A review by smarmo21
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I finished this book moments ago and will need time to fully process but my immediate reaction is - excited about the (albeit surface level) world building and expansion of the story, LOVED the dialogue (some genuinely laugh out loud moments) and as usual with Rebecca Yarros, we’re left with more questions than answers. My beef is all spoilers.

As for spoilers - not pleased we ended on another massive cliffhanger AND left in the dark about what happened to Violet in the last ~12 hours. Upon a re-read it’ll likely be possible to piece things together but the ending was chaos. Having Andarna leave to almost immediately return felt kind of cheap and I think we deserved more of an explanation before the end of the book, and for the re-ignited bond to be more ceremonious? Idk. I’m not surprised or upset about Xaden apparently fully turning and leaving because that was hinted at the entire book. I am curious how the story is going to move forward, and who (if any) others also turned with him? Again still processing the ending. Last but CERTAINLY not least, why are we still using queer characters’ deaths as emotionally manipulative plot points? Infuriating. RIP Quinn you deserved better