Fans of Rebecca Yarros's bestselling Empyrean series are in for a long wait. While the author is releasing not one but two books in 2026, neither of them is the highly anticipated Fourth Wing book 4.
On April 28, 2025, Yarros made an exclusive announcement on the TODAY show, revealing her next contemporary romance novel titled "Peculiar Stars." The book, described as a "castaway romance," follows Callista who crashes during a cyclone and is stranded for 543 days on a deserted island with her fiancé's cousin. The novel releases November 17, 2026.
But that's not all. Sharp-eyed fans discovered a mysterious listing on Amazon earlier in April: "Untitled Empyrean (Not Book Four)." The 176-page book shot to number one on Amazon's bestseller list despite having no cover, no title, and barely any information. It's scheduled for release on September 29, 2026.
Yarros confirmed next Empyrean book, Fourth Wing 4 timeline unchanged
When fans found the September listing before she could announce it, Yarros took to Instagram to clarify the situation. She confirmed that this mystery Empyrean book "is NOT the upcoming graphic novel" and pointed out that "this hasn't altered book 4's timeline in the least."
The surprise project, which Yarros said she planned "about a year ago to drop a surprise for you guys," appears to be a novella-length work set in the Empyrean world. Some fans speculate it could explain the mysterious 12 hours Violet was missing at the end of Onyx Storm.
Why the long wait for Fourth Wing 4?
Yarros has been transparent about her need to slow down after an intense writing schedule. In a March 2025 interview on the Open Book with Jenna podcast, she revealed she was working 12 to 15 hours a day while writing Onyx Storm and her 2024 contemporary romance Variation.
"I miss my kids, and I miss my family, and I feel like I wasn't able to be present because I was just driven by these deadlines," Yarros explained. She added that she needs to work "eight hours a day and not 12 to 15" to maintain a sustainable pace and avoid burnout.
The author also explained her pattern of alternating between genres. "I swing back and forth between the two," she said about rotating between fantasy and contemporary romance. This means her contemporary novel Peculiar Stars comes before she completes the fourth Fourth Wing book.
Yarros only began working on book 4 in February 2026, starting with index cards and a plot board. She previously shut down a January 2026 placeholder date on Goodreads, calling it "impossible."
Based on previous release patterns and Yarros's commitment to a healthier writing pace, late 2027 is the most realistic estimate for Fourth Wing book 4. The gap between books has been increasing. Fourth Wing was published in May 2023, Iron Flame followed in November 2023 (six months later), and Onyx Storm released in January 2025 (14 months later).
Where Onyx Storm left off
Book 3 ended on a devastating cliffhanger. In the final battle, Xaden fully turned venin (the second stage, called asim) when he channeled power from the earth to save his dragon Sgaeyl from the venin sage Berwyn. His shadows unleashed an "onyx storm" that destroyed their enemies, but he disappeared afterward with Sgaeyl.
Violet woke up at Riorson House with 12 missing hours she couldn't remember, married to Xaden, who was now gone. Even more troubling, she couldn't feel her bond with Tairn clearly, suggesting the connection between the mated dragons (and their riders) may have been severed.
Adding to the mystery, Xaden's final POV chapter revealed he has a "new brother,” someone close to him who also turned venin. While Xaden's identity is known, this second person's identity remains unknown, though fans speculate it's either Bodhi or Garrick, both of whom were unaccounted for at the book's end.
Yarros has confirmed the Empyrean series will be five books total, meaning we still have two more installments after the current cliffhanger. She's also revealed that book 4 will have at least four POV characters: Violet, Xaden, Dain, and Ridoc. The author has warned fans that "someone you love won't make it" in book 4.
While the wait may be frustrating, Yarros's gratitude to her fanbase was clear in her Instagram post about the surprise September book. "Please know that I never take your enthusiasm and dedication for granted," she wrote. "I know how rare this air is. You are a constant source of joy not just in my life but each other's."
For now, fans have two 2026 releases to look forward to, even if neither is the book 4 they're desperately waiting for.
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