Summary
Onyx Stormhas many questions to answer afterIron Flame’s bombshell ending, butI hope thenextFourth Wingsequelalso fixes the most ridiculousEmpyrean Seriesplot twist. Rebecca Yarros’Empyrean Seriesis no stranger to dropping major reveals, from Violet’s brother being alive to Xaden becoming a venin. Most of these make sense within the context of the story, and that makes them satisfying when they finally unfold. However, not every major development inFourth WingandIron Flamefeels earned, which is frustrating.
Onyx Stormhas the opportunity to fill in the blanks of Yarros' less developed reveals, and there’s one in particular I hope it addresses. Of the many surprises inIron Flame,the book’s Jack Barlowe twist feels the most ridiculous. Perhaps Yarros has a good reason for bringing Violet’s nemesis back into the fold, but I’m not sold on this development just yet. I hopeOnyx Stormchanges that by making sense of Jack’s unexpected — and unwanted — return.
10 Fourth Wing Characters We Want To See More Of In Onyx Storm
Despite the many newcomers, there are a few established Fourth Wing side characters audiences want to see more of in the next book, Onyx Storm.
Iron Flame’s Jack Barlowe Twist Was The Empyrean Series' Most Ridiculous Yet
Resurrecting Jack After His Satisfying Fourth Wing Death Is Disappointing
Violet killing Jack is one of themost satisfying moments inFourth Wing,as she spends most of the firstEmpyreanbook avoiding confrontation rather than standing up for herself. When Violet lashes out in defense of Liam, it’s a powerful moment for her character. Sadly, the impact of this scene is essentially undone whenIron Flamebrings Jack back from the dead. Keeping Jack alive — and revealing that he’s a venin — feels like an odd choice for theFourth Wingsequel. It isn’t properly alluded to before it happens, and the implications of it aren’t fully explored.
The fact thatFourth Wingalso brings one seemingly dead character back to life also makes this Jack twist feel somewhat repetitive. The end ofFourth Wingreveals that Violet’s brother, Brennan, is still alive despite all signs pointing to the contrary. WithIron Flamecontaining a similar twist, it’s starting to feel like the stakes of Yarros' world aren’t as high as they claim to be. Sure, plenty of people die in the romantasy series, but too many of the important ones come back. I hopeOnyx Stormcan fix some of the issues with this Jack twist.
How Onyx Storm Can Fix The Jack Barlowe Twist
Iron Flame’s Follow-Up Can Make Sense Of His Return
With so many issues surrounding Jack Barlowe’s return, I’m not fully sold on thisEmpyrean Seriestwist. However,Onyx Stormcan change that by giving Jack a bigger role in its story. AlthoughIron Flamereveals that Jack is alive and venin, it doesn’t focus on this for very long. IfOnyx Flamedelves deeper into Jack’s character, it could make sense of Yarros' reason for bringing him back. This will also allow the sequel to give a proper explanation for Jack’s current state.Iron Flameattempts to, but the lore behind this Jack twist could use more unpacking.
Jack may get the chance to redeem himself by helping Xaden inOnyx Storm.
Onyx Stormcan also give Jack’s return more meaning by having him interact with Xaden. Now that Xaden is venin, he’ll no doubt face challenges adjusting to his new form. Jack is the only personViolet and Xadenknow who’s undergone something similar. Needless to say, Jack may get the chance to redeem himself by helping Xaden inOnyx Storm.This would at least justifyIron Flamebringing him back, even if I’m not thrilled with the execution.
The Fourth Wing TV Show Can Do The Jack Barlowe Twist Even Better
Amazon’s Upcoming Adaptation Can Drop More Clues
Onyx Stormcan fixThe Empyrean Series’Jack Barlowe twist after the fact, butAmazon’supcomingFourth WingTV showcan make it better overall. With the writers knowing what’s coming, they can drop more clues before the Jack reveal even happens. While Yarros' books do include a few hints that this is coming, they aren’t that noticeable. This makes it feel out of nowhere, but Amazon’s adaptation can ensure that isn’t the case.
Additionally, TV shows often allow for more character development, as they can change perspectives and focus on supporting players more easily than books can. By giving us scenes from Jack’s POV and showing more of his character, the Amazon series can establish his importance from the jump. This will make his comeback feel more reasonable, as he’ll have a clearer purpose in the story. Book readers will need to wait untilOnyx Stormto determine what that purpose is, but it’s probably safe to assume it’s somehow related to Xaden.
Onyx Storm
Violet Sorrengail faces new political intrigue and battles old enemies while uncovering the secrets of her second signet. As she strives to save Xaden from venin corruption, her relationships with allies and dragons are tested, leading to intense confrontations and unexpected revelations in a world of dragons and magic.
