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

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!

Let’s be clear: this was a five-star read and I regret nothing. If loving Onyx Storm is wrong, then I don’t want to be right. Rebecca Yarros once again said war, trauma, and dragon drama—and I said yes, thank you, may I have another.The world-building exploded in the best way. We finally got to stretch beyond Basgiath and the scope of the story felt so much bigger and bolder. I could feel the weight of the war, the politics, and the consequences—and it was deliciously stressful. And I know we’re all thinking it, so I’ll say it: Broccoli is the real star of the book. Give him his own POV. I’d die for him. We all would.Now, onto the cast:Garret and Imogen? Swoon. Their dynamic is mature, charged, and so real. I would absolutely read a novella about them having quiet moments in the middle of chaos. They deserve happiness—and snacks. Let them rest.Xaden still has my heart, but… I do feel like his character took a little step back in this one. He was distant, a little too mysterious, and I wanted more of that raw, vulnerable edge we saw in the first book. I still love him, I still believe in him, but let the man feel things again, please.Violet remains the queen of overthinking and dramatic inner monologues. She’s grown a lot, yes, but she also still narrates like she’s auditioning for the main character Olympics. She’s still got her "pick me" tendencies. She’s learning, hurting, leading. Sometimes I want to shake her, but I’d still follow her into battle. With a snack.Now let’s talk Ridoc. My funny little golden retriever king. His humor? Unmatched. His loyalty? Unshakable. His emotional depth? Criminally underrated. I need him in every book, every spin-off, every timeline. If anything happens to him, I’ll riot.Sloane is basically tiny fury wrapped in grief and rage, and I love her for it. She’s messy, she’s angry, and she has every right to be. Can’t wait to watch her become an absolute powerhouse.And finally: DAIN. My sweet, complicated, misunderstood man. Yes, he made mistakes. Yes, he fumbled HARD in Fourth Wing. But the growth?? The quiet redemption arc?? The way he’s trying, really trying, to be better without forcing his way back into Violet’s life? I SEE HIM. I RESPECT HIM. I LOVE HIM. Protect Dain 2025.In conclusion: Onyx Storm gave me dragons, drama, trauma, and feelings I wasn’t expecting to have (looking at you, Dain). A standout in the series and one I’ll be rereading with emotional support snacks. 5/5, no notes.Except: please give Broccoli a crown.