Onyx Storm

After finishing Iron Flame, I went into Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros hoping to finally get some answers. I did get a few, but apparently I wasn’t asking nearly enough questions because I finished this book with an entirely new collection of them. I really enjoyed where Rebecca took the story, especially with the expanded world-building, Violet’s continued growth, and everything we’re learning about the dragons. There was a lot happening, and although I had a few frustrations along the way, I was invested in finding out where it would all lead.

One of the things I’ve appreciated throughout this series is that Violet’s intelligence continues to be just as important as her abilities as a dragon rider. She’s carrying far more responsibility now, and I liked seeing how much she’s grown since Fourth Wing. She still relies on the knowledge she gained while training to become a scribe, and that background becomes especially valuable when she’s researching, negotiating, questioning what she’s been told, and trying to make sense of information that doesn’t always add up. I love that becoming a powerful rider hasn’t suddenly made her someone who solves every problem by throwing more power at it. She’s still Violet, and her ability to think things through is one of the reasons I enjoy her character so much.

I also enjoyed Violet and Xaden’s relationship more in this book than I did through certain parts of Iron Flame. Their chemistry is still there, but I appreciated that we weren’t spending nearly as much time going around in circles with the same arguments about honesty and trust. Their relationship feels more emotionally complicated now, and the circumstances they’re dealing with bring a different kind of tension to their story. Xaden’s situation raises some interesting questions about love, loyalty, and the choices people make when they’re afraid of losing someone. There’s plenty I could say about that part of the book, but I’m not going to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it.

The friendships and relationships between the other characters also continue to be an important part of the series for me. I enjoy that Violet has people around her who bring different strengths, personalities, and perspectives to the story. There’s a lot of loyalty within this group, but there are also difficult decisions and circumstances that test those connections. I appreciated that the larger conflicts didn’t completely overshadow the friendships and found-family dynamic that helped make me care about these characters in the first place.

Of course, the dragons are still among my favorite parts of the entire series. Tairn continues to entertain me with his personality and attitude, and I always enjoy his interactions with Violet. Andarna, however, was one of the characters I was most interested in learning more about this time around. I’ve been curious about her since Fourth Wing, and I loved getting more information about her history and what makes her different. The more Rebecca reveals about the dragons, the more convinced I become that these creatures have been keeping an awful lot of important information to themselves. I love their personalities, but I would really appreciate it if they would occasionally share a few more of their secrets.

Another thing I really enjoyed was finally getting to explore more of the world beyond Navarre and Aretia. The previous books established a fascinating world, but Onyx Storm gives us a much broader look at the places, cultures, histories, and political relationships that exist outside the areas we’ve become familiar with. I liked seeing how different groups approach their responsibilities and alliances, particularly when their priorities don’t necessarily line up with Violet’s. It made the world feel larger and more complicated, and I appreciated that there was more to discover than what we’d already learned at Basgiath.

The political intrigue and the search for information were especially interesting to me because they gave Violet opportunities to use her intelligence in ways that went beyond training and combat. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the characters and the decisions they have to make, and I enjoyed trying to piece together what information could be trusted. I also liked that the story continued exploring the history of the dragons and the larger conflicts affecting their world rather than focusing entirely on the romance.

However, the expanded world-building was also part of what kept this from being a five-star read for me. There is a tremendous amount of information packed into Onyx Storm, including new locations, characters, political relationships, histories, and discoveries. I was never bored, but there were times when I felt like we were moving on to something new before I’d had a chance to fully absorb what we’d just learned. I enjoy complicated fantasy worlds, especially when there are mysteries to unravel, but I would have liked some of the bigger developments to have a little more room to breathe.

I also found myself getting frustrated with how many questions were still hanging over the story. I understand that this is an ongoing series and that Rebecca isn’t going to reveal everything in the third book. I certainly wouldn’t expect her to. However, after spending three books becoming increasingly invested in the mysteries surrounding Navarre, the dragons, and the characters, I was hoping to walk away with a few more answers than I did. There were some satisfying discoveries, but it sometimes felt like every answer came with several new questions attached.

As for the spice, I’m giving this one three out of five peppers. There’s still plenty of attraction and sexual tension between Violet and Xaden, along with explicit intimate scenes, but the romance shares the spotlight with the larger fantasy storyline. I appreciated that their relationship had more emotional depth this time around, particularly because the circumstances they’re facing make their connection more complicated than simple romantic disagreements. The balance between romance, action, and world-building worked well for me overall.

I experienced Onyx Storm in both eBook and dramatized audiobook formats, and I enjoyed having both available. Reading the eBook allowed me to take my time with the more complicated parts of the story, especially when new information about the world, its history, and the different political alliances was introduced. With so much happening, I appreciated being able to go back and reread certain sections when I wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed something.

The dramatized audiobook brought a different kind of enjoyment to the experience. I really love the full-cast performances and how much personality the different voices give the characters. The sound effects and background audio add to the atmosphere, particularly during the scenes involving dragons, battles, and other action sequences. I especially enjoy hearing Tairn and Andarna brought to life because their personalities come through so well in this format. The dramatization makes the world feel more immersive, and I think it works particularly well for a fantasy series with so much action and supernatural activity.

I personally enjoy switching between the eBook and dramatized adaptation because each offers something different. The eBook makes it easier for me to follow the details and keep track of the more complicated parts of the story, while the audiobook adds another level of atmosphere and emotion. I’ve really enjoyed experiencing the Empyrean series this way and plan to continue with both formats.

And then there’s that ending. I obviously won’t spoil anything, but I genuinely went back a few chapters because I thought I must have missed something important. I hadn’t. I was apparently supposed to finish the book sitting there wondering what the hell had just happened. Naturally, I immediately went looking for information about Book 4 because surely Rebecca Yarros wasn’t going to leave us with that many unanswered questions.

Unfortunately, there’s still no confirmed release date for the fourth book, which means I’m going to have to sit here and wait to find out what happens next. I’m not particularly thrilled about that, especially after spending three books becoming attached to these characters and their dragons. I understand that a story this involved takes time to write, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy the waiting part.

My Verdict: Would I Recommend Onyx Storm?

Absolutely! If you’ve enjoyed Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, I definitely recommend continuing with Onyx Storm. There’s more to discover about the dragons, new places to explore, political intrigue, complicated relationships, and plenty of mystery surrounding the larger story. I especially recommend it to readers who enjoy detailed fantasy worlds where the characters have to rely on their intelligence and relationships just as much as their magical abilities.

I also recommend both the eBook and dramatized audiobook. The eBook is particularly helpful for keeping track of the world-building and new information, while the dramatized adaptation makes the characters, dragons, and action sequences feel much more immersive. I’ve enjoyed both formats throughout this series, and I think they complement each other really well.

For me, Onyx Storm was a strong four-star read. I loved Violet’s continued growth, enjoyed her relationship with Xaden more this time around, and especially appreciated learning more about Andarna and the dragons. The expanded world-building was fascinating, but there were moments when the amount of information felt crowded, and I would have liked a few more answers before being handed another collection of mysteries. Even with those frustrations, I was completely invested in the story and am looking forward to the next book. I just hope Rebecca answers a few more of my freakin’ questions before giving me twenty new ones.

⭐ 4/5 Stars | 🌶️ 3/5 Spice

-SASSY