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kyleenareads 's review for:
Onyx Storm
by Rebecca Yarros
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
3/5
Finished: 4/18/25
TLDR:
The Empyrean series only continues to get better. While a lot of times the middle book in a big fantasy series like this can feel redundant or too fact heavy, Rebecca did a great job of moving the plot forward while also entertaining the reader. I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
The Plot Quickens:
​Violet Sorrengail ventures beyond Navarre's weakening borders to seek allies against the venin, confronting perilous challenges and uncovering hidden truths that test her resolve and relationships. As the war escalates, she must navigate treacherous alliances and personal sacrifices to protect her world and those she loves.
Overall Thoughts:
This book started slow, which is understandable due to the amount of world building and story building Rebecca would need to do. This is Book 3 in the series, and that book is always heavy on details for larger fantasy series like these. I did struggle in the beginning connecting with the material; it had been a year and a half since I read the previous novel, and some details were fuzzy. I am glad I powered through though, because as always Rebecca knocked it out of the park with this one! The slow and steady details are all so carefully cultivated and the ending was the perfect kind of cliffhanger, leaving you desperate for the next installment.
Highlights:
I loved the world expansion with the isles and getting to meet additional people, and the expansion on her father's travels there. Finding out more about everyone's second signets was awesome, and watching Dain become more and more of a character I love has been so great, I love that he has had such a solid redemption arc from Book 1. My absolute favorite part were the chapters from other character's POVs, so you could experience their own thoughts and, the best, their dragons. The way Imogen's dragon spoke, to the scene with Sawyer arguing with his dragon, to Ridoc and his dragon tussling over tricks made me love each character even more.
Low Points:
SPOILERS AHEAD
I understand that Xaden was worried about hurting Violet if he got too close to her, but the repetitive nature of that issue started to wear on me. In one chapter, prior to them hooking up, he spends several pages double checking her decision, and it drove me absolutely batty.
I also didn't like near the end when Andarna randomly shows back up and it's not talked about once?? Just like, oh hey your dragon that went off to her own kind is back and everything is normal, carry on. Not a single line. I know a lot was going on, but c'mon, you were bedbound for days over the loss, it's worth at least a bit of a reference.
3/5
Finished: 4/18/25
TLDR:
The Empyrean series only continues to get better. While a lot of times the middle book in a big fantasy series like this can feel redundant or too fact heavy, Rebecca did a great job of moving the plot forward while also entertaining the reader. I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
The Plot Quickens:
​Violet Sorrengail ventures beyond Navarre's weakening borders to seek allies against the venin, confronting perilous challenges and uncovering hidden truths that test her resolve and relationships. As the war escalates, she must navigate treacherous alliances and personal sacrifices to protect her world and those she loves.
Overall Thoughts:
This book started slow, which is understandable due to the amount of world building and story building Rebecca would need to do. This is Book 3 in the series, and that book is always heavy on details for larger fantasy series like these. I did struggle in the beginning connecting with the material; it had been a year and a half since I read the previous novel, and some details were fuzzy. I am glad I powered through though, because as always Rebecca knocked it out of the park with this one! The slow and steady details are all so carefully cultivated and the ending was the perfect kind of cliffhanger, leaving you desperate for the next installment.
Highlights:
I loved the world expansion with the isles and getting to meet additional people, and the expansion on her father's travels there. Finding out more about everyone's second signets was awesome, and watching Dain become more and more of a character I love has been so great, I love that he has had such a solid redemption arc from Book 1. My absolute favorite part were the chapters from other character's POVs, so you could experience their own thoughts and, the best, their dragons. The way Imogen's dragon spoke, to the scene with Sawyer arguing with his dragon, to Ridoc and his dragon tussling over tricks made me love each character even more.
Low Points:
SPOILERS AHEAD
I understand that Xaden was worried about hurting Violet if he got too close to her, but the repetitive nature of that issue started to wear on me. In one chapter, prior to them hooking up, he spends several pages double checking her decision, and it drove me absolutely batty.
I also didn't like near the end when Andarna randomly shows back up and it's not talked about once?? Just like, oh hey your dragon that went off to her own kind is back and everything is normal, carry on. Not a single line. I know a lot was going on, but c'mon, you were bedbound for days over the loss, it's worth at least a bit of a reference.