Onyx Storm: A review
I have never had a bigger book hang over in my life…
Isabel Butler
Warning: do not read if you have not read Fourth Wing or Iron Flame
Where to find the words?
It’s been 1 week since I finished Onyx Storm, the third instalment of Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series. I’ve not stopped thinking about it once.
Last Summer, I read the ever famous ACOTAR series, by Sarah J Mass, a fantasy queen. The series took over my life, with anything and everything being set aside so I could immerse myself in the fantasy world with the characters, and forget reality.
I raved about the series to everyone, and even got some of my friends on the bandwagon too. So imagine the shock on their faces when I announced a different series had taken first place on my favourites list.
Though the two series are entirely different, and not comparable, I couldn’t believe I had found a story that beat the love I felt for Rhys, Feyre and Prythian. But, I did. Enter Xaden and Violet.
Onyx Storm is the third book of a fantasy series by Rebecca Yarros, and thanks to BookTok (TikTok’s book community) people went mad for its release, needing to know what happens next.
If there’s one thing Rebecca is the best at, it’s unhappy endings and twists that have you audibly gasping.
Through the three books, Yarros has created characters that readers have deep connections to, it’s almost as if we know them. Their past trauma, current relationships and political issues all contribute to this strangely intense bond we share with them.
To put it into perspective, I have never cried at a book, until the day I read Iron Flame (the second instalment).
Plot:
Without spoiling the whole thing, here’s a rundown of the plot and what we experienced.
The book follows Violet Sorrengail in first person, as she, and her team, fight incoming enemies (the Venin and Wyverns) and venture beyond the wards. After leaving Basgiath War College to find answers, we follow Violet on her path of love, war, loss, revolution and much more. I cried for characters that I didn’t even know I cared for, held my breath when turning each page, and genuinely couldn’t put the book down for the last 250 pages.
After the ending of Iron Flame, SPOILER INCOMING, we knew Xaden had turned Venin, and expected the third book to be about his fight and journey. The book explored this avenue, showing just how much he loved Violet, as Xaden clung to whatever he could to stop from ‘channeling’. Not only do we see Violet and Xaden’s relationship evolve, we see platonic relationships bloom and the world building is revolutionary.
The 527 pages also take us on the adventure of protecting Navarre, or what’s left of it, from the dark wielders, venin, wyverns. We are a part of several battles, negotiations and excursions as Violet and her crew search for cures, Andarna’s family, and an army to help fight.
Fourth Wing, the first Empyrean book, is a great romatancy, and beside the slightly complicated world building, is an easy read, with Iron Flame being more political and heavier on the fantasy (there’s still a strong Xaden and Violet narrative). Onyx Storm steps even further into the fantasy realm, but keeps a nice balance of this, and the main protagonists love.
Despite being a seasoned fantasy reader now, or I’d like to think so as I’m half way through Throne of Glass, the book did take me a while. Whether it was a result of the intense build up waiting for its release, the fact I hadn’t visited Navarre in months, or my ToG brain thinking, but the first 200 pages? A struggle. PS: did anyone find out who Llewellyn is? Or is he a place? No idea.
The book jumps straight back into the ending of Iron Flame, which if you’re consecutively reading is great, but I was a little rusty, though I am so glad I carried on.
Characters:
A big part of my love for the series is made up through the characters. Violet, the main protagonist, is a brave, powerful young woman, fighting for her continent and trying to save everyone else while doing so. The way Rebecca portrays her relationship with Xaden, the MMC, the restraint they have to practice, the challenges they face, she does it so perfectly it’s almost as though your a part of it yourself.
We see Xaden’s character develop as his journey gets tougher, resisting his vein urges, and doing anything possible to keep his love alive and ok.
A notable mention must go to the ending, because as I said, no one does it like Rebecca. My heart broke into several pieces, it was one of those moments where you’re like “I know what’s happening, but I really don’t want it to be”. Every word helped put pieces together, but it still seemed a shock. It was an ending that makes you never want to read an incomplete series again.
Heart broken, heart bursting, tears, joy, all that falls in-between. If I had to describe the book in one word? Consuming. Emotionally, physically.
Go and read it, now.