THE Iron Flame explained a shocking twist regarding Xaden that has huge implications for the upcoming third book, onyx storm. The first book in the Empyrean Series, Fourth Wingmountain range Violet Sorrengail will be released in the Basgiath War College Knights Quadrantforced to undergo the grueling and deadly challenge of becoming a dragonrider, rather than the safer, more mundane role of a scribe as she had trained. She meets and falls in love with the man she thought was her enemy, Xaden Riorson.
The second book, Iron Flamefinds Violet, Xaden, their dragons and their friends facing the threat of venina. No longer mythical creatures from children’s books or theoretical adversaries, the venin are very real and have opened the first front in their war against the people of Navarre and Poromiel, defended only by the dragon knights of the first and the griffin knights of the second. THE end of Iron Flame introduced a shocking (but not entirely surprising) twist this has huge ramifications for everyone moving forward.
How and Why Xaden Turned Venin at the End of Iron Flame
Extracting directly from the source is prohibited
In the world of the Empyrean Series, magic is everywhere, coming directly from the land itself. There is two ways to channel it – one permitted and one prohibited. The permitted way is how dragon riders do it: by bonding with a dragon and then harnessing that dragon’s power. In this way, the dragon acts as a buffer, as it can draw much greater amounts of power than humans, but still allows humans to channel that power through them.
The other way – extracting directly from the land itself – is prohibited. A dragon rider who channels too much power through his dragon can burn and even die. But a user who draws directly from the source of magic does something even worse to themselves, eventually becoming distorted and deformed, or venin. The lure of feeling the pure, unadulterated surge of power again transforms the human vein as they seek only to gain more and more power. In doing so, he transforms them into an evil and perverted form of dragon rider.
But a user who draws directly from the source of magic does something even worse to themselves, eventually becoming distorted and deformed, or venin.
When Xaden draws power directly from the earth in the climactic battle of Iron Flame in his desperation to save Violet, he becomes corrupted and begins to turn to poison. What’s not entirely clear in the Empyrean Series is whether extracting it from the source once leaves someone completely venous, or if the process requires a person to access the source a few times to complete the transition. Xaden’s eyes now have venina’s trademark red glow, but otherwise he appears human.
What Xaden Being Venin Means for the Next Fourth Wing Book
Venin could be portrayed differently
The third book, onyx stormwill certainly explain some of these questions about venina and how it works. So far in the books, they’ve been painted as little more than magical bogeymen, a story parents tell their children to scare them into respecting magic and those who keep them safe. However, now that Xaden is turning to poison, and with the revelation that Jack Barlowe is also venin, but is hiding itit is likely that onyx storm we will delve deeper into the nature of venina.
Xaden is torn between his love for Violet and his loyalty to the cause and his attraction to revenge.
It’s also entirely possible that Venin will be portrayed in a more sympathetic light, as Xaden is torn between his love for Violet and loyalty to the cause and his attraction to Venin – especially now that they have a cause, as Jack suggested at the end. of Iron Flame.
Anyway, the title onyx storm It is almost certainly related to the tug of war that will take place in Xaden. This internal battle will not be confined to him alone, but will affect Violet, Sgaeyl, Tairn and Andarna, toosince they are all interconnected. Xaden’s venomous nature will almost certainly cause friction between companions Tairn and Sgaeyl in onyx stormwith Sgaeyl wanting to remain loyal to his knight and Tairn wanting to protect his. The relationship dynamics of the third book will be more confusing and tension-filled than ever.
Andarna being a seventh type of dragon explained
She is unique among dragons
Andarna was already unique among dragons for being the only young dragon to ask to be part of the Presentation bond, although it is generally frowned upon for dragons who are not yet fully grown to bond with a rider. After an excessive expenditure of magic forces her to quickly become an adolescent dragon, her underdeveloped wing makes her unique in her determination and endurance to succeed despite her physical limitations – much like her rider, Violet.
Unfortunately, Andarna’s rarity puts a target on her back, so she disguises herself as a black dragon to be more like Tairn, whom she idolizes.
However, it is the fact that her adolescent form reveals her to be a unique seventh type of dragon, this one with color-changing scales, that makes her so unique among dragons in Iron Flame. At first, she just appeared as a black dragon, but there were times when Iron Flame where Violet I could have sworn that Andarna flickered and momentarily appeared to be a different color.
Andarna eventually revealed that she was a rare type of dragon not seen in a long time, a seventh breed, and the final piece of the puzzle needed to resurrect the guardian stones. Unfortunately, Andarna’s rarity puts a target on her back, so she disguises herself as a black dragon to be more like Tairn, whom she idolizes.
The Death of General Sorrengail: Why Violet’s Mother Sacrifices Herself
General Sorrengail proved he was innocent in the cover-up
For the most part Fourth Wing and Iron FlameGeneral Lilith Sorrengail treated her children less like her children and more like her loyal soldiers. When it came to maternal instincts, the general had few, preferring the tough love approach to raising her children. This made her a character who wasn’t exactly likable, but It was quite clear from the hints presented in the book that General Sorrengail was unaware of the cover-up by other senior Basgiath officialsor of General Aetos’ plot to send Xaden and Violet into a trap because they discovered the truth.
In the end, General Sorrengail proved how much she loved Violet and all of her children by sacrificing herself for her daughter. The protective stones around Basgiath could only be reactivated by a knight channeling all the magic he could, burning and dying in the process. Just like her daughter, the general was exceptionally powerful and capable of channeling enormous amounts of magic.
When she recognized that Violet was determined to exhaust herself to save everyone, the general pushed her daughter aside and became the conduit for magicagreeing to let Sloane siphon her off, knowing full well it would mean her life. Lilith Sorrengail may not have been loving, but her love for her children burned fiercely beneath her tough exterior, and her death proved it.
What happens next with Venin now that the wards have been reestablished?
The Venin clearly has a bigger plan
Revenge may have been temporarily thwarted by Violet and her mother and by the dragons who resurrected the wards, but it’s unclear whether that matters. When venin Jack Barlowe talks to Xaden at the end of Iron Flamehe mentions that Xaden is now part of his “fucked family.” The venin had already been described as a bogeyman, somewhat stupid and savage.
However, the venin are organized like an army – and in far greater numbers than most people in Navarre know. His attacks are not random, as Violet and the others discovered. Clearly, venin has a plan. The guardstones being repowered may temporarily slow venina, but they clearly have a larger plan and are not likely to stop them for good.
What we know about the Empyrean series, book 3
It will almost certainly revolve around Xaden’s internal struggle
At the moment, not much is known about the third book in the Empyrean Series, onyx storm. This will be released on January 21, 2025so there isn’t much time left before it hits the shelves. Nothing has been revealed about the plot, but there are some obvious threads that onyx storm will need to explore further. The main one, of course, is Xaden now being venin. What this means for him, for his relationship with Violet and the dragons, and for Navarre’s safety in general remains to be seen.
|
Book title |
Release date |
|---|---|
|
Fourth Wing |
April 5, 2023 |
|
Iron Flame |
November 7, 2023 |
|
onyx storm |
January 21, 2025 |
THE Another important plot that must be explored is Andarnaher new powers and Violet’s second signet through Andarna’s manifestation. Author Rebecca Yarros said she planted a lot of hints about Violet’s second signet throughout Iron Flameso it shouldn’t be too surprising when it’s revealed in onyx storm for those who have been paying attention. Whatever your secondary seal is, it will hopefully be useful in the fight against Venina – including her soulmate, Xaden. Clearly, she’s going to need it.
How Iron Flame’s Ending Was Received
Fans were furious about the cliffhanger but still want more
When it comes to the Iron Flame ending, readers mostly asked questions about the final moments and what they meant for the future. A Reddit thread asked about the “rope” that was broken, with the OP asking what that meant. One of the redditors, Alert_Illustrator484he wrote:
“Xaden turns to save Violet’s life because Venin is threatening to kill her. It’s the moment when Xaden achieves power in the ground – he chooses to become Venin to protect Violet because the Venin are after him and Violet for their power .They’ve both been tied up since the first time they met and that’s why they’re having nightmares.”
Some fans spoke out against the cliffhanger, not because they didn’t like it, but because they had to wait for a response. With that said, it also gives many fans something to speculate about until the third book (and possibly beyond). Editor LetMeDoTheKonga he wrote, “Yes, this plot twist was unexpected. I predicted they’d want to kidnap Xaden or something and then Violet would have to go on a rescue mission… I still think that’s their plan to get Violet to look for them so she can cure Xaden.“
Not everyone was happy with the ending, however. There was a Reddit thread where the OP showed anger at the Iron Flame ending, and many commentators agreed with that sentiment. Editor here and there200 he wrote, “I was so pleased after all the obstacles they overcame and then bam. It seems like a moment of hopeless anguish. It’s not what I wanted, but I’ll try to forget that part until the next book comes out..” This book will be released on January 21, 2025.