If the next book after Onyx Storm reveals that the novel’s worst character is actually a Venin, it would be devastating—it would take away an emotional payoff I’ve been anticipating since Fourth Wing. While Onyx Storm delved deeper into the Venin threat, exposing the complex hierarchy and formidable abilities of Navarre’s enemies through figures like Theophanie, the most startling revelation wasn’t their power—it was how thoroughly they had infiltrated what was thought to be the safety of the wards.
Onyx Storm made it unmistakably clear that the Venin have connections to powerful figures in both Navarre and Basgiath—most notably through Panchek’s betrayal. Despite lacking Venin abilities himself, his treachery was no less shocking to readers. In the aftermath, fans have been eagerly theorizing which characters might secretly be Venin, analyzing every moment and detail for clues about those hiding in plain sight. While the speculation has been entertaining, revealing one particular character as a Venin would come at a cost: it would undermine the emotional resolution I’ve been hoping for—especially when it comes to Colonel Aetos.
Making Colonel Aetos a Venin would rob us of the emotional conflict between him and Dain that the story has been building toward.
Colonel Aetos being a Venin would make narrative sense, especially given his arc in Onyx Storm, but it would also undermine the already limited emotional conflict between him and Dain. Since Fourth Wing, Aetos has consistently acted as a persistent secondary antagonist—particularly after his failed scheme in Athebyne led to his demotion. In Onyx Storm, his new position as head of Basgiath gave him even more power to target Violet, restricting her movements, interfering with her connection to Xaden, and punishing her under the guise of discipline—all in pursuit of personal revenge.
Given his actions, it’s no surprise that the theory of Colonel Aetos being a Venin has gained traction—especially as his attitude toward Dain begins to shift. It was Aetos’ rigid expectations and harsh rules that drove Dain to betray Violet in Fourth Wing, yet Onyx Storm barely addressed the fallout between father and son, despite several interactions. Whether or not Colonel Aetos is revealed to be a Venin, book four will likely bring that truth to light—and with it, the confrontation that Dain’s arc has desperately needed since the twist ending of the first book.
We’ve been hoping for a confrontation between Dain and his father ever since Fourth Wing ended.
Ever since the ending of Fourth Wing, I’ve been waiting for Dain to confront not only his father, but also the larger system of Navarre—a moment that Onyx Storm, unfortunately, didn’t deliver. Dain’s betrayal of Violet in Fourth Wing was one of the most heartbreaking moments for me. Despite the growing strain between them, I still hoped he would honor at least some part of Violet’s autonomy. That betrayal hurt all the more because it wasn’t born purely of malice, but of Dain’s deep-rooted belief in the only system he had ever known.
Rebecca Yarros herself has addressed this several times, and Onyx Storm touched on Dain’s arc, highlighting his loyalty to the Aretian riders and his chilly relationship with his father. But for me, those brief moments weren’t enough. Dain spent his entire life chasing a singular goal, and discovering it was a lie deserved a far more powerful moment—especially since his father was the key catalyst behind that revelation. If Colonel Aetos is revealed to be Venin, however, that already fragile arc would be completely undermined.
If Dain’s father is already revealed as a Venin, his betrayal doesn’t hit as hard.
If Colonel Aetos is revealed to be a Venin after Onyx Storm, it would weaken the impact of Dain’s struggle to avoid becoming like his father, making Aetos’s cruelty feel more convenient than complex. While this revelation would make sense, it would also be disappointing, as it neatly explains his rage and coldness toward Dain without much nuance. On the other hand, if Colonel Aetos remains human, it opens the door for deeper character complexity and reinforces the series’ more grounded themes of government corruption alongside its typical fantasy elements.
“By making him venin, Colonel Aetos’ derision would become ironic and take away from the fact that Dain is trying to unlearn his habitual obedience to authority, which he got from his father”.
Moreover, keeping Colonel Aetos human would add significant depth to Dain’s arc, as their eventual confrontation would bring Dain’s transformation full circle. Both began with similar ideals, but Dain has since diverged, creating a painful rift between them. If Aetos were made Venin, his derision would become ironically hollow, undermining the fact that Dain is actively trying to unlearn the blind obedience to authority he inherited from his father. That poignant, complex dynamic would be lost, leaving any future possibilities for their relationship after Onyx Storm to crumble to dust.
