Onyx Storm Summary

The minute I read Fourth Wing, I knew this fantasy series would be epic. I first created the Onyx Storm summary for myself because I needed to keep track of all the plot points and characters. Unlike other book series, Onyx Storm does a poor job of reorienting the reader. Let me say that it is not you; it’s the book. This Onyx Storm summary will be a bit snarky and sarcastic, reflecting my feelings on the book.

Onyx Storm Summary- a close look at the third book in the Empyrean Series

I am not sure why Onyx Storm does not attempt to re-familiarize the reader with the most important characters and events but I took extensive notes and did research to try and make my Oynx Storm summary succinct, and clear, while including important details. If you need a refresher on what happened previously, you can check out my Fourth Wing Summary and my Synopsis of Iron Flame.

Onyx Storm has some important plot points that make it an imperative read for the series but, it will take a few hundred pages to get there with a few random important details along the way. There is also a lot of unimportant information that felt like they were there purely for shock value. I also feel like I got very few answers while reading Onyx Storm (we learned Violet’s second signet and Violet’s dad’s name).

If you have already read the book and need a refresher, this is the perfect page for you. If you have not read the book and have found this Onyx Storm summary, please be aware that there will be some spoilers and a lot of snark. I have tried to indicate where these are but, it will not be spoiler-free.

I did not love this book. Many things disappointed me with the writing and plot development. I am happy with where the story ended, but I felt like there was too much in the middle of the book that was filler. I will definitely continue to read the series because I am invested in the characters. You can jump to the end of this Onyx Storm summary if you have already read the book and are wondering about my final thoughts and questions.

Onyx Storm Summary

The book begins where Iron Flame left off. Violet has two missions in mind. The first is to find Andarna’s kind and the second is to find a cure for Xaden. Obviously, she cannot tell anyone about her second quest.

Chapter two gives us some important information from a quote: “The rarest of signets – those that rise once in a generation or century – have manifested concurrently with equal twice in our records, both critical times in our history, but only once have the six most powerful walked the continent simultaneously.”

What are the most powerful signets? This quote indicates that they are present now. Here is my guess:

  1. Lightning wielder (Violet)
  2. Shadow wielder (Xaden) 1 and 2 have not been seen since The Great War. (Chapter 6)
  3. Memory reader (Dain)
  4. Counter signets (Bohdi “My signet is always the balance”)
  5. Memory Erasing (Imogen)
  6. Ward extension (Mira)

We are reminded of the deal Violet made with Tecarus in Iron Flame. However, at no point in the book does Yarros remind us of the details of this bargain. In my opinion, she did a poor job of reminding the readers of some of the smaller details from Iron Flame that became important details in Onyx Storm. As a reminder: In Iron Flame, Tecarus gives Violet a luminary to get the forge up and running, and in exchange, Violet agrees to train the Gryffon fliers. He also gives unfettered access to his library. To do this, Violet must find a way for the ruins to be unrestricted behind the wards. At this point, the wards are failing but have been temporarily restored.

In Chapter 6 we meet Halden, Aaric’s older brother, Halden is the prince, first in line for the throne, and searching for Cam (Aaric). Halden gives Xaden back his title “Not just Aretia either…He gave me Tyrrendor.” Xaden killed their oldest brother but Halden does not know.

Thus begin the negotiations for an alliance in order to win the war against the Venin. The flyers cannot wield under the wards.

Violet orchestrates an elaborate plan to alter the wardstones so the flyers can wield and the discussion for an alliance can continue. The plan unfolds the night before the Senarium signs pardons for their behavior in the Battle of Basgiath. Violet admits to her role and takes full responsibility when she says:

“I’ll save everyone the fuss of organizing a trial and execution.” I point to the patch. I cut off my uniform last night. “That’s mine”. I was the one who orchestrated altering the wardstone. I’m the reason that the flyers can wield and that you now have a clear path to negotiate an alliance. You’re welcome.”

Colonel Aetos wants to try her for treason but can’t because of a loophole. The Senarium signed the pardons earlier in the morning before they realized there were additional crimes committed. This is a brilliant example of how Violet uses her brain to outwit anyone who stands in her way.

“Cadet Sorrengail, and whomever she acted with, committed a crime last night, and as of this morning, every single one of you and our king signed their pardons.”

Colonel Aetos retaliates by ordering Rhiannon and the squad to serve two days of duty in the outpost of Samara. He thinks they are under heavy attack from Wyvern and Venin. Them Violet has a nightmare where she is frantically trying to rescue a family portrait but she does not recognize the faces. In the dream, she calls Cat, Queen of Tyrrendor.

When they arrive they find out that the fighting has ended but the village where Maren’s family is living is under attack. Violet and the others go to rescue Maren’s family.

In chapter 10, Violet and the others end up fighting in a tornado. Violet and Tairn as both injured and we finally learn the name of the venin that has taken an interest in Violet. Theophanie is also a lightning wielder. She wants Violet to choose her and not Berwyn to be her teacher when she follows Xaden to the venin. She is speaking as though this is a given and is the reason she lets Violet live.

“I’ll let you keep both you and your dragons while giving you what you want most in the world.”

We also finally find out the name of Andarna’s kind!

Theophanie attacked Maren’s family because she knew Violet would come to the rescue. Clearly, Violet’s behavior is predictable. Theophanie wanted Andarna! Violet is grateful that she left her behind. Maren’s parents were killed but they rescued her little brothers and brought them back to Basgiath.

Colonel Aetos tries to make the boys go back to the outpost where the village is destroyed. Xaden orders that the boys be taken home- to Tyrrendor- and grants them full Tyrrish citizenship.

Meanwhile, Violet is still searching for information about how to cure Xaden. She finds a way to see Jack to ask him questions in exchange for a medallion that will keep him alive for a week. He tells her that there is no cure for being venin.

Ridoc has taken a new role in this book. He is the comic relief that we all need and he is the one who coined the term “Quest Squad”. There is a lot of waiting and research while Violet waits to the decision about where to go to look for the irids.

Jesinia has been helping with research even after being kicked out of the adept program for failing tests. (Markham set her up to fail as a punishment for choosing Aretia in the Battle of Basgiath).

Xaden is having trouble not channeling. To protect himself from becoming full venin, he comes back behind the wards to teach at Basgiath. This also means that since student/ teacher relationships are prohibited, their relationship should be over. I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that their relationship is not over and I think this was a completely unnecessary plot “twist”. Is this supposed to be another angle to the “forbidden romance” trope?

The beginning of chapter 12 seems to be a foreshadowing of some sort. It says:

You might be angry when you realize I didn’t wake you up to say goodbye. But it’s only because I no longer fully trust my ability to walk away. – Recovered correspondence of His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tryrrendor, to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Sgaeyl is still not talking to Xaden because she is mad at him for becoming venin and everyone is waiting for Cygnisen cadets to arrive at Basgiath. They will be near capacity which is an indication of how many dragons have stopped bonding in the last century. I wonder why?

List of people Grady puts together a list of people to take on the first attempt at finding the irids. Violet thinks they need to go south- They want to go north. She has done extensive research from her dad’s notes and Jesinia’s research.

  • Captain Winshire- Infantry liaison- She is Halden’s infantry
  • Lieutenant Foley- Agrarian – earth/ land
  • Cadet Beinhaven- fire weilder
  • Lieutenant Pugh- farsighted
  • Captain Henson- air
  • Violet and Xaden

Xaden constructed an amphitheater is help with signet sparring practice. Violet notices that Aaric, Lynx, and the other first years in First Wing are sitting because they cannot channel yet. The dragons are taking their time with channeling and it worries Violet.

Violet realizes that she needs to get her father’s book that is hidden in her parent’s old apartment. However, she cannot get in because of the wards- only a blood relative can get in. She will have to wait for Colonel Aetos to leave to go to Calldyr and trust Dain to retrieve the book. Can she trust him?

Violet is doing extensive research on Deverelli and dark wielders from the tomes sent by Queen Mary and Tecarus- cannot find information on a cure or a dragon torching a venin. This is a repeated theme for the first four hundred pages.

It turns out that Violet can trust Dain. He retrieved the book, and Violet opened it with the password AISMIR- Lilith’s dragon. Inside, she finds an important letter from her dad. The letter instructs her to fly to Deverelli and find a merchant named Narelle Anselm and bring him the rarest item she has.

First Task

The quest squad, including Mira (at the behest of Halden), leaves the wards at Samara. They need to retrieve a citrine from Anca to get an audience with the king. So, we have a task that is really just a space waster before we get to the real task. In theory, it should take three hours to Anca, locate the citrine, and then another three hours to fly back. 

When they get there, Beinhaven gets scared and releases fire on Grady because she thinks he is a venin. She kills him by burning him alive. She is then killed by a Wyvern. Can I be sarcastic here and say “Of course she was”. This sets the tone for introducing characters briefly before killing them off later in the book.

The quest squad barely made it out alive and they lost two riders in the process because nobody knew or trusted each other. Mira gets to the citrine first, and with it, there is a letter from Theophanie.

“Violet,
Just a reminder that while I want you to come of your own free will, I’m capable of taking you whenever I wish. Why do you not ask me for the answers you so desperately seek?”

She knew they would be there and why (to find a cure for Xaden).

Chapter 20 offers us some insight into Ridoc. He is more than just comedic relief and tells Violet that they need to stay together. He offers her proof that someone has been with her since Athebyne. When the school split, saving Maren’s brother, etc. When they (Sawyer, Ridoc, Rhi, and Violet) are split up is when bad things happen. He insists that they find a way to have at least one of them with Violet at all times.

Deverelli

Now it is time for the second task (which is essentially another way for Yarros to write more leaving the reader desperately hoping something of significance will happen in Onyx Storm). Also, the second task is actually the real first task, I digress. Quest squad leaves for Deveralli to meet with the king (Courtlyn) to secure an alliance for the war ahead as well as a place to use as a base to expand the search for the irids. 

Captain Henson and Executive Officer Lieutenant Pugh are the commanders of the expedition and Markham and Aetos trying to control Violet. Aetos tries to control her with the threat of the power of his dragon, Melgren. Violet is proving to be a total badass and tolerating none of their crap.

Violet: “And I speak with the authority of Tairn, Andarna, and the Empyrean. Or did you forget that two dragons also lost their riders?”

This is one of the things that I actually liked about this book. It is very different from the Violet from Iron Flame who spent most of the first half of that book sulking around (A little too much like Harry Potter Book #5, if you ask me). Halden uses this as Violet’s one chance to name her squad.

She chooses:

  • Lieutenant Riorson (Xaden)- last to stop contact with Deverelli
  • Lieutenant Sorrengail (Mira)
  • Cadet Gamlyn (Ridoc)
  • Cadet Cordella (Cat) is third in line for the throne and speaks for Poromiel
  • Captain Cordella (Cat cousin)
  • Cadet Aetos (speaks Krovlish which is the 2nd most common language used in Deveralli)
  • Prince Halden and whatever guard he chooses (Captain Anna Winshire).

The group flies to Tecarus’s palace and from here they head to Deverelli. There is no magic here which is disorienting for everyone, especially the dragons. The most disturbing thing is that none of the riders can communicate with their dragons- except Violet! Why? I wonder if this is a clue for another signet. I wonder how many she actually has.

Here, they head into town to a bookstore to retrieve her father’s books. The shopkeeper, Narelle, is very protective of the books and questions Violet to determine if she is worthy to have them. Violet also learns the history of the Midnight Massacre.

Deverelli brokered a deal between Krovla and an island (unnamed) that the isle would provide an army and Krovla would provide dragons. When they couldn’t, the Midnight Massacre occurred and Krovla remained as part of Poromiel.

We also learn the negative effects on a venin if they are removed from a source of magic…dum dum dum.

The group learns that King Courtlyn has decided to keep Halden because the King catches Halden trying to take back artifacts he believes are rightfully his. 

Now Xaden and Violet go to the King to try and maintain diplomacy. I will say the next few scenes are some of the most exciting in Onyx Storm. It’s a shame we had to wait until Chapter 26 for anything exciting to happen.

When they arrive, the King stabs Halden in the hand and then serves up Captain Wilshire’s head on a platter to his panthers. Xaden tries to bargain despite the show of aggression by the king but Courtlyn orders his guards to kill everyone except Tecarus.

Xaden panics and uses Violet’s alloy to channel and save Violet. He kills a dozen of the guards. Violet immediately tells him to put his head down and pretend to feel shame to cover his red-rimmed eyes. Violet says she will begin the negotiations, but stupid Halden, who has been unconscious, wakes up.

Just when Halden is about the screw everything up again, Andarna arrives with Shira the cat between her teeth. She is ready to kill her if anything happens to them. Violet assures the King that if he had succeeded in killing them, Tairn and Sgaeyl would have burnt them all to a crisp. They were under the false assumption that the dragons would die if the rider died.

They are able to come to an agreement. The use of Deverelli in the future, Xaden pardoned in exchange for giving compensation for the Prince’s crimes and a piece of Andarna’s shell.

They fly back to Basgiath where Trager and Maren are added to the squad and Aaric decides to join them as well . Halden is shocked to see him. Mira takes a leave of absence.

It is right around this point they decide they will not fly back to Basgiath to report after each island visit. They know they have little time before the wards fail and they need to prioritize finding the irids. They arrive on the third island, Dunne, where there is no magic.

Quest Squad is now:

  • Violet
  • Xaden
  • Mira
  • Ridoc
  • Cat
  • Dain
  • Trager
  • Maren
  • Aaric
  • Garrick

Unnbriel (Isle of Dunne)

Dunne is the Goddess of War. Violet immediately notices that there is a girl there whose hair is like Violet with silver on the end. She has to ignore it and find answers later. First, they must fight for the right to have an audience with the queen.

This is when Aaric reveals that he is completely fluent in Unnbrish. In fact, he is fluent in so many languages and never said anything because nobody asked. This makes me wonder if this is some kind of Signet that has never been discussed. It is decided that Xaden will fight Costa (one of the twins). Dain will fight the other twin, Palta, because he is the smallest, and Violet needs to fight Marlis

Xaden is losing, Dain is on the ground, and Violet makes lightning strike on an island with no magic. In doing so, she makes Marlis concede the fight and as such, win the right to talk with the queen. Marlis is the queen and they ask her to become their ally.

“And yet you’ve destroyed something that stood for 700 years before your arrival.” Her eyes narrow slightly. “Perhaps it is truly Zihnal who blesses you. Good luck when you search that particular aisle. They have a mean streak.”

Marlin wants dragons and obviously, Violet refuses. Dragons are not hers to give and are not given- they are earned and then riders are chosen! She then realizes that they do not want dragons, they want eggs! Violet is appalled.

Vidirys (Capitol of Hedotis, Isle of Hedeon)

On to the next island. Here, they must prove wisdom (Hedeon is the God of Wisdom) to meet with the triumvirate. The island lacks color. Everything is muted and we find Talia, Xaden’s mother. Talia and Fen had a contract marriage and once the contract expired, she left and left Xaden behind. He also realizes that he has two half-brothers: Simeon and Gaius.

Violet and Xaden, Mira, Cat, Garrick, and Aaric agree to have dinner with Nairi (not Niara), Roslyn, and Faris. Talia is married to Faris and is also at the table. We learn that the Continent has only been called that since the great war. Before that, it was called Amaralys. The dinner has become the formal setting for their challenge. They must pass a test of wisdom to obtain an alliance.

Servers bring out chocolate cake which is a low blow to Xaden because this was his favorite before his mom left him- on his tenth birthday! Violet realizes there are no forks for Faris, Nairi, Roslyn, or Faris and that there is something in the cake. Faris has poisoned the cake but only Garrick eats it.

Talia has no idea that Faris would do that. Now Violet has to search for a cure. She tells Faris that she poisoned them all with tea (arinmint). Faris refuses to give them the antidote for the poison even in exchange for his own antidote.

Violet realizes that Faris would rather die than lose at a battle of wits. This kind of reminds me of Fezini in The Princess Bride- “inconceivable”. Anyone else get that vibe? Violet figures out the poison and rushes to find her father’s book for an antidote when Ridoc is stabbed. Violet is terrified before she realizes the knife went through his flight jacket and not into him!

Violet finds the cure for the poison (fig or lime) and saves Garrick. They give the cure to Faris and escape. Andarna followed the boys when they left the house and would kill them both if anyone touched Violet before they left. Again, this is Violet being awesome.

Zehyllna (Isle of Zihnal)

Zehyllna has magic. This island prays to Zihnal, the God of Luck. They are greeted with a stadium filled with people and Calixta, the mistress of ceremonies. In this trial, they are testing to see how the squad handle disappointment. They are supposed to pick up a card to see what gift Zihnal will give them and they need to respond with a “thank you” no matter what the gift or outcome.

They each take turns until it is Trager’s turn. He is dead with an arrow protruding from his chest almost instantly. This is another case of introducing a character only to kill him. And before anyone comes at me and says he is not new, I know. But he was an insignificant character until about 11 chapters ago.

Unknown Island

The group leaves Zihnal and they find a tiny island in the water. There is water and a place to stop and rest. Here they can light a pyre to send Sila and Trager to Malek (Gryphons die when their riders die).

Riders decide to split up and search for the irids and meet back before nightfall. Ridoc and Violet stay on the Island until the fire goes out, and to give Andarna more time to sleep. Garrick goes with Xaden as his safety check against channeling. It’s interesting that we do start to get a glimpse of the other rider/ dragon dynamics. I wish Yarros had leaned into more details of the characters we know and love.

On this tiny unnamed island, we finally find the irids. Or rather, the irids finally showed themselves. This is the end of chapter 40 and all I can say is: It’s about damn time! We are seriously 64% of the way into the book! So much of nothing happened in the first 2/3 and all I can say is “WHY”?

Irids are magic. The Irid has no interest in the dragons or humans, he only wants to talk to Andarna because “She is the criterion”. He reveals that all irids are feathertails because they are pacifists. They are born for peace. They think her tail is an abomination to their kind.

Andarna was left behind as a measure of human growth. They hoped that with the wardstones, they would use magic for peace. They wanted Andarna to find them and tell them that humans have grown and changed.

Here is where I will go off on a slight diatribe and ask what this is all about. Really? They abandon Andarna as an egg and are then mad at her for growing up in the environment they left her in. Are they mad at Andarna because humans are still at war or because Andarna didn’t create world peace? This makes zero sense! This is another excuse to create drama for the next 35% of the book! I have some more thoughts on them that you can find on my Fourth Wing theories post. But overall, I think the irids are pompous a**holes.

The irids express disappointment with Andarna and refuse to come back to The Continent to help. They spent a month trying to find the irids and now they will not even get to see the Island and learn from them.

Ridoc sees Xaden’s eyes change when he flies back to the island in time to see the Irid. He is really mad- even more upset that Violet did not trust him enough to tell him about it. They fly back to Basgiath and learn that Suniva fell and Queen Maraya is dead. Tecarus is now the king.

Violet agrees to tell Sawyer, Rhi, and Jesinia about Xaden. As the loyal and very forgiving friends they are, they don’t report him or murder him. Xaden resigns as a professor at Basgiath because he needs to go to Tyrrendor.

Quest squad knows that they need to go to Aretia so Violet helps Sawyer figure out how to ride Sliseag. They all leave for Aretia together.

Onyx storm suddenly introduced us to all the gods and their intricacies. Chapter 48 has a quote that says “While most deities allow temple attendants to choose their timeline of service, only two require a lifetime of dedication: Dunne and Loial. For both war and love change souls irrevocably”. There is also many references to Xaden’s soul throughout this book. I think the plot is now going somewhere!

Aretia is under attack. Tairn gets the wingspur of a Wyvern in him and Rhi is able to summon it out. Theophanie arrives and Violet realizes she was a high priestess of Dunne. There are so many questions about this. How was she able to leave with her life? Suddenly, the wards go up.

The irids arrive (Leothan) and fix the wards. Theophanie leaves. Leothan once again gives Andarna the chance to return with him and learn the ways of the irids. He promises that Violet will not die if Andarna severs their bond. He also promises that if Andarna returns, she can reforge the bond again, if she chooses.

Andarna chooses to leave. I think I should have felt something but I didn’t. Maybe because I didn’t think she would be gone for long, maybe because the writing did not make me feel anything. I wanted to feel sad because I love Andarna but, alas, it was not the case.

Violet feels the loss of Andarna profoundly. She spends a while in a deep depression but is able to pull herself out of it with the help of Mira. We learn important information about Violet. Asher tried to dedicate her to Dunne even though it had been illegal since the two hundreds. Apparently, the dedication was not completed because Violet still had a path to choose. They only dedicate children whose paths are clear.

The reader now has answers as to why Asher sent Violet to Unnbriel to retrieve the books. He wanted her to understand her past. Although, why he couldn’t have left it in a note is beyond me! The priestess knew that “the heart that beat for you- or within you- would do the wrong thing for the right reason, read for unspeakable power, and turn dark.” This is the reason the dedication was not complete.

Chapter 55 is where the story really goes quickly. And yes, there are only 72 pages left in the book. So from here on, you need a good hour to finish reading. You will not want to be interrupted.

All hell is breaking loose. Navarre wants to declare war on Tyrrendor for defying Senarium. Xaden cut of shipments of Talladium until King Tauir confirms their alliance, Violet can’t do runes without Andarna’s bond and Bohdi wants to leave school and stay with Xaden. He says “I will stand by your side and be your right-fucking-hand for the rest of our lives.” This is an important part of the book and I think will have implications later.

In Chapter 56 we start to understand the true power of dream-walking. Once again, Violet finds herself in Xaden’s dream with Berwyn. This time she realizes that it is his dream and not hers. She is having trouble waking Xaden out of the dream and the Sage tells her that he keeps Xaden stuck in the dream. He is also a dream-walker and this has serious implications for what a dream-walker can do. The Sage also realizes that Violet is not part of Xaden’s dream and is dream-walking herself and offers an ultimatum: “You come or she dies.”

Theophanie has Mira

Theophanie wants Violet to come along with Xaden’s brother. Who is Xaden’s brother? (see Onyx Storm Spoilers below) Xaden is confused. They think he is supposed to bring Jack. See below for more information on this. Brennan tells Violet that the only chance they have to win and save Mira is if everyone sticks to the plan no matter what. Violet’s job is to kill Theophanie and that is it. Anything else will lead them all to failure because Theophanie expects Violet to choose everyone else over her.

They arrive and Theophanie holding is holding Mira. She slits her throat.

Brennan desperately tries to save Mira, but he does not have enough power. They need Sloane. She has not used her power since Lilith Sorrengail’s death but she finally agrees to use her signet. She gives power to Brennan so he can save Mira. Sloane gives Violet a package for Aaric- weird. It is also strange that there is no mark on the back of Brennan’s neck or Dain’s wrist from where Sloane touched them.

Theophanie comes back. Bohdi thinks he is helping but Cuir takes him away because Violet knows he is not strong enough to beat her. Theophanie is not a lightning wielder like they thought. She is the answer to Lilith. “Only Aimsir’s exhaustion or a physical illness weekend, Mom. Not even the strongest wind Wilder could diminish Mom’s storms. “

Chapter 61 Is Rhiannon’s POV. We hear about the fight from her perspective. This is great because where has she been for the last 60 chapters?

Meanwhile, Violet is trying to kill Theophanie while she is trying to get Violet to channel. Violet is pulling lightning from the sky and cleaving it into as many bolts as she can to kill the Wyvern. Aaric arrives with soldiers from Zehyllna.

Chapter 63 is Immogen’s POV. This chapter is important because she is with Quinn when she is killed. She also makes some interesting observations about where Bohdi is during the battle.

Now we return to Violet. Aaric has given her a marble dagger. He realizes that while this should not kill a venin, it can kill a high priestess of Dunne. Violet uses the gift from Aaric to wield lightning after her conduit breaks and kills Theophanie. This is when we realize that Aaric has had his signet for a long time.

Onyx Storm Spoilers

The rest of the book has major spoilers that are located in Onyx Storm Ending Explained. You can jump to that section but know that it has Onyx Storm spoilers!

Onyx Storm Ending

From this point on there will be major spoilers that I cannot hide. I have tried to keep the Onyx Storm as spoiler-free as possible. However, the ending of Onyx Storm is where the majority of the plot development happens. If you do not want to know Onyx Storm spoilers, stop reading now!

The second last chapter in the book is from Xaden’s POV. We see him change into full venin to save Sgaeyl after Berwyn threatens her. His conversation with Sgaeyl is one of the pivotal moments in the book. Xaden says “Persuade Tairn,” I beg.
Everything depends on it.
We will ask,” Sgaeyl finally says flexing her claws in the rocky soil “And her decision will determine our fate.”

The last chapter of the book is from Violet’s POV. She wakes up after killing Theophanie. She feels strange when she reaches for her bond with Tairn. Andarna tells her that he has to rest. She reaches for her bond with Xaden and cannot feel it. She looks at her hand and sees that she is married but has no memory of it because Immogen wiped it. Dragon eggs are missing as are Bodhi, Garrick, and Aaric.

Onyx Storm Ending Explained: Frequently Asked Questions

What was the strange conversation between Xaden and Sgaeyl at the end of Onyx Storm?

At the end of Onyx Storm, Sgaeyl and Xaden are having a cryptic conversation and it is unclear what they are talking about. After you read the book and go back to read the ending of Onyx Storm again, the conversation between them makes more sense.

I think when Sgaeyl says “Her decision will determine our fate” she is not talking about Violet. We already know that Violet would do anything to help Xaden. I think she is talking about Andarna. They need Andarna to break the mate bond between Tairn and Sgaeyl. Xaden needs to leave and he cannot take Sgaeyl with him unless the bond is broken.

We know that Andarna can break bonds because she is magic and she already broke the bond between her and Violet. There is no reason to believe she could not break other bonds as well.

When Violet wakes up and tries to reach for her bond with Tairn, Andarna says that he will need a cycle to rest and recover. This is exactly how Violet felt when Andarna severed their bond.

When she reaches for her bond with Xaden, it is not there. We know the severed bond is not because he is venin. Theophanie already assured Violet that she could keep her love (assumption that she would keep the bond) and her dragon.

Who is Xaden’s New Brother?

Xaden has a new Venin brother. I wish Yarros had given us a little more information on what this meant from Asher’s or Jesminia’s research. We do not know who that brother is but there are a few clues.

Yarros says it is a person who is missing at the end and also feels like they need more power. We also know they are a male who knows that Xaden is Venin.
This means it could be:

1. Bohdi
2. Garrick
3. Aaric

I have two theories for who this is: Bohdi or Brennan (and I know that he is not missing, but hear me out).

Bohdi: Xaden keeps trying to send Bohdi back to Tyrrendor to be the heir. Bohdi refuses and says “I will stand by your side and be your right-fucking-hand for the rest of our lives”. Violet then tells Bohdi he is not strong enough to counter Theophanie’s signet. In Imogen’s POV chapter, she sees Cuir, Bohdi’s dragon, severely injured with a hole in his wing. She also sees him in the square retching.

When I first read this, I thought he was upset about his injured dragon but then I realized that, in the next chapter, Theophanie’s storm is gone. I think this could be when Bohdi decides to channel. Violet thought that Theophanie stopped the storm so she could not use the lightning, but it could have been Bohdi.

In Xaden’s POV chapter, he sees his new brother and an unconscious dragon in the square. That dragon could be Cuir!

Brennan: I know that he is with Violet in the end, but Yarros has proven unreliable when giving information in the past.* So, I am not necessarily inclined to believe everything she says.

There is a reference to Brennan’s eyes being amber which is the color of Xaden’s eyes after he channels. But more than that, who is Berwyn? I think Berwyn may be Noalin. Xaden says “The bond between Berwyn and me is the kind that should never exist and not that my sage as another sibling he can use against me…I’m screwed.” This quote could reference Bohdi but it could make a reference to Brennan as well. Berwyn could easily use the relationship between Brennan and Violet to manipulate Xaden into compliance. I am less convinced of the Brennan theory than the Bohdi theory.

Also, after he saves Mira, there is not a mark on him from where Sloane touched him. Does this mean that she did not use her signet and Brennan was channeling instead?

*There is a reference to signets plural rather than signet in Fourth Wing and Yarros said it was a typo- clearly not a typo.

Why Did Violet and Xaden Get Married?

Let’s forget for a minute that we did not get to see this and discuss the implications.
Xaden needed to protect Tyrrendor. Throughout the Onyx Storm, Violet promises Xaden that she will help him protect Tyrrendor- even from himself. Clearly, now that Xaden is full venin, he needed Violet to rule Tyrrendor. This would be even more true if Bohdi is venin as well. So who married them?
Xaden made reference to the fact that the high priestess of Dunne temple wrote him a letter in which she states that she owes him a favor- “Whatever favor I see fit”.

Where are Garrick and Aaric and the end of Onyx Storm?

Aaric has been helping Xaden the whole time. He hid his signet from everyone while helping Xaden orchestrate the entire wedding. Why? We are not quite sure. Xaden makes references to “complicated loyalty toward”. Initially, I thought he was referring to the king, but it makes more sense that he is talking about Aaric. So where is he?

I think he is with Garrick. The two of them are delivering the stolen dragon eggs to Ummbriel to Queen Marlis. She said she wanted dragon eggs in exchange for providing soldiers. I am almost positive that they are delivering the eggs. Poor dragons!

Why did Immogen Wipe Violet’s memory?

Violet cannot be implicated in anything so they had to wipe her memory to ensure that she will have no information when she is questioned about the events and Xaden’s location.

Onyx Storm Thoughts:

These are a few of my thoughts after reading Onyx Storm. If you are looking for Onyx Storm theories, I have them on a different post. These are my general thoughts on the writing and plot development of Onyx Storm.

  1. Why does Yarros suddenly introduce us to new characters without giving a background on them
  2. Why does she suddenly start referring to main characters by last names instead of first names?
  3. How and why can Violet communicate with Tairn on the Islands?
  4. Why bring up Xaden’s mom other than to have a convenient addition of turmoil?
  5. Why didn’t Xaden use his innitinnsic powers to help them?
  6. We know that the compass is not broken, what is its significance?
  7. Where was Rhi in this book?
  8. I understand Immogen’s POV at the end of the book, but why did we need to have Rhi’s also? Is it because she wasn’t in the rest of the book?

I am looking forward to seeing how the plot point from Onyx Storm helps develop the rest of the series. I hope the next book provides more than just the points to move the reader from A to B and gives us a better story.

BTB Elements and icons 10

If this is your first epic fantasy, have no fear, I have you covered. Keep a pen and paper handy to write down a few things.

  • Characters- write down their names and relationship to each other
  • Major plot points- you will be shocked at how much happens and how much you can forget!
  • Don’t be afraid to look back at previous chapters
  • Do you have thoughts or questions about the Onyx Storm ending? Write those down as well.

Epilogue

Did you find my summary of Fourth Wing helpful? Was there other information that you consider Fourth Wing spoilers? I wonder if some of the information will be important for later books but we don’t know it yet!

Paranormal Romances

The Best Adult Fantasy Romance Books

If you love Fourth Wing as much as I do and the synopsis of Fourth Wing is not enough to hold you over until the next book, check out these great picks.

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