# Onyx Storm

Onyx Storm is a fantasy novel written by Rebecca Yarros and published by Red Tower Books. Released on January 21, 2025, it is the third book in the fantasy romance Empyrean series, after Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.
The book was listed on bestseller charts by August 2024 due to pre-orders.

## Background

Onyx Storm is the third book in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, which is planned to include five books. 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. It was ultimately scheduled for release on January 21, 2025, more than a year after Iron Flame's release.
When announcing the book's release, Yarros said it would include "politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons".
The book's cover was released on July 8, 2024. A reviewer from Today said that its dark design "signals an ominous turn in the series".

## Plot

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 eavesdrops on the coalition's conversation and decides she will find a cure for Xaden, no matter the cost. In the weeks that follow, the marked ones and Violet are on guard duty for Xaden at all times. Xaden remains at Basgiath War College inside the wards, to restrain himself from channeling again.
Meanwhile, the iron squad visits Sawyer, who is adjusting to life as an amputee, while Lynx and Aaric's failure to manifest signets raises concerns. A fresh attack on Basgiath leaves them reeling, and Violet has a chilling encounter with a silver-haired venin. After Basgiath is secured, Violet and Xaden prepare for the meeting with the Senarium, the council of all nobles of Navarre. Knowing that Andarna, Violet's second dragon, is of the seventh dragon breed needed to power the wardstone in Aretia, Violet is sent on a quest to find the missing breed but must first fulfill her deal with Viscount Tecarus safely deliver the fliers to Basgiath for unlimited access to his library.
Mira arrives with a new conduit for Violet and intel on tempering runes. Just as the Senarium moves to dismiss the fliers, Violet's squad nullifies the rune blocking their channeling, salvaging the truce with Poromiel. General Aetos accuses Violet of treason, but a royal missive preemptively pardons all dragon riders who went to Aretia and reinstates Xaden as Duke of Tyrrendor.
As punishment, the Iron Squad is sent to Samara by Dain's father. When a nearby village is attacked, they rush into battle, uncovering shocking truths: Garrick has a second signet (fast-travel), the silver-haired Theophanie is a venin general (Maven) who wants to mentor Violet when she turns, and Andarna's breed is known as irid. Xaden soon reveals that many marked ones wield two signets because their dragons chose them for a purpose. Violet begins to suspect venin can wield similarly to dragon riders.
While Xaden is away, Violet sharpens her skills and repeatedly visits Jack Barlowe, searching for answers only to find none. A breakthrough comes in the archives when she realizes her father's final research might be connected to the venin. She enlists Dain to steal it from his father's office, and he delivers, leaving her with her father's final journal, locked with a riddle.
Basgiath ramps up war preparations, adding a signet-wielding class taught by Xaden. A brief scuffle erupts before Navarre's crown prince Halden, Violet's ex-boyfriend, delivers a message from Tecarus, arranging a meeting with King Courtlyn of Deverelli in exchange for a powerful relic lost in venin-infested Anca. Their conversation helps Violet crack her father's code, which further points toward Deverelli.
Violet, Xaden, Mira, and an unreliable squad set off for Anca, retrieve the relic, and are immediately ambushed, losing two squad members. Enraged, Violet demands control of the mission. The new squad consists of Ridoc, Xaden, Dain, Mira, Maren, Tragen, Cat, her cousin Drake, and unfortunately Halden and his guard.
In the magicless Deverelli, Xaden finally finds relief, but the lack of telepathic connection unsettles their dragons. While Halden meets with King Courtlyn, Violet retrieves her father's books after a grueling test. Before they can leave, Halden is arrested, forcing Xaden to approach the king as the Duke of Tyrrendor, with Violet as his consort. Halden's tantrum escalates into a fight, and Xaden loses control, channeling from the earth once again. Violet with the help of Tairn and Andarna, her dragons with whom her bonds are uninterrupted by the magiclessness, orchestrates a ploy and secures an alliance.
Back in Basgiath, the squad prepares to continue their journey. Xaden shows up in Basgiath and Violet notices the flecks in his eyes are no longer golden but permanently amber, a direct result of his channeling. Aaric, defying orders and risking court-martial, replaces Halden as the royal representative, officially launching the quest.
The first stop is the isle of Soneram. Dain, Xaden and Violet fight for an audience with the Queen. There are no irids on the island, but a chance meeting between Violet and a priestess reveals Violet was almost pledged as a baby to a Goddess. Next is Hedotis, where a surprising family reunites as Violet is introduced to Xaden's mother Talia. Talia is now married to a member of the Hedotis Triumvirate the local council. She tries to rekindle her relationship with her son, but Xaden wants nothing to do with her. The council tests the squad, poisoning Garrick. Violet anticipates the betrayal by spiking their drinks first, using her father's research to cure Garrick and secure an alliance.
The third stop is Zellyhna, the island of Zihnal, God of Luck, who demands the quest squad accept whatever fate deals them. The price is Tragen's life, who dies from an arrow to the heart. The squad travels to one of the smaller isles to burn his and his gryphon's body. While the others search the neighboring isles, Violet and Ridoc stay back a while longer. The water and sky seem to ripple, as six iridescent, giant dragons appear.
The irids recognize Andarna but reject her for fighting in the war, chastising her signet as bloodthirsty, ultimately branding her as a weapon, and leave suddenly. Ridoc also discovers Xaden's venin secret and demands Violet tell Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Jesinia. Their mission is officially a failure. The squad returns to Basgiath with a heartbroken Andarna and shattered hopes, only to learn Queen Maraya has been killed and rendering Tecarus the King of Poromiel, making Cat third in line for the throne.
Things spiral further when the first-year Lynx manifests shadows, proving magic has abandoned Xaden as this generation's shadow wielder, so he retreats to Aretia. Sawyer recovers physically enough to mount and ride his dragon. He joins the squad for their rotation in Aretia. Violet expects Xaden to be broken and given up, but finds Xaden and Brennan still fighting for a cure.
Later that night, Xaden returns early, confessing he hasn't channeled in 73 days, his goal being 76. They share a passionate night, only to have the same dream, revealing Violet's second signet is inntinnsic, a dreamwalker. Before they can process this revelation, Aretia is attacked. Violet defends the temple of Dunne at Aaric's suggestion, but in repelling the wyvern, Tairn is injured. When Theophanie shows up, Violet defends the priestesses. Luckily the irid Leothan arrives; having fired up the Aretia ward, the venin vanish.
Andarna faces a choice: stay with Violet and lose her heritage, or leave to reunite with her kind. With unbearable pain, Violet urges her to go. Broken, she spirals into grief until Mira forces her back into action. A new revelation emerges: her parents dedicated Violet to the Goddess Dunne to prevent her from turning venin, and there is a prophecy about her. But in reality the prophecy was about Xaden. When Xaden confesses his truth, Mira immediately moves to kill him. Violet and Brennan intervene, but Mira storms off, feeling betrayed.
Soon after, Garrick returns badly beaten with a message from Theophanie: she has Mira and wants Jack Barlowe in exchange for her. With only difficult strategic choices to make, Violet rushes into Theophanie's trap, only for Theophanie to attempt to kill Jack and slit Mira's throat. Brennan, a powerful mender, tries to heal her, but quickly burn out, until Sloane Mairi and Dain Aetos show up. Sloane siphons Dain's power and transfers it to Brennan, who manages to stabilize Mira. Dain and Sloane carry a message from Aaric whom Violet realizes has the signet of precognition.
Violet and Bodhi face Theophanie, who is a storm wielder just like Lilith Sorrengail, Violet's late mother. General Sorrengail was the balance to Theophanie, and now that she is gone, Violet is not sure she can stop her. The battle across the city is chaotic, riders dying left and right, most notably Quinn, Imogen's best friend. Tairn becomes entangled in a trap, and so does Sgaeyl. In a twist of fortune, Andarna returns and helps Violet kill Theophanie with a piece of Dunne's temple, whom Theophanie has forsaken. Just then, an onyx storm hits and Violet realizes Xaden has channeled again.
From Xaden's point of view, he chooses to sacrifice his soul to save Violet and Sgaeyl. Violet whispers down their bond before she passes out, the last thing that Xaden hears. He discoveres Panchek has been feeding the venin tactical information, and that one of his closest friends betrayed everyone by becoming venin. The venin are defeated and Violet wakes up twelve hours later back in Aretia. She is now married to Xaden, legally making her the Duchess of Tyrrendor, but she does not remember anything after asking Imogen to wipe her memory. The novel ends on a mysterious cliffhanger.

## Characters

* 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.

## Release

Bookstores including Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, and Waterstones held events to celebrate the book's release. Some readers attended in costume. 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. Yarros has announced a book tour, to begin in Los Angeles on January 20, 2025, and end in Denver on February 2. 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.

## Reception

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