Air Awakens Fan Club discussion

I don't even know what to think here?? What might WW mean? I am a bit stumped. Thoughts?

I think since Vhalla had "Achel" the axe. If she does end up giving it to Victor, could it be his wrath? or does something else happens to Vhalla, and Fritz unleashed his powers???

I'm actually stumped about whats next too, where can she even go really. People are looking to capture her in the west,the north doesn't like her she doesn't want to go see her father and I think its a bad idea for her to give the axe to Victor what if that's what the king wanted all along and she just hands it to him.

Jennifer, I think Vhalla is going to head to the East. Based on the for telling she got from Via, in FF. Or maybe she will take Tims offer to visit her home town.

Oh true! ok I went back and looked and one of the things she picked up to give to Vi was the pocket watch that Aldrik gave her! and then she says

“You will march to victory, and it will be won upon your silver wings. But the winds of change you will set free will also shatter that tender hope upon which you fly. You will lose your dark sentry,”

“Two paths will lie before you: night and day. Go west by night. Fade into the comforting obscurity of a shroud of darkness. You will find a familiar happiness there, if you can ignore yearnings for the sun.” Vi paused, looking at the glimmering ash about the room. “The other road will burn away your falsehoods by the light of dawn. You will own your wants for all to see. But take caution, for the fire that will expose you will give birth to an even greater power that will consume the land itself.”

So basically she predicted her victory and her loosing Aldrik the "dark sentry" and now she has two outcomes or two choices to go West and find a happiness there if she can forget the sun (aka Aldrick since that's their logo) or it seems take a harder route which seems less clear but maybe she gets Aldrik for all to see?

At least that's kinda what I take from it all.

I think she should head west. She was given a title in the west and she knows that they will train her in the west.
I don't think she should give that axe to Victor. I don't trust him.

Thanks, Siomara and Jennifer for reminding us about what Vi had predicted in FF. I think Vhalla is heading East, and I'm actually keen on finding out more about the place she grew up in. Will she get to meet her father again, or even her grandparents whom she has no memories of?

And what about the axe and the title Water's Wrath? What are Victor and Egmun's affinities? Do they have a bigger role to play? Hmmm

In the next book I'm hoping V finds another sorcerer or he/she finds her and trains her to her full potential both as a "lady" and sorcerer.

Resolution or more scenes with what happened to Aldrik when he was 15.

V learns more about Bond and Joining and how it can be undone?

Daniel and V?

I'm wondering too if V is going to be able to manipulate water. With the title the one person who would have wrath would be V for all she went through.

I want to know A's secrets that he told Tim. So perhaps at some point V visits Tim in the next novel.

Also I thought it rather interesting when Jax and E made that comment about A making watches. Was it true that A made watches and gave it to the women he liked/loved as a token of his affection. So what does that say about his gift for V and the fact that it wasn't gold...

I have this feeling that when V goes back to the capital she'll be a force to reckon with and A may not be as powerful as she will be.

I hope there is a scene either in WW or the fifth novel where there's a ball in honor of A's engagement and V makes her stunning appearance at that point (both with her impeccable etiquette as a lady and her magic as a sorcerer) :) not dressed in black though she should make a statement in white.

V pregnant???

What's in the black chest in Aldrik's room in the tower???

Oh my gosh... where to start? I think Vhalla's going to head West. She told Daniel or Fritz (can't remember exactly with all the emotional turmoil I'm currently feeling from EE), that she wasn't ready to head home/East in her current state, and west is mentioned first in Vi's prophecy. Also, based on what Aldrik said about his uncle's knowledge of the Knights of Jadar, perhaps if Vhalla is concerned about her safety from the Knights she'll end up going to Norin. Besides, she appears to have made allies with certain people in high up positions in the West. Though, she'll probably visit Tim at some stage as well.

For me, WW is screaming out that evil Egmun is going to come out swinging. With Egmun's Southern appearance, it would make you think that he could be a Waterrunner, so that would work with the title. But is that assuming too much?

Jamie - I'm glad someone else was wondering if V is pregnant! How would Aldrik deal with this news if it was the case? Perhaps something will link and explain some of the rumours and questions about Aldrik's birth that have been hinted at too?

Also, could you imagine Elecia teaching Vhalla how to be a lady of the court? I think the dialogue for this 'training' could be rather amusing if this was the case.

Finally, Aldrik and Vhalla will reconcile and be back together. Plain and simple (there's power in positive thinking, ok?). Don't care about what the Emperor wants or what the North wants. Vhalla will fall into the waiting arms of her former lover. I'm not accepting anything else and neither should any of the great supporting characters in the series! Some strategic meddling by other characters and perhaps shaking some sense into them may help these two not to give up and to figure out a plan for it all to work out! ;)

I'm actually also guessing that V is pregnant, if you go back to what Vi said, it has something to do with V owning all her wants and something about giving birth to a greater power that will consume the land itself. I dont know, am I interpreting it literally? And yes, I also think Egmun's affinity is water!

Ugh cant wait for WW!

I love this thread. Can't say much more than that. But I love this thread.

I hope I'm not too late to the thread :)
Same Bianca, I really want to see Vhalla meet her father and her grandfather again!
After reading everyone else' thoughts, I'm starting to think Vhalla will probably end up going to the West instead. I wonder if she'll train as a sorcerer and 'lady' in the West and use her prowess to defeat the Knights of Jadar, to prevent them from hurting the Solaris family. If that happens, I hope we get to learn more about Aldrik's past, especially about his mother.

Also I wonder if Daniel will accidentally let something slip so the Northeners and the Emperor finds out that Vhalla has Achel and cause her to be hunted.
Do you think Water's Wrath will have more than Vhalla's perspective, because I don't think I could go a novel without knowing what Aldrik and Baldair are getting up to!

Literally dying for WW to come out!

Rose, I'll answer one of your questions AND give a bit of a teaser... There's only ONE chapter in the Air Awakens series (excluding bonuses like Tales from the Front) that is NOT told from Vhalla's POV and that is the epilogue of the last book. ;)

Ah Rose, I was also thinking of Aldrik's mother aside from Vhalla's family, and the rift between him and Baldair in the past.

There's so much I want to find out! Like what's Victor's motive, why he wants to get the axe (Achel). Is he really going to keep it safe? He didnt really mention that. He just told Vhalla that it won't be good if it falls to the wrong hands. And there's Egmun. I gave a feeling that the only reason why he was trying kill Vhalla earlier was to make sure that no one (especially those who are in power) can use her as a weapon. We never know, maybe he ends up being in the good side after all. Argh, I really don't know! I'm dying to get my hands on WW.

Ooh thanks, Elise! I'll look for that one

Ooh thanks, Elise! I'll look for that one

Oh my goodness Elise, thank you for the teaser! I don't know why but I'm both excited and dreading the epilogue for this series :)

Anne that's a really cool prediction, I did not think of that, but I really hope that doesn't happen, I love the Bond between Aldrik and Vhal.
Bianca after reading all your posts, I think I'll go pull out Air Awakens and read all of Egmun's scenes because I really want to figure out what his affinity might be :)

Anne your theory is heartbreaking, though it may be possible. That is something that will make me cry :(

On the other hand, my theory on the Achel it being able to "sever a soul" is that it could be (again, just my theory) used to kill a Windwalker on his/her projected form. A windwalker can separate his/her "soul" from the body and travel invisibly. Just my interpretation.

It's conversations like this that make me want to rewrite entire books from Aldrik's POV. Because it becomes such a different story!! >_

Oh, please do! <3 :D

Besides, he would be furious if someone gave away his thoughts. ;)

This much is true!

It's quite interesting for me to see how people perceive Aldrik during and after this book. As the layers of his person continue to be pulled back he seems to be more and more polarizing as to what people think about him.

Britney, yes! That's what I was also thinking, Vhalla MIGHT go back to the East not just to visit her family but to learn more about Windwalkers and her past. It would be super exciting if she gets to meet other windwalkers!

I stopped thinking about Aldrik because the last scene bothers me so much! Like what the hell, first he acts like everything was a lie and pushes Vhalla away. When unexpectedly for him, Vhalla fights back with harsher words, he couldn't bear the pain and wants her back again. Yes, he could turn to "the dark side", probably even "mentored" by Egmun but of course Vhalla would be his salvation. I like how we're trying to create "the next scenarios" hahaha!

@Anne-Mette I'm so with you, I was so intrigued to see how Vhalla would reveal to Aldrik that she was intending to save Baldair, but I never expected him to react like this *sniffle*- I love jealous Aldrik, but that scene was heartbreaking.
"Although the waiting arms of Aldrik doesn't sound like too bad a place to fall into, if you ask me"
Oh my goodness yes! Haha I feel like Elise is shaking her head behind a computer screen - Aldrik's a puppet master, has anger management issues, is completely insecure and his inner turmoil is probably going to destroy all those around him, but we love him <3

@Elise As much as I agree with Britney and want the mystery that is Aldrik to keep going, it would be amazing to see what Aldrik was thinking the time Vhalla took down the sandstorm or when they first met ;)

@Britney Egmun being of water affinity would make sense with the title, because I can't imagine it being Fritz. I hope Fritz is still willing to help Aldrik in some way though, because the poor guy has lost everyone he loves.

@Britney @ Bianca I really want to see Vhalla see her family again, I mean she was so young when she was employed to the castle - so I wonder if her father remarried and she has a sister/brother now?
But I feel like the more direct place for her to go now is to the West so she could figure out Aldrik's past and the Knights of Jadar. Or maybe she'll visit her grandparents who are pretty much cut-off from her father?
Speaking of which does anyone else think that Aldrik might have been the reason that the War of the Crystal Caverns started? If Vhalla was working at the Library for 7 years, Aldrik would have been about 23 when the War finished?
I would love to see Vhal meet more Windwalkers that would be amazing! I wonder if she will because she herself manifested her powers quite late.

What I"m thinking is that Vhalla is going to appropriately use axe. All the while, no longer being under the king's command, she can flourish and truly learn to become a strong leader( for her future role as empress because we will all die if she and Aldrik don't finally have a happy ending.)

I think we'll definitely see less of Aldrik and his brother in WW (cries), but I think a lot of that time will be spent with Aldrik learning how to deal with his anger problems, and fighting his father for power, not marrying this new chick, and I'm PREDICTING at the end the king will die or be injured and Aldrik will need to fill the role of emperor.

I also want to predict that Aldrik and Vhalla will make up in the end and be a strong team in the book after WW. But here's me speculating for a happy ending, which Elise never does, so why bother guessing (sorry still bitter from EE ending) ^^;

I will really have to re-read all 3 books before I read WW. There's just so many possibilities and I'm enjoying how everyone here is thinking of so many interesting scenarios. :)

Hello. It's my first time participating in a book discussion on goodreads, but EE broke my heart to a point that I had to vent my thoughts and predictions!

@Rose and @Britney I like your theories about Aldrik's role in the War of the Crystal Caverns. My theory is probably too out there, but is it possible Aldrik came across one of these crystal weapons during the War of the Crystal Caverns and it tainted him or something? Maybe he was partially to blame for starting the war as sorcerers started it by messing around with crystals?

In FF, Vhalla dreams his memory of when he first killed someone. The memory was in a place that sounds an awful lot like a cave and he used some sort of sword/ blade (provided curtesy of jerkface Egmun) to kill the man. In the dreamscape memory this blade had a weird sheen to it...Perhaps it was a crystal blade?

Anyways, I need WW to be released now so I can make sense of what's going on, what power lies in these crystals, and have my crackpot theories proved or disproved.

@Elise please write a book from Aldrik's POV when this series finishes! He confuses me so much it makes my head hurt.

Britney wrote: "@Alex This is also my first time too! I hadn't realized that Goodreads had such an awesome community, and I'm really finding myself getting more involved now. Especially when it comes to the AA ser..."

I completely overlooked that Vhalla would have been able to see if Aldrik suffered from taint from exposure to crystals. Anyways, Elisa needs to give us a suggested reading list of books so I can cope with the ending of EE until WW is released. gah!

@Alex Me too! This is the first time I got involved in a book discussion and I'm loving it, its so great to talk to everyone, especially since we are all going through the same turmoil - misery love company and all :)
@Alex and @Britney When Vhalla was detailing the history of the Crystal Caverns, it was when she mentioned how the sorcerers and Commons became monsters due to the taint of the Crystals that Aldrik became infuriated. So he must carry a lot of guilt for what happened? I wonder how he recovered after it happened, because I think I remember him saying that Laurel wasn't able to help him during that time.

I loved reading about everyone's speculations for WW! This is my first time joining in on a book discussion too and it's all because I have a bad book hangover from EE- I finished it last week and I still can't move on. :p

Anyways, I feel like for WW, crystals are going to play a significant role? It just feels like that because crystals/ The War of the Crystal Caverns has been continually brought up in all 3 books so far. I don't know what role crystals play exactly, but the influence of it is woven into the story:

1. Vhalla's dream of Aldrik's memory in EE where he and Victor go to Egmun and something about a last session is mentioned and Victor says something about his Channel feeling a little strange. Egmun then brings out a box that has Western writing on it (like the Western writing on the box that held the crystal cuffs the emperor tried to use on Vhalla to block her Channel?) and Vhalla feels like the box looks familiar. This may be like the box that held the crystals that Victor used on Vhalla in AA after she was injured from the fall? So it seems like Aldrik has been exposed to crystals before- as for whether or not he's been tainted I am unsure.

2. I definitely agree with previous posts about Aldrik having some connection with the War of the Crystal Caverns. In FF when Lord Ophain mentioned the war, he asked Vhalla if she knew why it was started and why people were messing with the powers of the crystals. Aldrik grew angry at that and Ophain tried to reassure him by saying he knows when a story isn't his to tell. Same in EE when Vhalla brings up the war and crystals in Ch. 12 after her projection and Aldrik gets angry again. In that same chapter earlier on, Aldrik also says something about giving his father a "glimpse of the truth" and blames himself for turning his father into the way he is now. So there's something there but not sure what history is making him so agitated...

3. In EE, we learn that Achel is a crystal weapon and the Knights of Jadar have some sort of weapon too called the Sword of Jadar (is it crystal?)

4. I agree with @Alex about the cave and the weapon that Aldrik used to kill his first man- maybe the sword is also made of crystal? The cave sounds like it possibly had crystals in it- in FF it says that the room Aldrik and Egmun were in was filled with a "haze" and that the floor seemed to have "shards of shimmering glass" and the blade also "shimmered" like it "gave off its own light." In EE, was anyone reminded of this scene when reading about Vhalla finding Achel? The building was filled with crystals and the ceiling is described as also seeming to "glow with magic" and there is a "haze" mentioned in that scene also, along with the shimmering crystals themselves.


I also thought about the powers behind the scenes with what is happening in the story- in WW's description, it says But the true fight is only beginning as the secret forces that have been lurking in the shadows, tugging at the strings of Vhalla’s fate, finally come to light. Ever since FF, I've been wondering about the significance of certain players in the story:

1. Egmun- I'm hoping we'll get clarification as to what role exactly he played in changing Aldrik into who he is today and his involvement with the War of the Crystal Caverns (if any?)

2. What are Victor's true motives in having Vhalla retrieve Achel? And is he friend or foe?

3. Aldrik- is he truly a puppet master or is he himself a puppet in something bigger too?

4. The most enigmatic character I found in the series- the woman Vi from FF that told Vhalla her future. She seemed a little suspect- and I am certain that the pocket watch Vhalla held in the future-telling that Vi took has some significance! Reminded me also of Jax and Erion mentioning in EE how Aldrik used to make watches and how in FF Vhalla was reminded of Aldrik's pocketwatch when she chose that object to hold in the Curiosity Shop. Hmmm could it be possible it's one of Aldrik's make or am I reading too much into it? ALSO, did anyone else think that the woman Vhalla saw in Old Soricium was Vi? Maybe I'm just crazy, but it sounded like it could be her. The woman was described as having two glowing red eyes, which reminded me of Vi's when she was telling the future in FF. Even though her face was wrapped, Vhalla thought she maybe looked Western, which was what Vi looked like. AND she warns Vhalla to "heed my warning" and says she's had many names when Vhalla asks who she is, similar to Vi's response in FF where that character also says she's had many names and tells Vhalla to "heed my words." Will she make a reappearance in WW?

As you can see, I've spent an unhealthy amount of time wrangling with these questions from the books. Like who's controlling these events? What's the real role of crystals? What are their fates?? Pretty sure I sound insane at this point with all the analyzing. Everything is unclear but one thing is for certain- I need the 4th book ASAP. Someone send help please

@ Daphne, I love your thoughts about the crystals, I know what you mean I'm literally dying for the 4th book - there's so many questions that I want answered! Maybe if Vhalla does end up going to the West in WW, Ophain might tell Vhalla of what happened to Aldrik in the past.
You are not at all insane :D After what you said, I was wondering as well whether Vi was someone who knew Aldrik and whether the pocketwatch was one he made, after what Jax said about him making a lot of watches when he was younger.
I know what you mean, I keep thinking that maybe the emperor will die and the real person controlling the strings will finally step in to play, whether its Egmun or Victor!

@daphne i have the same hunch about Vi from FF and that lady with the red eyes in EE! I didnt mention it here earlier coz i thought i might be only one who was thinking about it!

@daphne i have the same hunch about Vi from FF and that lady with the red eyes in EE! I didnt mention it here earlier coz i thought i might be only one who was thinking about it!

@Anne-Mette, @Rose, and @Bianca Yes! Thank you, I love having other people obsess over this with me and to know I'm not alone in this thinking :)

@Daphne your predictions are so much better distilled and articulated than mine! Your post is highly appreciated.

How to cope until WW is released? GAH.

Just for clarification, has it been established that Aldrick can dream Vhalla's memories? I'm a bit confused because Tim mentions to Vhalla that she won't tell anyone about his dreams. Also, at the end of the book, he tells Vhalla something to the effect of "You already knew how this would end, didn't you" at which point she remembers being in the curiosity shop. Did he dream her memory of visiting the curiosity shop? Aldrik is such a complex character that it makes my head hurt so I'm hoping that WW might tell what these dreams are he's having?

As to theories about Vi, my outrageous one is that she's The Mother. I have no evidence to support my claim except she does sound like the person in both the curiosity shop and in the North. Further, Daniel tells Vhalla that she was gone for hours when retrieving the axe, while she felt it was but an hour. Maybe the women is the goddess and that explains the time lapse? Vi also says she has gone by many names? She just doesn't sound mortal to me. Again, totally outlandish, but it's the best I've got.

@Alex thank you! And no I don't think we know yet if Aldrik can dream Vhalla's memories? That's interesting, I didn't think about that- about him possibly knowing those things? One of my other predictions for WW is that Vhalla might drop by Mosant and visit Tim and maybe she'll tell her a bit about those bad dreams that Aldrik had? Just a guess.

And oh my goodness I had the same thought cross my mind too about Vi maybe being The Mother but I was like nooo that can't possibly be true! But who knows?? I also did get the same feeling of some higher- being vibes.

@alex your mother theory is plausible because Vi's element is also fire. And you also have a point about Aldrik's dream, that he could've dreamt of the incident in Vi's shop! Aaaahh

Hey everyone, also my first goodreads discussion post! These books....man, these books! I still can't get over the end of EE! Argh!
@Daphne You said exactly what I was thinking. There has to be a connection with Vi and the lady in Old Soricium. Every time a watch is mentioned, I think about the one Vi asked for. How peculiar that she asked Vhalla for it?
@Alex. Wow, great point about Aldrick's dreams! I didn't even think about him dreaming of her memories!
He is just so secretive, I just want to yell at him! How does he except her to learn anything if he won't tell her?!? I really think she has more power in her, something is missing yet. And what's with the Magic the Northerns used? Strange. And the seeds?

Oh my goodness. The cover! Is that Daniel?

@Christa

I believe its Aldrik and Vhalla (of course Vhalla) in the cover for WW. Idk The Eyebrows, eyes, and Cheek bones looks like the Aldrik in FF cover. What do you think?

I love the cover. So Awesome!!

The man at the cover has blue eyes, not Aldrik's.

What's the color of daniel's eyes? Coz i also thought that i wasn't aldrik on the cover. And they're going to the crystal cave

Daniel has brown eyes. I was thinking about all the men we met in Elise's books and came to the thougth it's someone new. Or maybe Baldair dyed his hair?)))

Oh glad then it is not Daniel :D I forgot he had brown eyes. I do see the uniform under the cloak though.

I forgot Daniel has hazel eyes like vhalla. But I don't think Aldrick has blue eyes either. Could it be fritz? I'm really bad at remembering what the characters are supposed to look like.


It could just be artistic license and be Aldrick after all.

The cover looks awesome.

Christa, I was just thinking that as well that it is quite possible it is Aldrik. The blue could be just a reflection or something as the whole cover is blue. I don't know... :D
I had Fritz in mind too with hair dyed perhaps.

@Anjuli

It looks like Aldrik to me. The facial structure point to him, minus the blue eyes. Its possible it can be a new character, but I doubt they would make the cover. I think only the main characters make it. Lets see if Elise will give us a clue.

I don't think I'll be giving anything away. ARC sign ups will be out soon and I'm enjoying all this discussion and theorizing far too much!
(I'm evil sometimes, I know)

Ahh please can I get hold of an ARC!! *cries!!* I don't know whether it's Daniel or Alsrik, I'm leaning towards Daniel, Aldrik's facial features are a little more sharp and closed off.