Review: Onyx Storm.

 

Title: Onyx Storm

Series: The Empyrean series

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Release Date: January 21, 2025

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.

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So I preordered Onyx Storm back in March 2024 because I love these books & it was a late bday present this year (my birthday is January 3rd). But between barely getting by week to week, & between the stress of the holidays & planning my daughter's bday & husband's trip for a pool tournamant I stresses about us having to cancel the book. 

I am sooo glad we were able to pull it off - but this week was was a bit hectic & it took me longer to read the book than it normally would have. But I stayed up last night to finish the last couple hundred or so pages. After spending the day baking for daughter's party & having her bday party today - seriously who lets me make adult decisions?! (So if this doesn't make sense, it's all bc of lack of sleep 😂😂) 

So I reread Fourth Wing & Iron Flame this month in preparation for Onyx Storm. And with how IF ended I was more than ready for answers. I loved being back in the world & reading more of these characters again. 

In the middle of the war - Violet is left trying to find answers. She is trying to find info on Andarna's kind, trying to figure out how to defeat the Venin, and trying to find a cure. But Violet won't be able to save everyone & doesn't know who to trust. 

Onyx Storm started off a bit slow - with how Iron Flame ended I figured we would jump right into it. But it would be like it was building to something but then plateau off with information, new characters and war talk. It was a few chapters or so before it started to pick up. 

We got to see more of the world, more of some of the characters and of course more of the dragons. We had some questions answered but besides some questions left unanswered, we had new questions pop up. 

Some parts made me giddy, and squeal in joy. Some made me scream out WTF?! Some made me curse the author, & some left me grieving. This book was a behemoth - not only in size but info. It was a feat to get through, and I'm sure I missed stuff along the way (definitely will have to reread it at some point), It did feel a little lacking or drawn out at times. And the ending had me reeling a bit. But over all I loved it. I love the world and dragons and characters. 

4⭐ out of 5⭐

2🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Yarros is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over twenty novels including Fourth Wing and In the Likely Event, with multiple starred Publishers Weekly reviews and a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. She loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years.

She’s the mother of six children, and is currently surviving the teenage years with two of her four hockey-playing sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her at the hockey rink or sneaking in some guitar time while guzzling coffee. She and her family live in Colorado with their stubborn English bulldogs, two feisty chinchillas, and a Maine Coon cat named Artemis, who rules them all.

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