Onyx Storm Book Review

I finished this book a few weeks ago, but honestly, I needed to create a little distance before writing this review to absorb what on earth I just read. Onyx Storm was not what I expected at all, and I mean that in the most amazing way possible. This book has SO much packed into it, between characters, their development, setting, and the plot. It was absolutely EPIC!! Definitely my favorite book of the series. It was action-packed and entertaining the entire time, I felt even more connected to the characters, the world, and the overall story. Onyx Storm had more of the vibes of Fourth Wing opposed to Iron Flame, which I think is what a lot of people were looking for with the release of this book.

WARNING! This post contains minor spoilers for Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, so be sure to read those if you are unfamiliar with the series before continuing. This portion of the review does NOT have spoilers for Onyx Storm, but does have general thoughts that make more sense with previous knowledge of the series.

I'd say the most amazing thing about this series if Rebecca Yarros' genius writing. She has said in multiple interviews that she really had to fight for the ending of Onyx Storm, and while it was absolutely soul-crushing, her plotting across books on the wide scale instead of just within each book itself is so insane. Questions from the first book come back, the little blurbs at the top of each chapter throughout all three books are hints for the entire series, and she just captures the readers attention so effectively, making me want to pick up the next book immediately. The stakes are higher than ever.

I think the most unexpected thing about Onyx Storm for me was that it was actually extremely funny. I was not expecting to laugh at all in this book because the situation is so dire, but there were frequent times where I was literally cackling. In public too, which I usually try not to do. Even my family was making fun of me when they are used to my little outbursts while reading. I think that's mainly because my man Ridoc was more present in this book than in previous ones, which allowed for more comedic relief. There were also a lot of other scenes that made me burst out into a laughing fit, not necessarily because they were ha ha funny, but that the characters reactions to an event or whatnot were so entertaining. It was too good, I'm telling you!!

Like I mentioned earlier, this book really had the vibes of Fourth Wing, which I was so happy about. Iron Flame felt a little frustrating at times for me (which was exactly what it needed to be for that point in the story and Vi's own development), but Onyx Storm returned to the action-packed, fast-paced type of story. I loved Fourth Wing so much because there was some new and exciting challenge at the turn of every page, like crossing the Parapet, completing the Gauntlet, and War Games. Onyx Storm very much felt like this with the quest plot line, where the characters visit each Isle Kingdom and have to pass some test of character based on each of the gods. This portion of the story was so fun!

One last thing that I loved about this book was that the reader and fans of this series just got more of everything, even some new povs. In terms of setting, we still got time at Basgiath for classes, got to be at home in Aretia, return to Cordyn, all while visiting new places in the Isle Kingdoms and Poromiel. As for the characters, we got even more moments of the squad working as a team, which was so fun because Ridoc, Sawyer, and Ri were more present in Onyx Storm in my opinion and had more weight in the story. We got time with the marked ones and even learned more about Imogen, Garrick, and Bodhi. Tairn and Andarna were more open with Violet and sassier than ever. And I can't even with Vi and Xaden; they were the cutest in this book. Their dedication to each other is unmatched. There is also a new villain introduced in this book, and we get more appearances from the first years like Sloane and Aaric. And forgive me for this, you'll understand if you've read the book already, but I even started to like Dain...

Overall, I cannot believe how much Yarros packed into this book and it was so fun to read. God tier, 6 stars out of 5!!

-SPOILERS AHEAD-

I literally felt like my soul had turned to ash like Xaden described his when turning venin after finishing this book. I actually turned the page expecting more because I was so confused and then raged in my room when I realized that was the end. And we have to wait YEARS for the next book??? This book is probably one of the most traumatizing I have ever read. Nothing positive happened besides gaining a puny human army, and nothing new was 100% figured out / learned that made complete sense or didn't raise further questions.

Speaking of questions, here's my endless list after that ending: What happened during those 12 hours? What did Mira figure out from the grandma and how does that info, Dunne, Violet, and her silver hair all connect together and to the main goal of defeating the venin and saving Xaden? What is Theophanie's full backstory and relation to Dunne, and what does this have to do with Vi and even her mother? Who turned venin at the end, Garrick or Bodhi? And how did Andarna return that fast and why? Why was Tairn drained? Why did Violet agree to let Imogen take her memories? How will Tairn and Sgaeyl survive the mating bond, if they didn't break it somehow? So many questions, and somehow, all this despair was just what I needed for this book.

Anyways, ending aside, I loved the exploration of the different religions and cultures in this book. I thought it was so cool that each isle was based around a god, even the Continent. I guess I didn't realize just how important they were to the series although they've been referenced throughout. I'm so curious as to what it means for Violet to be "touched by Dunne" and was so confused by her convo with Queen Marlis in Unnbriel. Why did Violet's dad take her to Unnbriel, but then not dedicate her, or whatever that means? How does she have silver hair like the rest of them, and like Theophanie? Does Vi being touched by Dunne relate to the reason her signet is power, or why Theophanie wanted her to turn? Theophanie didn't deny when Vi asked if she was from Unnbriel, and with the hair, tattoo, and the priestess' reaction to seeing her obviously means something. And what is the significance of Xaden and Vi being married by the high priestess of Dunne? Surely there were many more temples in the area. More questions lol.

On an even more confusing note, I think the real enemies-to-lovers was between the readers and Dain. Even before "Eyes here" (ahhhhh!), I really started to like Dain. He had such an attitude and I was so here for it. He became full Aretian, maybe even more than some of the others. He didn't try to win back his father, which seemed like a very old Dain move. He also supported Vi instead of stopping her, helping her get back her dad's research, being a part of the Quest Squad, and defending Bohdi in battle. And the fact that he had Sloane are the balance?!?! I was rooting for Sloane and Aaric, but I may be jumping ships...

And lastly, I'll end on a sad note because that seems fitting. The way Ridoc stepped into Liam's role literally had me bawling my eyes out. And knowing that Liam told him something along the lines of "Guard her like you're me" in the first book! It's all too much. But honestly, Violet needed someone on her side. Ri's first priority is always the squad as a whole, Sawyer and Xaden were dealing with their own problems, and the marked ones' first priority was each other and Xaden. No one was looking out for just Violet, and I am so happy that Ridoc was that person for Vi. His jumpscare almost-death was about to be the death of me (if you didn't already know, Ridoc has been my fav character since day one).

Be on the look out for my next post where I show the results of my Onyx Storm Bingo and talk about some new theories on what's to come next!