Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros.
Summary
The cover forOnyx Stormhas finally been revealed, andit looks like it confirms our theories about the nextFourth Wingsequel.Onyx Stormis slated to hit shelves in January 2025, and afterIron Flame’s twist ending, it can’t come out soon enough. Rebecca Yarros’Empyrean Seriesis one of thebiggest romantasy storiesout there, and the stakes are higher than ever heading into the 2025 novel. The follow-up toIron Flamepromises to test Violet and Xaden’s relationship further, and I’m sure their path forward won’t be easy now that Xaden is Venin.
There are manyFourth Wingtheories predictingwhat comes next inThe Empyrean Series,but details aboutOnyx Stormremain sparse. I was thrilled whenTODAY.comrevealedOnyx Storm’s cover, if only because it might contain clues about the book’s story. There isn’t much to glean from theFourth Wingsequel’s cover art, butit does appear to confirm our theories about the title and major plot beats.
10 Fourth Wing Characters We Want To See More Of In Onyx Storm
Despite the many newcomers, there are a few established Fourth Wing side characters audiences want to see more of in the next book, Onyx Storm.
Onyx Storm’s “Brave The Dark” Tagline Hints Violet Will Have To Brave Xaden’s Growing Darkness
This Supports Our Theory About The Sequel’s Title
Onyx Storm’s cover is much darker than those ofFourth WingandIron Flame,and it features a more worrisome tagline than the previous books. “Brave the Dark” feels more sinister thanFourth Wing’s “Fly or die” andIron Flame’s “Burn it down,” but it makes sense when you considerIron Flame’sending.I was certainOnyx Storm’s titlewas a reference to Xaden, as Violet often describes his eyes as a “gold-flecked onyx.” Given his ability to control shadows, onyx is easily associated with his character. And he’ll no doubt have a storm inside of him now that he’s Venin.
The cover ofOnyx Stormsupports the idea that the book will heavily focus on Xaden, suggesting Violet will need to brave his growing darkness.
The cover ofOnyx Stormsupports the idea that the book will heavily focus on Xaden, suggesting Violet will need to brave his growing darkness.It’s likely Xaden will fight being Venin, but that may be easier said than done. Other theories aboutOnyx Storm’s title also suggest it will center Tairn and Andarna in new ways, as they’re both black dragons. It’s hard to say how the tagline would refer to Violet’s dragons, but the cover certainly features enough dark hues and smoke to represent dragon fire.
The Cover’s Swirling Light & Dark Shadows Supports The Idea That Onyx Storm Will Be About Xaden’s Fight
The Imagery Seems Like An Obvious Nod To His Signet
In addition toOnyx Storm’s tagline supporting the focus on Xaden,the smaller details of the book’s cover also suggest it will be about his fight.The swirling light and dark shadows featured on the lower half ofOnyx Stormseem like an obvious nod to Xaden’s signet. They may even symbolize the way Violet’s power balances Xaden’s, perhaps teasing that she’ll be the one to keep him from fully giving in to the darkness. I hope we get more details aboutOnyx Stormsoon, but I’m pretty confident that its cover and title allude to Xaden.
