Grab your leathers and get ready for Threshing Day, the day when dragons choose their riders! It was so much fun to be back in the Fourth Wing world. This includes thirteen short stories featuring characters from the Empyrean series: Brennan, Mira, Xaden, Garrick, Dain, Bodhi, Imogen, Rhiannon Sawyer, Ridoc, Liam, Sloane and Aaric.

Threshing day takes place on October 1^st each year and the stories were transcribed by the professors of Dragonkind, at Basgiath War College. The stories are told in first person and share each character’s experience on the most dangerous day of their lives, when they bond with their dragons. The cadets risk death if they anger a dragon and these are exciting tales from thirteen cadets who survived.

Many of the riders are tested by their dragons before they are chosen, but once they bond, magic happens. The cadets who survive and bond with a dragon become riders and gain unique signet powers, depending on the rider’s wants or needs.  For example, Brennan Sorrengail becomes a mender, Xaden Riorson wields shadows as weapons, and Mira Sorrengail protects with shields.

There is also some foreshadowing for future events, some that we’ve seen in the first three books in the series and some hint of things to come. We get to know more about the background and motivations of the riders and the burdens they carry. Some have family pressures and expectations while others are out for revenge.

Some of my favorite parts are when there’s humor. The dragons can be snarky and sarcastic and I especially enjoyed when Xaden and his best friend, Garrick, talk about love. Ridoc’s chapter with his dragon was also fun, as was Sloane’s chapter with Dain. For anyone wondering, Broccoli, the cat, doesn’t make an appearance in these stories.

This was a quick and easy read at just over 200 pages, and I savored it. It was nice to step away from seeing Violet’s point of view and explore the experiences of other characters. I enjoyed learning more about their background, motivations and personalities while getting to revisit the Fourth Wing world.

Yarros also has an interactive website at dragonkind.com, for readers that want to try to bond with dragons.

I think Fourth Wing fans will love The Threshing.