Onyx Storm (Wing and Claw Collection) (The Empyrean, 3)

A Storm of Secrets, Dragons, and Obsession 🐉⚡ Tropes: Dragons / Romantasy / Found Family / Quest Adventure / Ancient Secrets / Morally Grey Hero / High Stakes Romance / Political Intrigue / Magic Mysteries / Touch Her and Die Synopsis: In the aftermath of Iron Flame, Violet and her allies are forced to confront truths that challenge everything they thought they knew about dragons, magic, and the history of their world. As new revelations emerge and old enemies evolve, the search for answers becomes more dangerous than ever, with the fate of those they love hanging in the balance. My Thoughts: This book was perfection. The scope of the story expands so much beyond the previous books, yet somehow never loses the heart of what made me fall in love with this series in the first place. Every revelation felt significant, every mystery had me desperate for answers, and every chapter left me needing just one more. What I loved most was how much deeper the lore became. The questions surrounding the venin, the origins of magic, and especially Andarna had me completely hooked. I found myself constantly theorising, highlighting passages, and trying to connect the dots. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. The dragons continue to be some of my favourite characters in fantasy, the emotional stakes hit hard, and the balance between action, mystery, and romance felt spot on. Not once did I want the story to slow down. By the time I reached the final page, I wasn't ready to leave this world. I wanted more answers, more dragons, more chaos, and preferably the next book immediately. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Every question led to another mystery. Every revelation made the world feel bigger. And every page reminded me why this series has such a hold on me. 🖤 #BooksInARow #OnyxStorm #RebeccaYarros #FantasyBooks #Romantasy #DragonRiders #BookReview #PagesInPyjamas

I dont want to give anything away. I dont write reviews to rehash what I read. I skip reviews that give too much synopsis or delves into book report style. Just going to gloss over. These books get a wide expanse of reviews. Great to terribad. Like it or dont, writers have a magical ability to weave worlds and create people like they are real. I'm thankful for writers, and if a story can make me feel something, can make me imagine something, then I am forever grateful. I am a fan of this series, and a book or story doesnt have to be perfect for me to enjoy it. No, this is not perfect, but I love hanging out in this world. If I' feeling it, then I read the book, if it isnt working for me, then I give myself permission to stop and turn to something else. I frankly found these books entertaining, and I look forward to the next installment. I think book 3 story line has gelled a lot, with much of that having to do with main characters having gone through some stuff. Some new names left it hard for me to keep track of, but not off putting. Some characters I would like to have seen more of, again not off putting. I definitely got the feels in this one, and I definitely wont say from what. But I will say I was blowing my nose as I read in bed. Not a devastating thing, just a bittersweet thing. Lots of humor, lots of WTF, and plenty of new areas explored. Of course, lots of low level (to me) spice. I like the diversity of characters. I love the dragons. I really got a greater understanding of degree of bond. It isnt that it was explicitly explained, I think something just clicked further. I like when I need to take a breather when I finish a book. That is when I have to read something entirely different, and with this one it is like that. Leaves me with feels and thoughts, and I dont want to jump into anything of same genre right away.

Onyx Storm was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025. We all waited for over a year between Iron Flame, which had a killer cliffhanger, and Onyx Storm so there was a ton of build-up when it comes to expectations. I tried to stay away from podcasts, reels, shorts, or content that would speculate about Onyx Storm, the plot, the characters, etc. And I did fairly well with that. But all that to say, expectations were high. And unfortunately, I find when expectations are super-high, it's hard for any book to live up to the hype. Onyx Storm fell a little flat for me initially. Let me explain why. Iron Flame ends with that mega cliffhanger that I already mentioned. If you don't know what the cliffhanger is, you probably don't want to keep reading because there will be spoilers for the prior books included in this review. Xaden has drawn from the earth which has started the process of turning him venin. Because we didn't know much about the process of someone turning, we (I) falsely assumed that one pull and he'd be straight venin. Apparently, that's not how things work. But when a book ends in a negative cliffhanger (where a major event happens that leaves the characters in a negative place), I almost dread reading the next book because I know there are going to be more bad events to come before we can get to the good. And well, that's also to be expected from the 3rd book in a 5-book series. And of course, that is true for Onyx Storm. Thankfully, things weren't as bad as I worried they would be simply because Xaden isn't immediately evil. Onyx Storm keeps you in perpetual fear of wondering if Xaden is going to draw power again, and if he does, at what point will he have crossed the line into too far gone. I guess this is probably a good thing because Violet is in the same place. No matter how much faith she has that Xaden would never hurt her, she can't say that he wouldn't channel again. And so you remain in the same anxious place as Violet. This creates the desire to keep reading. A large portion of Onyx Storm's plot is the "Quest Squad" traveling to various islands south of "The Continent" in hopes of discovering Andarna's kin and the 7th dragon breed. I found this whole quest a little frustrating. I wasn't excited about any of the islands they visited. Too much time was spent trying to show how each island is different from each other. And yeah. I kept reading simply from a pressing desire to know what was going to happen, but if I look back on this portion of the book, I find it boring. And if I were re-reading the series, I would dread getting to this section. I found myself feeling like I was missing information a couple of times. Sometimes I wondered if that was because I hadn't re-read the previous two books before jumping into this one. Sometimes, I wondered if Rebecca Yarros was being mysterious intentionally. Sometimes I flat asked myself what in the world she was talking about. And sometimes I felt like I understood what was being said, but it didn't make any sense. More than anything, the more I've thought about Onyx Storm the more I've realized that Rebecca Yarros is writing much deeper than I realized, and she's one of those authors where nothing is said or done meaninglessly. So now, I need to go back and re-read all three books to see what foreshadowing I've missed*. Some authors aren't capable of making every detail mean something. I'm realizing she is one of the authors who can. Many of the things I highlighted were only to help me write my book review. When I went back to re-read some of my highlights, I think I inadvertently highlighted some very important parts that will play into the future. I weeded through all of my highlights to find my favorite quotes: I loved the dedication. -To the ones who don't run with the popular crowd, the ones who get caught reading under their desks, the ones who feel like they never get invited, included, or represented. Get your leathers. We have dragons to ride. Now for the book content: -The only thing stronger than the power prowling within me is the resolve stiffening my spine. -"But do not mistake my unflinching support of you, my mate, and Andarna for any form of faith in him." -"Pain isn't a competition," I assure him. "There's always enough to go around." -"Do not dehydrate on my account," he lectures. -"Do you really think this is the only room where I've felt tormented? Pain isn't new to me, Jack. She's an old friend I spend most of my days with, so I don't mind if she sings to you. Honestly doesn't even look like the same chamber with how you've redecorated. It's a little monochromatic for me." -"We live by the Codex--" I try again. "I live by you." ... "I am yours and you are mine, and there's no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that." -"He didn't love me, not the way I deserved to be loved, and no amount of power is worth staying with someone who doesn't love you." -"My loyalty is to Violet first above everything, everyone else," Xaden says. "Then Tyrrendor. Then Navarre in the moments it's worthy--usually when Violet is in residence." -Do not mistake a dragon's bond for fealty. If you expect a dragon to choose their rider over the well-being of their own kind, prepare for two things: disappointment and death. -"Don't barter it away," I beg as he stares at the sea, and the words spill out of me faster and faster as his eyes harden and he resurrects the defenses it took me a year to break past. "The pain. The mess. Give it to me. I'll hold it. I know that sounds ludicrous, but I'll find a way." I lace our fingers. "I will hold everything you don't want to feel because I love every part of you." -"The best leaders are the ones who never want the job. This is your mission because Andarna chose you. Tairn chose you." -"You're not a trigger. You're the only thing I can't fathom losing. Wielding to protect you has always been an instinct, but now it's...uncontrollable." -"If he hurts me, then he's not him anymore." -"Your inability to follow simple orders will get her killed, and I will not lose her as I did the one who came before!" -"Am I not everything you wanted me to be? Am I not as fierce and courageous as he is? Is this not what I am supposed to do? Sharpen my claws on the scales of the enemy? -"I love you and I want you to feel complete"... -"I was whole and now I'm not"... -"You've been breathing, and that's enough for me." -"Acknowledging your fear for the lightning wielder does not compromise you." Feirge calls me out just like always. "Ignoring it does. Accept the emotion and move on." -"You have been the gift of my life"... I can't include any more quotes because even if I'm being vague, there's just too much to spoil. It's been 3 days between finishing Onyx Storm and writing this review. And the more time I have to sit with the events, the more my feelings on the book have changed. I still feel like not much happened to advance the overall plot of the book until the last 100 pages. A few key pieces here and there. And I still feel like (highlight for spoiler) the cliffhanger for Iron Flame is basically the same cliffhanger as Onyx Storm but with a few missing dragon riders, dragons, and eggs. But I'm beginning to see that this story is so much more complex than I ever gave credit, and I need to apologize to Rebecca Yarros for taking three books to realize how in-depth her writing really is. My initial rating might have fallen around the 3.5 Star range, but the more I think about it, Onyx Storm gets 4 Stars. Have you read Onyx Storm? What did you think? Let me know! *Since writing this review, I have re-read Fourth Wing and may have an Upon Further Review post coming from that in the future. I also plan to re-read Iron Flame, but first-time reads have to come before re-reads. **Also, I've accidentally plunged head-first into the world of theories for the remainder of the series. The sheer amount of videos dedicated to fan theories are insane and on a level I've never seen before. Just the fact that there is enough space for all of these videos means this series is deep and on another level. This would not be possible for just any series.

I genuinely don’t think I was emotionally prepared for Onyx Storm. This book completely consumed me from beginning to end and somehow left me sitting in the aftermath long after the final page. The emotional wreckage was indescribable; in both the best and worst ways. Rebecca Yarros has a way of making every moment feel immediate and alive. The tension, fear, grief, loyalty, and love are all pushed to their limits. I wasn’t simply reading this story; I felt like I was surviving it alongside these characters. Violet continues to be one of my favorite heroines because of her resilience. Even when she’s terrified, grieving, overwhelmed, or carrying more than anyone should have to, she keeps going. There is so much strength in her vulnerability, and watching her continue to fight for the people she loves was incredibly emotional. And the relationships? Devastating. The loyalty, protectiveness, banter, and emotional tension felt painfully real. Every interaction carried weight, and every sacrifice mattered. There were moments when I genuinely had to stop reading just to process what had happened. The world continues to expand in ways that feel dangerous, intricate, and breathtaking, while the stakes are heavier than ever. There’s a constant sense that no one is truly safe, which made it nearly impossible for me to put the book down. I cried. I laughed. I stressed myself out repeatedly. I became emotionally attached all over again, knowing full well this series seems determined to make me suffer. And somehow, I already want to go back. Onyx Storm wasn’t simply a book I read; it was an experience I survived. Now I’m left with the kind of book hangover that only comes from a story that leaves its mark long after the final page. An unforgettable, emotionally immersive fantasy that completely wrecked me.

After finishing this book, I can confidently say this is my favorite book in the series so far. Somehow, Rebecca managed to make me laugh, stress eat imaginary snacks, cry and then stare blankly at a wall questioning every decision I’ve ever made. That’s talent. One of the biggest surprises for me was Violet. You all know I had a complicated relationship with her in Iron Flame. There were moments in that book where I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and yell, “Girl, PLEASE.” But in in this third book, she finally felt like the version of Violet I’d been waiting for. She’s stronger, more confident and much more comfortable trusting herself. After everything she’s endured, it was incredibly satisfying to watch her step into her power and stop second guessing every move she made. And then there’s Xaden. This man continues to be a serious threat to my emotional stability. We got to see a softer side of him in this book and I absolutely ate it up. Beneath all the shadows, secrets and intimidating glares is a man who would quite literally move mountains for Violet and honestly? The devotion was devotion-ing. Their relationship felt much healthier this time around too, which I loved. Instead of spending half the book arguing or misunderstanding each other, they actually worked together like a team. A shocking concept in romantasy, I know. Of course, we need to talk about the true MVP of this book: Ridoc. At this point, I would happily read 500 pages of Ridoc doing absolutely nothing. Every time the story got too intense and my anxiety started climbing, he showed up with a sarcastic comment and saved me from a complete emotional breakdown. His friendship with Violet remains one of my favorite relationships in the entire series and honestly, he deserves a raise. I also loved getting to explore more of the world beyond Basgiath. The different locations made the story feel bigger, richer and much more adventurous. It felt like a fantasy road trip where every stop came with a new problem. More than once I found myself thinking, “Well, surely things can’t get any worse from here.” Rebecca heard that thought and immediately chose violence. That said, the book wasn’t perfect for me. Some of the conflicts felt a little too convenient and a few of the threats never quite felt as intimidating as they were supposed to. There were moments where I braced myself for massive consequences, only for things to work out a little easier than expected. The stakes were still there, but occasionally they didn’t hit quite as hard as I wanted them to. The final chapters, however? Pure chaos. I was gasping, laughing, panicking and emotionally spiraling all at the same time. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, Rebecca grabbed my predictions, crumpled them up and threw them directly into a fire. The last stretch of this book had me reading faster and faster while simultaneously wanting to slow down because I wasn’t emotionally prepared for whatever was waiting on the next page. By the time I finished, I felt that special kind of book hangover where you’re both completely satisfied and completely devastated. The kind where you want the next book immediately, but you also want to put the author in a timeout corner until she promises to stop hurting your favorite characters. This book took everything I loved about this series and cranked the volume all the way up. It made me laugh, shattered my heart several times, stitched it back together and then shattered it again for good measure. Now excuse me while I join the rest of the fandom in overanalyzing every tiny detail, collecting theories like Pokemon cards and waiting for book four with the patience of an overtired toddler.

Best one yet! This is her Prisoner of Azkaban aka: the writing and worldbuilding catch up to an engaging story with characters we already love. I need a little more time to process and write a coherent review that isn't full of all-caps, exclamation points, and spoilers. 3 weeks later and I've read so many despairing (and overlong, repetitive) 2* and 1* reviews that I had to speak up for those of us who loved OS. For some context, I grew up a fantasy reader. Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Dragonriders of Pern, Game of Thrones, Wayfarer Redemption, Valdemar, Sword of Truth. I only came to romance in my late 20s and romantasy later. However, many of the above-mentioned books HAD romance, it was just rarely explicit and rarely focused on a trope. I got into the Empyrean series reluctantly as I'm not on TikTok and didn't like Throne of Glass so I avoid hype books. I loved Fourth Wing. Sure it was in a war college with twenty-somethings and was incredibly dramatic as that age group often is. But the magic system was interesting, I love dragon bonds, and Yarros had created a world that could grow along with plenty of rich characters. In IF we got outside of college and met another country and the gryphons. Great, that's growth. As well, our lovers are torn apart at times, that's normal 2nd book romance. Imogen, Rhiannon, and Mira are fleshed out a bit. Violet learns about her magic and we learn why Andarna's special. In OS we get a huge expansion of the world and lore. I agree that the many gods were hard to follow at first but Hinduism has dozens of gods so this was manageable. Minor characters got growth (Ridoc, Aaric, Cat, Sawyer, and Garrick, love y'all) and our lovebirds are working toward a goal together. I LOVED the quest story! It was pure classic fantasy. They even gathered mysterious objects that will be of use later. Andarna had a whole story arc and we learn a heap more about dragon history and their impact on magic itself. Big news and potential major implications against the venin. Along with everything we learn from Theophanie (her name is fine, Aelin is ridiculous). Yes, there's another cliffhanger but now there's amnesia too? That's very different from IF! Violet and Xaden made a major relationship step and they both dug into their family history and trauma in different ways. These characters have to step up in different arenas beyond just battle. Violet has to lead, Xaden has to be emotionally vulnerable and politics plays a much bigger role, which was interesting and more mature. A lot of people also forget that middle books/movies are supposed to raise more questions than answers. Does no one remember Empire Strikes Back?! Han's missing, Luke lost a hand, Vader claims to be Luke's father, and new allies and planets have been introduced. For OS, I've had so much fun discussing theories and analyzing lines and references with friends. This is a rich book and an engaging world. It was never going to stay in a neat academy + romance box.

4 ⭐️ When I first finished this book, I was convinced it was a 6-star masterpiece. I was unhinged, emotional, and fully convinced Rebecca had changed literature forever. Now, almost a year later, rereading my notes with an actual functioning brain? It’s a good, solid 4-star read with a chaotic finale that temporarily blinded me to its flaws. What i liked: Violet finally acted like the Violet I wanted. She wasn’t insecure every five pages. She wasn’t waiting to be rescued. She finally stepped into her role instead of stumbling through it, and honestly that alone made this better than Iron Flame. Xaden. Still a complete simp. Still obsessed. Still delivering lines that would make a Victorian woman faint. I have no complaints there. Ridoc continues to carry the humor. Every series desperately needs someone whose only job is to make the chaos tolerable. That’s him. If Rebecca kills him, she hates happiness. The island quest actually had purpose. Unlike Iron Flame, which felt like running errands in an RPG game, this part of the book meaningfully expanded the world and gave space for character dynamics to develop. The ending. Absolutely unhinged. And yes, I loved it. It’s the sole reason my original rating temporarily left the realm of logic. What i didn't like: Too many names. If you aren’t Violet, Xaden, Ridoc, Tairn, or the missing Broccolli (yes, I’m still thinking about it), you barely exist in my memory. There were so many new people, places, and lore drops thrown around that it became noise. Violet’s selective obliviousness. There were multiple moments where any normal person would have stopped and connected the dots. She didn’t. Whether it was the silver-haired attendants, the priestess, or the nightmares — it felt like the plot needed her to ignore information so it could matter later. Attempted redemption arcs that didn’t land. Dain existed. That’s the kindest summary. I still don’t know if I’m supposed to like him now or simply tolerate him. The writing and pacing. There’s a lot of potential in this world — dragons, politics, gods — but the execution still feels scattered. Instead of layering information naturally through character or plot, it comes in bursts, name dumps, and abrupt reveals. It’s interesting, but not seamlessly built. Final thought: I enjoyed this book. It’s absolutely better than Iron Flame. The characters felt stronger, the story had purpose, and the ending was exactly the kind of chaotic drama I live for. But with distance, clarity, and less adrenaline, it’s not a perfect book. It’s not structurally clean, and it leans heavily on emotional chaos rather than consistent worldbuilding. So yes — I’ll be reading the next one. But next time, I’m waiting at least 48 hours post-ending before I declare it 6 star hahah.

Wow...that is all I have to say. I laughed (a lot) which was really needed as a lead up to the last 25% of the book. There were moments where RY was really testing our emotions HEAVILY. What a journey this book takes you on. I love that we got so much more time with the supporting characters and more input from their perspective of all the things that have been going down on the continent. I have no notes...we got answers to some of the things that were left in the dark in Iron Flame and saddled with entirely new questions we get to sit and lament over until the fourth book is released. You may hate it, or you may love it...all the same RY continues to elevate this story and keep us on our toes and keep us talking months after the book is released. This is the first book I had a hard time stepping away from to sleep and I am glad I consumed it as quickly as I did. Now to move on to some lighter material and wait for the book hangover to ensue :)

I never leave a review for books because each of us have different taste ... but this is one of the best book series I read after the bear and the nightingale in 2019 ... I read a lot and this book is so well written... keeps you on your toe... and you don't want to let it go... I cannot wait for the rest... Will be waiting impatiently!!!!!

Omggg what a cliffhanger!! I can't wait for the next book 📚📖 this story sucked me in so much. I'm obsessed

It is raw, deep, engaging, addictive and all above, please! Can’t wait for the next book, I’ll be first in line to get it!

I brought 3 versions, kindle, hard cover in english and spanish version, the kindle version it was to read it before my english and spanish version arrived through my mail xD

Well, guys, here I am—after a week of thinking, processing, and unraveling theories with my bookish friends, I’m finally ready to give my two cents. And I’ll start by saying I AM OBSESSED. This series has become my whole personality, and I’m not even mad about it. I’ll keep the first part spoiler-free and announce when the spoilers begin. First Impressions (No Spoilers!) First and foremost, this book was absolutely worth the wait. I had a lot of resentment toward the rushed release of Iron Flame—I get that Fourth Wing was a massive hit, but six months was nowhere near enough time to craft a solid sequel, and it showed. It felt rushed, overloaded with info dumps, and lacking the magic of FW. But with Onyx Storm, Rebecca brought us back to the action-packed, deadly, and adventurous storytelling we fell in love with, and I couldn’t be happier. The plot flows quickly, with something happening on every page. I loved how all the small clues felt like they were leading to something bigger, making the final reveals even more satisfying. One of the strongest aspects of the book is that while Violet and Xaden are obviously the heart of the story, we also have an incredible cast of supporting characters who add so much depth, even when they’re not frequently on the page. Shoutout to Aaric, Ridoc, Imogen, and Garrik! Also, can we stop labeling this series as ‘dragon smut’? First of all, people calling FW "smut" clearly haven’t read actual smut. Secondly, the sex scenes are minimal, far apart, and not even that wild. Everything Rebecca writes has a purpose—even the steamy moments contribute to character development. This series is about friendship, loyalty, adventure, grief, and jaw-dropping plot twists—so let’s not reduce it to something it’s not. Spoilers Ahead – Read at Your Own Risk! - - - - ✅ Violet and Xaden’s Relationship: After the toxicity and frustration of Iron Flame, I feel like we finally got what we needed—communication and trust. Their devotion to each other was beautiful to watch, and jealous Xaden? A dream. Obviously, we figured out pretty quickly that Halden wasn’t a real threat (he turned out to be a whiny, entitled brat), but when he was first introduced? I kicked and screamed at how adorably possessive Xaden was. 💡 Violet’s Second Signet: I’m holding off judgment on this one. Right now, my friends and I have cooler theories than what we actually got (dreamwalking? Meh.). But I trust Rebecca to make it work. So far, it feels more like nightmare-walking than dreamwalking, so let’s see how it evolves. 🚨 That character (whose name I can’t even remember) manifesting shadows?! WTF. I cannot handle the idea of Xaden losing his shadows or, worse, turning fully dark. I still believe Violet is the key to his redemption or evolution. However, I’ve noticed that as the book progresses, Xaden’s love/jealousy starts shifting toward full-blown obsession. This could mean: He’s desperately holding onto his humanity through Violet OR He’s slipping into something much darker 😬 But what I loved was that unlike in Iron Flame, Violet never loses faith in him. She stands by him, no matter what. 🔥Tairn remains the best character in the entire series. If he weren’t a dragon, he’d be the hottest male character—don’t even fight me on this. I adore how protective he is of Violet, and in Onyx Storm, we also see his softer side with Andarna. He’s the ultimate girl dad, and I love him even more for it. 💛Andarna’s journey felt incredibly real. She’s a typical teenager, and when she left, I felt the loss just as much as Violet did. I completely understood her need to find her kind, but in the end, she had already chosen her family—Tairn, Violet, and their values. The way she always wanted to be like Tairn? Too sweet for words. 💙Aaric = underrated fave. After Ridoc, he’s my favorite supporting character. He’s marginal yet central to the story, and I loved his signet (which I figured out way before Violet did, btw). The way he’s the complete opposite of his brother? Perfection. I really hope we see more of him in the next book. 😭 Now, my beloved Ridoc… I AM SCARED. Rebecca has confirmed that a beloved character will die, and I have a sinking feeling it might be him. Could he be the "brother" Xaden refers to at the end? (He says new brother, so maybe not Bodhi or Garrik, since he already considered them brothers.) Are we being set up for heartbreak? I FEEL LIKE WE ARE. Mentions: 📖 I NEED an Imogen & Garrik love story ASAP. 💔 Quinn’s death DESTROYED me. I was sobbing while driving home, listening to that chapter. Unsafe and unhinged behavior. 🔥 Xaden’s chapter was everything. 💍 Violet waking up with a rock on her finger and no memory?? IMOGEN, EXPLAIN YOURSELF. 💜 Sawyer deserves more screen time. Final Rating: ⭐ 5/5 Stars It was amazing. The best of the series so far. Rebecca, you have my heart (and my sanity in shambles).