Writing a book that pleases everyone is the holy grail of authors. No matter how good of a writer you may be, some people just aren’t moved by some writing styles — unless you’re Rebecca Yarros. The author of the critically acclaimed Empyrean series has somehow written a world that appeals to fans of all genres, ages and writing styles and disguised it as a young adult novel. As of Jan. 21, Yarros has released the third book in the Empyrean series, “Onyx Storm,” and it’s even better than the previous two.
Speaking of the previous two, they are must-reads. In a nutshell, the plot follows Violet Sorrengail, the frail second daughter of the commanding general of Basigath War College, as she tries to survive in its most dangerous quadrant: the rider’s quadrant, where she trains to ride dragons. With only her wits and the mantra of “I will not die today” to accompany her, she, against all odds, manages to bond not one, but two dragons. Eventually, Violet realizes that the fairy tales her father told her as a child aren’t as fantastical as she thought. The second book is a continuation and evolution of this plot, leading to revolution, revelation and realization of the truth of the threat they face and what they must sacrifice to defeat it.
This brings us to “Onyx Storm,” where Violet has to race against time with the help of friends and family to find a solution to the ever-encroaching venin horde and a cure for her beloved. As the plot progresses, she realizes that her parents hid more from her than she ever knew, and what they hid has the potential to save, or doom, them all.
As the plot thickened and the twists kept coming out of nowhere, I only got more enthralled by the story of these determined riders and their colorful cast of dragons, griffins, magic and romances. Admittedly, I’ve always been more of an action-adventure kind of guy, but I still love a good romance. This series is one. The book is also long and dense. Whenever I thought, “okay, it must be over now,” Yarros was there with a new plot twist and two hundred more pages of awesome. This is precisely what I want in my literature. A book so long and dense that it takes me the whole day to read and a story so enthralling that I have to stop reading every few pages to let my imagination run rampant. The final hundred pages or so are a masterclass in plot twists and payoff, hitting you in the face again and again like the paperback version of Mike Tyson.
I really liked how the setup chapters of the book managed to be so compelling. That Xaden would turn Venin to save Violet is a testament to just how far he is willing to go for her sake. The tension between the two of them as the story develops is tantalizing. Their struggle between passion and fear for each other is a compelling and gripping story arc. The next story arc is more akin to a political drama, with much sneaking, scheming and politicking. Personally, I really liked it. Something about a story arc all about outthinking your opponents just speaks to me. The character arc of Xaden is really interesting in this book. He’s already undergone a big one, but now it’s all flipped on its head. Instead of opening up and growing closer, he now tries to close himself off from his friends out of fear of what he might do to them. The tension and conflict of interests is gripping, and kept me engaged the whole book.
“Onyx Storm” is hands down one of the best books I’ve ever read, but I have one significant critique: I have to wait a whole year till I can get my hands on the next volume. On top of everything else she does amazingly as if she wasn’t a good enough author already, Yarros is the master of cliffhangers. I have never been simultaneously so satisfied and unsatisfied by an ending in my life. I would go so far as to call it perfect. Even my mom, who usually isn’t a fan of young adult fiction, loves this series. If you like reading, fiction or even if you have never thought to pick up a book, I highly suggest giving Rebecca Yarros the benefit of your time. I had and still have incredibly high standards and I was not disappointed.
“Onyx Storm:” ★★★★★
