Rebecca Yarros has already teased a majorcharacter death in the nextFourth Wingbook, but after re-readingOnyx Storm, I’m convinced that seven characters are safe. AlthoughOnyx Storm’s death tollwas lower than I expected,The Empyrean Seriesisn’t typically shy about killing major characters.Fourth Wing’s brutal endingproves as much, andIron Flame’s conclusiondrives home that notion. And thenextEmpyrean Seriesbookwill take at least one other character’s life, with Yarros suggesting it could be a fan-favorite.
Given Violet and Xaden’s importance to the story, it’s safe to assume both of them will make it to the fifth and finalEmpyreannovel — even if they face obstacles on the way there. And there’s oneFourth Wingcharacter we know is safe, as the epigraphs reveal that she’s transcribing what happens over the course of the story: Jesinia. Everyone else’s fate is up in the air. However,there are some characters who seem less likely to die inOnyx Storm’s sequel, whether it’s because their stories are just beginning or because they already had a close call with death.
8Mira Sorrengail
Violet’s Sister Already Comes Close To Death In Onyx Storm
With any luck, Lilith will be the last Sorrengail to die in the fight against the venin — butif another member of Violet’s family perishes, I’m doubtful it will be Mira. After all, Mira has a close encounter with death at theend ofOnyx Storm, when Theophanie uses her as bait to lure out Violet. Even though Violet does as Theophanie wishes,Onyx Storm’s silver-haired villainslashes Mira’s throat. It’s only thanks to a joint effort between Brennan, Sloane, and Dain that Mira survives the confrontation.
With Mira having a death fakeout inOnyx Storm,it seems unlikely that Yarros would then proceed to kill her off in book 4. There would be little point to saving her in the first place, and using her against Violet again would feel like overkill. If anything, Brennan seems like the sibling who could be in danger in the upcoming sequel. But given the tensions between the Sorrengail siblings at the end ofOnyx Storm— and the questions they still need to answer about their family — I’m hopeful all three of them will survive until at least book 5.
7Ridoc Gamlyn
Ridoc’s Luck May Keep Him Alive In Book 4
Ridoc is another character who has a few close calls with death inOnyx Storm,and he somehow walks away from all of them. Because of this, the theory thatRidoc is blessed byFourth Wing’s god of luck, Zihnal, looks even more likely. When the Quest Squadreceives gifts on Zehyllna, he even gets a kiss on the cheek, while the other characters get more perplexing and hostile presents. Needless to say,Zihnal seems to be looking out for Ridoc, and that could help him make it through book 4.
I’m convinced he’ll play a bigger and longer-lasting role — perhaps one connected to Zihnal.
Ridoc’s signet is also evolving in interesting ways throughout Onyx Storm, so it’d be a shame to kill him before readers could see the full extent of that. And although getting rid of the comic relief would be a good way to upThe Empyrean Series’stakes, it would also force a tonal shift that might make the nextFourth Wingbook a little too dark.Ridoc’sOnyx Stormstorycertainly cements him as a fan-favorite, so it’s possible he’s the death Yarros is referring to. However, I’m convinced he’ll play a bigger and longer-lasting role — perhaps one connected to Zihnal.
6Garrick Tavis
His Death Fakeout & Potential Romance Make It Unlikely
Garrick is yet another character who comes close to dying inOnyx Storm, as he’s poisoned when Violet’s Quest Squad visits Hedontis. Like Mira, he has a death fakeout that leaves readers and the other characters on edge prior to the fourthEmpyrean Seriesbook. Therefore,I feel like Yarros probably won’t go after Garrick again so soon. I especially believe he’s safe if Bodhi is the one who turns out to beXaden’s new venin brother.That makes Bodhi far more likely to die if Xaden were to lose a loved one in book 4.
Additionally,The Empyrean Serieshas yet to deliver on Imogen’s and Garrick’s potential romance, despite setting the stage for it throughout the first three books. It would be a shame to have them get together in the nextFourth Wingsequel, just to kill one of them not long after. Therefore, I think Garrick has a good chance of making it to the final installment. Whether he survives the entirety of the series is another story.
5Sawyer Henrick
Sawyer Is Just Getting Back To The Action After Iron Flame
Sawyer has one of themost compelling arcs inOnyx Storm, as he learns to navigate walking and riding again after losing his leg inIron Flame.His narrative is touching, but because it takes so long for him to come to terms with his new disability — and to recover physically —he’s only just getting back to the action whenOnyx Stormcloses. It would be underwhelming to have Sawyer go through all that just to lose him so quickly in the nextEmpyrean Seriesbook. It would also be too tragic a fate for him after everything he has overcome.
I think Sawyer’s feelings for Jesinia give him a real shot at surviving.
Additionally, I think Sawyer’s feelings for Jesinia give him a real shot at surviving, as we know the scribe makes it through the events ofThe Empyrean Seriesalive. I’m holding out hope that these two will get a happy ending when the final sequel is over and done with. It’s unclear if Violet and Xaden will walk away from the war against the venin, butsurely, at least one of Yarros' couples has to. It could be Sawyer and Jesinia.
4Sloane Mairi
Her Siphoning Power Is Too Important To Lose
Sloane Mairi has a larger role inOnyx Stormthan she does inIron Flame, andLiam’s sister also has one of the most fascinating signets inThe Empyrean Series: siphoning. Sloane uses her power for important developments in bothIron FlameandOnyx Storm, and it feels like the story is setting up an even bigger use for it. Some theories even suggest thatSloane’s siphoning signet could be used to cureriders who turn venin, which would make Sloane invaluable — and probably give her enough plot armor to make it through the nextFourth Wingsequel.
Killing Sloane afterFourth Wingalready killed Liam would also be far too ruthless, even byThe Empyrean Series' standards. It would be too tragic for the entire Mairi family to perish over the course of the story, and it would also be devastating if Violet couldn’t keep her promise to Liam. I think it’s more likely that Violet will follow through on it. And she may be glad that she did, as Sloane could be the answer to her biggest problems inOnyx Storm’s sequel.
3Andarna
Andarna Is Just Finding Herself & Tairn Is More Likely To Die
Andarna’sOnyx Stormstory is incredibly satisfying, as she embarks on a coming-of-age journey that allows her to become a more fully realized character. The search forFourth Wing’s seventh breed of dragonforces Andarna to contend with her place in the world, and she even temporarily leaves Violet to learn about her kind. She does return at the end ofOnyx Storm, butthere’s no way that the book takes Andarna on this journey of self-discovery just to kill herin the next installment.
That’s not to mention that Andarna has yet to realize her full potential on the battlefield, andViolet has yet to master the dream-walking signetshe receives from the young dragon. These things are likely to happen in the nextEmpyrean Seriesbook, andthat means Andarna needs to stay alive. If anything, I’m farmore worried about Tairn perishinginOnyx Storm’s sequel. He fits the mentor archetype, making him the more likely candidate, andOnyx Stormproves Violet can survive with just one bonded dragon.
2Catriona Cordella
The Empyrean Series Hints At A Leadership Role For Her, Not Death
Although Xaden’s ex, Catriona, is pretty unlikable throughoutIron Flame, she makes a better impression inOnyx Storm— and the series is clearly setting her up for big things in the future. Cat is initially interested in Xaden because she wants the title he can give her, butThe Empyrean Serieskeeps hinting that she’ll become a leader in a different way. The gift she receives on Zehyllna points to this, as the ruby necklace is reminiscent of the Duchess of Morraine, suggesting a connection of some sort. It could simply be that Cat will take on a similar role.
I believe Cat will eventually come to rule Poromiel though, and that makes me confident she’ll survive the nextFourth Wingbook.
When Violet and her friends return from their quest inOnyx Storm,Colonel Aetos also reveals that Cat is one step closer to the throne of Poromiel. Queen Maraya’s death pushes her up in the line of succession, though Tecarus is currently the king. I believe Cat will eventually come to rule Poromiel though, and that makes me confident she’ll survive the nextFourth Wingbook — and perhaps the series overall.
1Aaric/Cam Tauri
His Precog Signet & Title Will Likely Keep Him Around
Aaric is another character introduced inIron Flamewho’s shaping up to be a much bigger player afterOnyx Storm. Being King Tauri’s son, Aaric’s role inThe Empyrean Seriesis going to be significant, no matter what happens to him. But after Halden’s introduction and Navarre’s consistently poor decision-making,it seems inevitable that Aaric will be tasked with paving a better future for the kingdom. I thinkKing Tauri and Halden are likely to diein the coming books, which makes me all the more confident that Aaric will survive them.
Whether Aaric becomes king himself or puts a better governing system in place, he needs to make it to the finalEmpyrean Seriesnovel. Like Sloane, Aaric also has a signet that’s far too powerful and important to get rid of so soon after revealing it. His precognition power will probably be important in the next two sequels, andit could even be the key to finding Xaden. Needless to say, after seeing more of Aaric inOnyx Storm, I fully believe he’ll at least make it to book 5.
