Before Rebecca Yarros' breakout into romantasy withFourth Wing—which has led to her latest release,Onyx Storm, to shatter sales records—the author was known for her long-time success in contemporary romance. Yarros has often expressed her love for writing both fantasy and romance, and her large portfolio of work shows just how experienced the author is at writing a phenomenal romance storyline—which is just one of many reasons theromance inFourth Wingis without equal. And as stated in an interview withVariety, Yarros will revisit her contemporary roots before diving back intoFourth Wing.
This likely means a longer wait before the nextEmpyrean Seriesbookis released, but it also gives fans plenty of time to read Yarros' vast selection of popular novels—including her latest contemporary romance,Variation, which was published only a few months beforeOnyx Storm. More often than not, Yarros' fantasy book series parallels her contemporary novels—all of which explore similar themes of war, loss, and typically impart emotional distress upon readers. Those who love the character development and relationships inFourth Wingshould definitely check out several of Yarros' other works.
7The Last Letter
Published In 2019
The Last Letterisone of Yarros' more emotionally compelling romance novels. This is seen not only through the tension and palpable yearning between Yarros' love interests, but by building strong relationships between them and several other important characters. After Beckett’s best friend, Ryan, dies in combat, he receives a letter from his late friend asking him to leave the army and go take care of his sister, Ella—who now has no one else to call family. Having been in touch with Ella as a pen pal for the last several years, Beckett already feels a strong connection.
Yarros’The Last Letteris heartbreakingly tragic and full of unforeseen plot twists—but is so worth the emotional rollercoaster Yarros takes readers on.
Wanting to honor his best-friend’s dying wish, Beckett finds his way to Telluride, but doesn’t disclose who he is to Ella when he arrives. And having never seen a photo of her previous pen-pal before, Ella has no idea the full extent of the history between them. Yarros’The Last Letteris heartbreakingly tragic and full of unforeseen plot twists—but is so worth the emotional rollercoaster Yarros takes readers on. This novel is the perfectFourth Wingreplacementfor readers who love the friendships and found-family aspects of the popular fantasy series.
6The Things We Leave Unfinished
Published In 2021
The Things We Leave Unfinishedcontinues Yarros' exploration of wartime romance, but this time jumps back and forth between present day and World War II. Blending contemporary and historical romance, the narrative follows Georgia as she returns to her hometown after a messy divorce only to find prolific romance author, Noah, attempting to get his hands on her late great-grandmother Scarlett’s unpublished final novel. As they work on the novel to honor her legacy, they realize the novel isn’t just fiction, but a depiction of Scarlett’s love life.
The Things We Leave Unfinishedjumps between Georgia’s present-day romance and Scarlett’s past as they attempt to uncover why Scarlett never published her own love story.The romance dynamics throughout the narrative are phenomenal, and true to Yarros fashion, it includes a major plot twist ending that changes the scope by which the entire story is viewed. Arguably one of Yarros’best romantic novels, TheThings We Leave Unfinishedis a must-read.
5In The Likely Event
Published In 2023
Rebecca Yarros’In The Likely Eventwas published in betweenFourth WingandIron Flame, and quickly became one of the mostpopular romance novels on BookTok, alongside theEmpyrean Series.In The Likely Eventkicks off with high tension and high stakes, as Izzy and Nathaniel are reunited on a tarmac in Afghanistan after nearly three years of silence. Their chance reunion gives a strong parallel to when they first met 10 years prior, as seatmates on a flight that crashed into the Missouri River 90 seconds after takeoff—and changed their lives forever.
While the miscommunication trope can be deterring to some readers, Yarros uses it in a way that helps to strongly define her characters and create a believable source of conflict throughout the novel.
In The Likely Eventis dual POV and explores both Nathaniel’s and Izzy’s past and present throughout the narrative—allowing readers to piece together what happened to split the two characters apart. Their miscommunication heavily impacts their relationship, but having only seen each other for a few days over the course of years, it’s no surprise they aren’t on the same page. While the miscommunication trope can be deterring to some readers, Yarros explores the dynamic in a way that helps to strongly define her characters and create a believable source of conflict throughout the novel.
4Variation
Published In 2024
Variation, Yarros' latest contemporary romance published in November 2024, made for theperfect replacement read ahead ofOnyx Storm’s January release. It’s no surprise so manyFourth Wingfans reached for Yarros' latest contemporary novel, asthe narrative’s romantic tension and witty banter has become a staple in the author’s many books and series.Variationis a second-chance romance between an elite ballerina, Allie Rousseau, and Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hudson Ellis, who, after a decade apart, find themselves thrust into the most unlikely fake-dating scenario.
“Messy is good, love. Messy is where the best parts of life happen.”
― Rebecca Yarros, Variation
The steamy chemistry and romance found in Yarros’Fourth Wingnovels are top-notch, but these aspects aren’t exclusive to her fantasy series.Variationencompasses everything readers love aboutFourth Wing, but instead of high stakes and action, Yarros' explores her character’s strengths and weaknesses in a much more subtle manner—making the narrative all the more relatable to the reader. Yarros has also stated that writingVariationhelped save her career, and without it, she wouldn’t have been able to writeOnyx Storm.
3Great And Precious Things
Published In 2020
Great and Precious Thingsisone of Rebecca Yarros' more underrated romances. Having been released a few years prior toFourth Wing, not many readers have found the chance to read it, but with the longer wait betweenEmpyrean Seriesnovels, now is the perfect time to do so. After returning home from war six years prior with his younger brother in a casket, Camden’s family and the small town of Alba, Colorado never forgave him. While Camden swore he’d never return, he does so at the request of his ailing father—who also blames him for his brother’s death.
Aside from exploring estranged family dynamics, and the profound effects of grief and guilt,Great and Precious Thingsalso depicts unconditional love through its tender romance. Camden and Willow grew up childhood best-friends, but their relationship forever changed when she began dating his youngest brother, Sullivan, and again when he died. Thisfriends-to-lovers romanceis incredibly heartwarming and a must-read for Rebecca Yarros fans.
2Full Measures (Flight And Glory Series)
Published In 2014
Full Measures, the first in theFlight and Gloryseries—and Yarros' debut novel—centers around Ember, who has attempted to piece together her crumbling family since her father passed away on active duty. But once her mother completely falls apart, everything Ember has worked for threatens to come crumbling down—at least until she meets Josh Walker, the hockey star and her new next-door-neighbor.The first novel in theFlight and Gloryseries centers around the impact war has on a family—something Yarros often references in her contemporary romances due to her own experience with her husband’s service.
Full Measuresis an incredibly sweet story that touches on deeply emotional issues, while providing the reader with plenty of feet-kicking moments that help lighten the mood.
Yarros' first romance is a brilliant introduction to her writing style, and is what first catapulted her into romance fame.Full Measuresis an incredibly sweet story that touches on deeply emotional issues, while providing the reader with plenty of feet-kicking moments that help lighten the mood. However,Full Measuresis only the first in the five-bookFlight and Gloryseries, with several novels that cover a wide range of romantic storylines that all include military pilot training to some degree—hence the series title. And, in book four,Hallowed Ground, Yarros returns to Ember and Josh’s tender romance.
1Wilder (The Renegades Series)
Published In 2016
Wilderby Rebecca Yarros is the first book inThe Renegadesseries, following a group of students as they attend a Study At Sea program aboard a cruise ship—taking them on exotic adventures all over the world. The first book in the series focuses on the romance between Pax Wilder, leader of the Renegades (a group of extreme sports athletes), and Leah, a Dartmouth student who has been tasked as his tutor for the duration of the trip.The two characters are the epitome of “opposites attract”, and Wilder sees the two characters find common ground in their mutual attraction.
Each book inThe Renegades Seriesfocuses on a different Renegades group member and their romantic storyline. So, while the three books can be read as standalones, they have more impact when read in order of publication—asNovaandRebelpick up right whereWilderleaves off. Thesespicy romance booksare incredibly fun to read, and full of steamy moments that Rebecca Yarros' fans have come to know and love in herEmpyrean Series, includingOnyx Storm.
Onyx Storm
Violet Sorrengail faces new political intrigue and battles old enemies while uncovering the secrets of her second signet. As she strives to save Xaden from venin corruption, her relationships with allies and dragons are tested, leading to intense confrontations and unexpected revelations in a world of dragons and magic.
