Review: Iron Flame | Rebecca Yarros

IRON FLAME

by Rebecca Yarros

The Empyrean #2

Pub: 11/7/2023

Entangled: Red Tower Books

884 pg. (Kindle version)

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

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REVIEW:

I imagine the question on every reader’s mind when they pick up Iron Flame is: can it possibly live up to Fourth Wing? For me the answer is a resounding yes.

After the jaw dropping ending of Fourth Wing (hello cliffhanger), I was excited to find that Iron Flame wasted no time in throwing me right back into the action. The plot of Iron Flame expanded far beyond the walls of Basgiath, and Violet’s previous goal of simply surviving her first year at the war college paled in comparison to the even higher stakes she now faced. Violet was attempting to come to terms with her new reality and it’s fair to say that her confidence was shaken. Now plagued by nightmares, and still reeling from a heartbreaking loss, she felt unable to lean on her friends for support, and instead kept them at arm’s length to protect them. The lack of support and the fragile state of her relationship with Xaden made for a very angsty Violet.

Friendships that were formed in Fourth Wing only strengthened in Iron Flame and I loved seeing those secondary characters play important roles in the expanding plot, utilizing their own unique gifts in times of need. But, as in Fourth Wing, Tairn and Andarna were the shining stars and the highlight of every scene they were in. Someone please explain how this (almost) strictly contemporary reader became so emotionally attached to two dragons, because that is my new reality.

As much as I loved the journey, there were some bumps along the way. Violet and Xaden’s relationship (a highlight for me in Fourth Wing) floundered here and trust issues were the common theme. Violet’s insistence on “full disclosure” from Xaden smacked of hypocrisy and their push and pull throughout the book started to feel a bit repetitive. However, Violet’s push for answers has led to more background on Xaden.

Yarros delivered another thrilling, action-packed ride and there were scenes where it felt like I was hanging on for dear life. As the tension amped up to off-the-charts levels, I alternated between my heart stopping and feeling like it was about to beat right out of my chest. Yet again, another ending that had me gasping with shock and desperately wishing I knew when to expect the next installment. While I wait, you can find me online soaking up fan art and theories galore. 4.75 ★

Have you read Iron Flame?