Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros Series: The Empyrean #2
on April 10, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Pages: 623
Format: Audiobook
Source: Libby, Library
"
"The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity." --Xaden Riorson
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.
"
My Review
I picked this book up right after finishing Fourth Wing. Was that a good or bad thing? I am not entirely sure because I did the same with Oynx Storm, which I am in the middle of now. I will be discussing Fourth Wing in this review, which will include spoilers. Reader, if you have not read Fourth Wing yet, I highly recommend that you do that before diving into Iron Flame because the story truly only builds upon itself. This is not the type of series that you can pick up anywhere. Trust me when I say that.
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Violet made it through her first year at Basgiath War College, to everyone’s surprise, including her own. She made some great friends, but sadly, one was killed in an unexpected battle during her first year. Liam had only one request of Violet, and that was to watch over and protect his little sister when she came to the college as a new recruit. A request that is easier said than done. The battle in which Liam died uncovered some secrets of the outside world that she had grown up believing were legends and myths.
Violet starts her second year off siding with the revolutionaries, so as you can imagine, that is a pretty good indication that this year is going to be difficult. The secrets she discovered are dangerous, and her enemies would prefer her not to be alive so that the secrets stay hidden. Not only does the second year bring new grueling trials and tests, but for Violet, it brings the stress of researching in secret and having to risk someone special to her in order to have access to the information that she needs to create new wards. Violet’s secrets can get her friends and family killed, so the pressure this woman is under is incredible.
“Violence, remember it’s only the body that’s fragile. You are unbreakable.”
The new year brings new students to the campus and a new vice commandant who has made it his mission to break Violet in every possible way. Truly, he is such an evil little man. He is a man who believes in grueling punishments and tests. There is nothing kind about him. Think Filch (from Harry Potter) wanting to hang students from chains in the dungeons because he misses hearing them scream. That is the kind of man this new vice commandant is, except he is more deadly because he also has a dragon that is just as cruel as him.
“You and I are not easy people. What we build together has to be strong enough to withstand a storm. Or a war. Easy isn’t going to give that to us.”
In this book, I felt the romance took on a more meaningful approach because it wasn’t just about the steam. As we saw in the first book, the two main characters are not together all the time since Xaden has graduated and been posted away from the Basgiath. In this story, we see other ways of communication, and we learn more about Xaden beyond the muscles and his looks. DO NOT WORRY for those of you who like the steam because it is still present in the story.
The dragons, in my opinion, are still the best characters in the series. I still love Tairn and have enjoyed learning more about Andarna. Let me tell you, she is a SASSY dragon, and it is hilarious. Reader, picture constant eye rolls with comebacks and that my friend is Andarna in this book. The girl has a mind of her own. Tairn is still the no-nonsense dragon he was in the first book, which I love. Here is a taste of what you can expect from these two in this book.
“A rolling dismount would tear you limb from limb on impact,” he retorts.
“You don’t know that,” Andarna counters with what seems to be her new default form of conversation—telling Tairn he’s wrong. A growl rumbles through Tairn’s chest, vibrating the saddle beneath me and the harness that holds Andarna to his chest.
“I’d watch it,” I tell her, biting back a smile. “He might get tired and drop you.”
“His pride would never allow it.”
“Says the dragon who spent twenty minutes refusing to put on her harness,” Tairn fires back.
Reader, if you are looking for a fast-paced story, then I think that this series will be for you. If you want fantasy with dragons and great world-building, then I do not think you will be disappointed. If romantasy is your vibe, then definitely pick this series up. Now, Reader, if you are wondering if Iron Flame is worth reading after Fourth Wing, then in my opinion, the answer is yes because I do not think you will be disappointed. This book, I have to tell you or maybe warn you, will end on such a cliffhanger that you will want nope, scratch that, NEED to read Onyx Storm just to see what happens next…or maybe that is just me (she smiles as she is typing). I have to ask Reader, have you read Fourth Wing, and if so, what did you think about it? Because you know, as always, I am interested in knowing. Until Next Time, Reader, Happy Reading.
Trigger Warnings:
- Death
- Blood
- Intense Violence
- Dismemberment
- Torture (physical and mental)
- Suicide/Sacrifice
- Animal Death
- Burning
- Imprisonment
- PTSD
- Grief
- Brutal Injuries
** I have included all of the trigger warnings that I remembered, but please check for them if you have triggers because there are some intense scenes in this book.**