Fourth Wing Book Club: Onyx Storm Deep Dive | Ep. 58

Overview

In this spoiler-heavy Fourth Wing / Iron Flame / Onyx Storm Book Club episode, the hosts Sarah and Lo kick things off with jokes about why everyone loves the series—mostly Xaden—and especially the very controversial Tairn obsession (“their crush is Tairn… makes me want to gag”).

They frame the discussion for BookTok fans who have read Onyx Storm, with quick warnings not to watch if you’re behind.

What the hosts highlight about the series

Their origin stories with the books

• One host started Fourth Wing because of a flight and got instantly hooked—so hooked she finished it on the plane.
• They both remember the series’ dramatic dragon/rider death moment as a key hook that pulled them in immediately.

How the books compare in pacing

• Fourth Wing: Fast, addictive, full of surprises and bonding moments.
• Iron Flame: Slower and more annoying (especially Violet’s frustration with Xaden), with less action until the end.
• Onyx Storm: Praised as consistently more entertaining—“up-down-up-down,” similar to the Twilight “New Moon” vibe where you have to push through, but it’s worth it.

Key reactions, jokes, and standout moments (Onyx Storm)

The Tairn fandom debate

• They repeatedly roast the idea of crushing on a dragon.
• Then they pivot to defending the series’ many good male characters (Bodhi, Garrick, Liam, etc.), teasing that choosing Tairn over humans raises “concerns.”

Favorite character growth

• Violet is praised as a stronger protagonist than in earlier books.
• They love how she shifts from being fragile/breakable to becoming feared and powerful.
• The vibe: she’s still “tiny but mighty.”

Xaden’s jealousy and protectiveness

• They hype multiple scenes featuring his jealous streak and protectiveness.
• Especially when he can’t control his anger as much once he’s venin.

The most emotional “love” moment

• Their favorite scene is near the end:
  • Violet can sense/channel something from his perspective.
  • She realizes he’s protecting her even as he’s effectively gone / at the edge.
• They frame it as an “act of love,” even if they aren’t together.

Dark surprises

• They’re shocked by how mean some characters are toward Andarna after her kindness is revealed—expecting more empathy.
• They react strongly to random major deaths (including a mention of someone being struck by an arrow through the heart).
• The ending twist is described as absolutely wild:
  • Violet wakes up married with no memory of the last 12 hours.

Biggest plot points they analyze (ending + why it matters)

The hosts spend a long time dissecting the finale and its implications:

• Violet & Xaden are married by the priestess of Dune.
  • Violet is wearing a ring.
  • Her future seems altered by her dedication to Dune.
• Brennan reacts:
  • He looks shocked when he sees the ring, then shocked again.
  • This fuels multiple theories.
• Violet’s new signet = Dreamwalking
  • They’re excited because it’s important for future books.
  • It suggests Violet can learn what she needs through others’ dreams.
  • They connect it to the idea that Breon/The Sage already dream-walked into Xaden’s mind.
• Xaden’s “hope” vs inevitability
  • One host frames it as a “love letter”:
  • Xaden knew he was heading toward venin, but tried to engineer the best possible outcome anyway.

Major theory section for Book 4 (“Brother at the end” + venin betrayal)

They lay out several competing theories about a brother/figure turned venin implied at the end:

Who it might be

• Most believe it’s Bodhi, citing:
  • Bodhi’s defiant line about not being someone’s “backup plan.”
  • Bodhi’s bitterness about being told to stay alive / not fight.
  • Patterns in who seems “missing” at the end.
• Another possibility they consider is Garrick, since he seemed exhausted and “near the end.”

Pushback on Brennan

• They push back on the idea that Brennan is the venin brother.
• But they acknowledge more obscure hints, including:
  • Eye color theories (amber vs onyx)
  • Secret manipulation theories (including a possible betrayal involving Naolin)

Additional theory threads

• Naolin as Tairn’s earlier rider:
  • They suggest Naolin may be the “head” venin influence and might still be alive in some form.
• Why bonds break / what the rules are:
  • They debate whether going venin changes the dragon bond.
  • They also discuss whether Andarna’s role is to alter/bend the bond.
• What Violet’s silver hair means:
  • They connect it to full dedication to Dune after being taken/dedicated under a process that turns hair silver.

How they interpret Xaden’s soul / marriage symbolism

A major fan-reading interpretation they push:

• Xaden may have kept one strand of humanity and “handed it over” to Violet.
  • Possibly connected to the wedding ring or his last note.
• Violet waking up married is framed as part of a larger plan:
  • He wants her protected, connected, and positioned to save him—even if he’s effectively gone.

Ratings / closing

They give quick subjective scores:

• Fourth Wing: ~8.5–10 out of 10
  • One host is especially emphatic: “10 out of 10 / 11 out of 10 vibes.”
• Iron Flame: ~7–8.5
• Onyx Storm: ~9.5–10
  • They often say it rivals or beats Fourth Wing.

They end by inviting listeners to share theories, then briefly discuss how hard it would be to cast the live-action/TV series—especially:

• Xaden’s height expectations
• Fan “perfection” standards

Notable personalities mentioned (end of episode)

• Sarah
• Lo
• Rebecca Yarros (fandom/author reference)

Frequently discussed characters:

• Xaden, Violet, Tairn, Andarna, Bodhi, Garrick, Liam, Brennan, Sgaeyl, Naolin, Breon/The Sage, Imogen, Teo/Theofany, Rhiannon, and the priestess of Dune.