Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Spoiler Free)

Onyx Storm

by Rebecca Yarros

Published by Red Tower Books

Book 3 in the Empyrean Series

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.

Genre

#FantasyRomance

Triggers

Violence, Death, Murder, War, Poisoning, Animal Death, Injury Rehabilitation, Grief

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Onyx Storm was a wild ride.

We get questions we've had answered, popular theories confirmed and axed, and a million more questions added to think about till the next book.

I want to talk about those things.

I will.

In my next review. :) There I will dump all my thoughts and theories on everything in the book. So if you haven't finished Onyx Storm, this is a safe spot.

I won't ruin it for you.

My next post will, though, so when you do finish Onyx Storm, find your way to that post.

So far, the overall consensus of Onyx Storm is it being the best in the series to date. While I hummed and hawed over it, I actually agree.

Whereas Fourth Wing will always be amazing, it's a close second to Onyx Storm.

The writing was superb. The overall arc of Onyx Storm was perfectly executed. Rebecca is able to fully immerse the reader into this fantasy world. As I was reading, I was able to forget the real world for a bit, and walk the halls of Basgiath, ride Tairn through the skies, and explore unvisited parts of the world.

The world building alone was delicious. The differences between the Continent and the isles, and the people and cultures was so much fun. I never felt like the plot dragged, like it did a bit in Iron Flame. I was completely engrossed in this story.

Whereas in Iron Flame, I was left frustrated with Violet for feeling perfectly valid feelings (they were just getting in the way of the story), that was gone. Not only was a immersed in the story, but I was invested in the characters and what they were feeling.

I smiled and laughed.

My chest hurt when I was tense.

I cried.

In public. On my way to work, no less.

Rebecca put us through it this book, and when it all came together, it became an amazing book.

One of Rebecca's strengths as a writer are her characters. She admits that she is more of the character driven writer, and while the Empyrean series has a very rich, cultured world, the characters are what make this series shine. Love them or hate them, Rebecca makes these fictional characters come alive on the page. Each and every character's arcs throughout the book, and series to date, has been wonderfully done, but the best one is our main girl Violet.

I love everything about this series, but I especially love reading Violet's massive growth over the last three books.

I can't end the review without mentioning the romance. This is what I do here, after all. Despite where we leave off in Iron Flame, and the uncertainty we are left with, Onyx Storm is the most romantic book of the series to date. Violet and Xaden's love for one another is a highlight of Onyx Storm, and is written so beautifully, it hurts.

I'm usually a purist, and love the first books in series the most, but Rebecca blew me away with Onyx Storm. It's written so beautifully, is action packed, and so immersive, Onyx Storm somehow became my favorite book in the series.

I can't wait to tell you all my thoughts and theories in the next post!

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My favorite quotes will be on my next post, along with spoilers and theories! See you there!

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#alpha #armedforces #badass #badboy #chosenfamily #forbiddenlove #grieving #touchheranddie #trauma