Teres

SCSF: How lovely.

This is the same book in which we're informed that she "overflows with compassion and love", no less.

Hmmm, I rather think that she means he is "not a hero" because he is Axis' lieutenant in the Axe-Wielders.

That would make sense, though it needed to be made clear in the text because as-is it just comes off as completely random. And of course this doesn't change the fact that Axis is painted as a "hero", which Azhure breathlessly declares him to be in the next book. Like it's somehow not possible to be brave and noble (not that Axis is either of these things) while also being a good person and not a violent abuser.

Exactly!

He also shouldn't just instantly forgive Azhure for this, which he of course does because she's Just So Beautiful.

That was something I was wondering myself. Rivkah might conceivably have taught him... but it still feels too convenient to me.

And there's no reason I can possibly think of that Rivkah would have done so. Okay he would have seen the jailers doing it, but he still should at least have fumbled around until he figured it out. Or just asked Azhure to do it. Why is it possible to unlock the cell from the inside anyway?

Further, Axis has little reason to suspect Azhure (especially since he did not note Azhure's obvious reactions), given that she has only helped him so far.

That too. Axis is just showing one of the common Sue traits, which is magically just knowing things he shouldn't because the author can't bear to have him ever be wrong about anything. Mind you, he IS very wrong about something toward the end of book two, but that's just so the author can throw in some utterly gratuitous and horrible torture and domestic violence which is instantly forgiven because she just seems to have a thing for it.

But of course.

I was actually expecting you to say "maybe it's WolfStar", which I wouldn't have bought for a number of reasons.

I think it would be much better to have this happen when he is unable to sleep, alongside with some suggestion of what this actually is.

I agree. We never find out why he can't sleep, and having a personal crisis like this would be the perfect explanation. Sleeping when your mind is in turmoil is basically impossible. If you're running in hot pursuit of escaped fugitives, you're going to have all this adrenaline and hyper focus on your goal, which is NOT the time for this sort of thing.

Also, why the fuck didn't he yell and sound the alarm on his way out, and send someone to rouse his men? Like a competent commander would do? It's like him having an army just stops being a factor whenever it suits the author.