The next installment in Rebecca Yarros’ hit romantic fantasy series “The Empyrean” is on the way, and the author is sharing a first look at the latest book set in the world of “Fourth Wing.”
Yarros exclusively unveiled the cover of “Onyx Storm” to TODAY.com July 8.
“It’s amazing to be back with these characters again. After three books, we’re on an incredible journey together and I’ve loved expanding the world around them as they discover more about it,” Yarros tells TODAY.com in a statement. “I can’t wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!”
“Onyx Storm” will hit shelves Jan. 21, 2025. It comes a little over a year after the “Fourth Wing” sequel, “Iron Flame,” dropped in November 2023.
The book is available for preorder. Fans in the U.S. and Canada can also purchase a deluxe edition with sprayed edges, stenciled artwork and more design features.
The “Onyx Storm” cover signals an ominous turn in the series, with an all-black design and the tagline: “Brave the dark.”
“Fourth Wing,” the first book in the series,” came in a bright gold color with the banner: “Fly… or die.” Its fiery red sequel, “Iron Flame,” read: “Burn. It. Down.”
Yarros announced the third “Empyrean” book on Instagram in March.
“There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies, and of course, dragons,” she teased at the time.
“The Empyrean” series, a BookTok staple recommendation, follows Violet Sorrengail, a dragon rider trying to survive the cutthroat world of Basgiath War College as war brews outside the barriers of her territory of Navarre.
Add in a love triangle (this is romantasy, after all) between Violet, her childhood best friend Dain and the son of a rebellion leader, and you’ve got the exhilarating premise of the novels.
As of July 8, “Fourth Wing,” which came out in May 2023, has spent 60 weeks on The New York Times’ best–seller list. “Iron Flame” is close behind with an impressive 34 weeks.
While Yarros is planning for five total books in the series, a TV adaptation of “Fourth Wing” is already in the works with Amazon MGM Studios and Michael B. Jordan’s production company, Outlier Society, Deadline reported.
Yarros told TODAY.com in 2023 that “The Empyrean” series is “fully plotted out” across the five books.
“I think it really deals with the theme of history: Who’s allowed to tell our history, and what happens when only people in power are the ones who record our history,” she said.
Part of the inspiration for heroine Violet, who is written as having a chronic condition that impacts the body’s connective tissue, came from Yarros.
“Violet has chronic illness — she has Ehlers-Danlos, which is a condition I have. It’s been really amazing to see readers reach out and say that it’s touched them, especially those of us who have EDS, to be able to see a heroine like us with chronic illness,” she said.
