Explore the Fourth Wing series in order (also known as the Empyrean) by Rebecca Yarros. This includes tips about books 1 and 2, as well as new details about book 3, Onyx Storm, which will be published on January 21, 2025!
You’ll everything you need to know about this wildly successful dragon-themed 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, will be published on January 21, 2025.
Yarros told GMA that, in Onyx Storm, “There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons.”
Pre-order the Deluxe Limited Edition before it sells out!
Yarros also told Today that the series arc explores “[w]ho’s allowed to tell our history, and what happens when only people in power are the ones who record our history[.]”
- Fourth Wing (May 2, 2023)
- Iron Flame (November 7, 2023)
- Onyx Storm (January 21, 2025)
- Book Four of Five
- Book Five of Five
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Details of Books in the Fourth Wing Series
Even as someone who doesn’t often read romance, fantasy, or romantasy, I’m here to tell you that the Fourth Wing series totally lives up to the hype!
For fans of the Divine Rivals series, this series 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 that make it utterly unique and truly memorable.
So, whether you’re new to the Fourth Wing series, or you already started it and are looking for more, this post details the Fourth Wing series in order, along with other facts you need to know about it. The goal is to provide details that will help you answer all of the questions you may have about the top book series generally.
Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1 of 5)
- #1 bestseller: New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times UK
- Goodreads Best Romantasy Book of 2023; Choice Award, semi-finalist
- Best Books of the Year: Amazon, Apple, Audible, Google Play, Newsweek, and more
- Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023
- Genre: fantasy romance (romantasy)
- Tropes: enemies to lovers; forced proximity
- Number of Pages: 528 (hardcover)
- Release Date: May 2, 2023
- Paperback Release Date: U.S.A. and Canada date to be announced; available worldwide otherwise
- Maturity Rating: 18+ based on graphic sexual and war-themed content
- Spice Level: 3 out of 5 (Chapters 30 and 32 have spice)
- Trigger Warnings: 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’s about to enter Basgiath War College in the Scribe Quadrant, like her father, studying books and history. But, her mother, the General, has other plans and orders her to seek entry into the elite Riders Quadrant, which is extremely dangerous and deadly.
In fact, as the first sentence of the book warns, the day on which entry is sought is the deadliest. 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 herself is petite and frail, so she’ll have to fight extra hard not just to succeed, but also 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.
Circumstances may bring them closer than they ever thought they’d be. 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.
Beyond the intrigue, there also remains an overarching theme about the re-telling of history that begins to reveal itself. In this particular book, it can be summed up simply as “things are not what they seem.”
Buy Fourth Wing:
Note: If you’re looking for the limited first edition of Fourth Wing with sprayed edges that are black with white dragons, be forewarned that they are sold out, rare, and hard to come by. You can try to source them on re-sale sites like eBay, but they currently don’t come cheap. Also, note that the second print of Fourth Wing does NOT have sprayed edges.
Iron Flame (Empyrean #2 of 5)
- Instant #1 New York Times bestseller
- Number of Pages: 640 (hardcover)
- Release Date: November 7, 2023
- Paperback Release Date: to be announced
- Maturity Rating: 18+ based on graphic sexual and war-themed content
- Spice Level: 2 out of 5 (Chapters 12, 27, 37, and 48 have spice)
- Trigger Warnings: war, intense violence, death, grief, torture, fire, brutal injuries, confinement, graphic language, and sexual activities
Second in the Fourth Wing series in order is Iron Flame. It’s a long and epic sequel that spans 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.
Thereafter, Xaden graduates from Basgiath War College and heads to battle. Violet begins her second year, undergoing brutal training like interrogations. Meanwhile, first years 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 all sets the stage for more action and surprises than you can imagine, all leading to another shocking ending that leaves you wanting more. It’s a more difficult read in many regards, including its length, details, and pacing, but it is just as immersive.
Buy Iron Flame:
Onyx Storm (Empyrean #3 of 5)
- Onyx Storm Release Date: January 21, 2025
Yarros told GMA that next in the Fourth Wing series in order will be Onyx Storm. She remarked, “There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons.” See more below:
From the publisher:
Preorder now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last―featuring gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, as well as exclusive special design features. This incredible collectible is only available for a limited time, a must-have for any book lover while supplies last in the US and Canada only.
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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. She will serve as the executive producer of the Amazon adaptation.
She and her husband co-founded the charity One October to improve the lives of kids in foster care.
More by this author: In the Likely Event is another popular choice with readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
There will be five total books in the Fourth Wing (Empyrean) series by Rebecca Yarros: (1) Fourth Wing (May 2, 2023); (2) Iron Flame (November 7, 2023); (3) Onyx Storm (January 21, 2025); (4) TBD; and (5) TBD.
Yes. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is going to be a series of five books also known as the Empyrean series. Book 2, Iron Flame, was published in 2023. Book 3, Onyx Storm, will be published on January 21, 2025.
Yes. 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.
The age rating for Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is adults age 18 and over, due to sexually explicit content, explicit content, and adult themes like violence and death.
Trigger warnings for Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros include war, battle, hand-to-hand combat, perilous situations, blood, intense violence, brutal injuries, death, poisoning, graphic language, and sexual activities.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is an enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity fantasy romance novel.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros is the sequel to Fourth Wing. It was published on November 7, 2023.
Yes. The third book, Onyx Storm, will be published on January 21, 2025.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, follows Iron Flame. It will be published on January 21, 2025.
Conclusion
This guide to the Fourth Wing series answered the questions you may have about the Empyrean book series generally. If you’re still on the fence about whether to read it, I 100% wholeheartedly recommend them as books you have to read (even if it’s not your usual book genre, as it wasn’t for me either). I honestly haven’t heard one bad review yet!
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