Onyx Storm

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Violet’s bond with Andarna is unexpectedly severed when Andarna chooses to leave, breaking a connection that had been central to Violet’s identity and power. Have you ever lost something or someone you cared deeply about? How did this loss shape you, and do you think Violet’s grief over losing Andarna is given enough weight in the novel?

2. Violet refuses to give up on Xaden, even when everyone around her, including their dragons—believes he is beyond saving. Have you ever been in a situation where you held onto hope for someone when others told you to let go? How did that experience shape your perspective on loyalty and love?

3. The characters in The Empyrean series are often put in difficult situations where they must risk treason to do what’s right. Violet alters the wardstones for the sake of the fliers even when told not to. Have you ever faced a choice between following the rules and doing what you believed was right? How did you handle it, and do you think Violet is making the right decisions?

4. Throughout Onyx Storm, leadership is portrayed as a responsibility that requires difficult, often unpopular decisions. How do you think Violet’s approach to leadership compares to leaders in our own society? Have you ever had to step up as a leader in a challenging situation?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Onyx Storm highlights the consequences of misinformation and secrecy, particularly in how past leadership hid the truth about venin, irids, and the wards. In what ways does this reflect real-world issues surrounding the control of knowledge and historical narratives? Can you think of instances where governments or institutions have hidden critical information from the public?

2. The novel explores shifting power dynamics as Violet and her generation challenge the outdated ideologies of those who came before them. How does this tension between tradition and progress compare to real-world movements for social and political change? Do you think Violet’s approach to leadership—prioritizing new alliances over historical rivalries—is a realistic way to create lasting change?

3. Navarre practices very isolationist policies that mirror real-world ideologies that prioritize self-preservation over cooperation for the greater good. Do you think the novel critiques this kind of thinking? How do you see similar debates about national security, immigration, or foreign policy playing out in today’s world?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel is told only from Violet’s point-of-view until the final few chapters where it alternates with others such as Rhiannon, Imogen, and Xaden. How does this narrative choice affect your understanding of the characters and the unfolding conflict? Do you think the alternating viewpoints add to or detract from the action and tension of the story?

2. What do you think about Xaden’s transformation throughout the novel? What are some inherent flaws he possesses that make him more prone to turning venin? Consider where his character started and ended over the course of the novel. Do you believe he is beyond redemption?

3. The novel explores many new settings as Violet’s squad travels the isles. Each territory has a distinct cultural and political structure. How do these locations contribute to the series’ themes of division versus unity and peace versus violence? Which setting did you find most compelling and why?

4. One of the novel’s major themes is the struggle between love and logic. Xaden and Violet’s relationship is both their greatest strength and their greatest weakness. It provides Xaden a lifeline to hold onto when he loses control, but keeping Violet safe is what prompts him to lose control in the end regardless. How does the book explore the balance between love and logic? Do you think the depiction of this phenomenon was

5. The Blade of Aretia, which belongs to Xaden, is reintroduced to the story at King Courtlyn’s palace where Halden attempts to barter with it. Xaden offers his blade in exchange for a deal with Courtlyn, much to Violet’s dismay. Soon after, he loses control when Courtlyn sets his guards on killing them and Xaden channels to dispatch them. What does Xaden’s willingness to sacrifice that important blade symbolize, especially paired with his decision to dark wield directly after?