✨ Hot Take Alert! ✨
Is Onyx Storm the comeback this series needed? After feeling let down by Iron Flame, I wasn’t sure if I’d stick with Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series—but here I am, ready for book four! 📖🔥

This third installment is undeniably fast-paced, packed with action, and delivers a much-needed deep dive into history and world-building in its latter half. I loved how Violet’s internal recitations introduced us to the world in book one, and while I missed that early on, the second half made up for it.

But let’s talk about the banter... again. It’s the same old formula: Andarna is still a brat, Violet and Xaden are ridiculously obsessed with each other, and the squad’s inside jokes haven’t evolved much. Meanwhile, Violet defies authority at every turn but barely tolerates dissent in her own ranks. And where’s the underdog we fell for in Fourth Wing? I miss the Violet who had to fight, adapt, and rely on her community. Now, she’s an unstoppable force, brushing off major injuries with two hours of sleep. As someone who’s chronically ill, I just can’t relate anymore.

That said, I did enjoy the writing (aside from the banter), and this book convinced me to keep going with the series.