As devoted readers of Fourth Wing, there are some uncomfortable truths about the Empyrean series we simply can’t ignore. At first, it’s easy to side with Violet and see things through her perspective. But after the revelations in Iron Flame and Onyx Storm, one thing becomes undeniable — one particular character had her figured out from the very beginning.
The reality is, Navarre’s true nature wasn’t apparent early on. Only with a deeper understanding of the series’ intricate political landscape do certain characters’ choices begin to make sense. In that light, Violet’s mother’s controlling behavior starts to seem far less harsh — and far more calculated — than we originally believed.
It Might Seem Harsh, But General Sorrengail Was Right to Force Violet Into the Riders Quadrant.
When we’re first introduced to Violet in Fourth Wing, she’s a delicate, scholarly teen who has spent her life preparing to follow in her late father’s footsteps as a scribe. But that carefully laid path is abruptly derailed when her commanding mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, forces her into the brutal Dragon Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College instead.
As the most perilous of the four military quadrants, the Riders Quadrant is no place for the unprepared — which made General Sorrengail’s decision to thrust her fragile daughter into it seem both ruthless and reckless. Riders face a deadly initiation just to earn the chance to bond with a dragon, and given Violet’s physical frailty, it seemed almost certain she wouldn’t survive long enough to even try.
However, General Sorrengail’s instincts ultimately proved right. Not only did Violet survive the deadly crossing of the Parapet, but she became the first known rider to bond with two dragons. Time and again throughout the Empyrean series, she defied expectations, proving that the intellect and discipline she inherited from her father were not weaknesses — but powerful assets in the brutal world of dragon riding.
Though General Sorrengail initially came across as harsh and overbearing, her decision to make Violet a rider ultimately gave her daughter the strength and resilience needed to face the harsh truths of Navarre’s war with Poromiel. In hindsight, it’s clear that the general recognized Violet’s potential not just to survive — but to become a catalyst for real change and a key player in the battle against the Venin.
From Scribe to Rider: Fourth Wing Proves Violet Was Born for the Sky
From the moment Violet stepped into Basgiath War College, she was thrust into a world built to crush the weak — and she proved time and again that she was anything but. While she certainly had the intellect to thrive as a Scribe, there was something inherently different about her — something that both dragons, Tairn and Andarna, recognized. And so did her mother, General Sorrengail.
Instead of retreating into the comfort of books, Violet rose to the challenge, transforming into a legendary Rider who refused to be defined by others’ expectations. On first read, it may seem that General Sorrengail simply saw her daughter as someone in desperate need of the Riders Quadrant’s toughness. But as the series unfolds, it becomes clear: she knew the Riders needed Violet.
Through every trial the Empyrean series throws at her, Violet’s strength lies in the rare fusion of a Scribe’s mind and a Rider’s heart. That powerful combination is what set her apart — and what drew Xaden Riorson to her in the first place. In the end, without her mother’s firm hand guiding her down an unexpected path, Violet may never have discovered the full force of her potential — or the love that came with it.
Before She Rode Dragons, Violet Learned How to Rewrite the World
In the world of the Empyrean series, most characters are trapped in black-and-white thinking — confined to rigid roles like Scribe or Rider, as if one can’t be both. But Violet defies that binary. She’s one of the rare individuals who moves seamlessly between both worlds, drawing on the strengths of each. It’s this unique duality that gives her a consistent edge over her enemies and sets her apart from everyone around her.
It becomes clear that Violet’s background in the Scribe Quadrant doesn’t make her a weaker Rider — it makes her a smarter one. While others rely solely on brute strength to battle the Venin, Violet turns to ancient texts, digging into Navarre’s buried history to uncover solutions no one else could imagine. Her intellect becomes her greatest weapon, setting her apart in a world that often undervalues knowledge.
General Sorrengail’s Tough Decision Might Be What Ultimately Saves Navarre
General Sorrengail stands as one of the most polarizing figures in the Empyrean series, yet she is also the catalyst for Violet’s transformation into a powerful Rider. Though she may come across as cold, controlling, and unyielding, her willingness to be viewed as a tyrant by her own daughter ultimately speaks to her deeper nobility.
While she was far from perfect — concealing critical truths not just from Violet but from the entire kingdom of Navarre — General Sorrengail deserves credit for setting her daughter on the path to greatness. With powerful political forces shaping her decisions, her controversial choice to push Violet into the Riders Quadrant may be what ultimately saves Navarre.
Straddling the line between loyalty and quiet rebellion, General Sorrengail appears aligned with Navarre’s corrupt leadership, yet her calculated preparation of Violet to rise against that very system suggests the actions of a covert ally — a double agent of sorts. Though her methods may be morally ambiguous, there’s no denying that her choices have empowered her daughter not only to survive, but to lead.
