So as we welcome 2025 lets take it gently. None of that “New Year New Me” stuff, or “I am going to make this my year”. I feel we have all learned our lessons from this already.

And as I type this my printer as it get’s to the end of the pages sounds like its singing “peppa pig” so F that.

As per usual I have set up my traditional 24/7 goals.

For those who don’t know the way it works is if you make 24 goals that you want to achieve in a year the deal is you need to achieve 7 of those goals to have completed your resolution. I’ve so far completed mine every year since adopting the method reaching a minimum of 7 goals. This past year I achieved 13 of the goals, so just over half. I find it really helps to take the demand off of it when you make smaller more achievable goals.

This year I would love to achieve all 24 but I won’t hurt myself adhering to it to the letter.

Honestly, in reflection of the past year, we have endured a magnitude of challenges and come out the other side. Moving over 600 miles at the start of the year was challenging enough. With new diagnosis, with various appointments that comes with being a spoonie, I know that I am simply lucky to have the answers I do have. Even if I don’t like them. It’s been a year of learning to accept myself as I am. To lifting the fog of denial over my health in order to hopefully find the tools to be able to continue forward. Mental health wise, I mean, when hasn’t it been a hot mess in there? But I know that even coming on here to spend 5 minutes once in a while when I have the motivation to write can be fleeting. But to keep moving forward I have to keep taking these baby steps regularly.

So future wise what am I looking forward to?

Being present. Being present in my daily life as much as I can with the people who mean the most to me. That means everything to me.

That’s not a snide dig or in anyway a pointed statement, it is simply what I hope to do most.

I am working on being the best version of myself as much as possible, until that is simply just the most natural way of being. That sounds very floaty, but I guess it is, a little bit of levelling up is my hopes.

I hope you all have an amazing New Year.

May luck and adventure be on your side

ARA xxx

Well I couldn’t exactly stop at Fourth Wing now could I? That would be ridiculous.

So in the same fashion as last time these are my thoughts as I read along Iron Flame.

Notes on chapter 1:

Starting strong with a good recap.

I’m glad her brother is alive though. Does her mum know?

I’m happy there’s some eavesdropping happening.

What responsibility had Xaden taken?

Looks like she’s going back to school.

Stealing in to notes on chapter 2:

Oh nice the Riorson house is where some dragons are from.

Woah brotherly catch up time.

Ergh the politicians side suck.

Woah accelerated growth for Goldilocks. Gonna need to start using her name. But woah she’s grown up.

lol teenage dragon hehe

Ergh going back. Bloody Dains been mentioned.

So they have to race back for graduation. Interesting. Who knows what awaits them considering it was a trap.

Well you saw as I read along, the thoughts the theories and one thing is for certain. I am going to read the next book Iron Flame.

Doing the read along with notes on my thoughts on the chapters actually helped me to remember a lot more in the book and what my theories were.

I found it incredibly addictive and wish the people around me at the moment had been reading it to because it is all I want to talk about.

More than reading the ACOTAR series.

I can see why the Fourth Wing book is so popular. It was great to read, it felt like reading The Hunger Games for the first time, when I literally spent every moment I could reading it. Absolutely gripping. Everything seems to lead somewhere and is less of a throw away.

I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to start reading Iron Flame. I will be posting my read along thoughts for that too next. I cant wait. And I heard there is a third book out in January… eeeeeep!

Don’t worry I won’t hit publish straight away at the crack of dawn. That can wait til after coffee.

Notes on 37:

The last chapter was utterly devastating. Surely more survive than die?

Also how did they know this base was going to be the next target and why? Are they in league?

Well she used everything she had. Good on her. I mean a bit risky but sometimes it’s got to be done. Now what was the poison they used?

Notes on 38:

Goldilocks is so pure.

I hope they work out the poison for antidotes.

Where are they taking her?

Notes on 39

Oh no. The author did the thing where they suddenly start swapping perspectives. Is she actually going to die?

Oh god he’s memorialising her alive.

Oh she’s awake.

Also Melgren… no wonder he made the no more than 3 rule and also creepy much.

She doesn’t trust him. Well I wouldn’t either but still. It’s easily broken and can take lifetimes to recover.

He’s alive!!! He’s alive!!!! Whaaaaat???!!!!

Bonus content chapter notes. 9:

Oh their first fight on the mat. Ok.

Oooo he’s worked out she’s attracted to him.

I like it.

Notes on 16:

Dain should have been infantry, all he does is follow orders.

He’s doing well not to punch Dain. I want to.

Oh he knew exactly what he was doing exposing Dain like that.

It’s nice to see Sgaeyl is a match in Tairn for conversation.

Glad Xaden saw Violets “eww” moment after kissing Dain. I’m sure a lot of us had that moment.

Yes please!

I have a question.

So now Violet’s life is tied to his almost. Is her mother still going to force Xaden to die with the deal they made if a rebels kid decides to.. you know rebel? I have the vibe her mother was the one who forced that deal so like, is she really going to enforce it ?

I mean her whole career is her life but her kids? I dunno.

I assume we know about the deal because someone will rebel at some point.

Anyway.

Notes for 31:

She wants him to open up so badly.

Note from dad subtly confirms it’s not just folklore it’s fact. Why do they never see what we do? That’s the point I know.

Ok he’s just as stubborn as he is and refusing to catch feels doesn’t work. Not like that. Not when the chemistry is like that.

At least she’s sensible. Glad she returned the ouch though. She didn’t need to carry that one. By gods do these two flirt even when saying “hey you don’t want me to catch feels back off”.

I’m glad she stuck up for her own feelings though.

Why is the king really visiting?

Does Liam know they can talk to each other brain to brain?

Who gave Dain permission to speak ?

Party time! What is going on with Dain ? Why so nice? What is he up to?

Notes for 32:

Oh she’s at last admitting her complete feels.

Yes!!!! That’s what we like to see a good old romantic speach/conversation.

Not much conversation beyond that 😉

What interruption??? Dude…

Notes for 33:

People died? I swear if this book makes me cry I’ll be pissed.

Nope it’s a war game.

Tairn up to his tricks got me chuckling out loud.

Look at Xaden pulling ranks and picking top tier teams.

Who the hell keeps giving Dain the pain permission to speak!!!!

Oh Dain finally clicked they’re a thing.

Ok I feel there’s something incredibly dodgy going on with where they are sending Xaden. I think Dain might have knowledge or inkling. I think it’s trash he gets a beyond the wards spot. I think something is afoot and I don’t like the spidey senses I’m getting.

Well I can’t stop now.

Notes for 34:

Ok so the lake seems nice. I don’t know why it gives danger vibes though. Like menacing when this is just an “exercise” y type thing.

Are they really gonna do it by a lake?

What is Xaden doing????!!!!!?????

Ok I can just about fit one more chapter in because I can’t stop this addiction now… notes for 35:

I knew venin were real.

Oh boy I hope she gives Xaden a hard time.

Oof even the dragons lied. God I feel sad for her.

Can this book stop hitting me in the feels and the guts. This is brutal.

Dain knew that Violet going would be a suicide mission. How do you empty an outpost that valuable just to kill a bunch of kids?

Dain is such C U Next Tuesday. Reading her memories without her consent. Ergh mind grapy vibes.

Fine you twisted my arm. One more chapter. Notes on 36:

Well this is a nasty twist of fate if the Benin are there. How is it an accident? It’s a set up surely?

Oooo no there’s wyvern. That village is so fucked.

This girl and her dragon sass.

Gryphons and dragons can chat!

Not Liam.

Not Liam.

Revenge.