After waiting more than a year, readers were thrilled to enjoy the stories at Basgiath College once more as Rebecca Yarros released “Onyx Storm,” the third book in “The Empyrean” Series. 

Without wanting to spoil anything (too much), the ending of “Iron Flame” left readers with a cliffhanger than made for an excruciatingly long year. After all the anticipation for this third book, it was not what readers hoped and expected it to be. 

Let’s start with the positives. The world building and storytelling were just as powerful and intriguing as the first two books. The dynamic between the characters pulled readers into the story maybe even more than the world itself. 

Having to say goodbye to the characters I followed at Basgiath College knowing I have to wait over a year for the next one was not on my bucket list this year. 

Now for the negatives of this novel. “Onyx Storm” seemed to be quite repetitive in its plot throughout much of the novel. Much of it was Xaden Riorson and Violet Sorrengail going back and forth on the same decisions, which was intriguing at first but quickly lost its lure. 

Now, if you remember how “Iron Flame” ended, you know that most readers were anxiously awaiting the cure for their beloved character. (Slight spoiler ahead) I am sad to say that this cure still has not been found, meaning readers are going to have to wait until the next book to hopefully save the character. 

Goodreads, a social media platform for book lovers, had some users leave reviews that showed how they really felt about the book. 

One user wrote “I need Imogen to use her powers and wipe all of my memories from this [expletive].” 

Another user wrote “the potential is chasing Rebecca Yarros… but she’s faster.”

Despite these reviews, I would still recommend reading this book if you are a fan of the series. After all, we have to see if a favorite character of many readers is to be saved in the next book.