Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.
Onyx Stormanswers many lingering questions afterthe events ofIron Flame, and it also confirms several popular fan theories aboutThe Empyrean Series.A number ofOnyx Stormtheories and predictionssurfaced ahead of theFourth Wingsequel’s release, many of them focused on topics likeViolet’s second signetandAndarna’s seventh breed of dragon. With Rebecca Yarros answering some of the biggestEmpyrean Seriesquestions in the latest installment, a good chunk of these were debunked. However, some proved surprisingly accurate, paying off all the setup and speculation.
And ever sinceIron Flame’s endingconfirmed Xaden’s second signet, readers have been wondering if other characters might be hiding additional powers. It was confirmed that Violet would manifest a second ability because of her bond with Andarna, but there were also theories about supporting players wielding multiple signets. And one of these turned out to be true, asOnyx Storm’s big Garrick revealverified that several marked ones have second signets too.
Onyx Storm Confirmed The Theory That Marked Ones Can Have Second Signets
Characters With Rebellion Relics Reveal New Powers
Onyx Stormconfirmed the fan theory that the Marked Ones have second signets, revealing this through Garrick’s character. At the beginning ofOnyx Storm,Garrick reaches Violet in an unrealistically short time given their distance. Violet pieces together that he’s a distance wielder, recognizing that he and Xaden both have second signets. And this leads to a bigger revelation from Xaden: that quite a few of the characters with rebellion relics are hiding a second power. Xaden tells Violet that it’s the reason their dragons chose them. It seems they were planning ahead and creating a strong army.
Onyx Storm Signets Explained: Every New Power & Who Has Them
Rebecca Yarros' magic system is already vastly extensive, but Onyx Storm makes sure to introduce an even larger variety of powerful signet abilities.
This makes sense of Liam wielding ice at theend ofFourth Wing,despite his signet being farsight. And readers get a glimpse at another one of the Marked Ones' second signets atthe end ofOnyx Storm, when Imogen is forced to wield stone in front of Dain. These moments confirmed readers' suspicions that the characters with rebellion relics had more than one powerful signet. And this seems certain to have huge implications inthe nextEmpyrean Seriesbook, giving both the heroes and the venin significant advantages on the battlefield.
The Marked Ones' Second Signets Will Be Invaluable In The Fight Against The Venin
The Rebels' Children Will Be Some Of The Strongest Fighters
With Imogen using her second signet in front of Dain, it’s probably just a matter of time before the truth about the Marked Ones' powers comes out.This will make them invaluable to the war effort inOnyx Storm’s sequel, as they’ll be capable of wielding two powers against the enemy — something we’ve yet to see any of the venin do. While several of them have used multiple powers in battle before, they can grow even stronger if given the opportunity to properly train with these abilities. Until now, they’ve been keeping them a secret, limiting how much they can accomplish.
Onyx Storm’s Most Annoying New Character Confirmed A Popular Violet Theory
There were many promising theories ahead of Onyx Storm’s release, but one regarding Violet was proved right, albeit with the most annoying character.
If Navarre can determine why the rebellion relics make them more likely to develop a second power, the kingdom may also be able to replicate this with other characters. It would likely come at a cost, but Navarre has rarely prioritized mercy and morality over power and security. And this highlights a second reality about thisOnyx Stormreveal: its consequences won’t just be positive. There are also some worrisome complications that could arise in the next book because of this twist.
The Marked Ones' Powers Could Also Pose A Problem In Future Fourth Wing Books
While the marked ones' second signets offer hope for the nextEmpyrean Seriesbook, they also could pose problems in future installments. For one,Navarre finding out about the marked ones' additional powers could put a target on their backs. The higher-ups at Basgiath are already suspicious of the rebels' children, and this will only increase those feelings. Given how brutally Inntinnsics are treated in Navarre, it’s very possible a second signet could be met with punishment or death. And with these abilities coming out inOnyx Storm,it’s unlikely the characters can hide them forever.
Depending on who Xaden’s new “sibling” is at the end ofOnyx Storm,he may not be the only enemy with multiple powers.
Additionally, while we haven’t seen venin with multiple signet powers yet, Xaden joining the other side means the enemy will have a fighter who can wield shadows and read minds. If Xaden is truly working with the villains now, this poses a huge threat. It also makes it so that marked ones will be more valuable to the venin, putting an additional target on them. And depending on who Xaden’s new “sibling” is at the end ofOnyx Storm,he may not be the only enemy with multiple powers. It’s devastating to think of what the venin could do with that.
