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

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.

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

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.

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.

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 is an incredible addition to The Empyrean series and completely lived up to the hype. From the very first chapter, the story pulls you into a world filled with danger, emotion, political tension, and unforgettable twists. The pacing was intense, and I honestly had a hard time putting it down. The character development continues to shine in this book, especially with the emotional growth, relationships, and high-stakes decisions throughout the story. The bond between the characters felt authentic, and the action scenes were vivid and exciting without losing the emotional depth that makes this series so addictive. The world-building and dragon lore continue to expand in such an engaging way, and the ending left me desperate for the next installment. Fans of fantasy, romance, and action-packed storytelling will absolutely love this book. Definitely will be continuing this series!

Rebecca! It kills me to write this review. I LOVE the first two books. LOVE! But this one? It’s so messy. Please don’t let your publishers rush you. We’d rather have a great book to read than something slung together. And if the series was supposed to be 3 books and you got asked for 5, then wonderful! But re-plot the last books BEFORE you start writing. It felt like this book had a beginning and an ending, but you had no idea how to get from point A to point B and it wound up being a collection of scenes and filler that didn’t flow. SPOILERS!!! Things that bothered me: -Professor Xaden: This could have been amazing for the tension between Xaden and Violet, but it fell flat. If there’d been more time at Basgiath and more plot that’d happened there in this book, this could have been so much better. -The spice was repetitive. I was skipping the spicy scenes (I cannot believe I’m saying that). It read as filler. -Likewise the hero and heroine “can’t get their mouths and body parts” away from each other, even in public was overwrought. -Halden seemed like he was brought in entirely to write the one scene of Xaden being jealous and then he was written off. What a waste. You could have written a much more complicated character and had great interaction between him, Violet, Xaden, and Cam. -Xaden’s mom? Why was that even in this book? You could have saved her showing up for another book and have had her actually further the plot. That entire island scene could have been removed. It made no sense. An island that’s devoted to wisdom testing people by poisoning guests? I guess…. -Why did Violet’s Dad devote her to Dunne? And why is it so forbidden that it split their family? And why are the Gods taking such a large part in the plot now, when the last two books they don’t play a role? -Andarna’s family and the way that was written…..she leaves and comes back in like 3 chapters. If you’re going to have her leave to go be with her people, fine. But after this great search for them, we get like one chapter interacting with them? And why not save Andarna’s return and have it be something huge in book 4? -Why alter the ward stone at all if the book is basically split between Basgiath and Tyrenndor? If Basgiath wouldn’t accept the fliers, have them train at Aretia and have some other plot point drive the treaty and the pardons. -Instead of all the filler, build up some of these secondary characters more. Traeger anyone? I felt bad for Cat when he died, but very little for him. If we’d have gotten more time with him, his death would have been more potent. -Dreamwalking. Why is this such a dangerous power? I just don’t see it. And I knew that was her signet in IF. -The cliffhangers. It’s getting old. You don’t have to end every book with some shocking thing. If the book was well written, well plotted, and well paced, people are going to read it. In the instance where the book feels rushed and it’s going to be years before we get another, it’s not a great feeling from the reader’s seat. Will I still read the next book? Probably? Will I spend money on new special additions or hardcovers? No. Unless the series re-ignites some of the magic, it’s gone from a series I’ll spend money on as part of my book collection to a series I’ll read for cheap on kindle.

Onyx Storm, the focus of a lot of online discourse, was my latest read of 2025. Released in January of 2025, Onyx storm picks up where Iron Flame ended. We continue to follow Violet through her journey of love, loss, and leadership, as she pursues an end to the conflict taking place in her home. With Xaden experiencing his new dilemma, Violet finds herself struggling to be all things to all people, while also being true to her love and the needs of that love. Onyx storm is action packed and keeps you turning page after page, until your left wanting more. And THAT’S where this review picks up. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK Onyx storm is a page turner but feels a little different than the last couple of books. This book is able to move past a lot of the world building and secondary character building, allowing you to focus in on the moment, with only hints and allusions to the past, that help to form the story. While I like the complexity of these characters, I always struggle staying engaged when we are handed long paragraphs or dreams that explain the characters backstory. Onyx storm does great adding complexity to the main characters through short allusions to the past. Another thing I really liked about the book is the action in this one. While the past books were always intriguing with their battle scenes, it feels like you really get to experience the dread in this book before experiencing the high of the battles, making you invest more and more as you go. As I read Onyx Storm, it felt like the dread continued to grow and deepen before it releases you like a rubber band, and Rebecca needs to be commended for this growth in her writing. Lastly, DRAGONS. The dragons in this book are so good. The humor, the pride, the longing and growth are fantastic as a subplot in this story and always got me excited when they spoke. The growth of the dragons was amazing and fun to watch. We also get a chance to see some of the other dragons and their riders’ interactions, which was also exciting in here. I could go on about them all day, but just know… I’m here for the dragons!!! Now, MY CRITIQUES ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. THIS IS ONLY MY EXPEREINCE AND STYLE OF READING. Rebecca Yarros seems like an amazing curator of spicy scenes. She is great in describing internal and external experiences that highlight the craving that characters have for one another. WITH THAT SAID. I felt that there were some scenes in this book that felt… forced… for lack of a better word. I understand how important the intimate moments are for Violet and Xaden, but there were times that it felt like the scenes were there just to be there. I truly think that the first book did great with utilizing these scenes to highlight the relationship, but Onyx Storm feels like it was little more than a break from the plot. A little tangential to the idea of how the spice scenes were utilized, it felt like about half the time Xaden shows up where violet is, we are reminded that she is attracted to him as she “[drinks] him in.” It feels like it falls into this repetitive rut I experienced with my only DNF book, The Crown of Ivy and Glass. We really understand how much Violet likes Xaden, but this felt a little overboard as we got later into the book. Lastly, and this will seem confusing given how much I liked them, but the dragons’ interactions. To be clear, I liked the dragons A LOT, but there was one piece that I keep waiting to show up and it didn’t until just a few lines at the end. Tairn and Sgaeyl. I feel like there was a lot more going on in this couple, but we see very little interaction between them. It left me wanting to know what’s going on but we don’t get much from this. There is one additional critique that I have, however in the interest of keeping this review spoiler free, I will work to create my own word press to share more thoughts, so be on the lookout for that. A NOTE OF FOLLOW UP Now, as I said in the beginning, there seems to be a lot of controversy around this book with the ending and some thoughts that line up with my critiques. First, about pronunciation of the names in the book. I understand that the names are Scottish Gaelic names, and I can appreciate people wanting to be respectful of the pronunciation of the names, but It feels like some people were not looking to build understanding and education with the author, but an interest in tearing down the author for this. As a community in the fantasy/ romantasy realm, we need to be more understanding of simple mistakes such as this. Second, Andarna’s journey and what happens with her. I can understand the criticisms about this part and can sympathize with these critiques. If I’m thinking about her storyline, we need to remember were dealing with a magical character with no historical knowledge of what is happening with her. If your criticism is that her conclusion to her conflict was an abrupt finale, I can agree to an extent, but MY view is more focused on the consequence of the path chosen. MY critique here is only that I wish I had more of that feeling of dread that came from the path chosen for the character’s connected to Andarna. Again, this doesn’t feel like something to attack the author for, because the author was the one that made you love this character. Lastly, a lot of readers seem to have problems with the “fake out” deaths (my terminology) in this book. I get it. When your mind prepares for loss and it doesn’t come to fruition it can be frustrating and unfulfilling. Im with you, but I keep in mind one thing, this isn’t necessarily this authors strength, YET. She did amazing when it came to Liam and Violets mother, but had a whole book or 2 books that really got you invested before ripping them from you. I believe Yarros is growing in this realm but it feels like a lot of the community expects her to reach Pierce Brown levels of invested death. Its something that can be hard to do because if you insert a death that doesn’t have a lot of deep connections, it falls flat, and if you insert a death that doesn’t feel consequential, it doesn’t progress the story. I’m giving the deference to Yarros that she will be able to increase your investment in specific characters, increase the stakes, and rip them from you in a way that will tear at your heart strings. Let this author continue to grow in this area and I believe we will see it pay off in dividends. IN CONCLUSION I rated Onyx Storm a 4.25 out of 5. This book is a FUN read and will keep you page turning. There are some criticisms of this book, but I really believe that we are seeing Rebecca Yarros growing right before our eyes. Id recommend this to readers that are re-entering the reading series and have an interest in a little spice as well as dragons, just being dragons. I cant wait to see what she comes up with in the next book.

Onyx Storm delivers exactly what fans expect from the series—high stakes, intense emotions, and plenty of action. It’s fast-paced and gripping, with moments that are genuinely hard to put down once things get going. The character dynamics continue to be a strong point, especially in the way relationships are tested and developed under pressure. There’s a good balance of emotional depth and tension, even if things occasionally feel a bit overstuffed or hectic. At times, the story can feel overwhelming with how much is happening, and not every plot thread lands perfectly. Still, the overall experience is engaging and entertaining. It’s a strong continuation that keeps the momentum of the series going.

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!!!!!

Amazing service! Ordered it this morning while at work and before I came home from work it was waiting for me! I love the cover art and how nicely it was wrapped and packaged. Thank you Amazon, it's my birthday soon (15/03/2025) and you just made my birthday! My set is halfway there to completion!

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

What a ride Onyx Storm took me in! This book was captivating from start to finish. It was such a big book, but I felt everything was important, well developed and very informative. I was instantly hooked from the first chapter and I don't feel there was any dull moment. This third book in The Empyrean Series is wihout a doubt my new favorite! As I expected, Onyx Storm was action packed and full of political aspects and revelations that had my jaw dropping multiple times through my read. It was also brimming with romance and spice, but also friendship and loyalty. Regardless of these beautiful lighter moments, there was also sadness, anguish, heartbreak, betrayal, scheming and casualties. Violet rose as a powerful and brave heroine. The way she tried to leanr and control her power more was spellbinding. She was devoted to a cause bigger than herself, but also so ardent for Xaden and her unshakable love for him. And that man... wow! I already loved him, but he outmatched himself. He was the perfect partner and his one liners full of passion, possessiveness, humor and love had me swooning. His circumstance wasn't easy, but he still fought for his cause. I was fascinated by the whole cast! Seriously, the squad and the way they work together and support each other was incredible. They're truly the meaning of found family. How can I wrapup this review without mentionning Tairn and Andarna. Once again, these two were the perfect companions to Violet. Their irresistible personalities had me enthralled. Tairn with his ever present grumpiness and Andarna with her candor and sweetness. The perfect dragon duo! I tried to savor this book by reading a little slower, but I utlimately finished it quite fast for a book this long. And now, I'm dying for the next book that will release in forever, lol!