Braving the dark, left me wanting more...

Rebecca raised the stakes again and fear that my book hangover is too large to start a new series until this one is complete.

With the third installment of The Empyrean series, Rebecca Yarros once again proves her mastery of high-stakes fantasy. The action is sharper, the tension thicker, and the emotional weight heavier than ever, ensuring this latest entry grips readers from the very first page.

Violet Sorrengail is no longer just a student at Basgiath War College—she’s a warrior whose choices could determine the fate of Navarre itself. Her educators out for blood make her decisions complicated and doing the right thing comes with a cost no matter what. The transition from training to true leadership is grueling, and Rebecca captures every moment of Violet’s transformation with unflinching depth. Beyond the safety of the Aretian wards, the world is more treacherous than ever, testing not only Violet’s strength but her very convictions. Her need to save him, no matter what.

The world-building continues to astonish, expanding beyond familiar borders to introduce new cultures, alliances, and dangers. And, as always, the dragons remain a highlight—formidable, intelligent, and fiercely loyal. Their bond with Violet is as compelling as the battles they face together, adding even greater stakes to an already intense journey.

Danger lurks around every corner, and trust is a fragile thing. The betrayals cut deeper, the enemies feel closer, and Violet’s hardest battles may not be fought on the battlefield alone. Meanwhile, the romance remains as intoxicating as ever—charged with longing, uncertainty, and an undeniable pull that refuses to be ignored. Rebecca masterfully balances large-scale conflicts with the deeply personal, ensuring that every victory, every heartbreak, matters.

Perhaps most intriguing is the novel’s exploration of secrets—their power, their cost, and the reckoning they inevitably demand. Violet isn’t just uncovering truths about Navarre; she’s forced to confront the ones she’s buried within herself. And when those long-buried secrets finally surface? The fallout is nothing short of explosive.

If there’s any flaw, it’s that the pacing slows at times—but the trade-off is a climax that more than delivers, leaving readers breathless and desperate for what comes next.

This is a gripping, pulse-pounding continuation of the Empyrean series that raises the bar yet again. However the story must be followed, notes taken and of course a Xaden Riorson obsession is inevitable.