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skyhazzard's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
This one felt a little slower than the first one and there were somethings that I didn’t fully grasp and that may be on me and the slump but I did rate it lower because of that, it didn’t feel on par to the excitement of the first book.
Most of the book is spent with Violet and Xaden (and Tairn and Sgaeyl) being apart. Xaden has graduated so he’s officially been assigned somewhere and Violet meanwhile is in her second year at the war college. There’s a new commander guy and he’s a real dick so he orchestrates it so that when they do visit each other the other is busy or away or he punishes Violet so she can’t go on her weekend and it’s just such bullshit! Like I’m surprised the dragons did not revolt! Messing with their mating bond… I really hated being apart, it was torture.
I think it was about halfway through the book we get a change of scenery which was kind of nice. We got to explore a new place and meet new (and old) people but I also missed the familiar setting of Basgaith.
There were quite a few new (and old) people to hate. It was like less death this time around more hate. Also some new people to root for but we gotta wait to get attached like Violet because who knows if they’ll die.
We got a bit more about the venin and wyvern in this one but at the same time I feel like I know less about them. But once again that may be on me and the slump because the things we did learn were at the start of the book and by the time I got to them it’d been like a month. The end really had me wanting to know more and that’s where I got confused about how exactly they come about.
I’m still really excited about this series and to see where it goes next because we did learn some interesting things this book and alliances have shifted so I’m wondering how all that will work.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
widgetknits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
spootilious's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Title: Iron Flame
Rating: 1.5 / 5
Review:
1. The story concept is a good one. And if another author (a skilled one) had written this story I’m sure I would have LOVED it.
Onto the list of things I didn’t like:
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
vivivi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's one thing after another! People are dropping like flies!
Really hard to put down.
Finally able to catch my breath at the halfway mark.
And somehow we manage to come back to a school setting, which I love.
Things are looking bleak. I'm in the final 2 hours of the audiobook. Anything can happen. Anyone might die. Ahhh
Holy cow that ending. Two cliff hangers in a row!! Amazing. Love it. Also, I need the next book.
Are reviews supposed to make sense? I can't make any sense at the moment.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Kidnapping
katvou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
comfy_anna's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Medical content, and Murder
amylynnknitsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed the further world building. I enjoyed learning more about established characters and new ones.
I was annoyed by Violet and Xaden's communication issues, but realized it was pretty on point for two very screwed up people. And they are two very screwed up people.
I saw where a few people are annoyed by the introduction but lack of exploration of Auric, but I actually think it makes sense. How many second years actually interacted with the OG crew outside of Dain in Fourth Wing? I liked the Fliers joining the party and actually thought that Cat's introduction helped Violet as a character.
I saw the end coming, mostly bc...well there's still a bunch of unanswered plot to get to, and this allows a deeper dive into the ancient history of the world Yarros has built. Also, y'all the series is called Empyrean and we haven't even met that crew yet. Pretty sure we're going to by the end of the series.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
emilywemily6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Classism
Minor: Ableism and Alcohol
sauvageloup's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
pros:
- the writing is just addictive, even though 600+ pages of small text, I didnt want to put it down.
- overall, i enjoyed this more than the first i think, there were less tropes i didnt like and the writing felt better.
- xaden does finally tell violet his secrets which was character growth.
- the twists and turns were fun to read and I didnt predict many, if any, of them.
- while impulsive, violet does show her intellect in figuring shit out and I liked
- I like the reveal about
- I liked the bits of humor, with ridoc and tairn's sarcastic sass, as well as Andarna's.
- the angst overall was excellent, there was all different types and all of the characters went through the wringer in one way or another!
- I also liked the team dynamics a lot, with ridoc, imogen, rhiannon and the rest banding round violet and teasing her.
cons:
- biggest issue was just how many names there were. i just lost track. needed a list of characters and their roles desperately. I couldnt remember who garrick was, was still learning dragon names at the end, and thought Tairn was the biggest dragon. i did read it fast, but it did suffer from the fantasy book disease of an overstuffed cast (imo).
- the argument between xaden and violet was repetitive, which was noted but still a bit frustrating. like, the growth in xaden finally revealing his big secret(s) seems to just be that violet wore him down and he was worried they'd die. so.
-
- Cat was an annoying development and I didny really enjoy any of her sections. I think women managing to work together and get on dispite history involving a man is far more interesting than being petty. I know its brought up that Cat just wants xaden's crown, but it still felt like the catty (hah) ex trope.
- also, just personally, I skipped some of the sex. i thought the sexual tension between them was written great, but I would have been happy with a fade to black. but that's just how the book is.
all in all, this was highly addictive and I loved a lot of the ideas and the bits of humour. despite some significant flaws, definitely want to read the next!
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury