What to Read After Onyx Storm: The Ultimate Guide to Beating the Book Hangover

If you are searching for what to read after Onyx Storm, this guide is designed to help you survive the book hangover and find your next obsession. You have turned the final page. You’ve read the last sentence. And now, you are staring at the ceiling, trying to process that absolute emotional sledgehammer of an ending. If you are feeling a mix of devastation, exhilaration, and a profound sense of loss, welcome to the club. You have officially entered the post-Onyx Storm slump.

It is a specific kind of pain, isn’t it? You miss the banter of the squad. You miss the terrifying thrill of the flight field. Most of all, you miss the intense, lightning-in-a-bottle dynamic between Violet and Xaden. With the next installment in The Empyrean series not expected until around 2027, the wait feels less like a gap between book releases and more like a sentence in the dungeon.

But you don’t have to suffer through the drought alone. Consider this your official recovery plan. Instead of rereading the series for the fourth time (though we support that choice, too), we are here to help you answer the question: what to read after Onyx Storm. Whether you need more dragons, deadlier challenges, or steamier romance, we have curated a list of books to fill that dragon-shaped void in your heart.

Diagnose Your Book Hangover: What Are You Craving?

Before you rush to the bookstore, you need to understand what you are looking for. Onyx Storm delivers on multiple fronts, which is why the hangover hits so hard. To find your perfect rebound read, ask yourself which element of the series you are missing right now:

• Option A: I need more DRAGONS. You live for the bond between human and beast, the aerial combat sequences, and the majestic, terrifying nature of dragons.
• Option B: I am here for the ROMANCE. You want the tension. You want a shadow daddy love interest, high emotional stakes, and a relationship that feels dangerous.
• Option C: Give me the DEADLY ACADEMY. You love the survival tropes. You want life-or-death exams, a quest squad found family, and the brutal politics of a war college.
• Option D: I want a COMPLEX FANTASY world. You are ready to get lost in a new map, deep lore, and a sprawling saga that will take over your life for the next few weeks.

Once you know your craving, scroll down to find your match.

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The Curated Recovery Library

We have scoured the shelves of the Romantasy genre to find the best matches for every type of Empyrean fan. Here is what you should pick up next.

If You Crave: Dragons & Riders

The bond between a rider and their dragon is unique. If you are missing Tairn’s grumpy wisdom or Andarna’s sass, these books focus heavily on that magical connection.

The Aurelian Cycle by Rosaria Munda

• Why it works: Imagine a dragon-riding academy, but set just after a bloody revolution. The politics here are just as cutthroat as Basgiath’s, but the focus is on a new regime trying to keep control. The bond between riders and their beasts is central to the plot, and the aerial battles are cinematic.
• Heat Level: Medium. It burns slow, but the emotional payoff is huge.

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

• Why it works: This book has been tearing up BookTok for a reason. It features a world where dragons are elemental forces of nature. The prose is lush and atmospheric, often described as making Game of Thrones look like a children’s book. Expect a mystery involving amnesia and an epic scope that rivals Yarros’s world-building.
• Heat Level: High. The tension is palpable from the start.

Fear the Flames by Olivia Wildenstein

• Why it works: A Cinderella retelling where the princess is an assassin bonded to not one, but five dragons? Yes, please. It is a revenge story at its core, perfect for readers who loved Violet’s determination to survive despite the odds stacked against her.
• Heat Level: High. Prepare for plenty of spice alongside the slaughter.

If You Crave: High-Stakes Romance

Sometimes you just need a love story that feels like it could burn the world down. These picks deliver the emotional peril and enemies-to-lovers tension you are missing.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

• Why it works: If you haven’t read ACOTAR yet, this is your sign. It is the gold standard for modern romance. You get the fae politics, the transformative journey of a human woman entering a magical world, and a romance that shifts from survival to soul-deep connection.
• Heat Level: High. Especially as the series progresses.

The Serpent & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

• Why it works: Think The Hunger Games, Basgiath’s but with vampires. The protagonist, Oraya, must enter a deadly tournament to gain power, but she has to ally with a dangerous rival to survive. The constant threat of death mirrors the Parapet vibe perfectly.
• Heat Level: High. The chemistry is immediate and lethal.

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

• Why it works: This is a masterclass in tension. A warrior princess is sent to marry a rival king as a sleeper assassin. The betrayal is baked into the premise, creating that delicious anxiety where you know everything is about to go wrong for the couple, much like the secrets kept between Violet and Xaden.
• Heat Level: Medium. It focuses heavily on the action and political maneuvering.

If You Crave: Deadly Academy Settings

There is something addictive about a school setting where the curriculum includes try not to die. If you are deciding what to read after Onyx Storm, these books capture that same high-stress academic environment where survival is part of the lesson.

Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

• Why it works: This is a massive series that you can binge for weeks. It is set in a ruthless Fae academy where the four Heirs rule with an iron fist. It is brutal, full of bullying, and features a heroine who refuses to break. If you liked the squad dynamics and the constant testing of Basgiath, this is for you.
• Heat Level: High. It’s chaotic, messy, and very spicy.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

• Why it works: In the Scholomance, there are no teachers, only monsters lurking in the void waiting to eat you. The school building itself is trying to kill the students. It has a brilliant, unique magic system and a grumpy protagonist, El, who is destined to destroy the world but just wants to graduate.
• Heat Level: Low. It’s more about survival and character study than steam.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

• Why it works: This starts as a military academy story but quickly spirals into a grimdark war epic based on 20th-century Chinese history. It explores the brutal cost of war and shamanic magic. It is heavier and darker than Onyx Storm, but scratches the itch for a protagonist who will burn everything down to win.
• Heat Level: N/A (Very Dark). Check trigger warnings; this is a war story first and foremost.

If You Crave: Epic Series & Worlds

For those who want a long journey with intricate world-building, these sagas will keep you occupied for the long haul.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

• Why it works: This 8-book epic follows an assassin who eventually claims her destiny as a queen. While it starts small, the world expands to include witches, fae, and yes—wyverns (which are basically dragons). The Thirteen in this series will remind you of the intense loyalty of the Iron Squad.
• Heat Level: Builds to High. It matures with the characters.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

• Why it works: If you want a standalone that feels like a series, this 800+ page behemoth is it. It contrasts Eastern and Western dragon lore in a divided world. It features a queendom, secret mages, and a destiny that spans continents. It is complex, feminist high fantasy at its finest.
• Heat Level: Medium. A beautiful, slow-burning romance is central to the plot.

Your Next Adventure Awaits

The wait for the next book might seem impossible right now. 2027 feels like a lifetime away. But if you are wondering what to read after Onyx Storm, remember, the best cure for a book hangover isn’t to stop reading—it is to let another world sweep you off your feet. Whether you choose to enroll in the Zodiac Academy or fly with the riders of the Aurelian Cycle, you have plenty of adventures to keep you busy.

So, pick a new book, turn the first page, and let the healing begin. Which book are you choosing to cure your Onyx Storm hangover? Tell us in the comments below!

 FAQs

Still have specific questions about what to read after Onyx Storm? We have answers for the most common reader dilemmas.