Onyx Storm (Wing and Claw Collection) (The Empyrean, 3)

I dont want to give anything away. I dont write reviews to rehash what I read. I skip reviews that give too much synopsis or delves into book report style. Just going to gloss over. These books get a wide expanse of reviews. Great to terribad. Like it or dont, writers have a magical ability to weave worlds and create people like they are real. I'm thankful for writers, and if a story can make me feel something, can make me imagine something, then I am forever grateful. I am a fan of this series, and a book or story doesnt have to be perfect for me to enjoy it. No, this is not perfect, but I love hanging out in this world. If I' feeling it, then I read the book, if it isnt working for me, then I give myself permission to stop and turn to something else. I frankly found these books entertaining, and I look forward to the next installment. I think book 3 story line has gelled a lot, with much of that having to do with main characters having gone through some stuff. Some new names left it hard for me to keep track of, but not off putting. Some characters I would like to have seen more of, again not off putting. I definitely got the feels in this one, and I definitely wont say from what. But I will say I was blowing my nose as I read in bed. Not a devastating thing, just a bittersweet thing. Lots of humor, lots of WTF, and plenty of new areas explored. Of course, lots of low level (to me) spice. I like the diversity of characters. I love the dragons. I really got a greater understanding of degree of bond. It isnt that it was explicitly explained, I think something just clicked further. I like when I need to take a breather when I finish a book. That is when I have to read something entirely different, and with this one it is like that. Leaves me with feels and thoughts, and I dont want to jump into anything of same genre right away.

I would give this book ♾️⭐️ Onyx Storm, the third book in Rebecca Yarros’ The Empyrean series, is hands down not just the best book of the series—it’s the best book I’ve ever read. Yarros delivers everything we could have hoped for and more, with unparalleled character development, heart-stopping twists, and a world that grows richer with every page. Violet absolutely owns this book. My favorite FMC of all time has officially been crowned, and there is no competition. She was everything—unexpected, brilliant, and unstoppable. Watching her rise to every challenge and truly step into her own was awe-inspiring. Violet is that FMC, and I’ll defend her with every fiber of my being. She’s clever, strong, and endlessly complex—an inspiration from start to finish. And then there’s Xaden. Where do I even begin? No other fictional man will ever come close. He somehow managed to get even better in this book. Every time he opened his mouth, I folded. His devotion to Violet, his grit, his vulnerability—it’s all too much, in the best way. Violet and Xaden together? Perfection. They’re the standard, and no fictional couple will ever compare. It’s them or nothing. The plot was pure brilliance. It perfectly balances answering lingering questions from the previous books while introducing so many new mysteries that my head is still spinning. The banter? Immaculate. The twists? Devastating and perfect. The character development? A hundred out of ten. We got so much more of the OG friendships, heartwarming moments, and laugh-out-loud exchanges, even as the stakes skyrocketed. And the quest to uncover Andarna’s origins? Easily one of the most engaging and fun storylines yet. The world-building is, simply put, masterful. Exploring more of the isles and their unique cultures added so much depth to this already expansive world. The lore was positively delicious, and I devoured every bit of it. The shifting group dynamics, the tension between characters, and the constant sense of impending danger made this book impossible to put down. Now, let’s talk about that ending. Utterly criminal. It was devastating, brilliant, and downright outrageous all at once. I have so many questions, and the thought of waiting for answers feels unbearable. How am I supposed to function after this book? I’m absolutely undone. Obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it—I’m ruined in the best way possible. Onyx Storm is not just a book; it’s an experience. Rebecca Yarros has delivered a masterpiece that surpasses all expectations. It’s thrilling, emotional, and utterly unforgettable. If you thought Fourth Wing and Iron Flame was good, wait until you read this. Violet and Xaden’s story continues to be one of the best I’ve ever read, and I’m so ready to see where this journey takes us next. Book four cannot come soon enough.

4 ⭐️ When I first finished this book, I was convinced it was a 6-star masterpiece. I was unhinged, emotional, and fully convinced Rebecca had changed literature forever. Now, almost a year later, rereading my notes with an actual functioning brain? It’s a good, solid 4-star read with a chaotic finale that temporarily blinded me to its flaws. What i liked: Violet finally acted like the Violet I wanted. She wasn’t insecure every five pages. She wasn’t waiting to be rescued. She finally stepped into her role instead of stumbling through it, and honestly that alone made this better than Iron Flame. Xaden. Still a complete simp. Still obsessed. Still delivering lines that would make a Victorian woman faint. I have no complaints there. Ridoc continues to carry the humor. Every series desperately needs someone whose only job is to make the chaos tolerable. That’s him. If Rebecca kills him, she hates happiness. The island quest actually had purpose. Unlike Iron Flame, which felt like running errands in an RPG game, this part of the book meaningfully expanded the world and gave space for character dynamics to develop. The ending. Absolutely unhinged. And yes, I loved it. It’s the sole reason my original rating temporarily left the realm of logic. What i didn't like: Too many names. If you aren’t Violet, Xaden, Ridoc, Tairn, or the missing Broccolli (yes, I’m still thinking about it), you barely exist in my memory. There were so many new people, places, and lore drops thrown around that it became noise. Violet’s selective obliviousness. There were multiple moments where any normal person would have stopped and connected the dots. She didn’t. Whether it was the silver-haired attendants, the priestess, or the nightmares — it felt like the plot needed her to ignore information so it could matter later. Attempted redemption arcs that didn’t land. Dain existed. That’s the kindest summary. I still don’t know if I’m supposed to like him now or simply tolerate him. The writing and pacing. There’s a lot of potential in this world — dragons, politics, gods — but the execution still feels scattered. Instead of layering information naturally through character or plot, it comes in bursts, name dumps, and abrupt reveals. It’s interesting, but not seamlessly built. Final thought: I enjoyed this book. It’s absolutely better than Iron Flame. The characters felt stronger, the story had purpose, and the ending was exactly the kind of chaotic drama I live for. But with distance, clarity, and less adrenaline, it’s not a perfect book. It’s not structurally clean, and it leans heavily on emotional chaos rather than consistent worldbuilding. So yes — I’ll be reading the next one. But next time, I’m waiting at least 48 hours post-ending before I declare it 6 star hahah.

Best one yet! This is her Prisoner of Azkaban aka: the writing and worldbuilding catch up to an engaging story with characters we already love. I need a little more time to process and write a coherent review that isn't full of all-caps, exclamation points, and spoilers. 3 weeks later and I've read so many despairing (and overlong, repetitive) 2* and 1* reviews that I had to speak up for those of us who loved OS. For some context, I grew up a fantasy reader. Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Dragonriders of Pern, Game of Thrones, Wayfarer Redemption, Valdemar, Sword of Truth. I only came to romance in my late 20s and romantasy later. However, many of the above-mentioned books HAD romance, it was just rarely explicit and rarely focused on a trope. I got into the Empyrean series reluctantly as I'm not on TikTok and didn't like Throne of Glass so I avoid hype books. I loved Fourth Wing. Sure it was in a war college with twenty-somethings and was incredibly dramatic as that age group often is. But the magic system was interesting, I love dragon bonds, and Yarros had created a world that could grow along with plenty of rich characters. In IF we got outside of college and met another country and the gryphons. Great, that's growth. As well, our lovers are torn apart at times, that's normal 2nd book romance. Imogen, Rhiannon, and Mira are fleshed out a bit. Violet learns about her magic and we learn why Andarna's special. In OS we get a huge expansion of the world and lore. I agree that the many gods were hard to follow at first but Hinduism has dozens of gods so this was manageable. Minor characters got growth (Ridoc, Aaric, Cat, Sawyer, and Garrick, love y'all) and our lovebirds are working toward a goal together. I LOVED the quest story! It was pure classic fantasy. They even gathered mysterious objects that will be of use later. Andarna had a whole story arc and we learn a heap more about dragon history and their impact on magic itself. Big news and potential major implications against the venin. Along with everything we learn from Theophanie (her name is fine, Aelin is ridiculous). Yes, there's another cliffhanger but now there's amnesia too? That's very different from IF! Violet and Xaden made a major relationship step and they both dug into their family history and trauma in different ways. These characters have to step up in different arenas beyond just battle. Violet has to lead, Xaden has to be emotionally vulnerable and politics plays a much bigger role, which was interesting and more mature. A lot of people also forget that middle books/movies are supposed to raise more questions than answers. Does no one remember Empire Strikes Back?! Han's missing, Luke lost a hand, Vader claims to be Luke's father, and new allies and planets have been introduced. For OS, I've had so much fun discussing theories and analyzing lines and references with friends. This is a rich book and an engaging world. It was never going to stay in a neat academy + romance box.

"Do not dehydrate yourself on my account." Just off the first half of Onyx Storm, I was already more invested than I was reading Iron Flame. There were a lot of issues with that book, and the community collectively agreed that it didn’t cook as well as Fourth Wing, which was surprising. The pacing in Onyx Storm is amazing. It’s a medium-fast pacing. It's not a snail’s pace but not rushing the story. We were given day-to-day detail when needed but then a lot of unnecessary travel time was skipped and we could get into the meat of the story right away. I appreciated that because it kept me hooked at every minute. The lore drops in this book??? God tier. literally, the ENTIRE world and story just opened up. We got confirmation on Andarna’s seventh species specifically that was mentioned in Iron Flame. We got more backstory on Violet’s family, Xaden’s family, and the Continent’s history as well. AND it was done in a way that didn’t involve two-page chunks of text just talking about the lore. It was very well woven into the story. The balance between politics and action was pretty good overall. Although there were obviously many points where the discussion was political, unsurprisingly, but there were just as many action scenes to balance out the dialogue. Many books can get caught up in all the politics and forget that, at their core, they are an action fantasy. The world-building and power system progressions just had my jaw dropped to the floor. We get to see whole new cultures, powers, upgraded powers, and a very specific cute caveat in the power systems of the rebellion relics. There were quite a few things that didn’t go as I’d predicted from Iron Flame, but there were a couple things that I requested that I did get. Dreamwalking, double signets, traitors, fractured relationships, additional growing relationships, fake out deaths and real meaningful deaths, so much amazing banter, I skipped every intimate scenes, and more POVs from other characters, and so much more. But I didn't love the ending. It felt too abrupt. All in all, I think it’s going to be really tough for Yarros to top this book with book four. It would have to get insane to top everything that happened in here.

I'm not sure if I have words to describe the emotional impact this book and series have had on me. I couldn't put this book down and while I wanted to know what happened...I also didn't want it to end. And then it did and it was everything I wanted and more. Was I wrong about what was going to happen most of the time? Mot definitely, but I had fun guessing along the way and I will continue to have fun guessing as I do re-reads. This book is what a midpoint book should be - we got some answers but have a heck of a lot more as the stakes get higher and the world gets bigger. There is a lot of world and character building in this book - way more than in the previous two books. I definitely need a re-read in order to better understand it all, but I believe it's setting the foundation for the next two final books in the series. While there are parts that confused me, I think that's ok. I think all questions will be answered in the end and I'm here for the adventure! I will recommend this book and series until I am blue in the face. I love the adventure, romance, friendship, family, lessons, learning, magic, and overall immersive writing that makes me feel like I'm there. The book hangover is real and that's when I know something magical has happened and a book has wormed its way into my soul. Onyx Storm (and the rest of the series) also contain some very real world reminders and lessons for us all. Even though this is a fantasy series, I think it would do us all well to learn from our history, to remember who can change our history (and not in a good way), how to stand up for what's right even when it's hard, to show empathy, to fight against wrongs, to embrace those that need help, and to be better than those that came before us. Lessons especially impactful in today's climate and I applaud Rebecca for her reminders. This book was most definitely worth the wait! And I will continue to wait (and encourage Rebecca's mental and physical health as a priority) for the next one. I'm a full supporter of her taking the time she needs since we'll be here when she's ready whenever that is - and then we can once again dive back into the Empyrean with her.

***Contains Some Spoilers*** *sigh* I was really hoping for A LOT more eith book 3 of this series, but man was I let down! Im really not sure how others rated this anything higher than 3 stars, and even that is being generous IMO It took me a couple of tries to get through this book. I really hoped after giving myself time to go back to reading this book that it would get better, but I was wrong. What worked: -Ridoc. He's the comic relief and bit of "interesting" this book needed. What didn't work: -Lack of character building. -Too many "oh no, they're dead! Okay, just kidding, they're not dead." It was soo overdone, annoying, and definitely not needed. -Xaden having all this power and basically being able to so as he pleases. He's a Lt, a professor, not a professor, venin, a controlled venin, full venin...it was too much and, again, unnecessary. Also, how does him turning venin not affect Segail when they're bonded? Not really mentioned. -Andarna's kind being rare, you'd think it would be considered maybe a myth or something people talked about as dragons from the past. No one knows about this other breed of dragon? Not even the wisest of people? Come on! -Xaden's mom making an appearance. Why? It was also not needed. -Jack...still served no really purpose in this book. He was mentioned and had a small role, and then he wasnt...why was he even there? It almost seemed like he was an after thought and then Yarros realized "shoot, I need to bring him back in." It was sloppy and didn't contribute to the book at all. -Violet possibly being venin? *insert eye roll here* come one! Really?! Again, it just seemed haphazardly thrown in to make the book interesting, which didn't work for me. -The ending...so much went wrong with that ending I was actually glad to be done with the book. I honestly feel like Yarros bit off more than she could chew in extending this series. She should have stuck with the original plan. Its frustrating because the first book was so amazing and the 2nd was good. This one just ruined the series for me TBH I almost want to forego the next 2 books. It's like watching a train wreck happening, I cant look away. I think a lot of this book was unnecessary fillers, contradicting information, and not a lot of clarification on certain things. 2.5 disappointed stars Would I recommend this book? Eh...I guess if you just want to kill time without feeling connected to characters or a story.

Onyx Storm, the focus of a lot of online discourse, was my latest read of 2025. Released in January of 2025, Onyx storm picks up where Iron Flame ended. We continue to follow Violet through her journey of love, loss, and leadership, as she pursues an end to the conflict taking place in her home. With Xaden experiencing his new dilemma, Violet finds herself struggling to be all things to all people, while also being true to her love and the needs of that love. Onyx storm is action packed and keeps you turning page after page, until your left wanting more. And THAT’S where this review picks up. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK Onyx storm is a page turner but feels a little different than the last couple of books. This book is able to move past a lot of the world building and secondary character building, allowing you to focus in on the moment, with only hints and allusions to the past, that help to form the story. While I like the complexity of these characters, I always struggle staying engaged when we are handed long paragraphs or dreams that explain the characters backstory. Onyx storm does great adding complexity to the main characters through short allusions to the past. Another thing I really liked about the book is the action in this one. While the past books were always intriguing with their battle scenes, it feels like you really get to experience the dread in this book before experiencing the high of the battles, making you invest more and more as you go. As I read Onyx Storm, it felt like the dread continued to grow and deepen before it releases you like a rubber band, and Rebecca needs to be commended for this growth in her writing. Lastly, DRAGONS. The dragons in this book are so good. The humor, the pride, the longing and growth are fantastic as a subplot in this story and always got me excited when they spoke. The growth of the dragons was amazing and fun to watch. We also get a chance to see some of the other dragons and their riders’ interactions, which was also exciting in here. I could go on about them all day, but just know… I’m here for the dragons!!! Now, MY CRITIQUES ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. THIS IS ONLY MY EXPEREINCE AND STYLE OF READING. Rebecca Yarros seems like an amazing curator of spicy scenes. She is great in describing internal and external experiences that highlight the craving that characters have for one another. WITH THAT SAID. I felt that there were some scenes in this book that felt… forced… for lack of a better word. I understand how important the intimate moments are for Violet and Xaden, but there were times that it felt like the scenes were there just to be there. I truly think that the first book did great with utilizing these scenes to highlight the relationship, but Onyx Storm feels like it was little more than a break from the plot. A little tangential to the idea of how the spice scenes were utilized, it felt like about half the time Xaden shows up where violet is, we are reminded that she is attracted to him as she “[drinks] him in.” It feels like it falls into this repetitive rut I experienced with my only DNF book, The Crown of Ivy and Glass. We really understand how much Violet likes Xaden, but this felt a little overboard as we got later into the book. Lastly, and this will seem confusing given how much I liked them, but the dragons’ interactions. To be clear, I liked the dragons A LOT, but there was one piece that I keep waiting to show up and it didn’t until just a few lines at the end. Tairn and Sgaeyl. I feel like there was a lot more going on in this couple, but we see very little interaction between them. It left me wanting to know what’s going on but we don’t get much from this. There is one additional critique that I have, however in the interest of keeping this review spoiler free, I will work to create my own word press to share more thoughts, so be on the lookout for that. A NOTE OF FOLLOW UP Now, as I said in the beginning, there seems to be a lot of controversy around this book with the ending and some thoughts that line up with my critiques. First, about pronunciation of the names in the book. I understand that the names are Scottish Gaelic names, and I can appreciate people wanting to be respectful of the pronunciation of the names, but It feels like some people were not looking to build understanding and education with the author, but an interest in tearing down the author for this. As a community in the fantasy/ romantasy realm, we need to be more understanding of simple mistakes such as this. Second, Andarna’s journey and what happens with her. I can understand the criticisms about this part and can sympathize with these critiques. If I’m thinking about her storyline, we need to remember were dealing with a magical character with no historical knowledge of what is happening with her. If your criticism is that her conclusion to her conflict was an abrupt finale, I can agree to an extent, but MY view is more focused on the consequence of the path chosen. MY critique here is only that I wish I had more of that feeling of dread that came from the path chosen for the character’s connected to Andarna. Again, this doesn’t feel like something to attack the author for, because the author was the one that made you love this character. Lastly, a lot of readers seem to have problems with the “fake out” deaths (my terminology) in this book. I get it. When your mind prepares for loss and it doesn’t come to fruition it can be frustrating and unfulfilling. Im with you, but I keep in mind one thing, this isn’t necessarily this authors strength, YET. She did amazing when it came to Liam and Violets mother, but had a whole book or 2 books that really got you invested before ripping them from you. I believe Yarros is growing in this realm but it feels like a lot of the community expects her to reach Pierce Brown levels of invested death. Its something that can be hard to do because if you insert a death that doesn’t have a lot of deep connections, it falls flat, and if you insert a death that doesn’t feel consequential, it doesn’t progress the story. I’m giving the deference to Yarros that she will be able to increase your investment in specific characters, increase the stakes, and rip them from you in a way that will tear at your heart strings. Let this author continue to grow in this area and I believe we will see it pay off in dividends. IN CONCLUSION I rated Onyx Storm a 4.25 out of 5. This book is a FUN read and will keep you page turning. There are some criticisms of this book, but I really believe that we are seeing Rebecca Yarros growing right before our eyes. Id recommend this to readers that are re-entering the reading series and have an interest in a little spice as well as dragons, just being dragons. I cant wait to see what she comes up with in the next book.

Onyx Storm delivers exactly what fans expect from the series—high stakes, intense emotions, and plenty of action. It’s fast-paced and gripping, with moments that are genuinely hard to put down once things get going. The character dynamics continue to be a strong point, especially in the way relationships are tested and developed under pressure. There’s a good balance of emotional depth and tension, even if things occasionally feel a bit overstuffed or hectic. At times, the story can feel overwhelming with how much is happening, and not every plot thread lands perfectly. Still, the overall experience is engaging and entertaining. It’s a strong continuation that keeps the momentum of the series going.

I never leave a review for books because each of us have different taste ... but this is one of the best book series I read after the bear and the nightingale in 2019 ... I read a lot and this book is so well written... keeps you on your toe... and you don't want to let it go... I cannot wait for the rest... Will be waiting impatiently!!!!!

What a ride Onyx Storm took me in! This book was captivating from start to finish. It was such a big book, but I felt everything was important, well developed and very informative. I was instantly hooked from the first chapter and I don't feel there was any dull moment. This third book in The Empyrean Series is wihout a doubt my new favorite! As I expected, Onyx Storm was action packed and full of political aspects and revelations that had my jaw dropping multiple times through my read. It was also brimming with romance and spice, but also friendship and loyalty. Regardless of these beautiful lighter moments, there was also sadness, anguish, heartbreak, betrayal, scheming and casualties. Violet rose as a powerful and brave heroine. The way she tried to leanr and control her power more was spellbinding. She was devoted to a cause bigger than herself, but also so ardent for Xaden and her unshakable love for him. And that man... wow! I already loved him, but he outmatched himself. He was the perfect partner and his one liners full of passion, possessiveness, humor and love had me swooning. His circumstance wasn't easy, but he still fought for his cause. I was fascinated by the whole cast! Seriously, the squad and the way they work together and support each other was incredible. They're truly the meaning of found family. How can I wrapup this review without mentionning Tairn and Andarna. Once again, these two were the perfect companions to Violet. Their irresistible personalities had me enthralled. Tairn with his ever present grumpiness and Andarna with her candor and sweetness. The perfect dragon duo! I tried to savor this book by reading a little slower, but I utlimately finished it quite fast for a book this long. And now, I'm dying for the next book that will release in forever, lol!

Well, guys, here I am—after a week of thinking, processing, and unraveling theories with my bookish friends, I’m finally ready to give my two cents. And I’ll start by saying I AM OBSESSED. This series has become my whole personality, and I’m not even mad about it. I’ll keep the first part spoiler-free and announce when the spoilers begin. First Impressions (No Spoilers!) First and foremost, this book was absolutely worth the wait. I had a lot of resentment toward the rushed release of Iron Flame—I get that Fourth Wing was a massive hit, but six months was nowhere near enough time to craft a solid sequel, and it showed. It felt rushed, overloaded with info dumps, and lacking the magic of FW. But with Onyx Storm, Rebecca brought us back to the action-packed, deadly, and adventurous storytelling we fell in love with, and I couldn’t be happier. The plot flows quickly, with something happening on every page. I loved how all the small clues felt like they were leading to something bigger, making the final reveals even more satisfying. One of the strongest aspects of the book is that while Violet and Xaden are obviously the heart of the story, we also have an incredible cast of supporting characters who add so much depth, even when they’re not frequently on the page. Shoutout to Aaric, Ridoc, Imogen, and Garrik! Also, can we stop labeling this series as ‘dragon smut’? First of all, people calling FW "smut" clearly haven’t read actual smut. Secondly, the sex scenes are minimal, far apart, and not even that wild. Everything Rebecca writes has a purpose—even the steamy moments contribute to character development. This series is about friendship, loyalty, adventure, grief, and jaw-dropping plot twists—so let’s not reduce it to something it’s not. Spoilers Ahead – Read at Your Own Risk! - - - - ✅ Violet and Xaden’s Relationship: After the toxicity and frustration of Iron Flame, I feel like we finally got what we needed—communication and trust. Their devotion to each other was beautiful to watch, and jealous Xaden? A dream. Obviously, we figured out pretty quickly that Halden wasn’t a real threat (he turned out to be a whiny, entitled brat), but when he was first introduced? I kicked and screamed at how adorably possessive Xaden was. 💡 Violet’s Second Signet: I’m holding off judgment on this one. Right now, my friends and I have cooler theories than what we actually got (dreamwalking? Meh.). But I trust Rebecca to make it work. So far, it feels more like nightmare-walking than dreamwalking, so let’s see how it evolves. 🚨 That character (whose name I can’t even remember) manifesting shadows?! WTF. I cannot handle the idea of Xaden losing his shadows or, worse, turning fully dark. I still believe Violet is the key to his redemption or evolution. However, I’ve noticed that as the book progresses, Xaden’s love/jealousy starts shifting toward full-blown obsession. This could mean: He’s desperately holding onto his humanity through Violet OR He’s slipping into something much darker 😬 But what I loved was that unlike in Iron Flame, Violet never loses faith in him. She stands by him, no matter what. 🔥Tairn remains the best character in the entire series. If he weren’t a dragon, he’d be the hottest male character—don’t even fight me on this. I adore how protective he is of Violet, and in Onyx Storm, we also see his softer side with Andarna. He’s the ultimate girl dad, and I love him even more for it. 💛Andarna’s journey felt incredibly real. She’s a typical teenager, and when she left, I felt the loss just as much as Violet did. I completely understood her need to find her kind, but in the end, she had already chosen her family—Tairn, Violet, and their values. The way she always wanted to be like Tairn? Too sweet for words. 💙Aaric = underrated fave. After Ridoc, he’s my favorite supporting character. He’s marginal yet central to the story, and I loved his signet (which I figured out way before Violet did, btw). The way he’s the complete opposite of his brother? Perfection. I really hope we see more of him in the next book. 😭 Now, my beloved Ridoc… I AM SCARED. Rebecca has confirmed that a beloved character will die, and I have a sinking feeling it might be him. Could he be the "brother" Xaden refers to at the end? (He says new brother, so maybe not Bodhi or Garrik, since he already considered them brothers.) Are we being set up for heartbreak? I FEEL LIKE WE ARE. Mentions: 📖 I NEED an Imogen & Garrik love story ASAP. 💔 Quinn’s death DESTROYED me. I was sobbing while driving home, listening to that chapter. Unsafe and unhinged behavior. 🔥 Xaden’s chapter was everything. 💍 Violet waking up with a rock on her finger and no memory?? IMOGEN, EXPLAIN YOURSELF. 💜 Sawyer deserves more screen time. Final Rating: ⭐ 5/5 Stars It was amazing. The best of the series so far. Rebecca, you have my heart (and my sanity in shambles).

This book builds on the rich world established in the previous instalments with even deeper lore, high-stakes action and complex character arcs. The pacing stays strong throughout — mixing battle sequences, political intrigue and personal development in ways that keep you turning the pages. The characters feel more layered here, and their relationships and choices have real emotional weight. The magic and world mechanics continue to impress, with fresh twists that expand the universe without losing sight of what made the series compelling from the start. If you love immersive fantasy worlds with a blend of action, strategy and evolving mythology, this is a satisfying addition to the series. A few plot threads are dense (so it helps to be familiar with the earlier books), but overall it delivers on adventure and depth.