Author Rebecca Yarros has officially unveiled four new characters set to appear in Threshing Day, the upcoming novella that expands her bestselling Empyrean series. The announcement arrived this week through a rolling reveal on Instagram, giving fans of Fourth Wing and its sequel Iron Flame a closer look at who will share threshing day stories alongside the 13-character cast featured in the book.
The novella, which is the next entry in the Empyrean series, collects threshing day accounts from across the world Yarros has built. Despite the release landing this month, little was publicly known about the project until now, as it was only announced a few months ahead of its launch. With curiosity building among readers, Yarros chose to satisfy fan interest by confirming which characters will receive their own stories.
The Threshing Day Tradition
To understand the significance of these new characters, fans need to recall what threshing day means within the series. During a rider cadet’s first year at Basgiath War College, they must face threshing: the day on which they bond with a dragon. Failure carries dire consequences, as cadets who do not succeed either repeat the entire year or die in the attempt.
The experience is intensely nerve-wracking, and so many cadets panic when coming face-to-face with a dragon, forfeiting any second chance at all. Those who pass gain a companion for life and earn their place as riders. It was during threshing that Violet bonded with Tairn and Andarna, establishing the foundation of her journey. Now, with Threshing Day on its way, readers can see how the ritual unfolded for other characters.
A Rolling Reveal on Instagram
Until recently, it remained unknown which characters would appear in the novella. This week, Yarros began sharing quotes from each story on Instagram, challenging fans to guess which dragon might have spoken them. The following day, she returned to her post and revealed who the quote belonged to, slowly unveiling the cast one character at a time.
“You have yet to earn a first name while your last overpowers it.”
Marbh, Brennan’s dragon
The confirmed quotes so far include Marbh, the dragon of Brennan; Cath, Dain’s dragon; Sliseag, Sawyer’s dragon; and Glane, Imogen’s dragon. Each line offers a glimpse into the distinct personalities that will drive their respective chapters.
Xaden’s Special Placement
The threshing day chapter for Xaden and his dragon Sgaeyl was revealed alongside the book’s original announcement post on July 15. Yarros noted that, as usual, Xaden’s point of view will be available to readers free on her website. This detail leaves some ambiguity about whether he counts among the 13 character stories in the book or instead appears as a bonus scene, mirroring the approach taken in previous entries.
Besides Xaden, Yarros has confirmed only four riders and their respective dragons so far. The latest quote reads: “If I am five, then you are four.” Fans commenting on the post believe that Aotrom said this line to Ridoc, as these characters are known for providing comedic relief throughout the series.
Looking Ahead
Readers will soon learn more about the full cast once Threshing Day launches. The novella is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, giving Yarros’s growing audience ample time to speculate further before the official release.
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