Bookstores, bars, and breweries were brimming with excitement on Monday night as fans, many donning costumes, gathered for the midnight release of Rebecca Yarros’s Onyx Storm. The third book in the bestselling Empyrean series officially hit shelves on Tuesday, drawing massive crowds eager to secure their copies.
Onyx Storm follows the wildly successful Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, books that took social media by storm, particularly on BookTok. Hundreds of fans attended over 1,100 release events across the U.S. and Canada, with some paying up to $100 for exclusive experiences. The author herself joined a sold-out midnight launch in New York City, marking the series as one of the most significant book phenomena of the year.
“Onyx Storm is going to be one of the biggest releases of the year,” said Jamie Broadhurst, vice president of marketing for Raincoast Books, the Canadian distributor for Entangled Publishing. Indigo, Canada’s largest book retailer, reported pre-orders 161% higher than those for Iron Flame, making it the second most pre-ordered book in its history.
The Empyrean series, a blend of fantasy and romance, has captivated readers with its compelling storylines, rich world-building, and relatable themes. Its success mirrors the heyday of midnight book launches for Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games, reigniting a cultural phenomenon long thought dormant.
From pottery painting in Calgary to ice-breaker bingo in Ottawa, fans immersed themselves in the dragon-riding world of the Empyrean series. Social media platforms like BookTok played a pivotal role in bringing this fandom together, proving once again the unifying power of storytelling in the digital age.
Source: Swifteradio.com
