Okay, I have to say this, and I hope no one jumps me for it: Xaden is NOT a good love interest for Violet. Sorry but he’s just too toxic, in a way Violet (and even the readers) don’t seem to notice or even acknowledge. He would never prioritize anything other than the rebellion. And as much as I understand and like that about him because it makes him a really interesting character, it also makes him a bad boyfriend.

He has too much to work on in himself before ever thinking of being in a long-term, committed relationship, and he proved it in Iron Flame. I think them breaking up and spending time apart in Onyx Storm would be beneficial for them, especially for Xaden

I really love Xaden. I do. But I also cant deny that he's a toxic and red flag boyfriend. He still has a lot of work to do to deserve Violet.

I'm still sad when I think about one of the first things Violet told Xaden after he rescued her after she got tortured was that "She didn't break" because that's their main problem in Iron Flame, Xaden made it seem like she's not that important to him (and she probably thought that's why he never confided in her).

I'm actually surprised at the beginning on how so many people defend Xaden's behaviour and hate on Violet when Xaden is the one that is not good for her and Violet is the one that is always trying for their relationship. I mean, you can still like or love him but still admitted that his actions are not justified🤷

Honestly, I'm pretty pissed off at him majority of Iron Flame because of his actions. I really hope he's trying to be better in Onyx Storm, because if he's still like how he is in Iron flame, their relationship will just become really exhausting. And I'm tired on behalf of Violet💀

I’m on the fence with this one. On the one hand, Xaden is definitely trying, and he did put Violet above the rebellion when it really mattered. He’s also only 23 so it’s realistic that he’s not completely perfect. But on the other hand he treated her pretty terribly for the first half of Iron Flame, and made Violet feel like she didn’t matter to him as much as the rebellion, which is in some ways more important than whether or not it was true.

I love Xaden, he’s one of my favourite characters, but he needs to get his shit together in Onyx Storm. And seriously work on his communication skills because they are atrocious.

I’m more angry at all the people who blame Violet for their relationship issues (3/4 of BookTok it seems 🙄) because she is absolutely not the problem, and you clearly lack critical thinking if you think she is.

Literally all of Violet and Xadens conversations:

Violet: Fuck you.

Xaden: Later. Now pay attention.

It makes me so sad that Xaden says "I'd forgotten what it felt like to be loved, really, truly, loved." bc like... Liam was right there :(

just breaks my heart that Xaden doesn't realize how much he's loved until Violet says the words specifically.

I love this because I think it's so much more complex than Xaden not realizing he's loved by his friends.

Xaden Riorson is someone who has the weight of the rebellion on his back, he's his father's son and responsible for 107 lives. Those lives he's protecting were entrusted to him, he didn't choose them to be connected to him, and he didn't choose to be responsible for them, but it was the only way they were going to survive.

When Liam says "i owe everything to Xaden" to Violet, he's probably talking about more than his scars, but it's still heavily implied in the text that he is talking about Xaden's responsibility for them. When Xaden speaks of Liam he refers to him as his brother, which implies that his love for him is unconditional, but also "granted". You love your family because they're of your blood, and while neither Liam nor Xaden are actually brothers for a time they lived as that, which made their bond stronger. Liam loved him because they're family but also because of Xaden's sacrifices.

(We could argue about chosen family and how you don't have to love your blood family but I don't think that's the point here. Chosen family or not, after a while you expect the love they have for you, and Xaden knows that even if they fight his and the rebellion kids relationship will always be thick)

In Xaden's mind, Liam and the other rebellion kids love him because of what he did, not because of what he is. It's the wrong way of thinking of course but in Xaden's mind it's the only thing that makes sense. They love him because he's their "savior". They love him because he leads a rebellion, they love him because he's a good leader.

But he has done nothing (in his mind) for Violet to love him, he didn't have a scar on his body for her at that point. She was unaware of the deal he made with her mother so she couldn't love him for that either. In a way, Violet not knowing of a lot of things made him believe her love for him easier. She had only ever seen his bitch ass attitude and still decided to love him, and I think that's what distinguishes the different types of love Xaden experiences.

oh my god my heart

Xaden was angry ANGRY. He's probably thought something like "Why are you kissing my Violence so casually😡"

No wonder Rhiannon said that Xaden and Violet are most likely in a relationship. He's already acting like a possessive boyfriend here😂

mutual pining IS the best trope. no they’re not trying to move on, no they’re not brave enough to risk it, no they’re not trying to date other people, they don’t know they can have it but it’s okay if they can’t (but they CAN)

I love this fandom so much😂

Halden is mentioned for one time and then everyone is already thinking he's Violet's ex and writes an entire backstory about him😂

We are all equally unhinged here✨

Look, Rebecca Yarros gives us absolutely nothing except cryptic posts about song lyrics. We are clutching at straws.

On a completely separate note, I’ve fandomed a bit too hard and will now be genuinely disappointed if Halden is not Violet’s ex

It's actually interesting to me that Rebecca didn't deny this theory but told us to read book 3 instead. I'm in this fandom since before this series became really popular and I've seen theory or headcanon that Rebecca debunked before. So it feels like if she didnt deny it, there's a chance of it happening😅

Honestly, idk why but I'm also pretty sure he's her ex. Although, if he's not, I probably also will be so disappointed because I need more jealous Xaden.

I think even if Halden isn’t Violet’s ex, one of her exes will show up in the story at some point because they’ve been hinted at a couple of times in conversation between Xaden and Violet, and as we all know Rebecca Yarros is the queen of foreshadowing.

So yay for more jealous Xaden!!

Nothing much, just our girl Violet casually flipping everybody off 😊

very relatable, also constantly flipping people off

Violet’s iconic for this tbh

Just fell to my knees in a walmart thinking about how Xaden and Violet’s baby will probably play with Liam’s wood carvings

Let's not forget that Xaden indirectly called Violet cute.

The scary wingleader has a soft spot for Violet's cuteness.