- “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros hit bookshelves on January 21.
- Yarros plans to take a break before writing the next novel in the “Empyrean” series.
- The book will likely address the cliffhanger ending of her latest novel. There are spoilers ahead.
Rebecca Yarros’ “Onyx Storm” was released less than a month ago, but fans are already desperate for dragon rider Violet Sorrengail’s story to continue.
“Onyx Storm” was the third book in Yarros’ “Empyrean” series, following “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame.” The series centers on Violet’s journey to become a dragon rider and fight forces of dark magic at Basgiath War College, and it is set to have five novels published by Red Tower.
“Onyx Storm” — the fastest-selling adult novel released in 20 years, according to The New York Times — ended on a cliffhanger, so Yarros’ readers are already asking when they can get their hands on the next romantasy novel in the series.
However, Yarros has already said she doesn’t want to write the next “Empyrean” installment as quickly as the first three books. Here’s everything we know so far.
The rest of this article has spoilers for the “Empyrean” series.
Yarros won’t be working on the next ‘Empyrean’ novel right away
Yarros released the first three books in the “Empyrean” series in under two years. “Fourth Wing” came out in April 2023, “Iron Flame” was released in October 2023, and “Onyx Storm” hit shelves just 13 months later.
Fans shouldn’t expect Yarros to write the next series installment at the same pace. Speaking at an engagement in Philadelphia on January 25, Yarros said she wouldn’t commit to a release date for the fourth “Empyrean” novel.
“I’m gonna write a contemporary first,” she said. “It’s what I do. I go back and forth. I’m never gonna change.”
Although she is best known for “Fourth Wing,” most of Yarros’ novels are contemporary. Netflix is adapting her book “In the Likely Event” into a film.
Rebecca Yarros/Red Tower Books
At the same event, Yarros said she also plans to take time off to be with her family before she writes the fourth book.
“I promised my children I would spend the summer with them,” she said. “And I’ll get to work when it happens, and I hope it comes out easier just because there’s not the pressure of a deadline or a pressure of a release date. But it happens when it happens.”
Yarros also told Elle she intends to rest before returning to writing, as the amount of work she did in recent years wasn’t good for her mentally or physically, as she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS.
“I’ve been really clear that I’m going to rest now,” she told the outlet. “I drove my body to a place that was untenable, and I knew it, and my family knew it, and my husband knew it, and it shouldn’t have happened. I shouldn’t have allowed it to happen.”
The fourth book will hopefully address unanswered questions from ‘Onyx Storm’
It might be particularly difficult for fans to wait for the next “Empyrean” novel because of the ending of “Onyx Storm.”
After a dramatic battle, Violet wakes up with her dragon, Andarna, watching over her. Andarana came back to her after learning about her dragon breed, irids. She informs Violet that her other dragon, Tairn, is resting, but she doesn’t explain to Violet why he needs the rest.
Violet is also wearing a wedding ring and carrying the blessing of her marriage to Xaden Riorson from the goddess Dunne, but she has no memory of marrying him or of the last 12 hours of her life. In the book’s final line, her friend Imogen reveals she used her signet power to wipe Violet’s memory of the night — at her request.
The final scene occurs after Xaden succumbs to his venin instincts in the novel’s last battle, taking more illicit power from the earth. He also makes a cryptic deal with his dragon, Sgaeyl, and discovers one of his fellow riders has turned venin, though he doesn’t specify who.
Violet’s brother, Brennan, also reveals to her in the novel’s final scene that six dragon eggs and four riders are missing, including Xaden and his best friend, Garrick Tavis.
Red Tower
Hopefully, the fourth book in the “Empyrean” series will reveal what happened between Violet and Xaden, where Xaden and the other missing riders are, the location of the missing eggs, what Andarna learned from her time with the irids, and how Xaden’s additional use of his venin powers harmed his soul.
Likewise, Violet will likely still be searching for a cure to turning venin to bring Xaden back, but as his wife, she also becomes the Duchess of Tyrrendor. She will have new power and responsibility in his absence, and readers will have to wait to see how she balances her new role while developing her signets.
Yarros shared some clues for book four while promoting ‘Onyx Storm’
Yarros has been on an “Onyx Storm” book tour in recent weeks, offering some insight into the future of the series as she’s connected to fans.
For instance, at an event in Los Angeles on January 21, Yarros said, “Someone you love won’t make it in book four.” That comment isn’t that surprising, as beloved characters have died in each installment of the series. However, Yarros got more specific with her hints as her book tour continued.
At an event in St. Louis on January 31, Yarros shared that readers have more to discover about the isles Violet explores in “Onyx Storm.” When host Lexi Ryan asked her why there was no map of the isles included in “Onyx Storm,” Yarros said it “was deemed to be too spoilery” by her editorial team, suggesting Violet doesn’t know all she will about the isles by the end of book three.
CJ Rivera/Invision/AP
In addition, Yarros creates playlists that reflect the story of each “Empyrean” book to listen to while she writes.
Speaking at an event in Denver on February 2, she revealed the first three songs from her playlist for book four, which were all Taylor Swift songs from her album “The Tortured Poets Department,” including “Down Bad,” “But Daddy, I Love Him,” and “I Can Fix Him (No, Really, I Can).” The songs all have themes of loving someone people believe to be wrong for you, which could fit Violet’s love story with Xaden.
At the same Denver event, Yarros also shared clues about who Xaden’s new venin brother could be.
“I would pay attention to who’s missing at the end,” she said. “I would pay attention to someone who feels like whatever they have given is not enough, which is always the case when you turn venin.”
Fans think Bodhi, Garrick, or even Violet’s brother Brennan could fit that description at the end of “Onyx Storm.”
Yarros also discussed a plot device she uses that may have consequences for the series. After riders bond a dragon at threshing at Basgiath, the rider announces the dragon’s name to the Scribes so it can be recorded. However, Yarros pointed out to fans that the dragons never speak their name to the Scribes directly, so it’s possible some riders don’t share their real names or that dragons lie to their riders.
Dragons using false names may have helped the children of rebels bond dragons their relatives previously bonded, giving them second signet powers. The potential for faux dragon identities could also have other ramifications for the series.
Speaking more on signet powers in Denver, Yarros also said readers had only seen “like 10%” of Violet’s dream-walking abilities, in part because others who developed the power would have been killed, making it difficult for Violet to learn how to use the signet.
“There’s probably one person alive that can train her,” Yarros said, though she gave no information about who that person is.
She also said Xaden’s inntinnsic signet has only reached “like 50%” of its potential, so his abilities will likely grow in book four.
Overall, Yarros remains tight-lipped about book four in the “Empyrean” series. Luckily, fans can read other romantasy novels to make the wait a bit more bearable.
