Onyx Storm

📚 Book Review: "Onyx Storm" by Rebecca Yarros ⚔️🐉Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️What I loved:1. More Ridoc, Andarna, and Tairn 🖤2. The multiple POVs 🔄3. Imogen + Garrick ❤️‍🔥📖 About the Book:In "'Onyx Storm," tensions rise as the war escalates and secrets unravel faster than ever. With the fate of Navarre hanging in the balance, Violet, Xaden, and their allies must navigate shifting alliances, deadly betrayals, and the looming threat of an unstoppable enemy.🤔 Review:(Note: I want to focus on the other aspects of the novel in this review, but I enjoyed Violet and Xaden more in this one over "Iron Flame")I enjoyed this installment, but I wasn’t blown away by it. It definitely had more impact on me than "Iron Flame," but there were moments that felt rushed or not fully fleshed out. Big reveals happened, and then BAM—it was resolved just as quickly, which left me feeling like I didn’t even have time to process before the next thing happened.The villains could have used more buildup. There’s a major reveal, and instead of sitting in the tension, it’s immediately handled—I wanted more depth, and more stakes (I can't give anything away, but DM me if you have questions on this). And speaking of depth, I had a hard time keeping track of who was who from previous books. It would have been beneficial to have at least a sentence or two to bring more life to the political and teacher characters. That said, I loved the different POVs and seeing how certain characters viewed the unfolding chaos. Ridoc, Andarna, and Tairn continue to be the best, and I will never get tired of their banter and sass.The book does end on a cliffhanger, so if you hate waiting with a million questions, just be prepared. Overall, this was a fun, action-packed ride—I just wish I had felt more in the big moments and given more time to flesh out ALL the information being thrown at me.

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW!!Fourth Wing is the book that reminded me how much I love reading Fantasy and where I often read for the "vibes" of a story, this is one series I’ve enjoyed really deep diving into! Onyx Storm was everything my deep-diving fantasy heart was looking for!!Onyx Storm gave us more world-building, expanded politics, the royals, more information on the Gods, new characters, new SIGNETS, and more DRAGONS!!What I loved:Xaden stole the show for me! I’ve always loved his ruthless spirit and strategic mind, but have you met JEALOUS Xaden? He’s my favorite!! I adore where he and Violet grew from the rocky days of Iron Flame into the place their relationship is in Onyx Storm and the romance is 🤌🏻! Special circumstances created a new slow-burn in the story and I was here for ALL OF IT!!Violet has one goal in this book and when her brilliant mind combines with that ONE GOAL, she UNLEASHES her wisdom, courage, and determination in full force! I loved every minute of it!The FOUND FAMILY in this story, including Violet’s squad, Bodhi, Garrick, Mira, Jessina, Brennan, and the dragons continues to get better and better!There were so many funny moments and great quotes in the story, it felt like Rebecca Yarros had a good time writing the story!What I didn’t love:The new General of Basgaith!! (iykyk)Some hard things Andarna had to go through!Obviously the BAD GUYS!!There were multiple POV’s at the end. I LOVED one of the POV’s, but the other 2 were longer than I thought they needed to be.Quotes I loved that you’ll only know if you know:“I live by you”“Yes, love I’m jealous”“I choose him”“Draw up the papers. And her name ... is Violet Sorrengail. Two Rs”“And I want a patch for this sh*t, Violet. A quest squad patch. Understand?”“I kept the inside thoughts inside”“Stay off the ice!”Romance Content: 3 Open-door scenes.(Closed-door modification: end of Ch. 3, Ch. 25, & ch. 49) with language and violence. (It’s a War college!!)I started Onyx Storm with a list of questions, many were answered, however, as it is with all GREAT Fantasy series, Onyx Storm left me with 100 more questions!!!I read the ending three days ago and I’m still struggling to pick up another book!! The hang-over is real!!

Ah yes, here we are again. Book three of five in The Empyrean series, meaning we’re officially past the halfway point but still nowhere near answers. Onyx Storm picks up right where Iron Flame left off—because apparently, Yarros has never heard of giving us a moment to breathe. Violet Sorrengail is back, still double dragon-bonded, still dodging death like it’s her side hustle, and still somehow managing to collect injuries like they’re limited edition trading cards.It’s been 18 months since Vi was forced into Basgiath War College by her no-nonsense, now-deceased mother, but at this point, she’s proving she was born for this whole “Rider” thing. Sure, she would’ve been a stellar Scribe—her dad called it—but let’s be honest, she was never going to spend her days tucked away in a library when she could be out here dramatically defying fate.And then there’s Xaden Riorson—our resident broody bad boy who graduated and now faces the harsh reality that the real world has schedules and responsibilities, making his constant need to hover over Violet a little complicated. Their relationship? So intense it might actually be a case study in co-dependency. Their dragons are bonded, so naturally, they have to be together too. (Totally healthy, right?) And while I know some people are obsessed with Xaden, I still can’t shake the feeling that his brand of devotion leans a little too close to “toxic, but make it sexy.”Meanwhile, Big Bad Daddy Atos is out here making everyone’s life miserable, continuing the fine tradition of power-hungry warlords ruining everything. Vi and her crew are just trying to survive, learn some forbidden history, and maybe not die in the process. Easier said than done when you’re the universe’s favorite magnet for secrets, lies, and life-threatening situations.Xaden, for his part, is evolving from “angry orphan with a death wish” to something vaguely resembling a functioning person. He’s even—gasp—communicating! Sharing secrets! Embracing his inner Duke of Too Many Territories! But, let’s be real, he’s on a path that’s screaming Tragic End Incoming, so don’t get too comfortable.This book serves up even more snark, chaos, and (of course) violence—because why wouldn’t it? There are touching moments too, mostly between characters and their dragons (who, let’s be honest, are the real stars here). Also, surprise! We suddenly have new characters that apparently existed all along, but sure, we’ll roll with it.Expect to laugh, yell, and cry—because Yarros lives to emotionally wreck her readers. And in case you were wondering, yes, there’s another agonizing cliffhanger, because why wouldn’t there be? The real twist? The unbearable two-year wait for book four, during which we’ll all spiral into theorizing, rereading, and questioning our life choices.Stay strong, fellow Empyrean addicts. We suffer together.

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.

Contains Spoilers!!I started out reading this book with high expectations, mainly because of how long the wait was to finally get it. In her epigraph quote, Mrs. Yarros set a great tone for the book, and it was something that resonated with me personally.“To the ones who don’t run with the popular crowd, the ones who get caught reading undertheir desks, the ones who feel like they never get invited, included, or represented. Get your leathers. We have dragons to ride.” (Yarros, 2025, epigraph).That quote hit home for me, and I had to honestly put the book down for a few minutes and just let that feeling sink in. Growing up I was bullied a lot because I was different or defective. You see, I had cancer that caused me to lose my right eye, the treatment resulted in me being immunosuppressant, causing me to be sick a lot. I spent a lot of time by myself and dove into books as my source of companionship, which is why this quote touched me so much. I love when authors start out with an epigraph, especially if it feels like it is talking to me!Now, on to the story, where Mrs. Yarros dives right in setting the tone for the book, the struggle to save Xaden. Mrs. Yarros also gives a glimpse into why the book is called Onyx Storm, by saying that the mental connection between Xaden and Violet is there but resembles a thick wall of “...chilled onyx” (Yarros, 2025, Prologue). Also, I love that Xaden and Violet still revolve around the theme of rebellion throughout this book, first with the ban of their relationship and ending with their surprise marriage! Additionally, even though they are separated for a lot of this book, the romance and spice level is something that I enjoyed but does also leave me wishing for more.We finally find out what Violet’s second Signet is from Andarna. She is a “...dream-walker” (Yarros, 2025, Chapter Fifty). However, this revolution isn’t explored much before Andarna separates from Violet for her kind, which leaves Violet with one dragon instead of two. It is later revealed that even without Andarna, Violet still contains the power of dream-walking, which means she technically still has two Signet powers. Also, something that got me, when Andarna comes back to Violet at the end of the book, does that mean she is forming a new connection? If so, could this new connection result in a new Signet power, possibly one that will help save Xaden? Will Violet be the first rider to have three Signet powers?Overall, I equally loved and hated this book, I would rate the book a 4.5 out of 5. It provided almost as many answers as it created new questions. It provided some plot twists that were unexpected but also had a lot of predictable elements, for example, how the dragons rejected Andarna. But overall, I am happy with how the story is turning out. I believe that if Mrs. Yarros would have let Violet save Xaden before he turned full Venin would have not been true to the story as a whole. I think figuring out how to cure, or at least restore what they have lost, to full Venin is the end game for this series. Finally, I am left with the wonder if Violet will now be referred to as a Duchess and what will her last name look like!

I love this book and the two that preceded it. It has a heroine, Violet, that is so fragile her bones break at a touch, yet she has been chosen as a rider by not one but two dragons. The hero of the story, Xaden, is so tragically flawed but so awesomely brave, loyal, and delicious to look at that he sets your heart on fire. The two of them and their squad mates, other dragon and gryphon riders, are trying to save their continent from venin, monsters who used to be men and their abomination of dragons called wyvern. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

🎧 Audiobook Review: Onyx Storm (Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros🎙Narrated by: Rebecca Soler & Teddy Hamilton🚨 Spoiler-Free. Spoiler-HINTY? Maybe. But we’re emotional, not ruiners. 😌AHHHHHH 😱 Rebecca Yarros, what have you done to my soul?! I finished Onyx Storm and immediately wanted to slam "play" on book 4… except IT’S NOT OUT YET. WHY DO YOU HURT US LIKE THIS?Let’s talk audiobook magic first:Rebecca Soler once again nails Violet’s voice—delivering her strength, her vulnerability, and her slow, unraveling confusion with this raw, immersive power. And Teddy Hamilton? Good lord. His portrayal of Xaden is chef’s kiss. Dark. Tortured. Angry. Protective. He is Xaden Riorson. The simmering heat between them? It crackles through your headphones. 🔥Now to the story. Buckle up, because:✨ THE EASTER EGGS 🐣—the ones we didn't even know to look for?! THEY WERE THERE ALL ALONG.🕵️‍♀️ The deception? It's EVERYWHERE. People we trusted? Hiding things.🔥 The heat and tension? Explosive. Violet and Xaden are still toeing the line between love and war. Between survival and secrets.😳 And Violet... there are things about her even she doesn’t know. Like... whaaat is happening in her bloodline?! (clears throat loudly) Miss Yarros, please don’t wait until halfway through book 4 to give us ANSWERS.And Xaden. My poor, broken, burdened soul of a man. He carries the weight of the rebellion, the fate of their friends, and Violet’s heart—ALL while battling his own guilt and rage. He’s the bad boy you cannot live without. 🖤🪂 The cliffhanger?It’s not just a drop. It’s a free fall with no chute. And Rebecca Yarros pushed us off the edge with a SMIRK.

The only reason I have been reading this series is to critique the books. Initially, I began reading the first but couldn’t get into it. About a year later, I picked it up again without realizing I had already attempted to read it. Then, out of sheer curiosity of whether or not the lead character would develop any redeeming qualities or evolve into a less cliche’ “heroine,” I kept reading. Then, I continued merely to edit and critique the books for free (I usually get paid good money to do so.)I post all of my notes to Goodreads but for this particular one, I neglected to upload them before my library loan was due. Unfortunately, I had over 100 comments that have disappeared. Oh well! I’ll do my best to recall them.The main character, Violet is often exciting because of the dragons she’s bonded to and the hot guy she has sex with. The sex is rather steamy, so no one with prudish tendencies should read this series of books. The third book is filled with even more sex than the first two (or it seems that way because of the unnecessarily long encounters). The scenes would be sexier if the author didn’t go overboard with the “Violet, you’re perfect. I worship at the temple of you…” type of dialogue and if the scenes weren’t written, for what seems to me to be, only for the sake of attempting to prove how sexy the relationship is between the two lead characters.The books could all be half as long if the extraneous content that brings little to no value had been better edited. The descriptions of places, people, and things are too detailed at times for something that has no real impact on the plot or is never revisited. In other instances, there is not enough information that helps the reader retain characters, places, and events.There are so many characters who could be amalgamated into fewer, and most of them are referred to by more than one name. The author assumes the readers remember who each one is, even if the character hasn’t made an appearance since the first or previous book, and the author doesn’t gives clues as to who they are when they are brought back in. Even something as simple as a single sentence would refresh the reader’s memory, for example: “Considering her rude reception at the palace after the battle of…” or perhaps, “The last time we had seen his childhood friend was after we rescued him from a tall tree…”The author is the same way with the dragons and will write how “seeing Banjo’s orange feather tail in the sky filled me with dread. When did he get here?” By “he” the author will be referring to the dragon’s rider assuming that the reader knows who that is and what that person’s backstory is. (No, Banjo is not a name from the book.)The dialogue is difficult to follow as there aren’t enough, “I whispered to her…” or “His eyes grew fierce as he screamed…” or “I responded…” or “He emphasized…,” etc. I don’t expect every line of dialogue to be attributed to a character, but when conversations go back and forth for more than a page, especially with multiple speakers, comprehending it all gets very muddled.When I have to reread a page or paragraph more than two times to to clarify content, I get very annoyed and completely lose the suspension of disbelief, which is crucial to immersing one’s self into a story.This third book, even more often than the others, ends a chapter in the middle of a conversation and begins the next chapter in the next sentence of the conversation. If it only happened a couple of times, I would be more accepting of the tendency and assume it was an error or the author trying to make some sort of statement. It happens over and over again, so it’s obviously done on purpose, yet serves no purpose that I and other readers with whom I speak can understand. Also, each chapter begins with a “quote” from some text in the realm’s history books, personal “recovered” letters between characters, royal law books, etc. Rarely have they held value to forward momentum of the tale.In fact, forward momentum is often sacrificed for the aforementioned unnecessarily long descriptions, confusing and annoying situations, and so much bodice-ripping that I cannot recommend these books. I will read the fourth in the series only to continue my critical reviews. I don’t understand how there are so many fans of these books (they are NOT ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ or ‘Twilight’ or ‘Game of Thrones.’ Yet, allegedly a TV series is to be made based on the story. I can only hope the entire and single season will encapsulate all four books and that the screenplays will NOT be written by Rebecca Yarros.

Onyx Storm was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025. We all waited for over a year between Iron Flame, which had a killer cliffhanger, and Onyx Storm so there was a ton of build-up when it comes to expectations. I tried to stay away from podcasts, reels, shorts, or content that would speculate about Onyx Storm, the plot, the characters, etc. And I did fairly well with that. But all that to say, expectations were high. And unfortunately, I find when expectations are super-high, it's hard for any book to live up to the hype. Onyx Storm fell a little flat for me initially. Let me explain why.Iron Flame ends with that mega cliffhanger that I already mentioned. If you don't know what the cliffhanger is, you probably don't want to keep reading because there will be spoilers for the prior books included in this review. Xaden has drawn from the earth which has started the process of turning him venin. Because we didn't know much about the process of someone turning, we (I) falsely assumed that one pull and he'd be straight venin. Apparently, that's not how things work. But when a book ends in a negative cliffhanger (where a major event happens that leaves the characters in a negative place), I almost dread reading the next book because I know there are going to be more bad events to come before we can get to the good. And well, that's also to be expected from the 3rd book in a 5-book series. And of course, that is true for Onyx Storm. Thankfully, things weren't as bad as I worried they would be simply because Xaden isn't immediately evil.Onyx Storm keeps you in perpetual fear of wondering if Xaden is going to draw power again, and if he does, at what point will he have crossed the line into too far gone. I guess this is probably a good thing because Violet is in the same place. No matter how much faith she has that Xaden would never hurt her, she can't say that he wouldn't channel again. And so you remain in the same anxious place as Violet. This creates the desire to keep reading.A large portion of Onyx Storm's plot is the "Quest Squad" traveling to various islands south of "The Continent" in hopes of discovering Andarna's kin and the 7th dragon breed. I found this whole quest a little frustrating. I wasn't excited about any of the islands they visited. Too much time was spent trying to show how each island is different from each other. And yeah. I kept reading simply from a pressing desire to know what was going to happen, but if I look back on this portion of the book, I find it boring. And if I were re-reading the series, I would dread getting to this section.I found myself feeling like I was missing information a couple of times. Sometimes I wondered if that was because I hadn't re-read the previous two books before jumping into this one. Sometimes, I wondered if Rebecca Yarros was being mysterious intentionally. Sometimes I flat asked myself what in the world she was talking about. And sometimes I felt like I understood what was being said, but it didn't make any sense. More than anything, the more I've thought about Onyx Storm the more I've realized that Rebecca Yarros is writing much deeper than I realized, and she's one of those authors where nothing is said or done meaninglessly. So now, I need to go back and re-read all three books to see what foreshadowing I've missed*. Some authors aren't capable of making every detail mean something. I'm realizing she is one of the authors who can.Many of the things I highlighted were only to help me write my book review. When I went back to re-read some of my highlights, I think I inadvertently highlighted some very important parts that will play into the future. I weeded through all of my highlights to find my favorite quotes:I loved the dedication.-To the ones who don't run with the popular crowd, the ones who get caught reading under their desks, the ones who feel like they never get invited, included, or represented. Get your leathers. We have dragons to ride.Now for the book content:-The only thing stronger than the power prowling within me is the resolve stiffening my spine.-"But do not mistake my unflinching support of you, my mate, and Andarna for any form of faith in him."-"Pain isn't a competition," I assure him. "There's always enough to go around."-"Do not dehydrate on my account," he lectures.-"Do you really think this is the only room where I've felt tormented? Pain isn't new to me, Jack. She's an old friend I spend most of my days with, so I don't mind if she sings to you. Honestly doesn't even look like the same chamber with how you've redecorated. It's a little monochromatic for me."-"We live by the Codex--" I try again. "I live by you." ... "I am yours and you are mine, and there's no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that."-"He didn't love me, not the way I deserved to be loved, and no amount of power is worth staying with someone who doesn't love you."-"My loyalty is to Violet first above everything, everyone else,"...

This series gets all the stars IMO.And now I have to wait for the 4th book?! How will I survive??But no, seriously, this was an amazing read. Each book in this series has managed to get better and better. I have no notes! WAAAAAY to many theories (I might have a notebook with them written down because my brain was too full).Violet's growth in this book was so satisfying. Watching her finally step up and start to be the leader she is meant to be was beautiful. Seeing her become more confident and powerful, I was screaming reading some of her scenes!! IYKYK!!And Xaden.. I thought it was impossible to be any more in love with him than I already was. I was VERY wrong! He will forever be one of my top book husbands. My love for this man borders on unhealthy haha. Like talk about this book ruining all men in real life for me 😂🙈 I am so stressed out for this man it isn't even funny!!! Especially after that epic cliffhanger. Talk about ripping my heart out and shredding it to pieces. Expect the most intense book hangover when finishing with a recovery time of weeks to potentially years! lolLet's not forget our amazing side characters. I love them all. ALL OF THEM! I've never been so invested in characters that aren't the MC's before as I was in this series (with the exception of MAYBE a handful of my favorite books). And there are a lot of side characters, yet each one is so complete. They all have such important arcs and are very well fleshed out. I enjoyed all of their "book time" and never found myself skimming through to get back to the MC's. And even though we only get two of their POV's right at the end, they all still get plenty of time on the page. I don't feel like any character suffered in development so another could shine.And last but not least, our dragons 💜 Tarin and Andarna are my precious babies even if they are actually ferocious beasts haha And I will harm anyone who harms them! I even love my cranky girl Sgaeyl!I think this book was phenomenal. I love how it really expanded the world we already knew, and I can absolutely see the potential of the next 2 books left in the series! I am so excited for things to continue to unfold and to gain more answers. I think Rebecca is amazing. It takes a seriously skilled author to make a whole world feel real and completely fleshed out. It reminds me of ACOTAR and Game of Thorns in the sense that it's this enormous and intricate world and story. I will literally be very impatiently waiting for the next book to once again emotionally devastate me in the best way possible!

I struggled with the first 40% of the book. I have learned that I hate Basgiath. I enjoyed reading all the moments when they weren't there, under the leadership of General Aetos. He can rot and die, and I can't wait to read about his horrible death. Dain killing him would be the ultimate redemption arc for me.After the ending, my hope for a happy ending is slowly being drained out of my soul. This terrifying feeling of dread that I have felt since reading the correspondence at the beginning of each chapter of Fourth Wing is going to tear me apart. I have so many questions. The last 100 pages of this book had me on the edge of my seat. The last few chapters had me reeling, and the last sentence...

A "falling deeper into the rabbit hole" experience for past readers of the series. More content. More characters. More questions. An inevitable menagerie of sorcery clashing with dragons, clashing with romance, clashing with lies, clashing with...more secrets?The difference this time is that the birds (or in this case dragons) have finally flown the coop. They have left Basgiath College! Amazing. This is certainly a move in the right direction for Yarros' Fourth Wing series. With three books now under her belt, this somewhat enclosed world is finally growing, taking readers literally off the pages of the map and into uncharted waters. This was a serious win for adventurer tropes, for readers who want to escape their realities and visit new worlds. Being stuck in a musty college for two full length novels can be quite tedious. Certainly not the cup of tea for many (me). And the vast diversity of the islands off the main continent truly made the read worth it this time.The plots overall seemed to be all over the place and rushed, not developed as well as they should of been, especially towards the end of the book, but that seems to be the overall theme for the Fourth Wing series in general. A chaotic homemade soup filled with strange mismatched ingredients. Some readers like their soup to have more flavor. And no spoilers here, but the focus on character development over smut was exceedingly over due.With a dramatic explosive ending, the reader is once again left with scraps from the table and open ended questions of where the series will go. It feels like so much has happened yet so little really has.4 out 5 stars.F. D. Gross

I put off finishing this book for several months because the fourth (and fifth and sixth...)book hasn't been scheduled for release yet. I knew that there would be a cliffhanger of epic proportions, I knew that my soul would be shattered as I wait for the author to recharge and write, and I knew I would be thrown into the most massive monster reader's hangover in the history of book hangovers!And I was, unfortunately, right on all counts.We pick up nearly exactly where we left off in Iron Flame, with our beloved characters: Xaden, Violet, Dain, Brennan, Imogen, and so many others as well as their dragons. Not since Anne McCaffrey have I been so attached to giant, flame-throwing, flying lizards. Tairn and Andarna, who couldn't love them?But it isn't just the characters that wrapped me in dragon wings. The writing pulled me deep into the story, so much so, I had to take breaks as I luxuriated in the descriptions, the plotting, the quests, the battles, and yes, the delightfully delicious love scenes that burned through the pages into my soul.It is vital to not that this is not a book that you and jump into if you haven't read the other two prior books. While Yarros is brilliant with her character development, there has been so much previously, a new reader would be lost.Our heroine, Violet Sorrengail, and the love of her soul, Xaden Riorson, go in search of Andarna's breed of dragon. They fight off the evil Dark Wielders. They fight, they make up, they make love. All while Xaden holds his own dark secret.There is so much more than that description. SO MUCH MORE. And that much more wraps it wings around the reader, and it won't let go.I can't recommend this series and this book enough.5 stars out of 5.

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.