Onyx Storm

After a stunning debut with Fourth Wing, this series continues to disappoint. Onyx Storm relies on Xaden and Violet's romance to carry it but repeats scenes and dynamics without developing the plot or either character. Sadly, both characters are reduced by their relationship and it subsumes all the complexity we loved about both of them. Xaden's personality becomes entirely about his obsession with Violet; his prior motivations to the marked ones - all the things that made him an interesting independent character- are superseded.

Violet's inner monologue about their relationship is obvious and cringeworthy. It's all telling and no showing- with none of the subtlety that is intriguing for a reader. It also quickly devolves into the overprotective male trope so common in fantasy... I may be alone in this but I think we can do better. Is it too much to ask for some complex, mature, real-life relationships?

Violet and Xaden pull their ‘power card' again and again throughout the book and fail to demonstrate any real leadership, ingenuity, maturity, or coalition-building. The casual arrogance from Xaden especially feels childish and petulant. Violet plays the ‘reluctant leader' unconvincingly. Others in supposed positions of power act indignant but helpless.

In so many other areas, this book has potential but fails to deliver. I wanted more development for side characters like Jessina, Ridoc, Aaric, and Bodhi, but the side characters are almost completely neglected until Yaros abruptly changes to multiple POVs at the end of the book narrated by characters the reader can barely remember. The emotion in these scenes feels unnatural and flat without any character development to anchor it earlier in the book. I would have loved multiple POVs and expanded storylines earlier in the book, but it feels rushed and inconsistent dropped in at the end.

The plot has so much potential intrigue- we meet an order of priestesses with Violet's hair, fascinating second signets start to emerge, the Irids make an appearance, we learn more about the Venin's power, Aaric is clearly has a mysterious role to play, and Violet's dad leaves her a literary mystery and isn't who he seemed. And yet somehow none of these plot threads have any satisfying development or connection.

Will be rooting for Rebecca to recover this series in the remaining books with better character and plot development. Hopeful that we can move past dragging out Xaden and Violet's romance and give some other characters a chance to shine.