Format: Hardcover, 544 pages
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Source: Library
Genre: Fantasy / Epic
After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty.
Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.
Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.
Rebecca Yarros's Onyx Storm is the third installment in the author's The Empyrean series. Onyx Storm continues the saga of Violet Sorrengail, a dragon rider at Basgiath War College, as she navigates a world of political intrigue, draconic warfare, and high-stakes romance while learning more about her new abilities, one of which comes to play later in this story. Onyx Storm picks up shortly after the cliffhanger ending of Iron Flame, thrusting Violet into a world where the battle against the venin—soulless, magic-wielding enemies, has escalated.
The story begins with Xaden grappling with his venin transformation, a secret that threatens his life and Violet’s trust. Violet’s quest to find Andarna’s dragon kin and a cure for Xaden drives the plot, leading her squad to the Isles, where they face trials and uncover lore about the seventh dragon breed. With Navarre’s protective wards failing, Violet must venture beyond familiar territory to seek allies, uncover truths about dragonkind, and protect those she loves, including her dragons Tairn and Andarna, her family, brother Brennan, sister Mira, and her love interest, Xaden Riorson.
The story blends epic fantasy, steamy romance, and military strategy, set against a backdrop of betrayal, sacrifice, and world-expanding adventure. Onyx Storm significantly expands the Empyrean universe, taking readers beyond Basgiath War College to new lands, including various Isles with distinct cultures and customs. This travelogue-style adventure, reminiscent of epic fantasy quests, adds depth to the world. The exploration of dragon lore, particularly surrounding Andarna’s mysterious heritage, is a highlight, offering fresh insights into the series’ magical system.
Fans of fantasy will appreciate the stakes of Violet’s mission to uncover truths that could turn the tide against the venin. Violet also has her very own nemesis, Theophanie, a venin who may be just as powerful and dangerous as Violet with her two dragons. Onyx Storm introduces a dizzying array of new characters, places, and lore, which can overwhelm readers unless you choose to actually take notes of which characters are likely to be seen again in this series. While the Violet-Xaden romance is a strength, it occasionally overshadows the fantasy plot.
Violet’s constant focus on Xaden’s attractiveness, even during high-stakes moments, feels immature and disrupts the narrative’s gravitas. Violet grows as a character and leads the charge in finding Andarna's fellow dragons, even taking a risk of finding herself found guilty of treason. The battle against Theophanie, a storm-wielding venin, is a chaotic highlight, with losses of Violet's fellow squad members hitting hard. Xaden’s actions at the end of this book set up a cryptic cliffhanger that should have wrapped up this series, but instead, readers can expect two more books in this series.
Supporting characters like Ridoc, Dain, and Sawyer shine in moments of camaraderie and personal growth, with Ridoc’s humor providing much-needed levity. The dragons—Tairn’s grumpy wisdom and Andarna’s adolescent spunk—remain the series’ heart, stealing every scene they’re in. Will I continue this series? Improbable.
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