Warning: This article contains spoilers for Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros.
Summary
The cover forOnyx Stormis finally here, andits imagery and tagline confirm a major shift from previousFourth Wingbooks.Onyx Stormwill continue Rebecca Yarros’Empyrean Seriesin January 2025, picking up whereIron Flame’s twist endingleft off. Although readers knowOnyx Storm’s release date and general direction,updates about the nextEmpyreanbookhave been sparse. Fortunately,TODAY.comshared the cover, and it will give fans of Yarros' world something to talk about — at least until an excerpt or more substantial news drops.
Thecover ofOnyx Stormconfirms a major theoryabout the book, with its dark and shadowy imagery suggesting a heavy focus on Xaden’s journey.The artwork also alludes to a change of pace fromFourth WingandIron Flame,as does the tagline. Although readers can’t glean specifics from the sequel’s newly unveiled cover, they can draw broader conclusions. After seeing its colors and design, they can almost certainly anticipate a tonal shift in the nextEmpyreanbook.
10 Massive Fourth Wing Theories For What Happens Next In The Empyrean Series
As anticipation for The Empyrean Series continues to grow, many fans have crafted massively creative theories on what could happen next.
Onyx Storm’s Cover Suggests It Will Be The Darkest Empyrean Book Yet
Its Tagline & Dark Cover Allude To A Tonal Shift From Iron Flame
Yarros doesn’t shy away from dark subjects inFourth WingandIron Flame,butOnyx Storm’s cover suggests it will be the darkestEmpyreanbook yet. Its black background and eerie imagery is a far cry from the gold and red hues of the first two installments. While the darker cover is likely a reference to Xaden, it also signals that the stakes are getting higher. Given thatIron Flameends with Xaden becoming Venin, a grimmer tone is to be expected in its follow-up.And if the cover’s colors don’t convince readers of this, the tagline will.
Given thatIron Flameends with Xaden becoming Venin, a grimmer tone is to be expected in its follow-up.
Onyx Storm’s tagline reads “Brave the Dark,” confirming thatthis addition to the series will demand greater courage from Violet. WhileFourth Wing’s “Fly… or Die"seems ominous, it’s obviously a nod to the harsh path to becoming a dragon rider. AndIron Flame’s “Burn It Down” is about pushing back against Navarre’s corruption. Both storylines are serious and dangerous, butOnyx Storm’s tagline feels sinister in another way. It likely alludes to the Venin, wyvern, and whatever else is out there — and those threats are on a different level than the troubles at Basgiath.
What Onyx Storm’s “Brave The Dark” Tagline Could Mean For The Fourth Wing Sequel
Violet Will Need To Brave Xaden’s Condition & The Threats Outside Navarre
“Brave the Dark"could mean several things — none of them comforting — butOnyx Storm’s tagline likely alludes to Xaden’s condition, as well as the Venin that serve as the series' villains. With Xaden becoming Venin, it’s likely they’ll be a major focus of the upcoming sequel. Violet will need to learn more about the enemy, and this will require bravery from her, especially if she’s forced to face them again. She’ll also need to contend with the growing darkness within Xaden, which will test their relationship. These storylines guarantee thatThe Empyreanwill get darker inOnyx Stormand beyond.
