Books to make the wait for "Onyx Storm" faster

Photograph by Courtesy HBO.
Photograph by Courtesy HBO.

The third book in the The Empyrean series, Onyx Storm, has everyone counting down until January 21, 2025. These books have taken pop culture by storm - and with good reason! Between amazing disability representation, sassy dragons, and a plot full of amazing worldbuilding, many readers have found themselves wanting to join the Rider's Quadrant at Basgiath War College. Even though, if we're being honest, the chances of many of us making it across the Paraphet are incredibly slim. However, as January is still months away, I have found a list of books with similar vibes that will help make the wait for Onyx Storm less grueling.

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

New York Comic Con 2023 - Day 3
New York Comic Con 2023 - Day 3 | Roy Rochlin/GettyImages

At this point, I am pretty sure Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses are sister series. Despite the books themselves having completely different plots and characters, the Venn Diagram of ACOTAR and Fourth Wing fans is almost a complete circle. This series is full of court intrigue, lush character development, and a setting that makes you feel lost in this Fae world. And while most agree the first book is slow and hard to get into, the payoff for continuing the series is tenfold.

The A Court of Thorns and Roses series is available through Bloomsbury

2. Assistant to the Villain and Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Muriel Spark
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This book has everything you love about the Fourth Wing books: sassy animals, an extremely hot shadow daddy, and our main woman being someone who will not take no for an answer. The main difference? These books are comedies! You'll laugh out loud at the different escapades of Evie and The Villain while being touched by the surprising amount of heart inside Massacre Manor.

Assistant to the Villain and Apprentice to the Villain are available through Entangled Publishing

3. Pledge by Eleanor Rose, August Oliver, and Chase St. Clare

Frat Boys Have A Water Fight
Frat Boys Have A Water Fight | Gene Lester/GettyImages

I know, I just finished reading this book - however, I truly cannot stop talking about it! While much more whimsical than the world of Fourth Wing, its timely romance and message will appeal to romantasy fans who are looking for something a little lighter as they gear up for the darkness Onyx Storm will bring. Not to mention, there's so much court intrigue and backstabbing that fans of Fourth Wing's politics will especially enjoy the twists and turns.

Pledge is available through Amazon and its sequel Paragon is available for preorder.

4. Gilded and Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Wales Daily Life 2019
Wales Daily Life 2019 | Matthew Horwood/GettyImages

Marissa Meyer has long been one of my favorite authors. The Lunar Chronicles was so developmental in how I approached stories I try to reread those books often. However, when Meyer released Gilded and Cursed, they almost immediately beat out the sci-fi fairy tales, with her romantasy retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Mixed with the lore of The Wild Hunt, these books expertly tie together the traditional lore of the fairy tales with the legends we see throughout the mythology of The Wild Hunt.

The Gilded duology is available through Macmillan Publishers