Okay, don’t hate me, but I had to adjust my review for Iron Flame to 3 stars after reading Onyx Storm. I absolutely adored Fourth Wing (a solid 5 stars!) and honestly preferred Onyx Storm to Iron Flame—it’s more of a 4.25 for me, but I’ve rounded it down to 4 because, let’s be real, it still doesn’t hold a candle to Fourth Wing.

What I loved about Onyx Storm was how much more focused it was on adventure rather than constant fighting. While Iron Flame felt like an endless string of battles (whether with Venin or Violet and Xaden arguing every other chapter), this book struck a better balance.

Also, shoutout to Xaden for NOT saying, “Ask the right question.” Honestly, that alone deserves a star. That said, maybe we should be asking more questions because I left this book with about 17,000 of them! Like, what happened to Broccoli? If that broken compass is going to play a big role in the next book, I sincerely hope Broccoli makes a triumphant return!

Let’s talk characters. I know Dain gets a lot of hate, and sure, he’s frustrating, but I don’t think he’s all bad. That being said, he didn’t add much to this book. In fact, I found myself struggling to keep track of all the side characters—some we already know took a backseat, while others I barely remembered got more spotlight.

Tairn, though? Absolute MVP. He’s back to his grumpy, sassy, peacock self, and I loved every second of it. The “reluctant dad” energy he brings is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious.

Rebecca Yarros is amazing at writing banter and comedic relief, which is one of the things I loved most about this book. There are so many fun scenes and one-liners that kept me smiling, even when the plot dragged a bit.

Now, here’s my biggest gripe: I really think this series could benefit from multiple POVs. Sticking solely to Violet’s  perspective made the story feel limited, like we were missing key details, especially when it came to the broader conflicts.

Spoiler Alert:

The most frustrating part? The anticlimactic payoff from the previous book’s cliffhanger. This book literally ends with almost the exact same Venin cliffhanger—Xaden draining his power to save someone he loves. So, we spent an entire book getting to essentially the same place. It felt redundant and, honestly, a little disappointing.

Overall, I still enjoyed Onyx Storm, especially for its humor and adventure. But with a few lingering issues (and THAT ending), it falls short of the magic that was Fourth Wing. Fingers crossed the next book ties everything together better!