Fourth Wing's Newest Release Validates Long-Standing Fan Speculation About Character Relationships

The newly released Threshing Day novella collection from the Empyrean series confirms a popular fan theory regarding the relationship between characters Brennan and Naolin. A chapter featuring Brennan Sorrengail provides new details that support fans' long-held beliefs about the nature of his connection to Naolin, Tairn's previous dragon rider. The story explores how Naolin sacrificed his life to save Brennan, adding depth to the emotional bond between the two characters that readers had theorized about since earlier books in the series.

The Threshing Day novella collection provides the first explicit confirmation of Brennan Sorrengail's sexual orientation through a scene depicting his romantic involvement with fellow dragon rider Flynn Ennis. This revelation comes approximately two books after Violet first questioned whether Brennan's relationship with Naolin—the previous rider of her dragon Tairn—extended beyond friendship, particularly given that Naolin sacrificed his life to resurrect Brennan during battle.

The short story also expands the Sorrengail family narrative by introducing scenes with their father, Asher, during Brennan's participation in the Threshing. These additions to the Fourth Wing universe complement the existing "Book of Brennan," which functioned as a survival guide that Brennan previously created to assist his sisters through their own trials at Basgiath War College.