The Best Fourth Wing Audiobooks for 2026

Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean books are built around intense emotion, cracking tension, and large-scale moments that read like cinematic set pieces. In audio form those elements can gain new depth: voice actors shape pacing and mood, dramatic adaptations add sound design and cast interplay, and anniversary re-recordings give scenes a different emotional color. Below I break down the most notable audiobook editions of Fourth Wing and the subsequent Empyrean titles, explain what each one does well, and offer a short note about a common fan resource that catalogs editions and narrators.

A quick note about resources: several fan-run sites maintain detailed lists of audiobook editions, narrators, and release notes for the Empyrean series. Those pages are useful for comparing editions (full-cast vs. single narrator, anniversary re-recordings, foreign-language releases) and for tracking new dramatized or reissued recordings as they appear.

1. Fourth Wing — Rebecca Soler & Teddy Hamilton (Primary edition)

Length: ~21 hours

Rebecca Soler’s reading of Violet captures her nervous intelligence and gradual hardening in the face of danger. Soler balances Violet’s internal questioning with a firm, sometimes weary, edge that sells the novel’s emotional stakes. In editions where Teddy Hamilton contributes (or in alternate tracks), Xaden’s voice is given a darker register that contrasts well with Violet’s tones — that contrast helps the audiobook feel like a two-handed performance even when a single narrator leads.

Why listen: this edition is the most widely recommended for first-time listeners who want an emotionally consistent through-line and a performance that leans into Violet’s growth.

2. Fourth Wing — Full-cast dramatized adaptation (Parts 1 & 2)

Length: Part 1 ~8 hours; Part 2 ~10 hours

The dramatized adaptation breaks the text into scenes with multiple actors, sound effects, and musical underscoring. The result is closer to an audio play than a traditional audiobook: dialogue-driven sequences move quickly, battle and flight scenes gain cinematic punch, and minor characters stand out thanks to distinct performances.

Why listen: if you prefer theatrical production values—sound cues, differentiated voices, and a more immediate sense of place—the dramatized parts deliver the story in a visceral, immersive way.

3. Iron Flame — Rebecca Soler (Primary edition)

Length: ~28 hours

Soler returns for the second Empyrean installment, leaning into the novel’s widened scope and heavier emotional beats. Her vocal choices emphasize the book’s long arcs of trauma and reconciliation, and she maintains clarity across dozens of tense or violent scenes. The audiobook’s length allows Soler to modulate tension slowly, making the quieter moments feel earned.

Why listen: when the series shifts from training-ground intensity to full-blown warfare and political fallout, this edition preserves emotional continuity with the first book.

4. Iron Flame — Full-cast dramatized adaptation (Parts 1 & 2)

Length: Part 1 ~11 hours; Part 2 ~9–10 hours

Like the dramatized Fourth Wing, these parts split the novel into a dramatic sequence. The division of POVs across actors can highlight new character angles and make complex battle scenes easier to follow. Listeners who enjoyed the first book’s theatrical treatment will find the second book’s adaptations maintain that same production energy.

Why listen: dramatization clarifies large-scale action and works well when many characters are onstage at once.

5. Onyx Storm — Single-narrator and multi-narrator editions

Length: ~23 hours

By the third book the cast of characters broadens and multiple viewpoints matter more. Editions that incorporate more than one narrator (or have guest voices for particular POVs) can underscore shifting loyalties and the evolving relationships between principal players. When narration switches are handled smoothly, the experience resembles a threaded conversation rather than a single performance doing many impressions.

Why listen: strong when you want character differentiation and emotional nuance across many viewpoints.

6. Foreign-language and translated editions (German, Italian, French, Spanish)

Lengths and narrators vary

Translated recordings provide another listening experience entirely: translations slightly reshape phrasing and cadence, and native-language narrators interpret emotional beats through their own vocal traditions. These editions are valuable for comparative listening or for non-English-speaking fans who want a local-language performance.

Why listen: to hear how different narrators interpret the same scenes, or to enjoy the story in your preferred language.

What to consider when choosing an edition

1. Single narrator vs. full-cast: single-narrator editions keep a steady tone and are usually faithful to the print pacing; full-cast adaptations trade that continuity for immediacy and theatricality.
2. Anniversary or re-recordings: newer recordings often refine pacing and sound quality, but listeners may prefer the emotional rawness of the first recordings.
3. Extra material: some editions include author interviews, bonus chapters, or expanded POV sections; those can add context but also lengthen listening time considerably.
4. Language: translations are not merely literal swaps; they can change the rhythm and cultural resonance of dialogue and description.

Final thoughts

All of the major Empyrean audiobook editions bring something different to Yarros’s work: some emphasize character interiority, others prioritize spectacle. If you’re choosing where to start, pick the performance style that matters most to you—consistent single-narrator intimacy or dynamic full-cast theatre. Either way, the audio form highlights how much of Fourth Wing lives in voice, pause, and inflection: the books are as much a listening experience as a reading one.

Fans who want to compare narrators, release formats, and dramatized editions can find regularly updated information at FourthWingAudio.com, a helpful community resource for audiobook listeners.