Rebecca Yarros reveals Threshing Day for Empyrean fans
The new Empyrean companion book arrives Sept. 29 with 13 character-and-dragon stories, deluxe art and a limited first edition.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Rebecca Yarros has put a name and a face to the next trip into her dragon-rider universe: Threshing Day, a companion volume in the bestselling Empyrean series, is due Sept. 29 from Red Tower Books.
Rolling Stone reported that Yarros revealed the title and cover for the release, which had already reached No. 1 bestseller status before the artwork was shown. The book is being positioned as “Book 3.5” in the Empyrean lineup, sitting alongside the main novels rather than pushing the central plot forward as a standard fourth installment.
The collection will feature 13 stories from the viewpoints of characters from the series and their dragons, according to Rolling Stone. The deluxe first edition also includes 16 full-color illustrations by artist Joe Requeza, plus dragon artwork on the page edges.
The first edition is limited to the United States and Canada while supplies last. Yarros told readers outside those markets on Instagram to “Keep an eye on my foreign publishers’ social media for updates about their release dates.”
Where pre-orders stand
Rolling Stone listed Threshing Day, also described as part of the Wing and Claw Collection, as available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org.
- Amazon: $17.49, according to Rolling Stone’s listing.
- Barnes & Noble: $24.99, according to the same listing.
- Bookshop.org: $23.29, marked down from $24.99, according to Rolling Stone.
The companion book returns to one of the saga’s defining rituals, Threshing, in which first-year cadets try to bond with dragons. Rolling Stone’s spoiler-free summary says cadets rejected during the rite often die, and that one of the new stories centers on Violet Sorrengail’s rival, Xaden Riorson.
The Empyrean story so far
Yarros launched the series with Fourth Wing, published May 2, 2023. Rolling Stone described the 528-page romantasy novel as following Violet Sorrengail after she is forced into an elite dragon rider war college, where survival depends on strength, tactics and alliances.
The first book became a BookTok favorite, according to Rolling Stone, and is available in Kindle, audiobook, paperback and hardcover formats. It has been published in approximately 30 languages worldwide.
Iron Flame followed on Nov. 7, 2023, continuing Violet’s second year at Basgiath War College. Rolling Stone described the 640-page sequel as involving political conspiracies, hidden magical threats and increasingly dangerous tests for Violet. It has been published in more than 40 languages.
The third novel, Onyx Storm, arrived Jan. 21, 2025. Rolling Stone reported that the 544-page book sends Violet beyond the military kingdom of Navarre as she searches for allies and ancient knowledge while facing the growing venin threat. It was published in over 40 languages and is available in Kindle, audiobook, paperback and hardcover editions.
For readers catching up, Rolling Stone also listed a three-book Empyrean collection containing Fourth Wing, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm, with color-themed bookmarks inspired by each novel.
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.