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Onyx Storm snippet: Plus new theories

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Written by: Cory

Onyx Storm snippet

The Onyx Storm snippet is here and OMG we are in for a ride. So much to discuss about it, I cannot wait to tell you my thoughts. Are you ready?

If there’s one thing that gets book lovers excited, it’s coming across a snippet that promises action, emotional intensity, and a sneak peek into the character dynamics we all love.

And this latest teaser from Violet Sorrengail’s personal addendum has me completely hooked—I just have to share my excitement!

The snippet kicks off with that powerful line: “I will not die today. I will save him.” It’s such a raw burst of determination that immediately sets the mood, throwing us right into Violet’s fierce resolve. It screams high stakes, danger, and something deeply personal. I don’t know about you, but lines like this get me instantly invested, each word adding more to Violet’s unshakeable mission. But wait…there’s so much more!

And then, there’s Xaden. His sudden disappearance, right before Violet releases her strike, leaves us with so many questions! Where did he go? How does he do that? Xaden’s mysterious vibe just keeps getting better, and I am totally here for it.

The way he challenges Violet, telling her to “learn to find me,” only makes things more interesting.

And then there’s that moment when Violet asks, “Why me?” You can just feel her vulnerability, and Xaden’s response—“Because you’re the only one capable of killing me”—just takes it to another level. What a line! It’s dramatic, it’s intense, and it gives us just a hint of what’s going on between them. The idea that Violet isn’t just Xaden’s lover… but someone who could truly end Xaden’s life adds so much weight to their relationship—it’s clearly built on both trust and tension.

This snippet is such a great example of how to build suspense and develop character relationships. Violet’s power, determination, and vulnerability make her such an interesting protagonist, and Xaden’s elusive nature and the danger they both face keep me guessing every step of the way.

My personal theories

Let’s analyse everything step by step please.

“Power rises, humming through me with insistent demand, and I lift my right hand, aiming my palm toward the sky of the open amphitheater. Xaden vanishes from behind me a second before I release the strike.

“You’re astounding,” he says. “But you need to learn to find me.” Shadows rush against my skin, and less than a breath later, they’re gone, leaving me staring at Xaden’s retreating back as he climbs the stairs. “This demonstration is over. I expect you all to come prepared next session,” he says over his shoulder.”

Clearly, Xaden and Violet are still very much a thing. And they trust each other. Very much so. Clearly Xaden’s shadows are super intense. We did learn in Iron Flame that when one becomes venin, their signets intensify. Chances are…Xaden is now FASTER than ever before.

He is also telling everyone that the demonstration is over. They ALL need to prepare. To me, this means that Xaden is openly venin in front of all the other cadets. And his using himself to teach everyone how to tackle venin.

Oh…and btw, we now have confirmation that Onyx Storm is from Violet’s POV still. Something we really wanted to know for ages.

“Why me?” I ask, more than aware of the other cadets staring as I find my balance. “Xaden!” He doesn’t so much as pause his ascent. “Because you’re the only one capable of killing me.”

Well, Violet sure is the only one capable of killing venin. I have no doubt that there is a lot more weight and meaning to this sentence, but overall, it could be that apart from daggers, yeah, only Violet can kill him. It feels intense and soooo dramatic to be fair. I got goose bumps reading this.

Moments like these remind me why I love this story so much: the unpredictable plot, the characters’ strengths and flaws, and those emotional moments that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.

I seriously can’t wait to see what happens next. What secrets are they still keeping from each other? This snippet has made the wait for the full story almost unbearable, but honestly, it’s the best kind of anticipation—full of hope, excitement, and just a bit of fear about what’s coming.

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Cory

Hello! I’m Cory, a devoted superfan of the Fourth Wing, Iron Flame and the Empyrean Series. My passion for these epic tales has led me to read and reread the books, each time uncovering new layers of information. I’ve created this site to share my insights and discoveries with fellow fans and anyone interested in exploring the rich world of Empyrean.

17 responses to “Onyx Storm snippet: Plus new theories”

  1. Edyta Avatar
    Edyta

    When Rebecca published the snippet I was waiting for your comment on this! And I didn’t get disappointed with your analysis as always. You made my Monday morning 🙂

    Reply
    1. Cory Avatar
      Cory

      <3 Really happy! But we need more snippets!

      Reply
  2. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    I have a very long theory that while Liam is dead he isn’t actually gone. He is tethered to the ongoing story either through a late bond from Andarna or in response to Violet’s ability to compel. (When Deigh died Andarna screamed and Violet’s almost final words to Liam were ‘Fight to stay’) It was (nonvisible) Liam who saved Violet instead of Ridoc on the hike up the cliffs after Luella triggered the trap as well as pushing Sloane to safety when they encountered Solas in the cave.

    But… let’s do something easier to explain. General Daramor isn’t a proper name but rather a title or description. Daramor? Dar amor. For love. You will take down the wards ‘for love’ etc.

    Reply
    1. Cory Avatar
      Cory

      I love your Daramor theory. This is brilliant!
      I have a theory that Liam is not gone because they didn’t burn all his items.
      I would like to know more about your theory on Violet’s second signet (compelling) and the late bond thru Andarna.
      Do you think she can compel? Another good example for this is when she told Xaden to stop strangling Tecarus.

      Reply
      1. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        The theory is based upon something fairly obscure- a supposedly ‘dead’ character continuing to exist within the context of the story. RY kills off her characters on a regular basis and when they die there is no doubt that they are gone. We know that Dylan (candidate who toppled off of the parapet), Nadine, Aurelie, etc. are dead even if they receive another mention or two along the way. The same was not true, however, with Brennan who, while ‘dead’, remained present through all of FW through constant references (i.e. Book of Brennan).

        The same was true for Liam during IF. Even after his dragon was gutted and he very clearly appeared to die he remained alive within the narrative through Sloane, his letters, his appearance during the torture scenes, and regular references.

        The point to remember is that nothing is impossible in a world that includes dragons stopping time and riders astral projecting.

        We were told on the very first page of FW that when a dragon dies so too does its rider. An immutable truth… until JFB kills his own dragon and lives because he has replaced Baide’s magic. In a sense all that it might take to keep Liam’s tied to the story is some of that magic replaced possibly through a bond with Andarna (the only dragon to ever double-bond a rider (Violet) and therefore the most likely candidate to bond a second rider (Liam)).

        This could also rationalize two other plot-related details: Andarna’s sudden growth following Resson (explained as a reaction to her expenditure of energy stopping time twice) and the length of time that she remained within the dreamless sleep. We know that dragons suffer to some extent when the rider they were bonded dies so if Andarna had bonded Liam there would have been repercussions.

        Another way to look at this relates to ‘time’. Tairn can read memories and thoughts but Andarna can also see the future. She knew when to hatch, when to accompany Violet (squad battle, Resson, rune search into the cave, Basgiath) and kept insisting that she would be where she was needed. This means that she would likely have known before Resson what would happen to Liam so the issue is whether she had any reasons to save him and, if so, whether attaching a bond to him would suffice.

        Another spin on this goes as follows. Andarna insisted on accompanying them on the squad battle. Given that Violet was never in danger the most logical explanation is that she went along in order to save Liam and if that were the case then it seems possible that she could foresee a reason why his existence would be important in the future.

        The problem is that, while somewhat compelling, there is scant evidence of a ‘bond’. In fact Andarna may have been able to foresee that Violet would ‘compel’ Liam to remain in the story which raises another couple of issues. First, was this her second signet? Second, if not then might it represent a source of magic that Violet was born with?

        There has been ample speculation about her mother’s fever during pregnancy and Violet’s physical health and hair color. Some believe that her mother drew power from the earth during pregnancy and, if so, it seems possible that this would also have impacted her unborn child. There were a number of instances when Violet was being ignored until she spoke out with real emotion and ‘power’ causing those around her to react in surprise. This happened when Dain was going to read her memories during the initial RSC questioning, at Aretia with Mira and Brennan, and near the end of IF when she was trying to get her mother to listen to her with respect to fixing the wards. But… she also yelled ‘No!’ at the infantry cadet who was trying to toss her off the roof so this is far from conclusive. Yet the way her scalp always tingled when Xaden was looking at her suggests that she had some magical abilities well before she received her dragon bonds.

        In any event… the basic theory was that Liam remains tethered to the story and continues to act as a protector to both her and Sloane. Why this is may be necessary has yet to be revealed and exactly how it was accomplished is also unclear. A feathertail ‘usually’ (but apparently not always) loses its original magical abilities when it begins to channel and that didn’t happen until directly after Resson (and has nothing whatsoever to do with being in or out of the dreamless sleep). This means that while Andarna could have bonded Liam- just like she bonded Violet- she couldn’t have provided him with the second signet during the battle that many seem to believe allowed him to wield ice. This, in turn, tilts the probabilities regarding Violet’s abilities to compel back towards something that she received during her mother’s pregnancy.

        As for Violet’s second signet… that remains as much of a mystery as Garrick’s signet. She ‘needs’ information but she also could benefit from better physical health as it is difficult to wage war on venin hordes with dislocated joints and broken bones. There were references to increased speed but this might simply be the result of lesser magics.

        That is enough for the time being.

        Reply
        1. Cory Avatar
          Cory

          Kevin, sorry I only just got around to replying. I was away for the last few days.

          THIS theory of your is WILD. I read it five times and every single time: WILD. I love it though, and I would love nothing more than for it to be true.
          I would love to know where did the idea come from?

          Re Lilith and Violet: I think Lilith almost died and HAD to turn venin to save herself and her baby. I think she drained her by mistake. You know how babies are dependent on the mother and they act (for lack of better description) like parasites from the host (in this case the mother)? Well nature likes all things in balance. So I think the other way around happened (by accident) which means that Lilith partly drained Violet. Hence her weak bones and her constantly silver tips of her hair.

          I think Violet can compel. I do think that’s potentially her second signet btw.
          As for her tingling scalp, that was all because she could feel Xaden’s reading her memories. But indeed…how was she able to feel that? Given that Xaden himself said “No, Violence, trust me, you wouldn’t be able to tell if someone were to read your memories.”
          Was that a clue? Or a plot convenience for us to know WHEN he reads her memories?

          For the ice wielding, I wanted to say that apparently sadly, RY expressed that it was a mistake during the writing. She mixed their abilities. I was greatly disappointed by this as I honestly thought there was a clue to Liam being able to use runes somehow on the battlefield. But as to why he reappeared in the story…my theory is that we didn’t burn his things. And so, his soul is allowed so wander.

          I love this discussion, btw. <3

          Reply
          1. Kevin Avatar
            Kevin

            The original idea came from a specific event and a curiously emphasized word.

            While climbing the Cliffs of Dralor the flyer Luella triggered the gryphon trap and pushed both Violet and Visia towards the cliff edge. ‘A hand grasps the waistband of the back of my leathers and pulls, changing the direction of my fall. Ridoc.’

            If it was, in fact, Ridoc then the arrows flew out several seconds after the trap was sprung which seems somewhat illogical given that by then the person or gryphon that triggered it would already have safely passed by. If the arrows flew out immediately then it seems possible that Ridoc was a little too busy getting skewered to grab and save Violet.

            Then Cibbe- Luella’s gryphon- grabs Visia, ‘Visia was in his way. The gryphon dumps the rider on the ledge and then cranes his enormous neck towards Luella as bootsteps race down the ascent’.

            As bootsteps race down the ascent with the word ‘down’ emphasized. On the one hand most of the key players (Rhi, Sloane, Cat, etc.) were ahead of them which means that they would be coming ‘down’ the path but, even so, the wording seemed curious. If she had written ‘down the ascent towards me’ or ‘back down the ascent’ the meaning would have been clearer but this particular phrasing created the impression that ‘someone’ in Violet’s vicinity was hastily moving away. Yet… only Ridoc and Dain were visible which, in turn, suggests that either Ridoc grabbed Violet or someone/something ‘not visible’ managed to save her.

            With this in mind let’s jump forwards to the scene in the cave where they encounter Solas. Violet has thrown herself in front of Cat while Andarna moves in front of both of them to act as a shield, “Kiralair and Sloane fly into us next, swept in by an unseen force…”

            Swept in by an unseen force? After a non-visible ‘hand’ grabbed Violet as she was going to tumble over the cliff edge we now have another non-visible force saving Sloane. Two obscure- and ambiguously written- events that (lightly) hint at the possibility of a non-visible protector for both Violet and Sloane- Liam’s sister.

            As mentioned previously Liam was completely healthy when Deigh was killed and ‘died’ as a result of the loss of magic. We know that if this magic is replaced (i.e. JFB) that the rider will live. We don’t know, however, what might happen if only a small part of that magic were replaced but it seems at least possible that some portion- perhaps in non-visible form- might remain. We also know that at least two of the den elders (Codagh and Andarna) have connections to ‘time’ (Melgren’s signet allows him to see the outcome of future battles). In fact if you do the math Andarna was in her egg 18 years BEFORE the Great War and, after hatching, couldn’t breathe fire for the wards until more than 3 years later (assuming that she was 2 when bonded in October of Violet’s first year and was able to toast marshmallows in late December of Violet’s second year). This suggests that not only could she stop time as a feathertail but could also see future events so the issue is whether she knew that Violet’s survival depended in some way of Liam’s protection and, if so, whether she had the magical abilities to ‘tether’ Liam.

            Two more things. First, even though Violet’s signet apparently didn’t manifest for months after Tairn started channeling she created a lightening strike almost immediately (while snogging with Xaden). The magic can be introduced or replaced very quickly.

            Second, the book says that a feathertail (usually) loses its individual magic as soon as it begins to channel which didn’t happen until just after Liam died at Resson. Yet we also know that neither Violet nor Xaden returned to Resson to deal with the bodies which leaves open a tiny crack in the plot-based assumption that he is gone.

            Violet has three potential sources of magic. Tairn’s signet, of course, as well as a second signet from Andarna, but also some level magical abilities that she was born with. The references to her hair color and her mother’s fever may simply represent RY’s justifications for making Violet ‘frail’ but, if not, then this opens up another can of worms.

            What if… Jack was saved so that he could be used for research purposes? What if Violet’s mother wasn’t trying to find a cure for Jack but instead for herself? The amount of effort put in to ‘saving a soul’ seemed disproportionate for a single rider but perhaps more understandable if it was done instead for the commanding General.

            Finally, the books continually note that only ‘power’ can kill venin as represented by the power-infused alloy in the daggers. Even when Violet encountered JFB taking down the wards when she threw her dagger she noted that she had thrown the wrong one. Fair enough but…

            Earlier that year a first-year with ‘red’ eyes killed Nadine by mistake. Violet returned the favor by stabbing him repeatedly on the mat… with a regular dagger. This suggests that one of two things is likely. Either it takes some time and repeated drawings of magic from the source to create a true venin (which is why her mother’s eyes weren’t consistently red while also holding out some hope for Xaden) or… Violet’s ‘power’ can turn regular daggers into venin-killers as long as they are in her hand. Just a thought.

          2. Cory Avatar
            Cory

            Hi Kevin, can I turn this into a post please? I would love to. I think it would get more visibility and I reckon many people would love to read this.

          3. Kevin Avatar
            Kevin

            Btw there were a few editing errors including- just after violet’s threshing and the squad merge- the comment that a rider on the death roll was from second squad, flame section, fourth wing. Ummm… no. RY had already noted that the four upper year riders in the squad were Imogen, Heaton, Quinn, and emery. Surprised that this wasn’t corrected before FW was published but it does, at least, suggest that if something seems wrong perhaps it actually is.

          4. Cory Avatar
            Cory

            Oh thanks for letting me know. I’m a little behind with RY’s interview 🙁

        2. Liz Avatar
          Liz

          Hi Kevin! All of your theories are incredible. Although I can’t take credit for this variation to your idea about Liam (I saw it online somewhere while scrolling and now can’t get it out of my head), what if his ongoing albeit invisible presence is explained by runes? We know his mother was one of the most experienced rune wielders and created the complex rune that protects the Marked Ones. We also know you can imbue just about anything, including wood, and he had just finished carving a miniature Andarna for Violet before he died. It seems possible that he created a protective rune for Violet and imbued it into her miniature dragon. Granted, there was no obvious triggering moment that I can recall like the moment the Marked Ones became protected by their relics when their parents were killed, and I don’t remember reading anything about Violet keeping the carving with her at all times, but maybe his physical death at Resson unleashed the protection of the rune since, before his death, he had been protecting her.

          Reply
          1. Cory Avatar
            Cory

            I do think so btw. It’s one of the theories on this site too. I do really think so. He’s “alive” through his runes.

  3. Isabelle Avatar
    Isabelle

    Just saw the Onyx Storm snippet- even more excited to read the book!

    Reply
    1. Cory Avatar
      Cory

      It’s insane isn’t it???

      Reply
  4. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    Turn it into a post? Certainly. Attribution isn’t necessary though so I’ll leave that to you.

    Reply
    1. Cory Avatar
      Cory

      Thank you! I’ve also been out of the country. Well, actually, I just moved countries and it’s been MAD. I feel awful for replying so late to everyone. After Xmas everything should finally settle down.

      Reply
  5. kevin Avatar
    kevin

    I replied to your request to turn the comments into a post a few days ago. I’ve been out of the country for almost a month so three things please.
    First, yes. Absolutely. Edit it, borrow it, or steal it. I don’t really care.
    Second, if you do please email me and let me know where to find it.
    Third, do it soon before OS is published and all my thoughts are disproved.

    Kevin

    Reply

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