Onyx Storm, the third instalment in Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series, was released in January 2025 after over a year of eager anticipation. The five-book romantasy saga began with Fourth Wing (2023), which soared to viral success, fueled by TikTok’s BookTok community and drawing comparisons to Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass.
The series follows Violet Sorrengail, a physically fragile yet determined young woman forced into the brutal rider quadrant of Basgiath War College. In Iron Flame, Violet uncovers dark truths about the war, struggles to control her power, and wrestles with her feelings for Xaden Riorson. Onyx Storm picks up after Iron Flame’s shocking ending, as Violet fights to stay on the right side of history while searching for a cure for Xaden, now turned venin.
While Yarros’ humour—often delivered by fan-favourite Ridoc—adds charm, Onyx Storm suffers from excessive length and an overcomplicated plot. The narrative is dense, packed with quests and details that often go unresolved. Where previous books teased intriguing mysteries, this instalment leans on deus ex machina solutions, weakening the series’ epic fantasy aspirations.
Onyx Storm suffers from excessive length and an overcomplicated plot.
Despite these flaws, Violet and Xaden’s relationship remains the series’ strong point, with the two finally moving past the droning and grating miscommunication trope of the second book. However, while the romantic tension of Fourth Wing was urgent and thrilling, it cannot carry the entire book series alone. Yarros must push beyond her strengths in romance to craft a more cohesive and satisfying fantasy narrative going forward.
On a lighter note, fans found an unexpected star in the book’s 544 pages: a tiny orange kitten named Broccoli.
