Fans are rushing for the long-awaited ‘romantasia’ sequel

Fans have been queuing up to see Onyx Storm, the highly anticipated new book from bestselling fantasy author Rebecca Yarros, at one of the year’s publishing events.

Onyx Storm is the third novel in Yarros’ Empyrean series, set in a world of dragons, magic, war, and passionate romance.

Its publisher Little, Brown said it would be the company’s most booked title since it released the Harry Potter play script in 2016.

Almost 60 Waterstones branches held special events, either opening at midnight on Monday or early on Tuesday, and the chain said the book was likely to “completely eclipse our first day sales” from the previous installment.

The stores also held special openings around the world, including the United States and Australia.

In the United States, some avid readers waited until 3 a.m. for the online launch of a Target-exclusive special edition, but many of those who had stayed up complained on social media that the store’s website could not cope with the demand.

Rebekah West, editorial director of the Little, Brown’s Piaktus label, he told the Telegraph: “This level of fan devotion hasn’t been seen since the days of Harry Potter.”

In a message to his fans on Instagram, Yarros wrote: “1. It’s in your hands now. 2. Thank you for sharing this incredible experience with me. 3. Enjoy the journey.”

One reader responded: “In chapter one and already dying,” another wrote: “Thank you for sharing this amazing world with us!!!” and someone else asked, “Is it bad that I’m too close to stopping work to read?”

American author Yarros is one of the biggest names in the burgeoning genre of “romantasía.”

In anticipation of the release of Onyx Storm, Empyrean’s first two books, Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, returned to the top two spots on the New York Times fiction bestseller list.

They are also currently in the top five of the Sunday Times paperback fiction list in the UK, and were the two most read books last year worldwide. among Goodreads users.

Fourth Wing introduced heroine Violet Sorrengail, a 20-year-old woman who is forced into brutal training to become an elite dragon rider.

Like the author, Violet has a genetic condition that means the character dislocates her joints and breaks bones easily, so she must use her wits and inner strength to help her survive.

She is also entwined in a relationship with a fellow candidate named Xaden Riorson, who comes from a rival family.

Iron Flame then took place during Violet’s second year at Basgiath War College, while in Onyx Storm, according to the editor, she “knows there is no more time for lessons” because “the battle has truly begun.”