The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros
Often referred to as the Fourth Wing Series, Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean Series is a must-read for adult fantasy lovers. With a strong female protagonist, fearsome dragons, and a chillingly combative dystopian world setting, the books are all but impossible to put down. Here, I am sharing details about the Empyrean Series, with synopsis and reviews of the released books (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame), and information on the soon-to-be released third book in the series,Onyx Storm:
Table of Contents:
About the Author, Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros is a prolific writer with over fifteen novels, many of which feature binge-worthy romances. With Fourth Wing and the Empyrean Series, Yarros has expanded into the world of dystopian high fantasy, and her writing has reached even larger audiences thanks to the genre’s devoted fanbase.
In her personal life, Yarros is married and has six children and a slew of pets, including English Bulldogs who helped inspire the dragons in the Empyrean series. As a cat lover myself, I can’t fail to mention that she also has a cat named Artemis, a Maine Coon who the author says “rules them all.”
Learn more about Rebecca Yarros by visiting her website here!
This post is a part of my What to Read series, where I share themed reading lists and book guides based on genre, time period, theme, or author.
You can peruse more of my What to Read reading guides here!
Fourth Wing Inspired Finds
Plot & Main Characters of the Empyrean Series
Please note: These sections have some light spoilers for the series.
And while I’m here, this series is rather mature – definitely adult in themes – so bear that in mind.
The Empyrean Series follows Violet Sorrengail as she prepares to join the Scribes at the Basgiath War College. Violet’s mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, decides to place her youngest (and fragile) daughter with the demanding Riders Quadrant, where cadets learn to handle dragons of war.
From here, Violet enters a dangerous world, both politically and physically, as she deals with viciously competitive peers and grudges held against her for the brutal of her mother during the Revolution. Violet quickly learns to trust no one as she navigates her new life, finding ways to advance in the Basgiath War College despite her physical weakness and lack of training.
Major Characters:
Note: There are a lot of characters in this series, and I don’t want to give away details, so I’m only listing a basic character sheet. For more characters and further details on those listed here, I recommend checking out the Fourth Wing Wiki here.
- Violet Sorrengail – 20-year-old protagonist, Violet arrives at Basgiath War College with the intention of joining the Scribes, but finds herself training with the dragon riders.
- Xaden Riorson – a third-year dragon rider and wingleader of the Fourth Wing at Basgiath War College, Xaden is, at first, mysterious antagonist to Violet.
- Dain Aetos – an old friend of Violet’s, Dain is a dragon rider and older student at the Basgiath War College who takes Violet under his wing, so to speak, when she joins the riders.
- Andarnaurram (Andarna) – an adolescent dragon who is largely underestimated by the riders looking to bond with a dragon, Andarna is an enigma whose mysteries fuel the series.
- Tairneanach (Tairn) – an impressively old and strong dragon, Tairn is the second largest dragon in active service and needs a new rider from Basgiath War College. He and Andarna offer some of the best banter in the series.
- Lilith Sorrengail – Commander and leader of the Basgiath War College, Lilith is Violet’s mother who typically prefers her older two children (Brennan and Mira) to her youngest (Violet). She was married to a scribe (unnamed — readers refer to him as “Father Sorrengail”) who dies before the books start.
- Mira Sorrengail – Violet’s sister and a First-Lieutenant Rider in the infantry.
- Brennan Sorrengail – Violet’s brother who helps his sister survive her first year at the War College when she posthumously finds his journal.
Summaries & Reviews of Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, & Onyx Storm
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Publisher Synopsis:
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general―also known as her tough-as-talons mother―has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter―like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda―because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.
My Review: 5/5 Stars
If you spend any time on Bookstagram, you’ll have seen Fourth Wing making the rounds en masse in spring/summer 2023. It was so big that it became just about impossible to get a copy of it to even read!
Well, my copy finally came in and I can tell you…I totally get the hype. And I can say, without a doubt, it’s my favorite book I read this month.
Similar to Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (another giant in this genre), Fourth Wing has a dystopian/Hunger Games kind of vibe to it, full of drama, political intrigue, badass women, otherworldly romance, and dragons. Plus, not only are there dragons, but the dragons are fully developed characters, which is extra fun. This is one of those books (and series) that I simply could not put down!
Fourth Wing is available from Bookshop.org here.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Publisher Synopsis:
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
My Review: 5/5 Stars
After Fourth Wing took Instagram by storm, I was eager to read the second book in the Empyrean series as soon as it came out. Iron Flame was every bit as amazing as Fourth Wing.
I don’t care what anyone says about it, it was not too long, it did not need better editing. I enjoyed every minute of this 640 page book. My only issue was all the miscommunication between Violet and Xander, but I chalked that up to *the drama*.
So, go read this book and, once you’re done, join me down the theory rabbit holes on TikTok and Instagram about how Violet has two dragons, who her mom really was, how to cure venin, and more!
Iron Flame is available from Bookshop.org here.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Publisher Synopsis:
After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons.
No more time for uncertainty.
Because the battle has truly begun; and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre.
The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves – her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army.
They need power.
They need magic.
And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming… and not everyone can survive its wrath
My Review: 5/5 Stars
What a wild ride! As I expected, Onyx Storm really threw me for a loop — various loops, really — and not just because I hadn’t re-read the first two books in the Empyrean series. Rebecca Yarros sure knows how to keep her readers on their toes through her gripping, ever-changing plot lines, and I loved the excessive amounts of witty banter throughout this novel. Between Andarna as an angsty teenager dragon and Violet really coming into her own in her confidence and leadership ability, Onyx Storm kept me engaged from start to finish. The slow burn romance between Violet and Xaden was intriguing, as well — a bit of a different side of their relationship than earlier on, but offered some great insights into their character development.
Without spoiling anything, I definitely was confused at the ending and have been debating just what happened with friends who have finished the book. I might need to do a re-read of this one because I think there are details I missed the first time around.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros is available from Bookshop.org here.
Fourth Wing Inspired Merch
There is no shortage of great Fourth Wing themed merch on Etsy! I have a full page of great finds here, but these are a few of my favorites:
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*This post was originally published on January 4, 2025. It was most recently updated on March 5, 2026..
