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Three Days Until THE SHATTERED CASTLE RELEASES // Predictions for the Fifth Book Discussion Post

“Above all else, I think that you are a compulsive liar.”
My laughter was tense, but sincere. “Hardly. In fact, I consider myself a compulsive truth teller. It’s only that everyone else seems compelled to misunderstand me.”

(Quote taken from The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen.)

TODAY’S POST WILL HAVE SPOILERS!!! MAKE SURE TO READ THE CAPTIVE KINGDOM BEFORE CONTINUING!!!

But before we get into that, let’s see what some of the fans had to say about my last post’s question.

(From Lily)

(From Victoria)

I LOVED hearing about how all of y’all found The False Prince!!!!!!!! Today’s post we’re going to be discussing our predictions for The Shattered Castle. BUT WAIT, if you missed the other posts check them out:

Countdown begins

Six Days Left

Five Days Left

Four Days Left

Now let’s jump into today’s post!!!

Alright, so I’m sure we all know The Captive Kingdom ended on a banger. I mean, what a plot twist!!!! To be honest, I don’t have a lot of predictions, but let’s see what I’ve got for y’all today. (Also it’s been over a year since I read TCK, so my memory on everything is kinda fuzzy, so be warned.)

#1. I think Jaron is going to have to fight to save Carthya again. Whether that’s another war or something else I’m not sure.

#2. Also I feel like Darius is going to play some really big role in the series!!

#3. Wilta’s definitely coming back with a dramatic return.

#4. Roden’s gonna fall in love. Okay, this is a stretch, but I really wanna see him find a girl!!

#5. Erick will come back to life. okay, I don’t really think this. I mean, how much more of these plot twists can Jennifer Nielsen pull off? But it doesn’t mean I can’t hope. XD

#6. Okay, this isn’t so much of a prediction… but I just REALLY want to know more about those telescopes

#7. Someone’s gonna die. I don’t know who, but I just have this feeling that someone will and it’ll be the worst person to possible die…

#8. JARON’S GONNA BE UTTERLY SASSY AND SNARKY AND THE BEST PROTAGONIST EVERRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

And on that note, it’s your turn now. I’m not sure how much of any of the above actually constitutes as a prediction, it’s just my thoughts on what’s gonna happen. I’ve kinda learned not to try to figure out where Mrs. Nielsen is taking us and just roll with the flow. XD

BUT I wanna hear alllll about y’all’s predictions. What do you think is going to happen in The Shattered Castle? Any of the above predictions you agree with? Disagree with? Why? Let’s chat about it in the comments below. 

It’s only THREE more days until The Shattered Castle releases!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN Y’ALL BELIEVE IT???!!!! I AM JUST SO CRAZY EXCITED AND AAAAAAAHHH!!!!!! Yes, that’s all I’ve been able to do is say I’m excited and scream.

I shall end this with an awesome graphic from last year’s countdown gotta use these for something:

Keep on being awesome and never stop writing,

~Issabelle Perry

Issabelle Perry is a proud Jesus follower, an extroverted writer, and a homeschool graduate. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, jamming to Skillet, studying history, hunting for Narnia in wardrobes, or envisioning herself wielding a magnificent sword (but due to her clumsiness, let’s hope that never happens). This self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast can be found hanging out at Teen Writers’ Nook, a community of teen authors Issabelle co-founded in 2020. She is the author of Don't Let Me Go (Sky's the Limit Press 2024), May We Make Them Proud (2023), and a co-editor for two anthologies. What she’s probably doing right now is fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate.

22 Comments

  • Diamond

    *skips over the post to avoid spoilers*

    HI ISSABELLE!
    Great post you have here. (erm, I assume…)
    My prediction for the final book is that…you’ll cry at the ending. Hehe. You know, it is always sad to see a good book series end.

    • Issabelle Perry

      Hahahahaha. XD

      Heya, Diamond!!!!!!
      Hahahah, oh it was totally a great post. I can assure you. It was probably the best post ever!!! (Too much? 😂)
      Ooooo now that is a great prediction!!!!! It IS!!! So sad. I probably will cry. *sniffs* Especially if Mrs. Nielsen chooses to kill off some of my favorite characters (which I’m VERY afraid might happen). I’ll let ya know if your prediction came through!!!!!! 😉
      THANKS for stopping by!!!

  • Lily

    Of course, would Wilta ever come back with anything but a dramatic entrance? Also, I hope Roden won’t fall in love with her again (as I remember that almost happening last time…*raises eyebrow at him*) And can we just have Mott come back too? And if Jaron survives near death experiences, maybe Erick will also!! Anyone?? *crickets* Seriously, Ms Nielsen’s good at keeping pretty much everyone else alive (I mean, c’mon, Darius?!)

    “I shall end this with an awesome graphic from last year’s countdown (gotta use these for something)”.

    Haha! Now I’m gonna steal your idea for the future, Is! 😉

    Aww, you put my comment in today’s post! Thanks, Issabelle! (Also, I love Victoria’s comment! Now, when someone asks me, I can define for them Snark and Sarcasm in one word: Sage) XD

    • Issabelle Perry

      Of course not. She *thinks* she’s too awesome for that. Ugh, ikr. I really hope whatever romantic thoughts he had towards her will stay in the past. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs. Nielsen writes Wilta a redemption arc and then sticks her with Roden, but I’ll be really sad with that. 🙁 RODEN’S JUST TOO GOOD FOR HER!!!!!! YESSSS!!!!! I. NEED. MORE. MOTT!!! I was totally sad with the small amount we got with him in The Captive Kingdom. WE NEED MORE MOTT!!! *chanting* Mott, Mott, Mott, Mott. Hahaha YES MAYBE!!!! He’s been with Jaron long enough, he shoulda picked up on some of Jaron’s skills. XD YES!!! I mean, it’s kinda crazy. This series will probably end where everyone we thought was dead was all really alive, so no one actually died throughout the series. Except for Cregan. Yeah, he better stay dead. XDD 🤣

      Hahahaha, YESS!!!! you may definitely steal it till your heart’s content. 😉

      YES!!!! It was a pretty awesome comment. 😉 Aww, of course, Lily!!!!! (Hahahaha me too!! XD YESSS!!!! Oh man, that’s definitely what I am going to do too if I’m ever asked. XDD Ain’t no one got the Snark and Sarcasm as together as Sage does. XDD)

  • Louise Taylor

    I love these posts so much!!! As soon as I saw you’d posted I grabbed my tea and all but collapsed onto the couch to read this!!!! You’re going to do like an in-depth review after this comes out and you read it, right?? 😃😃😃 *super hopeful Fink face*

    Oooooooo, PrEdIcTiOnS. We’re getting into dangerous territory.
    I WAS hoping for a glimpse at the future princes and princesses of Carthya… BUT I WAS DENIED. *pretends to be upset*

    And yes about Roden!!!! I was like, okay, we got everyone a future wife but him. He’s next. *evil laughter* (is it just me, or does everyone love him as much as I do? Cause despite his flaws, he’s probably my third favorite, Jaron being first and Fink second, yes, my top three favorites are the guys. I don’t know why though, *confused Fink face*)

    I have to say Fink is probably going to do something that is going to unexpectedly twist the events either in their favor or against it. And maybe Imogen is going to have to address the people at some moment? Like a future queen? (I would LOVE that) And at the rate Jaron gets himself injured… I don’t really want to go there. *winces*

    But you’re right, predictions with Mrs. Neilson are pretty shaky. Did you predict anything for the Captive Kingdom?

    • Issabelle Perry

      AWWWW LOUISE THAT MAKES ME THE HAPPIEST TO HEAR THAT!!!!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! D’awwww, seriously? YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THIS MAKES ME SMILE!!!!!!!! *gasp* Well, I honestly didn’t plan on it, but y’know what, I am DEFINITELY 100% going to do this now!!!!!! Yes, I will totally put that in the plan. I probably won’t get to read it till December though, but hopefully, by then, a lot of y’all have gotten to read it too!!!!! Hahaha, I mean, I can’t say no to the Fink face. XD

      Hahahaha, oooooooo yes, yes we are. AAAHHH YES THAT WOULD’VE BEEN SO EPIC!!!!!!!!! *pouts*

      AAAHH, girl, I’ve been thinking the same thing! I want to see him fall in love with a girl SO BADLY!!! (But not Wilta. No, he’s too good for her.) (A lot of people really like Roden, so it’s totally not just you!!!! I love Roden, but he’s not really in the top five fav characters for me. That would be Jaron, Mott, Tobias, Amarinda, and of course, Fink!!!! How could you not like Fink? He’s so adorable! Lol, because the guys rock!!!!! And there are more of them and fewer girl characters to choose from. XD)

      *gasp* I didn’t even think of that, but I think you’re SO right!!!!! *gasps even louder* YES YES YES!!!!! I WANT TO DEFINITELY SEE IMOGEN ADDRESS THE PEOPLE AS THE FUTURE QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me too!!!! *cough* Yeeeeeaaaaahhhh, we definitely don’t need to go there.

      They are. For all we know, these predictions are just going to go out the window and she’s gonna do the least thing we expected. *shakes head* Not really. I mean, I had totally assumed Darius was alive, and I was crazy feaful Jaron was going to give up the crown to Darius (phew, glad that didn’t happen), but I didn’t have any predictions. It’s my first time doing this actually!!!!! So kinda excited to see if we’ve got any right!!!

      • Louise Taylor

        Yes seriously!!! This was so epic!! And YAY!!!!! I CAN’T WAIT!!! (I’m already more then halfway done with it, so I’m going to of course give it a raving review on my own blog, maybe one without spoilers and one WITH spoilers because… I’ll have to rave about the new developments… who wouldn’t?? 😅)
        The Fink face always works. *grins*

        True, true, true. Though being 100% honest, I think I have a bias towards male fictional characters. When my alpha readers tell me their favorites from my WIP, it’s the guys. And most of my favorite fictional characters are guys. Maybe because I have a higher standard for the girls since I know more girls in real life than guys??? *throws hands up in confusion* who knows, lol. But Jaron is definitely one of my favorites!

        Oh the predictions!!! *tries to pretend I haven’t yet read half the book so I don’t spoil* You just need to read it!!! *shoves book into your hands* and then we can fangirl together!!! But for your sake my lips are zipped shut!!! I can’t even tell you if it’s good or bad!!!! *bites lip* boy am I going to have to practice patience. *waits till December*

        • Issabelle Perry

          YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaahhh, girl, I am SO excited to hear this!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! YIPPEEEE!!!! NEITHER CAN I!!! Which, I know the book has already been released, but I’m just DESPERATE to read it. *sad sigh* (Oooo that is a GENIUS idea!!! I can’t wait to read the review… well, after I read The Shattered Castle. THEN I can’t wait to read the review. I’ll keep a check on your blog. And I like the idea of having both a spoiler and non-spoiler one!! Hahahaha, exactly!! It’d be totally impossible!)
          Heheheheehe, I am SO using the Fink face. XD

          Hahahahaa, girl, SO DO I!!! I don’t know why, but I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS tend to love the fictional guy characters more! Yeah, I feel like I’m the same way. I know more girls than dudes and I am a girl (well… obviously, Is. XD) so I just have VERY high standards myself. Lol, eh, I wouldn’t even bother trying to figure it out. XDDD It’s crazy. YESS JARON’S MAH BOY!!!!!!

          Hahaahahaha, yesss I do SO MUCH!!!! It’s been sooo hard to not read this book while seeing everyone else reading and enjoying it. XD *happily accepts the book* Oh, yes, I am DEFINITELY looking forward to getting to fangirl over it!!!! *high fives* Awwww thank you! I appreciate that!! Hahahaha, oh, man, I’m soooo sorry. I know that’s gonna be hard. I shall try my very hardest to get to it as soon as I can. 😉 Maybe I can use the Fink face to try to convince my mom to buy me a copy… xD

  • Katherine

    First off, I LOVE THAT QUOTE you shared at the beginning of the post!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 It’s one of my favorites!!!!!!!! And it just totally sums up Sage!!!!!

    Aaahh, great predictions, Is!!!!!!!!! 😉 Yeah, Erick is definitely gonna have to come back to life, otherwise we’re gonna wonder what he’s doing in the last chapter of The Shadow Throne. It’s also possible Belland is going to play a role in The Shattered Castle. I mean, Darius is over there. Or maybe he’ll come to Carthya.
    Honestly, I wish we could see some of Avenia again. I kinda like that place. Kinda. Oooh, and we need to see Kippenger again!! Also, Jane and Wilta are probably going to return. (That’s like guaranteed, right? XD)

    • Issabelle Perry

      THANK YOU SO MUCH KATHERINE!!!!!!!!!!! It’s one of my favorites. Aaaaahhh Ikr?? IT DOES!!!! 🙂

      Why thank you. I literally came up with most of them on the spot. XD Yes, I know right! I hope we at least get some kind of explanation for why he’s dead in the fourth book and alive afterward. XD Oh, man, I didn’t think of that but I think you’re definitely right!! I’m sure we’re going to see Darius be an epic king for Belland!!!!!!
      OH MAN I KNOW RIGHT!!!!! I would love love LOVE to see Kippenger as king and more of those Avenian pirates. Oh man, I just go a great idea. WOULDN’T IT BE SO AWESOME IF FINK FOUND SOME OF HIS FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ugh, I’m not ready to see Wilta again to be honest. I literally despise her as an antagonist. *shudders* Honestly, Vargan was a bit easier to handle than her in my opinion. (It is, lol. XD)

  • Victoria

    OOOH MWAHAHAHAHA THAT GRAPHIC IS THE BEEESSST!!!!! *heart eyes* NOW. Time for mesies predictioniesies. HEHEHEHE.

    Numero Uno: There is DEFINITELY gonna be a fight of some sort……even if it’s just a sword battle. (‘Cause let’s be real. It ain’t a TAS book without some swords a clangin’.) XD But I do think the creepy Prozarians will be back with much Pirate Rage & Revenge goin’ on which may result in some kind of war or something.

    Numero Dos: Darius better be back and we better get some more brother love or else I’ll be very mad.

    Numero Tres: Wilta better NOT be back but she probably will so I’m just preparing myself already. I dunno…she just annoyed me a lot (mainly because she was such a good female antagonist).

    Numero Cuatro: IF RODEN DOESN’T FALL IN LOVE AND IT ACTUALLY WORKS OUT I’M JUMPING INTO THAT BOOK AND WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL I CAN SUCCESSFULLY PLAY MATCHMAKER AND FIND HIS ULTIMATE SOULMATE. Just sayin’. >.>

    Numero Cinco: Eeeeeeeeeeeh, I REALLY wanna agree that Erik is gonna come back to life, buuuut he seemed pretty dead the last time we saw him so I’m not so sure about that either. But, like you said, it never hurts to hope! 😛

    Numero Seis: OH MY GOSH. O.O I didn’t even realize that someone awesome might end up dying. *sweats nervously* That’s…that’s some bad (and very likely news). For real, that’s like what all authors do at the end of a series. They kill off one of the beloved characters. UGH! Now all I can think of is precious little Fink sacrificing his life for something important. (I dunno why Fink, but it better not be him. Please, Ms. Nielsen, DON’T LET IT BE FINK. DON’T LET IT BE MY STABBY MARSHMALLOW BAAAAAABY!!!! *sobs*)

    Numero Siete: I feel like the castle is gonna be infiltrated by the Prozarians (or whomever the big bad wolf is). Perhaps…maybe? I just feel like the title “The Shattered Castle” is gonna mean it will be under attack. ORRRRR maybe it goes deeper and means that Jaron’s home and family and friends (his “castle”) ends up getting split apart somehow (either through disagreement or danger, etc.) and everything just…you know…SHATTERS. *cue dramatic music*

    Numero Ocho: Jaron and Imogen better be married in this book. LIKE, Imma gonna be so mad if they aren’t. Want I REALLY want, however, is for them to have kids or something, but that might be too soon. XD

    Numero Nueve: I can’t remember…did Mott end up going back to Carthya or did he stay with that lady and Darius? ‘Cause if he did stay, I for sure think he’ll be back and maybe he and the lady might get married too. Hopefully. My cinnamon roll needs a love life just as much as Roden does. XD

    Numero Dies: I bet Tobias and Amarinda will be married too. (YES, YES, I’m just hoping everyones gets hitched aren’t I.) But hey, maybe they’ll even have lil’ Tobarinda munchkins who can play with Jaron and Imogen’s kiddos. XD

    AAAAND, yeah that’s all I got right now. LONG LIVE CARTHYA, FREE FOOD, AND GOLLUM IMITATIONS! *salutes and leaves*

    • Issabelle Perry

      AAAAAHHHHH I AM SO GLAD YOU THINK SO VICTORIA!!!!!!!!!!! It’s an old one, and I can totally do better, but it made me smile anyways. 🙂 THANKS!!!

      Oh, yes, definitely. It wouldn’t be a TAS book without any fight scenes! I agree. We DEFINITELY have not seen the worse from those Prozarions.

      SAME!!!!! I NEED MORE DARIUS JARON AND FINK TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Ugh, yes, I am NOT ready for that Wilta to be back. I really don’t like her at all, not even for a villain. She gives me the creeps.

      YESSS I SECOND THIS SO MUCH!!!!! AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME WITH YOU BECAUSE RODEN MIGHT NEED THE EXTRA CONVINCING!!!!!! (And while we’re at it, we’ll just catch a ride to New Zealand on our way back. ;P )

      Yeah, I think it’s safe to say he isn’t coming back, but we shall hope anyways!!! XD

      *gasp* Oh, Victoria, why did you have to say that. *also begins nervously sweating* It canNOT be Fink, or I will be completely miserable for the rest of my life. *sniff, sniffs* Fink is my li’l baby boy, and I am keeping him safe even if I have to jump in that book and bring him to America. XD YES MRS. NIELSEN, PLEASE DON’T LET IT BE FINK!!!!!!!!! *sends tissues to Victoria*

      Why do I feel like you’re totally right? That’s not good. The title DOES imply that, though. Uhhhh okay now I’m officially in the panic stage right now, girl. XD *dramatic music plays and everyone leans on the edge of their seats to see if Victoria’s predictions are right*

      Aaaaaahhh that would be AMAZING!!!!!! I kinda feel like they won’t be since the age range Mrs. Nielsen’s targeting for now as a middle-grade
      audience instead of young adult wouldn’t really let her write a story with them actually married. Even in young adult, you focus more on the dating end than the marriage, that’s more of a concept for adult novels. BUT it would be REALLY cool if we get more of the wedding than we did in the shadow throne. Hahahaha, maybe just a bit. I think The Shattered Castle happens right on the heels of The Captive Kingdom’s ending.

      Uhhhh I cannot remember. It’s been a while since I’ve read The Captive Kingdom. I think Mott went with Jaron??? But if not, then he BETTER show up. Hahahaha yesssss, both of those boys need some romance. XD

      YESSSSS!!!!!!!! I’m really crossing my fingers on this one. It probably has a better chance since they married before Jaron and Imogen did. *crossing fingers really hard* *gasp* THAT WOULD MAKE THIS LI’L FANGIRL HEART SO PROUD!!!!!!

      Lol, girl, you just crack me up. I definitely second EvErYtHiNg. XD *chants with Victoria and also salutes*

  • ✨Chloe✨

    Ooooh, I love your predictions, especially number eight 😂 I totally 💯 percent agree with number four. I mean, Mott even found someone, so Roden just HAS to!!!!
    Aaaaaaaaahhh!!!!! THAT GRAPHIC!!! Just… *bubbles over with adoration* I just love it, I wish I could make things like that!!
    Anyways, have a fantabulous day, we’re SO CLOSE TO THE RELEASE!!!! ✌️

    • Issabelle Perry

      Awwww THANK YOU SO MUCH, Chloe!!!!! SO glad to hear that. Lol, eight’s a personal fav myself. XD aaaah I know right!!! IT WOULDN’T BE FAIR. XD
      Awwwwww, girl, you are the sweetest. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!! What are you talking about? GIRL YOUR GRAPHICS ARE ALWAYS SO SUPERB!!!!!! You’re one of the best graphic-designing girls I know. 🙂
      Thank you and same back at ya, sista. WOOHOOOOO!!!!!

  • SawyerMarie

    Ahhhh I agree with your list. Except I think that something will happen between Darius and Jarron, and that *gulp* sorry y’all, that Harlow might die 😣
    Also, I’m sure that Wilta is coming back and the telescope thingy is involved.

    • Issabelle Perry

      WOOHOOOO!!!!!!!! I’m SO glad to hear that, girl!!!!! *gasp* I didn’t think of that but I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re right. I can definitely see some brother-tension going on between Jaron and Darius. Noooooo not my Harlowe. *sniffs* But you might actually be right. :,(
      Yup, I think we’re all 99% certain on that, and I’m really excited to learn more about that telescope thingy!!

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