Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 8

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Written by: Cory

Onyx Storm Read Along Chapter 8

It goes without saying that THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven’t read this chapter of Onyx Storm, please go read it first.

The chapter opens with the introduction of a new God, Hedeon. I absolutely love how the Gods are becoming more integral to the story—it’s feeding right into my Gods theory! It’s fascinating to see the division in favor among the Gods across the continent, and I have a feeling this will become a crucial detail as we move forward.

We pick up exactly where we left off, with Violet being accused of high treason—by none other than Colonel Aetos. The moment where he tells Dain, “I have no son,” is brutal, but hey, at least this solidifies that Dain isn’t evil.

One of our lingering questions from Iron Flame theories has been answered: there’s a new General, and it’s exactly who we expected—Colonel Aetos (or should we official say, General Aetos). Considering he was Lilith Sorrengail’s second-in-command, this promotion was inevitable.

Violet is brought before the Senarium, and we get a glimpse of her conversation with Xaden via their bond. The standout detail here? He’s playing with her lightning wielder patch. I immediately wondered—how could a patch fall from her uniform? Why wasn’t Violet more careful to avoid leaving evidence behind?

And then we learn that she deliberately cut her patch and left it behind. Wait—what?! Violet has a plan, and I got flashbacks to Fourth Wing when she revealed the stolen map from her mother’s office. She’s about to play them, but how?

Can we take a moment to appreciate the Duke of Calldyr? His brutal dismissal of General Aetos was a thing of beauty. I’m officially in love with this man.

We also get confirmation that the wards remain intact against dark wielders. Meanwhile, Violet continues to showcase her assertive, confident demeanor. I can’t say it enough—I love her transformation. From the scared girl who crossed the parapet in Fourth Wing, to the unsure, insecure young adult in Iron Flame, to the assertive and confident woman we see in Onyx Storm: WOW. Xaden sums it up perfectly: “Brilliant, reckless woman.”

Now, onto Queen Maraya of Poromiel—finally! I’ve been wondering when (and if) we’d meet her. She’s not only a decent person but also unexpectedly kind to Violet, which was refreshing. We learn about her deal with Tecarus: allowing fliers to wield within Navarre’s wards in exchange for access to his library. But Queen Maraya goes even further, surprising us all by granting Violet full access to her library as well.

Here’s an interesting line to dissect: “But I assure you that you will not get away with altering a stone none of us fully understand—with endangering our kingdom.”
Is General Aetos referring to the rune that was altered or the wardstone itself? And did he stop mid-sentence intentionally to avoid revealing too much?

Violet’s assertiveness shines again, but let’s not forget she’s still young. Only someone in their early twenties would look a massive threat like General Aetos in the eye and tell him to do his worst. Violet, diplomacy lessons next, please!

As much as I’m rooting for her, the chapter’s ending frustrated me. She should’ve anticipated Aetos’s move. Varrish used her squadmates to get to her in Iron Flame, and it was painfully predictable that General Aetos would do the same. Violet, you’re brilliant, but you’ve got to stay one step ahead!

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Hello! This site is dedicated to the Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros. I’ve made this place to explore the rich world of Empyrean, full of characters, theories, and places. Each post is carefully researched and updated with the newest details from the series. This site is also a great spot for discussing theories about the Empyrean Series. 🐉
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