Fellow readers, I have to be honest: I was not motivated to read Onyx Storm.
I don’t say this because I didn’t enjoy Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. After all, Fourth Wing is what got me back into devouring every fantasy book I could get my hands on. I say this because Onyx Storm has been sitting on my book shelf since it came out, and I just couldn’t get myself to pick it up until now. Maybe I wasn’t looking forward to it. Maybe I was worried it would disappoint me. Or maybe I was worried it would be so fantastic that it would “rewire my brain chemistry” like so many on the internet claim. All I know is, it took me 11 months to finally pick up a book that I had initially been yearning for after finishing Iron Flame in all its glory.
So this begs the question: Did Onyx Storm manage to win me back and exceed my expectations? Keep reading my Onyx Storm Book Review to find out!
WARNING: Major spoilers for the Empyrean Series ahead – there’s truly no way to review this book without them!
Plot Summary
After one hell of a cliffhanger in Iron Flame, resulting in Xaden turning venin and Andarna being the dragon equivalent of the missing link, Violet and her friends find themselves officially back at Basgiath and none too popular. Despite the hostility and general distrust from those who remained Navarrian riders, Violet is tasked with finding the rest of the Irid dragons, hoping to reunite Andarna with her brood while also finding a cure for Xaden. Throughout her travels, Violet enlists the help of her rag tag squad once again to keep her plethora of secrets, uncover Andarna’s true origin, and seek answers to what her father has left behind.
Quality of Writing
Rating: 2/5
Although I wouldn’t say that any of the three books are literary masterpieces, the writing in Onyx Storm frustrated me the most. More often than not, it felt like I was constantly reading a slightly altered version of the same paragraph. Whether it was Violet aggressively pining for Xaden the second he walked into a room, or her saying “mine” when absolutely no one is trying to steal that man to begin with (Vi, even Cat is over his shit!), so much of the writing felt recycled throughout the entire book and lacked any sort of notable originality that felt far more present in the previous two books.
Plot Development
Rating: 3/5
One of the biggest complaints I’ve seen from others is that nothing happens in Onyx Storm. To that, I say two things:
- They’re absolutely, unequivocally, right.
- I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing.
While there are “only” two major plot points in Onyx Storm, they are integral to the series as a whole, and I’m glad that they weren’t overshadowed by fifty other things happening at the same time. I think the criticism is partially due to a desensitization in the Romantasy genre – where things need to constantly be happening, or the plot isn’t plotting. Coming from someone who has spent a lot of time reading 5+ book series, not everything is going to happen at all times in every book. There are going to be installments that fall prey to “middle book syndrome”, and I think that Onyx Storm took one for the team by being just that.
That said, there are several minor plot points that feel only half addressed or downright lazy (professor Riorson, anyone?), so I do still think that the lack of plot development is a valid criticism overall.
Characters
Rating: 2/5
By the halfway mark, I was beyond exasperated by Violet and Xaden’s dynamic. Between Violet pining after Xaden like a horny 16 year old, and Xaden constantly brooding and telling Violet he’s too evil to date, I found their romance completely exhausting. Not even the milquetoast spice saved it for me.
Unfortunately, I am also struggling with the idea that a bunch of wildly immature 20-23 year olds are tasked with making life altering decisions like it’s just another Tuesday. While I don’t expect fantasy to be packed with realism, this frankly ruins the plot immersion for me, as I just find the notion completely ridiculous.
Despite all this, Ridoc manages to come in swinging and save the book for me. I adored getting to know him and his dragon more, and if RY tries to kill him off at any point, I will riot. He may be the squad jokester, but Ridoc managed to be the most reasonable character for the entirety of Onyx Storm.
Ease of Reading
Rating: 3/5
Overall, I think that Onyx Storm was the easiest of the series to follow and understand plot wise, since nothing major happened. However, I do need to take points off for the random interjection of last names without any past use. I think that RY implemented this to lean further into the military setting, but it ultimately falls flat and causes confusion. In fairness, I should’ve seen this coming given the “answer key” in the beginning of the book.
Ending
Rating: 3/5
While RY has left us on some pretty massive cliffhangers in the past, I found the ending fairly predictable and tame for Onyx Storm. Given that no major resolutions are reached since we’re now in the middle of the series, it makes sense that RY didn’t go out with a bang – it would’ve fizzled out in comparison to the plot.
Would I Recommend This Book
To be honest, I really struggled with this question. It’s hard to give a polarizing yes/no answer like this to a book in the middle of a series, as it wouldn’t make any sense for me to tell you not to read Onyx Storm if you plan to continue with the Empyrean Series.
So I will say this: If you liked Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and plan to continue the series no matter what, then yes, I would recommend Onyx Storm. If you struggled through the first two and are questioning if you can make it through the third, then save yourself some frustration and let this series go. It’ll be there for you later if you decide to try again!
Overall Rating
Book Rating: 3/5 (TW: Blood, Death)
Spice Rating: 3/5
Although I spent some time being pretty hard on this book, Onyx Storm did have its fun moments, and is still an essential read if you plan to continue the Empyrean Series. While the plot was much more focused on world building this time around, I still found it engaging, as well as a reprieve from the frustrating relationship drama that permeates this book. I am hopeful that as the series continues, Onyx Storm will find its place as the unfortunate middle book sacrifice to an overall great story.
Curious about how I rate my reads? Check out my Rating System Blog Post for more!
Let’s Talk
Does the age of main characters impact your engagement with high stakes plots like Onyx Storm? If so, how?
Reading Stack
Previous Book: The Last Father Daughter Dance/On Wings of Blood
Current Book: Tea & Alchemy
Future Book: Christmas With The Elf King
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