybe just not taking the fertility suppressant and letting what happens happen... And the dangers that might incur while they're still very much at war... Especially since she was--what? 4? 5 months pregnant and didn't even realize? Was she still spotting? Was her period never that reliable anyways? Does the fertility suppressant usually interfere with a woman's cycle? She had, what? A handful of days to come to the reality that she was pregnant, and then bam! It was brutally attacked. There's a lot of mixed emotions there. It's bad enough to lose a baby, especially when you think you were doing everything right, but to have one so heart wrenchingly taken from you... And she and Xaden both want and were very happy for the baby. That's going to have a long-lasting effect for both of them. We never found out if the babe was going to be a boy or girl, either. She was second trimester, so she would have had to actually physically deliver the fetus... Ugh. That would have been an ordeal in the infirmary that was hopefully managed while she was still sleeping. And the lingering pain... I suppose Brennen would have done his best to heal the muscles and organs, but still... Makes me wonder what a mender can do about cramps. :D Okay, I'm going to wrap this up. No response needed--unless you have questions--I'd much prefer you spend your energy writing because now that I'm all caught up, the idea of having to actually wait for the next chapter sounds agonizing! lol Happy writing!
Thank you so much for reading! I love this review. I will say that even though the Sorrengail parents are gone, we’re not done with their story and there is more that we have to find out. And as for Lilith specifically, I didn’t want to get rid of her but I got to thinking of her reasoning for everything like why would she want to save her but then turn and do what she did? Which is where the visit to the temples will come into play and the coming to Aretia.
There is so much more I want to say but I don’t want to spoil what I have planned. But it’s going to be a rollercoaster of beautiful highs and cruel lows, like I have a signet lined up that will devastate so many people but will play a crucial role.
This final part is like a knotted ball of yarn, it’s going to be chaos and I really hope it continues to be a story you can enjoy.
Thank you for the review! I’m working on the next chapter and hope to have it up in the next day or two.
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andrea_readwolf on Chapter 2 Sun 13 Jul 2025 03:28PM UTC
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BronzeStorm on Chapter 2 Sun 13 Jul 2025 05:52PM UTC
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