Warning! Spoilers for The Empyrean Series!

Onyx Storm‘s cover makes me nervous about my favorite Fourth Wing characters after seeing it. Rebecca Yarros’ cover reveal via TODAY.com was incredibly exciting for me, especially because the aesthetics showcased so many fun hints about where the story was going. I have waited a while for any new information, so to have a cover to mull over for clues before the book’s release is fantastic. However, as I continued to look at the cover of Onyx Storm, I started to get very nervous.

After Iron Flame’s ending, Onyx Storm promises to have the same action and thrill as the first two books of The Empyrean Series. But I also worry that the story is going to take a dark turn as Violet and many of my other favorite characters struggle to protect Basigath from internal and external threats. Onyx Storm‘s cover and tagline seem to suggest that darker times are on the horizon as the stakes only get higher, leaving me at the edge of my seat.

Onyx Storm’s Cover & Tagline Tease Higher Stakes Than Ever Before

Those Higher Stakes Will Likely Lead To More Twists Before The Final Battle

The cover and tagline for Onyx Storm tease that higher stakes are coming, making me nervous about what will happen next to these beloved characters. Fourth Wing‘s high stakes is one aspect of the series I highly respect. The story is unafraid of hurting or killing characters to showcase how truly dangerous the world is, something other romantasy series lack at times. Onyx Storm‘s tagline and color scheme seem to hint that this trend will continue, making me excited, but also nervous.

Onyx Storm‘s monochrome aesthetic contrasts the bright yellow and red covers of the first two books. I can only suspect this will demonstrate how Onyx Storm will dive into the darker secrets Violet has only scratched the surface of at Basigath while Xaden battles with his venin nature. The tagline, “Brave The Dark”, also suggests this. It also potentially hints that Yarros will likely throw a few more twists into the mix right before the final battle with the venin. Not only would this raise the stakes, but it could also put many of my favorite characters right in the crossfire.

I’m Worried About My Favorite Fourth Wing Characters After Seeing Onyx Storm’s Cover

Violet & Xaden Could Slip Further Into Despair As The Stakes Rise

I’m worried about several characters in Onyx Storm, particularly the two leads, Violet and Xaden. Violet and Xaden’s story in The Empyrean Series has already been tumultuous as secrets and lies come between them over and over again. Now that Xaden is venin, I am worried that he will pull the classic “stay away from me, I’m too dangerous to be around you” trope that many other male protagonists do in stories. This would not only make his arc too predictable but could also lead to him giving into his venin nature more without Violet, causing further issues.

For Violet, my worries lie more with her mental health. Throughout Iron Flame, Violet feels she must do everything alone. She constantly shoves her feelings into a mental box rather than confront them, making each failure even more impactful on her. I worry that, with Xaden becoming venin, Violet will continue this repressive pattern as she hunts for a cure, leading to her burning out. That burnout could result in severe self-destruction, which could be added to by the rising stakes that might claim some of her friends in Onyx Storm.

Predicting Which Fourth Wing Characters Will Die In The Upcoming Sequel

Ridoc And Catriona Could Die In Onyx Storm

I predict Ridoc and Catriona could die in Onyx Storm, considering how their stories went in Iron Flame. Many Fourth Wing characters could end up severely injured or dead, with Sawyer’s injury at the Battle of Basigath proving that Yarros is not afraid to target The Iron Squad. Due to this and the rule of three, Ridoc could be the member of The Iron Squad to die. Ridoc dodged death twice in the last book. Therefore, he may end up dead after a third instance. To me, that would be tragic since he is such a well-done comedic character.

Another likely death would be Catriona. Her arc in Iron Flame‘s second part went from her being an enemy to an ally of Violet. In my opinion, this would make her and her death a great mirror to Jack Barlowe’s storyline. Jack was also an enemy whose hatred of Violet’s power led to his self-destruction. Catriona, meanwhile, grew to respect Violet, saving her during the Battle of Basigath. Her death would allow Onyx Storm to keep the series stakes high while adding a great parallel to characters who took two different paths from the same hateful beginning.