Onyx Storm

Rebecca Yarros

77 pages 2-hour read

Rebecca Yarros

Onyx Storm

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2025

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Violet is a second-year rider at Basgiath War College. She has distinctive brunette hair that fades to silver at the ends. She possesses a physical condition causing chronic pain and fragile joints, which she counters with her sharp intellect and scribe training. Bonded to two dragons, she wields lightning and relies on strategy to survive the escalating war.

Key Relationships

Romantic partner of Xaden Riorson

Younger sister of Mira Sorrengail

Younger sister of Brennan Sorrengail

Daughter of Lilith Sorrengail

Daughter of Violet's Father

Bonded rider of Andarna

Bonded rider of Tairn

Close friend of Rhiannon Matthias

Close friend of Ridoc Gamlyn

Close friend of Sawyer Henrick

Childhood friend of Dain Aetos

Xaden is a recently graduated rider and the Duke of Tyrrendor. He bears a rebellion relic from his father's failed uprising. Bonded to the blue dragon Sgaeyl, he wields shadows and hides a secret inntinnsic ability to read intentions. He constantly fights the urge to draw magic from the earth to protect the people he loves.

Key Relationships

Romantic partner of Violet Sorrengail

Older cousin of Bodhi Durran

Son of Fen Riorson

Son of Talia

Bonded rider of Sgaeyl

Oldest friend of Garrick Tavis

Close friend of Imogen Cardulo

Shares affliction with Jack Barlowe

Theophanie is a high-ranking venin who wields massive, destructive storms. She operates with cold, analytical patience. She attempts to manipulate the war from the shadows, prioritizing long-term strategy over immediate bloodshed.

Key Relationships

Superior to Jack Barlowe

Dain is a rule-following rider whose signet allows him to read memories through physical contact. He is working to rebuild his damaged reputation and friendships after blindly following Navarre's corrupt leadership. He now actively participates in the rebellion, risking his life to steal vital information for the cause.

Key Relationships

Childhood friend of Violet Sorrengail

Son of General Aetos

Guilt-ridden ally to Sloane Mairi

Supporting Characters

Rhiannon is a squad leader in the Riders Quadrant. She possesses the ability to summon objects through physical space. She balances her military responsibilities with a deep dedication to her friends.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Violet Sorrengail

Squad mate of Ridoc Gamlyn

Squad mate of Sawyer Henrick

Ridoc is a second-year rider who wields ice. He relies on humor and quick wit to survive the brutal environment of the war college. Despite his joking exterior, he pays close attention to the emotional states of his friends and insists on accompanying them into danger.

Key Relationships

Close friend of Violet Sorrengail

Squad mate of Rhiannon Matthias

Friend of Sawyer Henrick

Sawyer is a second-year rider with the ability to manipulate metal. He recently lost half of his leg in battle, forcing him to adapt his riding techniques. He faces internal doubts about his worth as a rider but pushes forward with the help of his squad.

Key Relationships

Friend of Rhiannon Matthias

Friend of Ridoc Gamlyn

Aaric is secretly Prince Camlaen Aaric Tauri, the third son of Navarre's king. He abandoned his royal life to join the Riders Quadrant under a false name. He waits for his signet to manifest while actively opposing his family's isolationist policies.

Key Relationships

Son of King Tauri

Younger brother of Prince Halden

Childhood friend of Violet Sorrengail

Imogen is an older rider bearing a rebellion relic. She has the rare and highly dangerous ability to wipe memories. Originally hostile toward Violet, she has developed a reluctant respect for her. She operates quietly to protect the rebellion's secrets.

Key Relationships

Close friend of Xaden Riorson

Romantic interest of Garrick Tavis

Reluctant ally to Violet Sorrengail

Bodhi is a marked rider with the ability to counter or dampen the signets of others. He is Xaden's younger cousin and acts as a trusted lieutenant within the rebellion. He prefers to join active battles but often receives orders to stay behind and protect their political future.

Key Relationships

Younger cousin of Xaden Riorson

Garrick is one of the rebellion's top riders, publicly known as an air wielder. He is Xaden's oldest friend, their fathers having fought together in the previous uprising. He secretly possesses a second, highly coveted signet that allows him to teleport across vast distances.

Key Relationships

Oldest friend of Xaden Riorson

Romantic interest of Imogen Cardulo

Protector of Violet Sorrengail

Catriona, known as Cat, is a skilled gryphon flier from Poromiel. She is ambitious and strategically minded. After moving past her prior hostility toward Violet, she integrates herself into the cross-kingdom squad, providing essential aerial support and political connections.

Key Relationships

Ex-betrothed of Xaden Riorson

Niece of Viscount Tecarus

Cousin of Drake

Brennan is Violet's oldest sibling and a leader of the Continental revolution. He possesses a powerful mending signet. He frequently clashes with his family members over his strategic choices, preferring to prioritize the greater good over individual emotional attachments.

Key Relationships

Older brother of Violet Sorrengail

Older brother of Mira Sorrengail

Co-leader with Xaden Riorson

Mira is a First-Lieutenant rider who wields protective shields. She is highly protective of her younger sister and deeply suspicious of the rebellion's leadership. She actively researches their family's hidden history to understand the strange prophecies surrounding Violet.

Key Relationships

Older sister of Violet Sorrengail

Younger sister of Brennan Sorrengail

Andarna is a rare adolescent dragon belonging to the mysterious seventh breed known as irids. She possesses a unique scorpion tail and previously granted Violet the ability to pause time. She feels isolated and desperately seeks the approval of her own kind, hoping they will join the war effort.

Key Relationships

Bonded dragon to Violet Sorrengail

Mentee of Tairn

Tairn is a massive, formidable black dragon bonded to Violet. He channels immense raw power into her, allowing her to wield lightning. He is highly protective of both Violet and Andarna, often using his bulk and experience to shield them from airborne threats.

Key Relationships

Bonded dragon to Violet Sorrengail

Mated partner of Sgaeyl

Protector of Andarna

Sgaeyl is a vicious blue dragon bonded to Xaden. She is deeply disturbed by Xaden's venin corruption and temporarily withdraws her mental connection from him. She suffers physical pain when separated from the magical wards.

Key Relationships

Bonded dragon to Xaden Riorson

Mated partner of Tairn

Jack is a former Basgiath student who secretly turned venin. He is currently imprisoned by the Navarre military. He possesses critical information about the venin hierarchy and takes pleasure in taunting those who try to resist the dark magic.

Key Relationships

Dark counterpart to Xaden Riorson

Subordinate to Theophanie

Halden is a Navarre prince and Aaric's older brother. He previously dated Violet before she ended the relationship. He uses his royal authority to force his way onto Violet's search team, often making selfish political deals that endanger the squad.

Key Relationships

Older brother of Aaric Graycastle

Ex-boyfriend of Violet Sorrengail

Punished by King Courtlyn