Threshing Day is the Empyrean companion collection written by Rebecca Yarros and published by Entangled Publishing under the Red Tower Books imprint on 29 September 2026. It contains thirteen short stories set on the single most consequential day in any rider’s life at Basgiath War College: the day unbonded dragons choose—or reject—first-year cadets in the Riders Quadrant.
The book is not Empyrean Book Four. It does not continue the central storyline of Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson after the events of Onyx Storm. Instead it returns to Threshing itself and gives first-person accounts of how thirteen already-known characters survived (or were shaped by) that trial.
What Threshing Is Inside the Empyrean World
In the Empyrean series, Threshing is the annual high-stakes event held in the valley near Basgiath. First-year cadets walk among the unbonded dragons. Dragons decide. A bond can forge a rider for life; rejection or a fatal attack ends the cadet’s path. The in-world greeting “Happy Threshing Day” is used on the day itself, which falls on 1 October in the series calendar—a date that aligned with the real-world publication window.
Yarros and the publisher present the collection as material later transcribed by professors of Dragonkind rather than ordinary scribes. The stories span different years and different cohorts, giving readers the bonding moments of riders who later become central or supporting figures in the main trilogy.
The Thirteen Riders Named by the Publisher
Official materials list the following characters whose Threshing accounts appear:
- Xaden Riorson – the powerful leader whose later choices reshape Navarre and the rebellion
- Rhiannon Matthias – the clever friend and squad member
- Dain Aetos – the dutiful rule-follower
- Liam Mairi – the kindhearted protector
- Ridoc Gamlyn – the jokester
- Sawyer Henrick – the underdog
- Garrick Tavis – the dependable aide
- Imogen Cardulo – the impulsive fighter
- Bodhi Durran – the second-in-command
- Mira Sorrengail – the fearless rider and older sister of Violet
- Brennan Sorrengail – the brilliant tactician
- Aaric Graycastle – the restless royal
- Sloane Mairi – the determined sister; Yarros has stated this was her favourite story to write
These names are drawn directly from publisher blurbs and the official book site. No additional plot spoilers beyond the published character list are included here.
Release Date, Publisher, Length and Formats
Release date: 29 September 2026 (United States and United Kingdom; some Australian listings show 30 September). Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC / Red Tower Books. Approximate length: 224 pages. US ebook list price has been shown at $11.99.
The ebook edition includes fifteen original black-and-white illustrations by artist Joe Requeza. Publisher materials have also referenced a deluxe first edition carrying sixteen full-colour illustrations by the same artist. An audiobook produced by Recorded Books with multiple narrators and a GraphicAudio adaptation were announced for mid-October 2026. Exact availability by territory should be confirmed on the official product pages or major retailers.
Primary sources for these facts are the official site threshingday.com and the Entangled book page entangledpublishing.com/books/threshing-day.
Reading Order and Spoiler Status
Recommended order for the main Empyrean novels:
- Fourth Wing
- Iron Flame
- Onyx Storm
Threshing Day sits beside the trilogy as a companion. The publisher’s own description states that while the collection can be read as an introduction, it contains spoilers for events already established in the first three books and is therefore best read after Onyx Storm. It does not resolve the cliffhangers left at the end of Onyx Storm and is not required to understand the next main novel when that title appears.
What the Collection Is Not
It is not the continuation of Violet and Xaden’s central arc. It is not a full-length novel with a single continuous plot. It does not introduce a new primary protagonist who replaces the existing leads. Readers seeking only the core storyline can skip the collection without losing continuity; readers who want deeper background on how specific riders first bonded with their dragons will find the thirteen accounts useful context.
Tour and Launch Events
Yarros launched the release with events beginning at the Buell Theater in Denver, Colorado, and continuing across several US cities including New York, Los Angeles and Seattle. Appearance schedules were still being confirmed around the release window; the official site remains the place to check current dates.
Independence and Sources
This site is an independent informational resource. It is not affiliated with Rebecca Yarros, Entangled Publishing, Red Tower Books, or any of their partners. All product claims, character lists, dates and edition details are taken from primary publisher and author materials linked above. For the most current information always consult the official sources.
Related pages on this site cover reading order in more detail, the full named character list, and edition differences including the Joe Requeza illustrations and announced audio formats.
Tariq Al-Fayed
Original Post
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