Name: Apurva Shah's review of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Item: Onyx Storm
Rating: 3.5
Author: Apurva Shah

Rebecca Yarros

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming, and not everyone can survive its wrath.

Onyx Storm

Maggie Hotmer

Madness. This need between us is always the sweetest madness. He is the craving I'll never sate, the rush I'll never get enough of. Only him. 

"Holy shit." My hands fall from his jacket. "You're actually jealous."

." He splays his hand over the small of my back and tugs me toward him. "I'm jealous of the armor that holds you when I can't, the sheets on your bed that caress your skin every night, and the blades that feel your hands. So, when the prince of our realm walks into my classroom and starts talking to the woman I love with what can only be considered intense familiarity, and then has the audacity to ask her 

 right in front of me, naturally, I'm going to get jealous." He brings our bodies flush. 

. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex or the Code of Conduct?" He cradles my face and leans down, resting his forehead against mine. "I am yours and you are mine, and there's no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that."

"She'd be a great politician," Aaric continues, "OR a general, maybe? Definitely nobility."

"With that speech? At least a duchess." Xaden shifts his weight, brushing his elbow against my shoulder.

"Do. You. Still. Love. Me?" I enunciate every word and lean right into his space just to prove that I'm not intimidated by him. 

He cups the back of my neck and pulls me within inches of his face--close enough to kiss. "

I could reach the rank of Maven, lead armies of dark wielders against everyone we care for, and watch every vein in my body turn red as I channel all the power in the Continent, and I would still love you. What I did doesn't change that. I'm not sure anything can.

"See? You're still you." My gaze drops to his mouth. "Telling me you're capable of horrible things while still loving me is pretty much your idea of foreplay."

Then practice evenly dispersing enough magic to keep all your extremities warm during flight, because your wings won't hold the weight of this ice,

Your wings won't hold the weight of this ice,

And yet yours miraculously carry the burden of your ego.

alexys <3

“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I hurt you.”

"Nobility doesn't play into rank, at least not for me." Aaric glances my way. "Andarna chose Violet, and though there are four superiorly ranked officers with us, it's Violet's mission. She's in command. And with the exception of her rather questionable taste in men, I've trusted Violet's 

“Violet is the only choice I've made for 

. I won't sacrifice her for three years. Not for a single 

. You would know that if you hadn't abandoned me, if you 

"My last name is tied to the title, but we could take yours," Xaden offers, and his eyes soften just slightly when they lock on mine.

“You could hyphenate," Garrick suggests. "Or combine? Riorgail? Sorrenson?"

"Lifetime. Anything less is unacceptable." Xaden slides his hand to the back of my neck. “And her full name for the papers is Violet Sorrengail. Two Rs"

Garrick huffs a sarcastic laugh. "If bloodlines equaled allegiance, we wouldn’t be sitting here under interrogation." He glances to Talia at his right. “He is your son, right?"

“Yes." I nod. "It's nothing compared to the way he risked Aretia for me." 

“He risked Aretia," she whispers through a watery smile. “Then he loves you, too. His father never would have..." 

"My loyalty is to Violet first above everything, 

 else," Xaden says "Then Tyrrendor. Then Navarre in the moments it's worthy-usually when Violet is in residence."

“Aretia is the second most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He hands me his reins, turning those gorgeous, gold-Aecked onyx eyes into weapons capable of melting the underwear straight off my body as he looks up at me. “And my home is the first."

"If I wasn't in love with you already, I would be now,” 

"I just...need to go." He looks away and grips the orange in both hands. "One of us needs to go with you. Ever since.." Pain flashes through his brown eyes as he brings his gaze back to mine. Ever since Athebyne, one of us has been by your side." He lifts his finger. 

." He splays his hand over the small of my back and tugs me toward him. “I'm jealous of the armor that holds you when I can't, the sheets on your bed that caress your skin every night, and the blades that feel your hands. So, when the prince of our realm walks into my classroom and starts talking to the woman I love with what can only be considered intense familiarity, and then has the audacity to ask her out right in front of me, naturally, I'm going to get jealous." He brings our bodies flush.

. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex or the Code of Conduct?" He cradles my face and leans down, resting his forehead against mine. “I am yours and you are mine, and theres no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that." 

"Both," Xaden replies. "I don't want to be different people to you. Anyone else? Fine. Just not you. You're stuck with all of me, and all of me is quite capable of keeping your confidence. I'll use Tyrrendor to protect you, not you to protect Tyrrendor."

“I want whatever you're able to give, Xaden."

 "But the thought of you being out there, beyond the wards, facing down a known attack of venin, triggered something in me I’ve never felt before. It was hotter than rage, and sharper than fear, and cut deeper than helplessness. all because I couldn't get to you."

"Yeah, well, the second he heard you were charging off into danger, he became...unreasonable." A muscle in Garrick's jaw ticks, and I pull my arm from his shoulder so he can stand straight, shifting my weight to relieve the pressure from my right knee as much as possible. “I've never seen him like that.”

Apurva Shah

damn okay, why did it take me almost a year to complete this book? definitely felt more like a filler book with a cliffhanger :’) so many more characters introduced that I couldn't really care for. It only got really exhilarating at the last quarter of the book but it didn’t have to be 700 pages long

maderinn⟢

i wish this didn’t take me more than half a year to finish. definitely my least favorite out of the series, but the last 30% of the book had me hooked. 

“I exist for Tairn, but I live for Xaden”.

julie reads

i wish this didn’t take me more than half a year to finish. definitely my least favorite out of the series, but the last 30% of the book had me hooked. 

“I exist for Tairn, but I live for Xaden”.

Rebecca Yarrows and her cliffhangers. I enjoyed this book, but it was a little confusing since I didn't really recognize some of the characters near the beginning. I enjoyed the quest squad aspect of it and all the different islands, but it felt very slow-paced. Ridoc and his jokes honestly made the whole book... I. Hate. Sewing. I believe I would have enjoyed the book a whole lot more if I hadn't had the major plot twists spoiled for me, so nothing was really surprising. Amazing series and I cannot wait for the next book to come out!

Didn’t like the writing but the story has great potential also I liked the relationship of the protagonists.

🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕

THE STORM IS COMING . . . Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from the no. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros. Pre-order your copy now! OTHER BOOKS IN THE EMPYREAN SERIES: FOURTH WING IRON FLAME

The breathtaking follow-up to global sensations Fourth Wing and Iron Flame!

Took me a while to get into. Still good but I liked the others better. Some things took to much time while others went by a little to fast 😅

Femke

Allysen

Thank God for the ending because the rest was way too hormone filled with teenage angst for me. Pretty much finished it just to continue the series. The first book was by far the best to me. 

Marissa Hamrick

Miranda Watson

 looking for escape—and it delivered. This isn’t just an audiobook; it’s a movie in your ears. Full cast. Music. Sound effects. You can hear wings cut through wind, steel clash, and a whisper land like a threat. It takes the world we met in 

 and cranks up the scale without turning everything into noise. 

What I liked most is how the production clears the fog. Big fantasy can get messy—names, factions, shifting loyalties. Here, distinct voices keep characters sharp, and the sound design nudges you through tense negotiations, mid-air maneuvers, and those quiet, loaded conversations that change everything. No spoilers, but the political stakes rise, and you can follow who’s pushing, who’s resisting, and why that matters when dragons enter the chat. 

The romance? It stays slow-burn and grown-up. The chemistry reads better when two actors carry it—no guesswork about tone, no flattening of emotion. Banter pops. Silences speak. Even side characters feel lived-in, which makes the world feel bigger and the choices heavier. 

Pacing-wise, the adaptation is split into two parts, which gives it a clean, two-episode rhythm. Each half lands with its own heartbeat—no saggy middle, no “just get to the good part.” If you like to plan your listening, that structure helps. Quick heads-up: it’s two separate purchases. Worth it, but good to know. 

Now, a caveat. If you’re a “single narrator, minimal effects” purist, the cinematic mix might feel busy in a few set pieces. I get it. But the tradeoff is immersion. The action sequences are clearer, the council-room drama tighter, and the emotional beats warmer. For me, that’s the point: let the story breathe like it’s happening right now. 

 turns a high-stakes fantasy into a visceral experience. It’s clearer, bolder, and more human—without spoiling the mystery or sanding off the edges. If you want the Empyrean world in full color and full volume, this is the version to press play on. 

Erwin Lemuel Oliva

I went for the GraphicAudio edition of Onyx Storm looking for escape—and it delivered. This isn’t just an audiobook; it’s a movie in your ears. Full cast. Music. Sound effects. You can hear wings cut through wind, steel clash, and a whisper land like a threat. It takes the world we met in Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and cranks up the scale without turning everything into noise. 

 

What I liked most is how the production clears the fog. Big fantasy can get messy—names, factions, shifting loyalties. Here, distinct voices keep characters sharp, and the sound design nudges you through tense negotiations, mid-air maneuvers, and those quiet, loaded conversations that change everything. No spoilers, but the political stakes rise, and you can follow who’s pushing, who’s resisting, and why that matters when dragons enter the chat. 

 

The romance? It stays slow-burn and grown-up. The chemistry reads better when two actors carry it—no guesswork about tone, no flattening of emotion. Banter pops. Silences speak. Even side characters feel lived-in, which makes the world feel bigger and the choices heavier. 

 

Pacing-wise, the adaptation is split into two parts, which gives it a clean, two-episode rhythm. Each half lands with its own heartbeat—no saggy middle, no “just get to the good part.” If you like to plan your listening, that structure helps. Quick heads-up: it’s two separate purchases. Worth it, but good to know. 

 

Now, a caveat. If you’re a “single narrator, minimal effects” purist, the cinematic mix might feel busy in a few set pieces. I get it. But the tradeoff is immersion. The action sequences are clearer, the council-room drama tighter, and the emotional beats warmer. For me, that’s the point: let the story breathe like it’s happening right now. 

 

Bottom line: Onyx Storm (GraphicAudio) turns a high-stakes fantasy into a visceral experience. It’s clearer, bolder, and more human—without spoiling the mystery or sanding off the edges. If you want the Empyrean world in full color and full volume, this is the version to press play on. 



Shauni Wuyts

How am I meant to carry on for 2 years without the next one 😭 so confusing at times but so worth it I just love them all and want everyone to be happy 

Nicole Mills

Danielle Blandina

Rebecca really fucking emotionally wrecked me this book 😭 Still love it though, it was an amazing read <3

Alyssa Derr

Macy OConnor

Another riveting installment in the series! I’m always wary of the middle sequels, but this did not disappoint! Yarros is a world-building master!!

Amelia Macy

Rebecca Yarros, you did it again! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

 what I expected, and I think I’m starting to really wonder where this is going. 🤔

Of course, the reveal of Violet’s second signet was a bit of a surprise—but not entirely. I had an idea it was dealing with dreams in 

It also makes the mystery of this series, 

, and I’m back to hating Imogen again, but we’ll see what happens next.

Jacob Edmonds

"Every possible path.”

Rebecca Yarros, you did it again! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This ending to this book was not AT ALL what I expected, and I think I’m starting to really wonder where this is going. 🤔

Of course, the reveal of Violet’s second signet was a bit of a surprise—but not entirely. I had an idea it was dealing with dreams in Iron Flame.

It also makes the mystery of this series, so freaking cool!

Meeting the other Irids??

And the new CHARACTER POVs?!?

The ending absolutely SUCKS, and I’m back to hating Imogen again, but we’ll see what happens next.

This is gonna be a long couple years.

Christen 

Sydney Cantwell

There are so many questions that weren’t answered. 

I’m desperately waiting for the fourth book! 

Gina-Sophie Franz

There are so many questions that weren’t answered. 

I’m desperately waiting for the fourth book! 

I still love the story.

Rebecca…What can I say? I have loved this series so much since book 1. 

Onyx storm started out a little bit slow but it sped up so fast, it made my head spin. I was back with my two favorite dragon rider lovers, Violet and Xaden. This book consisted of mostly world building and getting you into the world of basgaith. There was funny moments, heartbreaking moments, and some that left me on the edge of my seat. We also officially discovered Violet’s second signet from andarna. But the most shocking part of this book was the ending. Xaden and Violet are married but Xaden is gone? I truly can’t wait to see what book 4 has in store for us. 

Kelsey 🎀

Rebecca…What can I say? I have loved this series so much since book 1. 

Onyx storm started out a little bit slow but it sped up so fast, it made my head spin. I was back with my two favorite dragon rider lovers, Violet and Xaden. This book consisted of mostly world building and getting you into the world of basgaith. There was funny moments, heartbreaking moments, and some that left me on the edge of my seat. We also officially discovered Violet’s second signet from andarna. But the most shocking part of this book was the ending. Xaden and Violet are married but Xaden is gone? I truly can’t wait to see what book 4 has in store for us. 



Certainly not her best from the series, but thoroughly enjoyed the ending and will wait months to read the next book if she comes out with one. 

Kaitlyn Wendler

Hannah 

SOO many feelings. I need the next book and to see what happens to Xaden and if Violet turns.

Apurva Shah &
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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Apurva Shah &Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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Join the club

Apurva Shah &
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros