Threshing Day is a great excuse to gush over Fourth Wing while waiting for the fourth Empyrean Series book, but it’s also full of small details to pick up on — many of which tease more consequential things to come. In the first chapter alone, Threshing Day features the appearance of an important character we’ve never truly met and confirms a romance we didn’t know about. The latter doesn’t seem that pivotal on the surface, but it adds weight to a convincing Fourth Wing theory about Brennan Sorrengail. SPOILERS ahead for Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros.
Rebecca Yarros’ new story collection kicks off with Brennan’s POV, showing how Violet’s brother comes to be bonded to Marbh. Before he sets out to find a dragon, he interacts with two people. One of them is a love interest who’s never mentioned in the main series. His name is Flynn Ennis, and Brennan reveals he “spent a night with him” prior to the Threshing. He also admits to having feelings for the guy, confirming something that readers have long suspected about Brennan’s character.
Threshing Day Confirms Brennan Sorrengail Is Attracted to Men
Brennan doesn’t engage in any romantic relationships during Fourth Wing‘s timeline, at least not that Violet is made privy to. Because of this, there’s no confirmation of his sexuality on the page. Threshing Day changes that, even if it doesn’t paint a full picture. It doesn’t tell us if Brennan is gay, bisexual, or somewhere else on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. It does confirm that he’s attracted to men, though. And that’s exciting for the representation it adds to the romantasy series. The excitement extends beyond that, too, as Brennan’s past relationship adds fuel to a major theory about his survival at the Battle of Aretia.
Fourth Wing’s Brennan/Naolin Theory Is Now Even More Convincing
Fourth Wing‘s big ending twist is that Brennan is alive, and we come to learn that’s mostly thanks to Tairn’s former rider, Naolin. The specifics of the Battle of Aretia are intentionally left vague, but we’re told that Brennan is brought back from the brink of death by Naolin, whose signet is siphoning. We’re told that it “cost him everything,” which seems to imply Naolin is dead. However, it’s just as possible he’s now a venin after channeling too heavily. It would explain why the language never quite lands on death, and why Tairn refuses to speak of his former rider.
Whether Naolin truly gave his life or merely his humanity, many readers have come to believe that he and Brennan were lovers during their time at Basgiath. It would explain why he was willing to go so far for Violet’s older brother. If he’s venin, it would also set the stage for an emotional reunion in later books. We probably don’t need another Sorrengail feeling angsty over their venin lover, but it certainly would give Brennan and Violet something to bond over.
And Threshing Day‘s confirmation that Brennan likes men opens the door to the reveal that he and Naolin had a deeper relationship than he’s let on. Yarros may be subtly laying the bricks for this, and it’s one of many ways that Threshing Day sets up The Empyrean Series‘ future.
What do you think of Brennan’s POV chapter in Threshing Day? Check back on Backtalk Books for more news about upcoming releases!
