Background
Onyx Storm is the third book in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, which is planned to include five books. [4] 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. [5] It was ultimately scheduled for release on January 21, 2025, more than a year after Iron Flame's release. [6] [7]
When announcing the book's release, Yarros said it would include "politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons". [6]
The book's cover was released on July 8, 2024. [7] A reviewer from Today said that its dark design "signals an ominous turn in the series". [7]
Plot
After the events of Iron Flame , an uneasy alliance forms between Navarre, Poromiel, and the Tyrrendor revolutionaries to combat the invading venin army. Violet Sorrengail is desperate to cure Xaden Riorson, who has turned venin but hasn't channeled his power. Her search leads her to believe the key lies with the seventh breed of dragons, like Andarna. When Violet finds Xaden speaking with another venin, Jack Barlowe, who warns that Xaden will eventually lose control and drain her, Violet enlists Imogen to erase Jack's memory to protect Xaden's secret.
Two weeks later, Navarre is plagued by continuous storms due to the absence of General Sorrengail's storm-wielding abilities, complicating negotiations with Poromiel. A venin infiltration of the Basgiath keep, disguised as scribes, leads to a battle where Violet, Rhiannon, and Ridoc defend Jack Barlowe's cell. During the attack, Violet encounters a silver-haired venin woman, later identified as Theophanie, who demonstrates storm-wielding abilities before disappearing.
Violet is tasked with finding the seventh dragon breed, with Captain Grady as her team leader. Concurrently, Viscount Tecarus demands Violet finalize the alliance with Poromiel's gryphon fliers. Violet and her friends commit treason by altering the wardstone to allow gryphon fliers to use their lesser magics within the wards, thereby advancing the alliance. As punishment, Violet and her squad are sent to the Samara outpost, but they defy orders to save a nearby town from a venin attack, where Violet again encounters Theophanie.
Xaden is reinstated as Duke of Tyrrendor and given a seat on the Senarium, separating him from Violet. Violet retrieves her father's research, which directs her to the isle kingdom of Deverelli to find a merchant named Narelle Anselm, who holds more of her father's research. Violet's first quest mission proves to be a trap, resulting in the deaths of Captain Grady and Aura Beinhaven. Violet then handpicks her new squad: Mira, Dain, Ridoc, Xaden, Cat, Drake, Prince Halden, and Anna, the Prince’s guard.
The team travels to Deverelli. Halden meets with King Courtlyn while the others locate Narelle Anselm in a bookstore. After answering several questions, Violet receives six more books from her father's collection. They later discover Halden has been caught attempting to reclaim stolen items, resulting in Anna's death. When King Courtlyn orders their deaths, Xaden channels his venin power to eliminate the threats, prompting Violet to send him back to Aretia to recover. Violet uses Andarna's appetite for Courtlyn's panthers to gain leverage, convincing him to allow them to use the palace as a base.
Upon returning to Basgiath, Violet's squad plans to search other islands for the seventh dragon breed. Despite orders to return between islands, they decide to search all at once to save time, two gryphon fliers Maren and Trager to their squad.
On Dunne, Violet notes people with hair similar to hers at the temple. Violet, Dain, and Xaden fight champions to gain an audience with the queen, who hears their plea but cannot provide troops. On Hedotis, they meet the triumvirate, and realize that Xaden's mother is married to one of its members. The triumvirate attempts to poison them, nearly killing Garrick, but Violet's quick thinking saves him. On Zehyllna, they are forced to play a brutal card game in which Trager is fatally shot and Violet is forced to thank his killer. This brutal game secures them an army of 40,000 for the war.
The irids (Andarna's kin) find the group on a remote island where they are burning Trager's body. The irids express disappointment in Andarna, referring to themselves as dragons of peace, and offer no cure for venin nor aid for the war. The squad returns home unsuccessful. Violet finally reveals the truth of Xaden's affliction to her friends, explaining her unwavering dedication to finding a cure.
When Aretia comes under attack, the squad rushes to defend it. Aaric advises Violet that protecting Dunne's temple is vital for Tyrrendor's survival. Though initially dismissive, Violet ends up at the temple with Theophanie, who flees when the wards are fully restored. Leothan, an irid, arrives to recharge the wards and asks Andarna to return with him to be educated in their ways. With Violet's permission, Andarna breaks her bond with Violet and departs, leaving Violet heartbroken.
Mira is then taken hostage by Theophanie, who demands Xaden, Violet, and Jack Barlowe's presence. Theophanie attempts to kill Jack, believing he knows too much, but fails, and he is returned to a Navarre interrogation cell. Jack then slits Mira's throat, but she survives thanks to Brennan's healing abilities, amplified by Sloane Mairi siphoning magic from Dain into Brennan.
In the ensuing battle, Aaric's signet of pre-cognition is revealed, and he provides Violet with a dagger that she uses to kill Theophanie. This opportunity arises when Xaden gives in to channeling, becoming venin and unleashing his shadows to kill as many venin as possible.
The book ends with a cliffhanger from Xaden's perspective, revealing that someone he trusted has also turned venin. Violet returns to Riorson House and her brother, 12 hours after the battle, with no memory of what occurred after killing Theophanie. She finds a wedding ring on her finger and a marriage certificate to Xaden, making her the Duchess of Tyrrendor. Violet realizes Imogen erased her memories, but Imogen maintains she only did what Violet requested.
