The Romantasy problem
If your teen is begging for this book, it’s because their social media feed is a wall-to-wall tribute to Xaden Riorson and dragon aesthetics. The Empyrean series is the poster child for "Romantasy"—a genre that blends high-stakes fantasy worldbuilding with the explicit tropes of adult romance novels. The friction for parents usually comes from the packaging. With its gorgeous sprayed edges and "dragon school" premise, Onyx Storm looks like it belongs on a shelf next to Eragon or Fourth Wing.
But the internal logic of these books is adult. While the plot involves saving a kingdom and bonding with dragons, the emotional engine is a high-heat romance. If you’re trying to decide if your high schooler is ready, don't look at the dragons; look at the intent. This isn't a story about a girl who happens to have a boyfriend; it's a story where the romantic and sexual tension is as central to the experience as the magic system.
Is it actually any good?
The fan-to-critic divide here is wide. On Amazon, the 4.6 rating suggests the core audience is thrilled to be back at Basgiath War College. They want the emotional payoff and the "him" mentioned in the synopsis. However, if you look at the broader reception, there’s a lot of talk about the book being repetitive.
Critics and some readers on Goodreads have pointed out that after the long wait between books, the story feels like it’s treading water. The "non-stop action" some fans cite is balanced by other readers calling it stagnant. If your kid is a picky reader who cares about tight plotting and "literary" quality, they might actually find this one a bit of a slog. But if they’re in it for the vibes, the "shadow daddy" tropes, and the dragon-riding drama, they won't care about the pacing issues.
Navigating the hype
Because this is the third book in a series, there is no jumping in fresh. They’ve already read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. If they’ve made it through those, they already know what they’re getting into regarding the "spice" level and the brutal violence of the military college setting.
The move here isn't to suddenly ban the third book in a series they’re already invested in. Instead, use it as a way to talk about how marketing works. Publishers know that "New Adult" fiction—books aimed at 18–25-year-olds—is the sweet spot for TikTok virality, and they often lean into the "teen appeal" to drive sales. For a deeper look at how to handle the specific mature themes here, check out our Onyx Storm: A Parent’s Guide to the Hype, the Heat, and the Dragons.
If they liked X, think about Y
If your kid is obsessed with the dragon bonding and the military strategy but you’re not thrilled about the explicit romance, you might want to steer them toward older "classic" YA fantasy that hits the same notes without the 18+ content.
- If they like the brutal school setting: Look at The Scholomance series. It’s dark and high-stakes but stays firmly in the YA/Crossover lane.
- If they like the political intrigue: The Cruel Prince offers plenty of "enemies-to-lovers" tension with far less graphic content.
- If they just want dragons: Temeraire is basically the Napoleonic Wars but with a dragon air force.
Ultimately, Onyx Storm is escapism. It’s the literary equivalent of a high-budget CW show with a much higher TV-MA rating. It’s loud, it’s emotional, and it’s designed to be binged. Just make sure you know that behind those cool dragon covers is a book written very specifically for adults.
