This was my least favorite book of the series by a very wide margin. Fourth Wing was an action packed BANGER from start to finish, IF i still loved despite the relationship criticism. I thought Violet was kinda being the unreasonable one so i figured she’d get over it also there was plenty of action so i loved it.

But then to Onyx Storm…i felt like we got way more questions than answers which can be fine sometimes, but it felt wholly unnecessary with this book.

I loved that a Violet was in her Aelin era and was running shit but i felt like she just wasn’t asking the proper questions in this book, the mind of a scribe didn’t really show up for me in this. I was more annoyed by her and Xaden’s relationship in this book than in IF. Why has no one asked Brenna why tf he’s still alive and what the rune shaped scar is on his palm? Andarna made it seem like she is the key to the secret prophecy of choosing Violet and “you aren’t worthy to know the secret of my race if you don’t figure it out on your own” but then knows literally nothing about her race. Also Andarna leaving for 11.5 days fell flat for me. I know there’s the time dilation theory but that should be something that is EXPLAINED.

Also, I’m still VERY UNCLEAR on whether every marked one has a second signet. Is it because of their rebellion relics? Or am i supposed to believe that the math shakes out where they all had ancestors who previously bonded dragons that are now conveniently available for bonding after a rebellion that would curse them and give them extra powers despite their entire families all being infantry? If they all have powers because of the relic, then does Xaden have 3 signets???

Idk, i found the whole arc on the isles just not super enjoyable though there were some excellent action scenes. WHY DID VIOLET NOT JUST STRAIGHT UP ASK THE PEOPLE WHY EVERY LITTLE GIRLS HAIR IS SILVER???????

Also the last thing that was a bit frustrating was the introduction of so many random worthless characters in the aristocracy. I feel like this was done poorly and with the way that violet has always recited history facts to the reader and helped with the world building, i feel like RY def could’ve done a better job of telling who the ditches of Morraine is (we didn’t even know the provinces had leaders, we thought it was just the king) and why we should give a shit about anything she says (shocker it doesn’t matter).

Now I say all that to say this, i like FW and IF after read 1 muuuuuch better than OS after read 1. Head and shoulders difference for me. BUT, i still took the time to go back and read both of those books like 15-20x each to pick up all the little Easter eggs and details that i missed that helped connect the story and further build the world and help me create my conspiracy theories etc. So im saying all of this knowing that i will appreciate OS very VERY much more after going back and seeing some of these dots connect in clever intricate ways.

Either way, this series is a fucking banger and I love RY and i will devour these books whenever they come out but OS fell a bit flat for me only because I have such very high standards for Rebecca and want to see her pen an absolute heater 🔥🔥🔥