Editorial Review | Where Iron Flame started off arguably too slowly, Onyx Storm throws you immediately into the action. At first, I felt super behind. What’s going on? Who is that? Wait, what happened again? It’s probably my own fault, considering I haven’t read either of the first two books since 2023. But I was totally lost. On the one hand, I love a story that throws you right into the action, but I would have liked a little more setup before diving headfirst back into the war.
It only took a few chapters to settle into the story and jog my memory, and once that happened, I was hooked. With very few exceptions, every single page of this story propels it forward. Every facial expression, wayward comment, or background image has the potential to be a clue towards something bigger. I dissected every single word as I read and kept a running list of every theory I had as I tried to solve Violet’s problems alongside her.
True to form, the side characters continued to shine in Onyx Storm. In many books, they fade into the background or serve as one-note plot devices. But just like in the previous two books, every side character is multilayered and crucial to the story. They navigate their own relationships, both with the main characters and amongst each other, face unique moral dilemmas, and are key to the larger story. Aaric, Ridoc, and Cat were particular highlights for me in Onyx Storm, and I can’t wait to see where their stories go. |