New York, April 28, 2026, 09:06 EDT
- Rebecca Yarros announced that her standalone contemporary romance, Peculiar Stars, is set for release on November 17, 2026.
- Another Empyrean hardcover—described as “Not Book Four”—lands September 29, fueling ongoing Fourth Wing chatter.
- Yarros says she’s working on the fourth Empyrean novel. There’s still no word on a release date.
Rebecca Yarros is set to release Peculiar Stars, a standalone romance novel, on November 17. That adds another 2026 date to the calendar for fans, as she keeps working on book four of her hit Empyrean fantasy series. On Instagram, Yarros called the upcoming book a “slow-burn romance,” centering on “543 days,” “one island,” and “no easy answers.” Instagram
Timing is crucial here: Yarros isn’t just steering a blockbuster series anymore. She’s juggling the demands of a sprawling romance audience, stoking a fantasy universe with mainstream pull, and facing a fan community dissecting every new listing for hints. Back in 2023, Publishers Weekly noted that Yarros struck a two-book agreement with Montlake— Amazon Publishing’s romance arm—for standalone contemporary romances, with releases planned for fall 2025 and fall 2026.
Callista and Dominic are at the heart of Peculiar Stars, as teased in Yarros’ latest announcement. This one signals a return to contemporary romance for the author, who just came off the fantasy-driven Fourth Wing. Details are minimal, but the theme lands: survival, forced proximity, and a relationship strained beyond the everyday.
This new book isn’t connected to the other upcoming Yarros title. Retail pages have an Untitled Empyrean (Not Book Four) hardcover listed for September 29, 2026—176 pages, ISBN 9781682818084. On Target, Rebecca Yarros appears as the author, the format is hardcover, and the street date stays at September 29.
The listing has fueled talk, landing in the Empyrean universe but clearly stating it’s not the next main entry. RUSSH noted that Yarros made it clear: not Book 4, not the graphic novel, with no impact on the Book 4 schedule.
The fourth Empyrean book still sits as the series’ big commercial unknown. Back in March, Yarros told Business Insider she was “back writing in the Empyrean world” following a stint on a contemporary project for her editor. Then at a January 2025 event, she left readers with this: “Someone you love won’t make it in book four.” Business Insider
The franchise pulls more weight than most in the book world. According to Circana, Onyx Storm just logged the fastest-ever launch week for any adult book tracked by BookScan over the past 20 years. Other writers—H.D. Carlton, Rina Kent, and Elsie Silver—have also helped drive romance sales higher. Romantasy, that mashup of romance and fantasy, stands out as one of publishing’s most persistent growth engines.
On her official site, Yarros pitches The Empyrean as a series built around “the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders.” The first three books—Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm—are listed out front. According to the site, over one million readers have handed Fourth Wing a five-star rating. Rebecca Yarros
The 2026 release slate is shaping up to be a crowded one, raising the possibility that fans might mix up the September Empyrean side project, the standalone romance due in November, and Book 4, which doesn’t have a date yet. Retail listings might shift ahead of launch. As it stands, the schedule is more streamlined than rumored: Peculiar Stars lands in November, the Empyrean project drops in September, and Book 4 remains a work in progress.
