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Between Sarah J. Maas’s upcoming ACOTAR releases and Rebecca Yarros’s latest installment to the Empyrean series, us Romantasy lovers have been kept fed!
If you’ve been counting down the days until we return to Basgiath War College, the wait is officially over. Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros has officially landed! As a companion collection to the Fourth Wing universe, this book gives us 13 separate stories starring our favourite characters and their dragons.
Since my time as a stay-at-home mum is precious and I have to choose my reading hours carefully, I devoured this as fast as humanly possible so I could give you my honest verdict ASAP!!
Here is my no-spoiler review of Threshing Day!
What is Threshing Day About?
Unlike Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, or Onyx Storm, Threshing Day is not a direct continuation of Violet and Xaden’s main timeline. Instead, it’s a special edition anthology that expands the world of Basgiath, featuring:
- 13 Short Stories: Highlighting key side characters, backstories, and dragon bonds.
- Threshing Magic: A deeper look into the legendary day where riders and dragons bond.
- Deluxe Illustrations: Gorgeous original artwork by Joe Requeza scattered throughout.
My Thoughts & Star Rating
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
It feels so good to be back at Basgiath War College!
When Threshing Day dropped, I have to admit I was a little skeptical. A collection of 13 short stories isn’t usually my jam—I’m normally all about the massive, chunk-ster long reads where the world-building gets super detailed and you can really get into the nitty-gritty of the story.
Turns out, my worries were completely wrong. This was the absolute perfect novella read to hold us over while we wait for the next full-length novel in the Empyrean series!
📖 Threshing Day Review at a Glance
First of all, can we talk about the dragon illustrations? They are so ridiculously gorgeous and painted such a vivid picture. Flipping through them made me realise just how much I’ve missed the Empyrean world and all its magic!
Clever Storytelling & Seamless Connections
One thing Rebecca Yarros did so brilliantly with this collection was how subtly interconnected all the stories are. Even though they’re separate POVs, they flow into each other so naturally!
For example, in Dain’s POV, he catches a glimpse of Bodhi giving a pep talk to the other ‘marked ones’—and then, right on queue, the very next chapter transitions into Bodhi’s POV! Then of course Bodhi’s flowed into Imogen’s because she was one of the ones getting a peptalk from him… you catch the drift. Spotting those little overlaps made reading the collection feel like piecing together a giant, satisfying puzzle of that lifechanging day.
Unexpected Favourites: Dain’s Internal Battle
Now, Dain isn’t usually my favourite character—he can be a total goody-two-shoes rule-follower! But I actually loved getting inside his head in this book.
His chapter gives so much depth to the constant internal tussle he deals with: trying to be the dutiful son who obeys every military rule vs. following his own heart. You really feel that tension climax when he makes his choice to bond with Cath—completely overriding the green dragon his dad was so desperately pushing him to take. It gave him so much more character nuance than we usually see!
Heartache for Liam & The Dragons’ Fierce Loyalty
My heart hurt every single time Liam was mentioned in other chapters—especially when Bodhi calls him “the best of us.” 😭 And then we actually got a Liam POV! Having his voice back in my head was so emotional, but such a precious gift for anyone who misses him as much as I do.
Sassy, Brutal & Fiercely Loyal Dragons
While the dragons are hilarious and sassy, this book reminds you fast how brutally dangerous they actually are! Case in point: when the red scorpiontail squashes one cadet and incinerates three others right in front of Xaden and Bodhi. Yikes!
And yet, their loyalty gives you absolute chills. When Cuir chooses Bodhi and says:
“I will choose you every day until your death or your demise.”
Cue the goosebumps! Hearing directly from the dragons and feeling that fierce bond made this collection so special. And of course, Sgaeyl remains an absolute legend. The scene where she uses her signature dragon sass while helping Garrett and Xaden get rid of those three first-year cadets had me literally cracking up!
My Top POV Picks
Trying to rank all 13 POVs in order is way too hard, but my absolute favourites would have to be:
- Xaden (because obviously… Xaden! But also such a good insight into his mind before he became such a tough nut)
- Bodhi (that interaction with Cuir was everything)
- Sloane (I had tears in my eyes 🥲)
- Dain (a huge surprise favourite for the character growth!)
- Ridoc (He’s funny af)
My fave Romantasy reads:
Is Threshing Day Worth Reading? (The Verdict)
Yes!!
If you were hesitant about picking up a novella collection, don’t be! It’s quick, super satisfying, and gives you that instant hit of nostalgia for Xaden, the dragons, and the rider quadrant.
Is Threshing Day worth the read? 100% yes—it’s the ultimate bite-sized treat for anyone suffering from Fourth Wing withdrawal!
Have you picked up your copy of Threshing Day yet? Who is your favourite dragon-rider duo? Let me know in the comments below!
Watching Dain refuse the green dragon his father pushed and bond Cath instead gave that chapter real weight, and Cuir telling Bodhi “I will choose you every day until your death or your demise” is the line I keep thinking about. Spotting Bodhi’s pep talk spill into Imogen’s POV made the collection feel like one day instead of thirteen separate shorts. I run Fourth Wing Dragons, an unofficial fan guide to the dragons of the Empyrean series, so those bond moments are exactly what I come for. Zane
Just clicked through to your website – it’s amazing and soooo full of knowledge! Can’t wait to have a proper read through later on.