Last updated: March 21, 2026
As of March 19, 2026, it's official! Rebecca Yarros is writing Book 4.
She's back in the Empyrean world full-time, and the fourth installment of the series that started with Fourth Wing is actively being written.
This page tracks everything we know about Book 4 as it develops: confirmed details from Yarros herself, plot threads that need resolving, timeline estimates, and updates on the TV adaptation and graphic novels. We update this page every time new information drops, so bookmark it and check back.
The Big Update: Yarros Is Officially Writing Book 4
On March 19, 2026, Rebecca Yarros posted an Instagram video set to Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do." In the clip, she walks to an electronic whiteboard, writes "#4," and winks at the camera. Her caption confirmed what fans had been waiting 14 months to hear: her contemporary novel is with her editor, and she's back in the Empyrean world for the foreseeable future.
This tracks with the timeline she'd been signaling for months. Here's how we got here:
January 23, 2026: Yarros posted on Instagram that she was close to starting the fourth book, noting that the playlist was simmering and she was almost ready for index cards and the plot board. She added a now-famous tease: "Don't worry, everyone in Navarre is still alive. For now."
February 8, 2026: Yarros shared a photo of the first three Empyrean books stacked alongside blank note cards and pens, with the caption: "Feels like a great day to start a stack of index cards." Plotting had officially begun.
March 19, 2026: The "#4" video. Contemporary novel submitted. Full-time Empyrean writing confirmed.
What We Know for Sure
Here's what Yarros has confirmed through interviews, social media, and events.
No title yet (but one exists). Yarros told Variety that she has a title in mind for Book 4. At the LA Festival of Books, she confirmed the title exists but hasn't been shared publicly. Every Empyrean title has been significant. Fourth Wing (the wing Violet joins), Iron Flame (the signet she develops), Onyx Storm (Xaden's Venin power), so the title reveal will almost certainly hint at the book's central conflict.
No release date. When fans added a January 2026 placeholder date on Goodreads, Yarros shut it down directly: "Let's put this rumor to rest. I love you all, but no. That release date is impossible." Given that she just started writing in March 2026, the most realistic window is late 2027. A late 2026 release would require an extremely compressed timeline that contradicts everything Yarros has said about pacing herself.
Five books total. The Empyrean series will be five books. Book 4 is the penultimate installment, not the finale. Yarros originally planned three books but expanded it to five.
At least four POVs. Yarros has confirmed POV chapters for Violet, Xaden, Dain, and Ridoc. The addition of Dain and Ridoc as POV characters is significant. Dain especially, given his controversial arc through the first three books.
Someone you love won't make it. At an event in Los Angeles, Yarros told fans directly: "Someone you love won't make it in Book 4." The Empyrean series has never given characters plot armor (Liam in Book 1 made that clear), so this should be taken at face value. Fan speculation centers heavily on Ridoc — his new POV chapters could be either setup for a deeper arc or setup for a devastating exit.
The playlist is Taylor Swift heavy. Yarros, a committed Swiftie, revealed the first songs from the Book 4 playlist at tour events. All three are from The Tortured Poets Department: "Down Bad," "I Can Fix Him," and "But Daddy I Love Him." For readers who've followed Yarros's playlist-to-plot connections in earlier books, these choices suggest themes of messy love, self-destructive devotion, and choosing someone everyone else warns you against. All of which tracks with where Violet and Xaden's relationship stands after Onyx Storm.
Yarros is writing at a healthier pace. After the brutal writing schedule for the first three books, 12-to-15-hour days that worsened her Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS symptoms, Yarros has been transparent about writing sustainably this time. She told Variety she wants eight-hour days and weekends with her family. She told Elle the previous pace was "untenable" and that she shouldn't have allowed it to happen. This is good news for the quality of the book, even if it means a longer wait.
Plot Threads That Need Resolving
Warning: Full spoilers for Onyx Storm below.
Onyx Storm ended on the series' most complex cliffhanger yet, with multiple unresolved threads that Book 4 will need to address.
The missing 12 hours. Violet wakes up with no memory of the past 12 hours and a wedding ring on her finger. Imogen wiped her memory at Violet's own request. What happened in those 12 hours, what Violet chose to forget, and why she asked for the wipe are the book's central mysteries.
Xaden's Venin transformation. Xaden pulled power from the earth to save Sgaeyl during the Battle of Draithus, completing his transformation into a Venin. The cost of this choice, and whether it's reversible, is the emotional spine of whatever comes next.
The "new brother." When Xaden channels earth power, it's revealed he has a "new brother", another Venin. The popular fan theory is that this new brother is someone from the core group. If true, Book 4 would have two Venin characters navigating relationships with Violet's squad.
The marriage. Is Violet and Xaden's marriage real, strategic, or both? The combination of the memory wipe and the ring suggests something happened in those 12 hours that required both a binding commitment and immediate forgetting.
Violet's signet at 10%. Yarros has teased that Violet's signet is only at 10% of its potential, while Xaden's is at 50%. A massive power escalation is coming for both characters in Book 4.
The Isles. Yarros confirmed the map of the Isles was withheld from Onyx Storm because it would be "too spoilery." The Isles will almost certainly play a major role in Book 4, and the map reveal will be a significant moment for the fandom.
Dain's redemption arc. Dain getting POV chapters suggests Yarros is finally giving him the depth the fandom has been demanding (or dreading). His memory-reading signet and complicated loyalty make him one of the most unpredictable characters heading into the back half of the series.
Realistic Timeline Estimate
Based on Yarros's stated writing pace and the publishing timeline for previous Empyrean books:
Fourth Wing: Written over an extended period and published May 2023
Iron Flame: Written in approximately 6 months under extreme pressure and published November 2023
Onyx Storm: Written over approximately 12-14 months and published January 2025
If Yarros began writing full-time in March 2026 and maintains a sustainable pace (which she's committed to), a reasonable estimate for a finished manuscript is late 2026 to early 2027.
After editing, production, and marketing lead time, a publication date of late 2027 is the most realistic expectation. A late 2026 surprise release is not impossible but would contradict Yarros's public statements about slowing down.
We'll update this section the moment any official date is announced.
The Fourth Wing TV Show
The Empyrean series is being adapted for Prime Video by Amazon MGM Studios and Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society production company. Here's where things stand:
Showrunner: Meredith Averill. Averill (Locke & Key, Wednesday Season 2, The Haunting of Hill House) was announced as showrunner in September 2025, replacing Moira Walley-Beckett (Breaking Bad, Anne With an E), who left the project in July 2025. Before Walley-Beckett, there had been discussions about bringing on Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision, Agatha All Along) after she signed a deal with Amazon MGM Studios.
Still in early development. In January 2026, Michael B. Jordan told Deadline the show is still in early stages but emphasized the team's commitment to getting it right. No casting has been announced. No production start date has been set. The show has not yet been ordered to series.
Yarros is executive producing. She'll be involved in the adaptation but is not writing the scripts. She's confirmed that Xaden will be played by a person of color, signaling the show will honor the diversity of the cast as written.
Other executive producers: Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo (Outlier Society), Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy (Kilter Films), Liz Pelletier (Entangled Publishing/Premeditated), with Stefano Agosto co-executive producing.
Realistic expectation: Given the early development stage, don't expect the show before 2028 at the earliest.
The Graphic Novels
Yarros announced in March 2025 that all three existing Empyrean books are being adapted into graphic novels, six volumes total (two per book).
First volume (Fourth Wing Part 1): First draft completed April 2025. Edits completed November 2025. Release expected within 2027.
Second volume (Fourth Wing Part 2): First draft was in progress as of November 2025, expected complete by end of 2025.
Yarros is adapting the text herself alongside a team of comic creators. She's hinted that the graphic novels will include new information and expanded scenes calling it "a new format of visual storytelling" that will bring readers back to Basgiath "in a whole new, even more accessible way."
This is worth watching for Book 4 readers: if the graphic novels add new lore or fill plot holes from the original text, they could contain hints about where the series is headed!
Special Editions and Collectibles
The Wing and Claw Collection released September 30, 2025, matching editions of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame with stenciled edges to match Onyx Storm. No new content, just cosmetic upgrades.
The Things We Leave Unfinished hardcover released January 20, 2026 — Yarros's contemporary novel in a foiled hardcase edition with custom endpapers and a letter to readers. Not Empyrean content, but it's the book she finished before returning to Book 4.
How to Catch Up Before Book 4
If you're new to the series or want a refresher, here's the reading order:
- Fourth Wing (May 2023) Where it all starts. Basgiath War College, Violet's bonding with Tairn and Andarna, the beginning of everything with Xaden.
- Iron Flame (November 2023) The war escalates. Xaden's secrets unravel. The Venin threat becomes real.
- Onyx Storm (January 2025) The cliffhanger that broke the internet. The Battle of Draithus. The memory wipe. The ring.
For detailed summaries, spice levels, page counts, and audiobook narrators, visit our complete Fourth Wing reading order.
Starting the audiobooks? Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton narrate all three books. The dual narration for Violet and Xaden's POV chapters is outstanding and adds so much dimension. Libro.fm memberships support independent bookstores and right now you get two free audiobooks when you use our link and the promo code "SWITCH"!
What to Read While You Wait
If you're staring at a long wait until Book 4 drops, we've got you:
Books Like ACOTAR: The other half of the romantasy pipeline. If you haven't read A Court of Thorns and Roses yet, now is the time, ACOTAR 6 arrives October 27, 2026.
ACOTAR Reading Order: Every book, novella, and bonus chapter in the Maasverse.
Book of the Month: New members get their first book for $5. They consistently feature romantasy in their monthly picks.
FAQ
When does Fourth Wing Book 4 come out?
No official release date has been announced. Rebecca Yarros began writing full-time in March 2026 after completing a contemporary novel. Based on her stated commitment to a healthier writing pace and typical publishing timelines, late 2027 is the most realistic estimate. Yarros explicitly shut down a January 2026 Goodreads placeholder, calling it "impossible."
What is the title of Fourth Wing Book 4?
The title has not been revealed. Yarros confirmed at the LA Festival of Books and in an interview with Variety that a title exists, but she hasn't shared it publicly. Every Empyrean title has directly referenced a major plot element (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm), so the title reveal will likely hint at the book's central conflict.
How many Fourth Wing books will there be?
Five total. Rebecca Yarros originally planned three books but expanded the series to five. Book 4 is the penultimate installment, with Book 5 serving as the series finale.
Will someone die in Fourth Wing Book 4?
Yes. Yarros told fans at an event in Los Angeles that "someone you love won't make it in Book 4." The Empyrean series has never shied away from killing beloved characters, Liam's death in Fourth Wing established that no one is safe. Fan speculation centers on Ridoc, who is also getting POV chapters for the first time.
Is there a Fourth Wing TV show?
Yes. Amazon MGM Studios and Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society are developing a TV adaptation for Prime Video. Meredith Averill (Locke & Key, Wednesday, The Haunting of Hill House) is the current showrunner. No cast has been announced, no production date has been set, and the show has not been ordered to series. As of January 2026, Jordan described it as "early stages."
Are there Fourth Wing graphic novels?
Yes. Six graphic novel volumes are planned, covering all three existing Empyrean books (two volumes per book). Yarros is adapting the text herself with a team of comic creators. The first volume's release is expected within 2027. Yarros has hinted the graphic novels will include new information and expanded scenes.
What happens at the end of Onyx Storm?
Major spoilers: Onyx Storm ends with Violet waking up with no memory of the past 12 hours but a wedding ring on her finger. Imogen wiped her memory at Violet's own request. Xaden completed his Venin transformation during the Battle of Draithus by pulling power from the earth to save Sgaeyl. A "new brother", another Venin was revealed. These unresolved threads are the foundation of Book 4's plot.
