Explore the Fourth Wing series in order (also known as the Empyrean) by Rebecca Yarros. This guide includes tons of tips and resources for books 1, 2 and 3, Onyx Storm, which is the most anticipated book of 2025!
You’ll find everything you need to know about this wildly successful dragon-themed romantasy book series, so let’s “fire” it up!
Fourth Wing Series in Order
How many books are in the Fourth Wing series?
The total number of books in the Fourth Wing series (Empyrean) by Rebecca Yarros is five.
- The first book, Fourth Wing, was published on May 2, 2023.
- The second book, Iron Flame, was published on November 7, 2023.
- The third book, Onyx Storm, was published on January 21, 2025.
- Details of the fourth book have not been announced.
- Details of the fifth book have not been announced.
The romance tropes of the Fourth Wing series include enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity.
The Fourth Wing series are books that live up to the hype! For fans of the Divine Rivals series, this series of books to escape reality is universally successful because Yarros balances the escapism of fantasy, romance, and dragons with the harsh realities of the real world (namely, war and the telling of history). She does so with many rich details, making this top book series unique and memorable.
Reading Tip: I recommend the print or digital format because audio may make learning the detailed fantasy world harder. Of note, Fourth Wing is now available on Kindle Unlimited.
Details of Books in the Fourth Wing Series
Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1 of 5; Released May 2, 2023)
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros contains content about war, battle, hand-to-hand combat, perilous situations, blood, intense violence, brutal injuries, death, poisoning, graphic language, and sexual activities.
In Fourth Wing, Violet Sorrengail is a 20-year-old resident of Navarre. She was about to enter Basgiath War College in the Scribe Quadrant, studying books and history. But her mother, the General, orders her to seek entry into the elite Riders Quadrant, which is extremely dangerous and deadly.
Even if she makes it through, as her mother, older sister Mira, and older brother Brennan did, only a fraction will live to graduate.
Violet is frail, so she must fight extra hard to survive. This is especially true since people like the powerful Wingleader Xaden Riorson have it out for her. He and many of the others are only there because of the fallout from their parents’ rebellion, after which Violet’s mother executed them. These circumstances bring them closer than they ever imagined.
It’s a heart-stopping journey of dragon-riding plus magical powers (signets), symbols (relics), powerful books, a deadly bridge, a gauntlet, a Squad Battle, War Games, mythical creatures (gryphon, wyvern, venin), and even love.
There also remains an overarching theme about retelling history that begins to reveal itself. This book can be summed up simply as “things are not what they seem.”
RELATED POSTS
- Fourth Wing Summary
- Fourth Wing Ending Explained
- Fourth Wing Character List
- Fourth Wing Dragon List
- Fourth Wing Signets List
- Fourth Wing Map Details
- Basgiath War College
- Fourth Wing Discussion Guide
- Fourth Wing Review Without Spoilers
- Fourth Wing’s Top Quotes
- Fourth Wing Wallpaper Background
- Is Fourth Wing Spicy?
- Fourth Wing Bookmarks
Iron Flame (Empyrean #2 of 5; Released November 7, 2023)
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros contains content about war, intense violence, death, grief, torture, fire, brutal injuries, confinement, graphic language, and sexual activities.
Iron Flame, is the epic sequel to Fourth Wing, spanning two parts. The first is a slower-paced one dedicated primarily to character introductions, history-telling, and fantasy world-building. The second is a fast-paced, action-packed battle of numerous forms against dark wielders.
It begins where the shocking finale of the first book left off, as Violet learns more about the big surprise that was dropped in the final pages.
After that, Xaden graduates from Basgiath War College and heads to battle. Violet begins her second year, undergoing brutal training and interrogations. Meanwhile, first-year students like Liam’s younger sister, Sloane, arrive for Conscription Day.
Violet conducts intense and secretive research about all the shocking revelations she’s learned and what can be done about them.
This sets the stage for more action and surprises than you can imagine, leading to another shocking ending that leaves you wanting more. It’s a more challenging read, including its length, details, and pacing, but it is just as immersive.
Onyx Storm (Empyrean #3 of 5; Release Date: January 21, 2025)
Onyx Storm contains content about war, hand-to-hand combat, blood, intense violence, brutal injuries, gore, murder, death, animal death, injury rehabilitation, grief, poisoning, burning, perilous situations, graphic language, and sexual activities.
Onyx Storm is mostly about the search for the seventh breed of dragons and a cure for being venin. Along the way, Violet and her “quest squad” encounter several mental, emotional, and physical challenges, most notably Theophanie, who reappears as a Maven hungry for Violet and Andarna.
It’s filled with high-intensity action and suspense from beginning to end, lots of travel, and a bit more spice.
For the most part, it answers what readers longed to know while also leaving readers with some new surprises and yet another epic cliffhanger.
I recommend reading it slowly, as the jam-packed action scenes require a lot of energy to consume and understand.
About Author Rebecca Yarros
about
Rebecca Yarros is a graduate of Troy University and an American author of over fifteen books. She is best known for her bestselling dragon fantasy romance books in the Empyrean series, including Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.
Yarros will serve as the executive producer of the Amazon adaptation. Amazon and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society have acquired the rights to Fourth Wing and all subsequent books in the series and a TV show adaptation is in the works at Amazon MGM Studios.
She and her husband co-founded the charity One October to improve kids’ lives in foster care.
Recap
If you’re still on the fence about whether to read the Fourth Wing series, know that I wholeheartedly stand behind them as book recommendations (even if it’s not your usual book genre, as it wasn’t for me either). And be sure to read the books in their order of publication.
SHOP THE SERIES
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
