Threshing Day: All About The Newest Title in The Empyrean Series
Please note: This article contains spoilers for The Empyrean series, which consists of the novels Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and now, Threshing Day. Keep on reading only if you are caught up or if you do not mind spoilers!
The newest release for The Empyrean is not the highly anticipated follow-up to 2025’s gut-wrenching ending of Onyx Storm (I still cannot get those last two chapters out of my head), but it is still a reason to celebrate for fans of the series, as it gives us unfettered access to the side characters we already know and love. Violet is rightly our anchored perspective, as our fierce and clever protagonist, but different points of view are fresh and exciting, spotlighting characters at their most vulnerable and honest, granting a standpoint only first-person narrative can achieve with ease.
Threshing Day is not vital to understand the story; readers can choose to skip it and not miss out on any essential information for the continuation of the series. This bonus book is a labor of love for the story’s most ardent followers, a stepping stone of content to keep us fed while we eagerly await the fourth novel. So, if you are a casual reader of the series and decide to skip out on reading this novella, I will summarize the most important parts of each chapter. On the flip side, if you are a dedicated reader who pores over any article about the series because you simply cannot get enough of it, well, pull up a chair, because I could talk ad nauseam about the world of Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson.
The content of Threshing Day contains 13 chapters, or short stories, each following a different character as they navigate…their Threshing Day. Let’s get started!
Chapter 1: Brennan Sorrengail
The oldest Sorrengail is up first! Brennan’s Threshing comes nine years before the first chapter of Fourth Wing.
Brennan’s dragon: Marbh, a male Orange Daggertail
Shocking moment: Asher Sorrengail, the patriarch of the Sorrengail family and Violet’s beloved scribe father, makes an appearance to see Brennan. Since Asher has passed away by the start of the series, we only get glimpses of him in Violet’s memories and old writings. It creates a tender moment for readers to experience Asher firsthand, in the present tense, as a loving and doting father.
Biggest reveal: It’s been a popular theory since the first book that Brennan was romantically involved with Naolin, Tairn’s previous rider (and potential current venin). His sexual orientation has remained unknown to the readers since it remains unknown to Violet as she laments that she barely knows her brother due to the crucial and formative years they spent apart. However, in his chapter, Brennan mentions he spent a night with his squadmate, Flynn Ennis, confirming fan speculation that he is queer, thus lending credence to the theory that Naolin was his partner, a fact that is likely to become essential if it ends up being true.
Fun detail: Brennan is so frustrated with Basgiath’s lack of guidance and mentorship, he decides he is going to write a guide for Mira so she does not feel as lost as he did in his first year, giving the readers a fun little glimpse into the origin of the ever-quoted Book of Brennan.
Biggest takeaway: We already knew from Violet that Brennan was their mom’s favorite, and that is abundantly clear after Brennan’s chapter. Even Asher acknowledges it. Maybe Lilith Sorrengail really did have a heart before Brennan’s untimely “death.” Also, Violet is not the only Sorrengail struggling under the weight of her parents’ reputations; Brennan certainly feels the pressure of sky-high expectations and earning respect through his own name.
Chapter 2: Mira Sorrengail
Next up, we have Mira! Her Threshing takes place three years after Brennan’s, and six years before the start of Fourth Wing.
Mira’s dragon: Teine, a male Green Clubtail
Mira’s blind devotion: Mira wastes no time cursing the Riorson name during her chapter, indicating just how influenced she has been as a general’s daughter, dutifully obeying orders and consuming Navarre’s deceitful propaganda.
Biggest takeaway: Mira’s chapter does not have any large reveals, per se, but it is interesting to be inside her mind and see just how insecure she feels as the middle child of her parents’ two favorite children. It is clear Brennan is their mom’s favorite and Violet is their dad’s favorite, so where does that leave Mira? She notes that her dad does not visit her before Threshing as he did with Brennan, which she says “definitely puts [her] place in the family into perspective.” Ouch. These tensions definitely color some of Mira’s actions in Onyx Storm.
Chapter 3: Xaden Riorson
When Threshing Day arrived in my Kindle right at midnight on September 29, I skipped directly to Xaden’s chapter to read it before I fell asleep, not bothering to start at the book’s beginning. I am shamelessly invested in the characterization of Xaden Riorson (the next day, I went back and started reading from the beginning; no need to worry).
Xaden’s Threshing takes place four years after Mira’s, and two years before Fourth Wing.
Xaden’s dragon: Sgaeyl, a female Blue Daggertail
Character cameos: Garrick Tavis, Masen Sanborn, Soleil Telery, and Amber Mavis
Dragon sighting: A Blue Clubtail watches as Xaden kills Alic Tauri, a Navarrian prince and twin brother to Halden.
Background context: Everyone knows Xaden has a scar intersecting his eyebrow; after all, Violet loves to notice it! He tells her he received it from Sgaeyl at his Threshing, and we get to see this unfold as she thrashes him with her tail upon their first encounter. It is interesting to witness their bond when it was brand new, knowing how closely they will grow together and how fiercely Sgaeyl will protect Xaden.
Questionable lineage: After Iron Flame, we know about the complications that arise when dragons bond humans in the same bloodline as their previous riders. And in Xaden’s chapter, Sgaeyl reveals that the man who Xaden believed was his great-uncle was actually his grandfather, which spirals Xaden into instant questions about his father and their lineage, which, if explored more, could potentially cause some “rightful heir to Tyrrendor” problems down the line.
Extra tidbits: While we (eventually) see Xaden unguarded with Violet, it is very sweet to also read about his less guarded interactions with his fellow Marked Ones, offering a side of Xaden we do not get to see very often. Throughout this chapter, Xaden and Garrick tease each other about Imogen and Cat, and the ease and familiarity of their interaction rolls off a normally brooding Xaden.
Shocking reveal: We already know Xaden is ruthless. However, when he plainly states to Sgaeyl that his ultimate goal is to burn Basgiath to the ground, it certainly adds weight to the fear Violet experiences when she first meets him.
Chapter 4: Garrick Tavis
Garrick’s Threshing takes place on the same day as Xaden’s.
Garrick’s dragon: Chradh, a male Brown Scorpiontail
Fun moment: Chradh calls for Garrick and then disguises himself as a boulder. Garrick, unaware that his dragon is actually this giant boulder in his path, grows frustrated trying to make his way around it, desperate to follow his dragon’s pull, oblivious to the fact that his dragon is right in front of him, messing with him.
Biggest reveal: For all the shippers out there, you will be ecstatic to learn that Garrick confirms he loves Imogen. These two are certainly going to cause an abundance of yearning in the coming books; I can almost guarantee it.
Biggest takeaway: We already knew Garrick is loyal and extremely dedicated to Xaden, but his POV certainly highlights the staunch protectiveness he holds for all his loved ones, as he feels Chradh’s pull before Xaden or Masen do, but refuses to act on it or follow it until he knows his friends are safe and chosen by their dragons.
Chapter 5: Dain Aetos
Dain’s Threshing takes place one year after Xaden’s and Garrick’s, and one year before the start of Fourth Wing.
Dain’s dragon: Cath, a male Red Swordtail
Biggest reveal: We find out that Dain’s mother left the family while they were stationed at Luceras during the Tyrrish Rebellion, and that they used to communicate through letters, but he has not heard from her in a year and does not know where she is.
Biggest takeaway: Dain’s father is cartoonishly evil. Of course, we already knew that, but before Dain walks into the forest for Threshing, his father comes to see him. And what could have been a heartfelt moment with his son quickly turns into a tirade against the Marked Ones, his rage spilling over to outlandish levels, acting like a Scooby-Doo villain who cannot stand these “meddling kids.” With such an antagonist and egomaniac of a father, it is actually amazing that Dain is able to eventually stand against him and form his own opinions, morals, and values.
Chapter 6: Bodhi Durran
Bodhi’s Threshing takes place the same day as Dain’s.
Bodhi’s dragon: Cuir, a male Green Swordtail
Biggest reveal: Bodhi’s frustration about feeling powerless causes him to act very recklessly, pointedly ignoring Xaden’s help and charging directly towards the wrong dragon. He was so determined to decide for himself, he almost gets incinerated for it, but Cuir swoops in to save him in time.
Dragon sighting: The same Blue Clubtail who witnessed Xaden kill Alic is also the dragon that almost incinerates Bodhi.
Sweet glimpses: Xaden’s soft edges are obviously revealed with Violet, but the care he shows for Bodhi is a different type of sensitivity, a commiseration with his last living family member. He is patient and encouraging, a side of himself that he would never reveal in front of others. This special tenderness leaves me wanting more chapters revolving around the Marked Ones.
Biggest takeaway: Bodhi has wildly conflicting emotions involving his cousin. It is clear he has deep insecurities and feels increasingly forgotten in Xaden’s shadow. However, his all-encompassing concern for Xaden’s happiness is second only to Violet’s; his mind is consistently plagued with worries about his older cousin. There is a popular fan theory that Bodhi will eventually turn on Xaden, and unfortunately, this chapter did nothing to discredit those theories. Bodhi needs to find somewhere to pour his complicated heartache, and I just hope it never manifests as a betrayal.
Chapter 7: Imogen Cardulo
Imogen’s Threshing is the same day as Bodhi’s and Dain’s.
Imogen’s dragon: Glane, a female Orange Daggertail
Shocking reveal: Imogen first met her dragon, Glane, when she was five years old, as Glane was her grandmother’s dragon. This breaks a sacred rule of not bonding within a direct bloodline, but Glane’s documented young age and absence of riders in The Compendium of Dragonkind are incorrect, a secret Imogen has not shared. We also find out Imogen received a relic from Glane after Presentation, and already started channeling the day of Threshing.
Another shocker: Imogen somehow knows about an oak tree that was split in half by lightning, “back when [they’d] had an actual lightning wielder in [their] ranks.” This raises so many questions, such as: Is she talking about Theophanie, the venin terrorizing Violet in Onyx Storm? In which case, did she know about Theophanie before Violet did? What does she know about the last lightning wielder, and how does she know? How long ago was this tree split in half, and why is it important? Is she keeping this information from Violet? So many questions! Imogen clearly is much more knowledgeable than she lets on, filled to the brim with secrets.
Another reveal for the shippers out there: We find out Imogen is angry at Garrick because he did not come say goodbye to her before he left for Basgiath. Oof.
The next four chapters catch us up to the events in Fourth Wing!
While not much is revealed in terms of plot advancement, it is always a pleasure to spend a little more time with everyone’s favorite Iron Squad. Chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11 follow Rhiannon Matthias, Sawyer Henrick, Ridoc Gamlyn, and Liam Mairi, respectively. Their Threshing takes place on the same day as Violet’s, two years after Xaden’s and Garrick’s, and one year after Dain’s, Bodhi’s, and Imogen’s.
Some quick points for Chapters 8-11
Rhi’s dragon: Feirge, a female Green daggertail
Sawyer’s dragon: Sliseag, a male Red Swordtail
Ridoc’s dragon: Aotrom, a male Brown Swordtail
Liam’s dragon: Deigh, a male Red Daggertail
Walking around in the inner minds of these characters reveals more than just their experience at Threshing. We learn that Rhiannon fundamentally has to solve every problem or unknown factor that puts her loved ones in danger; we already knew this with how she tries to fix things with Violet in Iron Flame and Sawyer in Onyx Storm, but now we get to watch as she fiercely protects a cadet she does not even know, showcasing her strong sense of responsibility for everyone around her. We learn that Sawyer is harbouring more anger and more insecurities than he lets on, but it just makes the determination and grit we see through Violet’s eyes all the sweeter. It is also revealed that Sawyer did not bond in his first year through no fault of his own; Sliseag was the one who was not ready to bond yet. We learn that Ridoc’s stressful home life and constantly bickering parents are what caused him to use humor as a coping mechanism, creating everyone’s favorite jokester who strives to be taken more seriously by his friends. Also, his first interaction with Aotrom is very memorable. I’d certainly recommend reading that if you read nothing else! And we learn that Liam was always the friendly, easygoing, and whittling rider whom even Xaden could not resist loosening up in his presence. My favorite thing about Threshing Day is certainly Xaden’s numerous cameos, seeing him through the lens of so many different characters. He is obviously prominent in the books, but always through Violet’s eyes. Seeing him through the eyes of other Marked Ones is intriguing and adds depth to an already dimensional character.
Chapter 12: Sloane Mairi
Sloane’s Threshing takes place one year after Violet’s, Rhiannon’s, Sawyer’s, Ridoc’s, and Liam’s, set during the events of Iron Flame.
Sloane’s dragon: Thoirt, a female Red Daggertail
Page-turning moment: When Sloane attempts to purposely get incinerated by a dragon, Dain saves her, breaking the Codex by interfering. Dain, who would not break the Codex to help Violet, is now breaking the Codex for Sloane. The simmering tension between the two is extremely reminiscent of Violet and Xaden in the first book, clearly drawing a parallel between the two pairings. Also, that “Eyes here” quote everyone seemed to love in Onyx Storm? It happens first in Threshing Day. If you cannot tell, I am HERE for this coupling!
Shocking reveal: Thoirt is Deigh’s sister! Which means Sloane bonded with the sister of her brother’s dragon. This reveal caught me by total surprise, offering a heartwarming moment for Sloane and Thoirt where they can help each other heal through their matching grief.
Moment of foreshadowing: Thoirt informs Sloane that she will inherit her mother’s gift, which leaves Sloane confused but certainly reinforces the idea that Sloane is going to be essential in the fight against venin.
Biggest takeaway: Sloane’s chapter was heartbreaking; her desperation, loneliness, and anger was palpable from the pages. Her grief over Liam is still so fresh; it was truly all-encompassing and painful from her perspective. She is a dynamic character with great depth, radically against the idea of being a rider because she does not want to hurt anyone, while simultaneously lashing out because that seems to be the only emotion she can control. Her transformation through Iron Flame is bolstered expertly in her chapter, setting the scene for her to start working through her grief and working towards her powerful signet.
Chapter 13: Aaric Graycastle
Aaric’s Threshing takes place on the same day as Sloane’s.
Aaric’s dragon: Molvic, a male Blue Clubtail
Dragon sighting: Remember the Blue Clubtail who saw Xaden kill Alic and then almost killed Bodhi? Well, turns out that was Aaric’s future dragon, Molvic, which explains how Aaric found out Alic was killed by Xaden. Molvic is hesitant to bond Aaric because he was originally going to bond with Alic three years earlier but was disgusted with how Alic acted, bullying Garrick and cowardly trying to hide behind his nobility. Aaric seeks to prove himself nothing like his brothers or his father.
Biggest takeaway: Aaric and Molvic are going to be very powerful together, becoming essential to the plot like Sloane and Thoirt.
Phew! Well, there you have it; I think I touched on all the major points. Now it’s time to dive in again and start another re-read of the entire series!
WRITTEN BY
Mary
I was a very shy kid, so I found my solace in writing, where I could say whatever I wanted to a blank page. This hobby turned into a passion, which turned into a lifeline, which is (hopefully) turning into a career! I am mostly inspired by poetic lyrics in songs I repeatedly listen to, descriptive language in novels I cannot put down, and scenes from movies or television that just won't stop playing in my head.
