Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros – The Third Book in This Epic Fantasy Romance Series

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“I’ve decided you can all go fuck yourselves.” 

“Is it toxic? Maybe. Is it us? Absolutely.”

I’ve had such a hard time getting myself to write this review, if I am being honest. I am so disappointed in this book, gathering all of my thoughts to form a coherent review has been a challenge.

So I do want to preface that this review is not a happy one. I will not be singing Yarro’s praises and I am very disappointed in the turn this series has taken. So if Onyx Storm is a “I will hear no criticism about this book” for you, please consider skipping my review. 

If you’re cool with a bit of deserved judgement and criticism, then saddle up, we’ve got dragons to ride. 

Goodreads / Storygraph / Books-A-Million

Summary

As war looms closer than ever and enemies within their very walls, Violet knows there is no more time for lessons and pretending to know who to trust. 

In order to strengthen their chances in the war, Violet journeys beyond the failing Aretian wards to unfamiliar lands, hoping to find allies. 

Instead, the trip tests her strength and luck, making her more determined than ever, to save everyone she loves. 

Even if it means she has to hold on to a devastating secret while doing so. Because what Navarre needs more is an army, power, and magic. 

But a storm is quickly approaching and not everyone will stand firm in its wake.

Thoughts on the Plot

Where do I even begin with the plot? It’s all over the place. So many names and places just dropped left and right, it was overwhelming. I had to give up trying to figure out who and what everything was or else it would’ve taken me months to get through this book. 

This book felt like being on a rollercoaster meant for kids. Just continually going up and down, up and down, up and down. With no actual climax in sight. 

A lot of plot points at the beginning of the book were forgotten by the end and so many things just felt…forced. Like even Rebecca Yarros had lost interest in the series. 

The writing hasn’t seemed to improve much either. So many descriptions of things that just made zero sense and after a while, like with the characters and places, I just stopped trying to make sense of everything.

Even the author couldn’t make sense of everything in her own story. 

And if I’m being honest, this book was flat out boring 90% of the time. There were so many points I wanted to DNF and if I had not read the first two and this was my first Rebecca Yarros book, it also would have been my last. 

I had high hopes for this book, especially with how Iron Flame ended. There was so much wasted potential. This book should have broken my heart and put it back together and angered me and thrilled me. Yet instead, I found myself tired of everything.

Even the romance didn’t feel right. While it is an improvement that Violet and Xaden are at least communicating, it was all just so repetitive. 

Also, I still can’t get over Violet going to these isles and these complete strangers being interested in her relationship with Xaden. 

Rebecca. Please. For the love of God. 

The ending was a cliffhanger, as per usual. If you haven’t noticed, Rebecca really likes those. 

But it was executed so poorly. It was so rushed and half-baked and I had to re-read the ending THREE TIMES to actually get what was going on. 

She took over a year after Iron Flame to write Onyx Storm, despite Iron Flame publishing just six months after Fourth Wing, so what happened?

I genuinely wish I knew. 

Thoughts on the Characters 

There was so much redemption available for Violet and Rebecca just brushed it all into the trash.

Where was the grieving? Where was the character growth? Why was Violet not stepping into her power? 

How is Violet even more annoying than usual? 

You would be black out drunk if you made a drinking game out of taking a shot every single time Violet says “mine” regarding Xaden. 

And when she isn’t claiming Xaden, she is being the world’s worst martyr. 

Being in Violet’s head, most of the book was exhausting. The constant emotional thoughts and the same fears running through her head over and over were tiring. 

It was a lot harder to relate to her in this book. 

We also get more information and background on Violet’s parents and does Rebecca not know how to write a healthy parent-child relationship? Like why was Violet’s father so invested in her future relationship with Dain??????

Instead of containing helpful information about the seventh bread of dragons, he actually wastes time pondering about Violet’s future love life. 

Can we say unnecessary? And kinda….weird?

Then there is Xaden. Our beautiful, toxic wingleader. 

Who seemingly could only think about marrying Violet in this entire book?

Like literally, hardly another thought in this man’s head. 

The over the top possessiveness was not cute and made me miss Fourth Wing Xaden. 

What happened to Xaden at the end of Iron Flame was merely used as a gut-punch device in Onyx Storm (until the very, very end of the book) and that pissed me off by far the most. 

The smut wasn’t even interesting, I skimmed through most of it. I wanted less smut and more action. I could have 100% passed on most of the romance altogether if this book had literally anything going on in it. 

The side characters provided whatever it was Rebecca wanted them to provide. The new characters took me so long to piece together that I honestly don’t even care about them. 

Though if I am being honest, I did enjoy Ridoc’s sarcasm and Mira’s hold-nothing-back attitude. I do feel for Mira, though. Violet and Brennan keeping secrets from her, their father leaving books only for Violet. I wanted to give Mira a hug…or let her punch me in the face just to feel something. 

Overall Thoughts

I will die on the hill that Onyx Storm and this whole five book deal Rebecca Yarros got after the success of Fourth Wing is nothing more than a cash grab.

This series should have been an action and romanced packed trilogy. Stretching this series out has only damaged it and made me lose trust in Rebecca Yarros as an author. 

It’s a slap in the face to all the fans who love this series. Who eagerly awaited its release, bought multiple versions of the book or waited in line at Target for special editions. Who happily supported Rebecca Yarros as she ventured from romance into fantasy romance. 

This book is more than a let down. It is a disgrace and should not have been published. 

I will be as shocked as the rest of you if I continue this series.

There were too much filler and not enough payoff for this book to warrant a higher rating from me. 

So 2 stars out of 5 stars and that’s being generous. 

I acknowledge my review is a bit on the harsh side. But everything I wrote is absolutely how I feel. Rebecca Yarros and Red Tower Books need to respect their readers and not publish this brain rot series just to make some big bucks.

If you enjoyed Onyx Storm, then I am so happy for you. You’re entitled to love a book that I loathed. I loved reading Fourth Wing, it is what drew me into Fantasy Romance as a genre. Iron Flame kinda fell flat, but I was still invested. So this review may be harsh but it’s honest and as someone who’s watching their favorite ship sink, I can’t help but feel disheartened.

Praising this book is just not in the cards for me and I really hope Rebecca Yarros and Red Tower Books turn this series around. Otherwise, this will be the last Rebecca Yarros book I read.

You Might Also Like: Fourth Wing // Iron Flame