8 responses to “Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 66”

1. 

   Zuzle

   April 8, 2025 at 7:38 pm

   “… but who knows how many of those desiccations during the battle were actually him,” …I understood it as him thinking that Xaden dessicated them in the sense of “drained them”.

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2. 

   Anne-Marie

   April 21, 2025 at 7:58 am

   I am a late comer to the whole fourth wing, iron flame, onxy storm, and love it. Loved these chapter break downs, it’s allowed me to mull over what I have read, and i was very restratined not to read forwards. I really feel Brennan is the new sibling, as he has know about Xaden for a fair while, guaranteed we dont know for sure, but xaden was away for a fair while, then came and went while being a professor. In the POc chapters Rhi saw Tairn return with Tiene before they are swarmed with wyvern. So she should have seen Brennan returning with Mira! Imogen only disappeared for seconds to retrieve Quinns dager then came out and Garrick was gone and the sky was darkening. Xaden was with berwyn a while along with panchel and the sibling. Did Garrick disappear to take xaden and Violet to Dunnes temple in the isle to get married. After all sgaeyl and Tairn are battle bruised but not sure they could fly there and back at full health in 12hrs. Is Tairn having a cycle of rest as Adarna cut the mating bond? One thing Violet always has a plan B or a plan noone else knows, so Imogen wiping her mind is all part of it. All I know is my mind is whirling and I am just throwing things out there at the mo, but this i can not shake.

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3. 

   Janine

   June 9, 2025 at 12:16 pm

   BUT Brennan is not there, is Violet’s brother, (sees him as a brother), knew the whole time and from the first chapter in Fourth Wing… has Amber eyes like Xaden. He is a healer after all, so maybe the venom in him doesn’t show as much as it would in someone else!

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4. 

   J

   August 5, 2025 at 9:05 am

   Dear Cory,

   A fabulous website and accompaniment to an all encompassing storyline from RY. Thank you for piecing this together… ruminating on different thoughts and theories and provoking discussion. Such fun, whilst we wait years for the next book.

   I’ve scribbled some ideas. In response to many aspects you’ve written or published.

   I’m sure none are purely my own but reflections on yours and others.

   Thanks again,

   J
   Xaden / Venin
   Xaden remains emotionally anchored by his love for Violet—an anomaly among Venin, who typically lose all sense of emotional connection. This mirrors the chapter where a Venin spares her family while draining an entire field—an echo of what humanity still exists within them.

   His declaration that his friends can no longer die for his love of Violet feels pivotal. It may mark his decision to risk his “stability” and turn fully Venin, rather than foretelling his death. If he dies, Violet dies—so it seems more likely he’s choosing to survive for her, not give up.

   The phrase “our fete” implies more than a romantic bond. If their marriage occurred in Dunne’s temple, is there a magical or political weight to that union? Does this secure Saegyel’s bond, stabilize Xaden, or fulfill an ancient prophecy? It feels like one step in a bigger, secretive plan Xaden has committed to. Otherwise it doesn’t make sense… why would marriage decide their fete or keep them alive…

   There’s a conspicuous absence of Brennan and Mira when Xaden’s shadows sweep the field. Are they elsewhere—perhaps in Aretia—or does this hint that Brennan is the “new Venin”?

   The published theory of gold flecks in Xaden’s eyes are fascinating—divine markers, perhaps? A nod to Loial or Amari, or even a status of being a messenger of the gods? “Xaden fills the doorway like some kind of dark, avenging angel, the messenger of the queen of the gods”

   Xaden has always been willing to die for the cause—but never to let Violet do the same. If she must one day kill him, what part of him must die? His Venin self? His mortal self? It’s likely the story builds to his death… but this feels unsatisfying, a heartbreak for readers who’ve grown to love him. Unless Violet is a god—and resurrection is possible—it’s more likely that power loss, not death, is the emotional price. “They could break and reshape the continent”—Book 4 breaks it. Book 5 reshapes it.

   Imogen
   Xaden’s shadows pass over “the ones she loves”—plural. Likely referring to Garrick and Bodhi, placing them away from Berwyn’s battlefield. Their absence supports this.

   There must be a development between Garrick and Imogen. Their connection lingers unresolved. Like Dain and Sloane, their slow burn may gain focus if Xaden and Violet take a step back. Other romances (and humor) are needed to balance the emotional weight of the main arc. Xaden and Violet’s tender moments are critical—readers need them.

   Imogen’s perspective gives emotional distance from Violet, while still offering loss and grief through characters like Quinn. A clever narrative tool.

   The New Brother
   Candidates: Aaric, Brennan, Garrick, Bodhi, (Llewelyn, or Ulyses)

   Aaric
   Hints emerge when Xaden saves Halden—divided loyalties? Was Xaden protecting Aaric’s pre-cognition? If so, why not tell Violet? Did he only discover it later—thus the “five months” of watching someone stumble without understanding the full truth?

   Aaric is observant and underestimated. If he’s the sibling, the twist could parallel Xaden’s loyalty to Navarre—emotional, personal, complex. Yet… does Xaden care enough? and WHY would Aaric turn…

   Brennan
   Pros: He’s a Sorrengail Sibling. Has deep ties to Xaden. The timeline is fuzzy—when did Brennan learn the truth? He is the last person who would choose the Venin’s… he chose the fight against them over protecting his siblings.

   Cons: If Xaden told Brennan at Basgiath, why wouldn’t Brennan have told Violet or sought her out? He rushes to see her in Aretia, likely learning the truth then. He never disappears, shows no signs of turning Venin, and carries immense power. RY would need a very clever explanation to justify him showing no symptoms 12 hours later.

   For both Aaric and Brenan the 5month timeline doesn’t have to mean when they discovered the truth… merely a reflection of Xaden’s entire Venin journey so far. You can still see someone struggle before knowing the cause for the duration.

   Garrick & Bodhi
   Already feel like brothers. Too familiar. Too close. Imogen’s POV conveniently places them away from the battle. Unlikely to be the “reveal.”

   Andarna
   Still so many questions. Why gone for only 4–5 days? Her absence feels critical—but short. What power did she expend? Why now?

   Violet
   Her becoming Duchess of Tyrendor feels like the perfect opening beat of Book 4—a strong shift in her arc. She’s choosing her path, deciding whose lives to protect, and whose sacrifice she can bear.

   Violet’ Sygnet
   Can she project thoughts—pierce minds, not just dreams? Xaden repeatedly responds to her thoughts directly, not just intentions. We’re told it’s because he’s honed his power—but his gift is sensing intentions, not telepathy. Could it be her ability, misattributed to him?

   RY often leads us down misdirects—Violet assuming answers, only to have the truth flip. Perhaps Violet is the one with telepathy. After all, she’s not a lightning wielder—she’s a power wielder. There’s symmetry between her and Berwyn here: the manipulation of others’ minds and actions.

   Bodhi
   Why was he retching on the battlefield?

   Does he love Violet? Or has he sworn to protect her—for Xaden? Both?

   Xaden is clearly jealous of Bodhi lending Violet his jacket in Iron Flame, but still trusts him to protect her in his absence. Bodhi feels like a comedic and emotional anchor—a potential love interest? Maybe. But more likely, he’s a temporary support while Xaden is “gone.” Readers need levity—Xaden and Ridoc both provide that in perilous scenes. With Xaden Absent it feels like that Bodhi will fill this place… It also feels plausible that his feelings for Violet are stronger than merely on behalf of his cousin… I think he loves her.

   Ridoc
   Ridoc is the comic relief. When everything’s falling apart, his humor keeps it grounded. A vital valve for emotional pressure. He is unhappy with his absence from Violets side in the Theophaline battle… it’s a repeated failing on Violet’s side that she feels the need to battle alone and not utilise her powerful friends.

   Malec
   Your websites theories are fantastic. Malec’s growing presence is ominous. The sky darkens in response to Violet—he’s watching. He knows. Violet and he have a pre-formed relationship.

   What happened when Lilith was pregnant with Violet? When was she “damaged”?

   Both Berwyn and Theophanine reference “him”—a dark force behind the Venin. Feels like Malec is the god figure they sacrifice to—piece by piece, offering souls for power. But if Malec is the one the Riders are battling against… then how they defeat him is unclear… or even if they have to defeat him. The Irids’ comment about seeking victory over peace is interesting here… Make peace with Malec (this is a powerful thought process for the god of death).

   Mira
   So much left unsaid. She’s absent from the final battle, presumably recovering. But why isn’t she shown afterward, when others wake up? Her future arc feels intriguing, a definite plot B for Book 4.

   Tairn
   Opposed to Xaden, yet always helps Violet help him. When Andarna gives Violet her Feathertail gift, she must sleep—did Tairn do something equivalent? Tairn may have exhausted part of his essence to ensure someone else’s survival.
   The “cycle of rest” may signify a bond break from Saegyel… this is an interesting concept… although uncomfortable for the overule narrative of the book… we are told repeatedly that the bond between S and T is more important as well as being the death of them all.

   The word “cycle” may be literal, referring to some celestial alignment or magical phase (like a lunar cycle or eclipse) during which:
   Older dragons rest to recharge or reconnect to the magical aether
   Dragons must retreat from the mortal plane
   Tairn is vulnerable to external forces or manipulation and needs to protect himself and Violet
   This could be a rare magical phenomenon—something hinted at in old lore.

   So many questions… and such a long wait!

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5. 

   BarbS

   August 6, 2025 at 3:22 pm

   My first thought is, what does Andarna know that would cause “them” to burn her. That she’s a dream walker? Who would know that? That she’s married a venin? Nobody knows that either. Did she turn into an initiate in that last chapter? What am I missing?

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   1. 

      Ajah

      June 6, 2026 at 1:05 am

      They would burn Violet to kill Xaden, since it’s widely assumed that her death would kill him, and it would be an easier way to kill him than hunting him down and killing him in a fight. Certainly we’ll see the weaker minded ‘leadership’ figures trying to kill her in book 4.

      Reply
6. 

   BarbS

   August 6, 2025 at 3:26 pm

   We can assume that Imogen removes a period of time from someone’s memory. Without seeing the memory? It would be too easy if she knew what she deleted and Violet made her tell. But can Dain retrieve a deleted memory from Violet or Imogen?

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   1. 

      Ajah

      June 6, 2026 at 1:06 am

      That is a very interesting question about Dane’s memory reading abilities.

      Reply