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One Fourth Wing Character Is So Horrible In Onyx Storm, I'll Actually Be Disappointed If They're A Venin

Published

4 days ago

3rd April 2025

Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm introduced a multitude of villainous characters, including the silver-haired venin Theophanie, and even Halden to an extent — but Dain’s father, Colonel Aetos, has quickly become one of the most-hated villains of the entire series. His character proves himself to be corrupt at the end of Fourth Wing when he sends Violet, Xaden, and several others across the wards to meet their deaths — and while he’s somewhat behind the scenes in Iron Flame, it isn’t until Onyx Storm that his truly evil nature is revealed.

Not only does Colonel Aetos disown his only son in Onyx Storm, but he does everything in his power as the newly appointed General of Navarre to make life as difficult as possible for Violet and her friends. His character has transformed greatly from Fourth Wing to Onyx Storm, and due to this, many fans believe he will be one of the many characters in Basgiath’s leadership to be revealed as venin — which I believe would be a mistake on Yarros’ part.

Colonel Aetos Is So Horrible, It Will Be Disappointing If He’s Actually A Venin

His Story Is More Interesting As A Human

The covers of Onyx Storm, Fourth Wing, and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros against a blue background with red flames — Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

After reading Onyx Storm, many are assuming that Colonel Aetos will be revealed to be venin, but I really hope this isn’t the case. Colonel Aetos’ quick dismissal of Dain, and the fact that he has zero redeeming qualities, might be why so many readers assume this will come to pass. However, at this point, this type of plot twist would be almost too predictable. Instead, Aetos’ villain arc would actually have a greater impact, and be more surprising overall, if he was just a bad person in general.

Onyx Storm and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Almost 2 Years Later, Onyx Storm Has Made Fourth Wing’s Worst Character Even More Unbearable

Fourth Wing’s worst character is obvious after the book’s ending, and Onyx Storm manages to make him even more insufferable this time around.

Yarros has already revealed the venin have infiltrated the ranks in Basgiath, as seen with Panchek at the end of Onyx Storm. While it’s clear they will be the ultimate villains of the series, the narrative can, and should, still use its human characters to create conflict. Instead of revealing every villain-esque character that enters the narrative to be venin, it would be more entertaining to see how their potential infiltration and corruption of Basgiath has influenced and led others astray — like Colonel Aetos.

Colonel Aetos’ Onyx Storm Story Is Actually More Interesting If He’s Still Human

Humans May Have The Capacity To Be Just As Evil

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros on a smoky background with red veins — Custom Image by Kiersten Hall

While the Empyrean Series has made it a point to highlight the venin and their evil disposition from the start, an argument could be made that humans have the capacity to be just as evil, but only if Yarros refrains from revealing Aetos to be venin. Instead of limiting the narrative to be simply a venin versus human storyline, Aetos’ humanity would help set up the divide between characters who are prone to evil versus characters who aren’t. After all, Xaden seems to be proof there’s a spectrum, given he is far from considered an evil character regardless of turning venin.

Aetos’ humanity would help set up the divide between characters who are prone to evil versus characters who aren’t.

Keeping Colonel Aetos human helps to strengthen the idea that the venin aren’t the only ones who can become corrupted, and it’s clear from his actions how heartless and twisted he is as a person alone. Like Xaden, not everyone who turns venin does so for nefarious purposes — and if there can be venin who fight to do the right thing and hold onto their humanity, there can most definitely be humans who are evil in nature. I think this adds so much more complexity to the storyline and would keep villain-type characters from becoming too monotonous in subsequent books.

Dain’s Onyx Storm Story Is Way More Tragic If His Father Hasn’t Turned

Revealing His Character As Venin Gives Him An “Excuse” For His Actions

Onyx Storm posed to the side and a colorful background that looks reflective — Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

Dain and Colonel Aetos’ dynamics in Onyx Storm are very different from what they were in the first Empyrean Series novel. Where the two were close in Fourth Wing, it’s clear that has drastically changed after Dain joined the revolution in Aretia. Colonel Aetos practically disowns Dain when he returns at the beginning of Onyx Storm and their relationship doesn’t get any better throughout — but if the change in their relationship was merely due to him becoming venin, it would feel like a bit of a cop-out, and provide an unwanted and unnecessary “excuse” for his actions.

“Aetos’ head swivels toward Dain, and his mouth twists into a sneer. “I have no son.”

—Colonel Aetos, Onyx Storm

Instead, Dain’s story would be way more tragic and add an interesting element to his own character arc if his father didn’t turn venin. Their failed relationship and opposing world views hold more weight when realizing Dain’s father really is just evil in nature, and would add a more intriguing dynamic to their relationship going forward in a future Fourth Wing book — especially as Onyx Storm suggested Dain has really never known just what his father was capable of.

Why The Empyrean Series Is Probably Setting Up A Venin Reveal For Dain’s Father

At This Point, Aetos’ Venin Reveal Seems Inevitable

The Empyrean Series book covers on sparking fire background — Custom Image by Kiersten Hall

While I’m not on board for another Fourth Wing villain — like Jack Barlowe — to be revealed as venin, I think that’s likely where the narrative is headed based on several of Yarros’ hints throughout the first three books. Yarros is one to plan out storylines several books ahead of their reveal, and Aetos is no different. Not only did Aetos send Xaden, Violet, and the rest of their squad beyond the wards for war games in Fourth Wing, which suggests he knew of the danger the venin posed, but he clearly sent an assassin to kill Violet in Iron Flame.

Colonel Aetos has known Violet her whole life, and while she embarrassed him at the end of Fourth Wing, that doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to have her killed in Iron Flame — unless he knew how great a threat Violet’s power held against the venin. This sentiment is continued throughout Onyx Storm, as he consistently attempts to thwart Violet’s plans. While he could be acting out of spite, there seem to be enough hints that he is in fact venin, which means there might be an Aetos reveal in the next Empyrean Series novel.