This is a character guide to Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, the third book in The Empyrean series. It covers the main and supporting characters, the riders and their dragons, signets, gryphon fliers, factions, gods and key terms, so you can find who someone is without leaving your reading flow.
The guide is built in two layers. Part 1 is spoiler-free for Onyx Storm. It does assume you have read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, because a guide to book three cannot avoid the events of book two. Part 2 contains spoilers for Onyx Storm and begins under a clearly marked heading, so you can stop reading at that line.
If you are new to the series, start with Fourth Wing and come back here afterwards.
PART 1: SPOILER-FREE
Onyx Storm Characters: Quick Spoiler-Free List
This is the fast reference. Each description sticks to the role a character plays and leaves out twists, secret abilities and outcomes.
| Character | Role or relationship | Spoiler-free description |
|---|---|---|
| Violet Sorrengail | Protagonist | A Riders Quadrant cadet bonded to two dragons, Tairn and Andarna. She wields lightning. |
| Xaden Riorson | Violet’s partner | A powerful rider, the Duke of Tyrrendor, who wields shadows and is bonded to Sgaeyl. |
| Dain Aetos | Violet’s childhood friend | A rider and the son of Colonel Aetos. He has a long, complicated history with Violet. |
| Mira Sorrengail | Violet’s older sister | A rider who can extend the Aretian wards. |
| Brennan Sorrengail | Violet’s older brother | A rider and strategist who can mend injuries. |
| Rhiannon Matthias | Violet’s best friend | A squad leader with a summoning signet. |
| Ridoc Gamlyn | Violet’s friend | A loyal rider in her squad, known for his humor. |
| Sawyer Henrick | Violet’s friend | A rider in her squad with a metallurgy signet. |
| Imogen Cardulo | Xaden’s close ally | A blunt, formidable third-year rider bonded to Glane. |
| Garrick Tavis | Xaden’s best friend | A rider and one of the people closest to Xaden. |
| Bodhi Durran | Xaden’s cousin | A third-year rider from Tyrrendor. |
| Aaric Graycastle | Rider tied to Navarre’s ruling family | A rider whose family connections matter politically. |
| Jesinia Neilwart | Violet’s friend | A scribe whose research supports the rebellion. |
| Catriona “Cat” Cordella | Poromish gryphon flier | A flier from Poromiel who is part of Violet’s circle. |
| Theophanie | Antagonist | A dangerous dark wielder who becomes one of the book’s central threats. |
Main Onyx Storm Characters
Violet Sorrengail is the series’ protagonist. She entered Basgiath War College as a fragile scribe-trained cadet and is now one of its most powerful riders. She is bonded to two dragons, Tairn and Andarna, and wields lightning through her bond with Tairn. Her signets are covered in detail in Part 2.
Xaden Riorson is the Duke of Tyrrendor and a rider bonded to the blue daggertail Sgaeyl. He is known for shadow wielding. His story in this book is tied to the secrets he carries from Iron Flame.
Dain Aetos is Violet’s childhood friend and the son of a senior Navarrian officer. His loyalties have been tested repeatedly, and this book puts him under pressure again.
Mira Sorrengail is Violet’s older sister and a rider. Her signet extends the Aretian wards, which makes her strategically important.
Brennan Sorrengail is Violet’s older brother. A skilled mender, he is protective of both sisters.
Rhiannon Matthias is Violet’s best friend and a squad leader with a summoning signet. She is steady, practical and fiercely loyal.
Ridoc Gamlyn and Sawyer Henrick are Violet’s friends and squadmates. Ridoc brings humor and an ice-wielding signet. Sawyer is a metallurgist, which matters as the war escalates.
Imogen Cardulo is a third-year rider bonded to Glane. She is harsh, capable and deeply protective of the people she trusts.
Aaric Graycastle (spelled “Greycastle” in some reference sources) is a rider connected to Navarre’s ruling family. Readers should expect his background to matter politically.
Returning Characters and New Characters
Readers often ask who is actually new in Onyx Storm. The table separates characters established in earlier books from those that reference sources describe as introduced or first prominent in this book. A larger role in book three does not make someone “new.”
| Status | Characters |
|---|---|
| Returning from Fourth Wing and/or Iron Flame | Violet Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson, Dain Aetos, Mira Sorrengail, Brennan Sorrengail, Rhiannon Matthias, Ridoc Gamlyn, Sawyer Henrick, Imogen Cardulo, Garrick Tavis, Bodhi Durran, Jesinia Neilwart, Catriona Cordella, General Melgren, Colonel Aetos, Lilith Sorrengail, Jack Barlowe, Colonel Panchek |
| Reported as introduced or first prominent in Onyx Storm | Theophanie, Maren Zina, Lynx |
The second row follows reference sources such as Wikipedia and reader wikis, which do not all agree on every name. If you notice a name that feels familiar, trust your own memory of the books. Get Complete Fourth wing Characters Guide.
Full Onyx Storm Character List
Violet’s friends and squad
- Rhiannon Matthias: squad leader, summoner.
- Ridoc Gamlyn: rider, ice wielder.
- Sawyer Henrick: rider, metallurgist.
- Jesinia Neilwart: scribe, researcher.
- Maren Zina: gryphon flier and Cat’s close friend.
- Catriona Cordella: Poromish gryphon flier, Xaden’s former betrothed.
Xaden’s circle and the Marked Ones
- Xaden Riorson: Duke of Tyrrendor.
- Imogen Cardulo: third-year rider.
- Garrick Tavis: Xaden’s closest friend.
- Bodhi Durran: Xaden’s cousin.
- Quinn Hollis: Imogen’s close friend.
- Sloane Mairi: younger sister of Liam Mairi, a siphon.
- Lynx: a first-year rider.
Riders and instructors
- Dain Aetos: rider, Violet’s childhood friend.
- Aaric Graycastle: rider linked to the royal family.
- Professor Carr, Professor Kaori and other Basgiath faculty: instructors who teach signets, shields, dragon lore and Battle Brief.
- Felix: a mentor figure who helps Violet with lightning.
Sorrengail family
- Violet Sorrengail
- Mira Sorrengail
- Brennan Sorrengail
- Lilith Sorrengail: Violet’s mother and a general.
- Asher Sorrengail: Violet’s father.
Navarrian royalty and political leaders
- King Tauri: king of Navarre.
- Halden Tauri: the king’s eldest son, first in line to the throne.
- General Melgren: commanding general of Navarre’s forces.
- Colonel Aetos: senior officer and Dain’s father.
Poromish fliers and political figures
- Catriona Cordella and Maren Zina: gryphon fliers.
- Queen Maraya: Poromiel’s queen.
- Viscount Tecarus: a Poromish noble.
Antagonists and venin-related characters
- Theophanie: a dark wielder and a central antagonist.
- Jack Barlowe: an antagonist returning from earlier books.
- Colonel Lyron Panchek: commandant of the Riders Quadrant.
Spoiler-dependent details for several names above, such as changes in loyalty or allegiance, appear only in Part 2.
Onyx Storm Characters and Their Dragons
Short answer: Violet is bonded to Tairn and Andarna, Xaden to Sgaeyl, Rhiannon to Feirge, Sawyer to Sliseag and Imogen to Glane. The table lists confirmed and reported bonds.
Dragons and riders are paired through a bond. A dragon’s name is separate from its rider’s, and the two are not interchangeable in this table. Fliers ride gryphons, not dragons, so they do not appear here.
| Rider | Dragon | Color and tail class |
|---|---|---|
| Violet Sorrengail | Tairn (Tairneanach) | Black morningstartail |
| Violet Sorrengail | Andarna (Andarnaurram) | See Part 2 |
| Xaden Riorson | Sgaeyl | Blue daggertail |
| Rhiannon Matthias | Feirge | Green daggertail |
| Sawyer Henrick | Sliseag | Red swordtail |
| Imogen Cardulo | Glane | Orange daggertail |
| Aaric Graycastle | Molvic | Blue clubtail |
| Ridoc Gamlyn | Aotrom | Brown swordtail † |
| Dain Aetos | Cath | Red swordtail † |
| Garrick Tavis | Chradh | Brown scorpiontail † |
| Bodhi Durran | Cuir | Green † |
| Mira Sorrengail | Teine | Green clubtail † |
| Brennan Sorrengail | Marbh | Orange daggertail † |
| Quinn Hollis | Cruth | Not confirmed † |
| Sloane Mairi | Thoirt | Red daggertail † |
| General Melgren | Codagh | Black swordtail † |
† Reported in a single fan reference. Confirm against your copy of the book before relying on the color or tail class.
Onyx Storm Dragon Types, Colors, and Names
Short answer: Dragons in The Empyrean series are grouped by tail type. The reference sources used for this guide describe these classes: morningstartail, scorpiontail, daggertail, swordtail and clubtail. Color is a descriptor in this guide, and the books should not be read as saying color alone predicts a dragon’s temperament or power.
| Tail class | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|
| Daggertail | A dragon with a dagger-like tail; the class includes Sgaeyl, Feirge and Glane. |
| Swordtail | A dragon with a sword-like tail; the class includes Sliseag. |
| Clubtail | A dragon with a club-shaped tail; the class includes Molvic. |
| Scorpiontail | A scorpion-like tail; reference sources assign this class to a few dragons. |
| Morningstartail | A spiked, mace-like tail; the class Tairn belongs to. |
Dragons versus gryphons: Dragons are bonded to riders who attend the Riders Quadrant. Gryphons are bonded to fliers, who are a separate group with their own training and culture. They are different creatures with different roles.
Name meanings: Many dragon names appear to come from Gaelic words. Reference sources offer translations such as “thunder” for Tairn and “shadow” for Sgaeyl. These are fan-compiled, so this guide does not treat them as authorial confirmation.
Onyx Storm Signets Explained
Short answer: A signet is a magical ability that develops through a rider’s bond with a dragon. Signets vary widely, from wielding natural forces to altering what other people perceive or remember.
Riders usually have one signet. Violet and Xaden are important because the story shows riders with more than one, and the rules around that are a central mystery in the series.
Signets should not be confused with the abilities of venin, who are dark wielders. Venin power is a different kind of magic. It is stolen from the land or from others and does not come from a dragon bond.
Signets established before Onyx Storm
| Character | Signet or ability | Plain-English explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Violet Sorrengail | Lightning wielding | Calls and directs lightning through her bond with Tairn. |
| Xaden Riorson | Shadow wielding | Gathers and shapes shadows that are already present. |
| Brennan Sorrengail | Mending | Heals physical injuries. |
| Mira Sorrengail | Ward extension | Extends the protective Aretian wards. |
| Rhiannon Matthias | Summoning | Pulls objects or people toward her. |
| Ridoc Gamlyn | Ice wielding | Creates and controls ice. |
| Sawyer Henrick | Metallurgy | Manipulates metal. |
| Dain Aetos | Retrocognition | Perceives the past, including memories. |
| General Melgren | Battle foresight | Anticipates how a battle will unfold. |
| Lilith Sorrengail | Storm wielding | Commands weather on a large scale. |
Signet terms vary slightly between sources. Where this guide uses a term that is not used word for word in the books, it says so in the verification checklist.
Onyx Storm Fliers and Gryphons
Short answer: Fliers are Poromiel’s gryphon riders. They are a different military tradition from dragon riders, and they are not described as having signets in the way dragon riders do.
Catriona Cordella and Maren Zina are the main fliers in Onyx Storm. Cat is Xaden’s former betrothed and a political figure with ties to Poromiel’s nobility. Maren is her close friend and joins Violet’s circle. Cat is associated with a gift for heightening other people’s emotions, but sources disagree on whether to call it a signet, so it is best described as an ability. This guide does not name their gryphons, since that detail was not verified.
Marked Ones, Venin, and Other Factions
- Marked Ones: Cadets who are the children of the failed Tyrrendor rebellion. They carry the weight of that history at Basgiath.
- Venin: Dark wielders who drain magic from the land and from other people.
- Wyverns: Dragon-like creatures used as mounts by venin.
- Dark wielders: People who use stolen power. Not every dark wielder is venin in the same way, so the terms are related but not identical.
- Riders Quadrant: The division of Basgiath War College that trains dragon riders.
- Scribes Quadrant: The division that trains scribes, who handle research, records and knowledge.
Deeper details about venin and what happens to specific characters are in Part 2.
Important Locations and Military Terms
- Basgiath War College: Navarre’s military college, where cadets train.
- Aretia: The Marked Ones’ stronghold, protected by wards.
- Tyrrendor: The province whose rebellion shaped the Marked Ones.
- Navarre: The kingdom where most of the story begins.
- Poromiel: A neighboring kingdom, home of the gryphon fliers.
- Senarium: Navarre’s governing council of nobles and officials.
- Battle Brief: A class at Basgiath focused on strategy and tactics.
- Threshing: The ceremony where cadets attempt to bond with dragons.
- Aretian wards: Protective magic around the borders, tied to Mira’s signet.
- Hatching grounds: The place where dragon eggs are kept and hatch.
The Isles are a southern location introduced in this book. They are described in the spoiler layer.
PART 2: SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING
Everything below this line discusses major revelations from Onyx Storm, including second signets, character fates and the book’s ending. If you have not finished the book, stop here and return to Part 1.
Spoiler Signet Table
| Character | Signet or ability | Plain-English explanation | Spoiler status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violet Sorrengail | Dream-walking (second signet) | Enters other people’s dreams. A form of inntinnsic. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
| Xaden Riorson | Inntinnsic (reads intentions) | Senses what someone intends to do. | Iron Flame spoiler |
| Garrick Tavis | Distance wielding (second signet) | Travels long distances very quickly. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
| Aaric Graycastle | Precognition | Sees events before they happen. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
| Bodhi Durran | Counter-signets | Counters other riders’ signets. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
| Imogen Cardulo | Memory erasing | Wipes recent memories. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
| Quinn Hollis | Astral projection | Projects consciousness outside the body. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
| Sloane Mairi | Siphoning | Draws power from a source. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
| Lynx | Shadow wielding | Wields shadows. | Onyx Storm spoiler |
What Is Violet Sorrengail’s Second Signet?
Spoiler warning: The answer to this question is a major Onyx Storm revelation.
Short answer: Violet’s second signet is dream-walking, an inntinnsic ability that lets her enter other people’s dreams.
Onyx Storm confirms this, and it comes through her bond with Andarna, while her lightning comes through Tairn. Rebecca Yarros said before the book’s release that Violet’s second signet had already manifested in Iron Flame, so earlier dreams in the series are now read differently.
Inntinnsic abilities are the one category of signet that riders are executed for having, which is why Xaden tells Violet to keep this secret.
What is not settled: The book shows only a small part of what dream-walking can do. How precisely she can choose a target, how much she can change inside a dream, and whether dreamers can resist her are not fully answered. Yarros has said Violet has accessed only a fraction of its potential, so any claim about its limits is interpretation.
What Are Xaden Riorson’s Signets?
Short answer: Xaden has two abilities: shadow wielding and an inntinnsic ability to read intentions.
Shadow wielding is his well-known signet. He works with shadows that already exist rather than creating them from nothing. The inntinnsic ability is separate. Iron Flame revealed it, and it is dangerous because of how riders treat inntinnsics.
Do not confuse these with venin power. Xaden’s change in Onyx Storm involves venin, which is a different kind of magic and not a third signet. See the verification checklist for how this guide handles that distinction.
Other Important Signets
- Garrick Tavis: Reveals a second signet, distance wielding.
- Aaric Graycastle: Has precognition and has kept it hidden.
- Bodhi Durran: Counters other people’s signets.
- Imogen Cardulo: Erases recent memories. Some readers theorize she has a second signet, but that is speculation.
- Theophanie: Described as a storm wielder, but her power is venin power and not a signet.
Not every ability listed by fan sites is explicitly confirmed in the books, so treat additional entries elsewhere with caution.
Andarna and Irid Dragons
Andarna is an irid (iridescent) dragon. Onyx Storm ties irid dragons to the possibility of a rider receiving two signets, and it is Andarna through whom Violet’s second signet comes. Reference sources disagree on how to describe her tail class, so this guide does not assign one.
Gods and Goddesses in the Empyrean Series
The books establish a pantheon. Domains below come from a reader-compiled reference and should be confirmed against the text.
| Deity | Domain | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Malek | Death | Widely referenced across the series. |
| Dunne | War | Violet is tied to Dunne in this book. |
| Zihnal | Luck | Referenced in connection with gifts. |
| Hedeon | Wisdom | First introduced in Onyx Storm. |
| Loial | Love | Domain reported in a single reference. |
| Amari | Described as a goddess of the gods | Reported in a single reference. |
This guide does not speculate about relationships between the gods or what they can do. Fan theories exist, but they are interpretation.
Major Status Changes
- Xaden undergoes a venin transformation, which drives much of the book.
- Theophanie is defeated by Violet.
- Quinn Hollis is the most significant character death reported by guides covering the ending.
The book also leaves several characters unaccounted for. Because this is where readers differ most, check the ending-specific article rather than relying on this summary.
OPTIONAL SECTION
Onyx Storm Spicy Chapters and Trigger Warnings
Short answer: Onyx Storm is an adult fantasy romance with open-door scenes. Reviewers commonly rate it around 3 out of 5 for spice, and the scenes sit in a limited number of the book’s 66 chapters.
This section is separate from the character guide. For chapter-by-chapter detail, see [ Onyx Storm spicy chapters article].
Content warnings: The book is marked with warnings for intense violence, gore, death, grief, graphic language and sexual content. Check the content note in your own edition. No list can capture every reader’s sensitivities.
FAQs Onyx Storm characters
Who are the main characters in Onyx Storm?
Violet Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson, Dain Aetos, Mira Sorrengail, Brennan Sorrengail, Rhiannon Matthias, Ridoc Gamlyn, Sawyer Henrick, Imogen Cardulo and Aaric Graycastle, plus gryphon fliers and political figures.
What is the best spoiler-free Onyx Storm character guide?
Part 1 of this page is built for that purpose. It assumes you have read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.
Who is Violet Sorrengail bonded to?
Tairn and Andarna.
What is Violet’s second signet?
Dream-walking, an inntinnsic ability. Spoiler details are in Part 2.
What are Xaden Riorson’s signets?
Shadow wielding and an inntinnsic ability to read intentions.
What dragon does Xaden ride?
Sgaeyl, a blue daggertail.
Who is Tairn bonded to?
Violet Sorrengail.
What kind of dragon is Andarna?
Andarna is an irid dragon. See Part 2.
Who is bonded to which dragon in Onyx Storm?
See the rider and dragon table.
Who are the Marked Ones?
Cadets who are the children of the failed Tyrrendor rebellion.
What are the gods in Onyx Storm?
The series references Malek, Dunne, Zihnal and others. See Part 2.
What are the trigger warnings for Onyx Storm?
Violence, gore, death, grief, graphic language and sexual content.
What chapters in Onyx Storm are spicy?
A limited number of the 66 chapters. See the dedicated spicy chapters article.
How many chapters does Onyx Storm have?
66 chapters, according to reader guides. Confirm in your own edition.
Is Onyx Storm appropriate for teens?
It is published as an adult novel with graphic violence and explicit sexual content, and some reviewers recommend 18+. Parents and teens should weigh that themselves.
How many pages is Onyx Storm?
The standard hardcover is listed at 544 pages. Counts vary by edition and format.
Hi, I’m Nisbah – a blogger with over 2 years of experience creating content and a fantasy enthusiast who loves exploring magical worlds, fantasy books, captivating stories, and unforgettable characters. I share book recommendations, reviews, fantasy insights, and story discussions and creating guides to help readers discover their next great adventure.
