Onyx Storm DEALS
Buckle up, riders, we are heading back to Basgiath!
I must admit, I haven’t been this excited about a book launch in a hot minute. Probably because, unlike with other recent high-profile launches I had actually read the first two in the series and was anxiously waiting to find out what happens next with our favorite shadow daddy. Obviously, I am referring to Daddy Tairn.
Spoiler Alert
The Build-Up and Release Experience
I will start by saying, I am not huge on social media; if you listen to our podcast then you know I don’t have TikTok (did I spell that right?) or Instagram. Regardless, I knew how much hype and anticipation there was for Onyx Storm; for the first time in what felt like forever, bookstores were hosting launch parties.
I pre-ordered my copy and luckily it arrived at 8 am on launch day so I could immediately jump in. I had ordered the deluxe version with limited-edition spray-painted edges, so for fear of ruining the pages and not wanting to spend the whole time turning the pages with tweezers, I had to run out and buy a standard copy before I could dive in.
Initial Impressions and Reader Reactions
It took me a week to read the whole thing, in part because I was savoring the story and trying to absorb every detail, and because I have a 7-week-old baby. After finishing the novel, I went down a Reddit rabbit hole and I realized there has been a 50/50 reaction to Onyx Storm. Personally, I really enjoyed it.
Character Development and Story Expectations
The only theories and predictions I had going into Onyx Storm were my own based on reading Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, and I really only predicted that we would be seeing a lot of brooding/self-loathing Xaden in this installment of the Empyrean series given he turned Venin at the end of Iron Flame.
I was pleasantly surprised that while he was quite broody, Xaden still fought to be with Violet every moment he could and kept his head high enough to continue his leadership duties.
Writing Style and Pacing Improvements
The pacing of the third novel felt a lot more natural than the first two; my biggest pet peeve with the writing style so far was that it felt there were some holes in the story where we didn’t get as much detail as readers.
Often, scenes were built up and then skipped over, only to be mentioned by the characters after the fact. I now realize this was all intentional because Rebecca Yarros doesn’t simply skip details; in fact, there is a plethora of easter eggs in her novels that I was not cluing in on until I read Onyx Storm.
Foreshadowing and Easter Eggs
Luckily, I am on maternity leave and sleepless nights with a newborn have allowed me to re-read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame ahead of the Onyx Storm launch date, in addition to listening to the audiobooks.
To give an example of the easter eggs, in Onyx Storm there is a lot of exploration of the characters’ signets, both in growing them and in revealing that many (if not all) of those with rebellion relics have a second signet. Yarros alludes to this in Fourth Wing, at the battle of Resson when Liam Mairi wields ice – his signet is farsight, so how is he throwing icicles at the Wyvern?
Also, his dragon is named Deigh which means “ice” in Gaelic. It is such a quick line that I missed it originally, which was so clever because Violet didn’t notice either given all the action going on. I am now beginning to believe all those with rebellion relics have a second signet, but more on that below.
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Romance and the Spice Factor
There wasn’t as much spice in this installment because Xaden was keeping some distance to prevent losing control by channeling from the earth and feeding his Venin self into the next level of Venin-dom.
I know that the spice levels are what some readers tune in for, but I love how the story is unfolding. Fourth Wing created the foundation and started to develop the characters we love so much in this series.
World-Building and Political Intrigue
Iron Flame was a deeper exploration of world-building, including Aretia and Tyrrendor, but with a specific focus on Basgiath; so far Iron Flame had been my favorite installment, mostly because of the elaborate heists throughout.
However, Onyx Storm, though a “middle book” in the series (which usually has a slower pace because it is setting up for the action in books 4 & 5) was thoroughly enjoyable. In this installment, there was even more expansive world-building and the introduction of additional characters. There was also a heavy emphasis on politics, which I will need to re-read to absorb all the information, so my only comment is that I predict Violet will be heavily involved in politics in the next 2 books.
Additionally, there was a lot of focus on the dragons.
The Best Part: The Dragons
This is why I love this series. The dragons.
I would describe them as big sassy cats, except maybe Aotrom who apparently is more like a big sassy terrier. That is only fitting for Ridoc. I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue between Andarna and Tairn, and I really loved the inclusion of other dragon/rider interactions in this novel. Also, the whole cast of Irids was extremely enjoyable and I can’t wait to see how they return to the story in the next book.
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Predictions for Future Books
Violet’s Second Signet: More Than Just Dream Walking?
Violet of course has a second signet, as was confirmed in Onyx Storm but had already manifested in Iron Flame.
Many other characters are revealed to have secret second signets, though most of them have rebellion relics. If any character was going to have a second signet, it was Violet because she bonded two dragons.
Throughout Iron Flame, Violet finds herself “walking” in Xaden’s dreams so in OS Violet realizes what has been happening and even succeeds at meddling in Xaden’s recurring nightmare. She also finds herself in Maren’s dream, demonstrating that her abilities are not specific to Xaden. Violet therefore assumes she is a dream walker.
My theory is that Violet is actually a mind walker, meaning she has the ability to meddle in someone’s mind and see through their eyes/push her thoughts into their mind. My reasoning is;
- First, the Irids tell Andarna she has given Violet something much more dangerous than lightning to wield – why would they say this about dream walking
- Violet would be limited to meddling when her enemies are asleep, and do Venin even need sleep anyway?
- Second, my theory is based on the scenes when Violet seems to see herself through Xaden’s eyes.
- It happens once in Iron Flame when she is on the throne of Tyrrendor and there is another occurrence in Onyx Storm. Also, Xaden seems able to read Violet’s thoughts directly, not just her intentions, which leads me to believe Violet was pushing her thoughts into his mind.
Xaden’s Venin “Brother”
At the end of Onyx Storm, before Xaden fully succumbs to his Venin fate (to save Sgaeyl – a totally acceptable reason in my opinion) he glances over to his new “sibling” and says this person had watched him struggle for 5 months and Xaden was surprised this person of all people would choose to turn.
I read some theories that this is either Bodhi or Garrick and I disagree.
- Firstly, I believe Bodhi is Xaden’s brother, not his cousin.
- Secondly, it seems Xaden regards Bodhi as a sibling regardless.
For these reasons, it was suspect to me that Yarros would choose to italicize the word, almost like it is a sarcastic comment because Jack Barlow had been referred to as Xaden’s “brother” earlier in the book. To me, Xaden’s reaction to this person seemed like how he would react to someone he does not regard as kin.
My theory is that he is talking about a character we would not expect, like Dain. I also want to make an honorable mention of the theories online that the Sage Xaden sees in his nightmares is actually Naolin, Tairn’s previous rider. Tairn only ever refers to him as “the one that came before” and refuses to discuss Naolin, so there are theories that he turned Venin.
Theophanie and Lilith’s Connection
I thought it was odd that Theophanie had met Violet’s mother, Lilith Sorrengail, and had the same signet. I am not sure exactly what to make of this, but I do think it will come back in the next book and be significant in some way. Could they be related? Is that how Lilith and Asher ended up in Unnbriel, to begin with?
The Wait for the Next Installment
There is so much more to unpack in this series, and I can’t wait for the next book, though there is no planned release date yet. Until then, I will have to find my next fantasy series to cure my book hangover!
The Review
Onyx Storm
PROS
- Setting up for a bigger story
- Pacing was much better
- Many more dragons
CONS
- Less spice
- Geographical world building without a map
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