Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.Onyx Stormfeatures many great character moments throughout its 500+ pages, but there’s one reunion that’s pretty underwhelming — andthe nextEmpyrean Seriesbookneeds to expand on it.Iron Flame’s endingsets up a return to Basgiath after many cadets and professors flee upon learning about the venin. Violet and the others who departed the war college aren’t greeted all that kindly inOnyx Storm,despite saving the institution during the secondEmpyrean Seriesbook. And there’s one character, in particular, who’s angry about their rebellion in the previous installment.
Onyx StormmakesFourth Wing’s worst charactereven more unlikable by placing Colonel Aetos in a more prominent role, and he uses his new position of power at Basgiath to hamper Violet and Xaden whenever he gets a chance. But while Colonel Aetos interacts with Violet fairly often inOnyx Storm,he barely acknowledges his son. Theevents ofFourth WingandIron Flameset the stage for a tense reunion between Dain and his father, butit actually proves pretty underwhelming after all that’s happened.
Dain’s Reunion With Colonel Aetos Was Disappointing After Fourth Wing & Iron Flame
The First Two Empyrean Series Books Set Up A Bigger Confrontation
Dain’s father uses his signet to send Violet and the marked ones into danger at theend ofFourth Wing, and Dain realizes what his father has done inIron Flame.After reading Violet’s memories during her interrogation with Varrish, Dain is faced with a harsh truth about his father and Navarre: that they’re lying about the threat outside their borders. This is the same reality Violet comes to terms with afterFourth Wing,and Dain rises to the occasion. He leaves Basgiath and joins the resistance. However,he doesn’t get to confront Colonel Aetos before doing so.
Dain telling off his father is long overdue, and it would have been interesting to see a more human side of Colonel Aetos.
With Dain’s father clearly committed to Navarre’s lies — and Dain openly denouncing him —it seemed inevitable that the two would have an emotional confrontation inOnyx Storm.Dain telling off his father is long overdue, and it would have been interesting to see a more human side of Colonel Aetos. Unfortunately,Onyx Stormgoes a different route with the villain — one that could suggest that he himself is a venin. Upon seeing Dain again, Colonel Aetos simply declares that he has no son. That’s the most the two characters interact, leaving their problems unresolved ahead of the nextFourth Wingsequel.
Onyx Storm’s Sequel Must Address The Tensions Between Dain And His Father
The Next Book Must Do More With Both Characters
The nextEmpyrean Seriesbook must do a better job of dealing with the tensions between Dain and his father, whether it’s by confirming that Colonel Aetos is a venin or giving them a more memorable confrontation. The former would put Dain in a difficult situation, forcing him to make hard choices about his family — and perhaps giving him a reason to search for a cure alongside Violet. The latter would at least raise the emotional stakes for both characters, which is necessary after their portrayals inOnyx Storm.
All Empyrean Series Books, Ranked (Including Onyx Storm)
All three books in The Empyrean Series bring action, romance, and political intrigue, but some are stronger than others when it comes to storytelling.
In general,Onyx Stormfails to do Dain and Colonel Aetos justice, as neither is fleshed out enough in the sequel. After Dain’s redemption inOnyx Storm,he continues to do the right thing — but there isn’t any significant growth or conflict for him. And Colonel Aetos comes off as cartoonishly evil, which could have a deeper explanation. But for now, both character arcs feel like they’re missing depth.
