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A review by wonderwomannz
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
4.0
Onyx Storm, the much-anticipated third installment, promised as part of a five-book saga, this addition came with sky-high expectations, but my feelings are decidedly mixed after finishing it.
The narrator, as always, delivered the story with boundless enthusiasm, breathing life into every battle cry and intense moment. I found myself grappling with a sense of déjà vu. While the battle scenes are undoubtedly intense and well-crafted, I couldn't shake the feeling that they mirrored those from the previous book. With five books planned in this series, I was hoping for more innovative developments and twists to keep the narrative fresh.
Sadly, it felt excessively drawn out; at times, the endless war narrative that has driven the plot so far felt like it stalled here—I kept hoping for something fresh to move the story forward, but nothing new was really introduced.
The book is also very long, too long in my opinion. While I understand the desire to immerse readers in this rich, war-torn world, the pacing suffered as a result. Many sections felt drawn out, and I found myself wishing for a tighter focus to keep the story more engaging.
One thing I deeply missed was the romance and emotional depth that hooked me in the first book. The slow burn in the series' opening felt like magic, but Onyx Storm doesn’t rekindle that spark. While romance is still present, it plays a much smaller role here, which left me a little disappointed. I loved the balance of romance and action in the earlier books, but this one leaned heavily into the battles, leaving the relationships somewhat underexplored.
Onyx Storm will undoubtedly delight fans who revel in epic battles and complex strategy, it left me hoping for more variety and forward momentum. I still have faith in Rebecca Yarros and her ability to deliver, so I’m holding out hope that the final two books will bring fresh storylines and a return to the emotional depth and romance that made me fall in love with the series in the first place.
Ends on a cliffhanger….
If you’re invested in the series, you’ll want to read it to stay in the loop, but for me, it wasn’t as satisfying as the earlier installments. Here's hoping the next book strikes a better balance.
The narrator, as always, delivered the story with boundless enthusiasm, breathing life into every battle cry and intense moment. I found myself grappling with a sense of déjà vu. While the battle scenes are undoubtedly intense and well-crafted, I couldn't shake the feeling that they mirrored those from the previous book. With five books planned in this series, I was hoping for more innovative developments and twists to keep the narrative fresh.
Sadly, it felt excessively drawn out; at times, the endless war narrative that has driven the plot so far felt like it stalled here—I kept hoping for something fresh to move the story forward, but nothing new was really introduced.
The book is also very long, too long in my opinion. While I understand the desire to immerse readers in this rich, war-torn world, the pacing suffered as a result. Many sections felt drawn out, and I found myself wishing for a tighter focus to keep the story more engaging.
One thing I deeply missed was the romance and emotional depth that hooked me in the first book. The slow burn in the series' opening felt like magic, but Onyx Storm doesn’t rekindle that spark. While romance is still present, it plays a much smaller role here, which left me a little disappointed. I loved the balance of romance and action in the earlier books, but this one leaned heavily into the battles, leaving the relationships somewhat underexplored.
Onyx Storm will undoubtedly delight fans who revel in epic battles and complex strategy, it left me hoping for more variety and forward momentum. I still have faith in Rebecca Yarros and her ability to deliver, so I’m holding out hope that the final two books will bring fresh storylines and a return to the emotional depth and romance that made me fall in love with the series in the first place.
Ends on a cliffhanger….
If you’re invested in the series, you’ll want to read it to stay in the loop, but for me, it wasn’t as satisfying as the earlier installments. Here's hoping the next book strikes a better balance.