The Wait For Onyx Storm Is Slightly Less Agonizing After The Book's First Sneak Peek

Rebecca Yarros recently revealed the back cover of Onyx Storm, and the sneak peek at the upcoming Fourth Wing sequel makes the wait for its release slightly less agonizing. Readers sometimes wait years for new fantasy books, so the 15-month break between Iron Flame and Onyx Storm isn’t terrible by comparison. However, Iron Flame‘s cliffhanger ending is enough to make even a shorter wait feel excruciating. After all, the final moments of the book put both its male lead and its central romance in jeopardy.




Xaden becoming venin is one of the biggest twists The Empyrean Series has delivered, and it’s likely to have major repercussions in Onyx Storm. This is especially true when it comes to his relationship with Violet, which will be tested more than ever in the upcoming sequel. His life could also be on the line if anyone at Basgiath finds out about his secret. And that’s not to mention that Xaden could become the villain of Yarros’ story. The possibilities are endless and nerve-wracking, but Onyx Storm‘s back cover suggests things won’t escalate right away.


Onyx Storm’s First Sneak Peek Gives Some Closure For That Iron Flame Cliffhanger

The Back Cover Blurb Suggests Xaden’s Situation Hasn’t Outwardly Changed


Onyx Storm‘s back cover blurb, shared on Instagram by Red Tower Books and Rebecca Yarros, catches readers up with Violet and Xaden after the events of Iron Flame. And it offers some closure for the previous book’s big Xaden reveal, even if it’s just a glimpse of what’s to come. Part of the reason the wait for Onyx Storm has been so agonizing is because it’s unclear what will become of Xaden after turning venin. The sneak peek of Onyx Storm suggests that, at least initially, his life won’t look all that different.

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While the blurb says nothing about Xaden’s internal struggles, he appears to still be training with Violet and the other cadets from Basgiath War College. He’s on guard — the pullout ends with him suggesting Violet may need to kill him — but he’s right where readers left him. This means Xaden doesn’t immediately change sides in Onyx Storm, nor does he leave the resistance upon becoming venin. Given that Violet and Xaden’s dialogue is italicized, it also appears their bonds with each other and their dragons are still intact.

While Xaden is by no means in the clear, it doesn’t look like his character or his relationship with Violet will be at risk as soon as the third
Fourth Wing
book opens.

Needless to say, this Onyx Storm reveal squashes some of the biggest fears about Iron Flame‘s ending. While Xaden is by no means in the clear, it doesn’t look like his character or his relationship with Violet will be at risk as soon as the third Fourth Wing book opens. A slower corruption of his character may unfold instead — though Jack Barlowe’s venin transformation raises questions about whether it always makes a person evil.


The Wait For The Next Fourth Wing Sequel Is Slightly Less Agonizing After This First Look

Onyx Storm Still Has Plenty Of Questions To Answer

The covers of the Empyrean Series books
Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Iron Flame‘s ending makes it seem as though Onyx Storm will be a wild ride from start to finish. However, the back cover blurb suggests the more heart-wrenching parts of the story won’t show up right out of the gate. Given Yarros’ track record, we can assume the next Empyrean Series book will still include tragic twists. In fact, many readers are expecting a bloodbath. But it may take a while to get there, and Onyx Storm‘s sneak peek suggests that the Xaden situation, at least, may not be as bad as it seems. That lessens the anxiety approaching its release.