I Really Wish Fourth Wing Did A Better Job Setting Up Dain’s Redemption Arc

The Empyrean series is building to a redemption arc for Dain Aetos, but I wish Fourth Wing did a better job of setting this up. Dain is introduced early in Fourth Wing, and Rebecca Yarros establishes that he and Violet have been close friends for years. Dain joins the Riders Quadrant earlier than Violet, and the experience changes him — and not necessarily for the better. Violet spends much of the first Empyrean book grappling with the new dynamics of their relationship. As Fourth Wing continues, their bond deteriorates until he betrays her at the very end.

Dain and Violet’s relationship remains tense throughout Iron Flame, but the second installment suggests that Violet’s childhood friend will get the chance to redeem himself. I fully expect Onyx Storm and other Empyrean sequels to dig deeper into Dain’s character, challenging him to become a better person. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I do wish Fourth Wing laid a more solid foundation for Dain’s redemption. As it stands, I think that Yarros will struggle to win readers over.

How Iron Flame Set The Stage For Dain’s Redemption Arc In Later Empyrean Books

Dain Realizes What Violet’s Been Through & Helps Her

Violet is rightfully angry at Dain when Iron Flame opens, but it becomes increasingly clear that he isn’t privy to what happened at Resson — even if he’s still in the wrong for looking at Violet’s memories. With this knowledge, Iron Flame reiterates something Yarros tries to get across in Fourth Wing: that Dain’s intentions are good, even if his actions aren’t always up to par. And from the moment I realized Dain didn’t know the extent of his betrayal, I knew that The Empyrean was building to a redemption storyline for his character.

Iron Flame confirms this, as it sees him turning on his father and joining the rebellion. When Major Varrish tortures Violet in the Fourth Wing sequel, she shows Dain what really happened during the War Games. Realizing what his father has done, Dain turns on Varrish and helps Violet get free. It’s a big turning point for his character, and it promises more redeeming moments from him in Onyx Storm. Unfortunately, it’s still hard to get on board with a redemption arc for Dain. I wish Fourth Wing gave readers more reasons to root for him prior to his betrayal.

I Wish Fourth Wing’s Portrayal Of Dain Did A Better Job Setting Up His Redemption

The First Empyrean Book Makes Dain Really Unlikable

It’s great that Dain comes to his senses in Iron Flame, but I still dislike him after everything he does in Fourth Wing. It isn’t just the betrayal of Violet’s trust that makes him so hard to appreciate, though that’s a huge reason he’s difficult to redeem. It’s also the fact that Dain spends so much of Fourth Wing doubting Violet’s abilities and questioning everything she goes through. He doesn’t even stand by her when Amber Mavis tries to have her killed, and he barely shows any remorse for all the things he gets wrong.

Fourth Wing does very little to establish why Violet and Dain are even friends, and his treatment of her doesn’t solidify their bond. So, while Violet may feel like Dain is a different person throughout the book, readers merely know him as a character who puts his own interests and ambitions ahead of the people he cares about. He doesn’t seem like a good friend or partner, and his actions in Iron Flame don’t do enough to make up for this. I think if readers saw more of the Dain that Violet knows and loves, they’d be willing to forgive him.

How The Empyrean Series Can Still Sell Readers On Dain’s Story

Rebecca Yarros Needs To Show Us Why Dain Is Worth Redeeming

Onyx Storm is fighting an uphill battle when it comes to selling readers on Dain’s character, and it seems like Violet has a ways to go before she forgives him as well. Of course, there is still hope of making Dain’s redemption work in future Empyrean novels. For one, Onyx Storm and its sequels can show us why Dain is worth redeeming by depicting the side of him Violet knew before Basgiath. It would be helpful to see flashbacks of them as children, as this would better establish their bond and why it might be worth salvaging.

More redeeming moments from Dain will have a similar effect. And Dain needs to properly apologize to Violet for all the ways he’s wronged her and prove that he’s changed through his actions. This doesn’t guarantee that Violet will forgive him, but it will help him come back from Fourth Wing. Dain has a lot of work to do to get readers on his side. I hope he’s up for the challenge.