Onyx Stormis set to release on January 21, and the next Fourth Wing sequel must end one Empyrean Series trend after both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did it. After Iron Flame's shocking ending, it's likely that the upcoming sequel will feature higher stakes and more tragedies as the war between Navarre and the venin continues. Even Onyx Storm's cover suggests a tonal shift, hinting that the book will be much darker than its predecessors. And with Onyx Storm shaping up to be different from Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, it must end an Empyrean Series trend.
Both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame see the return of a seemingly dead character, upending reader expectations by revealing new fates for these players. The end of Fourth Wing sees Violet learning that her brother, Brennan, actually survived the Tyrrish Rebellion. And Iron Flame undoes Fourth Wing's most satisfying moment by bringing Jack Barlowe back into the fold. Onyx Storm theories suggest it could continue this trend of bringing a character "back to life," but the newest Empyrean book really should avoid it.
Why Onyx Storm Might See The Return Of A "Dead" Character
Theories Suggest Violet's Father Or Naolin Could Make A Comeback
Custom image by Kiersten Hall
Onyx Storm could see the return of a dead character, just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame — and not just because this is becoming a recurring theme for The Empyrean Series. Several convincing Onyx Storm theories predict the survival of characters believed to be dead, including Violet's father and Tairn's former rider. Violet's father is said to have died of a heart attack prior to Fourth Wing, but his knowledge of venin and Feathertails makes his death suspicious. While some believe he perished from foul play, other theories posit that he became a venin.
Only one character is guaranteed to survive the entirety of The Empyrean Series even though their Onyx Storm story is still largely worrying.
The latter would allow Onyx Storm to bring Violet's father back into the fold, just as Fourth Wing did for Brennan. And he's not the only character who could be resurrected in the upcoming Fourth Wing sequel. It's also believed that Tairn's former rider, Naolin, could have turned venin while saving Brennan's life. This would explain the strange rune on Brennan's hand, as well as Tairn's reaction to any mention of Naolin. One convincing Onyx Storm theory even claims that Naolin is the venin Sage, which would mean he's already made his Empyrean Series comeback.
Onyx Storm Shouldn't Have A Believed-Dead Character Come Back
Doing This In Every Empyrean Book Is Risky
Although there are believable ways to bring characters like Violet's father and Naolin back from the dead, Onyx Storm should avoid such a twist. With both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame dropping similar reveals, including one in Onyx Storm risks feeling predictable and repetitive. The Empyrean Series' ability to shock readers is part of its charm, but recycling the same twist over and over could cause it to lose that reputation.
Another death fakeout in Onyx Stormis risky, as too many could make death feel inconsequential.
Additionally, The Empyrean Series has done an impressive job of building stakes so far, with Rebecca Yarros repeatedly showing that she's unafraid to kill off characters. However, another death fake-out in Onyx Storm is risky, as too many of these could make death feel inconsequential. Death should feel permanent as the war between Navarre and the venin reaches a head, as that's the only way to drive home the emotional stakes of The Empyrean Series' biggest tragedies.
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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.
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
Custom image by Kiersten Hall
English (US) ·