Rebecca Yarros’s Threshing Day gives readers something the main Empyrean novels largely haven’t: the opportunity to experience Threshing through the eyes of the riders themselves. –Rebecca Yarros official website

The collection contains 13 stories, following characters including Brennan Sorrengail, Mira Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson, Garrick Tavis, Dain Aetos, Bodhi Durran, Imogen Cardulo, Rhiannon Matthias, Sawyer Henrick, Ridoc Gamlyn, Liam Mairi, Sloane Mairi, and Aaric Graycastle.

It is not Empyrean Book 4. Threshing Day is a companion collection that expands the world of Basgiath and gives readers new perspectives on the characters and dragons who shape the series. The book was released in September 2026 and is best read after Onyx Storm because it contains spoilers.

Want the bigger picture? Read our [complete Threshing Day guide] for the ceremony, Fourth Wing connections, release information, reading order, and more.

The 13 Threshing Day POVs at a Glance

The order above matches the current contents/listings and post-release coverage.

1. Brennan Sorrengail — Marbh

Brennan’s story takes readers back to his own Threshing and his first meeting with Marbh, an orange daggertail.

Brennan approaches the event with considerable pressure on his shoulders as the eldest Sorrengail sibling. Interestingly, orange dragons are not his preferred choice because of their reputation for being impulsive and unpredictable.

Marbh ultimately proves to be a fitting counterpart to Brennan’s more cautious personality.

Their story gives readers a glimpse of Brennan before the events that eventually shape his role in the wider Empyrean conflict.

2. Mira Sorrengail — Teine

Mira’s story explores a very different kind of pressure.

As the middle Sorrengail sibling, Mira struggles with where she fits within her family. Brennan has already established himself as a capable leader, while Violet possesses qualities associated with their father.

Her dragon, Teine, is a green clubtail.

Their bond becomes an important part of Mira’s growing confidence and her understanding that she does not need to follow the exact path taken by her siblings.

3. Xaden Riorson — Sgaeyl

Xaden’s Threshing is one of the most anticipated stories in the collection.

His experience is complicated by his status as the son of the leader of the Tyrrish Rebellion. Instead of simply worrying about finding a dragon, Xaden is also concerned about surviving the danger surrounding the relic-marked cadets.

His dragon, Sgaeyl, is a blue daggertail.

Xaden’s story also helps explain the protective relationship he develops with the people around him and provides additional context for his relationship with Sgaeyl.

4. Garrick Tavis — Chradh

Garrick’s story follows Xaden’s and overlaps with the same period of Threshing.

His dragon is Chradh, a brown scorpiontail.

Garrick’s defining characteristic in this story is his willingness to put other people before himself, particularly Xaden. That trait becomes central to the way his bond develops.

The collection also gives readers more context for Garrick’s personal relationships and his history before the events of Fourth Wing.

5. Dain Aetos — Cath

Dain’s Threshing reveals another side of his relationship with his father.

Colonel Aetos expects Dain to follow his instructions, including advice about the type of dragon he should seek.

But Dain’s dragon is Cath, a red swordtail.

That creates an important choice: follow his father’s expectations or trust his own instincts.

For a character whose identity is strongly connected to rules and obedience, the decision is particularly significant.

6. Bodhi Durran — Cuir

Bodhi enters Threshing with a problem that has nothing to do with dragons: Xaden’s shadow is difficult to escape.

As Xaden’s cousin, Bodhi is constantly compared with him. He admires Xaden but also wants to establish his own identity.

His dragon is Cuir, a green swordtail.

The bond helps Bodhi recognize that his future does not have to simply mirror Xaden’s.

7. Imogen Cardulo — Glane

Imogen’s story contains one of the more significant pieces of character and dragon history in the collection.

Her dragon is Glane, an orange daggertail.

Glane has an existing connection to Imogen’s family: the dragon was previously bonded to her grandmother.

Imogen initially resists Glane’s pull, but their connection ultimately becomes an important part of her story.

The collection also gives readers additional information about Imogen’s relationship with Garrick and introduces details that may have significance beyond the events of her Threshing.

8. Rhiannon Matthias — Feirge

Rhiannon approaches Threshing with excitement rather than the fear experienced by some of the other cadets.

Her dragon is Feirge, a green daggertail.

During the ceremony, Rhiannon encounters an injured cadet and chooses to help rather than simply focus on her own objective.

That decision highlights the leadership qualities that later become important to her role at Basgiath.

Her Threshing shows that becoming a good rider isn’t only about surviving the ceremony—it is also about the choices a candidate makes when other people need help.

9. Sawyer Henrick — Sliseag

Sawyer’s story is especially meaningful because he enters Threshing for a second attempt.

After failing to bond with a dragon previously, he carries significant self-doubt into his next attempt.

His dragon is Sliseag, a red swordtail.

The story explores Sawyer’s frustration and eventual acceptance of the fact that his previous failure was not necessarily a reflection of his worth.

His relationship with Sliseag becomes an important moment of confidence for Sawyer.

10. Ridoc Gamlyn — Aotrom

Ridoc’s Threshing begins with a very different kind of problem: anxiety.

His usual humor disappears as the seriousness of the ceremony sinks in.

He eventually encounters Aotrom, a brown swordtail.

Ridoc initially believes he needs a serious dragon who can compensate for his own joking personality.

Instead, Aotrom turns out to have a personality that works surprisingly well with Ridoc’s.

Their story reinforces one of the recurring ideas in Threshing Day: the dragons aren’t simply tools. The bond works because the rider and dragon are compatible.

11. Liam Mairi — Deigh

Liam’s story is one of the quieter entries in the collection.

His dragon is Deigh, a red daggertail.

Rather than immediately charging into danger, Liam spends much of his Threshing waiting and carving a wooden figure while reflecting on his past.

For readers who already know Liam’s fate from Fourth Wing, the story carries additional emotional weight.

It also gives readers more context for Liam’s relationship with Xaden and the people he cared about.

12. Sloane Mairi — Thoirt

Sloane’s story is closely connected to Liam’s.

After Liam’s death, Sloane is carrying enormous grief into her own Threshing.

Her dragon is Thoirt, a red daggertail.

Unlike many cadets, Sloane does not actually want to form a bond. She struggles with the idea of moving forward while still grieving her brother.

Her eventual bond with Thoirt becomes part of Sloane’s process of accepting her grief rather than simply trying to hide it.

The collection also reveals a connection between Thoirt and Deigh, adding another layer to the Mairi siblings’ stories.

13. Aaric Graycastle — Molvic

Aaric’s story takes place from the perspective of a character who has something very different to prove.

As a member of Navarre’s royal family, Aaric has access to privilege, but he does not want his identity to be defined solely by his position.

His dragon is Molvic, a blue clubtail.

Aaric’s Threshing reinforces his determination to choose his own path and become involved in the conflict threatening the world around him.

What Do the 13 POVs Reveal About The Empyrean?

This is where Threshing Day becomes more than a collection of extra scenes.

The stories expand the reader’s understanding of dragon-human bonds, family histories, and the political conflict surrounding Basgiath.

One particularly important revelation is that some dragons appear to have their own reasons for choosing particular riders, including connections to the rebellion and its sympathizers.

The collection also provides additional information about how bonds and signets work, including the relationship between a rider’s eventual abilities and the circumstances surrounding their bond.

And several stories deepen relationships that were previously only hinted at, including Imogen and Garrick and the complicated relationship between Sloane and Dain.

Why Are There 13 POVs Instead of Violet?

Violet is the central protagonist of the main Empyrean novels, but Threshing Day deliberately moves the spotlight elsewhere.

The collection allows readers to see the same world through characters who normally appear only from Violet’s perspective.

That makes the book particularly valuable for readers who want more information about:

• Xaden and his history
• the Sorrengail family
• Liam and Sloane
• Dain
• Imogen
• Garrick
• Aaric
• the dragon-rider bonds themselves

The result is less a continuation of Violet’s story and more an expansion of the world around her.

Is Threshing Day Important for Empyrean Book 4?

It appears to contain important world-building and future-story clues, but it is not Book 4.

Google Books explicitly labels the collection as not Book Four, and the publisher’s listing describes it as thirteen stories expanding the Empyrean world.

The post-release material also identifies several unresolved threads involving dragons, rebel sympathizers, family histories, and possible future developments. Those are best treated as setup or clues, rather than guaranteed predictions about what will happen in the next main novel.

Where Should You Read Threshing Day?

The recommended reading order is:

Fourth Wing
Read our complete review:
👉 Fourth Wing – Epic Dragon Fantasy Series | Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame
Read our complete review:
👉 Iron Flame Review — Rebecca Yarros Delivers a Powerful Sequel

Onyx Storm
Read our complete review:
👉 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros – Onyx Storm review

Threshing Day

The official Google Books listing specifically recommends reading Threshing Day after Onyx Storm because the collection contains spoilers.

If you’re new to the Empyrean series, start with Fourth Wing rather than Threshing Day.

Final Thoughts

Threshing Day gives readers something the main novels could not easily provide: 13 different perspectives on one of the defining experiences in the Empyrean world.

From Brennan and Mira’s early experiences to Xaden and Garrick’s shared history, from Imogen’s complicated connection with Glane to Liam and Sloane’s emotional stories, each POV adds another piece to the larger picture.

And that’s ultimately why the collection matters.

It isn’t simply about seeing thirteen characters bond with dragons. It’s about understanding why those bonds happened, what they reveal about the riders, and how those relationships fit into the larger world of The Empyrean.

FAQ