Almost 2 Years Later, Onyx Storm Has Made Fourth Wing's Worst Character Even More Unbearable

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.

Onyx Storm makes the worst character from Fourth Wing so much more insufferable, and the next Empyrean Series book desperately needs to give him the fate he deserves. There's no shortage of antagonists in Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean Series, from the venin threatening Navarre's existence to the kingdom's higher-ups who keep the true enemy a secret. Even Iron Flame's ending fails to humble many of Navarre's leaders, despite the fact that their lies come to the surface — and they need to be saved by the Aretian rebels.

If anything, those running Basgiath and Navarre become even more frustrating in Onyx Storm, especially now that the truth is out. While they're more willing to seek out solutions to their venin problem — with Andarna's seventh breed of dragon being their biggest hope — they continue to push back against any measures to help outside their borders. They also are resentful towards the very characters who saved them in the previous book, especially the gryphon riders. And there's one person, in particular, who continues his streak of cruelty throughout Onyx Storm: Colonel Aetos.

Onyx Storm Makes Colonel Aetos Even More Unbearable After His Fourth Wing Betrayal

Dain's Father Digs Himself Deeper In The Sequel

While Dain gets a lot of hate among the Empyrean Series fan base, his father is the person who's truly responsible for Fourth Wing's ending. Dain reading Violet's memories gives Colonel Aetos the incentive he needs to send Xaden and the Marked Ones to their deaths at Athebyne. However, Dain has no idea what awaits them outside the wards, while Colonel Aetos is fully aware of the situation he's sending the cadets into. His choices lead directly to Liam's and Soleil's deaths, as well as Violet's near-fatal stab wound. That makes him a much more sinister character.

And perhaps it's no surprise that Colonel Aetos doesn't get better in Onyx Storm, as he shows little remorse for his actions throughout Iron Flame. While Varrish takes center stage as the sequel's worst character, Colonel Aetos has a hand in all the troubles that await Violet and the Marked Ones back at Basgiath. His son joins the rebels in the second book, but even that doesn't prevent him from doubling down on his terrible behavior in Onyx Storm. The newest Fourth Wing book gives him a more prominent role, too, which makes him even more unbearable this time around.

Colonel Aetos Is A More Frustrating Villain Than The Venin In Onyx Storm

His Actions Make Less Sense

Onyx Storm reveals more about the venin than previous Empyrean Series books, and it's obvious the silver-haired venin, Theophanie, is the novel's Big Bad. Even so, Colonel Aetos proves more frustrating as a villain than any of the real threats to Navarre. In part, it's because his actions seem so nonsensical at this stage of the story. Colonel Aetos takes over Lilith Sorrengail's role at Basgiath, and he uses his newfound power to make Violet's life more difficult. He's angry that she and the Marked Ones survived Athebyne and revealed his secrets, and now he's just out for revenge.

While this motive makes sense to an extent, Colonel Aetos is cartoonishly cruel, making it clear that he's more concerned with pulling rank and feeling superior than actually protecting Navarre. And his most infuriating scene is his reunion with Dain, during which he shows little emotion over their falling out. He tells Dain that he no longer has a son, underscoring what a terrible person he is. As confrontations go, his first encounter with Dain since Iron Flame is pretty underwhelming. From there, his Onyx Storm storyline gets increasingly more frustrating, and he never gets what he deserves afterward.

The Next Fourth Wing Book Needs To Give Dain's Father His Comeuppance

His Demise Will Be A Satisfying Empyrean Series Moment

The next Fourth Wing sequel desperately needs to give Colonel Aetos his comeuppance, as he's caused major problems over the last three installments. The man needs to be held accountable for his actions alongside Navarre's other leaders — or he needs to be revealed as a venin, which would better explain his uncaring demeanor and counterproductive behavior. But whether he's a human threat or a venin one, his demise is certain to be one of the most satisfying moments of The Empyrean Series. With any luck, it will happen in Onyx Storm's sequel to spare readers from spending another book with him.

The next Fourth Wing book also needs to properly resolve the tensions between Colonel Aetos and Dain, as there needs to be more of a confrontation than the one Onyx Storm offers. Dain must fully stand up to his father, and it wouldn't hurt for Colonel Aetos to show an ounce of emotion before he goes. However it plays out, readers deserve a more satisfying conclusion to their story. As of now, Dain hasn't had the chance to properly address his father's wrongdoing, as he instantly shuts him down in Onyx Storm. The book's sequel can rectify this.