Onyx Storm: 3 (Empyrean, 3)

I just finished reading it and I am not sure how to recover from this. And the fact that we will have to wait for years for the next part? Ah my heart! I love Xaden Riorson, period! I need him IRL!! 😭😭😭. Couldn't get better. Love the book. Love the series. It honestly surprises me how it transports you to another world. One that's hard to come back from. One moment, I am at work and the next, I am commuting between Basgiath and Aretia! What in the world is this power? Thank you for such a beautiful experience Rebecca! Can't wait for the next!

It's perfect!!!

The quality was a bit off. But boy was the plot good!!! Rebecca yarros did a really good job but the first book's writing is still unmatched. P.S. Rebecca doesn't have to give us heart wrenching cliff hangers at the end of every book to make us stay because we'd be there anyways but the lowering of emotional hurt will be appreciated.

Received in good condition. So pretty.

The book came in great condition. Purchased from u-read seller

good product absolutely amazing book to read must buy

By the time the book reached its cliffhanger, it felt like its long time coming.. But I love the way this story has evolved

As much as I wish I could write a 100% spoiler free review, I deeply apologise as it’s impossible to do so with this book (and series) given the nature of all the elements that require some level of description to be understood in a review. You have been cautioned, so please do not walk into this review if you’ve not read (at least) Iron Flame. There are also some references to things in Onyx Storm. They may not be BIG spoilers, but they can be depending on your definition of spoilers. Also, this review will be long, I apologise for that as well. I think it’s not an understatement to say that this whole series has taken the world by storm. Well, technically, Fourth Wing took the world by storm. Iron Flame made everyone upset and Onyx Storm was largely anticipated with both, dread and great hope. I was among the many that both anticipated for the release of the book and at the same time was not happy with the cash grab methods that surround this whole series that was becoming clearer and clearer with each book that was being released. I feel it deserves a mention, if not for anything else, but for the way it makes the readers feel. I shall start with the writing, as always. The reason Fourth Wing worked was because of how much more straightforward the writing was, how much more space was awarded between each event and all the strategy and surprises that was revealed throughout the book. But both Iron Flame and Onyx Storm—in my opinion—have suffered greatly on this front. There are simply too many things happening (often at the same time) that are all chosen to be mentioned at the same time. While, I understand this is important, I also just want to say doing it all at once is what throws the reader, making it feel like it’s too much information in one sentence. For example, the following paragraph (quoted from Onyx Storm, Chapter 5): “The gathering hall is less than a quarter full and the perfect place to wait for news, so that's what the three of us do while Sawyer naps and the first-years tour with the fliers: sit—with our backs to the wall in case some Navarrian rider decides they want to make a point—and wait for Brennan and Mira to bring news.” This paragraph is essentially a good example of what can be expected in books two and three of this series; where one primary sentence has three sentences worth of information included in it before it’s completed. Thus, you often lose context of what the primary sentence was going to say and get confused and then forget what the intermediary sentences are trying to say. Additionally, there’s the issue of dialogues not being assigned properly to the speaker—wherein you aren’t sure who’s saying a particular dialogue—that has influenced and leaked through into the graphic audio versions of this series as well. Both the Fourth Wing and Iron Flame graphic audiobooks have the wrong character delivering a dialogue another character is supposed to be saying because it wasn’t clarified in the book and thus no one’s sure. The only reason I can tell (for the most part) who is likely saying something is because I’ve read (and listened to) both the books several times, slowly and with deliberate intention to separate the many overlapping strands of dialogue, context and narrative in search of clarity. Some additional insight into the author’s choice versus the editor’s choice is visibly seen in the books. I saw the author speak about how she wished to turn Violet venin but that wasn’t approved and they came to an agreement that, instead, Xaden would turn. So here’s the deal with that, you can tell in Iron Flame, with how that situation was written, it would’ve been the perfect set-up for Violet turning. Even when Xaden gives his perspective on how and why he turned, the moment isn’t as compelling. Why? Because that’s not how the book played out in the author’s mind and thus the writing doesn’t support that storyline? Maybe. However, I think we all just rolled with it. Of course, it adds tension, angst, pain and (hopefully) purpose (which is the only thing I was hoping for) to the storyline with regard to how this opens up pathways for there being more revelations on the inner workings of the Venin. I understand 100% that this is the third book of the series and thus cannot reveal everything and I also know third books in a five book series is where everything gets really bad. So, I will agree that could be cause for us not knowing as much as I hoped for us to know by now, but I guess… let’s see? The world building in this book—in both this and Iron Flame to be honest—only works if you’re extremely well versed in the book that comes before it. If you’ve read Fourth Wing enough to know it by-heart, Iron Flame is easier to understand on perhaps the second or third re-read. If you’ve read both FW and IF multiple times, you’ll not be immediately lost while reading OS. I would say that this isn’t an ideal way to progress only because not everyone re-reads books or retains information on so many characters/situations especially when new ones are constantly being introduced. Perhaps a glossary, or a swift recap would go a wonderfully long way to help readers. (Also, I’m pretty sure a break-down of Venin levels was supposed to be there in the beginning of this book… but… wasn’t?). Additionally, the main character chooses not to remember the names of a large batch of first years in the second book (until maybe the last 10%) which means even for me, the new names of the first years or characters felt completely new. Additionally… the rules of the world and the places of the world expand like a blast that throws you seven mountains away from where you were in your understanding. There are several new isles, rite of passage ceremonies/events that are both believable and not and connected to all these is the focus on Gods and temples. Here’s my take on this, while yes, we were aware of the basic existence of some of the Gods’ names because they’re mentioned in moments of shock or quick prayer, they’re never spoken about (at least in my understanding) in a way that you would find in, say… a book about Greek Mythology. Where the Gods have great influence over what’s happening or that they have a certain power that works on the world/plot and it’s unraveling. I did not expect this and was taken aback when it came up on page. There’s nothing wrong with this aspect of a world, it just came out of absolutely nowhere when all that’s ever been focused upon before this is magic in the land, the misuse of it, the balance/price it exacts and the consequences of that. Where … where did Gods and temples come from suddenly that’s a big part of what needs to be understood to follow the story? That’s my question. Politics has always been a big part of this series, so of course I wasn’t surprised when large figure heads, power struggles, treaties and a deciding council make an appearance in this book. What did become a lot was when just as these figure heads are introduced and established in the first few chapters, the world expands in an explosion that causes an influx of many other figure heads and leaders that throws in about seven hundred other politically charged situations. Sure, to stay in the moment is easy enough. “Okay, this is where they are, this is what is happening.” However, when there’s a callback, or interconnected call-outs, where someone’s talking about another isle leader and their influence or decision, as a reader it’s easy to lose the thread of who and what. Maybe two or three re-reads might help… but do I want to do a re-read, let alone three? I’m not sure yet. The plot…. I mean, it’s hard to particularly explain the plot of this book because…. Well, look, here’s the thing. In my head, the difference between IF and OS is that the former had a sense of rushed development that the latter doesn’t. OS comes off as more streamlined and also the protagonists have a better relationship communication-wise. However, there’s always something happening, which I understand has become something perhaps the publisher thinks is what made this series famous? I’m not sure. While I will agree that yes, the charged moments and power packed instances in FW were what made it so addictive, it’s the silences in between with lots of thought, growth and tension that helped majorly. I would not say IF and OS have these gaps and sure, this means there’s lots of edge of the seat moments but the drawback is that it saturates us to a point where even the charged moments begin to feel… less than. Circling back to the plot, there’s obviously a big purpose this book is tackling but how much of it was actually tackled….? I’m not sure. Again, even if something is revealed, it’s not. There are lots of gaps created in timeline, dialogues and writing to add to the tension and suspense and create a shocking reveal. The above mentioned saturation comes into play here which is unfortunate, honestly because some of them are quite good. However, I will admit I was engaged and riding the edge of anxiety for most of the book. It began to fade a little towards the end because—to me—the story took a turn straight into Where’s-This-Going-Ville. There’s also a plot thread about family that personally for me confuses the narrative and doesn’t make sense from how it was represented before and what the significance is now. It’s confusing and makes me wonder about what messaging is being discussed there. Perhaps more clarity on it in book four and five will help, but as of now, I’m not sure what is trying to be said or where it’s going. There was enough foreshadowing about most of the plot threads in this book, so honestly even the ending felt like nothing to me? Correction, it made me feel nothing. On the other side of this coin, was that some of the aspects of this book did not have enough of a foundation established earlier on, for them to amount to a reveal (be it devastating, surprising or otherwise). Thus, none of the revelations in this book had the air of a reveal—in fact one of the more important moments I nearly skipped right by, with how little it had been built upon. They were expected at times, surprising at times, but began to slowly fade into scattered confusion for me eventually. This made me feel like the series is drawing less interest from me overtime, which is unfortunate. The one thing that I thought was an interesting aspect to explore and bring back in the next book was cancelled out before the book ended, which made me wonder again… why…? Perhaps there’s a reason, I don’t know. I think there are great dangers in making the antagonist(s) of a story this strong. While, of course, it has a lot of merit—be it giving a lot of complexity to the unraveling of a story or the emotional tension within the protagonists and their situations—it has a gigantic drawback. The pay-off. If something is built up to this extent, it means the pay-off (aka the resolution of it) must far outweigh the aforementioned build up. Of course we’re all hoping it does, even though as readers we’re yet to see the glimpse of this miracle solution. Then again, two more books to go, so let’s see. All this being said, the book can also be a lot of fun. But, perhaps not for emotional investment. If you want to be engaged, laugh for a bit and lose yourself a little mindlessly at times, then go for it. The pace is fairly even and it’s easy to get lost into the book. There’s a lot of funnies, excitement, tension, action, romance, drama, magic and of course dragons. But if you’re here for the plot, the writing, the dialogue and the world… I would not recommend this series as of today. However, I want to see what happens in book four and five to confirm what I would recommend this series for. Happy reading. This series has lots of themes in it that can be difficult for some, so please check trigger warnings before reading.

I never leave a review for books because each of us have different taste ... but this is one of the best book series I read after the bear and the nightingale in 2019 ... I read a lot and this book is so well written... keeps you on your toe... and you don't want to let it go... I cannot wait for the rest... Will be waiting impatiently!!!!!

Amazing service! Ordered it this morning while at work and before I came home from work it was waiting for me! I love the cover art and how nicely it was wrapped and packaged. Thank you Amazon, it's my birthday soon (15/03/2025) and you just made my birthday! My set is halfway there to completion!

What a ride Onyx Storm took me in! This book was captivating from start to finish. It was such a big book, but I felt everything was important, well developed and very informative. I was instantly hooked from the first chapter and I don't feel there was any dull moment. This third book in The Empyrean Series is wihout a doubt my new favorite! As I expected, Onyx Storm was action packed and full of political aspects and revelations that had my jaw dropping multiple times through my read. It was also brimming with romance and spice, but also friendship and loyalty. Regardless of these beautiful lighter moments, there was also sadness, anguish, heartbreak, betrayal, scheming and casualties. Violet rose as a powerful and brave heroine. The way she tried to leanr and control her power more was spellbinding. She was devoted to a cause bigger than herself, but also so ardent for Xaden and her unshakable love for him. And that man... wow! I already loved him, but he outmatched himself. He was the perfect partner and his one liners full of passion, possessiveness, humor and love had me swooning. His circumstance wasn't easy, but he still fought for his cause. I was fascinated by the whole cast! Seriously, the squad and the way they work together and support each other was incredible. They're truly the meaning of found family. How can I wrapup this review without mentionning Tairn and Andarna. Once again, these two were the perfect companions to Violet. Their irresistible personalities had me enthralled. Tairn with his ever present grumpiness and Andarna with her candor and sweetness. The perfect dragon duo! I tried to savor this book by reading a little slower, but I utlimately finished it quite fast for a book this long. And now, I'm dying for the next book that will release in forever, lol!

I really love the artwork on the cover and the design of the page edges.

Well, guys, here I am—after a week of thinking, processing, and unraveling theories with my bookish friends, I’m finally ready to give my two cents. And I’ll start by saying I AM OBSESSED. This series has become my whole personality, and I’m not even mad about it. I’ll keep the first part spoiler-free and announce when the spoilers begin. First Impressions (No Spoilers!) First and foremost, this book was absolutely worth the wait. I had a lot of resentment toward the rushed release of Iron Flame—I get that Fourth Wing was a massive hit, but six months was nowhere near enough time to craft a solid sequel, and it showed. It felt rushed, overloaded with info dumps, and lacking the magic of FW. But with Onyx Storm, Rebecca brought us back to the action-packed, deadly, and adventurous storytelling we fell in love with, and I couldn’t be happier. The plot flows quickly, with something happening on every page. I loved how all the small clues felt like they were leading to something bigger, making the final reveals even more satisfying. One of the strongest aspects of the book is that while Violet and Xaden are obviously the heart of the story, we also have an incredible cast of supporting characters who add so much depth, even when they’re not frequently on the page. Shoutout to Aaric, Ridoc, Imogen, and Garrik! Also, can we stop labeling this series as ‘dragon smut’? First of all, people calling FW "smut" clearly haven’t read actual smut. Secondly, the sex scenes are minimal, far apart, and not even that wild. Everything Rebecca writes has a purpose—even the steamy moments contribute to character development. This series is about friendship, loyalty, adventure, grief, and jaw-dropping plot twists—so let’s not reduce it to something it’s not. Spoilers Ahead – Read at Your Own Risk! - - - - ✅ Violet and Xaden’s Relationship: After the toxicity and frustration of Iron Flame, I feel like we finally got what we needed—communication and trust. Their devotion to each other was beautiful to watch, and jealous Xaden? A dream. Obviously, we figured out pretty quickly that Halden wasn’t a real threat (he turned out to be a whiny, entitled brat), but when he was first introduced? I kicked and screamed at how adorably possessive Xaden was. 💡 Violet’s Second Signet: I’m holding off judgment on this one. Right now, my friends and I have cooler theories than what we actually got (dreamwalking? Meh.). But I trust Rebecca to make it work. So far, it feels more like nightmare-walking than dreamwalking, so let’s see how it evolves. 🚨 That character (whose name I can’t even remember) manifesting shadows?! WTF. I cannot handle the idea of Xaden losing his shadows or, worse, turning fully dark. I still believe Violet is the key to his redemption or evolution. However, I’ve noticed that as the book progresses, Xaden’s love/jealousy starts shifting toward full-blown obsession. This could mean: He’s desperately holding onto his humanity through Violet OR He’s slipping into something much darker 😬 But what I loved was that unlike in Iron Flame, Violet never loses faith in him. She stands by him, no matter what. 🔥Tairn remains the best character in the entire series. If he weren’t a dragon, he’d be the hottest male character—don’t even fight me on this. I adore how protective he is of Violet, and in Onyx Storm, we also see his softer side with Andarna. He’s the ultimate girl dad, and I love him even more for it. 💛Andarna’s journey felt incredibly real. She’s a typical teenager, and when she left, I felt the loss just as much as Violet did. I completely understood her need to find her kind, but in the end, she had already chosen her family—Tairn, Violet, and their values. The way she always wanted to be like Tairn? Too sweet for words. 💙Aaric = underrated fave. After Ridoc, he’s my favorite supporting character. He’s marginal yet central to the story, and I loved his signet (which I figured out way before Violet did, btw). The way he’s the complete opposite of his brother? Perfection. I really hope we see more of him in the next book. 😭 Now, my beloved Ridoc… I AM SCARED. Rebecca has confirmed that a beloved character will die, and I have a sinking feeling it might be him. Could he be the "brother" Xaden refers to at the end? (He says new brother, so maybe not Bodhi or Garrik, since he already considered them brothers.) Are we being set up for heartbreak? I FEEL LIKE WE ARE. Mentions: 📖 I NEED an Imogen & Garrik love story ASAP. 💔 Quinn’s death DESTROYED me. I was sobbing while driving home, listening to that chapter. Unsafe and unhinged behavior. 🔥 Xaden’s chapter was everything. 💍 Violet waking up with a rock on her finger and no memory?? IMOGEN, EXPLAIN YOURSELF. 💜 Sawyer deserves more screen time. Final Rating: ⭐ 5/5 Stars It was amazing. The best of the series so far. Rebecca, you have my heart (and my sanity in shambles).