October 2026 Newsletter
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book review
Holiday Highlight: Breaking Her Enforcer by Amber Daulton
If you’ve been following Amber’s guest posts on my blog, you know that she is consistently adding to her Lozano Cartel series. And the newest Lozano Cartel title comes out next week on October 6, 2026! It’s called Breaking Her Enforcer, and has a unique twist on a beloved holiday: Christmas. I have interviewed Amber on the holiday aspect of the story, which you can read below.
1. What holiday does your story highlight?
Breaking Her Enforcer takes place in December with Christmas quickly approaching. Marisol and Ángel are moving through their lives with signs of the holiday all around them. From the Christmas trees, garland, and nativity sets to the bouncy music and some scrumptious dishes that made my stomach growl when I writing those scenes, Christmas is in full swing. The holiday culminates in the final chapters, when both Marisol and Ángel confront their families and their pasts. So while this is absolutely a dark stalker romance, the holiday season provides the emotional backdrop.
2. What inspired you to choose that holiday when you were writing your story?
I had several emotional themes in mind when I was coming up with the plot, which include: family, loss, forgiveness, second chances, and coming home. These themes are often featured in Christmas movies and books, though Breaking Her Enforcer is definitely NOT meant for the Hallmark crowd. Plus, the last book in the series (Corrupting His Wife) took place in October, so the possible timeline to set this one at Christmas was too good to pass up. For Marisol, Christmas has traditionally been a time when her brother Raul came home to celebrate with her. This year is going to be completely different. For Ángel, Christmas represents home in a different way. He’s been estranged from his parents for years, and the holiday gives him a reason—and an emotional push—to finally return and try to make amends
3. How do your characters celebrate Christmas? What’s similar or different for the average reader?
My characters celebrate Christmas in many ways that will feel familiar to readers. Their homes and workplaces are decorated with Christmas trees, ornaments, wreaths, lights, and other holiday decorations. Ángel’s family also has a strong religious tradition, including attending Mass and gathering with their extended family for a large Christmas Eve dinner. Food plays an important role in their celebration, with homemade dishes, desserts, and leftovers shared among family members.
What may feel different for some readers is the Mexican setting and the way cultural and Catholic traditions shape the holiday. Christmas is very much a family-centered occasion for these characters, but their celebrations also take place within the darker world of the cartel. That creates an unusual contrast between the warmth and familiarity of Christmas and the violence and danger surrounding the characters. For example, during one confrontation in Marisol’s home, Bruno knocks over a crucifix and kicks it into her lit Christmas tree, breaking several ornaments. So while readers may recognize many of the traditions—the decorations, food, religious observances, family gatherings, and gift-giving—their experience of Christmas is complicated by the dangers and emotional turmoil that come with living in the cartel world.
4. How does the holiday play into the overall plot?
Christmas becomes an emotional deadline for my protagonists. For Marisol, she has to learn to let go of the past. For Ángel, he has to learn that it’s time to go home. And that mirrors their romance perfectly. They both spend Christmas dealing with family wounds and growing as people, as well as deciding on what kind of family and future they want to create together.
5. Anything else you’d like to share?
The next book in the Lozano Cartel series is Her Twisted Bodyguard, which follows Carlota Lozano and Tajo Aguilar. Fans have been hungry for Carlota’s story for a while! Carlota is a cartel princess trapped in an unhappy marriage to Manuel, a ruthless capo. Tajo is her husband’s estranged half-brother, and he’s willing to use Carlota to get revenge. Neither expected that they would have to work together to stay alive. Her Twisted Bodyguard will be live in May 2027.
Amber Daulton writes raw, edgy romantic suspense and dark cartel romance featuring high stakes, deep
passion, and defiant hearts. She’s the author of the Lozano Cartel, Arresting Onyx, Embracing You, and
Ramseys in Time series, as well as a rich catalog of standalone novellas. Her books are available
worldwide in digital, print, and select audio formats.
From her home base in North Carolina, she builds dangerous criminal underworlds and maps out
fierce, second-chance love stories alongside her supportive husband and her demanding feline writing
assistant, Zita.
Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the
Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook and
print on demand while select titles are in audio and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina, USA, with her husband and demanding cats. Connect with her and purchase her books on her website: https://amberdaulton.com
A drive-by shooting lands him in the hospital. And in the arms of temptation.
Cartel enforcer Ángel Rascón knows he should stay away from the woman who saved his life. Marisol
is a sensual blend of fire and innocence, irresistible to his inner beast. She’s also the little sister of a
man now on the run from the cartel—Ángel’s friend and former partner. Getting involved with her
could destroy everything he’s worked for, but when she’s threatened, it’s game on.
Physical therapist Marisol Cruz knows Ángel is dangerous, yet he’s always there. Watching. Waiting.
Wanting. After her brother’s enemies track her down, Ángel appoints himself her protector with every
intoxicating kiss.
Ángel will have to risk his position—and his life—to keep her safe. But Marisol faces the most
devastating choice of all. Loving her stubborn enforcer may mean losing her brother forever.
– Book 3.5 in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone,
but are part of an interconnected series.
– Scenes featuring gang violence and suicide may be uncomfortable for some readers.
– No cheating. HEA guaranteed!
Ángel latched the squeaky iron gate behind him and crept across Marisol’s darkened front yard.
The soothing droll of crickets masked the sound of his footsteps while the overgrown trees, shrubs, and
cacti at the far property line shielded him from any nosy neighbors. Not that she had any in this quiet,
working-class neighborhood on the city’s outskirts. As he braced himself against the side of her house,
the rough stucco scraped his jacket and the back of his head as it always did. Yellow light poured from
the living room window in horizontal beams as though to expose him.
Fuck that. He wasn’t an amateur.
Faint music seeped from inside the house.
He smirked, willing to bet his bank account that Marisol was streaming reruns of her favorite
telenovela. Desperate for a glimpse of her, he pressed closer toward the glass pane and peered through
the slatted blinds.
Inside, Marisol was bundled under a thick red-and-green checkered quilt on the sofa and cheered like a love-struck teenager over something that happened on the TV.
Damn right. He knew his woman well. From the high-stakes story lines to the nineteenth-
century period costumes, Las Sombras del Imperio had found its way into countless living rooms
across the country. Including his own.
After the program ended, Marisol turned off the television and grabbed her dinner plate and
glass.
He darted around the house and ducked under a mesquite branch in the side yard. The crisp
breeze rustled through the leafy branches, swept back his hair, and chilled his skin. Gritting his teeth,
he huddled deeper into his denim jacket. His thick, cable-knit shirt caught against the hard ridge over
his collarbone, irritating the taut skin. A deep, metallic chill radiated from the inside out, numbing the
fracture site with a dull ache. He yanked the collar away from his neck and cursed.
Light now streamed out from the kitchen window.
As the rambunctious mutt next door yapped at something stirring in the bushes, Marisol peered
out the glass into the darkness. Fine lines crimped her face.
Ángel slunk deeper into the shadowy foliage. Once she focused on washing the dishes, he
swiped a branch out of his way and rolled his tight, sore shoulders. A low grunt tore from his mouth.
Distant laughter rang out, disrupting the tranquility of the night.
He tsked, shaking his head. The university-aged kids who lived in that dingy house at the end of
the street were partying again. It was only Thursday, for fuck’s sake. Sighing, he pinched the bridge of
his nose. As if he had any room to judge. At twenty-eight years old, he’d surely partied harder than
those guys down the block could imagine.
He pulled his phone from his jeans back pocket and checked his notifications. Nothing from
Raul. Or Muniz. What the hell was going on with them? He slid the cell back in.
A crash echoed from the other side of the house.
Ángel jerked upright.
Marisol flung her dish towel aside and raced out of the kitchen.
“Mierda,” Ángel dashed back around the house and snatched his gun from his hip holster. His
pulse thundered in his ears. Icy dread slashed through his stomach.
The front door hung open.
“Get out!” Marisol shouted from inside. Something shattered. “Get out of my house!”
August 2026 Newsletter
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New Release: Indigo by Karen Hulene Bartell
I had the honor of being an ARC reader for Indigo by Karen Hulene Bartell. Let me tell you, this book earned its 5 stars. Indigo starts off with the popular being-left-at-the-altar beginning; and then it goes in a completely different direction. With perfect timing, our main character Raluca learns that she has inherited a cabin from a deceased aunt she didn’t know existed. While attempting to clean the place up in order to sell it, Raluca uncovers family secrets, curses, and diseases. Intertwined with these investigations is the brewing of a new relationship that can mend her broken heart.
I loved that the paranormal aspect of the story focused on windigos. In a world of vampires, werewolves, and dragons, I thought this was a wonderfully unique choice for the monster. Karen also really leaned into the suspense in a way that I enjoyed. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a story that made me read with the lights on. The non-romantic parts of the plot stood well on their own. I didn’t feel anxious to get back to the romance like I have experienced with other stories. All around, this was a great read, and I highly recommend it.
In addition to my review, I have interviewed Karen, so let’s give her the floor!
Can you introduce your story, world, and characters?
Starting over after a broken engagement, Raluca Olson inherits a Northwoods cabin from a mysterious relative. Bloodcurdling shrieks, hanging trees, and stories of hellhounds make the log cabin inhospitable, but then she meets Dylan McCoombs. The attraction is immediate and mutual as he answers questions about her Grand Aunt Winny. He also shares the Anishinaabe legend about windigos. Some believe they’re spirits that inhabit people. Others say they’re simply morality tales for children about social taboos like cannibalism or incest, but psychiatrists define the concept as a culture-bound syndrome.
Raluca wants to flip the cabin quickly and resume her life in Chicago. But realtors contend that the rustic cabin needs an overhaul, and she is short on funds. Dylan helps her renovate, and as they spend time together, the magnetism evolves into a relationship.
During renovations, she discovers a diary and scrapbook that offer clues about her aunt, the area’s founding family, and a “certain family member” that never left. Gradually, she learns she’s related to the Marchands and “all the Marchand women are carriers, but the men bear the family curse.”
What is the family curse? The diary reveals that the family suffers from hemophilia and porphyria. But the journal suggests that a third inherited trait is passed from one generation to the next…something evil…
Because porphyria leads to anemia and causes acute light sensitivity, sufferers are pale, which is why porphyria inspired vampire stories. Another symptom of porphyria is excessive facial hair, which caused the disease’s association with werewolves. When the European settlers’ folklore collided with the Anishinaabe legend of the windigo, the Marchand myth was born.
Is a windigo an unclean spirit, a morality tale, or a culture-bound syndrome? Is that what’s leaving gutted animals on her doorstep?
Grappling with bloodthirsty prowlers, unscrupulous realtors, and neurotic neighbors isn’t challenging enough. Just when Raluca relearns to trust her instincts in a new relationship, her blindsiding ex arrives with an engagement ring and an attitude.
How does this HEA unfold? Raluca must solve an eight-generation mystery of family dysfunction, as well as deal with greed, murders, meth labs, and forest fires to marry the man she loves. Then, just as she discovers marital bliss, a package is delivered.
That sounds like a lot of twists and turns! What inspired this story?
Three years ago, we moved into a new neighborhood, where I’d walk my dog past a nearby cemetery. Each day, I’d see more elements for a story that was slowly developing: a “devil’s chair;” a creaky, hanging sign; a bare patch with just a footstone, a “hanging tree;” swerve marks on the road beside the cemetery; a mailwoman who chewed and spit; and a neighbor whose family suffered from hemophilia and who swore some of the events (that I ultimately wrote about in Indigo) actually happened to her in another cemetery. Elements of truth embellished with an overactive imagination is how Indigo came to be.
I love how much of our lives make their way into our stories. Can you give us a brief look at your writing process. Are you a plotter or pantser? How much time did you spend on this project? What is your writing schedule like?
I’m definitely a pantser – although I did plan Indigo a tad with a story arc, and it took about 18 months to write. I try to write every day, but sometimes it’s 350 words, and other days, when I’m on a roll, it can be 4-5,000 words.
Who are you outside of writing?
I’m a Master Naturalist, a Master Gardener, and a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, so it seems I’m always outside – gardening, kayaking, hiking, or helping with the various projects, plant sales, and flotillas. I walk our dog Tory every day, and my husband and I sing in the church choir every Sunday.
Meet Karen and her latest book, Indigo.
The author of 29 published books and Indigo (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249818067), Karen Hulene Bartell was born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually. Her earliest playmates were fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night–reading feverishly. Novels offered an imaginative escape, and she began her first novel at nine, learning the joys of creating her own HEAs. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, she lives in the Texas Piney Woods with her husband and *mews*–three rescued cats and a rescued CATahoula Leopard dog.
Reeling after her fiancé dumps her, Raluca Olson inherits a rustic cabin from an unknown relative. Eerie incidents and rumors of a mythical windigo alarm her, but she’s determined to learn the truth about her dysfunctional family before she flips the property.
Despite unscrupulous realtors, bloodthirsty prowlers, and a devious ex, her life improves with a rescued puppy, and passion ignites when she meets Dylan McCoombs, but…
What does a demonic half-beast share with a psychosis and porphyria? Are monsters born or formed? Nature or nurture? Is a windigo spirit genetic? More importantly, does she carry the gene?
Stay up to date with Karen at www.KarenHuleneBartell.com/
An Oldie But a Goodie: In the Crosshairs: The Body on Leffis Key by M.S. Spencer
Wednesday is the 2nd book birthday for In the Crosshairs: The Body on Leffis Key by M.S. Spencer! Ms. Spencer is celebrating this special milestone here on my blog. I had the honor of asking her a few questions about her book.
How long has your book been out? When was it originally released?
This will be In the Crosshairs’ second anniversary. It was published by The Wild Rose Press on May 27, 2024.
Can you tell us about your story, world, and characters?
In the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key, combines several interests of mine—Florida, birdwatching, and national politics. It takes place on a small key adjacent to Longboat Key, on the gulf coast of Florida. A strip of low dune and mangrove swamp, Leffis Key is home to the Marine Rescue Facility and a nature walk. Palmer Lind, the heroine, is a birder on a trek down the east coast after losing her husband. The stranger who helps her is a refugee from Capitol Hill, hiding from those who may have murdered his boss, a senator. He rents a conch house and owns one each of many vehicles, from planes to boats to a refurbished classic Airstream camper.
That sounds fascinating! What inspired this story?
I started writing this book after I came across an obscure news item about the Chinese buying up US farmland. It intrigued—and concerned—me. I decided to insert it as a plot element in a novel—and what to my wonderment should happen but two years later it’s a full-blown global issue!
I set In the Crosshairs on the gulf coast of Florida because that’s where I live. Let me explain with a short excerpt from the book:
“A beam of red light shot through her window. Sunset already? She got up, fixed herself a drink, and took it to the balcony. She watched as the sun sank into the gulf, long, needle-like pincers of light stretching out as though it wanted to hook the horizon and hang on for dear life. Like Kilroy, whatever was pulling it from below won the battle and the sun dipped, leaving its signature green spot as a token of affection for the world.”
This is what it’s like to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida. By day the sky is the deep blue of Paul Newman’s eyes; at close of day it’s flooded with a full palette of reds, oranges, pinks and purples. Put it this way: I have a lot of pictures of my children—I have even more pictures of sunsets in Sarasota!
That does sound beautiful. I would love to make it to Florida one day. Can you give us a brief look at your writing process? Are you a plotter or pantser? How much time did you spend on this project? What is your writing schedule like?
I have the luxury, being retired—kids grown, husband looking down on me from above, no mortgage—of being able to write whenever I want. Which usually means every day for at least four hours. Producing a full-length novel takes about a year, from first draft to release. My first draft is usually an expansive outline, about 30,000 words. After the plotline is set I can focus on building the characters and elaborate on the setting and atmosphere. Once those are established, I concentrate on ironing out any inconsistencies, creating red herrings, and refining the mystery. So I guess you could say I’m a plontster.
I love that combination word. I think most authors are somewhere between the two. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
My interest in national politics stems from my years working on Capitol Hill—for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, as a speechwriter for a Senator, and then at the Dept. of the Interior. Once you’ve seen the inner workings of federal government, you’ll never believe a single news article again!
Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key she comes upon—not the life bird she was hoping for—but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene at the same time seems to have even more secrets than the dead man.
His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random group of individuals have in common, other than being targeted by a crossbow?
Pick up a copy of In the Crosshairs: The Body of Leffis Key at your preferred retailer:
Amazon Barnes&Noble ITunes Kobo Google BooksAMillion
Books2Read WildRosePress AmazonCA AmazonUKAngus&RobertsonIndigoGooglePlay
Librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, nonprofit director—M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five of the seven continents and holds degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. She has published eighteen mystery or romantic suspense novels. She has two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divides her time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.
Follow M.S. Spencer on your preferred social media:
Blog: https://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msspencermysteries
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-s-spencer
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002ZOEUC8
May 2026 Newsletter
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My Top 5 Reads of 2025
Okay, it’s technically my top 8 reads of 2025, but 4 of them are in the same series, so I’m reviewing them together.
I read 41 books this year – 2 more than my goodreads goal! 5 (8) of them I loved so much, I need to share them with you.
Remember When We by Khardine Gray.
Khardine Gray also writes under the name Faith Summers. Whether she’s writing as Khardine or Faith, her series are all mafia romances. Remember When We is my absolute favorite of hers. It’s the third installment of her Gangster and Dolls series. It’s a second chance romance with the older brother’s best friend and secret baby tropes weaved into the plot. Lyssa and Gio haven’t seen each other in almost a decade. The death of Lyssa’s brother, Gio’s best friend tore them apart. Now they’re back in each other’s lives, and Lyssa owes money to the wrong man. Gio must not only win back her heart, but also save her from dangerous men who want to harm her.
Khardine/Faith write very spicy love scenes, and most of her MMCs are morally grey and very alpha-like. Several of her stories cross the line for me; but knowing that she has stories like Remember When We keeps me reading her stuff.
Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes
Unlike the other Bridgerton stories, Queen Charlotte the book was released after Queen Charlotte the limited Netflix series. But like most film-book comparisons, the book is better! What I love about reading is that we get to experience the characters’ emotions in their heads. On screen, we guess what they’re feeling by their body language and tone of voice. Like the mini-series, Queen Charlotte follows Charlotte and George’s early days as newlyweds, Brimsley and Reynolds’ relationship, and Lady Danbury’s fight to keep her children’s rightful status after her husband dies. The book also gets a couple of scenes that aren’t in the show. My guess is they are scenes that either got deleted from final edits, or were never filmed due to time. And finally, Brimsley and Reynolds’ love story is so much better in the book. I didn’t like their story in the show. I thought Reynolds was toxic and verbally abusive. In the book, Brimsley calls Reynsolds out on this unequal behavior, and Reynolds changes for the better by the end of the book.
I’m all for Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes continuing to give side characters their own story.
The Rokesby Series by Julia Quinn
- Because of Miss Bridgerton
- The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
- The Other Miss Bridgerton
- First Comes Scandal
These four books are considered the Bridgerton Prequels. The MMCs of each book are a son in the Rokesby family – the family whose countryside property is next to the Bridgerton’s Aubrey Hall. And three of the FMCs are a Bridgerton girl; either a sister or cousin to Edmund Bridgerton (Violet’s husband and father to the eight main Bridgertons). I argue that these four books are better than the original eight Bridgerton books. But I’m sure it’s because Julia Quinn started with the Bridgerton books, and simply improved her plot creativity and writing skills as she wrote and published more. Let’s dive in to a brief summary of each:
Because of Miss Bridgerton is about the oldest Rokesby, George, and the oldest Bridgerton Billie (Sibylla). They think they hate each other, but their mothers know better and hook them up with an elaborate scheme of dinner parties and visiting London.
The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband takes us to the colonies on the North American continent during the American Revolution. Edward, the second oldest Rokesby is serving the King in his Majesty’s army. Cecilia has traveled to the colonies to find her injured brother, who happens to be Edward’s best friend. In order to get the answers she seeks, Cecilia needs the Rokesby name, and pretends to be married to Edward.
The Other Miss Bridgerton is about the third Rokesby, Andrew, and a Bridgerton cousin, Poppy. Andrew is a ship captain. His ship participates in some legit business and some pirate-level business. Poppy gets kidnapped by some of his crew, and he has to take care of her while they make an important and deadline-driven journey to Portugal.
First Comes Scandal is about the youngest Rokesby, Nicholas, and the youngest Bridgerton Georgie (Georgiana). Georgie’s reputation has been compromised by a malicious young man who wanted to force her to marry him. Nicholas’ father asks him to marry her in order to save her from a life of spinsterhood and a soiled reputation. Their love story begins after their marriage.
In usual Julia Quinn fashion, these four stories are full of witty women, temperamental men, and comedy. I love her writing, and this is my favorite series of hers (so far).
Romney: A Reckoning by McKay Coppins
I didn’t know who Mitt Romney was before he became a real contender in the 2012 Republican primaries. Part of that is because I was too young to vote or care before then, and part because I took a political science class during that time, so of course my professor used class time to closely follow the campaigns. Over the years, I have grown to greatly respect Mitt Romney, especially during his time as a Senator representing Utah. Reading this biography that covers both his personal and political life was very enlightening, and I like him even more now. Mitt Romney always tries to do what he thinks is right, even when others disagree with and disparage him. I think he’s a great role model for future politicians.
Zalis by Nancey Cummings
Nancey Cummings writes science fiction romances, and her longest running series is the Warlord Brides/Warriors of Sangrin series. Zalis is the 13th installment in that series (16th, if you count the three side stories, which I do). It popped up on my “Because you read…” recommendations on my kindle, and I bought it right away and started reading immediately. Zalis is an alien warrior, his species is called Mahdfel, and he is of the Sangrin line. He meets his human mate when he rescues her in a group of kidnapped human women to be sold on the sentient being trafficking market. Gemma does not want to go back to earth, so she accepts a match with Zalis in order to stay near her twin sister. What will start as a marriage of convenience, has the chance to bud into love. I love Nancy Cummings’ writing. She is creative in her world building. She develops humorous and witty characters. Most authors cannot continue a series for this long and keep it entertaining with readers still wanting more. But I do want more, and her acknowledgements at the end of Zalis do promise more in due time!
What were your favorite books that you read in 2025? Share them in the comments!
World Building Expansion in Onyx Storm
I have had to percolate my thoughts on Onyx Storm for several weeks. I read the last chapter on July 31st. The next day I posted a thread that said, “I just finished Onyx Storm and I am not okay”. Then I finally posted my review on Goodreads on August 3rd. And after that, I still didn’t know how I wanted to write a positive analysis for my blog because the end absolutely destroyed me.
And I finally figured out why I’ve been struggling: 1. I thought Onyx Storm was the final book in the series for the first half of reading it, and then my hair stylist told me there’s going to be more. 2. The cliffhanger ending is too hard (for me) when the next book isn’t out yet.
Both of those issues can be pushed aside for an analysis of the actual story. So let’s dive in.
Representation
This has been going on since the first book. I really like Rebecca Yarros’s way of introducing a character’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. My favorite example is with a side character whose preferred pronouns are they/them. I apologize to the super fans, but I can’t remember this character’s name. They aren’t one of the primary side characters because they aren’t on Violet’s squad, and I don’t think they’re in Violet’s wing. Whenever they are in a scene, Violet’s inner dialogue and actual dialogue call the character they/them without a big info dump on why, nor is there a side plot where other characters have to learn to accept that character as they identify themselves. They just simply exist and the acceptance was already part of the culture before page 1 of book 1.
We see something similar with Jessinia. She is deaf. And from the moment we meet her, Violet already knows sign language. In fact, the majority of the characters know sign language, implying that it is a cultural expectation in most provinces.
Gay and lesbian characters also don’t have a coming out plot. They just simply are there and we learn their identity when they get a love interest. Which is something I’m attempting in my own writing as well.
Several characters are supposedly persons of color, but I have to admit I didn’t catch on to Rebecca Yarros’s hints and descriptions of said characters. The only two that were obvious to me were Xaden and Bodhi. But I’m going to give her grace because I’m also still learning how to let my readers know my characters’ race in an obvious but still respectful way. The racial issues that are written into the story are more about regional differences, not skin colors. We see this a lot in modern fantasy world building, and I personally like it. It’s something I’m trying to do in my own writing as well: put in diverse characters, but the issues they face don’t surround their skin color.
Disabled characters seem to be the one exception to the culture of Navarre. Violet was born disabled, and she’s raised to believe her disability will never allow her to be a dragon rider. Which, if you’ve read the first book, you know how she overcomes that. Now, one could argue that society itself has no problems with disabled people in Navarre, they just can’t be dragon riders. But I would argue back that dragon riders are considered the elite of the kingdom, so yes, society as whole probably does look down on the disabled. We see another character, Sawyer, become disabled during a major battle at the end of the second book, and he spends the third book learning to accept his new limitations and readjusting his riding style so he can still ride his dragon and fight – just like Xaden and Tairn did for Violet.
Overall, I think what Rebecca Yarros is doing with representation in this series is a good step toward representation in fantasy stories. I can’t speak for any of those communities because I don’t belong to any of them. I have seen some criticisms from readers who belong to those communities, so she’s not doing it perfectly. But I do think she deserves props for trying, and will hopefully inspire other authors who can learn from her example and the criticisms in their own writing.
Government Corruption
It’s hinted very early in Fourth Wing that the Kingdom of Navarre is corrupt, and has been for centuries. What I wasn’t prepared for was the revelation that all the kingdoms Violet and Quest Squad visit are just as corrupt. It definitely made the quest for the Irids frustrating. However, we do get to learn about several other kingdoms with their people, customs, and history. I hope we get to return to some of them in the remaining books. I also think it was really intriguing to make every government have some form of corruption. It definitely made the governments more realistic and applicable to our human world.
Travel Plot
As mentioned above, the entirety of Onyx Storm is them traveling around trying to find where the Irid dragons ended up moving to and asking other kingdoms for help fighting the Venin. And like stated above, the results are very disappointing for Violet. This is not a new storytelling technique, but it’s usually done in a smaller chunk of the book, not the entire book. At first, I was really frustrated and didn’t feel like I read a complete story. But here’s the thing: Rebecca Yarros already showed us in the previous two books that this is the plotting style for this series. A lot of craziness happens and then we end the book on a huge cliffhanger. And as mentioned above, all of that craziness introduced us to several new communities, and poses the question: Is Navarre truly the villain? Or are all the governments villainous and selfish in their own ways?
Only one resolution
There are a lot of tensions going on throughout Onyx Storm: Violet and Xaden vs. General Aetos, Violet and Xaden vs. Theophanie, characters popping up all over the place with second signets, etc. And at the end of Onyx Storm, only one resolution happens. Which was quite strategic. Because of course I want to know what’s going to happen to everyone who showed off their second signet. Of course I want to know if General Aetos will either “come to Jesus” or if he’s going to die still being an asshole. I want to know more about Violet’s hair, because after teasing us for three books about how it’s so unique, the tidbit we got in this book was not enough to cleanse my palatte.
So, yeah. I’ll be purchasing the fourth book because I simply need to know what happens. Also I love Xaden and Violet.
In the meantime, I have a YA fantasy tangent to go on.
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Romance Tropes in Iron Flame
Iron Flame is the second installment of The Empyreon series, and it starts right where Fourth Wing left off. This sequel also ends on a major cliffhanger, and Onyx Storm picks off right where Iron Flame left off. Because of that, Iron Flame doesn’t feel like a complete singular story. Now that I’m almost done with Onyx Storm, it’s clear this series is one larger story instead of multiple parts that are connected. So, because of that, I did thoroughly enjoy reading Iron Flame and rate it 5 stars. And I have three main takeaways to discuss.
What flaws are okay in a love interest?
Something I’ve noticed among online forums where favorite romance couples are discussed: each individual reader has their own lines in the sand on what is and isn’t forgivable among the flaws and mistakes that characters make. I had an experience with my own writing where in a set of beta readers one vehemently did not like the male love interest and was disappointed my female main character ended up with him. I did take his comments seriously, and made one tiny adjustment in one scene based on what he didn’t like. But it made me realize that not every reader is going to be okay with the choices the love interest makes, which will affect whether they root for that love interest to get their HEA or not. And that’s okay.
For me, I had a similar issue with Xaden for a good chunk of Iron Flame. At the end of Fourth Wing he accidentally shares with Violet a pretty big secret. Violet is understandably furious that he kept something like that from her, and is even more angry that the only reason she now knows is because Xaden’s original plan went awry. At the beginning of Iron Flame, Xaden agrees to no more secrets under the caveat that Violet has to ask questions, and he’ll answer them honestly. But Violet can’t ask questions if she doesn’t know what information she’s missing. Xaden also won’t be intimate with Violet again until she says she loves him, which she won’t do until she can trust him. The two are at an impasse of Xaden’s own making.
I have read so many romances with similar tensions where the female character gives in and the male gets his way. It creates an unequal dynamic that doesn’t sit well with me. And I was so fearful Violet was going to do the same thing. And if she did, would I still love this story? Would I enjoy reading their relationship scenes? Luckily, I was not forced to answer those questions. Both Violet and Xaden were able to compromise in a way that I found valid, and I’m back on Team Xaden.
A new take on the jealous ex
The jealous ex causing tension and problems is my least favorite trope in a romance. So when Cat was introduced as Xaden’s ex who is still hung up on him, I was none too pleased. I was ready to throw the book across the room if Violet walked in on them and “it’s not what it looks like!”
Lucky for me, and my copy of the book, that did not happen. Rebecca Yarros takes the jealous ex trope in a different direction that I ended up enjoying. Cat admits to Violet that she doesn’t love Xaden, she just wants what a marriage to him would provide: a crown. Xaden is the heir of Tyrrendor. Depending on how far back historians go, that makes him a duke at the lowest and a king at the highest. Cat is of royal blood from another kingdom, and Violet has no nobility in her lineage (that we know of so far in the series). The fact that Cat has no qualms with admitting her ambitions in front of an audience shines light on the culture these characters live in. Status and titles are more important than love. But like all characters like Xaden, he doesn’t care, and openly keeps Violet as his girlfriend.
Correct representation of twenty-year-olds
Oftentimes, younger characters are depicted as much more mature than is realistic. While there are people in this world who are more intelligent and mature than is typical for their age group, the staggering number of such people as fictional characters probably doesn’t match reality. Rebecca Yarros does an amazing job of depicting people in their early twenties correctly.
Violet is your typical brainiac main character who “isn’t like other girls.” But she also is like other girls in the fact that she falls in love quickly, overthinks Xaden’s words and actions in their relationship, and gets insanely jealous.
Xaden is the begrudging aristocrat who is thrust into leadership much too young. But he also has a temper that would get weaker characters into trouble and is willing to sacrifice the world for Violet.
Rhiannon is a natural leader who still enjoys hookups, drinking, and partying.
Ridoc is the comedic relief who still has talent and grit that come in handy during battle.
Garrick is the best friend who isn’t afraid to put Xaden in his place, but enjoys hook ups and flings. (Though I’m really hoping he and Imogen will end up together in the end.)
Imogen holds nasty grudges and talks back, but is fiercely loyal to her people.
Sloan allows trauma and heartbreak to guide her emotions and choices, but shows incredible growth by the end.
Brhodi also provides comic relief and wisdom as he gives advice to Violet and Xaden.
There are many more characters to discuss, but the above are the ones I wanted to highlight for this post.
Overall, Iron Flame took me on an emotional journey that I’m still not quite recovered from. I love the world Rebecca Yarros has created, and her characters are the perfect cherry on top.
Have you read Iron Flame? What are your thoughts on it?
