Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Series: The Empyrean #2
Also in this Series: Fourth Wing
Main Leads: Violet Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson
Secondary Characters: Tairn, Andarna, Sgaeyl, Rhiannon Matthias, Ridoc Gamlyn, Sawyer Henrick, Jesinia Neilwart, Mira Sorrengail, Brennan Sorrengail, Lillith Sorrengail, Sloane Mairi, Aaric Graycastle, Dain Aetos, Garrick Tavis, Bodhi Durran, Imogen Cardulo
Setting: The Continent, Aretia
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Tropes: Reluctant Chosen One, Morally Gray Hero, Found Family, Rebellion, Dragon Rider Bond
Release Date: November 7, 2023
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Format: Audio, e-Book
Source: Purchased
Pages: 623
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase It: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

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 wondering how she’ll get through it. 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 is weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she has her wits—and a will of iron. Leadership forgets the most important lesson Basgiath taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules. But determination to survive won’t be enough this year, because Violet knows the secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

This book picks up right where the first book left off and the action is still front and center. There’s a lot going on but just like the first book, it’s not hard to keep up. Violet has gotten through the Threshing, she’s bonded to two dragons, and she’s survived an attack that has forever changed (and scarred) her so the last thing she needs is to return to school and have to deal with the new vice commandant who is hellbent on breaking her. On top of that, she’s dealing with secrets that are high stakes and she’s got hard choices to make.

This book was another fast paced, action packed story that had me hooked right from the jump. It’s interesting how invested I am in what’s going on and all of the characters. I’m also really enjoying the romance between Xaden and Violet. There was a lot to look forward to from the ending of the last story and I was delighted that Rebecca Yarros did another fantastic job of telling Violet and Xaden’s story. Iron Flame is my kind of fantasy read with loads of drama and a cast of characters that you cheerfully root for. There are the good guys, the morally gray guys, and the bad guys and you can’t read fast enough to find out what happens next. I had a lot of fun with this story, so much so that I immediately jumped into the next book.

Rebecca Yarros is fast becoming an auto buy author for me and I am completely addicted to this series. There are loads of ups, downs, and hella OMG’s in store for you when you read this book. I definitely recommend this series and I can definitely see why Michael B. Jordan chose to adapt this series for the small screen. The more that I read from this series, the more that I want. Xaden is everything to me right now and I can see why my sister is obsessed with him. Can you imagine being loved by Xaden Riorson? I don’t think I’d survive. Or maybe he wouldn’t, who knows.

How do you act normally when the guy you love says shit like:

“I do. I’m sorry if you expect me to do the noble thing. I warned you. I’m not sweet or soft or kind, and you fell anyway. This is what you get, Violet— me. The good, the bad, the unforgivable. All of it. I am yours.” His arm wraps around the small of my back, holding me steady and close. “You want to know something true? Something real? I love you. I’m in love with you. I have been since the night the snow fell in your hair and you kissed me for the first time. I’m grateful my life is tied to yours because it means I won’t have to face a day without you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does, and when you die, I’ll meet Malek at your side. It’s a damned good thing that you love me, too, because you’re stuck with me in this life and every other that could possibly follow.”

Violet continues to be a fantastic heroine who isn’t perfect but tries to always stand by her convictions and I really dig it. I love being a part of her journey. Every aspect of her life has me hooked and seeing her work her butt off to do right by herself, her family, and her friends hits me right in my feels. Her relationship with Xaden is going through it in this book and I’m here for the drama. Don’t even get me started on the, “My house. My chair. My woman.” bit because DDDDDAAAAAAAMMMMMNNNNNN XADEN! I’m sat for all the madness from this book and all the chaos that is yet to come. Rebecca Yarros’ foreshadow game is heavy in this one and I’m excited to see where we end up.

There’s a lot to love about this book. Seeing the characters interact with each other, seeing the riders interacting with their dragons, seeing the dragons interact with other dragons, the introductions of the new characters, the family drama, all of it made for a very engaging and emotional read that left me wanting more. My only gripe is that this series isn’t complete so after I finish the next book, I’ll have to wait and I hate waiting. Oh well. I still recommend the hell out of this book. So good!

Rating

4.5 out of 5

The Series