Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.Iron Flame's ending sets up a return to Basgiath after many cadets and professors flee upon learning about the venin. Violet and the others who departed the war college aren't greeted all that kindly in Onyx Storm, despite saving the institution during the second Empyrean Series book. And there's one character, in particular, who's angry about their rebellion in the previous installment.
events of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame set the stage for a tense reunion between Dain and his father, but it actually proves pretty underwhelming after all that's happened.
Dain's Reunion With Colonel Aetos Was Disappointing After Fourth Wing & Iron Flame
The First Two Empyrean Series Books Set Up A Bigger Confrontation
Dain's father uses his signet to send Violet and the marked ones into danger at the end of Fourth Wing, and Dain realizes what his father has done in Iron Flame. After reading Violet's memories during her interrogation with Varrish, Dain is faced with a harsh truth about his father and Navarre: that they're lying about the threat outside their borders. This is the same reality Violet comes to with after Fourth Wing, and Dain rises to the occasion. He leaves Basgiath and s the resistance. However, he doesn't get to confront Colonel Aetos before doing so.
Dain telling off his father is long overdue, and it would have been interesting to see a more human side of Colonel Aetos.
With Dain's father clearly committed to Navarre's lies — and Dain openly denouncing him — it seemed inevitable that the two would have an emotional confrontation in Onyx Storm. Dain telling off his father is long overdue, and it would have been interesting to see a more human side of Colonel Aetos. Unfortunately, Onyx Storm goes a different route with the villain — one that could suggest that he himself is a venin. Upon seeing Dain again, Colonel Aetos simply declares that he has no son. That's the most the two characters interact, leaving their problems unresolved ahead of the next Fourth Wing sequel.
Onyx Storm's Sequel Must Address The Tensions Between Dain And His Father
The Next Book Must Do More With Both Characters
The next Empyrean Series book must do a better job of dealing with the tensions between Dain and his father, whether it's by confirming that Colonel Aetos is a venin or giving them a more memorable confrontation. The former would put Dain in a difficult situation, forcing him to make hard choices about his family — and perhaps giving him a reason to search for a cure alongside Violet. The latter would at least raise the emotional stakes for both characters, which is necessary after their portrayals in Onyx Storm.
All Empyrean Series Books, Ranked (Including Onyx Storm)
All three books in The Empyrean Series bring action, romance, and political intrigue, but some are stronger than others when it comes to storytelling.
In general, Onyx Storm fails to do Dain and Colonel Aetos justice, as neither is fleshed out enough in the sequel. After Dain's redemption in Onyx Storm, he continues to do the right thing — but there isn't any significant growth or conflict for him. And Colonel Aetos comes off as cartoonishly evil, which could have a deeper explanation. But for now, both character arcs feel like they're missing depth.
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Publisher
- Entangled: Red Tower Books
- Publication Date
- 2025/01/01
- Franchise
- The Empyrean Series
- ISBN#
- 1649374186
- Author(s)
- Rebecca Yarros
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