Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.
Onyx Storm’s death toll is low compared to the first twoEmpyrean Seriesbooks, at least in terms of major characters. While bothFourth Wing’s endingandIron Flame’s conclusionfeature huge character deaths,Onyx Storm’s endingfinds new ways to break readers' hearts. There are a few close calls throughout the book, like Garrick being poisoned and Mira having her throat cut. However, the majority ofThe Empyrean Series’best characters live to see the end of the third installment. The real tragedy ofOnyx Storm’s ending is that it dashes our Xaden hopes, turning him into a full-flegded venin.
And with Violet learning that multiple people are dead or missing duringOnyx Storm’s final chapter, it’s possible the book’s big battle results in more casualties than it initially lets on. However, there’s no major sacrifice this time around — at least, not one on par with Liam or General Sorrengail dying to save Violet. Rebecca Yarros still reminds us that her world is brutal, however, asOnyx Stormfeatures a number of supporting character deaths throughout its 500+ page run. These ensure that the stakes remain high, keeping readers on edge throughout the sequel.
7Professor Grady
Accidentally Lit On Fire
Professor Grady is initially tasked with leading the mission to findFourth Wing’s seventh breed of dragon, buthe doesn’t live to reunite Andarna with her kind. The RSC course teacher proves his incompetence from the moment he takes over this quest, and he perishes on the trial run — which, at the very least, enables Violet to choose her own team going forward.
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When Grady and the rest of his taskforce set out to secure an artifact needed for their mission,Aura Beinhaven gets spooked while using her fire signet. She sets Grady on fire, which is a pretty gruesome demise for the Basgiath professor. However, there isn’t much time forOnyx Stormto dwell on Grady’s death, as the surrounding village quickly goes up in flames. The rest of the group is forced to flee, leaving Grady to his fate.
6Aura Beinhaven
Killed By A Wyvern
Aura Beinhaven takes Jack Barlowe’s place as Basgiath’s resident bully, loudly denouncing the Aretian riot and the gryphon riders who accompany them back to Basgiath. She and Violet have a number of pleasant encounters early inOnyx Storm,andshe’s killed just as it seems she might show an ounce of humanity. Aura realizes that Professor Grady’s death was her fault, and she admits as much, but she doesn’t last long enough to redeem herself.
UnlessThe Empyrean Seriesdecides to bring Aura back as a venin, it’s probably safe to assume that she’s dead.
As the riders are mounting their dragons and escaping the village,Aura is stabbed through the spine by the claws of a wyvern. Everything happens quickly, and Violet and Xaden are too preoccupied with their own getaways to do much for Aura. But unlessThe Empyrean Seriesdecides to bring Aura back as a venin, it’s probably safe to assume that she’s dead. Her dragon’s bellow as she’s dragged away suggests as much.
5Captain Anna Winshire
Killed & Fed To Panthers
The most gruesome death ofOnyx Stormgoes to Captain Anna Winshire, who isn’t a hugely important character in the grand scheme of things — but her fate ensures she’ll be remembered. Captain Winshire is Halden’s guard, and she accompanies Violet’s second quest team to the Isle Kingdoms. When she and Halden meet with King Courtlyn in Deverelli, Halden insists on stealing things he believes are rightfully his.
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Halden and Captain Winshire are caught, and the latter is killed off-page. But Courtlyn makes a show of her death when Violet and Xaden arrive to free Halden and discuss a deal. Courtlyn shows them Captain Winshire’s head on a platter, then feeds it to his three panthers.It’s one ofOnyx Storm’s most shocking and disturbing moments, proving Yarros' world is still as ruthless as ever.
4Trager & Sila
Killed During The Game On Zehyllna
Violet and her friends are relieved by the friendly greeting they receive when they visit Zehyllna, the island ofFourth Wing’s god of luck. However, their happiness is short-lived, as they’re told to participate in a game upon their arrival. They must accept gifts from the god of luck, which can be just about anything. When it’s Trager’s turn to receive his “gift,” he’s shot with an arrow and instantly perishes.
Although readers don’t get to know the character that well,Onyx Storm’s leads hold a funeral of sorts for him, making his death one of the book’s most powerful.
Trager doesn’t get a ton of page time throughoutOnyx Storm,buthis blossoming relationship with Cat makes his death that much more heart-wrenching. Because gryphons die with their riders, Sila also falls shortly after Trager is shot. Although readers don’t get to know the character that well,Onyx Storm’s leads hold a funeral of sorts for him, making his death one of the book’s most powerful.
3Queen Maraya
Dies During The Fall Of Suniva
Readers don’t actually see Queen Maraya die, butthey’re informed of her death when Violet and her team return from the Isle Kingdoms. Colonel Aetos tells Cat that she’s closer to the throne, initially leading her to believe that her sister has perished. However, he then admits that the queen of Poromiel died in their absence, as Suniva fell to the venin.
Because Queen Maraya falls, Viscount Tecarus is now the king of Poromiel.
Given how little we see of Queen Maraya throughoutThe Empyrean Series,her death may not seem like a huge development at first glance. However, it has significant political ramifications, which are sure to be explored in future books. Because Queen Maraya falls, Viscount Tecarus is now the king of Poromiel. That could prove important when thefourthEmpyreanSeriesbook arrives.
2Theophanie
Stabbed With A Piece Of Dunne’s Temple
Theophanie is the biggest threat throughoutOnyx Storm, andthe silver-haired veninseems almost impossible to defeat. However, Violet manages to kill her during the book’s last few chapters, mostly thanks to help from Aaric. Things look dire for Violet and Tairn as they face Theophanie for the final time, and Violet intends to go down swinging. But when she finds a note from Aarc — and a piece of Dunne’s temple — she knows what she needs to do.
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Because Theophanie is a priestess of Dunne who turned her back on the vengeful goddess, stabbing her with the temple shard will kill her. And that’s exactly what Violet does, heeding Aaric’s note to strike when Xaden’s shadows cover everything in darkness. Aaric knows how Violet can win because of his pregocnition signet, and together, the two of them eliminate the threat Theophanie poses to their people.
1Quinn Hollis
Stabbed By A Venin
The biggest and saddest death inOnyx Stormoccurs during Imogen’s POV chapter, which sees her bidding farewell to her closest friend. AsOnyx Storm’s ending battle unfolds, Quinn attempts to help the innocent people caught in the crossfire. Imogen locates her in a tower, and she and Quinn manage to take down a venin there. However, it comes at a cost:the venin’s blade stabs Quinn, and it proves a fatal blow.
Quinn dying in Imogen’s arms is incredibly tragic, as the two are nearly inseparable throughoutFourth WingandIron Flame.
Quinn dying in Imogen’s arms is incredibly tragic, as the two are nearly inseparable throughoutFourth WingandIron Flame.Quinn’s absence will certainly be felt in futureEmpyrean Seriesbooks, and her death is sure to shake Imogen to her core. She serves asOnyx Storm’s big ending loss, though the book barely gives readers time to mourn before delivering more emotional blows.
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.
