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lauren_r's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Death of parent, Torture, and War
eleek0609's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Death of parent, War, Violence, and Torture
gretchenplz's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well, it was a rough start, but the second part of the book was much better than the first. And, as a whole, this book was better than the first one.
I just... there is so. much. potential. in this series, and a good editor who's willing to actually do work on the story to fix the glaring plot holes and overly wordy sections would really do RY's writing a service. With the "fast publishing" industry these days, things that desperately need an edit and just published. There were formatting and grammar errors, and easily 200 pages that could have been removed. Even if those pages were replaced with ACTUAL world-building and not just little snippets at the beginning of chapters that leave us to ~figure it out on our own~ as we read. I know that intense world-building sometimes turns people away, but I just feel like if we ACTUALLY were explained some history and the stories of the venin, the story would benefit.
I wish that Violet and Xaden had any semblance of a healthy relationship because that was really an unwelcome distraction from how cool the world and story were at the end.
Anyway. I guess I'm on the hook for book 3 now. Sigh.
I just... there is so. much. potential. in this series, and a good editor who's willing to actually do work on the story to fix the glaring plot holes and overly wordy sections would really do RY's writing a service. With the "fast publishing" industry these days, things that desperately need an edit and just published. There were formatting and grammar errors, and easily 200 pages that could have been removed. Even if those pages were replaced with ACTUAL world-building and not just little snippets at the beginning of chapters that leave us to ~figure it out on our own~ as we read. I know that intense world-building sometimes turns people away, but I just feel like if we ACTUALLY were explained some history and the stories of the venin, the story would benefit.
I wish that Violet and Xaden had any semblance of a healthy relationship because that was really an unwelcome distraction from how cool the world and story were at the end.
Anyway. I guess I'm on the hook for book 3 now. Sigh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
filipa_maia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What was this book? I feel like I was hit by a high speed dragon after finishing it.
I love this world and I love these characters. All of them. Even the villains... they are perfect, cruel, merciless...
The only reason this read isn't 5 stars is because the book has a lot of unnecessary stuff. The beginning is slow (but it was the same with 'Fourth Wing') but then the story gains the right momentum. I feel this book is unnecessary long: if they just talked - they share a mental bond, GOD, just mentally talk or whatever - many of the problems would be solved; and I think that are a lot of little details that were left without explanation.
But I don't want to judge too much, maybe all the explanations are in the next book! Yes, because after this ending I expect perfection for the third book. Everything MUST be ok.
I love this world and I love these characters. All of them. Even the villains... they are perfect, cruel, merciless...
The only reason this read isn't 5 stars is because the book has a lot of unnecessary stuff. The beginning is slow (but it was the same with 'Fourth Wing') but then the story gains the right momentum. I feel this book is unnecessary long: if they just talked - they share a mental bond, GOD, just mentally talk or whatever - many of the problems would be solved; and I think that are a lot of little details that were left without explanation.
But I don't want to judge too much, maybe all the explanations are in the next book! Yes, because after this ending I expect perfection for the third book. Everything MUST be ok.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Torture, War, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
avacyn731's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Torture, Death of parent, Death, Murder, War, Violence, Cursing, Confinement, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
brebooks_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, and Torture
macintasha's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Death
tiranaki's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was half and half on Fourth Wing, but I really enjoyed Iron Flame. It felt like The Emperyan series finally found its footing. Excellent world building, the story is no longer entirely just about the main characters. We get to see what it is they are fighting for and RY makes us actually feel and care for everyone involved!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gore
oldecraft's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The most heart wrenching book ever
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture and Sexual content
augustboxer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The concept of the universe lore is very interesting, but the writing comes across as very rushed and unfinished.
Most of the conflict between the main characters is the "miscommunication trope" in the form of childish sniping, which gets to be pretty grating the third or fourth time they have the same conversation. Romance is not my genre, but I enjoyed Fourth Wing for the fantasy -- Iron Flame definitely is a step down from the first book in pacing, plot and character development. Hopefully the author is given more time to flesh out the universe and better write/edit the next one.
Most of the conflict between the main characters is the "miscommunication trope" in the form of childish sniping, which gets to be pretty grating the third or fourth time they have the same conversation. Romance is not my genre, but I enjoyed Fourth Wing for the fantasy -- Iron Flame definitely is a step down from the first book in pacing, plot and character development. Hopefully the author is given more time to flesh out the universe and better write/edit the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture