Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series has become one of the most talked-about fantasy sagas of the decade. From the deadly halls of Basgiath War College to the skies above Navarre, Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm have captivated millions of readers worldwide.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know: the kingdom of Navarre, the dragons, the magic system, the characters, and the political intrigue that makes this series impossible to put down. Whether you're a new reader diving in for the first time, a fan looking for a refresher before the next book, or someone trying to keep up with the obsessed reader in your life — this is the only guide you need.
What Is the Empyrean Series?
The Empyrean series is a new adult fantasy romance by bestselling author Rebecca Yarros. Set in the militaristic kingdom of Navarre, the series follows Violet Sorrengail as she is thrust into the brutal Rider's Quadrant at Basgiath War College — where aspiring dragon riders either bond with a dragon or die trying.
The series blends high-stakes military fantasy with political intrigue, a layered magic system, and a slow-burn romance that has earned it a place among the best of the genre. Originally planned as a trilogy, Yarros has confirmed the Empyrean series will span five books total.
Books in the Empyrean Series
- Fourth Wing (2023) — Violet Sorrengail enters the Rider's Quadrant, bonds with two dragons, and uncovers dangerous secrets about her kingdom.
- Iron Flame (2023) — The stakes escalate as Violet confronts the Venin threat, shifting alliances, and deeper truths about Navarre's leadership.
- Onyx Storm (2025) — The third installment pushes Violet and her allies to their limits as the war against the Venin reaches a breaking point.
- Book 4 (TBA) — Currently in development. Rebecca Yarros confirmed in early 2026 that she is actively plotting the fourth installment.
- Book 5 (TBA) — The confirmed series finale.
Each book picks up immediately where the last left off. For the optimal reading experience, check out our complete Fourth Wing reading order guide.
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The World of Navarre
Navarre is a military-centric kingdom built on the backs of its dragon riders, whose duty is to protect it from external and internal threats. Beneath its polished surface lies a web of political factions, rebellions past and present, and a society structured around strength and loyalty to the crown.
The Kingdom of Navarre
Navarre faces constant threats from external enemies, particularly the Venin — humans who corrupted their souls by pulling magic directly from the source without a dragon. The kingdom's survival hinges on its dragon riders, who are considered the elite defenders of the realm, and on the magical ward stones that form protective barriers against invasion.
Key locations and institutions within Navarre include:
- Basgiath War College — An elite training ground for dragon riders, scribes, healers, and infantry. A place of both prestige and peril.
- The Assembly of Aretia — A secretive group working to uncover and counter the kingdom's hidden threats, including the Venin.
- The Ward Stones — Magical barriers protecting Navarre from outside invasions, maintained through ward weavers.
Basgiath War College
Basgiath is more than a training ground — it is the beating heart of Navarre's military elite. The college divides students into four quadrants and demands nothing less than absolute excellence. Its cadets are taught to revere the military above all else, and only the strongest, smartest, or most cunning survive to graduation.
The Four Quadrants at Basgiath
- Rider's Quadrant — The most dangerous and prestigious. Candidates train to bond with dragons and become dragon riders. Survival is far from guaranteed, and only the strongest or the smartest succeed.
- Scribe Quadrant — Focused on academics and research. This is where Violet originally planned to study before being forced into the Rider's Quadrant. Considered safer but lacking the thrill and prestige of riding dragons.
- Healer's Quadrant — Dedicated to medical training and healing magic. Healers play a critical support role for the kingdom's warriors.
- Infantry Quadrant — For soldiers who fight on the ground without dragons. Essential to the military but often overshadowed by the Rider's Quadrant.
The Wards
Wards are magical barriers that protect Navarre from external invasions. Maintained by ward weavers like Mira Sorrengail, these barriers are essential for the kingdom's survival. Their reliance on magical energy drawn through dragon bonds makes them a finite resource. If the ward stones falter, Navarre becomes vulnerable to Venin attacks and other external threats — a fear that drives much of the kingdom's politics and paranoia.
Dragons in the Empyrean Series
Dragons in the Empyrean series are not mere beasts. They are intelligent, self-aware creatures deeply connected to their riders. They communicate telepathically, showcase distinct personalities ranging from wise and patient to sarcastic and brash, and maintain their own culture, hierarchy, and traditions.
How Dragon Bonding Works
The bond between a dragon and a rider is sacred and forms the cornerstone of the entire series.
- Selection: A dragon chooses its rider based on potential, courage, and compatibility. The process is entirely up to the dragon, and unworthy candidates are often killed during the selection.
- The Bond: This connection is both emotional and magical. It allows the rider to access unique abilities called signets, channeled through the dragon's power. Dragons are fiercely loyal to their chosen rider and will defend them to the death.
What Dragon Colors Mean in Fourth Wing
Dragon colors in the Empyrean series signify elemental alignment, power level, and personality traits. These colors also influence the magical abilities granted to bonded riders.
- Black Dragons — The rarest and most powerful. Their abilities often involve lightning and raw, devastating power, making them a force to be reckoned with.
- Red Dragons — Masters of fire. Fierce, aggressive, and unrelenting, they symbolize passion, intensity, and loyalty.
- Blue Dragons — Aligned with water. Calm, logical, and strategic, making them invaluable tactical allies in combat.
- Green Dragons — Connected to the earth. Grounded, resourceful, and closely tied to nature, they provide a different kind of strength.
- Gold Dragons — Radiating nobility and pride. Often possess a mix of abilities, making them unpredictable and highly coveted.
- Silver Dragons — Rare and enigmatic, with versatile or mysterious powers that add intrigue to any rider-dragon bond.
- White Dragons — Associated with healing and purity. Graceful but powerful defenders symbolizing protection and balance.
Each dragon's color shapes not only their abilities but also the dynamics of their bond with their rider. Being chosen by a dragon is a defining moment in every rider's journey.
Signets Explained: The Magic System of Fourth Wing
A signet is a unique magical ability granted to a rider upon bonding with their dragon. When a dragon bonds with a human and determines they are ready, the dragon channels magic into their rider through the dragon relic, creating a power unique to that individual.
How Signets Work
- Signets are based on who the rider is at their core and what they need most. The signet that manifests reveals more about the rider than the dragon.
- The uniqueness and strength of a signet correlates with the power of the dragon and the depth of their bond.
- Overusing signet power can lead to "burnout," which may result in death.
- Riders also gain lesser magic from their dragon, including the ability to lock and unlock doors, move objects, and shield the mind.
- If a dragon bonds an indirect descendant of a previously bonded rider, the rider's abilities are stronger. If a dragon bonds a direct descendant, the rider may gain two signets — or go mad.
Types of Signets in the Empyrean Series
- Elemental Control — Summoning lightning, manipulating fire, or controlling water. Among the most visually impressive and powerful signets.
- Telekinesis — Moving objects or people with the mind. A versatile and strategic ability.
- Enhanced Senses — Heightened perception, such as improved sight or hearing, that provides tactical advantages in battle.
- Shielding — Creating protective barriers to block attacks. Crucial for defense.
- Healing — Rapidly healing wounds, either for oneself or others.
- Mind Reading or Manipulation — Understanding or influencing others' thoughts. A highly dangerous and deeply mistrusted signet.
- Illusions — Creating false images or distractions to confuse enemies.
- Battle Outcome Foresight — The ability to see possible outcomes of battles, as demonstrated by General Melgren.
- Intrinsic — A rare signet that is an immediate death sentence for its rider. Mental shields can guard against mind-based signets, but a rider cannot use their own mind signet when shields are raised.
Venin and Wyverns: The Enemies of Navarre
The greatest threat to Navarre comes not from rival kingdoms but from the Venin — humans who corrupted their souls by pulling magic directly from the source without a dragon as a conduit. Venin have ranks including Initiate, Asim, Sage, and Maven. They can drain life from others, enhance their own abilities, and are immune to dragon fire.
Wyverns are the Venin's answer to dragons. Similar in appearance but with two legs instead of four, wyverns are created by and entirely dependent on their Venin creators. Killing a Venin destroys all wyverns they created — making the Venin themselves the real target in any battle.
Political Factions and Rebellions in Navarre
Navarre's political landscape is fractured, with factions vying for power and pursuing different visions for the kingdom's future.
The Major Factions
- The Loyalists — Staunch supporters of the crown who uphold Navarre's militaristic, centralized rule. For loyalists, questioning leadership is equivalent to treason.
- The Rebels (Old and New) — The old rebels opposed the crown's authoritarian rule and sought regional autonomy. Their children now navigate a complex path between rebellion and survival, seeking reform and hidden truths about Navarre's leadership.
- The Dragon Riders — While technically loyal to the crown, dragon riders form a semi-autonomous group whose true allegiance often lies with their bonded dragons and each other. Pragmatic above all else.
- The Assembly of Aretia — Seven individuals who serve as the unofficial leadership of the Second Rebellion, focused on arming their forces and gryphon fliers with weaponry capable of defending against the Venin.
- The Venin and Their Allies — Though not officially part of Navarre's political structure, the Venin represent an existential threat, exploiting every division within the kingdom for their own gain.
The Rebellions Past and Present
The history of rebellion in Navarre is a central thread running through the entire Empyrean series. Roughly two decades before the story begins, a large-scale rebellion was staged against the crown. It was crushed, and the rebels' children were spared only under strict conditions: raised as wards of the state and sent to Basgiath War College to prove their loyalty in the Rider's Quadrant — where few survive to graduation.
Xaden Riorson, son of the executed rebel leader, represents the lasting impact of this rebellion. Though loyal to his fellow riders and protective of his bonded dragon, Xaden harbors deep resentment for the execution of his parents and the treatment of the rebellion's descendants.
The current rebellion — led covertly by Xaden and other rebel children — works to expose the corruption and lies perpetuated by the kingdom, particularly concerning the true nature of the Venin and the sacrifices demanded by the Ward Stones.
Main Characters in the Empyrean Series
- Violet Sorrengail — "Violence" — The reluctant heroine. A book-smart young woman with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder that makes her joints prone to dislocation and her bones fragile. Thrust into the deadly Rider's Quadrant where candidates bond with dragons and train for war, Violet starts as the underdog but proves herself through cleverness, determination, and a fair bit of cunning. She bonds with two dragons — an incredibly rare feat.
- Xaden Riorson — "Shadow Daddy" — The brooding, powerful, and morally complex love interest. Son of a rebel leader executed by the kingdom, Xaden has every reason to despise Violet. Despite his cold exterior, he develops a reluctant soft spot for her, and their relationship becomes one of the most compelling dynamics in the series.
- Dain Aetos — Violet's childhood best friend and fellow trainee. His overprotective nature and clashes with Xaden create significant tension throughout the series, especially as Violet's loyalties shift and her connection with Xaden deepens.
- Tairn — Violet's primary bonded dragon. Ancient and powerful, Tairn is a bonded mate to Xaden's dragon Sgaeyl. This mated bond between their dragons creates a telepathic connection between Violet and Xaden — one that neither can control or escape.
- Andarna — Violet's second bonded dragon. After waiting 650 years to hatch, Andarna bonds with Violet as a two-year-old hatchling, an occurrence so rare it shocks even the dragon community.
- Brennan Sorrengail — Violet's older brother, thought to be dead but revealed to be alive and secretly working with Xaden's rebellion. A skilled mender and member of the Assembly of Aretia, bonded to Marbh.
- Mira Sorrengail — Violet's older sister, a captain in the kingdom's military. Bonded to Teine and a skilled ward weaver responsible for maintaining the magical barriers that protect Navarre.
- General Melgren — The general of Navarre's military, bonded to Codagh, the eldest of the black dragon den. Known for his battle outcome foresight signet, which makes him a formidable strategic mind.
- Rhiannon Matthias — Violet's best friend at Basgiath and her squad leader. A summoner bonded to Feirge, Rhiannon is fiercely loyal and one of the most grounding presences in Violet's chaotic world.
- Liam Mairi — Xaden's loyal second-in-command and a fan favorite. His unwavering loyalty and bravery cement his legacy in the series.
Violet and Xaden's Relationship
Violet and Xaden's relationship is complicated from the very first page. Violet's mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, was the one who crushed the rebellion led by Xaden's father — getting him and countless other rebels executed in the process. Xaden has every reason to hate Violet, since she represents everything he has been forced to endure as the son of a rebel leader.
Their dynamic begins with distrust and tension, especially with Violet fearing Xaden is a direct threat to her survival in the Rider's Quadrant. But as they are thrown into dangerous situations together and begin uncovering the kingdom's darker secrets, animosity transforms into mutual respect — and then something far deeper.
Their connection is intensified by their dragons. Tairn and Sgaeyl are mated, creating a unique telepathic link between Violet and Xaden that neither can escape or fully control. It is a relationship built on conflict, tested by betrayal, and forged in the kind of fire that either destroys or transforms.
The Plot of the Empyrean Series So Far
Warning: This section contains spoilers for all three published books.
Fourth Wing
The series begins with Violet's unexpected entry into the Rider's Quadrant, where cadets train to bond with dragons. The process is deadly — most trainees do not survive the brutal trials or win a dragon's approval. Violet, though physically weaker than most, uses her intelligence and wit to outmaneuver stronger opponents. She bonds with two dragons (a rare feat) and uncovers conspiracies within the kingdom. The government has hidden truths about their enemies and the real purpose of the war they are fighting. Violet's growing feelings for Xaden complicate everything further, as his rebel ties make him both a potential ally and a threat. The book ends with a shocking twist that redefines everything readers thought they knew.
Iron Flame
Tensions escalate as Violet uncovers even more startling truths. The Venin threat grows more imminent, and the kingdom's leadership fractures under the weight of its own lies. Violet must navigate betrayal, shifting alliances, and her growing powers while defending against external and internal threats. The stakes reach their highest point yet as Navarre's very survival hangs in the balance and the true scope of the kingdom's deception is finally revealed.
Onyx Storm
The third installment pushes Violet and her allies to their absolute limits. The war against the Venin reaches a critical inflection point, alliances are tested beyond their breaking point, and the consequences of choices made in earlier books come crashing down. Onyx Storm deepens the series' exploration of sacrifice, loyalty, and the cost of power in a world that demands everything and forgives nothing.
What's Next for the Empyrean Series?
Rebecca Yarros has confirmed the Empyrean series will span five books total. In early 2026, she announced that she is actively plotting Book 4, with a release date still to be determined. Graphic novel adaptations of the series were also announced in March 2025, with Yarros personally adapting the text alongside a team of comic creators. Six graphic novels are planned to cover the first three books.
For updates on release dates and new announcements, check our Fourth Wing reading order page, which is kept updated with the latest information.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Empyrean Series
How many books are in the Empyrean series?
The Empyrean series will span five books total. Three are currently published: Fourth Wing (2023), Iron Flame (2023), and Onyx Storm (2025). Book 4 is currently in development.
Do you need to read Fourth Wing before Iron Flame?
Yes. Each book picks up immediately where the previous one ended. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points and character developments. Read them in publication order for the best experience.
What genre is the Fourth Wing series?
The Empyrean series is classified as new adult fantasy romance. It features military fantasy elements, political intrigue, a detailed magic system, and a central romance plotline with mature content.
Is Fourth Wing appropriate for younger readers?
The series is written for a new adult audience (18+). It contains graphic violence, mature romantic content, and intense themes including death, war, and political corruption.
What is a signet in Fourth Wing?
A signet is a unique magical ability granted to a dragon rider upon bonding. Each signet is different and reflects the core identity of the rider. Examples include elemental control, telekinesis, shielding, mind reading, and battle foresight.
What are Venin in the Empyrean series?
Venin are humans who corrupted their souls by pulling magic directly from the source without a dragon as a conduit. They can drain life from others, create wyverns, and are immune to dragon fire. They represent the primary antagonistic force throughout the series.
Will there be a Fourth Wing movie or TV show?
As of 2026, no film or television adaptation has been officially announced. However, graphic novel adaptations are in development, with Rebecca Yarros personally involved in the adaptation process.
What order should I read the Fourth Wing books?
Read them in publication order: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm. For the complete reading order including any companion content, see our Fourth Wing reading order guide.
Start Reading the Empyrean Series
Whether you are a fan revisiting the world of Navarre or someone diving in for the first time, the Empyrean series delivers on every front: world-building that rewards attention, a magic system that deepens with every book, characters that live in your chest for days after you finish reading, and a romance that earns every single moment.
Pick up Fourth Wing and find out what millions of readers already know. This series is the real thing.
For more guides and reading recommendations, explore our reading guides or check out our binge reading essentials to set up the perfect reading session.
