The stakes ofThe Empyrean Seriesare higher than ever going intoOnyx Storm,andI’m doubtful Violet and all her closest friends will survivethe nextFourth Wingsequel. On the heels ofIron Flame’s twist ending, there’s a lot to worry about heading into its follow-up. Xaden and Violet’s relationship is likely to face more hardships now that Xaden is venin, and Violet must also grapple with the grief of losing her mother in the secondEmpyrean Seriesnovel. There’s still a war looming, too, and it’s likely to claim more lives before Rebecca Yarros' story is through.
Many readers are expectingOnyx Stormto be ruthless about killing off characters, and its blurb suggests they might be right. In addition to thisnewOnyx Stormreveal supporting a huge theoryabout Violet’s second signet, the description also teases that “a storm is coming… and not everyone can survive its wrath” (viaInstagram). There are numerous characters who could perish in the upcomingFourth Wingsequel. And thanks toIron Flame,we can assume at least one of Violet’s best friends will join the list of casualties.
There’s No Way Violet & Her Friends Survive Onyx Storm After Iron Flame’s Foreshadowing
The 4 Of Them Make A Pact To Survive Basgiath Together
Violet and her friends are in their second year at Basgiath War College inIron Flame,and four of them make a pact to survive whatever obstacles the school throws at them. These characters are, of course, Violet, Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc. And given how ruthless Yarros can be when it comes toThe Empyrean Series’stakes, this promise likely means one of them will die in an upcoming book.It’s possible it will happen inOnyx Storm,especially now that Basgiath’s students will be focusing more on battles than lessons.
Although the characters' vow to one another is heartwarming, it feels unrealistic in a world where so many dragon riders perish simply from training to join the military.
Although the characters' vow to one another is heartwarming, it feels unrealistic in a world where so many dragon riders perish simply from training to join the military. And the fact that Yarros includes this at all suggests she could be foreshadowing one of the major deaths inOnyx Stormor a later sequel. Only time will tell if this is the case, buthaving Violet, Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc survive feels a bit too optimistic for a world like Yarros'.
Killing One Of Violet’s Closest Friends Will Raise The Stakes Of The Next Fourth Wing Book
It Will Continue An Empyrean Series Trend & Make The War Feel More Real
Iron Flame’s pact foreshadows the death of one of Violet’s friends, but that’s not the only reason this makes sense forOnyx Storm.WhileFourth WingandIron Flamehave high stakes as-is,Onyx Stormis poised to be a turning point forThe Empyrean Series.It promises to test Violet and Xaden more than ever, and as the middle book of the series, it will likely push the war with the venin from bad to worse. With that in mind, it makes sense to kill someone close to Violet. Doing so will raise the stakessignificantly.
10 Perfect Fourth Wing Replacement Books To Read While You Wait For Onyx Storm
Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean book Onyx Storm is due to release in January 2025, but there are many romantasy series that could fill the gap until then.
It will also make Violet even more determined to defeat the enemyheading into the back half ofThe Empyrean Series.The death of Liam and her mother already drives her, but losing one of the people she’s come to depend on could push her over the edge. It could also help confirm thetheory that Violet’s second signetis speaking to the dead, assuming that turns out to be correct.
Which Of Fourth Wing’s Core Four Characters Is Most Likely To Die In Onyx Storm
It’s hard to say which ofFourth Wing’s “core four” could perish inOnyx Storm,though it almost certainly won’t be Violet. With two more books planned forThe Empyrean Series,it’s safe to assume Violet makes it through book three. Sawyer also seems unlikely, as he has a death scare at the end ofIron Flame.He loses his leg, which seems like enough to throw at him for some time. Plus, he’ll need to recuperate from that before he can rejoin the war effort. This means he’ll be out of danger for a while.
Onyx Stormcomes out on June 05, 2025.
That leaves Rhiannon and Ridoc, both of whom could join the death toll ofOnyx Storm.Rhiannon is Violet’s best friend, so her death would be incredibly tragic. Unfortunately, it would also feed intothe “bury your gays” trope. Yarros seems thoughtful about representation in her romantasy series, so she may not be so willing to kill Rhiannon inOnyx Storm.As a comic relief character, however, Ridoc is a strong contender. His demise could be exactly whatOnyx Stormneeds to get the gravity of its central conflict across — and break our hearts in the process.
Source:Instagram
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.
