By: Teagan Mack

The Empyrean book series, written by Rebecca Yarros, is one of the most popular, and spoken of, fantasy book series since 2023. This series is a blend of fantasy, romance, and military adventures, capturing the attention of millions of readers worldwide. This story follows a young woman named Violet Sorrengail, who was forced to join an elite dragon-riding military war college, even though she was never trained for it.

This article may contain spoilers so read at your own risk.

The first book, ‘Fourth Wing’, was released in May 2023 and made its way up the charts quickly. It follows Violet’s journey into Basgiath War College, where she has to train hard to become a dragon rider, or die trying. Violet made friends and found old ones, found love, and with that came secrets and enemies. Her friends are amazing and really loyal, and she also became friends with the marked ones (they are basically the children of the enemies from a previous war, it’s kind of hard to explain) who are feared throughout Basgiath.

From the words of Ms. Pischke “It sucks you in the first 2 pages, then it sends you on this wild journey of heartbreak and there’s tears and a lot of emotion. I’m impatiently waiting for the 4th book.” The book has a mix of high end battles, magical dragons, and forbidden romance, going viral and selling over 2.7 million copies in its first week.

The second book, ‘Iron Flame’, came out just a few months later in November of 2023, continuing Violet’s story at the war college. In this book, Violet faces new enemies, more secrets, and amazing character development. Every rider is bonded to one dragon and earns powers from their dragons called signets. Violet has a different story though, she bonded with not one but two dragons, and has one of the most powerful signets that hasn’t been seen in centuries.

Throughout ‘Iron Flame’ Violet finds out more about her dragons, bonds, signets, and about how special the marked ones are. Evie Beetle says “I really like how the author writes the plot and action and the characters. The bonds. The writing makes the readers seem engaged. I feel connected to the characters which are different for me. I never read a fantasy book before this and it changed my perspective. There’s a good balance of action and emotion and character development.”

The third book, ‘Onyx Storm’, is the most recent book, coming out January 21, 2025. Even though this book series focuses on Violet and her journey, it also shows more about side characters like Violet’s friends, Xaden Riorson (her boyfriend) and their dragons. This book follows more of her second bonded dragon Andarna, and the history of the dragons. In the first book it is known that everyone gains one signet, and there are 6 breeds/colors of dragons, black being the rarest. Not only did Violet bond with the second biggest black dragon on the continent, but she also bonded with a mysterious little black dragon, who we later find out is a 7th breed of dragon who can basically camouflage and select their scale colors.

Readers are shaken by every plot twist and surprise these books bring, and after Rebecca Yarros announced that it was made to be a 5 book series. There are many theories about what the 4th book brings.

Rebecca Yarros, the author, is an amazing writer, getting readers hooked on the plot and each and every character, whether we like them or not. Yarros has a plan for every character and isn’t afraid to get rid of them, like we experience in the first book. Yarros has experience as a military spouse and lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a chronic illness that inspired parts of Violet’s character. In the acknowledgments at the back of ‘Onyx Storm’ she thanks her husband, because while writing this book she was struggling a lot, and he helped her through everything.

During her ‘Onyx Storm’ book tour she stated: “Someone you love won’t make it in book 4.” Every reader is speculating who it could be and we’re all scared. In the first book she got us hooked into a side character (one of Violet’s friends) who played a great role in her life. At the end of the book she killed him off saying it was because he was perfect and there was nothing to change about him or add to him. Readers are convinced the next victim is one of her best friends, because he is a big piece in Violet’s life and is perfect in every way.

In 2023 the Empyrean series was selected by Amazon MGM Studios to be turned into a TV show. With help from Michael B. Jordan’s production company, and Outlier Society with the adaptation, Emmy-winning writer Moira Walley-Beckett will be the showrunner. There have been many fan cast picks but nothing is official. To play the main male role fans want Josh Heuston, and for the main female role fans want Mackenzie Foy (from Twilight). I personally agree with these fancast options.