Onyx Storm – Past Midnight Book Reviews & More

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 2/18/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, New Adult, Witches

The stakes are even higher in this epic, romantic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Crimson Moth duology.

A WITCH…
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER…
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE…
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli’s Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

Content Warning: violence, self harm

I almost forgot that this book came out this week! Once I remembered (the day after it was released), I bought the ebook because this is a book I’ve been waiting to read since I read book one, Heartless Hunter, last year.

+ The romance is the main thing I was here for – the enemies to lovers between Rune and Gideon is taken to the next level in this book after all the events that happened in book one. I wanted to see how they would come together, how they would push their prejudices and grievances aside to be with one another and it didn’t disappoint. The cat and mouse game between them, the jealousy, the lack of trust, it’s all there but this time their love is going to win over all the political games taking place.

+ Rune is finding out how horrible Cressida is and when Cressida takes things a step further, Rune makes her decision. I always felt Rune was stuck in the worst predicament especially because she’s not cutthroat like Cressida – she’s a bleeding heart. She wants to help her people, the witches who are oppressed, but she also can realize how the world would look if Cressida became ruler over everything. I liked seeing her trying to face the situation she was facing: of stay and be tortured with a life she didn’t want, or flee so far away from the problems that it won’t touch her (except when she thinks about the witches she left behind). And then there is Gideon, how does she leave him?

+ Gideon is in his own predicament. His task is to kill Rune, but how can he when he is in love with her? He makes quite and effort though. One thing I love about him and Rune is they do try to kill one another haha…but they just can’t seem to pull the trigger. I loved their fighting, arguing, and interactions! I love them.

+ The story is filled with political drama with Cressida trying to wage war and Gideon and his side trying to stop her. It’s fast paced, and has an unexpected twist at the end.

~ I will say because this book was fast-paced (I read it in one sitting), as I was nearing the end I was scared it was going to be a rushed ending. And it is rushed…but I’m just glad there was a happy ending.

Final Thoughts:

This conclusion is fast-paced, and with kind of a rushed ending. I do wish it was a trilogy only because I love Rune and Gideon so much! Rune and Gideon will be added to my list of favorite enemies to lovers romance couples. I love their push and pull, cat and mouse game, angsty romance and seeing them happy at the end was everything. This is a great conclusion to the duology that is The Crimson Moth series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Heartless Hunter by. Kristen Ciccarelli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Edgewood by. Kristen Ciccarelli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 758

Publication Date: 1/20/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, New Adult

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty.

Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.

They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.

But a storm is coming…and not everyone can survive its wrath.

Well…this was a disappointment. And I was excited for this book even though I felt like Iron Flame was not as good as Fourth Wing, I had hope it would get better in Onyx Storm but for me it got worse.

I think my major problem with the book was the pacing, there would be action, then a good deal of no action, and lots of talking. And there was the cast of characters, trying to remember who was who and then meeting new characters and learning new places. I already thought Iron Flame could have been broken up into two books, but now with Onyx Storm….I think there is just too much going on in the story and a trilogy would have been better than a five book series.

I fell in love with Xaden and Violet in Fourth Wing but in Onyx Storm, I wasn’t feeling it – maybe because they have some challenges, I mean, Xaden is fighting himself as he turns venin. So I know they love each other, but there was just something about their interactions in this book that I just didn’t care for, not invested in and wanted to move past their romance. Maybe it felt repetitive? I’m not sure. Honestly, I wanted Xaden to turn venin just to see what would happen to their romance. 😅

And the fact that they had to do more training? And the whole professor/student relationship? I was like, what is happening and do we need this in the story? lol… So I did skip over a bunch in this book. Even now as I write this review I’m trying to remember what stood out to me but it’s like a blank!

So I’ll say my favorite part of the book are the dragons, especially Tairn because he keeps it real and he’s awesome in battle.

Final Thoughts:

This was a total disappointment for me but I was already wary about the series being five books long. There is always usually middle book syndrome, and I think this is what happened with this one so will book four be more tightened up and the pacing be better? I hope so but I think I will go into the next book cautiously. This one didn’t work for me, but I know reviews of this have either been hit or miss, so even though I didn’t like it, you just might!