Rebecca Yarros' romantasy series, spearheaded by the breakout hit Fourth Wing, has rapidly become a cultural phenomenon. The first book in the Empyrean series, published in May 2023, immerses readers in a tale of a dragon academy and magic, quickly gaining a massive fanbase and spawning adaptations including an Amazon TV series and board game projects.
For newcomers, Fourth Wing serves as an ideal entry point into the Empyrean series and the romantasy genre. The series continues with Iron Flame released in November 2023, followed by Onyx Storm in January 2025, and the fourth book is currently untitled and without a release date.
The Empyrean series is widely available across various formats. Digital editions, particularly for Kindle, saw significant popularity and offer a convenient reading experience, with physical paperback and hardcover editions available at comparable prices. For audiobook enthusiasts, the original narration by Rebecca Soler has drawn mixed reception. A more immersive experience can be found in dramatized adaptations of Fourth Wing, which feature a full cast.
In addition to the main novels, a new companion book, Threshing Day, is set to release, offering a collection of short stories focusing on various characters' Threshing Day – the day they bonded with their dragons. While Fourth Wing shows Violet Sorrengail's Threshing Day, this collection explores other key perspectives. The placement of these stories on the timeline varies; Xaden's narrative, for instance, takes place a few years before Violet's arrival at Basgiath War College, suggesting a non-linear chronological approach for some included tales.
The series is also expanding into visual media with its first graphic novel, Fourth Wing, The Graphic Novel: Volume One, slated for release on April 6, 2027. This volume is expected to adapt chapters 1-22 of the first book and span 256 pages. Yarros has indicated that a second graphic novel is already written, with further volumes in development.
Fans eagerly anticipating the next installment in the main Empyrean series, Book Four, face an indefinite wait. Yarros has been engaged with various other projects, and while speculative release dates suggest a possibility as early as 2027, no official announcement has been made regarding its publication.