(This post will contain spoilers for the first three Fourth Wing books.)
A new announcement has been made. Rebecca Yarros has the name for the fourth installment in the Fourth Wing series. Though we still know she has not started writing this next book yet, this does confirm that she has some good idea of where exactly the plot will go. What can we predict will happen in the fourth Empyrean book?
1. Lilith is Revealed to Have Been Venin
I’ve long suspected this, and let me attempt to explain why. Lilith is originally written as an unlikeable character. She doesn’t seem to like Violet at all and distances herself completely. Later, though, she sacrifices herself for her daughter and proves that she loved her all along. So, what would make someone who loved their daughter neglect them in such a way? My suspicion is that Lilith was Venin, and Violet was her trigger to channel, similar to Xaden.
Violet also mentions how, at times, her eyes appear red. One even more far-fetched theory is that Lilith channeled from Violet, essentially draining her of life, hence why Violet was then dedicated to Dunne. I find it safe to predict that Lilith’s secrets will definitely be aired in this next installment.
2. Xaden Becomes the Enemy
Though we do have confirmation that there is a happy ending for Violet, and also that “there is no Violet without Xaden”, we cannot confirm that Xaden doesn’t become the enemy, at least for a little while.
With Violet’s memories gone and her new marriage to Xaden, it seems like Xaden was making preparations for Tyrrendor to be looked after in his absence. I don’t think he plans on returning. It’s also highly likely that he has gone much further in his Venin transformation, meaning that he will now be an enemy to every rider in Basgiath. I predict that in this next book, Violet will continue looking for a cure for the now fully Venin Xaden.
3. Violet and Xaden aren’t Together
This suspicion goes along with the previous one, but I predict that we won’t have many (if any) scenes of Violet and Xaden together. With Xaden being missing and likely full Venin, it makes sense that he wouldn’t be able to return to see her.
We also have the knowledge that either Xaden has broken his bond with Sgaeyl or that Sgaeyl and Tairn have broken their bond, which is the only possibility considering the distance between them and the time they have been separated. We will likely get our Xaden moments in through an alternate POV, instead of Violet being with him.
4. Dain Regains Relevance
The fandom as a whole has a rather love/hate relationship with Dain Aetos. I think that he will become a much more major character in book 4, as he will use his signet to help Violet recover her memories of the time that had been erased.
It seemed like Rebecca was trying to make him a bit more enjoyable in Onyx Storm, so I can see a full redemption arc in his near future.
5. Violets Missing Memories
I think these memories obviously have something to do with Xaden, but I suspect they likely have more to do with Andarna and the Irids. Keep in mind that Violet herself asked Imogen to erase her memories, something she wouldn’t have done if there wasn’t a big secret that she wanted to keep safe.
I think she likely wanted the memories erased so that she wouldn’t know where Xaden went, and wouldn’t try to find him (further hinting at hiis full venin transformation) and that she also wouldn’t want the venin she encounters during her dream walks to know where he was or what he has done. She could also be protecting the Irids (specifically, Andarna)
6. Violet’s signet develops
Rebecca Yarros herself has confirmed that we only know a measly 10% of Violet’s signet, so we can expect to see this develop a lot in the following book.
I personally expect that she will realize she can internationally enter dreams, and even alter reality through the dreams (ie, taking things back from them or cutting herself in the dream and having the cut be there when she wakes up)
After the Irids scolded Andarna for giving Violet a dangerous signet, we can probably expect that there is some villainous potential in the signet. This could also be our means of communication with Xaden throughout the book, utilizing the dream walking.
7. Tairn Dies
This is the one thing that I am absolutely convinced of. Whether it happens in this book or the next, I think that there is no way that Tairn makes it out of this alive.
Rebecca Yarros has confirmed that she is not above killing off people’s favorites, and Tairn definitely fits that criteria. Violet also gets an exemption from the ‘dragon dies and then you do’ rule because of her bond with Andarna. This gives Tairn room to die while still allowing a happy ending for Violet.
8. A Larger Cliffhanger Than Ever Before
The intensity of the cliffhangers in the series has been getting more and more intense, and I expect this next book to follow suit.
Considering the series will be five books long, I think that the cliffhanger before the final book will be sure to take us out and leave us speculating for a while.
That’s all for now! Let me know what you think of my predictions in the comments.
As always,
Happy Reading,
Ashley
Link to the first three Empyrean books on Amazon
Read my predictions for Acotar 6!
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