How many books are in the Fourth Wing series?

There are 3 published books in the Fourth Wing series in 2026, out of 5 planned books. Read them in this order: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, then Onyx Storm. The series is officially called The Empyrean, and the published books do not yet form a completed series.

Why this matters

Three books to read is not the same commitment as a finished trilogy. If you want a complete story before you start, the planned series length matters more than the number of titles you can currently name.

If you have already finished the first novel, the next step is Iron Flame, not a companion book or a prequel. If you are deciding whether to stop after the opening installment, read the guide to whether Fourth Wing can be read as a standalone.

The useful distinction is simple: count the published novels to plan your immediate reading, and count the planned novels to understand the longer commitment. Do not treat those totals as interchangeable.

How many books are in the Fourth Wing series?

The 2026 count is 3 published novels in a planned 5-book series. Rebecca Yarros is the author; The Empyrean is the series name. Fourth Wing is the opening novel, although readers also use its title to refer to the whole series.

The author’s official Empyrean series information and Red Tower Books’ listings are the reference points for the series plan and the named novels. The reading sequence is:

Read in publication order. These are connected installments, not separate adventures you can rearrange around a favorite character or setting.

The difference between the published count and the planned total is 2 books. That describes the remaining space in the announced series plan; it is not a publication timetable. A planned installment and a published novel belong in different columns of your reading list.

Fourth Wing: book 1

Fourth Wing is the starting point. It introduces Violet Sorrengail, the pressures of training at Basgiath War College, and the relationship between riders and dragons.

Best for: readers beginning The Empyrean. The novel establishes the relationships, rules, and conflicts that the later books build on. Starting here lets you encounter those discoveries in the intended sequence rather than reconstructing them from references in a sequel.

Its appeal is the combination of dangerous training, dragon bonds, and a central romance. Its limitation for readers seeking a single-book commitment is equally clear: it opens a continuing story rather than delivering the conclusion to the entire series.

Keep that distinction in mind when someone recommends it as a quick introduction to fantasy romance. An accessible entry point is not necessarily a self-contained one. You can try the first book before committing to the others, but that is a reading decision, not evidence that the series ends there.

Recommendation: start here; do not skip ahead. You do not need a different entry novel to understand the opening setup.

Iron Flame: book 2

Iron Flame is the direct sequel to Fourth Wing. It continues Violet’s story and builds on relationships and conflicts established in the opening novel.

Best for: readers who want to continue immediately after Fourth Wing. This is the next main installment, not an optional side story. Reading it before the first book would expose developments whose meaning depends on what came earlier.

The meaningful difference is scope. Fourth Wing introduces the training environment and its immediate dangers; Iron Flame develops the wider conflict around that foundation. Expect continuation rather than a fresh cast and an unrelated romantic premise.

That continuity is also its limitation as an entry point. A short summary of the first book can remind a returning reader what happened, but it does not replace the relationships and discoveries established there.

If you took a long break after Fourth Wing, review a recap that stops at the first book’s ending. Avoid a general series summary: it can include events from later installments without warning.

Recommendation: read second, after finishing Fourth Wing.

Onyx Storm: book 3

Onyx Storm follows Iron Flame. It is the third published novel in The Empyrean, not the start of a separate series.

Best for: readers who have completed both earlier books. Its place in the sequence matters because it continues an existing story. The familiar author and dragon imagery are not the only connections; the narrative itself carries forward.

The main distinction for a new reader is that Onyx Storm is not a shortcut into the series. For a returning reader, the important distinction is that reaching this book does not mean reaching the planned ending.

In 2026, book 3 is the latest published installment in a planned 5-book sequence. That makes it the end of the current published reading order, not the conclusion of the full series.

Avoid reviews, character searches, and detailed synopses until you have finished Iron Flame. Even a discussion about a later book’s opening can reveal the outcome of an earlier conflict.

Recommendation: read third; do not approach it as a standalone or a finale.

Why the Fourth Wing book count varies

Different answers often count different things. Before accepting a total, check what the list includes and whether it distinguishes a plan from a publication.

• Published novels. This count includes the main books that have been published: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm.
• Planned novels. The announced series plan contains 5 books. That total includes installments beyond the published sequence.
• Special editions. A different cover, sprayed edges, or additional material does not by itself turn an edition into another main novel.
• Audio formats. A standard narration and a dramatized adaptation can represent the same underlying book. Count the story, not each recording.
• Series naming. A list headed The Empyrean and a list headed Fourth Wing series can refer to the same sequence, not two separate collections.

The practical rule is one main novel, one place in the reading order. A retailer’s results page can contain several listings for that single place.

When you compare lists, look for titles rather than counting thumbnails. A paperback, an ebook, and an audiobook of Iron Flame remain the second novel. Format choice changes how you read or listen, not which installment comes next.

Should you start now or wait for the series to finish?

Start now if you enjoy following an unfinished story. Wait if a completed ending is part of what you need from your next read. Neither choice changes the order: Fourth Wing still comes first.

Use the decision that matches your reading habits, not someone else’s enthusiasm for the series.

Start now

Best for: readers comfortable with an ongoing series. You can read the published novels in sequence and join discussions once you are caught up.

The trade-off is incomplete closure. Reaching the end of the published books is not the same as reaching the planned ending, and you will need to remember the story when you return.

Wait for completion

Best for: readers who prefer one continuous, finished story. Waiting lets you make your reading commitment around the completed sequence rather than the current published count.

The trade-off is postponing a series you want to try. You also need to avoid spoilers while browsing recommendations and discussions. Waiting is a preference, not a guarantee that the eventual story will suit you.

Read something self-contained first

Best for: readers who want fantasy romance without an ongoing-series commitment. Choose a standalone or a completed series while keeping The Empyrean on your reading list.

The trade-off is difference. Another book can match the dangerous trials, romantic tension, or dragon bonds without reproducing all of them. Decide which quality matters most before choosing a substitute.

For your 2026 reading list, separate two questions: do you want Fourth Wing specifically, or do you want the reading experience that drew you to it? The second question gives you more room to choose.

Is Fourth Wing a trilogy or a five-book series?

Five books are planned for The Empyrean, so it is not a planned trilogy. The presence of 3 published novels does not change the intended total.

A trilogy describes a three-book sequence. It should not be used as shorthand for an unfinished longer series simply because the current published count happens to be three.

This matters when you see a collection containing the opening books. A collection’s contents tell you what that collection includes, not whether the whole story is complete.

Do special editions count as extra Fourth Wing books?

Three published main novels remain three main novels, regardless of edition. Count a special edition under the title it contains rather than adding it as another installment.

Additional material can be interesting to an existing reader, but it does not automatically create a new numbered book. Check the contents before choosing an edition; do not assume a different cover means a different story.

What should you read after the published Fourth Wing books?

Three published books take you through Onyx Storm. After that, choose your next read by the part of the series you most want to keep: dragon bonds, dangerous training, romantic tension, or a continuing cast.

Do not settle for “also fantasy romance” as the entire reason for a recommendation. A useful match explains both the similarity and the difference. A book with a comparable romance can still feel very different if it removes the academy setting or gives dragons a smaller role.

GetSimilarBooks is best for readers seeking curated fiction recommendations after Fourth Wing. Enter a title you enjoyed to receive 5 hand-curated read-alike suggestions; the personalized list of 20–30 titles requires an email address.

The benefit is a focused set of books to consider. The limitation is that recommendations help you choose another read; they do not continue Violet’s story or replace an unpublished installment.

FAQ

One last thing

Keep a spoiler-free return note when you finish each installment. Write down the character relationships and unanswered questions you want to remember, then label the note with the last book you completed.

That boundary matters more than a long summary. When you return to the series, you can refresh your memory without searching a character name and encountering a later development. Your own stopping point is the safest place to restart.

Related guides

• Completed series for readers who loved Fourth Wing
• Standalone books like Fourth Wing
• Books like Fourth Wing with dragons and rider bonds