Update, July 15, 2026: It is official, cadets. On Conscription Day, Rebecca Yarros revealed the title and cover of her next Empyrean book, the one everyone has been calling "Not Book Four." It is called Threshing Day, it is a collection of thirteen stories about your favorite characters and their dragons, and it goes on sale September 29, 2026. Here is everything we know.
For months this was the biggest question mark in romantasy: Yarros had a surprise Empyrean release planned before Book 4, and it climbed the Amazon charts with no title, no cover, and no description. Now the veil is off. Meet Threshing Day.
The quick version
- Title: Threshing Day
- Series: Empyrean (this is the "not book four" surprise, not the mainline Book 4)
- What it is: A collection of thirteen stories about beloved characters and their dragons
- Tagline: "Thirteen unforgettable stories. One legendary day. The bond that changes everything." And, of course: "Don't die."
- Deluxe first edition: Includes sixteen full-color original art pieces by Joe Requeza (@joerequeza.art)
- Bonus: Xaden's story is included in the collection, and as usual will also go up on Yarros's website
- Release date: September 29, 2026
- Cover art: Joe Requeza
- Does it delay Book 4? No. Yarros is writing Book 4 now and called this "a fun trip back to Basgiath" while she works on it.
What is Threshing Day?
If you have read Fourth Wing, you already know why this title hits. Threshing is the day dragons choose their riders, the terrifying, everything-or-nothing ceremony where cadets walk into the valley and either bond a dragon or do not walk out. It is the day the entire series turns on. "The bond that changes everything" is not marketing fluff. It is the literal hinge of the Empyrean world.
So instead of one novella, Yarros has given fans something bigger and more playful: thirteen threshing stories about the characters and dragons we already love. In her words, it is "a fun trip back to Basgiath" while she writes Book 4. Think of it as thirteen doors back into the world, each one opening on a character and the dragon who chose them.
The Xaden of it all
Here is the detail that will break the internet: Xaden's story is included. Yarros confirmed his story is part of the collection and, as she has done before, will also be posted on her website. If you have been starving for Xaden's point of view, Threshing Day is about to feed you. This alone will move preorders.
The deluxe first edition and the art
The deluxe first edition of Threshing Day comes with sixteen full-color original art pieces by Joe Requeza (@joerequeza.art). For a series with this much fan-art culture, official full-color interior art is a genuine collector's item, and first editions of Yarros books have a habit of selling out fast. If you want the art, the move is to preorder the first edition, not to wait.
Release date and preorder
Threshing Day goes on sale September 29, 2026. Preorders opened months ago under the placeholder listing, so links are already live across major retailers in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. For readers outside the US, Yarros noted to watch your local foreign publishers' social media for regional release dates.
Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros Book Cover
Preorder Threshing Day on Amazon →
How it fits the fall 2026 Yarros lineup
Yarros is having a stacked fall, so here is the calendar, straight:
- Threshing Day (Empyrean collection): September 29, 2026
- Peculiar Stars: November 17, 2026, a standalone contemporary romance she calls a "castaway" story ("What would you do if you were stranded for 543 days on a deserted island with your fiancé's cousin?"). Not Empyrean at all.
- Empyrean Book 4: in progress, no release date yet, realistically 2027.
Two books this fall, only one of them a dragon book, and the mainline Book 4 still ahead. For where Book 4 stands right now, see our Fourth Wing Book 4 guide.
My honest take
I will admit it, I spent months assuming "Not Book Four" would be a novella about the missing twelve hours, and I braced for intense heartbreak. Threshing Day is a lovelier surprise than that. Thirteen stories, sixteen pieces of full-color art, and Xaden's point of view handed to us like a gift. This is Yarros throwing a party in Basgiath while she writes the book that is going to wreck us all. It is a smart move too. It keeps the fandom fed and loud through a long wait without touching Book 4's timeline. If you only buy one edition, make it the deluxe first edition for that Joe Requeza art, because Yarros first editions do not sit on shelves. I went from skeptical to genuinely excited in about the length of one Instagram post.
FAQ
Is Threshing Day Book 4?
No. It is a separate Empyrean collection releasing before the mainline Book 4. Yarros is writing Book 4 now and this does not change its timeline.
What is in Threshing Day?
Thirteen stories about favorite Empyrean characters and their dragons, centered on Threshing, the day dragons bond their riders. The deluxe first edition adds sixteen full-color art pieces by Joe Requeza.
Is Xaden's story really in it?
Yes. Xaden's story is included in the collection and will also be posted on Yarros's website.
When does Threshing Day come out?
September 29, 2026.
Do I need to read it before Book 4?
It is not billed as required reading, but if you love these characters you will want it. It is a companion, not a prerequisite.
What order should I read the Empyrean series?
Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, then Threshing Day this September, with Book 4 to follow. New to the world? Start with our complete guide to the Empyrean series.
