You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
maficmystery 's review for:
Onyx Storm
by Rebecca Yarros
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I said I was not going to read this book. I did not want to read this book. I did not enjoy a single second of it. I listened to it as an audio book through libby because I finished Shadow of the Gods (a much more enjoyable book, by the way) and the sequel was not available to check out at the time. But this book was. I primarily have been listening to audio books recently to keep myself occupied while processing samples but this book has been nothing but a distraction. Imagine you are looking at very small crystals through a microscope but your progress is hindered by rolling your eyes roughly every 5 minutes because of the audio book you are listening to. Or having to pause the audio book/skip through a scene of the characters getting hot and heavy out of sheer embarrassment because your advisor has come into the lab to work as well.
This book continues the trend of feeling unplanned (or, to be more generous) poorly planned. Plot points from previous books, most notably, Violet's Father's research, are retconned in this one. For a 24 hour audio book, very little happens until the ending, once again. The characters undergo no development. Yet another new antagonist is introduced only to die at the end. Violet and Xaden have the same argument for the ENTIRE book, AGAIN, but at least it isn't the same argument they had in Iron Flame. Except it is worse this time because now other characters keep insisting that Xaden and Violet do not have a healthy relationship, but Violet continues to cling to her relationship to Xaden, insistent that she can fix things even when LITERALLY EVERYONE INCLUDING XADEN TELLS HER THAT SHE CAN'T. This book is driven by an idiot plot (if you can even call it a plot) and a rapidly failing relationship.
At one point one of the characters says that Xaden and Violet argue like an old married couple and I wanted to slam my head through my desk. They argue like a pair of high schoolers in a relationship that will fall apart at the next school sporting event.
There are unnecessary point of view shifts at the end of the book. Yarros either has a group of yes-men as writing friends or simply no writing friends at all. Or the publishers are forcing her to write so fast she doesn't have time to actually edit her writing. It's honestly upsetting to see. For real this time I will not be reading any more of these books unless I am paid. Like at least 150 USD.
This book continues the trend of feeling unplanned (or, to be more generous) poorly planned. Plot points from previous books, most notably, Violet's Father's research, are retconned in this one. For a 24 hour audio book, very little happens until the ending, once again. The characters undergo no development. Yet another new antagonist is introduced only to die at the end. Violet and Xaden have the same argument for the ENTIRE book, AGAIN, but at least it isn't the same argument they had in Iron Flame. Except it is worse this time because now other characters keep insisting that Xaden and Violet do not have a healthy relationship, but Violet continues to cling to her relationship to Xaden, insistent that she can fix things even when LITERALLY EVERYONE INCLUDING XADEN TELLS HER THAT SHE CAN'T. This book is driven by an idiot plot (if you can even call it a plot) and a rapidly failing relationship.
At one point one of the characters says that Xaden and Violet argue like an old married couple and I wanted to slam my head through my desk. They argue like a pair of high schoolers in a relationship that will fall apart at the next school sporting event.
There are unnecessary point of view shifts at the end of the book. Yarros either has a group of yes-men as writing friends or simply no writing friends at all. Or the publishers are forcing her to write so fast she doesn't have time to actually edit her writing. It's honestly upsetting to see. For real this time I will not be reading any more of these books unless I am paid. Like at least 150 USD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief