The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros surprised me in the best ways. Violet isn’t your typical “chosen one”, she starts off fragile but incredibly sharp, and her journey feels authentic and earned.
The standout for me was Onyx Storm, the exploration of Andarna’s kind and the expansion of the world were phenomenal. The dragons hold so much more than we’re allowed to see and I hope we get a novella from their POV someday.
While the romance is central and quite graphic, I found the most powerful moment was a quiet one, when Violet sank into depression and Xaden simply cared for her, no words, no heat, just support. That did more to show their love than any steamy scene ever could.
My only minor gripe: some reveals came too late like Aaric’s signet and the added POVs from Rhiannon and Imogen, while nice, felt like bonus content better suited for a companion novella.
If you enjoy fantasy with rebellion, dragons, layered characters, and high emotional stakes, this series is absolutely worth your time.
