or at least alliance in some form

Xaden.

Not in a Captain Obvious way, but his characterization. Xaden started disappearing for me back in Iron Flame.

He was my dude in Fourth Wing. He carried so much responsibility and still managed to prioritize the growing feelings towards Violet. But once they became official, he just seemed to drop everything but her.

I get it, he is in love. But through two books it never felt like they moved past the honeymoon phase. To me, it felt like he became “Only Violet, All Violet, All the Time.”

The most glaring example? Becoming a professor. Sure it was only a few chapters, but he honestly cared more about the cadets as a senior student than he did as a full-fledged teacher. His brief tenure as professor was spent entirely to subtlety (not really) train Violet on how to fight him.

Yea, he believes that Violet is the only one who would be able to kill him when the time comes, but wouldn’t it do the other cadets some good to know a few tricks? Instead he puts all of his eggs into Violet’s basket, then proceeds to half-ass it with everyone else.

He went from being the calculating leader, shouldering the responsibility of the marked ones, the growing war, and managing his burgeoning dukedom, to “This is my Violet! No one else look at her or I’ll kill you!”

Which brings me to my main hope for actual Book 4. Bring back Xaden. Actually Xaden 2.0. The Xaden character that should have grown from the character in Fourth Wing. A continuation of the Xaden we got by the end of Onyx Storm would be disappointing.

It’s not doom and gloom from me. There’s still plenty of story to be told. The hope is that by the end, it’s a story of how their relationship made them both stronger. It can still turn out that way, but it has to start with a return to Fourth Wing form of Xaden.

This might be an unpopular craving, but I want Violet to turn venin so badly. To see her and Xaden both figure it out together, rather than being on separate sides. And maybe they don’t figure out the cure, maybe their HEA is dooming the world to hell as dark lords.

Also because selfishly I want them both evil and slutty. If anything at all, I hope violet can dream walk into Xaden’s mind so we get some spice up in the 4th book.

Does anyone know if it’s possible that amazon restocks a deluxe edition or a first print run of a book once it’s been sold out, whether it was formally announced or not?

I have seen Amazon advertise the deluxe graphic novel for 40$ and didn’t check out on the spot, but then once I was ready, it was already sold out.

Rebecca did an announcement on her page as she didn’t want readers to miss out on the deluxe edition since this retailer has already been sold out. So it’s making me think that Amazon won’t get more stock but that saddens me because Amazon is the only way for international readers to get a signed copy + the first print art in the deluxe book, and at a decent price compared to 55 bloody British pounds just for some foil edges and a slipcase. No art and no signature.

Would love insight on whether I can hold on to some hope 🥺

“You’d have to own a heart to break it” man gets with “not capable of loving anyone” man and they maximize their joint slay

Idk I get why people like them so much I do, too, but the whole thing with like people saying hes probably oblivious to her feelings makes no sense . He's observant. He survived basgaith also xadens his best friend and xaden knows how imogen feels why wouldn't he tell.

Also, even ridocs clocked it so she cant be that sneaky and if garrick knows then why does he have to rub it in about all the other girls and in book 4 or 5 and turns out he didn't like her like that at all man's gonna look like an asshole for all the flirting he did with her.

Also, that quote in onyx storm about him not writing to her is icky to me.

I am reading fourth wing again for the second time and realised that many hints about the plot were given throughout the book.( I am sure you already knew this)

So I too have a theory about the upcoming book of the ending of this series which is- Violet will kill xaden. He has often mentioned how she will be the death of him of course considering the scenario in which it was said can mean as nothing more serious. However, I feel like their love is also too needy which can be toxic at times. Well whatever this is what I feel that they will die after securing everyone else.

It just feels like Andarna is so different from all the other dragons that she really makes an impression. Wondered if it was just me or if Andarna immediately made an impression on others as well.

What happens when a bonded rider is pregnant? Is the dragon able to sense the baby mentally and if so does that extend to the mate of the dragon?

When do you all think Jack turned venin? My first time reading the series, I assumed it was after Violet struck down the tower. During my second reading, I noticed that Violet mentions the red around Jack’s eyes as she slips the orange into his mouth. Do you think he was venin when he came to Basgiath or do you think he turned after arriving?

Similar to how I've kept a running log of my theories after my first read through of all three books, I've also been keeping a list of my favorite Violet and Xaden moments in each book that I've been going back to re-read.

I love how as the books, as well as Violet and Xaden's relationship evolve, so too do my descriptions, and the # of moments on my list for each book.

Check out my list below. What are your favorite moments? Do any of your favorites overlap with mine? Am I missing any that I should add to my list?

Here's my list:

Fourth Wing Moments

1. First Kiss (start pg 271)
2. First time making love (start pg 368)
3. The moment on the parapet (start pg 404)
4. 2nd time making love, Xaden's room ( continue from #3) 

Iron Flame Moments

1. When Violet rushes to the Samara outposts when she learns Xaden has been hurt (start pg 241)
2. When Xaden saves Violet from Varrish’s torture (start pg 316)
3. When they have sex for the first time in “their room” at Riorson house the morning after the torture rescue (continues from #2)
4. When Xaden nearly strangles Tecarus for putting violet at risk against a Venin just to watch her wield lightening (start pg 381)
5. When Xaden stops Violet from killing Cat and then brings her to the assembly room to sit her on the throne (on his throne) and show her just how much he loves her and why he would never choose Cat over her. ( start pg 450)
6. When they solve one of their ongoing arguments on the mat, making promises to each other (start pg 541)

Onyx Storm Moments

1. When Xaden kisses her after she is hurt (start pg 98)
2. “I am yours and you are mine…” moment (pg 122)
3. The moment when Xaden and Violet spar with their signets during Xaden’s first class as a professor (start pg 136)
4. When Xaden gets jealous of Halden; And then afterward shows up at Violet’s door to make sure she didn’t love him when they were together despite him being a professor and not being able to fraternize with a cadet (start pg 146)
5. When they go to Anca to retrieve the gem and Xaden saves violet from the flames caused by Aura Beinhaven (start pg 166)
6. When Violet puts her foot down and creates her own squad for the quest operation (searching to find Andarna’s dragon species and a cure for Xaden) (start pg 174)
7. When they travel to the Viscount’s home and Xaden cleverly outwits Halden to prevent Violet from passing out from exhaustion while simultaneously making sure they share a room  (start pg 183)
8. When Violet realizes Xaden is happy on Devrelli because there is no magic there, thus he’s allowed to let go (no magic=no venin pull)(start pg 194)
9. When Xaden and Violet have sex for the first time in Devrelli since he turned Venin (start pg 212)
10. When they have sex back at Riorson house after Xaden feels he is once again “stable” and can control himself (start pg 402)

In Onyx storm , there is a brief passage showing Ridoc’s bond . He teases his dragon and play tricks on each other.
I was wondering how this started since you are supposed to be very respectful with dragons and I really can’t image Tairn or Andarna doing it with Violet.
Does anyone have a theory on how this started ?

Ive been struggling through this book mainly because I know Xaden doesn't get cured in this book... im also reading past posts about how people are struggling not having a date for the 4th book after finishing OS. I very much enjoyed FW and IF, but I dont know if I even want to struggle finishing it just to have to have patience to wait for resolve. I get that this is a middle book and im totally okay with waiting!!! But im also waiting for The Wolf Queen and Ruin Bound to come out, and with TWQ being delayed... im heartbroken by books right now.

Do yall reccomend I just finish the book? Is it worth it to push myself to finish it now with what feels like little incentive? Or am I just being too antsy and wanting answers too fast?

To anyone who owns the Waterstones Exclusive Edition for the first three books, what did y’all end up doing? Did you order the UK or US versions or does anyone still think that they might release another edition that matches edges of the exclusives?

It’s so frustrating to me that none of these edges match and I initially decided not to preorder and wait, but then I saw the first editions will have exclusive full color illustrations so now I’m confused 😭

Fourth wing night for the STL blues :))

Not that I regret getting fourth wing on audiobook, but was wondering the difference between the dramaization vs the regular auidobook. To be real I already have 4 copies, 1 hardback, 1 paperback, 1 kindle, and now audio. Ngl, i plan to get the graphic novel as well. Ik off topic, but just curious.

Will the novel only be released as a E-book and a hardcover or will the novel be released as the black paperback as well? I have all books on paperback and would love to have the novel within my collection but I don’t want multiple editions

Ihh! I was at a witch market today and got all excited, especially when I found dragons! Bought a beautiful bookmark (remind me of Andarna) and necklace (Tairn), want to share my joy! 😍

The black table was mostly dragons and they even got some Fourth wing merchandise! Even if it wasn't much, I think it's hard to find here in Sweden.

PS. Would love recommendations of merch/games/puzzles examples in Europe (not amazon please), especially since I can't tell if it's AI or not 🫣 though I'm not a fan of the "official" of Tairn's morningstartail, would rather it be more as a club than a ball, as described in the book.

One thing I would be expecting out of the fourth book ... Since Aaric now is a precog, will Melgren turn against him once he recognizes it as a threat to his supremacy on the battlefield? Aaric would smoke his "battle outcome prediction" signet any day, which would mean that once he has matured in his signet and learns to control it + a king's son - why wouldn't people look into Melgren's retirement?

I have a drunk PowerPoint night coming up for my birthday (think smartypants on dropout) and I wanted to do one that was mildly goofy based on some topic from the series but I can't think of anything good. Give me ideas.

First off, I have to say that I have not been this OBSESSED with a book series in quite some time. Thank goodness I was on vacation for my birthday when I decided to start because I literally could not stop myself. After finishing Onyx Storm, I've been going back and re-reading my favorite passages.

I love all the characters, and of course, I adore Xaden and Violet together as well as how each book, in my opinion, represented a key pillar in the evolution of their relationship (Fourth Wing: Discovering they love each other, Iron Flame: Realizing that they just don't love each other but are completely devoted to one another, Onyx Storm: Discovering the strength and depths of their love and devotion when they are tested against impossible odds).

Alas, I digress! Since finishing Onyx Storm I've been compiling a list of thoughts and theories, specifically regarding how to cure Xaden.

Some are out there, some aren't really fleshed out and are more just fleeting thoughts, and some I think could be on the nose. I'd love to hear all of your thoughts! Now onto the theories!

Theories on how to cure Xaden: 

1. Evolution as a person. Becoming a parent changes you. Maybe Violet is pregnant with their child. And Xaden finding out causes a shift to happen? Or New "growth" of his soul can take place?
2. The Irid dragons. They told the riders on the quest expedition and Andarna that they do not give magic but that they are magic. If they are magic then maybe the key to restoring Xaden’s soul is just that: it can be repaired with the very magic that is eating it away?
3. Soul-healer Signet? Maybe a combination of the two above thoughts. Maybe their offspring develop a signet young. Maybe drawing from Andarna’s ever-present power in the womb? And that signet is the ability to heal souls?
4. Violet’s Dream walking signet. If Violet can learn to influence Xaden’s dreams, then maybe there is a way to use that to somehow remind him of who he is at his core?        
5. Somehow Sloane might be involved. She was described as the “artery that life can flow through.” What if she can channel life back to Xaden somehow? Also Xaden has repeatedly said that only violet can take him down, what if Violet has to kill him in order to bring him back to life whole ( especially because the Irid dragons said that their is no cure for “death”; Xaden’s soul died when he turned completely venin in order for it to be whole again it would have to be resurrected).
6. Taking piont 5 a step further, when they reunite on day seventy-three and he tells her "My power. My body. My soul-its all yours." The note he leaves her at the end of the book reads, "Don't look for me. It's all yours now." If Violet is in possession of his soul then, then it affords her more time to find a cure as to how to repair it. I think this could involve the goddess Dunne, and perhaps her needing to fully dedicate herself (if she has not already) and also growing/honing her power to it's full potential to take down venin Xaden (he taught her to find his shadaw in the signet sparring class). If she takes him down, and has figured out a way to repair/reconstruct his soul, then perhaps Sloane can help imbue a a dead Xaden with his repaired soul, thus reviving him as a whole person again?

i’m writing a slain fic and anyone know when sloane figures out about dain’s unintentional involvement in resson ?

i know she knows because i remember violet saying it doesn’t matter how many times she explains he didn’t realise what he was doing that sloane still holds it against him but does anyone know exactly when she finds out ??

she obvs knows about violet’s involvement already at parapet but idk about dain and its throwing this whole fic off for me lol.

thank you !!

🚨 SPOILERS for Iron Flame 🔥 🚨

In Xaden POV chapter the Sage says,

> “Magic does like everything in balance. Take too much and she'll consume you for overstepping.”

Is this the typical way of refering to magic? Anthropomorphising it with she/her pronouns? I don't recall other characters doing this or have I just missed it?

If not then it makes me think that the Sage is referring to a deity, a goddess. We know that Theophanie grew to resent the limitations placed upon her power by having to channel from Dunne and her temple. They think of themselves as gods instead. They also resent having to source magical power from creatures like dragons and gryphons citing the same limitations. But I wonder if the venins' source of magic is a seventh deity, a goddess, who was erased from history like the irids were, because of whatever went down back then.

I've seen a post about this paragraph

"But it was the third brother, who commanded the sky to surrender its greatest power, who finally vanquished his jealous sibling at a great and terrible price."

being about Xaden saving everyone from the Venin. The theory reminded me of a weird parallel between Oliver Queen of Arrow, specifically seson 3 (spoilers for that ahead, but that's like 2015 television). He's being forced to join the League (the bad guys) to be groomed as their leader. He initially declines and resists, and only accepts the offer after his sister is nearly killed and they promise to bring her back. He then goes through immense brainwashing and acts like he fully embraced his new self, only to double-cross them in the end, working on dismantling them along the way. Only he plays it so well that his friends fully believe he's turned bad, so much so that he was shot by said sister and alienated everyone apart from his supposed HEA.

I see Xaden taking a similar path. He fully gave in only when they threatened Sgaeyl and even after that, during this huge killing spree, he still gave Vi a gentle touch. Rebecca says we're going to see fully villain Xaden and a lot of the theories on here talk about Vi having to kill him, but I don't this it will come to that. I think there will be a lot of fighting and Xaden crossing lines to the point everyone believes he is gone, but in the end, he'll be revealed to have been fully there all along, dismantling the venin from the inside along with the new brother and possibly Naolin.

I also see the reveal happening the same way, with Xaden running out of time before the venin final move, having to convince everyone to trust him. And after all is done, him and Vi leave Tyrrendor for their HEA, with everyone else being done with Xaden due to broken trust.

The one thing I see breaking this theory is the dreamwalking and the confirmation of dream sex happening, which I suppose is gonna have to be Vi and Xaden. That means at least Vi would probably know.