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Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)

Rebecca Yarros

Start date: March 3, 2025

Finish date: March 27, 2025

Discussion: OTM

Discussion leader: Selma Z L

Why we're reading this: March BOTM
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By Bellaaa !! · 90 posts · 84 views

last updated Mar 27, 2025 12:47PM

BOTM Discussion
By Bellaaa !! · 28 posts · 56 views

last updated Sep 15, 2024 04:14PM

What Members Thought

Jan 21, 2025 Isabelle rated it really liked it

I feel like this one drug a little bit towards the middle, but I still really enjoyed it! Onyx Storm definitely lost some of the magic and charm that made Fourth Wing so addictive, but when a series goes from a trilogy to five books that’s to be expected. It was fun seeing the banter between the squad again, and I definitely laughed out loud a few times (Tairn is hilarious and a comedic genius 🫡). The end actually had be sweating I was so nervous. Once again it’s time to wait another year or so ...more

61 likes · Like · see review

Mar 28, 2024 andy is currently reading it

preread: i didn't even finish iron flame but i think i get the gist eh (im gna kms if this sucks)

what if i hate read this and write a horrific review because im so tired of this story dragging on and being unnecessarily long...?

would you guys hold my hands in solidarity 😭 ...more

49 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2025 Samm 🍄🥀🌙🪐⚡️ rated it it was amazing

I respect her taking time off writing this series to get her mental health back on track....but like, what about our mental health, rebecca?! UGHHHHHH

39 likes · Like · see review

Dec 16, 2024 Crissie Jay rated it did not like it

Most boring and OVERRATED series ever!

I honestly can’t believe people actually enjoyed this crap and gave it more than 1 stars. It’s appalling

31 likes · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2025 ٠࣪⭑aurora rated it it was amazing

I must confess it was so difficult for me to get into this one at first. I felt like nothing was happening and everything was so forced and lots of irrelevant information was being thrown at me, but once it speeds up it's *chef kiss*.
I have three things I'd like to mention:
1. Ridoc and Garrick!!!!!!!
2. I miss Liam and he was not mentioned enough in this book
3. WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT ENDING
Thank you very much ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2025 Jodie rated it really liked it

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros is an incredible read that kept me hooked from start to finish! The story follows Violet as she faces challenges that test her strength and resilience. I loved how real and relatable the characters were, especially the dynamic between Violet and Xaden. Their chemistry was electric!

The pacing of the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I found myself laughing, gripping my heart in suspense, and even shedding a few tears along the way. The writing is engaging and flows ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 28, 2025 Gina Thomas rated it liked it

3.5⭐️ My most anticipated read of this year…I think I wanted to love it so much that it fell short. The book has an incredible amount of world building, while interesting, it left me at times feeling overwhelmed with so many new characters and new places. Violet became annoying to me, i felt like Tairn and wanted to say…please I don’t need to know every thought in your head. Sometimes the explanations were excessive. I really enjoyed the banter between each characters, the characters and their d ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Jan 31, 2025 Kiara rated it it was amazing

So that just happened…. I didn’t want to rush through it to savor it…. I did savor it and it was still amazing and left me wanting more. But I am in disbelief and shock after reading that ending. Rebecca did it once again. I can see why some people were confused at the beginning but I thought it was really well written and executed once you get the hang of it. I have so many questions and need answers. There’s no way I can wait patiently for the next one. I will definitely have to read it again ...more

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Jul 16, 2024 PrincesSarah marked it as finishing-a-series

Well I have yet to finish the second book but I already know that I’m gonna read this book, also the name Onyx storm (what is even an onyx storm, or a flame that is an iron, the only name I got is fourth wing) is so on brand 🤣

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 24, 2025 Aleesha rated it liked it

As good as it is to be back in this world. I have to admit that for the first... oh, 40% of this book, there was a lot going on...but nothing was happening.

And as much as I root for Xaden and Violet, I LIVE for Andarna and Tairn. And we didn't get to see nearly enough of them. And when we did, Tarin's familiar surly behavior had slipped into ... I don't even know. Something that felt more like anger or resentment. Either way, he wasn't nearly as witty and funny as he had been in the past 2 book As good as it is to be back in this world. I have to admit that for the first... oh, 40% of this book, there was a lot going on...but nothing was happening.

And as much as I root for Xaden and Violet, I LIVE for Andarna and Tairn. And we didn't get to see nearly enough of them. And when we did, Tarin's familiar surly behavior had slipped into ... I don't even know. Something that felt more like anger or resentment. Either way, he wasn't nearly as witty and funny as he had been in the past 2 books. Andarna has her moments, but even she was used more as a messenger than anything else. And I really hoped we'd get to see more of her personality besides wanting to eat EVERYTHING she came into contact with.

The back half of the book picks up, but there's a lot of traveling and talking to people and not really any actual plot progression. When stuff DOES finally start to go somewhere, the book fucking ends. Don't get me wrong. I loved this book. There's a lot of really great stuff going on in here. Stuff that had me bawling, and stuff that had me screaming laughing. I think we definitely have a better look at the world these characters live in now, and we've seen some real (and hella interesting) growth from Violet and Xaden. Violet especially.

But.

This book FEELS like a middle-book. Yeah, there's some development here and there, but mostly it's just the characters running around (flying around?) like chickens with their heads cut off on this mission or that one. We could have probably knocked a hundred pages off this book and nothing would have changed.

I hate that we spent so much time parted from the core group of friends (Sawyer was understandable, but still disappointing), too. Sure, Ridoc goes with Violet on one mission, but I missed the old group. Not to mention, everybody felt different in this book. Everybody. (Like we hardly see Rhi at all. What the fuck was up with THAT?)

And sure, maybe that's the trials of war weighing on people. But they just weren't as fun to be around as I was used to. Not even Ridoc could carry this story on his back alone. (And the boy TRIED)

The last 10% of this book is where LITERALLY all the action is. And I can't even really be all that happy about it, because (view spoiler)

So. While I'm still eating this story up, while I still love these characters, this book was sort of...underwhelming. I expected there to be more "it gets worse before it gets better" in this book--and we don't get that. (Xaden's...condition is basically in a holding pattern the whole time, the big huge bomb drop in Iron Flame meant NOTHING in the end.)

It's a lot of...filler. We probably could have plucked out the 2 or 3 major plot progressive moments and added them to another book and completely done without this book in the series.

Here's hoping the next installment actually delivers on the cliffhanger this one leaves us with. 3.5 stars. ...more

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Dec 11, 2024 Cherry -Mental Health Hiatus- rated it it was amazing

this is for everyone who hates an author so much, they leave negative, hate filled reviews, and one star ratings. I am SO sorry your parents don't love you, butt let the rest of us enjoy our books. seriously. it's not that deep. if you hate something so much, you feel the need to verbal diarrhea everywhere, go touch some grass. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review