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adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was so much fun (but also so stressful!)! I loved "quest squad" and traveling and exploring new places. Rebecca Yarros is fantastic at those chapter-ending cliffhangers that have you constantly saying, "Just one more chapter..." when you're reading at midnight. The last third or fourth of this book was nonstop! I hit a point where I just couldn't stop reading and knew I was going to have to just sit there and ride it out and wow, was it a ride! Throughout the story, there were some things I had called earlier in the series and definitely many surprises. I have TONS of new questions that I can't wait to explore in the last half of this series. Now begins the interminable wait...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, War
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The way I ate this up. Was some of the writing sloppy? Yes. Did I read this book at a terrifying speed, barely stopping to take a breath? Yes. Did it end on a cliff hanger that made me stare at my ceiling for 15minutes, unable to process it all? Also yes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, War
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So fun to be on the Empyrean bandwagon and read this one amidst the excitement of its release! The third installment did not disappoint, and it's going to be very hard to wait patiently for the fourth. I especially liked the further expansion of the world and seeing different cultures, further reveal and development of powers, and seeing Violent come into her own as a badass leader. I would have liked more from Theophanie - I was actually disappointed that she died, because I want the venin to be more than just simple villains. I want to see the most compelling side of their story.
“Are you all right?” I ask Tairn, my voice cracking.
“I am not deceased.” He gains his feet, his talons digging into the rocky soil.
Relief pricks at my eyes, and my vision wobbles.
“Do not dehydrate on my account,” he lectures.
“Are you all right?” I ask Tairn, my voice cracking.
“I am not deceased.” He gains his feet, his talons digging into the rocky soil.
Relief pricks at my eyes, and my vision wobbles.
“Do not dehydrate on my account,” he lectures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Grief
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think Rebecca’s writing is improving with this book! I found myself annoyed with Xaden and Violet’s relationship throughout the book. They just don’t seem to be compatible, and I had a hard time rooting for them. They just have a lot of toxic traits I don’t like. I also wish there was more focus on the fantasy than the romance, but I also understand that’s why it’s a romantasy lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, War
Moderate: Vomit
Characters fight in battles; some are wounded and some die. Two characters have sex throughout the book in detail. There is a scene with multiple characters vomiting due to poisoning.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Listened to the audiobook March 2025.
I enjoyed this book more than Iron Flame because they were traveling to all the isles instead of just at Basgiath. It was interesting to learn more about the isles, and to hear Violet's dad's voice & personality through his research and writing. I do feel like this book ended so similarly to the last one with one giant battle that seemingly lasted forever - Similar situation, different location.
I liked having chapters from other points of view like Rhi and Imogen. This is probably a fantasy thing, and I knowreaders would have been pissed if Mira died. It just seems ridiculous that she didn’t. Brennan was able to mend her with Sloan siphoning some power from Dain. It’s like when the main characters really should die and somehow skirt a death that a side character absolutely wouldn’t. Quinn died so quickly from a poisoned dagger close to the heart yet Mira had what felt like a lot of time after her throat was slit. Violet was also able to wield and finish battle after being poised by a similar dagger at the end of Iron Flame.
This might also be a common romantasy thing:There was so much allusion to Vi and Xaden getting married from him introducing her as his Consort in Deverelli to multiple conversations. I was like can y’all do this before you’re on the brink of death? No. Of course it happens at the end. It isn’t described, and Violet has to have Imogen wipe her memory.
Overall, I can’t believe the next one doesn’t come out for another 2 years. From what I know of romantasy, I think the 4th one is often the best one when it's a longer series. It better be because Iron Flame and Onyx Storm both felt heavy on info gathering and world building.
Some notes for myself because I’m not rereading this one in 2 years:
I enjoyed this book more than Iron Flame because they were traveling to all the isles instead of just at Basgiath. It was interesting to learn more about the isles, and to hear Violet's dad's voice & personality through his research and writing. I do feel like this book ended so similarly to the last one with one giant battle that seemingly lasted forever - Similar situation, different location.
I liked having chapters from other points of view like Rhi and Imogen. This is probably a fantasy thing, and I know
This might also be a common romantasy thing:
Overall, I can’t believe the next one doesn’t come out for another 2 years. From what I know of romantasy, I think the 4th one is often the best one when it's a longer series. It better be because Iron Flame and Onyx Storm both felt heavy on info gathering and world building.
Some notes for myself because I’m not rereading this one in 2 years:
- Xaden's chapter: He refers to his "brother" or "sibling" who turned venin. Bodhi and Garrick seem to both be missing at the end. Garrick was exhausted from using his walker second signet. They both knew Xaden was venin the whole time (5 months)
- Violet’s ring has an emerald from Xaden's dad's dagger. She noticed the dagger was missing the gem when she first got back to Aretia. She's also had dreams of the dagger with the gem missing.
- Violet's second signet is dream walking. She was also touched by Dunne but not offered because her future as still undetermined.
- Aaric has pre-cognition as a signet. He gave her a dagger with stone from Dunne’s temple to kill Theophone(sp?)
- Andarna left with the Irid but then returned to help in the battle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have a lot of issues with this book.
- The huge number of apparently pointless characters and interchangeable use of their first and last names, making following who’s who a nightmare.
- Violet’s infatuation with Xaden to the detriment of her and others’ safety and the story! Plus her total preoccupation with how hot he is, which maybe makes sense given his actually personality is missing.
- The lack of character development for the MMC, and to a lesser extent to the FMC too.
- The romance didn’t hit because MMC remains a mystery.
- The blocking of the spice scenes is also a mystery. Cannot understand the positioning logistics!
- The lack of an alternate POV (Xaden where where you!!) until the very last moment when we were then dragged out of the main story to side characters’ POVs. Which would have been fine, had any air time been given to these characters for the last 500 pages.
- Still no more insight given into the workings of the Empyrean. These dragons are the heart of the books; give us more!
- Violet being plain stupid and not listening to Aaric sooner.
- The rushing of critical plot points right at the end leaving massive cliff hangers. This felt like it was marketing driven.
Good stuff:
- The Irids.
- Tairn, always worth it.
- The action - fast paced and a lot of it made an exciting read.
- Seeing some new places even though they were kind of bananas.
I think the moral of the story is that it’s a fun read that could have been incredible with editing and a better character focus. I guess we’ll never know!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War