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The Empyrean [Dramatized Adaptation] #3, Part 1
Onyx Storm (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]: The Empyrean 3
After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty.
Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
1 pages, Audio CD
Published May 7, 2025
About the author
Rebecca Yarros
71 books228k followersRebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.
Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.
Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 720 reviews
May 19, 2025
The moaning for every kiss gave me the biggest ick
August 14, 2025
2nd time reading and I forgot how much I love this book!! 💕
May 13, 2025
I’ve missed Xaden and Violet so much!!! Khaya and Gabriel are such amazing voice actors and this was everything I needed.
June 4, 2026
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - ONYX STORM BY REBECCA YARROS
Rating: four out of five stars.
Onyx Storm continues Violet's journey as she faces new challenges, difficult choices, and growing threats that put both her relationships and the future of her world at risk. The story expands the scope of the series, raises the stakes, and introduces new developments that kept me curious about what would happen next.
I listened to the dramatized adaptation, and for me, that was one of the biggest highlights of the experience. The full cast, sound effects, and music made the world feel much more immersive. Rather than simply listening to the story, I felt like I was experiencing it alongside the characters. The different voices helped bring each character to life, and several scenes carried more emotional weight because of the performances.
I enjoyed how the plot continued to build on events from the previous books while introducing new challenges and mysteries. I also enjoyed the relationship development throughout the novel. While the romance remains an important part of the story, it wasn't what kept me listening. I found myself more invested in the larger conflicts, the evolving character dynamics, and the questions surrounding where the story is headed next.
The narration and production quality added a lot to the experience. Action scenes felt exciting and easy to follow, while quieter moments benefited from the emotional delivery of the cast. The dragons and supporting characters also felt more distinct in audio, which helped make the world feel even more alive.
Nonetheless, there were a few sections where the pacing felt slower than I would have liked. Some parts felt repetitive and occasionally affected the momentum of the story. While these moments didn't take away from my overall enjoyment, they were noticeable enough to keep this from being a perfect five-star listen for me.
Overall, I enjoyed Onyx Storm and found the dramatized adaptation to be a fantastic way to experience the story. The combination of strong character development, high stakes, immersive production, and engaging plot progression kept me invested throughout.
I would recommend this audiobook to fans of fantasy and romantasy who enjoy character-driven stories, expansive worlds, and cinematic listening experiences. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.
Rating: four out of five stars.
Onyx Storm continues Violet's journey as she faces new challenges, difficult choices, and growing threats that put both her relationships and the future of her world at risk. The story expands the scope of the series, raises the stakes, and introduces new developments that kept me curious about what would happen next.
I listened to the dramatized adaptation, and for me, that was one of the biggest highlights of the experience. The full cast, sound effects, and music made the world feel much more immersive. Rather than simply listening to the story, I felt like I was experiencing it alongside the characters. The different voices helped bring each character to life, and several scenes carried more emotional weight because of the performances.
I enjoyed how the plot continued to build on events from the previous books while introducing new challenges and mysteries. I also enjoyed the relationship development throughout the novel. While the romance remains an important part of the story, it wasn't what kept me listening. I found myself more invested in the larger conflicts, the evolving character dynamics, and the questions surrounding where the story is headed next.
The narration and production quality added a lot to the experience. Action scenes felt exciting and easy to follow, while quieter moments benefited from the emotional delivery of the cast. The dragons and supporting characters also felt more distinct in audio, which helped make the world feel even more alive.
Nonetheless, there were a few sections where the pacing felt slower than I would have liked. Some parts felt repetitive and occasionally affected the momentum of the story. While these moments didn't take away from my overall enjoyment, they were noticeable enough to keep this from being a perfect five-star listen for me.
Overall, I enjoyed Onyx Storm and found the dramatized adaptation to be a fantastic way to experience the story. The combination of strong character development, high stakes, immersive production, and engaging plot progression kept me invested throughout.
I would recommend this audiobook to fans of fantasy and romantasy who enjoy character-driven stories, expansive worlds, and cinematic listening experiences. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.
August 8, 2026
Violet and Xaden Face Their Darkest Chapter
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚💛🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌎
Character development: 😋😉😎🤯🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration – Full Cast [Dramatized Adaptation]
Characters and Plot Summary
Onyx Storm picks up after the devastating events of Iron Flame, with Violet Sorrengail dealing with the fact that Xaden Riorson has begun turning venin. What I especially liked about this installment is that the story finally pushes Violet and the other riders beyond the familiar walls of Basgiath. Their mission becomes much larger as they search for allies, information, and a way to stop the venin threat while the wards continue to fail.
Violet is still determined to find a way to save Xaden, but she also has to confront how much the war is changing her. Xaden, meanwhile, is fighting a battle that is much more personal. His decision to draw from the earth to protect Violet has consequences that he cannot simply wish away. I found his struggle particularly compelling because he is still recognizably the fiercely protective Xaden from the earlier books, but there is now a frightening uncertainty underneath that confidence.
One of my favorite aspects was watching the characters travel outside the world we had become accustomed to. The political maneuvering, negotiations for alliances, dragon lore, and discoveries about the larger magical world give the story a much broader scope. There are also some genuinely funny character moments that keep the increasingly grim plot from becoming relentlessly heavy.
Highlights and Limitations
The biggest strength for me was the combination of character relationships and expanding world-building. Violet’s determination to find answers about the venin never feels like an abstract quest because everything is tied back to Xaden. Her refusal to simply accept that he is lost gave many of those scenes emotional weight.
The island storyline involving King Courtlyn was another standout. The situation becomes particularly tense when Halden’s actions sabotage their plans, and the danger escalates when Violet and the others are threatened. Xaden once again loses control of his emotions and channels from the earth, which is terrifying precisely because we know what that means for him.
I also appreciated the humor from characters like Ridoc and Mira. After so much death and betrayal, those moments gave me a chance to breathe.
My biggest frustration is that Onyx Storm sometimes feels like it is deliberately holding answers just out of reach. Violet spends so much time trying to understand the venin, the wards, the dragons, and Xaden’s condition that I occasionally wanted the story to stop circling the questions and actually give me some answers. I also thought some portions felt slower and more episodic than Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. That said, the major revelations kept me invested.
And I have to admit, I was absolutely not prepared for the ending of Part 1. Watching Xaden’s eyes remain flecked with amber after he has once again drawn from the earth was exactly the kind of cliffhanger that made me immediately want to start Part 2.
Narration
The full-cast dramatized adaptation is easily my preferred way to experience this series. Robb Moreira, Torian Brackett, k’Lai Rivera, Gabriel Michael, Megan Poppy, LaMont Ridgell, Rayner Gabriel, Troy Allan, Laura C. Harris, Khaya Fraites, Taylor Coan, and the rest of the cast make the story feel much more like a production than a traditional audiobook.
The sound effects, music, dragon sounds, battles, and shifting voices add a surprising amount of atmosphere. Ridoc’s comedic moments especially benefited from the performance, while the more emotional scenes between Violet and Xaden had considerably more impact when performed by different actors.
I did have a couple of minor complaints. Some of the music and sound effects occasionally competed with the dialogue, and I found some of the romantic sound effects more distracting than immersive. There have also been listener reports of a few apparent line-assignment glitches. None of that ruined the experience for me, but it did remind me that this is a dramatized production rather than simply a cast reading.
Final Thoughts
I had a great time with Onyx Storm Part 1, even when it frustrated me. This installment expands the world considerably, puts Violet and Xaden through an entirely different kind of emotional pressure, and gives the supporting characters plenty of opportunities to shine.
What really kept me listening was Xaden. I desperately want to know whether there is actually a way to save him, and the fact that Violet refuses to give up makes their storyline incredibly difficult to walk away from.
The ending is cruel, though. Watching Violet realize that Xaden’s eyes have not returned completely to normal, followed by the revelation of another rider drawing from the earth, left me staring at the imaginary pause button thinking, “You cannot possibly end Part 1 here.”
For me, the dramatized adaptation made an already addictive story even more immersive. It is not perfect, but if you are already invested in Violet, Xaden, Tairn, Andarna, and the rest of this chaotic dragon-rider world, I absolutely recommend experiencing this version.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚💛🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌎
Character development: 😋😉😎🤯🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration – Full Cast [Dramatized Adaptation]
Characters and Plot Summary
Onyx Storm picks up after the devastating events of Iron Flame, with Violet Sorrengail dealing with the fact that Xaden Riorson has begun turning venin. What I especially liked about this installment is that the story finally pushes Violet and the other riders beyond the familiar walls of Basgiath. Their mission becomes much larger as they search for allies, information, and a way to stop the venin threat while the wards continue to fail.
Violet is still determined to find a way to save Xaden, but she also has to confront how much the war is changing her. Xaden, meanwhile, is fighting a battle that is much more personal. His decision to draw from the earth to protect Violet has consequences that he cannot simply wish away. I found his struggle particularly compelling because he is still recognizably the fiercely protective Xaden from the earlier books, but there is now a frightening uncertainty underneath that confidence.
One of my favorite aspects was watching the characters travel outside the world we had become accustomed to. The political maneuvering, negotiations for alliances, dragon lore, and discoveries about the larger magical world give the story a much broader scope. There are also some genuinely funny character moments that keep the increasingly grim plot from becoming relentlessly heavy.
Highlights and Limitations
The biggest strength for me was the combination of character relationships and expanding world-building. Violet’s determination to find answers about the venin never feels like an abstract quest because everything is tied back to Xaden. Her refusal to simply accept that he is lost gave many of those scenes emotional weight.
The island storyline involving King Courtlyn was another standout. The situation becomes particularly tense when Halden’s actions sabotage their plans, and the danger escalates when Violet and the others are threatened. Xaden once again loses control of his emotions and channels from the earth, which is terrifying precisely because we know what that means for him.
I also appreciated the humor from characters like Ridoc and Mira. After so much death and betrayal, those moments gave me a chance to breathe.
My biggest frustration is that Onyx Storm sometimes feels like it is deliberately holding answers just out of reach. Violet spends so much time trying to understand the venin, the wards, the dragons, and Xaden’s condition that I occasionally wanted the story to stop circling the questions and actually give me some answers. I also thought some portions felt slower and more episodic than Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. That said, the major revelations kept me invested.
And I have to admit, I was absolutely not prepared for the ending of Part 1. Watching Xaden’s eyes remain flecked with amber after he has once again drawn from the earth was exactly the kind of cliffhanger that made me immediately want to start Part 2.
Narration
The full-cast dramatized adaptation is easily my preferred way to experience this series. Robb Moreira, Torian Brackett, k’Lai Rivera, Gabriel Michael, Megan Poppy, LaMont Ridgell, Rayner Gabriel, Troy Allan, Laura C. Harris, Khaya Fraites, Taylor Coan, and the rest of the cast make the story feel much more like a production than a traditional audiobook.
The sound effects, music, dragon sounds, battles, and shifting voices add a surprising amount of atmosphere. Ridoc’s comedic moments especially benefited from the performance, while the more emotional scenes between Violet and Xaden had considerably more impact when performed by different actors.
I did have a couple of minor complaints. Some of the music and sound effects occasionally competed with the dialogue, and I found some of the romantic sound effects more distracting than immersive. There have also been listener reports of a few apparent line-assignment glitches. None of that ruined the experience for me, but it did remind me that this is a dramatized production rather than simply a cast reading.
Final Thoughts
I had a great time with Onyx Storm Part 1, even when it frustrated me. This installment expands the world considerably, puts Violet and Xaden through an entirely different kind of emotional pressure, and gives the supporting characters plenty of opportunities to shine.
What really kept me listening was Xaden. I desperately want to know whether there is actually a way to save him, and the fact that Violet refuses to give up makes their storyline incredibly difficult to walk away from.
The ending is cruel, though. Watching Violet realize that Xaden’s eyes have not returned completely to normal, followed by the revelation of another rider drawing from the earth, left me staring at the imaginary pause button thinking, “You cannot possibly end Part 1 here.”
For me, the dramatized adaptation made an already addictive story even more immersive. It is not perfect, but if you are already invested in Violet, Xaden, Tairn, Andarna, and the rest of this chaotic dragon-rider world, I absolutely recommend experiencing this version.
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May 10, 2025
Phenomenal execution. No notes, yet again.
May 13, 2025
How could I rate this something other than 5 stars?
July 17, 2025
ridoc's voice actor cracks me up, he does a good job
November 7, 2025
If I were to rate the audio itself I'd give a 5, the voice actors have done a great job on this and I always love dramatized audiobook because of the background sounds.
The plot however... Well I didn't know I was signing up for a series which would take inspiration from One piece or Naruto and feed me fillers upon fillers. Half the book only to get no answer whatsoever to questions Violet has been trying to answer to since the second half of the previous book, gratuitous smut (don't get me wrong, I do like reading good smut, but I was promised plot??), and repetitive scenes and dialogues.
I would have dnfed if I didn't make the wise choice to 'read' this as an audiobook (still enjoy doing chores with background sound)
The plot however... Well I didn't know I was signing up for a series which would take inspiration from One piece or Naruto and feed me fillers upon fillers. Half the book only to get no answer whatsoever to questions Violet has been trying to answer to since the second half of the previous book, gratuitous smut (don't get me wrong, I do like reading good smut, but I was promised plot??), and repetitive scenes and dialogues.
I would have dnfed if I didn't make the wise choice to 'read' this as an audiobook (still enjoy doing chores with background sound)
Read
May 13, 2025Audio only. I’ll never spend time physically reading these books. They’re kinda getting worse as each book goes on but I’m still going to listen.
July 16, 2025
The graphic audio is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. The story is horrendous so far. Will listen to the 2nd half but then I think I’m done putting myself through this torture.
August 30, 2025
I love Xaden but the moaning while kissing took me out every time. Also I get why it has to be abridged but the cuts between scenes were pretty clunky
September 29, 2025
Tempted to give it three stars just because I found it a little repetitive but still really good. But not like I would reread it good.
June 11, 2025
screaming, crying, need part 2 now!!
full rtc in second part 💓
full rtc in second part 💓
May 17, 2025
I was absolutely obsessed with the graphic audio version of Onyx Storm. Everything was that much more engrossing, provoked emotions and made it that much more engaging for me as reader/listener. The only thing that disappoints me with this is that I have to wait for long for Part 2, I really wish they were released at the same time.
September 11, 2025
It truly never gets old to me.
May 10, 2025
Perfection by Graphic Audio, again! Violet is amazing per usual and all the new characters so far have been PERFECTLY cast! Halden sounds like as much of a jerk as we know he is! Ridoc is hilarious. Xaden is swoon worthy and I'll be listening to this over and over and over!
June 24, 2025
Insert Danny DeVito meme:
“Oh my god…. I get it”
The end still has me shook but listening to the graphic audio helped immerse me more towards the end.
I NEED YOU NOW XADDY!!!!!! 😭😭😭🤰🙇♀️🙇♀️🙇♀️🙇♀️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🧎🏽♀️➡️🧎🏽♀️➡️🧎🏽♀️➡️
“Oh my god…. I get it”
The end still has me shook but listening to the graphic audio helped immerse me more towards the end.
I NEED YOU NOW XADDY!!!!!! 😭😭😭🤰🙇♀️🙇♀️🙇♀️🙇♀️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🧎🏽♀️➡️🧎🏽♀️➡️🧎🏽♀️➡️
February 8, 2025
4/5✨️ 2/5🌶
June 26, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
3 stars because more Ridoc content.
Minus 1.5 because why does so much of Xaden’s plot feel like a tumblr writing prompt I would have cried over in 2012?
3 stars because more Ridoc content.
Minus 1.5 because why does so much of Xaden’s plot feel like a tumblr writing prompt I would have cried over in 2012?
December 20, 2025
Oh I love these books so much! I haven't done a reread yet of Onyx Storm and my husband is reading these now (yay!!) so I wanted to do refresh and also complete (for now) my listening to the graphic audios!
This crew does such a wonderful job and I'm so excited to jump into the next part!
This crew does such a wonderful job and I'm so excited to jump into the next part!
July 3, 2025
Oops, I totally forgot to update this! I love, love, love the voices! I really missed them!🖤
Read
July 6, 2025on to the other part!
May 10, 2025
loved it! Graphic audios are something special.
July 9, 2025
Sometimes the millennial tone goes a bit too far — or in their own words, “I can’t even.”
July 11, 2025
this audiobook truly made this experience 1000xs better… xaden the man you are THE MAN YOU ARE 🤏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼
October 6, 2025
2.5 - I had to skip all the kissing parts for the graphic audio because yuck
November 21, 2025
4/5 ⭐️
(Rating the adaptation not the book itself.)
(Rating the adaptation not the book itself.)
September 9, 2026
I love everything about this world, these characters, this story. Graphic audio is perfect, especially Ridoc & Rhiannon - PERFECTLY cast imo 🙏
It always feels like a warm hug stepping back into your fav stories, and even though this one is so tinged with pain and desperation it still feels like coming home.
I’ll get to part 2 soon, having to pause to work through my library holds!
It always feels like a warm hug stepping back into your fav stories, and even though this one is so tinged with pain and desperation it still feels like coming home.
I’ll get to part 2 soon, having to pause to work through my library holds!
July 18, 2025
Graphic Audio is the way to go for this series!!! Loved it!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 720 reviews