Marina Jo's Place

“Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. Five stars, no hesitation. This book had me laughing, crying and genuinely questioning my emotional stability… but also kind of cheering on a love that might be just a little too toxic to be healthy. Don’t worry, I’m judging myself for liking it!

Spoiler-Free Summary:

“Onyx Storm” picks up in the aftermath of the explosive revelations from the end of “Iron Flame,” throwing Violet and her allies into deeper, darker waters than ever before. As tensions rise between factions and the threat of war becomes impossible to ignore, Violet is forced to confront painful truths—not only about the enemy, but about her own past, her family, and what kind of leader she’s willing to become. With dangerous missions to far-off isles, a search for ancient knowledge, and more dragon-centric action (yes, they’re still the stars of the show), this book expands the world and ups the emotional stakes in a big way. Expect secrets, shifting alliances, and moments of hard-won clarity that will break your heart and patch it back together again.

As for my thoughts, this is hands down Yarros’s best-written book of the series so far. The emotional beats hit harder, the pacing felt tighter (after the slightly chaotic beginning) and the character development? Chef’s kiss. I especially loved Violet’s arc in this one. She’s still deeply flawed, still fighting to be strong in all the right and wrong ways, but there’s real growth here. And her dynamic with Xaden? FINALLY on the same page—or at least reading from the same book. It was satisfying to see them work more as a team.

I also really appreciated the mini-adventures to the isles. Each one felt like its own little mission, giving us glimpses into the world and helping us understand the stakes a bit more. And wow, learning more about Violet’s father? That was such an emotional gut-punch. Their relationship added so much heart to the story and all the added lore with the venin just deepened the mystery. Granted… it also confused the heck out of me at times. I don’t think I’ve ever been more bewildered reading a fantasy book—but weirdly, I didn’t mind. I was in it.

Now, I will say: the beginning is a little overwhelming. There are a lot of names thrown at you right out of the gate (still can’t tell if Lewellen is a person, place or both) so I’d definitely recommend rereading the first two books just to reorient yourself before diving in. Trust me, it’ll make things smoother.

My one gripe? There were a few lore moments that felt like retcons. Maybe I just looked too hard behind the green screen, but some things didn’t line up perfectly with what we thought we knew. Still, I get it—sometimes you have to keep readers in the dark for the story to unfold right. I didn’t mind too much because I was having so much fun.

Book fun fact: if you line up books 1-3 vertically, it reveals the color of the next book. You’re welcome.

★ My Ratings ★

Overall: ★★★★★
Despite the slower start, this was an incredibly enjoyable read.

World building: ★★★★★
The strongest part of this was absolutely the mini adventures to the Isles. Yarros is definitely gearing up for the television series with this one.

Pacing: ★★★★☆
Due to the slower start and the heavy action-packed end, the pacing had some minor issues.

Would I Recommend?
Yes! If you’re into epic, Star Wars-style adventures but want a main character who’s layered, flawed, and trying her damnedest to do the right thing, “Onyx Storm” is for you. I’m already counting the days until book four.