Romantasy lovers, rejoice! On Sept. 29, author Rebecca Yarros is releasing Threshing Day, the latest installment of the Fourth Wing franchise. The book is a collection of 13 short stories, all featuring different fan favorite characters on Threshing Day — where first year riders bond with a dragon or die (or, at least embarrass themselves) trying. But with 13 different characters getting their time in the spotlight, there are a lot of moving parts and plotlines to remember from the earlier books.
Listen, it’s been almost two years since the last book in The Empyrean series, Onyx Storm, came out. And while the dragons, angst, and iconic enemies-to-lovers plotlines certainly makes the Empyrean world one to remember, some of the finer details might be a bit blurry. If you don’t have the time over the next few days to reread the entire series, don’t worry. Here’s a full recap of everything you’ll need to know ahead of Threshing Day. Spoiler alert: Spoilers for Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm follow.
A RECAP OF Fourth Wing
Violet Sorrengail enters Basgiath War College expecting to become a scribe, but is forced into the deadly dragon-rider quadrant instead. She survives training, crosses the parapet, and ultimately bonds with the powerful dragon Tairn — while also forming an unexpected connection with the much smaller Andarna. Violet falls for Xaden Riorson, her squad leader and the son of the rebel leader her mother killed, while becoming close with fellow riders including Rhiannon, Ridoc, Sawyer, and Imogen. Meanwhile, Violet discovers that the venin — magic-wielding enemies who drain power from living things — are real and that the kingdom, Navarre, has been hiding the ongoing war from its people. By the end, Violet learns that Xaden and other riders have been secretly fighting the venin, and that her supposedly dead brother Brennan is actually alive.
A RECAP OF Iron Flame
Violet returns to Basgiath with the truth about the venin weighing on her, while her relationship with Xaden becomes increasingly complicated by secrets and divided loyalties. Her friends face their own challenges as the riders prepare for a war they now know is much bigger than Basgiath. Violet’s bond with Tairn continues to strengthen, and she develops her signet — the unique magical ability a rider gains after bonding with a dragon — while beginning to discover that her powers may be more complicated than she realized. The book ends with the wards protecting Navarre beginning to fail, and Xaden drawing on forbidden power to save Violet, leaving him partially transformed into a venin.
A RECAP OF Onyx Storm
Violet spends much of Onyx Storm searching for a way to save Xaden while the war against the venin expands beyond Navarre. She and the other riders encounter new allies, enemies, and revelations about the dragons, magic, and the history behind the war. The supporting characters also become increasingly important as Violet’s circle is pulled deeper into the conflict. By the end, Violet has uncovered more about her own powers and the forces behind the venin, but Xaden’s transformation remains unresolved. With the war escalating and major questions surrounding Violet, Xaden, and the dragons still unanswered, Onyx Storm leaves the series poised for what comes next. In the next release, Threshing Day takes readers back to an earlier moment to see how several of these riders became bonded to their dragons in the first place.