The time has come to talk about Sloane. Sloane is such a beautifully crafted character with a fantastic arc. Given just how gentle and warm Liam was, we were all shocked by her reaction towards Violet. Yet Violet continues to look after her.
Violet respects her promises, doesn’t she? She promised Liam she’d look after Sloane, and no matter what Sloane threw at her, she did. That’s also a nudge towards the ending of Onyx Storm, by the way—how Violet kept her promise to Xaden.
Back to Sloane. I’ve talked about her before and how I think she will play an integral part in restoring the Barrens. And now that we know we have an agrarian as well? Perfection. The Barrens can be restored.
We now have even more information about Sloane. Let’s check it out:
“I don’t know how. When your m—” She stops herself. “Transferring is different than imbuing. I know that much.”
We learn that there’s a difference between transferring and imbuing. I think this is going to be relevant information for Books 4 and 5.
“Try,” Dain urges, shoving the sleeve of his uniform up his forearm.
“It’s dangerous to use your own power if you haven’t trained, so take mine. I’m the only one here who doesn’t have to wield today. Just try.”
Are you getting this? It’s dangerous to use your own power. OH. That makes me think of Naolin. Brennan was severely injured, and we know it takes a lot more to mend oneself. Naolin was transferring power—from himself to Brennan. And of course, he almost burned out… until he reached. He reached and turned for love! For Brennan.
“One hand on my wrist,” Dain says gently, like he’s talking to a skittish horse.
She stares at the gray handprint that scars his forearm. “I don’t want to do that. Become that.”
Whoa, okay. Rebecca Yarros is actually going there. Brilliant. We’re about to understand that when Sloane TAKES, she doesn’t drain like Venin does.
“You won’t.” He lifts his brows. “You can hate me later, but trust me now, or she dies.”
Pause for a second. How the hell does Dain Aetos know?
“Sloane wraps her fingers around Dain’s wrist. Her eyes flare, and she swallows. ‘Someone like you shouldn’t have this much power.’”
What does Sloane mean by “someone like you”? Wait, wait. Someone like Dain? As in, a mind reader? A rider? A traitor? Is Dain still a traitor? I haven’t forgotten about Cath’s bad smell, just FYI. Also, Sloane can sense power. That’s amazing.
“Sloane drops her little package and lifts her hand to the back of Brennan’s neck.[…] ‘Pull from the excess you feel in me, and push to the deficit in him. You’re not a weapon of destruction. You’re not Venin. You’re the artery power chooses to flow through. You’re life.’”
So much to talk about here. Why does Dain have an excess of power? I really want to understand this—it doesn’t feel like redundant information. Also, Dain tells Sloane she is life. It’s actually a beautiful moment. And yes, I do think Dain and Sloane are going to end up together. It just makes too much sense.
His foolishness gets her brother killed? Then he falls for the sister? It just makes sense.
Back to Sloane—Dain confirmed that she is life, as I said before, which means she will be the artery power flows through. Imbuing, transferring, the Barrens! Or even Venin…
Her brow knits, and Dain flinches. “I’m going to hurt you.”
“Gods, don’t I know it.” He nods. “But you’re not going to kill me, no matter how badly you want to. Now do it.”
Her mouth tightens, and Dain grits his teeth.
Can we take a moment to realize that this is one of the most beautiful quotes in Onyx Storm? I think Dain is already in love with her. And yeah, we immediately go back to normal. Enemies to lovers, YES!
And now back to Violet’s observation:
“There’s no mark at the back of his neck like he carries on his palm. There hadn’t been one on Dain’s wrist, either.”
Alright, so we get confirmation that the rune on Brennan’s hand is not actually a rune. But a gray mark, the same as what Dain has from when Jack drained him. Sloane doesn’t leave a mark because she is life.
Naolin, on the other hand, was also life… until he wasn’t. He saved Brennan, and it cost him everything. Isn’t that what Brennan said? He sacrificed his very soul for Brennan. Again, he turned for love.
Which leads me to another theory. Naolin might not exactly be dead. At no point in the books does it say Naolin is dead. Naolin sacrificed himself. Tairn says “the one before,” but never confirms that Naolin is the dead rider.
And you remember my theory, I hope, about Tairn severing the bond with Naolin? I think that’s what almost killed him—together with the fact that Naolin almost drained his dragon of power to help Brennan. Which would explain why Sgaeyl hates Brennan. He’s the very reason her mate almost died.
Two different siphons with two very different fates. Will we meet Naolin? What did Kaori say, anyway?
“After all, bonding makes you a rider, but resurrecting someone from the dead? Now, that makes you a god. I somehow don’t think Malek takes kindly to a mortal treading on his territory.”
And what did Theophanie say?
“Why serve a god when you can be one?” Theophanie snarls.
What are your thoughts? Do you agree that Sloane will be life and we’ll learn more about how Naolin turned? I think that would cause a lot of friction between Tairn and Violet. Violet will be upset to learn Tairn went through this and didn’t say a word, seeing as she’s going through it with Xaden. It also explains why Tairn is so grumpy about Xaden…
And yes, Sloane will save us all. And end up with Dain somehow. Or Dain will die, sacrificing himself for Sloane. Love can be tragic, right?
Onyx Storm Read Along
- Onyx Storm Read Along: Prologue
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 1
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 2
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 3
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 4
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 5
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 6
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 7
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 8
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 9
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 10
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 11
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 12
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 13
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 14
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 15
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 16
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 17
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 18
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 19
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 20
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 21
- Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 22
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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