Nothing beats a cheesy post title: Love is all we need. But wait until we dig into this theory—you’ll love it too. Yeah, okay, pun intended.
To give you context, I’ll start from the beginning. Rebecca Yarros is a military romance writer. She dedicates her books to her husband, the love of her life. Sure, Mrs. Yarros loves to mess with our emotions and make us all cry, but there’s one thing I feel she cares about above all in her romance: love.
Fourth Wing was about the introduction of love. Iron Flame was about doing whatever it takes for love. Onyx Storm was about trying to find a cure in the name of love. No doubt, as the series progresses, the answer to it all will be love.
I also sense a bit of a ping-pong game. In Fourth Wing, Violet falls in love with Xaden and tries to get HIM to love her back. Eventually, she accepts that maybe he doesn’t feel the same way and takes whatever he can give. By the end, we find out that he loves her—he’d loved her even before she fell for him.
In Iron Flame, it’s about Xaden getting Violet to trust him fully and love him with the same intensity. Onyx Storm? It’s just mutual, pure love.
Book 4? I anticipate it’ll be about Violet getting Xaden to remember love and come around. Book 5… who knows. Either Xaden trying to get Violet back, fighting for her love, or mutual love again. Either way, you see where I’m going with this.
What does Xaden need right now the most? Love. It’s Violet who made him hang onto the last thread of his soul. When Violet screamed, I love you.
Alright, are you ready? Let’s go down the rabbit hole and find Xaden’s cure together. And yes, I do have an idea of what it is…
A wonderful, smart reader called Poppy Peaslee put together some quotes for us, which have helped me immensely with this theory:
“I’d forgotten what it felt like to be loved, really, truly loved—it’d been so many years since Dad died. And Mom… Not going there. But then Violet gave me those words, gave me her trust, her heart, and I remembered. I’ll be damned if I don’t fight to keep them.”
“Nothing kills powerful, unshakeable love faster than opposing ideologies.” – Journal of Warrick of Luceras, Translated by Violet AND Dain.
“It was never our continent from the beginning. From the very beginning, it was theirs, and we were simply allowed to live here.” – Journal of Warrick of Luceras, Translated ONLY by Violet (Epigraph for Chapter 56).
This epigraph comes AFTER Dain and Violet provide a more accurate translation, which makes me think RY is intentionally signaling that this quote might be mistranslated. My first thought, Poppy said, was that it refers to dragons—but what if it’s about the gods the continent and islands are named for? Most of the islands in Onyx Storm don’t have magic or dragons. The old name for the continent, Amaralys, was for Amari, queen of the gods. They never make it to Loial’s island… still letting this tumble around in my brain and take shape.
Building on Poppy’s theory: What is the opposite of war? Love and peace, right? We’ve seen some Irids come to them, but who’s to say the Irids aren’t on Loial’s island? It seems like the perfect place, as Irids abhor violence. The translation, I think, does reference the gods—it was always theirs. Mortals and dragons came later. And only one species of dragon is inherently magical: Irids. There’s still a lot to unpack about dragons seeing as they are not all magic by default, and Jack himself said that they want us to believe that they are the good guys, but they are the gate keepers. Plus, let’s not forget that dragons do not pay heed to the human Gods. Did dragons steal from Gods? It feels…like something is up.
“The bond between Violence and me is the kind of magic that has no explanation.” – Xaden, Chapter 65.
Because love is its own kind of magic, right?
“While most deities allow temple attendants to choose their timeline of service, only two require a lifetime of dedication: Dunne and Loial. For both war and love change souls irrevocably.” – Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition (Epigraph for Chapter 48).
I think this quote is crucial. Violet was touched by Dunne, the Goddess of War. What does Xaden call her first? Violence—that’s her nickname. What if she was later touched by another god? By Loial? It would explain why Violet’s new nickname in Onyx Storm is now Love. What can cure a broken soul above all? Love. Violet is the cure.
I’ve said before that Violet is the cure to Venin—the herbal remedy being violets—but it’s now clear that it’s much deeper than that. I think, literally and figuratively, Violet is THE cure. Because Violet is love. Xaden’s love. HIS. HERS.
“But do you not yearn for temple? Usually the touch creates such a longing that you can’t help but return. Or perhaps you now favor another god.” – High Priestess of Dunne, Chapter 31.
(Is the “other god” Loial???)
Poppy and I are on the same thread here. Yes, only two gods require a lifetime of dedication. And let’s face it, Violet turned her back on Loial out of spite. I think she’ll need to jump through hoops to ask for forgiveness.
“I love you,” Violet’s voice cracks the cold, and a silken thread of warmth wedges itself in the opening before it seals shut, locking it in place. No. Wait. I grab for that thread with desperate hands, clawing to keep her as more of my pieces are blown away, lost to the void. She is warmth and light and air and love.” – Xaden, Chapter 65.
Per Theophanie:
“Do you know the pain of never being allowed to return, of knowing it would sever the very thing that kept me untouchable all these years?”
This framing convinces me the resolution may lie within the concept of love, tied to Loial and the island of love. The fact that they never reached Loial’s island feels intentional—like a question left hanging.
I also think the epigraphs about Dunne and Loial are vital. “War and love change souls irrevocably” elevates love to something transformative, not just a romantic plot device. If Violet and Xaden’s bond is “magic with no explanation,” could it transcend not just dragon bonds but divine influence?
In conclusion, I stand by my theory: Violet is the cure. It’s not just herbal remedies—it’s literal. Violet is THE cure. She’s love, Xaden’s love. HIS. HERS.
It’s beautiful, really… but I feel like we’ll have to endure utter devastation before the resolution. Book 4 will shatter us first. Bring it on!
Thank you so much, Poppy for collecting so many quotes. I will go through the books again and try to add even more to the collection to further build on this theory. But one thing is for certain. Xaden needs love right now, before it’s too late.
More Onyx Storm Theories
- Onyx Storm Theory: Berwyn and Xaden are both from Tyrrendor
- Onyx Storm Theory: Tyrrendor always had dragon riders
- Onyx Storm Theory: Why was Violet touched by Dunne
- Onyx Storm Theory: How to get Xaden’s soul back
- Onyx Storm Theory: Are the dragons evil?
- Onyx Storm Theory: Who exactly is Berwyn
- Q&A with Rebecca Yarros – Answering our Onyx Storm questions
- Onyx Storm Theory – Violet will find Xaden (he taught her how)
- Onyx Storm Theory: Who turned venin at the end?
- Onyx Storm Theory: Love is all we need (well, at least what Xaden needs)
- Onyx Storm Theory: Sloane is life, Naolin was…not
- Onyx Storm Theory: Could Violet be pregnant
- Onyx Storm Theory: Imogen has a second signet
- Onyx Storm Ending Explained
- Onyx Storm – Recap and What do we know so far
- The Last Teaser Is Here: Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm Begins with a Bang!
- Rebecca Yarros’ clue: Violet’s second signet has to do with truth
- Onyx Storm Theory: We know the herbal remedy for venin. It’s in every single book
- Onyx Storm Theory: Liam is dead, but he isn’t actually gone
- Onyx Storm Theory: Markham is venin
- Onyx Storm Official Excerpt: What does it all mean?
- Onyx Storm snippet: Plus new theories
- Onyx Storm Theory: Violet knows the herbal remedy for…venin?
- Onyx Storm Theory: The Colors of Bonds is super relevant
- Iron Flame Unhinged Theory: Those who do not burn for Malek, get their loved ones back
- Iron Flame Theory: Violet’s second signet could be storm wielder
- Onyx Storm Theory: There is a connection between Orange dragons and feathertails
- Onyx Storm Theory: Dragons’ hatching grounds connected to royal and heir eyes
- Onyx Storm Theory: Is Violet’s second signet to do with control?
- Onyx Storm Theory: Xaden’s control will snap
- Onyx Storm Theory: Violet’s second signet is distance wielder
- Onyx Storm Theory: Garrick Tavis’ signet is map/compass
- Fourth Wing and Iron Flame Theory: Dain is neurodivergent
- Iron Flame Theory – Violet’s second signet is dream-sight
- Onyx Storm Theory – Tairn is the Onyx, not Xaden
- Onyx Storm Theories – A complete collection
- Onyx Storm
- Rebecca Yarros Book 3 – Onyx Storm Teasers
- Rebecca Yarros Book 3 – Onyx Storm Title Meaning
- Rebecca Yarros Book 3 – Onyx Storm January 21st, 2025
- Predictions for Book 3 Empyrean Series
- Book 3 release date, Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros
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