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

The Amazon 2024 Bestseller List: A Surprising Top Performer

2024 saw many excellent book releases, but the biggest surprise on Amazon's bestseller list was a title released just this week: Onyx Storm, the latest installment in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series. If you're unfamiliar with the series, you've likely heard of its predecessor, Fourth Wing. The books' phenomenal success is largely attributed to their viral popularity on BookTok, mirroring the trajectory of other romance novels like Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us, a 2022 bestseller that later became a film.

Why the Empyrean Series's Success?

While BookTok undeniably propelled the series, the books' inherent appeal also contributed significantly. Both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame offer a compelling blend of familiar and fresh elements: hints of Harry Potter, romantic tension reminiscent of Twilight, and the dragon lore of Inheritance Cycle. This familiarity, combined with a unique narrative, makes them incredibly engaging.

Another factor contributing to the series's popularity is the explicit depiction of the protagonist's romantic encounters. What begins as a typical young adult novel quickly transitions into a steamy romance, maintaining this intensity throughout. The combination of epic fantasy, dragons, and mature themes creates a highly appealing package.

Amazon's 2024 Bestsellers: Beyond Onyx Storm

Onyx Storm secured the second spot on Amazon's 2024 bestseller list. The top-ranking novel was Kristin Hannah's The Women, released in February 2024 and also a New York Times bestseller. 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.