Onyx Storm

Onyx Storm is a new adult romantic fantasy novel written by Rebecca Yarros and published by Red Tower Books.^[1] Released on January 21, 2025, it is the third book in the fantasy romance Empyrean series, after Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.^[2]

The book was listed on bestseller charts by August 2024 due to pre-orders.^[3]

Onyx Storm is the third book in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, which is planned to include five books.^[4] The first book, Fourth Wing, chronicles the protagonist Violet's first year at the fictional Basgiath War College, where she becomes a dragon rider. The second book, Iron Flame, follows Violet and her friends and allies as they work to fight evil magic-wielders.

Although Iron Flame (November 2023) came out only about six months after Fourth Wing (May 2023), Yarros said that she would not write Onyx Storm as quickly.^[5] It was ultimately scheduled for release on January 21, 2025, more than a year after Iron Flame's release.^[6][7]

When announcing the book's release, Yarros said it would include "politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons".^[6]

The book's cover was released on July 8, 2024.^[7] A reviewer from Today said that its dark design "signals an ominous turn in the series".^[7]

After the events of Iron Flame, the kingdoms of Navarre and Poromiel, together with leaders of the recent revolution in Navarre's province of Tyrrendor, negotiate an uneasy alliance in order to fight an invading army of evil magic-wielders known as venin. Violet, Xaden, several allies, and their dragons and gryphons explore isles to the south of their continent, hoping to find more irids (dragons of Andarna's kind), gather information that could cure Xaden's transformation into a venin, and establish alliances to help Navarre and Poromiel in the war. While on this quest, they obtain manuscripts written by Violet's father and meet Xaden's mother, who he hasn't seen since he was a child. They succeed in establishing alliances, though some members of the team are killed in the process. Finally, they meet a group of irids, but the irids reject Andarna due to disappointment at how she has been shaped by Navarre's warlike culture.

After Violet, Xaden, and their surviving companions return to the continent, venin attack Tyrrendor. One of the irids reappears and strengthens the magical wardstone that protects the province, turning the tide in the battle. He persuades Andarna to return with him to the other irids, and though Violet consents for Andarna to leave, she is grief-stricken by the loss. Then the powerful venin Theophanie captures Violet's sister Mira, leading to a climactic battle between a group of venin and the combined forces of Navarre, Poromiel, and Tyrrendor. During the battle, Andarna returns and Violet kills Theophanie, but Xaden draws more power from the earth, which advances his transformation into a venin. Twelve hours later, Violet awakens in confusion, hears reports of new murders and disappearances, and finds to her surprise that she appears to have just married Xaden. The novel ends on a mysterious cliffhanger.

• Violet Sorrengail: The main protagonist. The dragon rider of Tairn and Andarna, student at Basgiath War College. Violet's bond with two dragons continues to be a unique and powerful attribute, likely central to overcoming challenges. The source of her power and potential vulnerabilities will likely be further allies. The strain of maintaining two bonds could be of significance, potentially forcing difficult choices regarding her dragons.
• Xaden Riorson: The Duke of Tyrrendor and a lieutenant rider. He was a third-year rider and former wingleader of the Fourth Wing. Xaden's position as Duke of Tyrrendor and his military experience place him in the war. His leadership will be crucial in uniting different factions and strategizing against the Venin.
• Imogen Cardulo: A third-year Rider at Basgiath War College in the Riders Quadrant. Imogen's past actions and motivations remain somewhat ambiguous. Her loyalty to Violet and Xaden will likely be tested, and her true allegiances may be revealed or shift.
• Quinn Hollis: A cadet at Basgiath War College, Quinn possesses untapped potential or formation and betrayal to the war effort.
• Rhiannon Matthias: A second-year rider and Violet's best friend in the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College, Violet's confidante and offers emotional support during challenging times.
• Sawyer Henrick: A cadet at Basgiath War College in the Riders Quadrant, Sawyer continues to support the war effort as a loyal rider, in spite of permanent injury.
• Garrick Tavis: A recently graduated dragon rider and Xaden's best friend since childhood, he is in the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College.
• Ridoc Gamlyn: A dragon rider in his second year at Basgiath War College.
• Sloane Mairi: The daughter of Isaac Mairi, a former Lord in Tyrrendor, and Colonel Mairi.
• Aaric Graycastle, also known as Cam Tauri: King Tauri's third son and a first-year Rider at Basgiath War College.
• Catriona Cordella: Xaden's ex-lover; A gryphon flier; her family line and position in the ranks of the fliers will likely be significant factors in the battles to come.
• Maren Zina: A flier cadet who joined in the Tyrrish Revolution, friend to Cat.
• Bohdi Durran: a dragon rider, younger cousin of Xaden Riorson, and heir of Tyrrendor.
• Brennan Sorrengail: a dragon rider, older brother of Mira Sorrengail and Violet Sorrengail, son of General Lilith Sorrengail and Asher Sorrengail.
• Mira Sorrengail: First Lieutenant dragon rider, sister of Brennan Sorrengail and Violet Sorrengail, daughter of General Lilith Sorrengail and Asher Sorrengail.
• Halden Tauri: Prince of Navaree, son of King Tauri, brother Camlaen Aaric Tauri also known as Aaric Graycastle.
• Dain Aetos: a dragon rider, son of General Aetos
• Lynx: first-year dragon rider
• General Aetos: Commanding General of Basgiath War College
• Theophanie: Venin

Bookstores including Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, and Waterstones held events to celebrate the book's release.^[2][8] Some readers attended in costume.^[9] Screen Rant described these release parties as a good sign for the Empyrean series's potential as a franchise, drawing comparisons to Harry Potter and the Twilight series.^[10] Yarros has announced a book tour, to begin in Los Angeles on January 20, 2025, and end in Denver on February 2.^[11] In the first week following its publication, Onyx Storm sold 2.7 million copies, surpassing any other adult novel in the previous 20 years according to the data provider BookScan.^[12]

Kelsey Hall of BookTrib called Onyx Storm "a thrilling and emotionally gripping fantasy" and praised the worldbuilding, relationships between characters, and storytelling.^[13] Good Housekeeping called the book fast-paced and said the cliffhanger ending would "leave fans wanting more".^[14]

Laura Hackett of The Times criticized the book, saying that she did not enjoy Iron Flame and Onyx Storm as much as Fourth Wing. She said Onyx Storm "removes the warm familiarity of school and replaces it with more and more outlandish dangers and complex magical terminology", and described the romantic elements as cringeworthy. For Hackett, the popularity of romantasy novels like Onyx Storm is a sign that some adults still want to read books that resemble young adult fiction, instead of moving on to "more challenging literature".^[9]

• BookTok

• Onyx Storm title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database