Rate: 4.5/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers):
Following Iron Flame I was ambivalent at best if I would continue this series. Sure the cliffhanger was brilliant, but all of the teenage angst leading up to the ending was a bit much. My resolve started to waver once all of the glowing reviews started pouring in for Onyx Storm. It seemed like everyone I knew was reading it, whether I was at a leadership conference with scientists from all over the country or at dinner with my best friends. Triggered by my constant fear of missing out, I immediately joined the masses to find out what book three would hold.
I was delighted to discover that Onyx Storm was leaps and bounds better than Iron Flame. I genuinely enjoyed the turmoil Yarros had in store for Violet and Xaden throughout book three. The supporting cast stayed mostly the same, but Yarrow opened up this literary world as Violet desperately searched for the lost irids and a seemingly impossible cure. The new cultures we glimpse were fascinating, though each island contains both a hidden danger alongside a surprise, often from the past, that will keep the reader on their toes.
The story was centered around Violet and Xaden again, though due to the cliffhanger at the end of Iron Flame their passions were limited to mostly drawn out teases. I’ve sat on this review for weeks because I was struggling to define the thread of frustration I felt throughout this read. It wasn’t until my current reread of Twilight that I finally realized what felt off about Onyx Storm. Hear me out as I make this relatively unexpected comparison and keep in mind there are mild spoilers ahead. Throughout this read Xaden is in a precarious situation where if he channels at all it could lead to his destruction. Xaden already ran hot, so even the most minute of interactions could set him off. These triggers could be a kiss from Violet or her being in perceived danger during a training exercise. Knowing this vulnerability, wouldn’t you think Violet would go out of her way to shield him as much as possible and not put him in situations where he could slip, especially knowing how devastating the consequences would be? Instead Violet constantly teased and challenged him, even in the most inappropriate of circumstances. She put herself in danger without any regard for his reaction. She put her own lusts over his health. She was seriously the worst. This gap was highlighted by Twilight of all books. Early on, Bella was so careful to not trigger Edward while they acclimated to each other due to her worry for him. Perhaps someone should have made Violet read Twilight so she could have taken some lessons.
Overall, Onyx Storm was so much more entertaining than I ever could have hoped. I couldn’t stop listening to this read as Violet and Xaden were racing against both time and the ever decreasing odds against them. And with yet another stunning cliffhanger by Yarros, we are all eagerly waiting for the next installment of this series.
Additional Insights (Spoilers Abound):
- What happened in the missed time that Imogen wiped? Couldn’t Dane just touch Imogen to see what was missed?
- Where did Xaden go? Can he be saved?
- Does Tarn know what happened to Violet?
- Who was Xaden’s friend who turned Venin? Was it Garrick or Bodhi?
- What happened to Jack Barrlow in all the chaos?
- I was so interested to learn about the second signets. What are the other powers?
- Aaric becoming intrinsic! What does this mean as a whole? How could he hide it?
- How is Violet tied to the Temple of Dunne?
- Leothan the irid firing the Aretia ward was not what I was anticipating. Such a surprise. Ardarna leaving was also terrible. How did she know to come back?
- Halden was the worst. I couldn’t believe Violet dated him.
- Will Mira survive?
- I honestly had to go look up who Panchek was. Who else is a spy?
- What happened to the missing dragon eggs?
- We get brief glimpses of Xaden, Rhiannon, and Imogen’s POVs. It is so interesting hearing their interactions with their dragons. So different than Violet’s.
The Critiquing Chemist 