By Ella Karoline Hendricks 

A BookTok sensation, the long-awaited third book in the Empyrean Series is finally here! “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros is the third installment in the worldwide sensation, the “Fourth Wing” series. Come into the fantastical world of dragons, romance and rebellion. 

A high-fantasy romance, “Fourth Wing” follows Cadet Violet Sorrenghail as she navigates survival at Basgiath Military Academy, where every student must choose a quadrant to enter. Trained as a scribe throughout her youth, Violet’s general mother forces her to enter the Rider’s quadrant where she faces danger at every turn, both from her courses and her classmates. Add in dragons, a dark and mysterious leading man, and a budding rebellion, and you’ve got a fast-paced, high-stakes “romantasy” you can’t miss. 

The books are fast-paced, with lots of action scenes and plot movement. Yet, it is the romance aspect that has fans coming back again and again, with fans calling the male love interest their ‘book boyfriend.’ Nearly as popular as the series itself is the leading man, with people online fan-casting different actors and creating fan-art of the couples. 

The book series is catching the world by storm, becoming an overnight bestseller with serious fans across numerous geographical locations, including Northwest Arkansas. Bookstores, both independently owned and chain locations, hosted midnight release parties and fan-based parties for the highly anticipated release.  

Ella Claborn, a senior at the University of Arkansas, attended one of these release parties Monday, Jan. 21 at Underbrush Books located in Rogers. Claborn attended with several of her sorority sisters and fellow fantasy-book lovers. 

Claborn won one of the stores’ giveaways and received a bookplate signed by Yarros, the author of “Onyx Storm.”

“They were giving two away — one to the winner of the costume contest and one to the winner of a random drawing of the preorders,” Claborn said. “It was so fun!”

Pearl’s Books, located in the Fayetteville square, also had a sold-out release party, while other stores had anticipated readers lining up in the early dredges of the morning. 

Finley McClure, a sophomore creative writing major, woke up early Jan. 22 to get in line to get her copy. McClure and a friend got to Target at 6 a.m. for the exclusive Target edition of “Onyx Storm.” The target edition had bonus content, such as sprayed edges, full-color artwork and an updated map. 

“There were about 20 people there at 6 a.m.,” McClure said. “Then at 8 when the store opened, there were at least 60 people in line. The manager came out and told us the books were at the front, so no one got hurt trying to run and get a copy.” 

Even in record-breaking cold weather and emergency freeze warnings, fans still waited outside in frigid temperatures to get their copy. So what has everyone so excited about this book?

“I think a lot of it has to do with Rebecca Yarros’ writing,” McClure states. “It could be any other fantasy book with the plot, but her writing really sets it apart from others like it.” 

Even readers who do not typically read this genre have agreed there is something mesmerizing about Yarros’ series. 

“I usually am not the biggest fan of BookTok books or romantasy in general,” Nora Cowen, a sophomore English major, said. “But I actually really enjoy “Fourth Wing.” There’s just something about it that I find really fun and genuinely enjoyable.” 

Cowen usually sticks to literary fiction or classics, but finds the change of pace within the Empyrean Series a welcome reprieve. It is as though you are stepping into another world and leaving behind your own for the duration of the story, which can be a really wonderful and eye-opening experience. 

People online agree. Romantasy has become a popular genre over the last several years, being promoted through BookTok and online forums. Other popular romantasy titles include the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series by Sarah J. Maas, the “Powerless” series by Lauren Roberts, the “From Blood and Ash” series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and more!

Tiktoker FairyJocey has publicly voiced her love for the Empyrean Series before and has been posting about the release across her social media platforms. Jocey gained popularity through her posts on Tiktok, theorizing on series, recommending books and posting about “book boyfriends.”

Jocey posted a comedic TikTok on Jan. 12 with text overlaying stating, “9 days till Onyx Storm!! (9 days until I know peace or eternal suffering).” She posted another TikTok in her bedroom to a somber piano song with the text: ‘“I’m so excited to read Onyx Storm!’ same but it’s because I haven’t had a peaceful night of sleep since I read the end of Iron Flame.”

Jocey has since posted several TikToks theorizing about the series and what will happen to the main characters. Her videos gain hundreds of thousands of views and likes, with fans commenting and showing their support for the series. 

Fans from all over the world are banding together in excitement to celebrate the next installment of their favorite series. The community of fantasy readers and lovers is strong in Northwest Arkansas. Next time you see a popular book being released, make sure to check by local bookstores to see if they are having a release party for a great opportunity to bond with community members. 

You can find “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros at retailers such as Pearl’s, Underbrush Books, Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart, Half-Price Books, and more! Or stop by your local public library to grab a copy!