Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.
Onyx Stormis one of the biggestfantasy books coming out in 2025, and people are already plowing through thenewFourth Wingsequelnow that it’s on shelves. AfterIron Flame’s twist ending, readers are wasting no time diving into its follow-up, as they’re eager to know what becomes of Violet and Xaden. With Xaden turning venin in the previous book, Violet dedicates her time to finding a cure for him inOnyx Storm.She also embarks on a journey to locate the seventh breed of dragon, as Navarre believes Andarna’s kind could help defeat the venin.
This leads Violet and a group of companions on a quest to the Isle Kingdoms, though they’re tasked with resuming classes and preparing for war beforehand. Their time at Basgiath is tenser than ever, as venin attacks are a common occurrence and fliers aren’t getting along with riders. Between the political conflicts at home and the dangers of their journey,there’s a lot that happens inOnyx Storm.And that’s not to mention the book’s action-packed ending, which continues the trend of a major battle unfolding.
15Xaden Becomes The Duke Of Tyrrendor
He’s Able To Use His Title To Help Throughout Onyx Storm
Xaden is the heir to Aretia, which theend ofFourth Wingreveals is standing again — butOnyx Stormgives him a greater title. During negotiations between Navarre and Poromiel at the beginning of the book,Xaden is reinstated as nobility and becomes the Duke of Tyrrendor. He’s also granted a seat on the Seranium, allowing him to sway important decisions throughout the book. His position as duke also gives him greater authority to help those near and outside the borders, even though Navarre’s leaders don’t want him to.
14Garrick & Several Other Marked Ones Have Second Signets
Garrick Is A Distance Wielder
Onyx Stormreveals that Xaden isn’t the only Marked One with a second signet. Violet learns that Garrick is a distance wielder early in the book, meaning he’s capable of walking long distances in impossibly short spans of time.He tells her that those with rebellion relics are more likely to have secondary gifts, and Xaden confirms that their dragons chose them for this reason. Violet learns that Liam was also able to wield ice, and Imogen uses what appears to be a rock wielding signet at the end of the book.
13Violet’s Father Left Her Research & Books Full Of True History
Asher Sorrengail’s Work Helps Violet
Violet’s journey inFourth WingandIron Flamesees her learning that everything she’s been taught is a lie, and she spends both books unraveling the truth about Navarre’s history. Even after this, it’s difficult for her to find true information about her kingdom’s background — and especially details about neighboring kingdoms. Fortunately, she’s able to form a plan for finding the Feathertails using her father’s research.Onyx Stormreveals his name is Asher Sorrengail, and it sees him leaving breadcrumbs like notes and books to guide Violet.
12Xaden’s Mother Started A New Family On The Isle Of Wisdom
Their Reunion Doesn’t End Well
Xaden is tight-lipped about his mother throughoutFourth WingandIron Flame,suggesting that her absence is a difficult topic for him.He and his mom briefly reunite on the Isle of Wisdom inOnyx Storm,and things don’t go so well. Xaden learns that she’s now married to one of the triumvirate on Hedotis and that she has two other sons. Despite her feckless attempts to make up for abandoning him, he and his friends nearly die because the triumvirate tries to poison them. Needless to say,Onyx Stormdoes little to mend Xaden’s relationship with his mother.
11Andarna Is An Irid Scorpiontail (& Her Kind Live In The Isle Kingdoms)
The Seventh Breed Of Dragon Differs From The Rest
Violet and the others learn that Andarna is an irid scorpiontail inOnyx Storm,and they locate the rest of her kind later in the book. Andarna finds more irids during their trip to the Isle Kingdoms, and they turn out to be a surprisingly peaceful breed of dragon. In fact, the implication is that they left Navarre because of all the war and violence. The irids are more easygoing than the Empyrean when it comes to talking to humans, but they’re also more judgmental about bonding with them and fighting their battles.
10Andarna Was Meant To Be A Test For Human Beings
The Other Irids Call Her The Criterion
When Andarna meets the other irids, she learns that she’s what they call “the criterion.“They left her egg behind as a test for humans, hoping to see if they would change over hundreds of years. If Andarna had a peaceful upbringing, it would mean that humans were no longer using dragons for their own selfish ends. However, the other irids are disappointed in Andarna and Violet when they finally meet them. They view Andarna as proof that humans are the same as always, and they initially reject Andarna, causing her a great deal of grief.
9Violet’s Second Signet Is Dream Walking
This Explains Her Nightmares In Iron Flame & Onyx Storm
Readers expected Violet’s second signet to be revealed inOnyx Storm,and the book didn’t disappoint.The sequel reveals that Violet is a dream walker, which explains why she has nightmares that seem to be from Xaden’s perspective in bothIron FlameandOnyx Storm.She realizes she’s been entering Xaden’s dreams through her gift from Andarna, and she can also “meddle” while there. This makes Violet a type of Inntinnsic, which means she’ll need to hide this ability for the foreseeable future.
8Andarna Breaks Her Bond With Violet (Then Comes Back)
She Decides To Go Live With The Other Irids
Despite the irids initially rejecting Andarna and refusing to help Navarre, one of them shows up duringOnyx Storm’s final battle. He powers the wardstone at Aretia, but he then offers Andarna the chance to return to the Isle Kingdoms with him. She initially takes him up on this offer, severing her bond with Violet and leaving Violet distraught.Andarna returns at the end of the book to help Violet and Tairn, so it seems that she has changed her mind. However, her leaving is one ofOnyx Storm’s most shocking twists.
7Violet’s Father Almost Dedicated Her To Dunne
This Explains Why Her Hair Is Partly Silver
When visiting Unnbriel, Violet has a strange conversation with a priestess of Dunne, the goddess of war. She tells Violet that she’s glad they didn’t complete her dedication to the goddess, which initially makes no sense. However, Mira later reveals thatViolet was almost dedicated to the goddess as a baby. It seems Violet’s father took her to Unnbriel, hoping that dedication would help with her health condition. However, the priestesses foresaw Xaden turning venin, and they didn’t complete the ritual. This is probably for the best, but it explains Violet’s silver hair.
6Theophanie Kidnaps & Nearly Kills Mira
Sloane, Dain, & Brennan Are Tasked With Saving Her
While the venin Sage is still alive inOnyx Storm,the bigger venin threat is a Maven called Theophanie. Theophanie is interested in Violet, andshe eventually kidnaps Mira to lure Violet into a trap. This is what kicks offOnyx Storm’s ending battle, and Mira nearly dies at the hands of Theophanie. It’s only thanks to Sloane siphoning energy from Dain into Brennan that Mira is able to be mended. Hopefully, there isn’t lasting damage from Theophanie slicing open Mira’s throat, butOnyx Stormdoesn’t show her fully recovered.
