Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3) by Rebecca Yarros Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame on my blog, now!

Does Rebecca Yarros think she is Carrie Bradshaw and is being paid by the word? Is there a word count that her publisher is making her reach? There is no other explanation on why this book was nearly 800 pages long and yet there was maybe one instance of an actual plot point occurring. If you cut out the first 700 pages of this book and only kept the last six chapters, you would not be missing out on anything, other than the migraine the other sixty chapters that this book would have given you. I do not even know what I expected from this book considering Iron Flame destroyed some of my brain cells, but this installment was full of... nothing. Every "twist" that took Violet fifteen chapters to figure out was predictable and frankly, lame.

I will admit that the vodka cranberries I had on the plane while reading this book may have influenced how I felt about the ending, but good grief I was wishing I was one of the people who fell off of the parapet by the time I was through with this third installment. Yarros continues her attempt to write fantasy while it is clearly evident she wants to write a romance, but wants to be in the fantasy market. I can think of no other alternative on why she and her writing skills have attempted to take on a fantasy series, let alone planning to make it five books. What more could she possibly have to say? This series definitely should have been a trilogy or four books at the absolute maximum. When authors waste hundreds of pages full of paragraphs upon paragraphs of the same descriptions over and over again, it makes the story redundant and cheap.

Echoing my statement from my review of Iron Flame - Xaden is still the only character worthy of reader interest. Every single other character seems to just float around the plot without contributing, with the exception of Violet, when she is not breaking her bones or falling off her dragon every other chapter. Sure, the side characters provide some comedic relief, but every time one of them is injured or literally dies, I am unaffected - I should be sobbing my eyes out and be attached to these characters, but Yarros makes them so one-dimensional that you forget their name when you get to the next page.

Violet Sorrengail, have you heard of common sense? Have you heard of context clues? Have you heard of self-preservation? I continue to question this girl's intelligence at every turn, and she continues to quite literally throw herself off of her dragon whenever it is convenient for her and her own agenda. Her allegiance to Xaden is admirable, but that is honestly the only good quality she has going for her lately. Her family was such a large presence in the second book, and yet in this third installment, they became pushed to the side, so much so that at one point, I forgot their names. Yarros continues to build up these scenarios, only to abandon them in favor of having Violet and Xaden engage in yet another break up that will last for three chapters until they break another table.

I still cannot stand the way that all of the dragons speak to one another and how they speak to their riders. It feels unnatural and the conversation never flows organically, making the writing feel choppy or surface-level. I literally do not care if any of these characters or dragons live or die at this point simply because the story is being dragged out - nearly three thousand pages later and we have moved a pebble compared to the mountains of plot that should have been rolling since Fourth Wing. I simply cannot even begin to imagine what torturous writing is in store for readers in the final two books of this series. My only option to to keep reading so I can put this series to rest and never think about it again.

Once again - stop making everyone's second signet so obvious!!! It is not making the reading journey fun when I can literally identify major reveals from miles away, and have to read 600 pages to get to the point when even the main character does not realize what her second signet is. I am so over the bare minimum writing capabilities of this author, and I genuinely cannot believe this went through rounds of editing and this is what they thought was worthy of publishing. Sure, if you push aside the entry-level writing and two-dimensional plot and are here solely for the vibes, I can see how you could rate this book higher. But as a veteran of fantasy and someone who has read her fair share of subpar books to epic fantasies, Onyx Storm proves yet again that Yarros is in over her head.

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Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2) by Rebecca Yarros Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Fourth Wing on my blog, now!

All of these characters were put through the ringer once again, and yet Iron Flame fails to make me care about any of them. Violet and Xaden's chemistry is certainly something, but with communication issues as horrendous as theirs, it is hard to become attached to their relationship. The side characters were given more development than our leading lady and my attention faded quickly - I read this book quickly not because it kept me captivated, but because I was desperate for it to be over.

Violet Sorrengail is about as perceptive as a rock, and that is giving her some grace. For a girl who is notoriously known for knowing everything and being excellent when training as a scribe, the girl cannot connect the dots to save her life unless someone is literally feeding her the information. Every revelation she had during this second installment was something so obvious and not at all shocking if you paid attention to anything in these books. Violet does not seem to understand that she actually needs to harness her signet in order to use it properly, and her throwing around lightning without a true purpose will get her nowhere except six feet under if she continues at this rate. I would ask someone to knock some sense into her, but as we all saw, people are constantly attempting that task at every turn.

Xaden's actions are arguably the most understandable out of every single character in this series. He seems to be the only one with a true purpose and actual goals set in mind - his secret keeping is literally required in order for things to play out in his favor, and with him and Violet constantly fighting the same fight months later, he still does not reveal anything to her without having her figure it out herself (or with his help). That being said, he really is great at not revealing information, whereas Violet has a mouth as big as Texas when it comes to giving up information to her squad members. I really need that girl to get her act together. Xaden and Violet's relationship feels like a nothing-ship, they basically screw each other and then fight the other 23 hours in a day.

Dain - they could never make me like you. The constant attempts to save his character and make him have a redemption arc was weak and ill-fitting of his character. It would have been much better to continue with his development as a character that Violet could channel her rage toward. He felt like a constant annoyance throughout this book, and I was begging the author to just make him disappear without explanation as it would be a mercy to my eyes to never have to read his name ever again. And yet, he continues to pop up at the most inconvenient times. Sure, he was able to explain himself to Violet at times, but boy oh boy the man is approaching levels of pick-me status that only Adam Kent from the Shatter Me series has achieved.

This book was way longer than it needed to be, and honestly a lot slower than it should have been. I have seen glaciers in Alaska move at a faster pace than the plot of this book. So many long and monologue-like paragraphs in this book, and yet it feels as though nothing of substance came out of it for the readers or for the characters. Sorry to all of my friends and coworkers that ate this book up, but I am so glad I borrowed this from the library and did not spend actual cash money to purchase this book. The actual realization that this is planned to be a five book series astounds me because what else could Yarros write about that she already did not explore in the first two books - Violet and Xaden fighting and keeping secrets? An obvious signet reveal? People thought to be dead are actually not dead? She needs to stop recycling plot points and produce some new ideas.

From someone who enjoyed Fourth Wing, this sequel was incredibly disappointing. I will likely continue on with this series to see it through as it is published, but I do not have any hopes for it to improve as the next installments are released unless Yarros does some serious improvements on her writing style and character development. With an ending that was predictable yet still a touch heartbreaking, The Empyrean series is desperate to hold onto readers at the cost of good storytelling.

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The Crown of the Dark Prince (House of Hyrax, #2) by Arcadia Rayne ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Rose in the Shadows on my blog, now! The Crown of the Dark Prince will be available on May 8, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved The Rose in the Shadows, and was incredibly excited to dive back into the world and see what was in store for these characters. Thea is now even deeper into Athenian Court and Council member life, and as she continues her internal battle between following her feelings and looking for the truth, she finds herself more isolated than ever. After the events of The Rose in the Shadows, she is essentially moving through life with determination to understand what the God of the Dead has in store for her.

Her attraction to Clay and their complicated relationship continue in this installment, and the will-they-wont-they is addicting. Every interaction they have is like adding fuel to the fire to their story, and I found Thea's complex and guarded actions towards Clay an intriguing part of her character that made her more nuanced as the story went on. Clay's reactions to her approach were completely valid, and his determination toward understanding the situation really solidified him as a character and as a potential love interest.

The Dragon continues to be one of the most vile characters in this series and the introduction of another foe only causes Thea, Clay, and the rest of their friends to face even more difficulties and loss throughout this installment. Thea is truly put through the ringer at every chance, and I felt as though she could never catch a break - there would be fleeting moments where she was content or at ease, but two chapters later, she would be fighting for her life or trying to save someone. That being said, she certainly had her moments and needed to lock into her common sense skills - I think she would become so overwhelmed at the state of the madness that she was unable to focus on how to solve issues.

Friendships in this series have been at the root for logical thinking and holding each other accountable. The majority of the characters either go through something horrific or bear witness to something of that nature, and the outcome tends to impact their relationships with one another. Considering what occurred in The Rose in the Shadows, it comes to no surprise that particular characters are not acting like their usual selves, while other characters attempt to aid those affected in the best way possible. Secrets are uncovered and loyalties are put to the test as everyone seeks to end the suffering around them.

Once again the ending of this book was insane and now I cannot believe I have to wait for the third installment. I had a feeling things were going in that direction, but when it actually happened, I still could not believe what I was reading. Rayne does such a fantastic job at pulling readers into the story, and coming off the intense battles these characters fight in, it felt like another blow by a sword, in the best way possible. I absolutely will be continuing on with this series, and cannot imagine what trials and tribulations this group of friends will have to endure.

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The Rose in the Shadows (House of Hyrax, #1) by Arcadia Rayne Review

This is a spoiler-free review! 

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. After suddenly appearing, Theadora Moore is found to be the last Descendant of Hyrax, and she is thrown into royal politics and attempts on her life. With no memory of who she is or how she ended up here, she must navigate life as a royal and tune into the magic that very much but a target on her back. Prince Clayton Vail is weary to trust this girl who has already caused an amount of destruction without intention, and he must determine if her presence at court will be one of distraction or duty.

The amnesia trope is something I have actually rarely come across - sure, there have been points in books where characters have lost their memories after being cursed or drinking potions, but I do not recall more than a few times where the lead has had no memory from the beginning. It creates such a unique challenge for not only the lead, but for the supporting characters who have to discover if Thea is able to be trusted. Watching her grow into herself and work to discover how she ended up with such a target on her back and searching for answers.

Clay's immediate mistrust of Thea is not unexpected - in fact, if he trusted her immediately, I would have been weary of Clay's reasoning abilities. As he continues to side eye her throughout the days and warn everyone within a hundred foot vicinity that she should not be so easily welcomed, we also see the longing gazes and beginnings of protectiveness towards her. I loved his character - I would not go as far to say that he is stand-offish, but rather as heir, he must be cautious on who he interacts with and opens up to. The bickering between Thea and Clay was definitely a highlight of this book, and truly showed how their relationship developed over time.

Thea may be a stranger to her own memories, but that does not hinder the way she interacts with those in court or her boldness when it comes to making a scene for the good of the people. She is strong-headed and often times it does have consequences, not only for herself, but for others. I do think a lot of the supporting characters do place a lot of strong feelings on her - she is incredibly new to the idea that she is a princess, and yet she is under scrutiny at every turn. That being said, supporting characters like Iris have been by her side essentially since the beginning, and you can tell that she does have a support system in place, no matter how small it is.

The action in this book is certainly captivating, and I found myself truly enjoying the intensity - it reminded me a lot of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard in that regard. There were so many instances where I felt as though I could not turn the page fast enough - sure, there is world-building in the beginning, but even so, there is action right from the start. The author had a clear vision of what she wanted to convey with this story, and I appreciate the fact that she took the time to development side characters without sacrificing the main plot or Thea's development. Both Thea and Clay have such strong presences in this book, and are the main drawing point for me to continue reading this series and seeing where it goes. If you are looking for an adult fantasy to keep you on the edge of your seat, The Rose in the Shadows is definitely for you.

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City of Ruin (Witch Walker, #2) by Charissa Weaks Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Witch Collector on my blog, here.

I really enjoyed The Witch Collector, and was excited to dive back into this story. The dynamic that Raina and Alexus formed throughout the first installment is stronger than ever in this book, and I loved seeing how much they relay on one another when it comes to recognizing their limitations. On the other hand, it was great to see how they supported each other when they knew they were capable of much more than they realized - especially, when it comes to Alexus aiding Raina's own development.

Alexus and Raina are giving Rhysand and Feyre a run for their money when it comes to being freaky in a tent when war is on the horizon. Their spicy scenes definitely got kicked up a notch, and they really were going at it like no tomorrow. That being said, at times the smut felt somewhat out of place, even more so when they would be worried about survival one minute and then getting their freak on the next. Meanwhile, Finn is as boring and third-wheeling as ever, basically giving Jeremiah Fisher from The Summer I Turned Pretty a run for his money.

I would have loved to see more action in this installment - at times, it felt as though we were running in circles about the same details over and over again, and then the author would jump to a new scene or switch perspectives. Considering the first book set up a pretty solid foundation of the world and its characters, I was unsatisfied with the plot points that should have had more impact on the story. There was just too many times that the plot was abandoned so that Raina and Alexus could get it on, and while those chapters were great, it became too repetitive.

Alexus, my man... top tier book boyfriend material. Completely obsessed with how he always puts Raina above all else, and even when she hates what she does, he does it because he cares so deeply for her. I loved how much you could visibly see how much he loves her, and how he is constantly making people aware that they are together, even when people do not support their relationship.

The last third of this book really picked up and had me locked in - it felt as though so much was happening and so many truths were being revealed. The ending totally had my jaw on the floor, and I was screaming at my book the second I realized what was going on. I will definitely be continuing on with this series, and I would recommend it to fans of The Divine and the Cursed by J.E. Reed.

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Belladonna (Belladonna, #1) by Adalyn Grace Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

The prologue really drew me into this story - I had heard mixed reviews of this series, and I had it on my TBR list for quite some time, so I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn right into Signa's journey. The banter that Death and Signa have right off the bat was so enjoyable, and as a long-time lover of enemies-to-lovers, I had high hopes for their relationship progression throughout this book. I have been yearning for a good grumpy male lead, and while Death does make his appearances worth while, I wish he had more scenes.

Sylas and Signa were a great little detective pair, and the tension between them throughout the book on top of the tension between Death and Signa was so fun to read - you could see the inner struggle that Signa was battling as she spent more time with each of them. Sylas is essentially the grumpiest man in the nicest room on the train, and his reactions to everything that Signa does in this story really added a layer of enjoyment. That being said, I loved the way that Death spoke to Signa, and the way he was always trying to make her figure out things on her own.

I was becoming very torn between who I liked more for Signa - Death or Sylas - but in the wise words of Katherine Pierce - "It's okay to love them both" - so I did. The pacing of the plot was slow for about two thirds of the book, and finally took off and was filled with a decent amount of action and discovery in its last third. The masquerade scene was truly chef's kiss - I loved every single minute of it, and it had such a great energy surrounding it, truly drawing the reader in.

The side characters - Blythe, Percy, Marjorie, Elijah, etc - certainly aided Signa's story, and the author was able to create an intimate circle of people surrounding the leading lady. I do wish some characters became more fleshed out as the plot progressed, but the select few that did receive that special attention were definitely worth it in the end. However, they were not the reason that I was invested in the story, and I found myself reading at a faster pace when their side plots took precedence over Signa's development.

The overall mystery of the story was certainly enthralling, and if the book was about one hundred pages longer, I think there could have been more development. A decent amount of twists seemed more obvious than they should have been, and it took a bit of the suspense out of reading when I could see what was going to happen chapters before it was revealed.

I love gothic romance, and with the added mystery aspect, I thought this was a fun read that could be a great entry way into the genre as you build yourself up. The setting of the story - at least what I was able to imagine in my head based off of the author's descriptions - was stunning, and truly gave that eerie feeling as murders need to be solved. The story has certainly intrigued me, and I will definitely try to revisit this series in the future.

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Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I was very weary going into this book -- with so much online hype surrounding it, I was worried that it would not live up to expectations. Let me tell you, I was so wrong, and while talking dragons are a little out of my comfort zone, this book really had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Getting into a new fantasy series can be daunting, and when the first installment is pretty lengthy, you can only imagine what kind of world-building the author decided to include.

The war college reminded me of a lot of certain aspects from Divergent by Veronica Roth, especially regarding the quadrants, and I was worried it would stick with that theme - thankfully, it was just a similarity. Violet's character description was a little tough to nail down, and there is this sense of vulnerability surrounding her as she is forced to join a quadrant that could very much have her killed before dinner. Her mother is an absolute nightmare, and I can already tell that woman is probably not going to make it out of this series alive. She is overbearing, rude, and distances herself so far from her children, you would think they were strangers to her.

When Violet joins the Riders Quadrant, I literally thought this girl was going to get snapped in half every other page. She goes on and on about her fragile body, and I was surprised she was surviving each day with just some minor injuries. Violet obviously would have rather gone to the Scribe Quadrant, but she has to face these challenges or suffer the consequences. The fact that she literally requires people to turn into her own security because she is either falling off dragons or being the target of several murder attempts had me dying - the girl cannot catch a break.

She is attached by the hip to her childhood friend Dain, who is the human embodiment of the scorned boy who has been friend-zoned. He gives Adam Kent from the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi a run for his money, and that says a lot coming from me, who has disliked Adam since that series was first published. His pick-me energy is off the charts, and it definitely clouds his judgement when Violet is involved, which is basically every scenario since he is literally her squad leader. I was literally begging for him to fall off of his dragon or be anywhere else that was not where Violet was - his presence was agitating beyond belief.

Xaden... I am a sucker for the perceived villain to become the love interest, and was glad to see actual tension and hatred in the beginning of his and Violet's interactions. You could quite literally feel the emotions seeping out of this man, and Violet egged him on at every chance she got, making their pairing so in tune with one another. The man that he is, oh boy I was so glad to see a male lead in fantasy have sarcasm and an actual plot line of his own that did not directly depend on the female lead. His past is tormented and there is so much to his character that we still need to uncover. I loved the way he was able to remain stoic and sarcastic while having moments of weakness that were perceived as outside amusement rather than obvious feelings.

Every side character served a purpose, and even when certain characters were there to either try to kill Violet or be there as a plot device to move her arc forward, they all were more than just a name on a page. You watch Violet be weary of accepting friendship in a war college where your fellow cadets want you dead, and yet she continues to offer support to others without latching onto the idea that they need a strong bond. The friends she does make on the way are such interesting characters, and they elevate the story as a whole without being dependent on Violet's specific actions.

The mind-talking dragons took me a minute to get used to - some of their dialogue felt a touch out of place, but the more they interacted with their riders, the easier it flowed into the story. I enjoyed watching the riders form these personal bonds with their dragons, and the additional relationships that dragons had with other dragons added another layer to the story. All of the challenges and tests that the riders had to pass and survive throughout the book definitely would have had me on the floor, and I just kept imagining more intense Wipe Out obstacles courses in their place.

Now, the ending of this book low-key had me gagged and the perspective change had me doing laps around my room. I underestimated how much I was going to like this book, and I send my apologies to every single one of my friends who tried to get me to read this for over a year and I kept saying no. I may try to space out diving into the next installment since at this moment this series is actively being published, and I need to prepare myself for having to wait years in between books again. But a girl needs answers and I fear I may not be able to hold back for much longer.

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The Witch Collector (Witch Walker, #1) by Charissa Weaks Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Yet another free iBook that has proven itself to me... love a good fantasy read, and the dynamic between Raina and Alexus was exactly what I was looking for in my next read. The premise reminded me a lot of The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh in the sense of an unexpected bond. I absolutely loved the use of sign language throughout this book, and the author did a great job incorporating Raina's use of signs and her perspective in communicating with others who do not know the language.

A decent amount of this book spends its time with Raina and Alexus riding throughout the forest and hiding away from attackers, while building upon their relationship as they began to get to know one another. There were times where this began to make the story seem to lag, but I was personally so invested in their dynamic that I was able to push through and read through those sections relatively quickly.

The magic and lore in this series seems very interesting -- I only wish that the author spent more time diving into the background of it in order to expand upon its importance. Raina would touch upon the basics as she expanded her abilities, but I felt as though we could have been provided with more information. Especially considering that we really do not start learning about the specifics until we are well into the story -- at least at the halfway mark. That being said, the integration of gods, magic, and tales grabbed my attention and kept me inclined to see this story through.

Side characters provided important discoveries and developments as Raina and Alexus became more acquainted with each other. Nephele, Raina's older sister, was a major plot device for her initial distain of the Witch Collector we grew to love, and the Prince of the East had a similar aura comparable to The Darkling from The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo. The other side characters played some important roles, but I found myself wanting more of the romance in those instances. I definitely believe they added a lot to the story, but they were not drawing my attention as much I had hoped.

As far as world-building goes, this first installment certainly sets up the relationships and introduced readers to the lore of the land. My hope would be that the second book dives much deeper into the magic, as this book did a great job diving into the background of the gods and their intricate involvement with each other. I can see the potential that this series has, and I look forward to continuing on with Alexus and Raina's story.

I would recommend this series to those looking to fill the void that Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor has left, and to readers searching for a gateway entrance to the fantasy genre.

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Awakened Princess (Beyond the Curse, #1) by Laura Greenwood Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Awakened Princess is currently available for free on iBooks and Kindle.

Kicking off my first read of 2024 with an intriguing retelling plot that seemed to wrap three fairy tales into one fantasy series. More so in the sense that there are hints from different stories written throughout this book, but most notably is Sleeping Beauty, which is at the forefront of the story. 

Keira, freshly eighteen and officially declared the heir, has discovered that a sleeping curse has been placed upon her, and she must find a way to break it before her nineteenth birthday. Going along with the Sleeping Beauty retelling, we have Prince Philip, from another kingdom, who has earned the interested of Keira when he attends her birthday gala.

This was a fun read! It was on the shorter side, but nothing felt too rushed and the characters are still given the chance to develop some more distinguishable traits. It was not overflowing with unnecessary side characters, and the author kept the story to the point and did not drift from the main plot line. Getting to see the early stages of Keira and Philip's relationship as friends to something more felt natural -- it was not instant love for them, and I really appreciated the way they got to know each other before anything else transpired. 

I do wish that we were able to see more development for the individual characters, but given that it is the first book in a series, I have hope that the next installment will draw more on their backgrounds and personalities. Regarding world building, this was a simple introduction to the internal conflict between two kingdoms, and we as readers are given a glimpse at the vast environmental differences between Philip and Keira's homes.

Philip's parents have a more secretive aura surrounding them compared to Keira's parents -- they seem much more untrustworthy, especially given the information we learn about his father during this book. Keira's parents are only a step or two above them, given that they keep a decent amount of information from her until the opportunity strikes once they determine she should know.

I enjoyed the darker undertones to the classic fairy tales that we are familiar with, as it definitely adds a new dimension to the retelling that allows the story to feel fresh. As a longtime lover of Sleeping Beauty, there was a perfect amount of the original story at play while still maintaining originality by the author. This was a great, quick read to get me back into my reading grind and hopefully on a fantasy kick to finally tackle some more books on my shelf.

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