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Quick answer: If you loved Onyx Storm, try Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, The Serpent and the Wings of Night and Quicksilver. Each one delivers dragons or deadly magic, high-stakes training and a slow-burning or steamy romance.
Rebecca Yarros's third Empyrean novel sends Violet Sorrengail beyond Navarre's borders in search of allies, as war with the venin grows closer and her bond with Xaden is tested. Readers love the dragons, the battles and the romance. If you finished Onyx Storm and need more, these romantasy picks share the same danger, banter and chemistry. Many include explicit content, so check heat levels.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Heat level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Spicy | readers starting over or new to the series |
| Iron Flame | Rebecca Yarros | Spicy | readers who need a reread |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas | Spicy | readers who want the most famous romantasy |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Mild to spicy | readers who like assassins |
| The Serpent and the Wings of Night | Carissa Broadbent | Spicy | readers who like vampire contests |
| Quicksilver | Callie Hart | Spicy | readers who want a fae enemies-to-lovers |
| Powerless | Lauren Roberts | Clean to mild | readers who prefer less spice |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | Clean to mild | readers who like scheming faeries |
| From Blood and Ash | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Spicy | readers who like vampire royalty |
| A Fate Inked in Blood | Danielle L. Jensen | Spicy | readers who like Norse-inspired romantasy |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon | Clean | readers who want an epic dragon fantasy |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | Clean | readers who mainly love dragons |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | Clean | readers who like military magic |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Clean | readers who like found family |
| Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross | Clean | readers who like letters and slow burn |
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Violet enters Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider. The first book in the Empyrean series.
Best for: readers starting over or new to the series.
2. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Violet's second year at Basgiath brings new threats and secrets.
Best for: readers who need a reread.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A huntress is taken to a faerie land by a High Fae lord. The romance intensifies in later books.
Best for: readers who want the most famous romantasy.
4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin competes to become the king's champion in a long series that grows darker and steamier.
Best for: readers who like assassins.
5. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
A human raised by a vampire king enters a deadly tournament.
Best for: readers who like vampire contests.
6. Quicksilver by Callie Hart
A thief is dragged into the fae lands by a dangerous fae warrior.
Best for: readers who want a fae enemies-to-lovers.
7. Powerless by Lauren Roberts
An ordinary girl hiding among the powerful competes in deadly trials.
Best for: readers who prefer less spice.
8. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A mortal girl fights for power in the High Court of Faerie.
Best for: readers who like scheming faeries.
9. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A maiden destined for the gods falls for her guard.
Best for: readers who like vampire royalty.
10. A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
A woman with magic enters a dangerous alliance with a prince.
Best for: readers who like Norse-inspired romantasy.
11. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Queens, mages and dragonriders face an ancient enemy.
Best for: readers who want an epic dragon fantasy.
12. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
A farm boy finds a dragon egg and becomes a rider.
Best for: readers who mainly love dragons.
13. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
An orphan discovers her power and joins the elite.
Best for: readers who like military magic.
14. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Six outcasts plan an impossible heist.
Best for: readers who like found family.
15. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Two rival journalists fall in love through magical letters during a war between gods.
Best for: readers who like letters and slow burn.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Onyx Storm: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For the closest match, read A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass. If you want vampire contests, try The Serpent and the Wings of Night or From Blood and Ash. For fae enemies-to-lovers, choose Quicksilver or The Cruel Prince. If you want less spice, Powerless, Divine Rivals and The Priory of the Orange Tree are good options, and dragon fans of any age can try Eragon.
Related: Onyx Storm Ending Explained · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Onyx Storm the last Empyrean book?
No. Rebecca Yarros has said the series is planned for five books.
Is Onyx Storm spicy?
Yes. Like the earlier books, it includes explicit romantic scenes.
Do I need to read Fourth Wing first?
Yes. Onyx Storm continues the story directly.
What age is Onyx Storm for?
It is adult fantasy, best for readers 18 and up because of sexual content and violence.
What should I read while waiting for the next Empyrean book?
Try The Serpent and the Wings of Night or A Court of Thorns and Roses.