Rebecca Yarros’s Threshing Day Tops the Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List

Updated October 8, 2026: Rebecca Yarros’s Threshing Day is No. 1 on the Publishers Weekly hardcover fiction bestseller list published by the Associated Press on October 8. The new ranking lists the Wing and Claw edition from Red Tower in the top spot, giving the recently released Empyrean companion a major post-publication milestone.

Rebecca Yarros’s Threshing Day was published on September 29, 2026, and is available now. The collection returns readers to the Empyrean world through thirteen stories about riders and their dragons.

It is a companion collection, not the fourth main Empyrean novel. Yarros has also clarified that readers do not need it to understand Book Four.

What Is Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros?

Threshing Day explores the dragon-bonding trial at Basgiath War College through perspectives beyond Violet’s. Rather than picking up the central storyline after Onyx Storm, it expands the background of the world readers already know.

That makes it a different kind of Empyrean release: an opportunity to spend more time with the characters and dragons while the main series continues separately.

For an overview of the main novels and their connections, see our Empyrean series guide.

When Was Threshing Day Released?

Threshing Day was released September 29, 2026. The preorder period for that release has ended. Rebecca Yarros’s official book page now identifies the collection as available.

Readers shopping for a copy should check the edition and the retailer’s current stock or delivery information. A published book can still have a wait for a particular format or collectible printing.

Do You Need to Read Threshing Day Before Book Four?

No. At her October 1 launch event in New York, Yarros said she would incorporate the collection’s relevant information into Book Four. As PEOPLE reported on October 5, she assured readers they would not need to buy the companion to follow the next novel.

Her clarification replaces the uncertainty in our original preview: the collection is optional background reading.

For me, that makes the decision easier. Extra time with a fantasy world can be appealing without becoming another assignment readers must complete before a sequel. Choose it because you want more of Basgiath, the riders, and their dragons.

Xaden’s Threshing Story Is Included

Xaden Riorson’s story is part of the collection. His bond with Sgaeyl is an appealing subject for readers interested in the history behind one of the series’ central relationships.

For readers drawn to Xaden’s character, his inclusion is a reason to consider the companion on its own terms. Learning more about a character’s past can enrich the reading experience without making that background essential to the next novel.

Why Threshing Works as a Companion-Collection Theme

Threshing is a defining moment in a rider’s life: a dangerous encounter in which a dragon’s choice changes the cadet’s future. Readers first experienced Violet’s version of that trial in Fourth Wing.

Returning to the trial through other perspectives gives the collection a clear focus. Each rider brings a different history, and each dragon has a distinct personality. That is the part of the premise I find most appealing: familiar world-building viewed through someone else’s experience.

What About the Illustrated Deluxe Edition?

The deluxe first edition includes sixteen original full-color illustrations by Joe Requeza. The Bank Square Books launch-event description identifies this as a collectible edition offered in the United States and Canada while supplies last.

Those features belong to that edition; readers should check the listing for the specific copy they intend to purchase. Publication does not guarantee that the deluxe first printing remains in stock.

Where Does Threshing Day Fit in the Reading Order?

For newcomers, my recommendation is to read the main novels first: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm. Then read Threshing Day if you want the companion material. This is a suggested reading approach, rather than a requirement for continuing the series.

Reading the novels first gives the characters and their relationships more context. It also lets readers approach the collection after becoming familiar with the events of the main story.

Where to Find the Latest Empyrean Book Four Updates

Threshing Day is separate from the next main installment. For confirmed sequel news, publication-date announcements, and the distinction between official information and rumors, follow our Fourth Wing Book 4 release-date guide.

That page remains our main destination for sequel-status updates. This article focuses on the published companion collection and how readers can approach it.

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