Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.
Onyx Storm now on shelves, readers finally know who the silver-haired venin who appears outside of Jack Barlowe's cell really is — and why she bears a striking resemblance to Violet. Onyx Storm wastes little time establishing this venin as the temporary Big Bad, even though she doesn't survive through the end of the book. She certainly wreaks havoc while she is around, causing Violet and the other characters a great deal of stress and pain.
While Berwyn gets characterization through Xaden's dreams, Onyx Storm's silver-haired venin is probably the most interesting of the series' villains so far. She reveals more about their motives and abilities, and she's an all-around more compelling character. It's a shame we won't see more of her in future Empyrean Series books, but Violet and her friends learn a lot from the villain in the third one.
Onyx Storm's Silver-Haired Venin Is Named Theophanie
Theophanie Introduces Herself To Violet & Garrick Early On
Onyx Storm's silver-haired venin introduces herself to Violet and Garrick early in the book, and she tells them that her name is Theophanie. She approaches the pair when they're helpless to fight, and she seems more level-headed than the other venin in the story. She doesn't actually hurt Violet or Garrick during her introduction, as she's far more interested in speaking with Violet — and she knows harming one of her friends will only antagonize her. Theophanie believes that Violet will her willingly, despite Violet's insistence that she has no interest in turning.
Onyx Storm Recap: 15 Biggest Spoilers
Between political drama and a quest to track down the seventh breed of dragon, a lot happens in Onyx Storm – and these are the biggest developments.
It's for the best that Theophanie lets Violet and Garrick go, however, as she proves an incredibly powerful enemy throughout the rest of the sequel. Onyx Storm reveals where she falls in the venin hierarchy, and she's just as formidable as Berwyn, the venin general who convinces Xaden to turn at the end of Iron Flame.
Theophanie Is A Maven, One Of The Most Powerful Venin
This Explains Why She Has The Equivalent Of A Signet
Iron Flame reveals that venin can fall into one of four ranks, including initiates, asims, sages, and mavens. Initiates are still themselves to some extent, as Xaden proves throughout Onyx Storm. However, venin change as they grow more powerful, with the strongest ones becoming mavens. Theophanie is a Maven (also called a general), underscoring just how difficult it is to defeat her. It's no surprise that she has the equivalent of a signet, as Onyx Storm confirms that the strongest venin are able to use power similar to that of dragon riders. The only difference is that they pull it from the source.
Theophanie's Powers In Onyx Storm Explained
Violet Realizes That The Silver-Haired Venin Is A Storm Wielder
When Violet first meets Theophanie, she sees the venin wield lightning — resulting in the assumption that she has a power that mirrors Violet's. And Theophanie is capable of controlling lightning, but Violet realizes at the end of Onyx Storm that her ability goes far beyond that. The silver-haired villain is actually a storm wielder, meaning she's capable of manipulating the weather more generally. This explains the poor conditions Violet and her friends are forced to fly through in Onyx Storm, as well as the tornado that Tairn and Violet fly into before meeting Theophanie.
Theophanie tells Violet that Lilith was the answer to her ability, and it makes sense that she's so much stronger with Violet's mother gone.
It also makes Theophanie the equal of Lilith Sorrengail, not Violet. Onyx Storm talks about how nature seeks to balance magic, which is why venin manifest abilities that match those of dragon riders, and vice vera. Readers see this in action when a new cadet develops a shadow signet in Onyx Storm, confirming that Xaden's is officially a venin power now. Theophanie tells Violet that Lilith was the answer to her ability, and it makes sense that she's so much stronger with Violet's mother gone; there's no other strong wielder powerful enough to oppose her.
What Theophanie Wants With Violet In Onyx Storm
She's Interested In Her Power & Andarna
Theophanie keeps tabs on Violet throughout Onyx Storm, attempting to get Fourth Wing's heroine to come to her willingly. She sends Violet messages at random points in the book, chiding the rider for searching for answers when Theophanie could easily provide them. Theophanie is interested in Violet for the same reason that Berwyn is invested in Violet and Xaden. She hopes to turn Violet and utilize her powerful ability, and she wants to be Violet's teacher. She even states that she's competing with Berwyn for the honor.
Fourth Wing's Venin & Wyvern Explained: Powers, Purpose & How People Are Turned
The venin and their wyvern in Fourth Wing, previously be believed to be fictitious characters from a fable, are easily the biggest threat to Navarre.
Theophanie's interest goes beyond Violet though, as she seems even more intrigued by Andarna. Onyx Storm reveals that Andarna is an irid scorpiontail, a breed of dragon that was forgotten until the end of Iron Flame. The book doesn't reveal everything there is to know about the seventh breed of dragon, but it's obvious they're special. Given Fourth Wing's timeline, it's also possible they were key to defeating the venin hundreds of years ago. This could be why Theophanie is more interested in Violet's dragon than her, but the book doesn't get much more specific.
The Real Reason Theophanie Has Silver Hair Like Violet
They're Both Connected To The Goddess Dunne
Theophanie's lightning power shakes Violet, but she's also shocked by another trait that they share: silver hair. While Violet's hair is only silver at the ends, she's surprised to see that Theophanie also sports a silver braid. The reason for this becomes clear when Violet realizes that they both have a connection to the goddess of war, Dunne. Upon a visit to Unnbriel, Violet notices that the priestesses of Dunne all have silver hair. She soon learns that she was nearly dedicated to Dunne as a child, which explains her own strange hair color.
Violet's father took her to Unnbriel to be dedicated to Dunne, but the priestesses never completed the process.
And as it turns out, Theophanie was also once a priestess of Dunne, but she turned her back on the goddess. This is why Theophanie's hair resembles Violet's, debunking all the theories that these characters may be related in some way. Theophanie's prior connection to Dunne proves her downfall, too, as it gives Violet the edge that she needs to defeat Onyx Storm's scariest villain.
What Happens To Theophanie At The End Of Onyx Storm
Violet Kills Her With A Piece Of Dunne's Temple
The end of Onyx Storm sees Theophanie dying after a confrontation with Violet, though she manages to cause a lot of problems before meeting a grim end. During her final moments with Violet and Tairn, it looks as though they'll die while confronting her. However, Violet manages to regain the upper hand because of Aaric. Aaric has Sloane deliver her a gift ahead of Onyx Storm's final battle: a sharp piece of Dunne's temple and a note that states "For when you lose yours. Strike in the dark, Violet."
This kills Theophanie because she betrayed her goddess, so we likely won't see the silver-haired venin in Onyx Storm's sequel.
Because Aaric's signet is precognition, he knows that Violet will lose her dagger — and that Xaden will eventually cover the battlefield in darkness. When Violet pieces this together, she stabs Theophanie with the piece of Dunne's temple, knowing that the goddess is vengeful. This kills Theophanie because she betrayed her goddess, so we likely won't see the silver-haired venin in Onyx Storm's sequel. Of course, Berwyn remains a problem heading into the fourth Empyrean Series book, and Xaden could become an even bigger one.
Source: Cosmopolitan
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Publisher
- Entangled: Red Tower Books
- Publication Date
- 2025/01/01
- Franchise
- The Empyrean Series
- ISBN#
- 1649374186
- Author(s)
- Rebecca Yarros
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.
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