A Note from the Author
Dear Fellow Wannabe Riders,
Welcome to A Guide to the Kitchen Quadrant, a culinary tribute to the world of The Empyrean; a series that swept me off my feet faster than a wyvern attack and hasn’t let me down since. This collection of recipes is inspired by the foods, characters, and moments that have made Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm such a deliciously wild ride.
I wasn’t looking for a new obsession when I picked up Fourth Wing. Honestly, I was looking for something to cure my book hangover from that other wildly popular series. What I got was a world full of dragons, rebels, heartache, and a heroine whose voice felt instantly familiar. I devoured the books (a few times, if we’re being honest), then started dreaming up what might be on the table in Basgiath’s mess hall between training sessions.
Some of these recipes are directly inspired by dishes mentioned in the books (yes, Xaden’s Chocolate Cake is in here). Others are born from characters, places, or just the general chaos of being a cadet at Basgiath War College. They’re meant to be practical and comforting, but never boring. Things our favorite riders would be excited to reach for again and again.
This cookbook is for everyone, whether you’re a kitchen cadet or a culinary wingleader. I’ve designed these recipes to be approachable, customizable, and, most importantly, fun. I hope you’ll use this book not only for everyday meals, but also for book clubs, themed parties, or a watch party (IYKYK).
A quick warning: this book contains spoilers for The Empyrean books 1–3. If you haven’t finished Onyx Storm, proceed with caution, or just embrace the chaos, like a true rider.
Creating this book while pregnant with my daughter, Molly, and alongside my one-year-old son, Reggie, made this whole experience feel even more meaningful. She’s not here yet, but she’s already lived through months of recipe development, rewrites, and late-night brainstorms, like her brother has twice now. If they grow up half as brave as Violet Sorrengail, I’ll consider it a win.
From my kitchen to yours: May your spices be strong, your knives be sharp, and your squad always have your back.
Until the last venin falls,
Chelsea Cole
From the Book of Brennan: Your Guide to the Guide
Fragment recovered from the personal effects of Cadet Violet Sorrengail. Annotation and confirmation by Jesinia of the Scribe Quadrant.
To the Reader,
If you’re reading this, congratulations: you’re still breathing.
You’ve crossed the parapet. Maybe you’ve lived through Threshing, the Gauntlet, betrayal, heartbreak, victory, loss. Maybe you’re covered in scars. Maybe you’re just hungry.
Either way, I’m not here to lecture you. Gods know you’ve had enough of that from your dragon, I’m sure.
This isn’t a rulebook. It’s not a codex. It’s something to get you through when your squad’s running on fumes and the mess hall is half ash. These are meals for people who’ve fought for their lives and then had to fight again before dessert.
So eat. Share if you can. Hide the last roll if you must. And if you burn the first batch, that just means you’re trying. Keep at it.
