What happens when love battles darkness, and dragons soar beyond the reach of safety? Can you still trust someone who’s touched forbidden magic—even if they’re your soulmate?
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros is the explosive third installment in The Empyrean series, following the record-breaking success of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. Released on January 21, 2025, this book review of Onyx Storm explores why Yarros’ latest dragon rider adventure has become the fastest-selling adult novel in 20 years—and whether it lives up to the storm of anticipation surrounding it.
The Story: Beyond the Wards and Into the Unknown
After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. The battle has truly begun. Picking up where Iron Flame left off, Onyx Storm thrusts readers into a world on the brink of collapse. Violet faces two urgent missions: finding Andarna’s dragon kind and discovering a cure for Xaden, who channeled from the earth to save her—a dark magic that threatens to consume his soul.
The wards protecting Basgiath are failing. Venin—dark wielders who drain life itself—have infiltrated the war college, and the peace negotiations with Poromiel hang by a thread. When Violet is assigned to a task force led by Captain Grady (not her choice), she must venture beyond the safety of Navarre’s wards to seek allies in unfamiliar lands. The journey takes her across treacherous isles, through political intrigue, and into the heart of secrets that could destroy everything she loves.
What makes this summary of Onyx Storm particularly compelling is how Yarros expands the world beyond the war college walls. We meet new characters—some allies, others decidedly not—including a mysterious white-haired girl who shares Violet’s distinctive coloring and even Xaden’s mother. The quest to find dragons like Andarna leads to heartbreak when these ancient beings initially shun the young dragon, revealing prejudices that mirror human conflicts.
The stakes escalate with every chapter. Xaden’s internal battle becomes as dangerous as external threats. He can now sense other venin, a gift and curse that proves he’s changed in ways neither he nor Violet fully understand. Their relationship—tested by secrets, dark magic, and the weight of leadership—becomes the emotional anchor even as the world burns around them.
The Emotional Arc: Love, Loss, and Impossible Choices
The key takeaways from Onyx Storm center on transformation and sacrifice. Violet’s character deepens as she grapples with grief over her mother’s death, the burden of her lightning-wielding power, and a newly revealed second signet: dream walking. This ability to enter minds during sleep proves controversial among the dragons, who consider it dangerously powerful.
Xaden’s struggle forms the beating heart of the narrative. Channeling from the earth has marked him, and though his eyes no longer show the telltale red rings of a venin, he fears becoming the monster he fought against. His jealousy when confronted with Violet’s past relationship with Prince Halden (yes, there’s royal drama) reveals a vulnerability that makes him achingly human. Their love scenes crackle with intensity, but it’s the moments of doubt—when Xaden questions whether Violet should run from him, and she steadfastly refuses—that showcase the depth of their bond.
The emotional weight extends beyond romance. Sawyer loses his leg in battle and faces retirement. Aura dies horrifically during a rescue mission, impaled by a wyvern’s talon. Friends betray. Dragons fall. The death toll climbs with brutal efficiency, and Yarros doesn’t shy from showing the physical and psychological costs of war. Violet’s chronic pain and injury rehabilitation are woven throughout, grounding the fantasy in visceral reality.
What’s most striking is how Yarros balances epic fantasy with intimate character moments. Between dragon battles and political machinations, we get quiet scenes of Violet wrapping her injured knee, Xaden catching her when she dismounts, and Imogen teasing about their sleeping arrangements. These small, human moments make the larger stakes land with devastating force.
Why Onyx Storm Deserves Your Attention
This book is for readers who crave fantasy with teeth. If you loved the training ground intensity of Fourth Wing and the expanding world-building of Iron Flame, Onyx Storm delivers on both fronts while pushing into darker, more complex territory.
You should read Onyx Storm if you’re drawn to:
- Dragon riders navigating impossible moral choices and political intrigue
- Romance that doesn’t overshadow the fantasy but enhances it with emotional depth
- Fast-paced action where characters actually face consequences—injury, death, and lasting trauma
- World-building that expands beyond a single setting, offering travel, new cultures, and dragon lore
- Characters who evolve through pain and emerge stronger, if scarred
The tone shifts noticeably darker than previous books. While maintaining the banter and humor fans love (the dialogue between squad members remains top-notch), Onyx Storm confronts war’s brutality head-on. This isn’t fantasy escapism that leaves you unchanged—it’s a story that asks what you’d sacrifice for those you love and whether redemption is possible after touching darkness.
Yarros has stated this is her favorite book in the series, and that passion shows. The pacing rarely lags; even quieter political scenes hum with tension. The last half of the book, in particular, delivers jaw-dropping revelations and heart-stopping action. Theorists will find abundant material to dissect, from unanswered questions about Violet’s father’s cryptic message to the implications of her dream-walking power.
Is it perfect? Some readers found the first hundred pages exposition-heavy, working to reacquaint themselves with numerous secondary characters and their dragons. The complex political landscape—multiple provinces, islands, and conflicts—can overwhelm. But for those willing to immerse themselves fully, the payoff justifies the investment.
Your Next Great Adventure Awaits
Onyx Storm doesn’t just continue Violet and Xaden’s story—it transforms it. Yarros has crafted a middle installment that refuses to tread water, instead propelling her characters into uncharted territory both literally and emotionally. The ending lands with a cliffhanger that will have you counting days until book four.
If you’re searching for a fantasy series that combines heart-pounding dragon battles, swoon-worthy romance grounded in genuine partnership, political intrigue that matters, and characters who face real stakes with courage and vulnerability, you need this book in your life.
Ready to weather the storm? Grab your copy of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros today on Amazon!
