Rebecca Yarros’ ‘Onyx Storm’ Just Hit Shelves (And It’s Already A Page-Turner)

I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?

I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.

What's the inspo behind "Onyx Storm" title?

Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think Onyx Storm could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.

Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.

And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.

There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole.

When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?

On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.

She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.

Is "Onyx Storm" available for purchase?

Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans could expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025 (that's today)!

She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd would've started a riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.

As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.

However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.

Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.

How does "Onyx Storm" look in person?

As you can see, the cover of Onyx Storm is absolutely breathtaking. It's moodier than its predecessors, but I know it's because of the darker nature of what's to come. It does have "Brave the dark" written at top so that's also a huge hint that readers will be in for the ride of our lives.

How do each of the Empyrean book covers compare to each other?

For anyone who's wondering if there's a huge difference between the covers, the answer is YES. Fourth Wing has a lighter gold appearance with contrasting black letters, while Iron Flame appears more bronze in nature. In my opinion, it's a testament to Violet being forged in fire while everything she thought she knew is also going up in flames.

Seeing Onyx Storm next to them shows just how ominous the tone of the third book is which is equally terrifying and thrilling. But enough chatting! If you have your copy, it's time to start reading about Violet Sorrengail's fate.