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Warning : coddler ahead for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros . Onyx Stormwas one of themost - anticipated fancy books of 2025 , but while theFourth Wingsequel received a lot of plug on the heel of its release , it also ran into the same problem as the Marvel Cinematic Universe ’s Phase 4.Fourth Wingbecame one of themost popular books on BookTokafter its 2023 unveiling , and its sequel have stirred tidy sum of excitement within the volume community . Sadly , the follow twoEmpyrean Seriesbooksdidn’t quite attain the peak of the first one . And there were some notableproblems withOnyx Storm , as fun as it was to read .
WhileOnyx Stormboasts many of the strengths of its predecessors — from snarky dialogue to shocking wrench — it assay to expand the series ' world in ways that do n’t always benefit the book . Perhaps this will pay off in thenextEmpyrean Seriessequel , but as its own entity , Onyx Stormhas a figure of shortcoming that mirror those of the MCU Phase 4 . This explains whyOnyx Stormcurrently has the lowestGoodreads evaluation of the three books . Fortunately , there are still two installments leave in the serial publication , and they can learn from the MCU ’s stumble .
The MCU Phase 4 Was Criticized For Being Too Messy & Not Cohesive
There Are Too Many Characters, Storylines, & World-Building Additions In Onyx Storm
Like the MCU Phase 4,Onyx Stormfeels a bit unwieldy at times , as the Christian Bible introduces new worldly concern - build up elements , attempts to flesh out more supporting characters , and mix a lot of different plot line . The various plotlines often feel wind at times , with theFourth Wingsequel only getting to the meat of the story during the last third of the tale . Before that , Violet and her friends spend much of their time seeking outAndarna ’s seventh strain of dragonand Xaden ’s venin curative . And the result of these commission are pretty underwhelming , at least in this book .
Onyx Storm ’s messy plotting create some plot hole and continuity inconsistencies , but one conversation wreck its entire scoundrel premise .
This feel standardised to the MCU Phase 4 , which attempts to start afresh on the dog ofAvengers : Infinity WarandAvengers : Endgame . alas , this chapter of the dealership go to match what came before , mostly because it introduce too many plot line and heroes and just offer any payoff . Four years afterShang - Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , viewers are still waiting to see Simu Liu ’s hero in a sequel , especially after the movie ’s post - credits prickteaser . And the event of projects likeEternalsandMoon Knightare barely mentioned again .
While Yarros is likely to impart her storylines together more quickly than the MCU , there ’s no denying thatOnyx Stormtries to do too much in just one novel .
While Yarros is likely to fetch her storylines together more quickly than the MCU , there ’s no denying thatOnyx Stormtries to do too much in just one novel . The trips to the various Isle Kingdoms start to experience insistent , andOnyx violent storm ’s endingthrowsa lotat readers in just 100 or so Page . Additionally , the novel supply so much populace - construction that ’s hardly touched on before , from all thenew detail about the veninto the fact thatFourth Wing ’s godsare real and involved in human matters . Together , all this starts to feel mussy .
Onyx Storm Felt Like All Setup For Another Story
It Builds Excitement In The Same Frustrating Way As The MCU
Onyx Storm ’s meandering storylines are n’t the only thing it has in common with the MCU Phase 4.The thirdEmpyreanbook also sense primarily like setup for succeeding installments , which is true of many of the picture and shows from Phase 4 . While each of them has their own narrative , the MCU ’s Phase 4 project always drop the concept of bigger threats , new characters , and future team - ups in front of viewers . The worst part is , many of these tease do n’t actually tear apart out , likeWandaVision ’s White Vision or the introduction of Kit Harington ’s Black Knight .
Onyx Storm ends on a cliffhanger , just like the previous two leger , and the newest Fourth Wing sequel raises many heavy dubiousness in its final chapters .
This strategy of building inflammation for the next undertaking gets sure-enough quickly , and it make many of the MCU ’s Phase 4 projects feel bare . Yarros utilizes the same frustrating approach by pull up stakes so much open - ended inOnyx violent storm , essay to build excitement by not tying much of the tarradiddle up . This is expected to a sure extent in an on-going serial publication , but this subsequence does n’t experience like its own control narrative virtually as much as it should .
Onyx Storm Relied On Too Many Characters No One Cares About Yet
This Meant Less Of Established Characters Like Rhiannon & Sawyer
Another thingOnyx Stormhas in vulgar with the MCU Phase 4 is its reliance on fiber that no one cares aboutyet — or at least not enough to justify giving them so much page time . On the heels of Iron Man ’s and Captain America ’s departure from the enfranchisement , form 4 acquaint too many young players , render to make them feel like the new Avengers without organically produce viewers to care about them . This backfires , as it ’s difficult to look forward to a team - up or get empower in the continued story when the character are n’t fleshed out well .
Yarros ' world - building continues to expand from novel to novel , and there are several side part who are re-introduce throughout Onyx Storm .
AndOnyx Stormalso introduces new subplots with supporting fictitious character no one is really invested in . Even an unlikeable newcomer like Halden gets his own frustrating plot line , and antecedently underutilized role player like Lewellen are given a middling moment of attention . lamentably , this come at the expense of page time for established characters lector already do it . Rhiannon and Sawyer feel sidelined throughoutOnyx Storm , and even character like Imogen and Bodhi do n’t get the care they deserve , especially given their importance to the story .
The Empyrean Series Book 4 Can Learn A Lesson From The MCU
It Needs To Refocus On What Readers Loved About Fourth Wing
The Empyrean Seriesis repeating a lot of the MCU Phase 4 ’s mistakes , but with two instalment left , it ’s not too later to learn from the superhero franchise . These complaints about the MCU resulted in many of its Phase 4 and stage 5 projects doing poorly . AndMarvel has since decided to bring down its outputand focus its energy on specific , strategical projects in the hopes of pass to its pre - Phase 4 glory . The jury ’s still out on whether it will succeed , butThe Empyrean Seriesbook 4 can take a standardized feeler toOnyx Storm ’s bountiful return .
For the nextEmpyrean Seriessequel to revoke course and generate toFourth Wing ’s tier of success , it should refocus on the main narrative and most important characters .
For the nextEmpyrean Seriessequel to reverse course and return toFourth Wing ’s level of success , it should refocus on the independent story and most of import characters rather than extend to expand . Readers are invest in what ’s fall out with the venin , Violet ’s magnetic core circuit of friends , and Xaden , and that ’s where the next sequel ’s attention should be . There ’s no ground to duplicate down on append more traditional knowledge and characters , especially if it takes away from what people want more of . Hopefully , Onyx Stormsends that message and its sequel delivers accordingly .
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