Last updated: March 2026
Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series has become one of the biggest fantasy phenomena of the decade and with Book 4 now in active development, there's never been a better time to start reading (or rereading). Whether you're diving in for the first time or catching up before the next installment, this is the complete reading order for every book in the Fourth Wing series.
The Empyrean series is planned as five books total. Three are out now. Yarros confirmed in February 2026 that she's back at her desk plotting Book 4. No title, no release date yet but the playlist is simmering and the index cards are out! We'll update this page the moment anything is announced.
The Empyrean Series Reading Order
Read these in publication order. Each book picks up where the last one left off, and the cliffhangers are brutal — have the next one ready before you finish.
Book 1: Fourth Wing (May 2023)
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Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College, living a safe life among books and history. Instead, her mother, General Sorrengail, the commanding general of Navarre's forces makes her join the Riders Quadrant, where aspiring dragon riders face lethal trials and only the strongest survive long enough to bond with a dragon.
Violet is physically fragile in a world that rewards brute strength. She has a chronic condition that makes her bones more breakable than her classmates'. But she's also smarter, more strategic, and more resourceful than almost anyone gives her credit for. When she crosses paths with Xaden Riorson, the most powerful (and most dangerous) rider in the quadrant, whose father led the rebellion that Violet's mother crushed, the tension between them is intense.
Fourth Wing is where the addiction starts. The dragon bonding, the deadly training, the enemies-to-lovers romance that earns every moment of tension. Yarros hooks you in the first hundred pages and doesn't let go.
Spice level: Explicit (the scene.... You know the one.)
Pages: 528
Narrated by: Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton
Book 2: Iron Flame (November 2023)
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Everything Violet thought she knew about Navarre, the war, and the people she trusted is wrong. Iron Flame picks up immediately after Fourth Wing's devastating ending and expands the world dramatically. New locations, new factions, deeper political intrigue, and revelations that reframe the entire first book.
The relationship between Violet and Xaden deepens and gets more complicated. The rebellion that simmered beneath the surface of Fourth Wing erupts. And the Venin threat that was barely hinted at before becomes the central crisis of the series.
Iron Flame is longer, darker, and more politically complex than Fourth Wing. Some readers felt the pacing was uneven. Yarros has been transparent about the tight turnaround from book one, but the world expansion and the emotional stakes more than compensate. The ending will destroy you.
Spice level: Explicit
Pages: 640
Narrated by: Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton
Book 3: Onyx Storm (January 2025)
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The third installment raises the stakes to a level that makes the first two books feel like training exercises. Which, narratively, they were. Violet is back at Basgiath, but peace is an illusion. The tension between riders, gryphon fliers, and the ruling powers of Navarre reaches a breaking point. Xaden's struggle against his growing darkness drives the emotional core of the book, and Violet is faced with impossible choices that test everything she's built.
Onyx Storm expands to four POVs for the first time, adding Dain's and others' perspectives alongside Violet's and Xaden's. The battle sequences are the most ambitious in the series. The cliffhanger ending is the most divisive, and the most devastating so far.
Yarros took more time between Iron Flame and Onyx Storm, and the quality difference shows. The worldbuilding is richer, the character development is deeper, and the emotional payoffs hit harder because they're earned across three books worth of buildup.
Spice level: Explicit
Pages: 550
Narrated by: Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton
Book 4: Untitled (Expected 2027)
No title. No release date. No cover. But here's what we know:
Rebecca Yarros confirmed on February 8, 2026, that she's officially back at her desk plotting Book 4. "Book 4's playlist is simmering and I'm almost ready for the index cards and plot board," she shared on Instagram. "Don't worry, everyone in Navarre is still alive. For now. 😉"
The playlist includes three songs from Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: "Down Bad," "I Can Fix Him," and "But Daddy I Love Him." Draw your own conclusions about what that means for Violet and Xaden.
At events, Yarros has confirmed: "Someone you love won't make it in Book 4." She's also said Violet's signet power is only at 10% and Xaden's is at 50%, meaning both characters have massive power escalations ahead. The missing 12 hours from Onyx Storm will be addressed. And the Isles map was withheld from Onyx Storm because it was "too spoilery" for what's coming next.
Book 4 is expected to have at least four POVs: Violet, Xaden, Dain, and Ridoc.
We'll update this page the moment the title, cover, or release date is announced. Bookmark it and check back.
Book 5: Untitled (TBA)
Yarros has confirmed the Empyrean series will be five books total. Originally planned as a trilogy, she expanded it to five. Book 5 will be the finale. No details yet beyond its planned eventual existence.
Special Editions & Bonus Content
The Wing and Claw Collection: Released September 2025. Matching special editions of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame with gorgeous sprayed edges designed to complement Onyx Storm's first edition. They feature no new content so if you already own copies, you're not missing anything.
Graphic Novel Adaptations: Yarros announced in March 2025 that she's co-adapting graphic novels for all three published books, in partnership with Ten Speed Graphic and Entangled Publishing. Six graphic novels are planned across the three books. Yarros is adapting the text herself.
Fourth Wing TV Series: In development at Amazon MGM Studios with Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society producing. Meredith Averill is the showrunner. Yarros has read the script and is excited. No cast announced yet. Don't expect this before 2027 at the earliest.
Do I Need to Read Anything Else Before Fourth Wing?
No. The Empyrean series is completely standalone, no prior Rebecca Yarros reading required. If you've read her contemporary romances (like The Things We Leave Unfinished or Great and Precious Things), you'll recognize her voice, but the Empyrean world is entirely separate.
Start with Fourth Wing. Read in order. Have tissues and the next book nearby.
What to Read While You Wait for Book 4
If you've finished Onyx Storm and need something to fill the gap, here are the best picks based on what you loved most about the series:
If you loved the dragon riders and military academy: Starside by Alex Aster (adult romantasy debut, March 2026) delivers a deadly competition with enemies-to-allies tension and a vengeance-driven heroine. Our March 24 new releases post has the full write-up.
If you loved Violet and Xaden's dynamic: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout and The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent both deliver the forbidden, dangerous, deeply felt romance that made you stay up until 3 AM.
If you want more romantasy with fae courts and political intrigue: Check out our complete guide to books like ACOTAR 15 titles sorted by what you loved most, with spice levels and series status for every pick.
If you want something completely different but equally addictive: Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell is a gothic fantasy debut that's nothing like Fourth Wing but will wreck you in entirely different ways.
For the full deep dive, our Empyrean series guide covers the worldbuilding, magic system, and political factions in detail. And our Onyx Storm character guide has every character, dragon, and faction catalogued.
FAQ
What order should I read the Fourth Wing series?
Read in publication order: Fourth Wing (2023), Iron Flame (2023), Onyx Storm (2025). Each book picks up immediately after the last.
How many Fourth Wing books will there be?
Five total. Rebecca Yarros originally planned three but expanded the series to five books. Three are out now. Book 4 is in development. Book 5 will be the finale.
When does Fourth Wing Book 4 come out?
No official release date. Yarros confirmed in February 2026 that she's plotting Book 4. Based on her timeline, expect late 2026 or 2027. She's been transparent about taking more time to protect her health after the intense pace of the first three books.
What is Fourth Wing Book 4 called?
No title announced yet. Yarros has said she comes up with titles while writing, and she's still in the plotting phase. Previous titles follow a two-word pattern with elemental/combat imagery: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm.
Is there a Fourth Wing TV show?
Yes, in development at Amazon MGM Studios with Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society producing and Meredith Averill as showrunner. No cast yet. Rebecca Yarros has read the script and is involved as executive producer. Don't expect it before 2027.
Is Fourth Wing spicy?
Yes. The Empyrean series is classified as new adult fantasy romance with explicit content. The spice level is comparable to other popular romantasy series like ACOTAR's A Court of Silver Flames.
Do I need to read anything before Fourth Wing?
No. The Empyrean series is completely standalone. No prior Rebecca Yarros reading is required.
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