Quick answer: The correct order to read Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series is Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, then Onyx Storm. These are the three published main-series novels, and publication order is also the story order. Book 4 has no announced title or release date yet.
Fourth Wing is the first book in Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series, a dragon-rider romantasy set at a brutal war college. Three main novels are out. Yarros has said the series will run to five, so two main books are still to come. In between, she released a companion collection called Threshing Day, which people often mistake for Book 4. It isn’t.
This guide gives you the full list first, then explains where the extra releases fit, what’s known about Book 4, and what to expect from the books before you start.
Fourth Wing Books in Order: Complete Reading List
| Book | Title | Publication date | Status |
| 1 | Fourth Wing | May 2, 2023 | Published |
| 2 | Iron Flame | November 7, 2023 | Published |
| 3 | Onyx Storm | January 21, 2025 | Published |
| Companion | Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection) | September 29, 2026 | Published; companion collection, not a numbered novel |
| 4 | Untitled Empyrean Book 4 | No official date | In progress per reports; no title or date announced |
| 5 | Empyrean Book 5 | No official date | Planned; no title or date announced |
Dates: Variety and Bookroo for Fourth Wing; Iron Flame and Onyx Storm entries for the sequels; threshingday.com for Threshing Day.
The series is called The Empyrean (or the Empyrean series). Fourth Wing is only the title of the first book, which is why people search for “Fourth Wing series order” and “Empyrean reading order” interchangeably. They mean the same list.
What Is the Correct Order to Read the Fourth Wing Books?
Read them in publication order: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm. For the three novels, publication order and chronological order are the same, so there’s no alternate order to choose.
Each book picks up directly where the last one ends. Iron Flame continues the story from the end of Fourth Wing, and Onyx Storm continues from Iron Flame. Skipping ahead means missing the setup for the relationships, the politics and the cliffhangers, so start at Book 1 even if you’ve seen the TV news or heard about later plot developments.
The one wrinkle is Threshing Day. It’s a flashback-style companion collection, and the publisher’s own listing for it advises reading it after Onyx Storm because of spoilers (see the Threshing Day section below).
Fourth Wing Series: Book-by-Book Summaries
These summaries avoid major plot twists and endings.
Fourth Wing
Violet Sorrengail expected a quiet life among books. Her mother, the commanding general, has other plans and forces her into the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College, where cadets train to become dragon riders and many don’t survive. Violet is physically smaller and more fragile than her classmates, so she has to rely on her wits to get through the brutal training and the Threshing, the ceremony where dragons choose riders to bond with.
Among the cadets is Xaden Riorson, a powerful wingleader with a dangerous reputation, and the book builds its enemies-to-lovers romance around him. This is the starting point: it introduces the college, the dragon bonds, the rules of the world and the central relationship. Yarros’s own series page lists it as a fantasy romance, and the TV logline Prime Video uses starts from the same premise (Prime Video press release).
Want to know more about the dragons? [Fourth Wing dragon]
Iron Flame
The second book continues straight from the first. Violet is back in her second year at Basgiath, with new pressures on her and on the people around her. The romance develops, the political and military stakes rise, and the world opens up beyond the war college. Expect a longer, heavier book than the first: the audiobook runs roughly 28 hours against about 21 for Fourth Wing (Audible).
Onyx Storm
Onyx Storm is the third main novel and continues Violet and Xaden’s story after the events of Iron Flame. Yarros described it ahead of release as including “politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons” (Wikipedia summary of the announcement). The scope expands again, and the book ends on a cliffhanger, so it only works if you’ve read the first two. Don’t open it cold.
Looking for the ending explained? [Onyx Storm ending explained]
How Many Books Are in the Fourth Wing Series?
Three main novels are published. Five are planned.
Published main books: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm.
Planned total: Five. Yarros has said the series will have five books (TODAY), and Barnes & Noble’s series page also describes it as plotted for five (Barnes & Noble).
Still to come: Books 4 and 5, with no announced titles or dates.
Companion publication: Threshing Day, a collection of thirteen stories. It’s part of the Empyrean world but isn’t numbered among the five.
So if someone asks “how many Fourth Wing books are there?”, the accurate answer is three novels so far, plus one companion collection.
Is the Fourth Wing Series Finished?
No. The series is not complete. Three of the five planned main books have been published, and Yarros is reported to be writing Book 4. Until Books 4 and 5 are out, the story is unfinished, and Onyx Storm ends on a cliffhanger.
When Is Fourth Wing Book 4 Coming Out?
As of October 31, 2026, Rebecca Yarros has not announced a title or release date for Empyrean Book 4. Reports say she began writing it in March 2026. Threshing Day, released September 29, 2026, is a companion collection, not Book 4. Check Yarros’s official website and verified social accounts for confirmed news.
A few things worth knowing:
- Confirmed vs. rumored. An unofficial webpage listing circulated showing a 2027 date, but it was an unconfirmed screenshot and fans treated it skeptically (Russh). Treat any specific date as speculation until Yarros or publisher Red Tower Books announces it.
- Writing status. Several outlets report Yarros has been working on the book since early 2026, and one reported that she planned to keep writing it into the fall (Winter Is Coming).
- Not Peculiar Stars. Yarros’s other 2026 release, Peculiar Stars, is a contemporary castaway romance scheduled for November 17, 2026. It has no dragons and isn’t part of the series (Kirkus).
What Is Threshing Day? Is It Fourth Wing Book 4?
No. Threshing Day is not Book 4. It’s a companion collection of thirteen stories about familiar characters and their dragons, released September 29, 2026. The official site calls it “a companion collection, not the continuation of Violet and Xaden’s story after Onyx Storm“
Key details:
- What it is: Thirteen stories set around Threshing, the day dragons choose their riders. The official site says it includes Xaden’s story.
- Edition naming: Retailers list it as Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection). The deluxe first edition was a collectible with sixteen full-color illustrations by Joe Requeza, sold in the US and Canada while supplies lasted.
- Do you need it? No, you can follow the main story without it. But one retailer listing carrying the publisher’s text notes that it’s best read after Onyx Storm because of spoilers (Writers Block Bookstore).
- Why people confuse it with Book 4: Fans spent months calling it “Not Book Four” before the title was revealed. The publisher’s marketing line “the next book in the blockbuster Empyrean series” also doesn’t help, so check the word “collection” in the title.
What Genre Is Fourth Wing?
Fourth Wing is romantasy: fantasy romance with equal weight on the fantasy plot and the love story. More specifically, it’s a dragon-rider, war-college fantasy. It’s usually shelved as new adult or adult, and Prime Video’s own announcement calls it an “adult fantasy novel.”
The two halves depend on each other. The war college and the dragon bonds supply the danger, and the romance between Violet and Xaden is built out of that danger. It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance with a morally gray love interest, and Violet’s friends add a found-family thread.
Is Fourth Wing Spicy? Age Rating and Content Guide
There is no official age rating. The books are published for adults, and Barnes & Noble’s series page recommends the series for readers 18 and older (Barnes & Noble). That is a retailer recommendation, not a formal classification.
- Spice: The series includes on-page sexual content. Readers’ informal ratings often land around 3 to 4 out of 5, rising across the series. That’s a subjective fan scale, and your own tolerance may place it differently.
- Violence: Expect combat, injury and character deaths. Training at Basgiath is deadly, and the war storyline gets darker in later books.
- Other mature themes: Grief, loss and war.
- For younger readers: Despite the cover and the BookTok buzz, this isn’t traditional young adult fiction. Parents and teen readers should check the content for themselves.
Chapter-level detail belongs in its own guide. [Fourth Wing spicy chapters guide]
Is the Fourth Wing Audiobook Worth Listening To?
For many listeners, yes. The audiobooks are published by Recorded Books and are unabridged.
- Fourth Wing and Iron Flame: Narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton (Audible).
- Onyx Storm: Narrated by Rebecca Soler with Teddy Hamilton, Justis Bolding and Jasmin Walker (library catalog record). Stores list different running times (about 14 hours on some listings, about 24 on others), so check which edition you’re buying.
- Dramatized editions: Some stores list “Part 1 of 2 (Dramatized Adaptation)” versions. These are a separate edition of the same book, not a sequel, and their credits can differ from the standard recording. Check the narrator credits before you buy.
The dual-narrator setup gives Violet and other characters distinct voices, and the story is easy to follow in audio since it’s told in clear first-person chapters. Whether the performance works for you is a matter of taste, so listen to a sample first.
Is There a Fourth Wing TV Series?
Yes, in development at Prime Video, with no release date.
- October 2023: Amazon MGM Studios and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society announced the adaptation.
- May 11, 2026: Prime Video ordered Fourth Wing to series. Meredith Averill is adapting it and serving as showrunner, and Lisa Joy is set to direct the pilot (official press release).
- October 15, 2026: Trade outlets reported that Esther McGregor will play Violet Sorrengail and Emilio Sakraya will play Xaden Riorson (TVLine, citing Deadline). Amazon initially declined to comment on the reports (Hollywood Life), so treat this as reported rather than officially announced by Prime Video.
- Release date: None announced.
"Ordered to series" means the network has committed to making it. It doesn't mean filming has started or that a premiere is near.What Should You Read After Fourth Wing?
These books pick up different parts of what makes Fourth Wing work. Content levels vary, so check each one’s heat and violence before you start.
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout. A sheltered heroine, a forbidden romance and a long slow burn. Choose it for romance-first fantasy with banter and secrets.
- The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni. A young healer in a brutal prison faces deadly trials. Choose it for survival stakes and a slower romance. It’s less explicit than Fourth Wing.
- The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent. A human girl raised among vampires enters a deadly tournament. Choose it for the deadly-competition feel and enemies-to-lovers tension. No dragons.
- Fireborne by Rosaria Munda. Rival young dragon riders in a society rebuilt after a revolution. Choose it for the dragon-rider side. It’s young adult, so it’s milder in content.
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. A skilled assassin competes for her freedom in a royal contest. Choose it for a trial-based plot and a long series to settle into.
- A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. A school where students are hunted by monsters. Choose it for the “survive the school” premise, though the romance is a minor thread.
- Eragon by Christopher Paolini. The classic dragon-bond story. Choose it if the bond between rider and dragon is what you love. It isn’t romance-focused.
More depth? [books like Fourth Wing]
FAQs About Fourth Wing Books in Order
What is the reading order for the Fourth Wing book series?
Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, then Onyx Storm. These are Books 1 to 3 of Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series.
What are all the Fourth Wing books in order?
Fourth Wing (May 2, 2023), Iron Flame (November 7, 2023) and Onyx Storm (January 21, 2025). Threshing Day (September 29, 2026) is a companion collection, not a numbered book.
Which book should I start with in the Fourth Wing series?
Start with Fourth Wing. Each novel continues directly from the one before, so starting later will leave you lost.
How many books are in the Fourth Wing series?
Three main novels are published and five are planned. There’s also one companion collection, Threshing Day.
Is the Fourth Wing series finished?
No. Books 4 and 5 are still to come, and Onyx Storm ends on a cliffhanger.
Should I read Fourth Wing in publication order or chronological order?
They’re the same for the three novels. Read in publication order. Threshing Day is best saved until after Onyx Storm.
When is Empyrean Book 4 coming out?
No title or release date has been announced as of October 31, 2026. Reports say Yarros began writing it in March 2026.
Is Threshing Day Fourth Wing Book 4?
No. It’s a collection of thirteen stories released September 29, 2026, and the official site says it doesn’t continue Violet and Xaden’s story.
What is the correct reading order for the dragon rider series?
Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm. The “dragon rider series” here means the Empyrean series.
Is Fourth Wing appropriate for teenagers?
It isn’t aimed at young teens. It’s published for adults and includes violence and on-page sexual content. One major retailer recommends it for ages 18 and up.
How spicy is the Fourth Wing series?
Fans commonly describe it as about 3 to 4 out of 5, with more mature content as the series goes on. That’s an unofficial reader scale.
Is the Fourth Wing audiobook good?
Many listeners like it. Fourth Wing and Iron Flame are narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton. Try a sample to see if the voices suit you.
Is there a Fourth Wing TV series?
Yes. Prime Video ordered it to series in May 2026. No release date has been announced.
What should I read after Fourth Wing?
Try From Blood and Ash, The Prison Healer or The Serpent and the Wings of Night, depending on whether you want romance, survival stakes or a deadly competition.
Hi, I’m Nisbah – a blogger with over 2 years of experience creating content and a fantasy enthusiast who loves exploring magical worlds, fantasy books, captivating stories, and unforgettable characters. I share book recommendations, reviews, fantasy insights, and story discussions and creating guides to help readers discover their next great adventure.
