In this Onyx Storm review, learn why the 3rd book in the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros lives up to the hype. I’ll tell you exactly why it’s worth reading, the pros and cons, comparisons to the rest of the series, helpful reading tips, and more. You’ll get a no-spoilers overview of everything you need to know before (or after) you dive into this record-breaking fantasy book. Let’s “fire” it up!
Onyx Storm Review Without Spoilers: Is it worth reading?
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Yes. It’s filled with high-intensity action and suspense from beginning to end, lots of travel, and a bit more spice.
For the most part, it answers what readers longed to know while also leaving readers with some new surprises and yet another epic cliffhanger.
Readers just need to be patient with the details they may not remember from prior books or use Onyx Storm reading guides to walk them through it, especially in the beginning.
Key Details
- Author: Rebecca Yarros
- Genre: Third fantasy book in a fantasy romance book series
- Publisher: Red Tower Books
- Publication Date: January 21, 2025
- Accolades: Instant #1 New York Times bestseller with 2.7 million copies sold in its first week — a record-breaker!
- Pages: 758
- Chapters: 66
- Age Rating: Appropriate for ages 18+ based on graphic sexual and war-themed content
- Content warnings: war, hand-to-hand combat, blood, intense violence, brutal injuries, gore, murder, death, animal death, injury rehabilitation, grief, poisoning, burning, perilous situations, graphic language, and sexual activities.
- Onyx Storm Spice Level: 3 out of 5 (Chapters 3, 11, 12, 18, 24, 25, 48, and 49)
Quick Plot Overview: Onyx Storm is mostly about the search for the seventh breed of dragons and a cure for being a dark-wielding venin. Along the way, Violet and her “quest squad” encounter several mental, emotional, and physical challenges, most notably Theophanie, who reappears as a high-ranking venin hungry for Violet and her dragon, Andarna.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Improved editing and writing
- Answers burning questions
- Explores exciting new settings
- High-intensity action throughout
- Adequate spice
- Less “info dumping”
CONS
- Inadequate recapping of the prior book
- Lots of new details to remember and analyze
- Pacing felt drawn out at times
- Much more can be done to help readers understand such a difficult book
The more time I spend reading, re-reading, researching, analyzing, and writing about Onyx Storm, the more I appreciate it.
What I liked most about my initial read-through, which took me a few days of consistent reading and note-taking, was how much it focused on travel to unique new island kingdoms, each offering its own exciting challenges. I kept thinking how great this book would be on film!
I was also grateful that Yarros openly answered the biggest cliffhangers from the previous book in the series, Iron Flame. It would have been such a bummer to continue waiting to learn things like Violet’s second signet.
Onyx Storm was much improved from Iron Flame in its quality of both writing and editing, which many readers had complained about. This meant there was a lot less “info-dumping,” and it was a bit shorter.
Of course, we all love some spice between Xaden and Violet, and not only did this one not disappoint, but it did a good job of teasing readers to wait for it.
Now that I’ve spent a few weeks working through Onyx Storm, I increasingly appreciate how nuanced it is in developing the characters, the plot, and the world and incorporating more Easter eggs and hints to theorize. I could definitely reread it and pick up tons of new things to think about, which makes a popular series like this have such massive appeal and will keep us busy until the next book’s release.
However, Onyx Storm wasn’t a perfect book. While markedly better than its predecessor, Iron Flame, which was very rushed in its publication only a few months after the original, Fourth Wing, I and many other readers struggled with it, particularly in the first ten or so chapters.
There were a few reasons: First, insufficient recapping was done. Things like “Violet’s deal with Tecarus” were mentioned very early, making me think, “What deal?”
Yarros also repeatedly calls Onyx Storm characters by their last name, which puts a significant burden on readers who are just trying to relax and are already trying to remember the Onyx Storm dragons, Onyx Storm signets, Onyx Storm map, and so much more. She also isn’t always clear as to which character is speaking, which is frustrating and requires re-reading.
Ultimately, these are editing issues, and if they aren’t improved even further, some readers will sadly quit the series, which is a one-of-a-kind reading experience for those who dare to work a bit through some incredibly imaginative and multi-layered text.
Beyond editing, things like a map including the islands where the bulk of the plot occurs, would have helped readers. And, though this book contains a brief cheat sheet, it contains nowhere near enough information to be truly helpful.
Finally, while all the travel and challenges were fun to read, working through them also felt a bit tiresome regarding pacing. The reader knows early on that this book is about the search for Andarna’s kind and the fight against one ominous Maven venin, but it takes hundreds of pages to get there, making the reader impatient.
Ultimately, though, Onyx Storm was well worth the journey.
Comparisons to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame
Onyx Storm is the third book in the Fourth Wing series in order.
So far, I and most readers agree that it’s better than Iron Flame, which was known for its long length, info dumping, and poor editing, but not as good as Fourth Wing, which was pure magic from the first parapet walk to the jaw-dropping last sentence.
It’s always hard to top the original, and I know many readers did struggle to “get into” Onyx Storm, but when you do, it offers a lot of adventure, and it’s especially fun to think about long after you turn the final page.
Helpful Reading Recommendations
TIPS
- Onyx Storm should only be read after you read Fourth Wing first and Iron Flame second. This series follows a continuous plot with the same characters.
- I recommend print or ebook format so you can focus on the many details. I prefer ebook so I can easily highlight, take notes, and do word searches.
- Read it slowly, as the jam-packed action scenes require a lot of energy to consume and understand.
- Use Onyx Storm reading guides to work your way through the details. Specifically, many readers have appreciated my Onyx Storm chapter summaries, so you can make sure you understand what happened after every chapter without spoiling the plot for yourself at the same time.
Recap: Onyx Storm lives up to the hype!
Ultimately, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros lives up to the hype of its status as the bestselling adult novel in 20 years. It was adventurous, exciting, and romantic. It showed a marked improvement in the quality of writing and editing, as well as continued development of characters and themes. It also left us with cliffhangers and many hints to consider for the next book. But, readers should be prepared to read it slowly and with intention.
Want an easier way to read Onyx Storm?
Stop feeling confused and start enjoying Onyx Storm! Take your reading experience to the next level with this 23-page, ad-free PDF version of my reading guides, perfect for printing and on-the-go reference while you read.
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remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
