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Onyx Storm, the third book in Rebecca Yarros‘ Empyrean series, has finally arrived—and let’s just say readers have *a lot* of thoughts. Naturally, that includes plenty of theories, too.
The viral romantasy series follows Violet and Xaden, two young dragon riders navigating the dangers of Basgiath War College in a world filled with magic, political unrest, and terrifying creatures called Venin. The first book, Fourth Wing, exploded in popularity when it dropped in May 2023, thanks to BookTok. Then came Iron Flame in November of the same year, leaving fans desperate for book three. That wait finally ended on January 21, 2025, giving readers *plenty* of time to speculate about what might happen next.
Now that Onyx Storm has hit shelves—and left us with *that* massive cliffhanger—it’s time to break down some of the biggest fan theories. If you haven’t finished the book yet, beware: spoilers ahead.
Violet Is Partially Venin
From the start, we’ve known that Violet was born with a frail body and partially silver hair due to her mother falling ill during pregnancy. *Onyx Storm* explains the silver hair—her father tried to dedicate her to the temple of Dunne to save her, but the ritual was never completed because her future was deemed “too uncertain.” However, everyone dedicated to Dunne has silver hair, suggesting some kind of divine connection.
But the bigger mystery? Why was Violet born so weak in the first place? A leading theory is that her mother may have unknowingly drawn power from the earth while pregnant—initiating the Venin process and affecting Violet in ways we still don’t fully understand.
The Gods Will Play a Bigger Role
So far, we’ve been introduced to six gods: Amari (queen of the gods), Malek (god of death), Hedeon (god of wisdom), Loial (goddess of love), Zihnal (god of luck), and Dunne (goddess of strength and war). While they’re frequently mentioned, we haven’t gotten much backstory on them.
With the Isles tied to each god and Violet having a partial dedication to Dunne, there’s clearly more at play. And let’s not forget how often Violet brings up Malek—there *has* to be a reason for that.
Brennan Will Betray Aretia & Navarre
Fans have long suspected that Brennan, Violet’s once-presumed-dead brother, might not be as loyal as he seems. Many believe that during the battle that supposedly killed his best friend Naolin, Brennan was actually turned Venin. And speaking of Naolin—some readers think he’s not dead either, just… different.
The Marked Ones Bonded With Their Parents’ Dragons
We now know that most of the Marked Ones have two signets, which seems to be connected to their dragons being part of their direct family line. Imogen even hints that the dragons *chose* them for a reason.
So, could it be that the Marked Ones bonded with dragons previously linked to their parents, who died in the rebellion? If true, it’s wild that leadership hasn’t put this together yet. Then again, Rebecca Yarros recently confirmed that the Empyrean can lie about their names, so who knows what else is being hidden?
Dain Is More Powerful Than We Think
Dain’s ability to see memories has always been fascinating, but fans believe it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Some theorize he might actually be an inntinnsic—a type of signet-user with psychic abilities, who are often killed for their dangerous powers.
There’s even speculation that he could manipulate memories or, in a twist that would be *very* interesting for Violet, restore them.
Violet Might Be the Cure for the Venin
One of the most popular theories suggests that Violet herself is the key to curing the Venin. A Reddit theory even argues that she accidentally cured Jack Barlowe in Onyx Storm when she fed him her lightning-infused alloy.
And then there’s Xaden—when he drains Violet’s alloy, he feels better, sleeps soundly and doesn’t pull from the earth again until the book’s end. Could her power be the antidote to the very thing they’re fighting against?
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