Fans are rushing for the highly anticipated ‘romance’ sequel

Fans lined up for Onyx Storm, the much-anticipated new book by best-selling American fantasy author Rebecca Yarros, at one of the publishing events of the year.

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

Its publisher Little, Brown said it would be the company’s biggest pre-ordered title since it released the Harry Potter script in 2016.

Stores around the world held special events – whether open late Monday or early Tuesday – and British chain Waterstones said the book was likely to “completely eclipse our first day’s sales” of the previous version.

Almost 60 branches of Waterstones had special openings for the release.

In the US, some avid readers waited until 3am for the online release of a special edition exclusive from Target – but many who had been woken up. he 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 imprint, he told the Telegraph: “This level of fan devotion has not been seen since the days of Harry Potter.”

In a message to 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 replied: “In chapter one and dying already”, another wrote: “Thank you for sharing this incredible world with us!!!” and someone else asked, “Is it bad that I’m very close to calling work to read?”

Yarros is one of the biggest names in the growing “romance” genre.

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

They are also currently both in the top five of the Sunday Times paperback fiction chart in the UK, and were the two most read books of the past year in the world. among Goodreads users.

The fourth wing featured heroine Violet Sorrengail, a 20-year-old woman who is thrust into brutal training to become an elite dragon rider.

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

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

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