Amazon's Second Best-Selling Book of 2024 Was a Preorder That Just Came Out This Week

2024 saw a plethora of fantastic books, but one title unexpectedly soared to the top of Amazon's bestsellers list: Onyx Storm, the latest installment in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, which launched this week.

If the Empyrean series sounds unfamiliar, you might recognize its predecessor, Fourth Wing. Rebecca Yarros' novels owe much of their popularity to BookTok, a corner of TikTok that has propelled numerous romance novels to viral fame. A prime example is Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us, which dominated bestseller lists in 2022 and even received a movie adaptation.

Why the Empyrean Series' Popularity?

Now Available### Onyx Storm (Standard Edition)

9Hardcover and Kindle versions available at a discount.$29.99 save 30%$20.98 at Amazon$29.99 save 50%$14.99 at Amazon KindleWhile TikTok undeniably fueled the series' viral success, the books' plot and genre were inherently primed for popularity. Having read both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, I can attest to their captivating nature. They blend familiar elements—the magical world reminiscent of Harry Potter, the romance echoing Twilight, and the dragon lore reminiscent of the Inheritance Cycle—creating a unique and engaging reading experience.

Another contributing factor to the series' success is the explicit depiction of the protagonist's sexual encounters. What begins as a typical young adult novel quickly transitions into a steamy romance, maintaining this intensity throughout. It's an epic fantasy romance with dragons and explicit sexual content—a winning combination for many readers.

Onyx Storm secured the second spot on Amazon's 2024 bestseller list. The top-selling novel was Kristin Hannah's The Women, released in February 2024, which also topped The New York Times bestseller list. Here's a glimpse at the top ten:

1. The Women - Kristin Hannah
2. Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros
3. Atomic Habits - James Clear
4. Hillbilly Elegy - J.D. Vance
5. The Housemaid - Freida McFadden
6. Mom, I want to Hear Your Story - Jeffrey Mason
7. Dad, I want to Hear Your Story - Jeffrey Mason
8. The Anxious Generation - Jonathan Haidt
9. It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
10. Good Energy - Casey Means M.D