“Onyx Storm,” the third installment in Rebecca Yarros’s wildly popular Empyrean series, storms onto the bestseller lists in April 2025, continuing the saga of Violet Sorrengail, a fierce yet fragile heroine navigating a world of dragon riders, war, and forbidden romance. Following the cliffhangers of “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame,” this book shifts the narrative beyond the walls of Basgiath War College into the chaotic battlefields of a fractured continent. Released in January 2025,ਰ
Violet, once a reluctant candidate thrust into the brutal training of dragon riders by her commanding general mother, is now a seasoned rider bonded to her dragon, Tairn. The story opens with her leading a desperate mission outside the Aretian wards, seeking allies among rogue factions as the war against the venin—dark, soul-consuming creatures—escalates. The stakes are higher than ever: the venin have breached the protective wards, and the kingdom’s survival hinges on uniting disparate groups, including the elusive onyx dragon clans rumored to dwell in the storm-ravaged northern wastes.
Yarros weaves a tapestry of action and emotion, beginning with Violet grappling with the fallout of her lover Xaden Riorson’s apparent betrayal in “Iron Flame.” His decision to ally with a shadowy faction left her questioning his loyalty, yet their psychic bond through Tairn and his dragon, Sgaeyl, pulses with unresolved tension. The opening chapters thrust readers into a breathtaking aerial battle, where Violet and Tairn dodge lightning bolts and venin claws, showcasing Yarros’s knack for visceral, heart-pounding combat. The prose crackles with energy, mirroring the storms that dominate the northern landscape, as Violet’s squad—now including her brother Brennan, healed but haunted—faces dwindling odds.
The narrative delves into Violet’s growth from a bookish scribe to a strategic leader. Her chronic pain, a lingering weakness, becomes a metaphor for her resilience as she pushes through physical and emotional torment. A key subplot involves her reunion with Xaden, who reveals his alliance was a gambit to infiltrate the enemy. Their reconciliation is fraught with mistrust, yet their steamy, storm-lit love scenes—set against crashing thunder—satisfy fans of the series’ romantasy roots. Yarros balances this with political intrigue, as Violet negotiates with the onyx clan’s enigmatic leader, a woman whose dragon breathes shadow rather than fire, hinting at ancient magic that could turn the tide.
The book’s middle act explores the cost of war through secondary characters like Ridoc, whose humor masks grief, and Lilith Sorrengail, Violet’s mother, whose ruthless pragmatism softens in a rare, tender moment. The world-building expands with vivid descriptions of the onyx clan’s storm-shrouded citadel, where jagged peaks pierce roiling clouds, and rituals involving blood and lightning reveal the clan’s power. A shocking twist reveals the venin are not mindless monsters but corrupted riders, raising moral questions that haunt Violet as she uncovers her own lineage’s ties to their origin.
The climax is a tour de force: a multi-front battle where Violet, Xaden, and the onyx leader unleash a combined assault on the venin stronghold. Tairn’s roar merges with the storm’s fury, and the prose soars as dragons clash in a sky ablaze with fire and shadow. Yet victory comes at a cost—Brennan sacrifices himself to seal a breach, leaving Violet with a bittersweet triumph. The epilogue teases a new threat: a venin overlord who whispers Violet’s name through the wind, setting the stage for the next installment. “Onyx Storm” is a masterclass in blending romance, fantasy, and relentless pacing, cementing its bestseller status.