Numerous outstanding books were published last year, but the most surprising entry on Amazon's 2024 bestsellers list emerged just this week – Onyx Storm, the latest installment in Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series.
For those unfamiliar, the series gained prominence through its debut novel Fourth Wing, which achieved viral fame on BookTok alongside other romance sensations. This platform previously skyrocketed Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us to bestselling status in 2022, eventually leading to a film adaptation.
Understanding the Empyrean Phenomenon
Onyx Storm (Standard Edition)
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$29.99 (30% off) $20.98 at Amazon
$29.99 (50% off) $14.99 Kindle version
While TikTok undoubtedly fueled this series' explosive popularity, the books' substance suggests inevitable success. Having personally read both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, I can attest they're utterly captivating. The novels artfully blend Harry Potter-esque elements, Twilight-style romance, and Dragonrider-inspired fantasy, creating something simultaneously familiar and refreshingly original.
The series' widespread appeal also stems from its graphic romantic scenes. What begins as a conventional YA narrative quickly escalates into steamy, adult-oriented content that maintains its intensity throughout. Essentially, it offers epic fantasy romance featuring dragons and passionate encounters – a compelling combination for many readers.
Amazon's Top Books of 2024
While Onyx Storm claimed second place, Kristin Hannah's The Women (February 2024) topped Amazon's annual list after dominating New York Times bestseller charts. Here's the complete top ten:
- The Women - Kristin Hannah
- Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros
- Atomic Habits - James Clear
- Hillbilly Elegy - J.D. Vance
- The Housemaid - Freida McFadden
- Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story - Jeffrey Mason
- Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story - Jeffrey Mason
- The Anxious Generation - Jonathan Haidt
- It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
- Good Energy - Casey Means M.D.
