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Violet Sorrengail
The protagonist of the novel, Violet is a determined young woman who is forced by her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, to join the dragon-Rider Quadrant of Basgiath War College. In her terrifying new life as a dragon Rider, Violet quickly learns to rely on her intellect and resilience to survive among many bigger, stronger Cadets. Violet is Xaden’s love interest and is bonded to the dragons Tairn and Andarna. Violet’s signets are summoning lightning and stopping time.
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Xaden Riorson
Leader of the Rebellion-Marked Cadets and Violet’s love interest. Because of the ugly history between their families, Xaden initially sees Violet as an enemy. However, she quickly becomes an ally and then a source of obsessive longing when she bonds with Tairn, a dragon who’s mated to Xaden’s own mount Sgaeyl. Xaden is handsome and noble, but he’s also stubborn and touchy. Spending time with Violet humanizes him–somewhat. Xaden’s signet is controlling shadows.
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Jack Barlowe
A hostile fellow first-year Basgiath Cadet who repeatedly tries to kill Violet. Jack begins and ends the novel as a violent and unhinged enemy of Violet, Xaden, and everyone they are aligned with. His signet is inflicting pain.
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Tairn
Violet's bonded dragon. Tairn is a colossal and powerful black dragon. He’s known for his sarcastic demeanor and long history of storied battles. Tairn is mated to Sgaeyl, Xaden’s dragon, and shares his bond with Violet with a dragon named Andarna.
Andarna
Violet's second dragon bond. Andarna is a golden feathertail, initially thought to be another dragon species but later revealed to actually just be a juvenile. Young dragons are not usually known to bond with humans. She has the ability to stop time, and uses it to save Violet’s life on a number of crucial occasions. She’s sweet-tempered but can be irascible and stubborn when she doesn’t get her way.
Dain Aetos
Violet's childhood friend. Dain is the son of a high-ranking officer and is loyal to Navarre above all else. His signet is being able to look into people’s recent memories.
Sgaeyl
Xaden's bonded dragon. Sgaeyl is an enormous and fierce blue daggertail. Sgaeyl is completely devoted to both Tairn and Xaden and is initially very suspicious of Violet.
Rhiannon Matthias
Violet's best friend. Rhiannon is loyal, strong, and supportive. Her signet is summoning objects, and her green dragon is named Feirge.
Mira Sorrengail
Violet's older sister. Mira is a distinguished military leader. She’s strong-willed and protective of Violet, giving her a breastplate made of her dragon Teine’s scales before she takes the Parapet challenge. Her signet is casting shields.
General Lilith Sorrengail
A powerful military leader and Violet's mother. Lilith is chilly and exacting, and she enforces a strict and demanding path for her children. No deviation from her authority is ever permitted. Her signet is controlling storms.
Brennan Sorrengail
Violet's brother, presumed dead for most of the novel. Brennan is a dragon Rider whose signet is healing. He’s a strategic thinker and natural leader who is willing to sacrifice for his beliefs, even if it costs his life. His signet is Mending (a supercharged version of healing).
Ridoc Gamlyn
A lighthearted Basgiath Cadet known for his humor. Ridoc helps keep up the spirits of his classmates during difficult moments. His dragon is called Aortrom, and his signet is wielding ice.
Liam Mairi
A charming Cadet fostered alongside Xaden. Liam is deeply loyal to his friends and willing to sacrifice himself for their safety. He becomes Violet’s unofficial bodyguard about halfway through the novel. His dragon is called Deigh and his signet is farsight.
Professor Carr
A professor who teaches Cadets how to harness and control their signets after bonding with dragons. Carr pushes Cadets to their physical and mental limits and is also the War College’s executioner when cadets display forbidden signet powers.
Professor Kaori
A professor at Basgiath who teaches Cadets about dragonkind and holds the military rank of Colonel. Kaori is a researcher, but his curiosity about dragons and their closely-guarded history can cloud his judgement. His signet is illusions.
Professor Markham
Head of Scribes at Basgiath and mentor to Violet before she joined the Riders Quadrant. Markham is fully complicit in the governmental conspiracy and shows his true colors late in the novel.
Professor Devera
A Rider who co-leads Battle Brief classes with Professor Markham. Her military rank is Captain.
Nolon
The Mender at Basgiath, whom Violet has known since childhood.
Aimsir
General Lilith Sorrengail's dragon. Aimsir is a brown dragon with golden eyes.
Aortrom
Ridoc's bonded dragon. Aortrom is a medium-sized brown swordtail.
Baide
Jack Barlowe's bonded dragon. Baide is a vicious beast. She is an orange scorpiontail with a vengeful nature and a tendency to kill Cadets.
Cath
Dain Aetos's bonded dragon. Cath is a large red swordtail with a mean streak.
Deigh
Liam's bonded dragon. Deigh is a red daggertail
Feirge
Rhiannon's bonded dragon. Feirge is a green daggertail.
Teine
Mira Sorrengail's bonded dragon. Teine is a green clubtail.
Smachd
Professor Kaori's dragon.
