Fourth Wing Series Guide: Books, Order, TV Show & Release Dates

The Fourth Wing series has captured millions of readers worldwide with its thrilling blend of dragons, romance, and deadly war college drama. Rebecca Yarros created a fantasy phenomenon that dominates BookTok and bestseller lists. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the Empyrean series, from reading order to the upcoming Amazon TV adaptation.

The series follows twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail as she enters Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider. Violet was supposed to live quietly among books as a scribe, but her commanding general mother has different plans. The brutal war college operates on one simple rule: graduate or die.

BookTok readers have made Fourth Wing a viral sensation since its 2023 debut. The series combines intense action sequences with steamy romance and complex world-building. Readers praise the strong character development and the unique take on dragon-riding fantasy that sets it apart from other romantasy novels.

Fourth Wing Series Order

The Fourth Wing series consists of five planned books, with three currently published. Reading the books in order is essential since each installment builds directly on previous events and character development.

The complete Fourth Wing reading order follows the Empyrean series chronologically:

Book 1: Fourth Wing (May 2023)

The series opener introduces Violet Sorrengail and the dangerous world of Basgiath War College. Violet must survive deadly training, forge bonds with dragons, and navigate complex relationships with fellow cadets. The book establishes the foundation for the entire series and introduces key characters including love interest Xaden Riorson.

Book 2: Iron Flame (November 2023)

Iron Flame continues Violet’s second year at war college, where the real training begins. The sequel explores deeper themes of power, betrayal, and sacrifice while maintaining the intense romance readers love. The book ends with significant revelations that reshape everything readers thought they knew about the world.

Book 3: Onyx Storm (January 2025)

The latest installment picks up after Iron Flame’s dramatic cliffhanger. Violet faces new challenges as war threatens her homeland despite her growing powers and elite dragon companions. Onyx Storm builds toward the series’ climactic conflicts while setting up the final two books.

Books 4 & 5: Titles and Release Dates TBA

Rebecca Yarros has confirmed two additional books will complete the five-book series. She’s currently plotting the remaining storylines but hasn’t announced official titles or publication dates. Based on her comments, expect these books after 2025.

Fourth Wing Series Book 1 Details

Fourth Wing introduces readers to Rebecca Yarros’ fantasy world where dragons and their riders protect the kingdom of Navarre. The first book establishes the series’ core elements that make it so compelling to readers.

Violet Sorrengail arrives at Basgiath War College unprepared for the brutal reality of dragon rider training. Her fragile appearance makes her a target, but she possesses hidden strengths that surprise everyone including herself. The college’s harsh environment weeds out weak candidates through deadly trials.

The romance between Violet and Xaden Riorson develops throughout the first book. Their relationship begins with mutual distrust since Xaden’s father was executed by Violet’s mother. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic creates tension that drives much of the romantic subplot.

Dragon bonding represents a crucial element of Fourth Wing’s plot. Riders must form mental connections with their dragons during a dangerous ceremony called Threshing. Violet’s unconventional bonding experience sets her apart from other riders and foreshadows her unique role in coming conflicts.

Fourth Wing Series Book 2 Overview

Iron Flame escalates the stakes as Violet begins her second year at Basgiath War College. The sequel explores darker themes while maintaining the series’ signature blend of action and romance.

Second-year training proves more grueling and dangerous than first-year challenges. The book’s opening quote captures this escalation: “The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” Students face psychological challenges alongside physical dangers.

New characters and expanded world-building add depth to the series mythology. Iron Flame introduces additional dragon riders, explores political intrigue, and reveals hidden aspects of Navarre’s history. These revelations change how readers understand the series’ central conflicts.

The romance intensifies significantly in Iron Flame, featuring the famous “throne scene” that BookTok readers constantly reference. The relationship between Violet and Xaden deepens as they navigate external pressures and internal conflicts that test their bond.

Fourth Wing Series Book 4 Release Date

Rebecca Yarros hasn’t announced an official release date for Fourth Wing book 4. Based on recent interviews, she’s currently in the plotting phase for the remaining two books in the series.

The author has slowed her writing pace after producing three books in rapid succession. Yarros explained that she wrote 851,000 words in 15-18 months, which left her exhausted. She’s prioritizing her health while maintaining a consistent publication schedule.

Current speculation suggests book 4 could arrive in 2026 or 2027. Yarros mentioned she’ll begin detailed plotting in September or October 2025. The writing and editing process typically requires 12-18 months for books of this complexity and length.

Amazon’s TV adaptation team knows the complete five-book arc, which suggests Yarros has the overall story planned. However, she’s still working out specific details for books 4 and 5 to ensure proper pacing and character development.

Fourth Wing Series How Many Books

The Fourth Wing series will contain exactly five books when complete. Rebecca Yarros confirmed this total during various interviews and has planned the complete story arc accordingly.

Three books are currently available to readers:

• Fourth Wing (2023)
• Iron Flame (2023)
• Onyx Storm (2025)

Two additional books remain unwritten and untitled. Yarros has shared the basic plot outline with Amazon’s adaptation team but continues refining specific details for the final installments.

The five-book structure allows Yarros to fully develop her complex world-building and character arcs. Each book represents approximately one year of Violet’s journey, though the timeline may shift as the series progresses toward its conclusion.

Fourth Wing Series Movie Adaptation

Amazon MGM Studios is developing a Fourth Wing TV series rather than a movie adaptation. The multi-season format allows for more detailed storytelling that captures the books’ complexity and character development.

Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society production company partnered with Amazon to bring the series to screens. Jordan’s involvement attracted significant attention and demonstrates the project’s high-profile status in Hollywood.

Rebecca Yarros serves as executive producer, ensuring the adaptation remains faithful to her original vision. She’s praised Outlier Society’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, which align with her goals for representing the books’ diverse cast.

The TV format provides advantages over a single movie adaptation. Each book contains enough material for a full season, allowing showrunners to include subplot details and character development that movies typically compress or eliminate.

Fourth Wing Series TV Show Updates

The Fourth Wing TV series has experienced some production changes but remains in active development at Amazon Prime Video. Recent updates provide insight into the show’s progress and timeline.

Showrunner Changes

Moira Walley-Beckett was originally attached as showrunner in 2024. She’s known for creating Netflix’s “Anne with an E” and writing Emmy-winning episodes of “Breaking Bad.” However, Walley-Beckett departed the project in July 2025.

Jac Schaeffer is reportedly being considered as the new showrunner. She created “Agatha All Along” and “WandaVision” for Marvel/Disney, bringing extensive fantasy and supernatural experience to the project.

Production Timeline

No official premiere date has been announced. Industry insiders suggest the show likely won’t debut until 2027 at the earliest, given the production timeline and ongoing development.

Amazon MGM Studios head Vernon Sanders promised fans: “We’re going to get this one right.” The statement suggests the studio is prioritizing quality over speed for this high-profile adaptation.

Casting Speculation

No official cast members have been announced. Fan communities actively discuss dream casting choices for Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson, but these remain speculation until Amazon makes official announcements.

Fourth Wing Series Age Rating

The Fourth Wing series targets adult readers, not young adult audiences despite some marketing confusion. The books contain mature content that requires careful consideration for younger readers.

Content warnings include:

• Explicit sexual scenes and romantic situations
• Strong language throughout all three books
• Graphic violence and death during war college training
• Intense battle sequences and injury descriptions
• Themes of war, loss, and trauma

Most reviewers recommend the series for readers 17 and older. The sexual content is particularly explicit, earning the series its “spicy” reputation among BookTok readers.

Parents should review content warnings before allowing teenage readers access to the books. While the protagonist is twenty years old, the adult themes and situations make it inappropriate for younger audiences.

Fourth Wing Series Book 3 Onyx Storm

Onyx Storm arrived in January 2025 as the most anticipated BookTok release of the year. The third installment continues Violet’s story eighteen months after her arrival at Basgiath War College.

The book picks up directly after Iron Flame’s cliffhanger ending. Violet faces escalating threats as war devastates her homeland. Her growing powers and dragon bonds provide advantages, but greater challenges await.

Reader reception has been mixed compared to the first two books. Some fans felt Onyx Storm served primarily as setup for the series’ climactic final books rather than delivering a complete story arc.

The romantic elements continue evolving as Violet and Xaden’s relationship faces new pressures. Their bond deepens despite external forces attempting to separate them and test their commitment.

Critical plot revelations in Onyx Storm reshape readers’ understanding of the series’ central mysteries. These discoveries set up major conflicts that will dominate the final two books.

Fourth Wing Series Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime Video will stream the Fourth Wing TV series when it premieres. The show represents a major investment for Amazon’s fantasy programming strategy following successful adaptations.

The streaming platform won the rights in a competitive auction that occurred before the 2023 writers’ strike. Amazon acquired adaptation rights for all five planned books, indicating confidence in the series’ long-term potential.

Prime Video’s fantasy portfolio includes “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and other high-budget productions. Fourth Wing fits their strategy of adapting popular book properties with built-in fan bases.

The global reach of Prime Video ensures Fourth Wing will have international distribution from day one. This accessibility could help the show reach audiences beyond the books’ existing readers.

Supporting Characters and World Building

The Fourth Wing series features an extensive cast of supporting characters who enrich Violet’s journey and expand the story’s scope. Each character serves specific narrative purposes while contributing to the series’ complex world-building.

Dain Aetos represents Violet’s childhood friend whose relationship with her becomes complicated by their war college circumstances. His character explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and the challenges of changing relationships under pressure.

Rhiannon Matthias emerges as Violet’s closest friend and confidant at Basgiath. Her character provides emotional support and represents the bonds that can form even in the college’s brutal environment.

The dragon characters possess distinct personalities and play crucial roles beyond simple transportation. Each dragon-rider bond reflects different aspects of the human-dragon relationship that defines the series’ magical system.

Faculty members at Basgiath War College include complex figures who challenge students while harboring their own secrets and motivations. These authority figures add layers of intrigue and moral ambiguity to the institutional setting.

Themes and Literary Analysis

Rebecca Yarros weaves sophisticated themes throughout the Fourth Wing series that elevate it beyond simple fantasy romance. These deeper meanings contribute to the books’ widespread appeal and critical discussion.

Power dynamics appear throughout the series, from institutional hierarchy at Basgiath to personal relationships between characters. Violet’s journey explores how individuals navigate systems designed to suppress them while finding ways to claim their own agency.

The series examines chronic illness representation through Violet’s physical challenges. Yarros drew from her own experience with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome to create authentic portrayal of living with invisible disabilities.

Historical truth and propaganda form central themes as characters discover official histories may not reflect actual events. The series questions who gets to write history and how those in power control narratives.

Family expectations versus personal desires drive much of Violet’s character development. Her struggle between her mother’s military plans and her own scholarly interests reflects universal coming-of-age conflicts.

Reading Recommendations and Similar Series

Readers who enjoy the Fourth Wing series often seek similar books that blend fantasy, romance, and strong female protagonists. Several series offer comparable reading experiences.

Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series provides similar romantasy elements with fae courts instead of dragons. The books feature intense romantic relationships and fantasy world-building that appeals to Fourth Wing fans.

Lauren Roberts’ “Powerless” trilogy offers dystopian fantasy with romantic elements and a strong female lead. The series explores themes of power and resistance that resonate with Fourth Wing readers.

Jennifer L. Armentrout’s “From Blood and Ash” series combines fantasy romance with mysterious world-building and compelling romantic tension. The books feature similar enemies-to-lovers dynamics.

For readers seeking more dragon-focused fantasy, Anne McCaffrey’s classic “Dragonriders of Pern” series provides foundational dragon-bonding concepts that influenced modern fantasy including Fourth Wing.

Fourth Wing Series Cultural Impact

The Fourth Wing series has significantly influenced reading culture, particularly through social media platforms where book communities gather and share recommendations.

BookTok’s role in the series’ success cannot be overstated. Short video reviews, dramatic readings, and fan theories have introduced millions of readers to Rebecca Yarros’ work and fantasy romance as a genre.

The series has contributed to the broader “romantasy” trend that combines romantic elements with fantasy world-building. Publishers now actively seek similar manuscripts to capitalize on reader demand for this hybrid genre.

Fan art communities have flourished around Fourth Wing characters and dragons. Artists create visual interpretations that help readers visualize Yarros’ descriptions and share their passion for the series.

Reading challenges and book clubs frequently feature Fourth Wing as gateway fantasy for readers traditionally focused on contemporary romance. The series serves as an entry point into broader fantasy reading.

Future of the Fourth Wing Series

The Fourth Wing series’ future includes both literary and multimedia components that will extend its cultural impact beyond the original five-book plan.

Graphic novel adaptations are in development for all three published books. Rebecca Yarros will adapt her own text with professional comic creators, creating visual versions that may attract new audiences.

The Amazon TV series represents the most significant expansion of the Fourth Wing universe. If successful, the adaptation could spawn additional seasons covering the final two books and potentially original content.

International translations continue expanding the series’ global reach. Publishers in multiple countries are releasing translated versions that introduce non-English readers to Yarros’ fantasy world.

Merchandise opportunities include everything from dragon-themed jewelry to war college apparel that allows fans to express their connection to the series in everyday life.

Conclusion

The Fourth Wing series has established itself as a defining work of modern romantasy fiction. Rebecca Yarros created a compelling world that resonates with readers through its combination of fantasy elements, romantic tension, and complex character development.

The series’ success demonstrates the power of social media book communities to propel literary works to bestseller status. BookTok’s enthusiasm for Fourth Wing shows how online platforms can create cultural phenomena around books.

With three books published and two more planned, plus the Amazon TV adaptation in development, the Fourth Wing universe will continue expanding and reaching new audiences. The series represents the growing popularity of fantasy romance and the demand for diverse, complex storytelling.

Whether you’re new to fantasy romance or a devoted BookTok follower, the Fourth Wing series offers an immersive reading experience that explains why millions of readers have fallen under its spell. The combination of dragons, deadly trials, and passionate romance creates an addictive formula that keeps readers eagerly awaiting each new installment.