Book review: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

​Finished reading: 26 May 2025
Rating: 3.75/5

We’re onto book 3 in The Empyrean series. Onyx Storm continues to build in terms of corruption, betrayal, sacrifice, and, of course, the power of love in the face of it all.

But, the real question is: is love powerful enough to overcome the darkness that came to be at the end of Iron Flame? 

As this is book 3 of the series, there will be spoilers. You’ve been warned!

Right off the bat, I want to address that I don’t think Onyx Storm hit at the same level of Iron Flame. I don’t know whether if it had something to do with the break between books while I was waiting for Onyx Storm to be published, but what I do know is that while I really enjoyed it, it didn’t quite hit like Iron Flame.

Now, with that out of the way, after that ENDING in Iron Flame, Violet Sorrengail, our protagonist, is now facing a future where her mother is dead and the love of her life—Xaden—is transforming into a venin.

Yeah, if you didn’t heed my spoiler warning, get dunked on.

Anyway, with the loss of General Sorrengail and the risk of venin attacks at an all-time high, everything is quite turbulent. And I mean that quite literally—Violet’s mother could wield storms, and without that power, Navarre is plagued by storms.

It’s quite a funny thing really. Mummy Sorrengail had the power to wield storms, and Violet has the power to strike with lightning. While signets are drawn from the dragons, maybe it also runs in the genes?

I digress. The storms are a really interesting part to this as it highlights the instability of the war, as well as the inner turmoil that Violet is feeling. As I mentioned earlier, Xaden is in the midst of transforming into a venin after channelling too deeply during the battle at the end of Iron Flame.

Heroic, but stupid. But that’s just how it is with these fantasy studs, am I right?

Violet is determined throughout this story to find a cure, or something that will stop Xaden’s transformation. However, the temptation to feed into his shadow magic and channel just a bit too much threatens to tip him over the edge to becoming a full venin.

If you’ve played Baldur’s Gate 3, I feel there’s some similarities between Xaden and Gale, only because Gale likes to eat magical items, and Xaden likes to channel from items until those items have lost their ‘life’ so to speak.

Maybe it’s not much of a similarity, but some scenes in Onyx Storm made me think of it, so I’m sticking with it.

While Xaden isn’t full venin, our ol’ mate Jack Barlowe is. He’s captured, and Violet uses him to get information about Xaden’s transformation. And, with him hanging around Basgiath as a prisoner, you bet your bottom dollar he becomes a prime target for venin looking to free him.

So, yeah, the risk of venin has reached all time heights. Not only that but Violet ends up being of particular interest to one—Theophanie. With Violet being very powerful with her signet, the venin (Theophanie included) are very interested in her and the power she could wield for them.
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I mean, think about it, channelling like venin do gives them an edge and stronger power over normal dragon and gryphon riders, so imagine Violet’s power but like… on steroids.

In an amongst the threat of the venin, Xaden’s transformation, and the political betrayal and corruption we’re so used to at this point, we also have another major plot point: the irid dragons.

It is hypothesised that the irid dragons—the seventh breed—hold the key to defeating the venin for good. There is also a personal connection to this breed and the storyline. Andarna is identified as one after the events in Iron Flame, and being a bonded dragon to Violet, the emotional desire to find this breed is deepened. 

I really like the name given to this breed, by the way. Iridescent is such a cool way to describe them.

Interweaving with this expedition to find the seventh breed is also the information that is stored in Violet’s father’s journal. Basically, before the war, her father had been investigating the links between the dragons, wards and venin.

And, boy, do we start to really dig into the layers of corruption outlined in this series through the entries of this journal.
It’s also really interesting to compare the fact that:

1. Violet loses her mother at the end of Iron Flame
2. Violet gains her father’s knowledge in Onyx Storm

As we know right from the beginning of this series, Violet had envisioned her life to be a part of the Scribe Quadrant, just like her father. However, in a turn of events in the first book, she ends up part of the Rider Quadrant.

It’s her intellect and connection with the Scribe Quadrant that makes her character stick out compared to the rest. When faced with brute force, Violet comes at it with a different angle—one of intellect and wit, which usually ends up being the factor that leads her and her friends to winning most conflicts.

When we have the loss of the huge military legacy that is General Sorrengail, Violet is suddenly caught up in the turmoil of the gap that leaves, and yet it’s through her father and his journal that she is still able to make the difference and step up when it matters most.

And, as a lover for all things books, writing and storytelling, I love the fact that this journal—a book—holds so much power and wisdom that influences and shapes how the story goes.

Honestly just *chefs kiss*.

Anyway, to wrap this review up, Onyx Storm highlights the layers that is the political betrayal and corruption, the strength and destruction that is the venin, and the complexities and heartbreak of love when the one you love is lost in darkness, quite literally.

Oh, and did I mention Violet’s second signet? No? Oh, well, you better read the book for that plot twist because… wow, what an interesting turn.

What did I like? I have said it many times, and I’ll say it again: I am a sucker for political betrayal and corruption in books. And, Onyx Storm, alongside all the other books in The Empyrean series, just continues to drive home this plot point.

It also manages to unfold more and more layers in this space as well. Like, you’d think after two books there wouldn’t be more political bullshit to uncover but, hey, go figure—seems like an endless supply to dig up!

I really liked the journey into the southern islands and the cultural differences we see and experience. To journey to locations that have no power whatsoever and see how they work compared to what we’ve experienced in Navarre and Basgiath, the people’s response to the dragons, and the politics that are in play is really fascinating.

And then you add in the layer of Violet’s heritage? The silver-haired peoples and how Violet may not be fully of Navarre? Talk about a case of identity crisis.

Anyway, all these layers and encounters make up for a really gripping and devastating journey, particularly as we make it to the final moments. Now that’s what I call an ending!

But, what didn’t I like? This may be controversial, but the whole “I can find a way to stop Xaden from transforming” thing really didn’t do it for me.

Xaden channelling too much, starting the transformation process, and the threat of him becoming full venin are really cool plot points, but the decisions that Violet makes in a bid to get him to ‘get better’ really irk me.

Not only does it risk other people she loves, but like... it’s just a bit stupid at times, and I really don’t like it when it’s very clear when someone’s making dumb decisions ‘in the name of love’. Like, don’t be selfish. Particularly when you don’t tell everyone else that he may be transforming, putting them at more risk due to their unknown ignorance.

Ultimately, I hate it when characters don’t openly communicate, and that’s pretty much what’s going on here. So, yeah, not a fan.
I also continue to grapple with the writing style. I don’t mind first-person point-of-views—there are plenty of books that I’ve read that I’ve adored that have been written like that—but sometimes it just doesn’t sit with me well, and this is one of those books where I’m not connecting with it 100%.

However, with all that being said, the plot itself pushes past those issues. The irid dragons, the disastrous politics, and all that jazz—it cancels out a lot of the negative feelings I have, giving it a solid rating. Just not as good as Iron Flame.

How did you feel about Onyx Storm? Did you like it as much or more than Iron Flame or Fourth Wing? Or, do you feel the same way as me? Let me know in the comments!