The ending ofOnyx Stormdelivers a devastating twist for fans of Violet and Xaden’s relationship, but this meansThe Empyrean Seriescan finally restore the best part ofFourth Wing’s romance. While there are many things to love aboutThe Empyrean Series— from its ruthless setting to its snarky dragons — the romance is a huge draw for many readers. The"shadow daddy" trope is still thriving in romantasy spaces, making Xaden a swoon-worthy love interest. And whilehis romance with Violet can be toxic at times, it delivers on many elements fans of the subgenre enjoy.
It’s hard to avoid infusing conflict in Xaden and Violet’s relationship, though, as the pair get together incredibly early inThe Empyrean Series.Despite Rebecca Yarros planning five books, Violet and Xaden acknowledge their feelings for one another in the first one. This leads toIron Flameusing the miscommunication trope andOnyx Stormpushing other questionable issues on them, all in an effort to keep things interesting. ButOnyx Storm’s endingensures thatthe nextFourth Wingsequel can restore one of the best elements of the series' central romance, which is exciting.
The Enemies To Lovers Aspect Of Fourth Wing’s Romance Is The Best Part, But It’s Over Too Quickly
Xaden & Violet Begin To Like Each Other Very Quickly
Part of the appeal of Xaden and Violet’s relationship inFourth Wingis that it falls into the enemies-to-lovers category. Unfortunately, it drops that concept very quickly after they meet.Violet and Xaden are only at odds at the beginning of the book, as it rapidly becomes clear that he doesn’t truly intend to harm her. They start to appreciate one another before the halfway point, and by theend ofFourth Wing, they’re together romantically.
Iron Flame’s reveal that Xaden was always protecting Violet makes matters worse, leading to criticisms thatThe Empyrean Seriesdoesn’t deliver on a true enemies-to-lovers romance. That’s certainly true forIron FlameandOnyx Storm, butthe latter’s Xaden twist means that the next book can offer some semblance of one. After all, Xaden and Violet will no longer be operating on the same side of the series' conflict — at least, not openly.
Onyx Storm’s Ending Means The Series Can Finally Revive This Aspect Of Xaden & Violet’s Relationship
This Could Keep Things Fresh In The Next Fourth Wing Sequel
With Xaden becoming an asim at the end ofOnyx Storm— and running off with the venin, potentially after killing dragon riders and stealing dragon eggs —the next book will pit him and Violet against each other to some extent. While book three establishes that Xaden’s love for her is still there, even as he’s fully turning venin, he’s bound to have a darker nature in the sequel. Additionally, Violet will also have to act against him, as he’ll be working with the venin, and she’ll still be on the side of the rebels and Navarre.
Violet and Xaden probably got together too soon, but this could keep things interesting afterOnyx Storm.
This meansThe Empyrean Serieswill return to the enemies-to-lovers dynamic established inFourth Wing, andit could deliver a much darker version of it. This would actually be refreshing, as it would raise the stakes of the series' central romance and offer a fresh approach to it. Violet and Xaden probably got together too soon, but this could keep things interesting afterOnyx Storm. Hopefully, Yarros is willing to really commit to the trope.
