Full of action, dragons, and more secrets than we knew what to do with, “Onyx Storm” is the third book in the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. It was released on January 21st, following “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame.”
The series overall is amazing, and with each book it’s just getting better. The book length was on the long side, with 544 pages in the hardcover edition. Fourth Wing had 528 pages, and Iron Flame had 640 pages.
Contains spoilers for the entire series
“Fourth Wing” began Violet Sorrengail’s journey to become a dragon rider at Basgiath War College. She was forced to navigate through brutal trials, ruthless regimes, and a forbidden attraction to Xaden Riorson. His father led a rebellion and lost against Navarre. Xaden is then responsible for all children of the rebellion’s leaders, and they must attend the Riders Quadrant. While Violet is physically weak, she bonds with the ancient black dragon Tairn, and the young, golden, feather tail Andarna.
In the sequel, “Iron Flame,” it begins with Violet having discovered that the existence of venin – dark spellcasters – was being concealed by the kingdom, and that her brother, Bennan, is alive, and a part of the resistance. Violet eventually joins the rebellion, simultaneously trying to rebuild trust with Xaden, raising defensive wards, and finding a way to combat the venin. All while the truth of Navarre is coming to light, and the escalating threat of venin forces them to return to Basgiath for the final devastating battle against the venin and wyverns.
Violet’s growth from “Iron Flame” to Onyx Storm” was amazing and hers and Xaden’s relationship was incredible, but the repetition of her feelings got a little bit annoying after a while. Given that this is a five story slow burn, Yarros turned up the heat quickly in “Fourth Wing,” then let it simmer in “Iron Flame,” and now it’s boiling. Both “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame” were incredibly well written and their plots were amazing, which set up “Onyx Storm” wonderfully.
While the book is a must for many, know that this book is not the best for those with a queasy stomach. There is a lot of death, war, blood, intense violence, brutal injuries, poisoning, graphic language, and spice.
Xaden and Violet’s communication was far better than what it was in the past, but it wasn’t as good as it could have been. The secrets that they kept from each other were not the healthiest, but they did learn how to communicate better with less secrets. We also go to see a different side of Xaden. He wasn’t putting on the hard, harsh persona that he normally wore. He let the softer, nicer side show through more often. While he was a little possessive at times, it wasn’t in the “I will control you,” but rather an “I want to be with you forever” way.
The change of perspective at the end just helped to convey how chaotic the ending really was. Earlier we had never gotten to see the world through the other’s eyes, and hear their thoughts and then we got to. The changing timeline and details just helped show the wild and uncontrolled it was at times. The story would be in one perspective for a few hours, then it would change perspective and it would be at the beginning of the previous perspective.
The ending was so heart wrenching and horrible. Their sudden marriage, and no memory of it. Then Xaden disappeared. What is Violet going to do in the next book? Everyone essentially knows why he likely disappeared. He fully transformed into a venin. To protect Violet and the rest of his friends and loved ones, he left. Then he left Violet with a cryptic message, “Don’t look for me. It’s yours now.”
He fully turned into a venin after channeling from the Earth during the battle. He needed more power and he couldn’t resist drawing power from the Earth. So he left either to protect everyone or because his new master called him.
I think that this was so far the best book of The Empyrean Series, and will recommend “Onyx Storm” to others. While there were some things that could have been improved, it was still amazingly written with an incredible plot. In the next book, we should be getting more about where Xaden is now, and how Violet is going to go about her life now.
