Carole´s Monday: Onyx Storm

Author: Onyx Storm

Title: Rebecca Yarros

Series: The Empyrean #3

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 544

Published: January 21, 2025

Where I got It: Borrowed friend's copy

Summary: 

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:

Been holding off on reading this because I KNOW the next book is not released yet and I just knew that this ending was probably going to piss me off again and then leave me needing answers. Sighs. I finally caved and started this bad boy. 

We pick up where we left off. Violet and her friends need to figure out how to stop the wards from failing and find allies for this upcoming war. The trip will take them to unfamiliar lands and test all of their wit, luck, and strength. They need an army, power, and most importantly....magic. However, there is a secret that she must keep that threatens everyone she loves. 

The beginning couple of chapters was intense and great and fun. Things came to a screeching halt for a while though. It dragged and dragged and dragged. If I hear Violet say how hot Xaden is ONE more time I will screaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam. We get it Violet. He's a hunk and you love him. I honestly feel like some of this was filler that could've been trimmed down a bit. Don't get it twisted...I loved the talking bits and the political intrigue. That is always entertaining. However, there for sure some filler parts. It felt like the author just wanted to add extra pages to make this bigger. 

Andarna! You sweet, sweet bean of a dragon. I love her so much. 

The ending. Well. TWIST! AND CLIFFIE! GAH! Dang author got me again. I literally flipped the last page a couple of times looking for more. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

All-in-all, I did enjoy this continuation. I worry for everyone and especially Xaden after the conclusion of this one. The cliffie is intense and we do not have another book yet. GAH! I can't wait! I truly hope the author does some good editing though. There was SO much filler in this one. SOOOOO much. It dragged the plot down at some points. We don't need 500+ pages. It's rare that a story needs that much. I think we could've shaved about 50 pages and it would've helped the plot and story. 

Ignoring my annoyance with the filler scenes, I liked this book. I hope the series stays this good or gets better. 

I struggled with a rating. I think 3.5 would be perfect, but Goodreads doesn't have decimals. So after some complicated mathage I decided to land on 3. MAINLY for the fact the other two were better by a margin.

3 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Andarna

Least Favorite Character(s): No spoilers....but there was a group of dragons that needed to be kicked. PLUS our big baddie of this one.