Podcast Summary: "Onyx Storm: BONUS EPISODE"

Hosts: Kennedy, Reggie, & Mikayla
Release Date: January 27, 2025
Podcast: I'll Read What She's Reading

1. Introduction

In this special bonus episode of I'll Read What She's Reading, Kennedy, Reggie, and Mikayla delve deep into their collective experience with "Onyx Storm" by Rebecca Yarros. Having all completed the book, the trio shares their saved thoughts and feelings, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion about the novel's strengths, weaknesses, and standout moments.

2. Ratings and Initial Impressions

Reggie's Struggle with Rating:
Reggie begins by expressing her dilemma over rating the book, oscillating between a 4.5 and 5 stars. At [01:11], she remarks:

"When I first finished or I think while I was reading the book, I was like, this isn't going to be a five-star read for me... but maybe it is."

Kennedy counters by ultimately awarding 5 stars, acknowledging the book's imperfections but emphasizing her connection to the characters and the world Yarros created:

"I just love this world and these characters so much, and I missed them, and I just had a good time. But it's not a perfect book..." [05:28]

Mikayla's Perspective:
Mikayla opts for a solid four stars, highlighting issues with repetitive dialogue and a desire for more complex relationships:

"There were a lot of things that were very repetitive... I just honestly wish this was a book where it was not just in Violet's point of view." [04:05]

3. Character Analysis

Violet and Zaden's Relationship:
A significant portion of the discussion centers around the protagonists, Violet and Zaden. Mikayla criticizes the repetitiveness of their romantic interactions, particularly the frequent declarations such as:

"I lose control around you." [05:23]

Reggie, however, appreciates the depth these moments bring, suggesting that the obstacles they face underscore their profound love:

"Each of them is trying to figure things out... It just goes to show how much they love each other." [26:49]

Supporting Characters:
The hosts commend Yarros for enriching the narrative with well-developed side characters like Sawyer, Riddick, Bodhi, Garak, Cat, and Merrin:

"I felt like we became friends with all the characters... I loved that." [20:38]

Kennedy adds that learning more about these characters deepens the readers' connection to the story:

"You truly learned about Sawyer, Riddick, Bodhi, Garak, Cat, Merrin... I feel way more connected to the side characters now." [21:05]

4. Plot and Key Moments

World-Building and Aisles:
The trio discusses the book's unique setting, particularly the different aisles or provinces, each with distinct cultures and environments:

"Each aisle had a different vibe... it was like, it didn't feel like the same place." [33:18]

Villain Introduction - Theophany:
Mikayla expresses frustration over the abrupt introduction of the villain, Theophany, and her overpowering presence:

"I hated how powerful she was... I wished there was more foreshadowing." [12:46]

Signet Powers:
A recurring theme is the exploration of signet powers. Reggie and Mikayla speculate about the nature and implications of these abilities, particularly Violet's newfound power as a Dreamwalker:

"A lot of people are saying she can kill people in their sleep... it will be a great way to communicate." [58:23]

Climactic Battles and Emotional Highs:
The hosts recount intense battle scenes and emotional confrontations, including pivotal moments like:

• Garrick's Vulnerability:

  "Garrick gets stabbed in the hand... I was like, can we just kill him?" [40:07]

• Violet's Inner Struggles:

  "Violet keeps telling herself she's gone... I felt so sad for Violet." [51:22]

• Riddick's Serious Side:

  "Riddick asks her some really big questions... he was the voice of reason." [54:30]

5. Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Character Development: The deep dives into side characters enrich the narrative, making readers feel connected and invested.
• World-Building: The distinct cultures and environments across different aisles add layers to the story's setting.
• Emotional Depth: Moments of vulnerability and intense emotions, especially involving Violet and Riddick, resonate strongly with the hosts.

Weaknesses:

• Repetitive Dialogue: Frequent romantic exchanges between Violet and Zaden felt redundant to Mikayla and Kennedy, detracting from the story's flow.
• Abrupt Plot Elements: The sudden introduction of powerful characters like Theophany and unexpected POV shifts (e.g., Rhiannon) left some confusion and frustration.
• Limited POV Diversity: The book primarily follows Violet's perspective, causing the hosts to desire more varied viewpoints to enhance storytelling.

6. Theories and Future Speculations

Potential Expansions in Future Books:

• Multiple POVs: The hosts hope for a broader range of perspectives to explore other characters' arcs and deepen the narrative.

• Signet Cures and Powers: Mikayla theorizes that characters like Sloan will play crucial roles in addressing the Venin affliction, possibly through innovative uses of their signets:

  "I think Sloan is going to play an important part with her siphoning signet." [89:13]

• Character Relationships: Reggie and Mikayla express a desire for more development in side romances, such as Jesenia and Sawyer or Garrick and Imogen.

Unresolved Mysteries:

• The Brotherhood's Identity: Speculations revolve around Bodhi being the enigmatic brother figure due to his actions and connections, though clarity remains elusive.
• Velvet's Memory and Future Actions: The trio is curious about Violet's memory wiping and its implications for her mission to save Zaden.

7. Conclusion

The hosts conclude the episode by expressing mixed emotions about "Onyx Storm." While they appreciate the book's rich character tapestry and emotional moments, they grapple with narrative redundancies and unresolved plot lines. Anticipating the next installment, Kennedy, Reggie, and Mikayla eagerly await further character development and plot advancements, hoping for answers to the lingering questions raised in this bonus episode.

Notable Quotes:

• Reggie on Rating Dilemma:

  "Do we want to start with that?" [00:46]

• Mikayla on Repetition:

  "I have a hard time with it... it just wasn't messy enough, in my opinion." [04:33]

• Kennedy on Emotional Connection:

  "I feel like the big moments of this book that I loved made up for the fact that there were things that I didn't love." [06:16]

• Reggie on Side Characters:

  "The side characters really shined in this book." [20:17]

• Mikayla on Emotional Moments:

  "I was really sad for Cat." [47:46]

End of Summary