5 Books To Read After Onyx Storm If You Can’t Get Over That Ending

At PEDESTRIAN.TV, we independently choose and write about stuff we love and think you’ll froth too. We have affiliate partnerships so we might get a bit of money from any purchase you make based on our recs, cool? Cool. FYI – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Do you have a dragon-shaped hole in your life after reading Onyx Storm in one sitting? Don’t worry, I’ll get you through this tough time, especially when you realise Rebecca Yarros hasn’t even sat down to start writing the next book. Don’t shoot the messenger, okay? She deserves a break after smashing out three books in a couple of years (like the fact that Yarros wrote Fourth Wing in three months?? Not including story building and editing, of course).

Life really doesn’t feel the same, though, without Andarna annoying Tairn. Their daughter/ father relationship is so cute. Oh, and the tension between Violet and Xaden??? I had to organise a date I was feeling that hot — and it wasn’t from from dragon fire. Plus, the companionship between the ‘quest squad’ is so wholesome.

@cozycoffeereader Why is this duo basically Violet and Tairn 🤣 @Rebecca Yarros #fourthwing #violetsorrengail #violetandtairn #tairnandviolet #fourthwingedit #dragon #fourthwingbook #booktok #bookfyp #fantasytok #memecut ♬ original sound – Char | BookTok

Before I even recommend new books, I think we’re going to have to address that ending. Spoilers, obviously, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

First off, what is The Empyrean series about?

The Empyrean series is a five-part fantasy series set in a deadly academy called Basgiath War College for dragon riders. Only three books have been released so far: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm.

The next book is estimated to come out around 2027 if we follow the two-year gap between the second and third books. Fourth Wing is also being turned into a TV show, which you can find out more about here.

@jillwolffvlogs Heavy is the head that wears the crown.👑 Art By: Cassmira #onyxstorm #booktok #theempyreanseries #fourthwing #bookseries #aaricgraycastle ♬ The Phoenix – Fall Out Boy

Fourth Wing recap

In the first book, Fouth Wing, we watch as a trainee scribe, Violet, is forced to become a dragon rider by her mother. It doesn’t look like she’ll survive the deadly war games at the start, but luckily, her smarts get her by — like poisoning her opponents. No one thinks she’ll bond to a dragon, let alone survive one, since they hate weakness. Prepare for a plot twist as she bonds not only to the strongest dragon, Tairn but also to a mysterious baby dragon, Andarna.

Double plot twist? Her dragon is bonded to her mother’s enemy’s dragon, AKA her love interest, Xaden. Obviously, they fall in love, and Xaden helps Violet survive the trials. Triple plot twist? Her signet (power from her dragons) is lightning, which is very rare. I don’t know what plot twist we’re on at this point, but her ‘dead’ brother, Brennan, is alive.

@booksnobsammy FOURTH WING RECAP! Here’s everything you need to remember about Fourth Wing before reading the next book in the Empyrean Series!! #fourthwing #ironflame #onyxstorm #reveccayarros #books #recaps #bookrecap #bookrecaps #booktok #booktoker @Amazon Kindle @Rebecca Yarros @Goodreads ♬ original sound – Book Snob Sammy

Iron Flame recap

The sequel, Iron Flame, follows Violet as she comes to terms with Brennan being alive this entire time, hiding in her love interest’s secret army. It’s for a good cause, we promise, protecting commoners from bad guys called Venin. Basically, they wield dark powers and fly on these things called Wyvern.

Anyway, Violet leads a revolution because the King’s been keeping the Venin and Wyvern a secret so he can stay safe behind the borders. So, they start a new school with teachers and students who are on the rebellion’s side. Gryphon riders also attend, as they can help create wards against their enemy. It all comes down to a final battle with the Venin, which they survive — thanks to Violet’s mum sacrificing herself to create a ward.

She wasn’t the only one, as Xaden used dark magic to save them, AKA he’s now a Venin.

@gilli.reads Ignore my horrible spelling!! What did i miss? #ironflame #fourthwing #onyxstorm #rebeccayarros #booktok #bookstagram #romantasy #violetsorrengail #xadenriorson #andarna #tairnandsgaeyl ♬ original sound – Gillian | Booktok🌶️🍒📚

Onyx Storm recap

The training wheels are off in Onyx Storm, and the dragon riders are going up against the bad guys (Venin). The only problem is that Xaden is also now a Venin, making him ‘bad’ as well. It turns out that Violet’s dragon Andarna might be the key to saving Xaden, so Violet forms a ‘quest squad’ to find out more. Turns out that doesn’t lead to much, but at least we know what type of dragon she is. In the final battle, Xaden gives into the dark magic to save Violet, the one thing she was doing everything to stop.

“In my final act of resistance, I become the very thing I despise. Maybe it’s good that I can’t feel a single damned thing,” Xaden said.

Also, apparently, someone in their group is Venin. We end the book with Violet showing up at the academy. She doesn’t know what’s happened for the last 12 hours, but Violet definitely notices the wedding ring on her finger and a note in Xaden’s writing that reads, “Don’t look for me. It’s yours now.”

@emmahalbrook Let’s start unpacking Onyx Storm 💭⚡️📖🤓 #onyxstorm #booktoker #rebeccayarros #fourthwingtheories #bookish #dragons #theory #ironflame #xadenriorson #booktokbooks #readers #fantasy #fantasybooktok ♬ original sound – Emma Halbrook

So, if you’re still not ready to accept whatever that ending was, I’ve rounded up books that fit each Onyx Storm category (they all have dragons; don’t worry, I know why you’re really here.)

Here are five books to read after Onyx Storm

Do you want another Violet? Meet Raeve, a sassy assassin in When The Moon Hatched

Are you missing Andarna? You’ll fall in love with the baby dragons in Magpies & Mayhem

Are you looking for an academy setting? Let me welcome you to Zodiac Academy

Looking for a dragon bond? Get ready to be connected with five dragons in Fear The Flames

Finally, do you find Tairn hot? Well, you can fuck a dragon in Promised In Fire

Now, if you don’t mind me, I’ve got books to read.