It’s no surprise Rebecca Yarros‘ “Onyx Storm” was a massive hit.
Yarros built a huge following for her “Empyrean” series — which follows dragon rider Violet Sorrengail as she trains at Basgiath War College — with “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame.” Both were instant New York Times bestsellers when they were released in 2023.
“Onyx Storm” blew their success out of the water when it hit bookshelves on January 21; The New York Times reported that it was the fastest-selling adult novel in 20 years.
There will be two more books in the “Empyrean” series, and Yarros filled the third with small moments that could have huge implications for the rest of Violet’s story. Read on to check out the details you may have missed from “Onyx Storm.”
There are major spoilers for the “Empyrean” series ahead.
Secret signets were all over the book
Yarros introduced the idea of second signets in “Iron Flame,” when Xaden confessed to Violet that he is a form of an inntinnsic, or mind reader, who can read people’s intentions. He doesn’t tell anyone because inntinnsics are typically killed for the danger they pose to other riders.
In “Onyx Storm,” Violet discovers that it’s much more common for people to have additional signet powers than she thought, particularly among the children of the rebels.
For instance, Garrick Tavis’ publicly known signet is wind-wielding, but he hides his ability to distance-walk from most of the public to give him an advantage. Likewise, Imogen Cardulo can erase people’s recent memories, but in the final battle of “Onyx Storm,” she reveals she is also some sort of earth or rock wielder.
When Violet realizes she is a dream-walker, another form of an inntinnsic, Xaden immediately tells her she should keep her second signet secret because others will think she is dangerous. Violet barely had time to explore her signet in “Onyx Storm,” so how much she can do with it is unclear.
Violet also realizes that Aaric, who is second in line to the Navarre throne, has the power of precognition, which he intentionally kept to himself because of how powerful a signet it is.
By including a plethora of hidden and second signets in “Onyx Storm,” Yarros told readers not to trust riders’ powers at face value for the rest of the series.
Research from Violet’s dad provides clues as to when he visited the isles
Readers learn more about Violet’s father, Asher, throughout “Onyx Storm.”
Before he died, he left research for Violet about the isles surrounding the continent that could offer clues about irid dragons and venin, leading her to visit the isles in the book.
Violet’s father is mostly referred to by his married name, Asher Sorrengail, but on a few occasions, he is called Asher Daxton, his original surname. For instance, “Onyx Storm” features excerpts from “Unnbriel: Isle of Dunne” by Second Lieutenant Asher Daxton, indicating he visited Unnbriel before adopting Sorrengail.
Yarros also includes excerpts of his studies that refer to Asher by the higher ranks of Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel Sorrengail. Based on the name change and his higher rank, some of Asher’s studies of the isles took place after he was married.
Violet wonders how her father had time to visit all the isles; his changing name at least provides some idea of the chronological timeline.
However, Yarros doesn’t make the timeline completely clear. Although Asher wrote his research about Unnbriel when he was still a Daxton, a character named Narelle from Unnbriel knows him as Asher Sorrengail and has books he left for Violet — who was born after he became a Sorrengail — before his death on the isle.
Likewise, he published “Hedotis: Isle of Hedeon” as Captain Asher Sorrengail, but Faris, a member of the triumvirate on Hedotis, calls Violet “Asher Daxton’s girl” when she visits the isle. Maybe he published research he conducted before he was married after tying the knot, or perhaps Asher visited Hedotis multiple times.
Yarros also said at a speaking engagement on January 31 that her publishing team intentionally didn’t include maps of the isles in “Onyx Storm” because “it was deemed to be too spoilery,” indicating that more surprises about them will come in the next installments of the “Empyrean” series. Clarity on when Asher visited the isles could be part of the revelations.
There is also an excerpt of “Colonel Daxton’s Guide to Excelling in the Scribes Quadrant” in “Onyx Storm,” but based on his recovered correspondence with Violet, Asher died with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Another Daxton relative likely wrote the guide, though Yarros has yet to reveal who that is.
Violet has been dream-walking since ‘Iron Flame’
Violet and Xaden finally figure out she is a dream-walker in “Onyx Storm” after they realize her recurring nightmare of facing down a venin Sage is actually Xaden’s dream.
Violet has the dream several times in “Onyx Storm,” but it first appears in “Iron Flame.”
Yarros previously said Violet’s signet had manifested in “Iron Flame.” If you look back at the text, Violet describes a nightmare that features the Sage before she leaves Basgiath to fight for the revolution. Based on when she had that dream, Violet was dream-walking for months before she — or the readers — knew it was her second signet.
Violet barely explored her additional power in “Onyx Storm,” so hopefully, she will discover what she may be capable of as a dream-walker in the fourth Empyrean book.
Xaden may be able to fully read Violet’s mind
In “Iron Flame,” Xaden says he can only read people’s intentions, not their thoughts.
However, in chapter 28 of “Onyx Storm,” Violet and Xaden are having a mental conversation about their bond, and Violet thinks to herself that speaking mind to mind is more intimate than sex.
Before she can tell Xaden her thoughts, he finishes her sentence, even though she hasn’t spoken to him aloud or through their bond. Violet then seems to realize that Xaden read her mind.
“I find myself nodding instead of lecturing him for reading my intentions, but that wasn’t…My eyes widen,” Yarros wrote.
Violet then wondered if Xaden had intentionally honed his signet, strengthening it so he could read minds completely. It’s also possible that turning venin increased his power, or the shared thought could have something to do with Violet’s inntinnsic powers.
Irid dragons can make and shape bonds
When the dragon Leothan asks Andrana to come with him to learn the ways of the irids, he tells her she can break her bond with Violet.
“Bonds are merely magical ties,” he said. “You are irid. You are magic. Bend it, shape it, break it as you see fit.”
Andarna resists the idea that she could create or break a bond out of thin air, but Leothan tells her she already did by bonding with Violet after she had already bonded with Tairn.
“Humans should only be capable of bonding a single dragon, and yet you forged a second connection where there shouldn’t be one,” Leothan said. “Only an irid can do that.”
Her connection to Violet then breaks, though it’s unclear if Andarna or Leothan broke it. Andarna eventually returns to Violet, appearing to have reforged their bond because she speaks to Violet at the end of the book.
Leothan’s revelation indicates that Andarna could make or break all kinds of magical bonds, not just her own to Violet. Some readers suspect Andarna may have broken Tairn and Sgaeyl’s bond after Xaden gave into his venin instincts, which is why Tairn was resting when Violet awoke in the book’s final scene.
Yarros included a nod to a common reader complaint about ‘Iron Flame’
Although “Iron Flame” was a bestseller, some fans complained online that Violet and Xaden had repetitive fights throughout the book.
Yarros appeared to acknowledge the complaint through a discussion of Violet and Xaden’s relationship with her squad members.
First, her friend Sawyer says she and Xaden “bicker like you’ve been married fifty years.” Her other friend Ridoc agrees, saying, “It’s always the same fight,” before mimicking Violet and Xaden.
“He lifts his hand to his chest,” Yarros wrote. “‘I’ll trust you if you stop keeping secrets!’ He drops the hand and scowls. ‘It’s my secretive nature that attracted you, and why can’t you just stay out of harm’s way for five fucking minutes?’”
The humorous scene brought some levity to readers’ complaints, particularly because the conflicts between Violet and Xaden weren’t as repetitive in “Onyx Storm.”
Xaden hinted at Violet marrying him throughout the book
In the cliffhanger ending of “Onyx Storm,” Violet wakes up at Riorson House with a blessing of her marriage to Xaden from the head priestess of Dunne’s temple, an emerald ring on her finger, a goodbye message from her new husband, and no memory of the last 12 hours. In the book’s final lines, Violet realizes Imogen used her signet to wipe her memory.
Although it’s shocking to Violet that she woke up married with no memory of actually saying vows, Xaden indicates throughout the book that he wants Violet to be his wife.
When Violet’s friends compliment her after giving a rousing speech to help unite students at Basgiath, Xaden says she would make a good duchess just before he is officially named the Duke of Tyrrendor.
Later, on the island of Deverelli, Xaden announces Violet as his consort so she can join him at the palace without being questioned. Following his statement, he asks her when would be a good time to actually discuss marriage.
And when they are on the isle Hedotis, the triumvirate questions why Xaden broke his betrothal to Catriona, who is in line for the Poromish throne. The council suggests they would offer support in a war against the venin if Xaden and Cat agreed to a contract marriage and produced an heir. Xaden responds by agreeing to draw up marriage papers — for his union to Violet.
For Xaden, his marriage to Violet was a long time coming.
It also shouldn’t be a surprise Violet went to Imogen for help
Imogen’s revelation in the final line of “Onyx Storm” that she erased Violet’s memory at her request was dramatic, but Yarros laid the groundwork for Imogen to help Violet in the earliest pages of the book.
In the prologue, Violet sees Xaden reveal to Jack Barlowe, who turned venin in “Fourth Wing,” that he had also turned.
She immediately asks her dragon, Tairn, to get Imogen so she can use her signet to erase Jack’s memory, as she fears Jack will reveal Xaden turned to the public. Imogen agrees to help, and the pair make a habit of visiting Jack so Violet can question him about how to cure Xaden without Jack remembering.
From the first chapter of “Onyx Storm,” Yarros tells readers that Violet sees Imogen’s signet as a powerful weapon, and by the end of the book, she isn’t afraid to use it on herself to keep Xaden safe.
Xaden’s farewell message might not refer to Tyrrendor
Xaden left Violet a goodbye message alongside the marriage certificate that reads, “Don’t look for me. It’s yours now.”
At first glance, the “it” in the message appears to refer to Tyrrendor. Xaden is the Duke of Tyrrendor, making Violet its ruler in his absence as the duchess. However, Xaden typically refers to Tyrrendor using “she” pronouns.
For instance, he informs Prince Halden that Tyrrendor will take in refugees, saying, “Tyrrendor will open her borders.” He again refers to Tyrrendor as a female entity when arguing with his cousin Bodhi: “Our family just got Tyrrendor back, and we will not lose her because of your ego.”
Other characters, like Felix Gerault and General Melegren, also use feminine pronouns for Tyrrendor throughout “Onyx Storm,” making it even more unlikely that Xaden would call the territory an “it” in his goodbye note.
Some readers suspect the note might refer to Xaden’s soul, which he lost piece by piece after he turned venin. However, based on an interaction with his dragon, Sgaeyl, he seemed to still have some of it in the final battle.
In addition, after he became the Duke of Tyrrendor, Xaden made Violet promise to reveal he was venin if she ever saw his soul deteriorate further: “Swear you’ll sound the alarm if I go too far, that you’ll keep it safe, even if it’s from me.”
“He’ll never go too far, never lose his soul, so I nod,” Violet says a few lines later.
In his goodbye note, Xaden may have been referencing the promise, handing her what was left of his soul while he went to join the venin. Hopefully, the next book in the series will clue readers in.
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