I Really Hope My Worst Suspicions About This Fourth Wing Character Are Wrong

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Fourth Wing

From Basgiath hiding threats outside the wards to characters returning as venin, Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean Series is full of surprises — and more twists no doubt await us in future Fourth Wing sequels. I'm convinced we'll see a major betrayal in Onyx Storm, as one Fourth Wing character feels more suspicious than I'd like to admit. Although Violet is delighted to learn her brother, Brennan, is still alive at the end of Fourth Wing, something feels off about the eldest Sorrengail sibling's return. As much as I want Violet and her family to be happy, I think more secrets await her.

I'm Suspicious Of Brennan Sorrengail After His Return At The End Of Fourth Wing

The Circumstances Surrounding His Return Are Suspicious

Although Brennan Sorrengail is part of the Revolution in Iron Flame, I'm a bit suspicious of him and his sudden return at the end of Fourth Wing. We're supposed to accept that Brennan survived his near-death experience on the battlefield, then never returned to his family — or even so much as wrote to them. Brennan doesn't offer many details about how he made it out alive, either, raising questions about what his survival cost him. The entire story surrounding Brennan's return feels dubious, and I'm not ruling out a secret surrounding Naolin's involvement.

I can't shake the feeling that there's something off about Violet's brother, and there are numerous signs that he's hiding things in Iron Flame.

When Violet and Brennan reunite, she notes that he seems different from the brother she knew. This could be attributed to his years away from Navarre and the harsh realities he has had to face about his home. However, the emphasis Yarros places on Brennan's mannerisms and demeanor makes me think it's something more. Perhaps Brennan has changed more than Violet realizes during his time away from her family. I can't shake the feeling that there's something off about Violet's brother, and there are numerous signs that he's hiding things in Iron Flame.

All The Evidence Brennan Is Hiding Something In The Empyrean Series

Rebecca Yarros Drops A Few Hints

Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros against a red, fiery background

Aside from the obvious — that Brennan survives when he shouldn't and never tells his family — Iron Flame drops several hints that Violet's brother is keeping secrets. For one, there's a mysterious rune on his hand that he never explains. This marking could answer the question of how he survived the Battle of Aretia, but it could also have a darker explanation. It could symbolize some sort of dark magic or even be a connection to the venin. I don't get the sense that Brennan is fully siding with the enemy from Iron Flame, but anything is possible in The Empyrean Series.

Brennan also actively prevents Violet from reading Tecarus' books about venin, and he initially refuses to aid Basgiath when venin attack the school. This doesn't mesh with Violet's kinder descriptions of her brother, and it makes me wonder if there's a darker side of him we haven't seen yet. The fact that Saegyl dislikes Brennan further raises my suspicions, and let's not forget his own dragon. Yarros has a habit of giving morally dubious characters — see Amber, Jack, and Varrish — orange dragons. Perhaps the fact that Brennan has one should also be cause for concern.

I Hope Onyx Storm Proves Me Wrong About Violet's Brother

I Don't Want Him To Be A Villain

The cover for Onyx Storm on a background of eyes

While Yarros drops numerous clues that Brennan can't be trusted, I really hope Onyx Storm proves my suspicions about him wrong. Violet will have enough on her plate now that Xaden is venin, and I'd hate to see her lose yet another person she cares about. If Brennan turns out to be a liar — or worse, an all-out villain — she'd be completely heartbroken. This would mean losing yet another family member, as both of Violet's parents are gone after Iron Flame's ending. The fact that she and Mira just got Brennan back would make the situation even more tragic.

Optimistically, Brennan might be hiding something that isn't completely unforgivable. Perhaps rather than working with the venin, he's connected to them in some way. One Reddit theory suggests he's being kept alive by their magic, which would explain the rune on his hand. Some Redditors also believe he knows something crucial about Violet's future that he can't tell her yet. Whatever Brennan is hiding, I'm sure Onyx Storm will unravel it. However, I hope the upcoming Fourth Wing sequel doesn't use it to drive Violet and Brennan apart. She deserves better than that.

Onyx Storm

Violet Sorrengail faces new political intrigue and battles old enemies while uncovering the secrets of her second signet. As she strives to save Xaden from venin corruption, her relationships with allies and dragons are tested, leading to intense confrontations and unexpected revelations in a world of dragons and magic.

Genre Fantasy

Publisher Entangled: Red Tower Books

Publication Date 2025/01/01

ISBN# 1649374186

Author(s) Rebecca Yarros

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