Book Review: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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Did I have fun reading Onyx Storm? Yes. Am I about to spend several paragraphs being honest about it anyway? Also yes. That’s the deal on this blog.

The spoiler-free setup: after the events of Iron Flame, Violet’s world has gotten much bigger than one war college — book three sends the story beyond borders, into new territories and alliances, while the clock on the larger war keeps ticking. Scope-wise it’s the most ambitious Empyrean book yet.

What I Loved About Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

There’s a lot to love. When this book locks into an action sequence or a dragon moment, it absolutely cooks — Yarros’ gift for momentum hasn’t gone anywhere, and a few chapters in the back half had me reading standing up in my kitchen. The bond-and-banter core that made Fourth Wing sing still glows whenever the book slows down enough to let it.

What I Didn’t Love About Onyx Storm

It’s messy. The first third leans on awkward exposition and left me genuinely confused more than once; the island trials manage to feel rushed and overlong at the same time; and the late split into multiple POVs diluted the exact character focus this series runs on. The ending also read as predictable to me — a double beat of Iron Flame’s — and I say that with love, as someone who was clearly always going to read book four. The randomness of the plotting is the real villain of this installment.

Final Thoughts on Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

My final score: 3 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice rating: 3 out of 5 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Do I recommend this book? 🤷 For committed Empyrean readers, yes — newcomers should start with Fourth Wing.

Fun, flawed, and very much a middle-of-the-saga book. Start with my Fourth Wing review if you’re Empyrean-curious, and browse everything I’ve rated at book reviews.

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