Threshing Day Recap

Fantasy Fangirls

Lexi and Nicole provide a high-level spoiler recap of Threshing Day by Rebecca Yaros, covering all 13 POV chapters across the Empyrean series timeline. They

Key takeaways

• Brennan Sorengale bonds with the orange dragon Marb after his father Asher advises him to choose a dragon that balances his personality rather than a predictable one.
• Mira Sorengale bonds with Tiny, a green club tail, and her POV emphasizes her feeling like the middle child who belongs to herself rather than to Lilith or Asher.

Main topics

• Threshing Day bonding rituals in Navarre
• Empyrean series spoilers across Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm

Notable quotes

Imogens threshing.

Conclusion

This episode is useful for readers who need a spoiler-heavy refresher

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:09) Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Fantasy Fangirls Podcast, where two sisters dive deep into beloved fantasy lore, characters, themes, theories, and more! Speaker 2 (0:20) I'm Lexi, older sister and fantasy lore nerd. And I'm Nicole, younger sister and Speaker 1 (0:24) romantic at heart. And today is our high-level coverage of Threshing Day by Rebecca Yaros, where we are recapping what happens as well as the, again, very high-level main takeaways in each of the 13 POVs. So Speaker 2 (0:38) this is perfect for anyone who was not planning on reading Threshing Day or anyone who read it really, really fast and is like... what happened. I don't remember Sloan's at 3 a.m. when I finished. Or if you're like, I can't get enough of this world and I will do anything to get a little bit more morsels of it, this episode's for you. Speaker 1 (0:59) But before we begin, please listen closely to our spoiler warning because this episode has spoilers for all of the available Empyrean books. That includes all of this Threshing Day, as well as Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm. Two words. Imogens Speaker 2 (1:16) threshing. This is the most geeked out about POV. And if you have not read it, then A, you either know what you're getting yourself into, or B. Speaker 1 (1:27) Go read it, and we'll be here when you're done. Next, we at Fantasy Fangirls are adults who say adult things about adult books. In other words, friends, this podcast is rated R. If Speaker 2 (1:35) a Dragon War college wasn't rated R enough, we get some juicy sexual tension on the pages, friends. So please be mindful of those little listening ears. Speaker 1 (1:46) Additionally, if you love Fantasy Fangirls and want more content, more community, more events, and so much more, please check out Fantasy Fan Club. We Speaker 2 (1:55) have six media network tiers that you can join, which include access to our Boppin' Discord, which is extra boppin' right now with everyone talking about Threshing Day. You can also get access to a book club, community events. early access and ad-free episodes. Yes, that includes Threshing Day early access. And of course, welcome gifts and so much more. Join Speaker 1 (2:16) the party and learn more about all these tier benefits at fantasyfangirls.com slash fan club. Link is also, of course, in the show notes. And really and truly, friends, thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done to support Fantasy Fangirls. And Speaker 2 (2:30) now, hold on tight and don't die. And it is time to go through. Threshing day! Speaker 1 (2:37) I'm so excited! So as we get started, let's first remember that the way the dynamic is set up in Navarre is that dragons need riders and riders need dragons. And it's a nice little ecosystem there. Symbiotic relationship. Speaker 2 (2:51) The riders need the dragons because they cannot channel magic without a dragon connection. Channeling magic is the way that they have wards to protect Navarre. And then the dragons need the riders so that those wards... safeguard their Speaker 1 (3:05) dragon hatching grounds. So this book begins with threshing advice for dragon kind professors, aka our favorite Professor Kaori, and is written by his predecessor. Colonel Palm also admits that as he's getting up in his elderly years, his memory has become less reliable in the past decade. I have a whole theory on that I'll get into in episode one. I'm, I am convinced that's not the whole story. This is all great setup for what we'll see in several of these Threshing Day stories where dragons are flying under the radar. Get it? And pretending to be another younger dragon. All Speaker 2 (3:41) right, let's get into these 13 POVs. Oh my goodness. Starting with Brennan Sorengale. It is nine years before the start of Fourth Wing and Brennan, the oldest Sorengale sibling, is about to enter the forest. But Violet's big brother is struggling. But then he is terrified of becoming the greatest disappointment to the Sorengale line. I would be too if Lilith was my mother. Yes, absolutely. But Lexi. Yes. Before he can go to his threshing day extravaganza. Yes. Someone steps out from the trees. The one, Speaker 1 (4:17) the only Papa Asher Sorengale. Speaker 1 (4:25) And he's here with some much needed fatherly advice about which dragon to bond for Brennan. Because Brennan wants a reasonable and predictable dragon. And his father's like... Maybe not. His father only Speaker 2 (4:37) wants his son to make it out alive. That is all that matters. But don't worry, Brennan. Dragons love soaring gales. So once Brennan has made it into the forest, he is channeling his inner violet and climbs a tree for the best vantage point. And it kind of works because Marb finds him and wants to play a game. If Brennan can find a way to his seat without touching the ground, then he is worthy to bond with. I love that Marb is like, if we play a game, game of the floor is lava, then you're good to go. That's my daughter's favorite game, by the way. Yeah, I need to play that with her ASAP. Marb does not make it easy though, but Brennan finds his way out of the tree like a little squirrel and is officially a Speaker 1 (5:17) writer. Yay! All right, so what are the key takeaways from Brennan's POV? We get insight into the Sorengale family dynamic with how Lilith is the spine of the family and Asher is the heart. I loved that line so much. Brennan is his mother's favorite, and he feels the weight of her expectations. However, we see on the page, I can't believe it. cannot emphasize this enough, actually on the page, how Brennan's very close and the most himself around his father. There's so, so, so, so many breadcrumbs about Papa Sorengel's research and how often he's gone on secret missions for months at a time. Aisles, aisles, aisles, but I will save that for episode one. Papa Sorengel also gives Brennan a bracelet Speaker 2 (6:02) that contains a black bead. This is a bracelet that Asher has apparently worn since forever. Speaker 1 (6:10) And yes, we will be talking about it in episode one. And then there's, of course, Papa Sorengel's advice to Brennan about maybe bonding an orange dragon and how that would be a good balance for his eldest, which, of course, turns out to be true. How ironic that the best advice Brennan got for threshing day came from his scribe father. Because yes, as Marb says, Brennan is boring and needs a little spice in his life. Please watch. Speaker 1 (6:37) Last Speaker 2 (6:37) important note from Brennan's POV. Yes, it was extremely hard to pick only these key takeaways. We wanted to go on and on and on, but we shouldn't. That's episode one. Brennan has the idea to write the book of Brennan while he's climbing this tree looking for his dragon. He gets the idea after reflecting how Lilith didn't tell him jackal about the writer's quadrant, and he would have loved to have had a little bit of a heads up. So he will give that to Mira. Speaking of Mira jumping forward three years, Mira Sorengale is a woman on a mission. She is ready to bond with the only dragon on her mind, a green club tail named Tiny. She took one look at him during presentation and knew Speaker 1 (7:19) he was going to be hers. So without a visit from mom or dad, Mira heads into the valley with a squad mate and searches for her dragon. And where is she searching for her dragon, you ask? Up a tree. We're sensing a pattern here with the Sorengel siblings. A couple of squirrels. It's not long before her instincts are telling her to go in that direction. And who is she to question her feelings? So Speaker 2 (7:46) back on the ground, a ruby red dragon appears and her squadmate is off to bond that dragon. Moments later, though, a green club tail in all his glory appears. No matter what Tiny does, Mira refuses to back down. Even as Tiny drags Talon down and into her leg. And though she does not give him a single reaction, I am so impressed with Mira and for multiple reasons. And it earns his respect. Good job, Mira. Speaker 1 (8:16) Yes, yes. So in yesterday's video, when we were chatting about which dragon we would want to bond with, I had said Tiny. And then I reread this and I have changed my mind. I Speaker 2 (8:26) don't blame Speaker 1 (8:27) you. Not even necessarily about the scar because all dragons Speaker 2 (8:29) do that in some way. Not actually maim you. On purpose. In this way. Marb wanted to play the floor is lava. He's an orange dragon. Speaker 1 (8:40) Anyway, Tiny's a little... I need some humor in my life. You need some humor, yeah. I feel like Cure would be good for you. Oh, yes. Speaker 2 (8:46) I absolutely agree. Yeah. As Mira goes into the fight field, she realizes that Brennan may belong to Lilith and Violet to Asher, but Mira, she belongs to herself. And now she belongs to Tiny. I loved that. Classic middle child. So Speaker 1 (9:02) this feeling of not belonging in her family is absolutely a theme throughout Mira's POV. Brennan is their mother's, Violet is their father's protege, and Mira is no one's. Telling herself instead, all three other Sorengales are hers. I love that reframe. Speaker 2 (9:19) Me too. How Speaker 1 (9:19) she looks Speaker 2 (9:20) at it that way. She has to. Well, we see it. falter, I'll say, in Onyx Storm. With Meera's story also being at the beginning of the rebellion, this is the timestamp we're in, it's really interesting to see her POV on what Tyrandor their motivations are from the Navarian side, especially as she notes that they're wanting to separate from Navar. She mentions that she sees where Fenriris is coming from. Speaker 1 (9:44) I'm really surprised at that. She says that she's logical and she can adapt and eventually change her mind. Exactly, exactly. But she also believes that breaking apart their kingdom is nothing short of evil. Speaker 2 (9:56) And Speaker 1 (9:57) this Speaker 2 (9:57) is where we see that Navar propaganda just working. Because she has no idea about the poor meal and the venin and all the real reasons why they're wanting to secede. But this is also where we learn that Brennan and Lilith are on the front lines, despite Brennan just having graduated. But it's because he's a very powerful mender and Speaker 1 (10:17) very, very, very needed. So last little thing to note here is a peek into the signets of the Sorengale generations. Mira, Violet, and Brennan's grandmother controlled fire and their great-grandfather wielded the tides. The tides, Nicole. The emerald sea tides. The Speaker 2 (10:35) emerald Speaker 1 (10:35) sea tides. I love my crack theory, my crackin' theory. Speaker 2 (10:39) Your crackin' crack theory? All right, next up, Zayden Ryerson. Let's jump ahead a few years to two years before Violet's threshing. Zayden, well the fuck away, Ryerson, gives the other marked ones a pep talk of don't fuck. fucking die and then waltzes into the valley with none Speaker 1 (11:00) other than his honey bear garrick at his side soon after entering the valley bully prince alec tarry baron has his dagger to garrick's throat No, but Zayden and the prince's lackeys are not the only ones watching. Moldik, who will end up being Aric's blue club tail, and Seagale are nearby, popcorn ready for the show. Unfortunately for Alec, Zayden goes all, Die, you asshole! He had it coming. Speaker 2 (11:23) He had it coming. Speaker 1 (11:25) After this lovely show of strength, Seagale's like, I like Speaker 2 (11:29) that one. I think I'll keep him. And then drops the, I bonded your grandfather. bomb like it's no biggie. The two solidify. this bond after Sagail agrees with Zayden's plan of burning this place to the fucking Speaker 1 (11:45) ground. So we see from Zayden's POV the scene with Alec and witness just how big of a dick this Tari Prince is. He beat up and tried to kill Garak in his sleep, knowing that as the king's son, he was safe from the Codex's strict rule against killing a fellow cadet in their sleep. With these marked ones, Alec had all this... With these marked ones, Alec had this whole na-na-na-na-na My father squashed your father's rebellion vibes and he sucks. He sucks. He makes Halden seem tame, to be Speaker 2 (12:18) honest. Speaker 1 (12:18) Which is saying something. Speaker 2 (12:19) Which Speaker 1 (12:20) the Speaker 2 (12:20) bastard bitch earned his name for