About the Book
Title: Onyx Storm
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Series: The Empyrean #3
Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy
Pages: 544
Edition Read: Kindle Library eBook
Dates Read: May 28 – June 1, 2026
Blurb: After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming…and not everyone can survive its wrath.
Review
It’s taken me a while to review this book, mostly because I need to gather my thoughts. So much happens in this series that it’s hard to keep it all together in my head sometimes. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this book – I thought it was great. But it’s definitely something to prepare for and not for the faint at heart.
** THERE MIGHT BE SLIGHT SPOILERS – READ AT YOUR OWN RISK **
Violet continues to be a badass and I will forever be impressed with how Yarros is writing her character. It’s not easy writing a character with a disability, especially when you want them to be the hero. If the disability doesn’t hinder them at all, then it isn’t realistic. If the disability prevents them from doing all the things, then they aren’t a very effective heroic protagonist. It’s a fine line to walk and I think Yarros continues to do an excellent job at it. The other thing I like about Violet’s character is how devoted she is, to her dragons, her friends, and especially Xaden. We learned in the last book that Xaden was turned into a venin and Violet is determined to spend any free time she has trying to find a cure. She refuses to give up and watch Xaden slowly lose himself, even though it’s clear that time is running out.
One thing I like about these books is that the conflict and tension always stays high. Despite the romance between Violet and Xaden, there is tension there as well because they rarely see eye to eye on a lot of things, especially if it involves Violet risking her life for him in any way. The venin continue to be a terrifying enemy, especially a new one we meet named Theophanie. The dragon riders have allied with the griffon riders from outside the wards and, while things are getting better-ish, they still don’t completely get along. The generals at Basgiath continue to be awful and try to arrest Violet for treason at one point. Literally, there is SO MUCH HAPPENING! I haven’t even scratched the surface.
On top of all of that, we also have people somehow manifesting two different signet powers AND a new type of dragon – Andarna is an irid and not much is known about them, which of course means we have to go search them out. Just add it to the to-do list, I guess!
The only criticism I feel about this books is still about the venin. While we now have met individual venin with names and faces and learned a bit more about them, they are still just “evil.” There is no nuance to them being evil. There is no reasoning behind their evil. They just hate everyone and want to use their twisted powers to kill off everyone. Maybe in the next book we’ll find out more of what makes them tick, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Overall, this was a well thought out addition to the Empyrean series, full of twists and turns and adventure. I’m very curious to see where this all goes!
GoodReads rating: 5 stars
Categories: Books I've Read
Life With No Plot 
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