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

2024 saw many fantastic book releases, but one unexpected title dominated Amazon's bestsellers list: Onyx Storm, the latest installment in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, which launched this week.

If you're unfamiliar with the series, you've likely heard of its predecessor, Fourth Wing. Rebecca Yarros's novels owe much of their popularity to BookTok, the book-loving corner of TikTok that propelled other romance novels to fame, most notably Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us in 2022.

Why is the Empyrean Series So Popular?

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 boosted the series's visibility, the books' plot and genre were inherently successful. Having read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, I can attest to their addictive quality. They blend familiar elements—the magical world-building reminiscent of Harry Potter, the romance reminiscent of Twilight, and the dragon lore similar to Inheritance Cycle—creating a unique and captivating reading experience.

Another key factor contributing to the series's popularity is the explicit depiction of the main character's sexual encounters. What begins as a typical young adult novel quickly transitions into a steamy romance, maintaining that intensity throughout. Essentially, it's an epic fantasy romance with dragons and explicit sex—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 look at the top ten books on Amazon's 2024 list:

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