Reviews with content warning for Violence - Iron Flame

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

630 reviews

emmanem_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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literarymary95's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

Just like Fourth Wing, this book swallowed me whole and I struggled to get out of it. I've heard some people didn't like Iron Flame as much as Fourth Wing, but I think Iron Flame is my favorite so far of the 2 books already written. While the Fourth Wing was more about developing the main characters, Iron Flame picks up with more world building, which I really appreciated. However, it did not take away from the progression of the character development but added onto it. I learned more about each character, especially Xaden's since his was pretty mysterious (for good reason) in. Violet's character continues to stay true as she battles through learning how to deal with her world that constantly changes while also learning how to use her strengths (bonds with dragons and Xaden, lightning wielding, loyalty, wit, and vast knowledge from studying to be a scribe) while being the physically weakest person in her current circle.

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rowstream's review

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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? It's complicated

3.5

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amy_in_the_city's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book was such a slog to get through. It was like a third-act breakup stretched across hundreds of pages because Violet and Xaden spent most of the book fighting. They were hardly ever together and when they were, they were having the same argument over and over. It was extremely tiresome, and I felt this romance novel was missing the romance. A lot of their issues seemed very contrived, like Violet was just looking for things to be mad or insecure about. She makes a whole issue about Xaden not saying he loves her, only that he's fallen for her. What does she think "fallen for" means exactly? I understand she was still upset with him for not telling her some big secrets in the first book, but I think it was way overblown and drawn out. It was also a bit hypocritical of her to be upset at Xaden for not telling her all the super-secret mission details while she was also not telling everything to her loved ones and was going behind Xaden's back on her own mission. All of the internal conflict was exhausting, and I kind of just wanted them to break up already so I wouldn't have to read about it anymore.

I also really didn't like that they had Violet and Xaden's ex fighting over him. It was childish, and I'm just done with books pitting women against each other because of some guy.

Xaden was just kind of there, without much personality. All of the side characters were also lacking development. I couldn't remember much about the friends and professors from the first book despite reading it only 4 months ago and was always mixing the characters up in my mind, but it didn't matter much as they weren't very present in this book.

I did like the non-relationship parts of the book, for the most part. I thought learning about the wards and more about Andarna were both interesting, as was the final part of the book. Even during the really exciting plot stuff happening, I was still easily able to put the book down and not feel the need to pick it up again for another day or two.

Just when I thought I was ready to give up on this series, that cliffhanger ending happened. I might give the next book a chance, but I'm really not interested in reading 3 more long books if they're like this one.

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skyfluff's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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fraugremlin's review against another edition

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1.0

I bought this book this month and havent been able to bring myself to finish it because of one huge glaring issue... The "relationship crisis" filler.

Basically, MC has it in her head she cant trust Love interest because,,, he lied to her? REMINDER they are military and he is literally commiting treason and she has a mind reader childhood friend that betrays her trust in the previous book. He offers his life story to her and willingness to be open about himself but puts his foot down on revealing any secrets that could get him, his family and friends and even her killed. Seems reasonable, right?

Well, apparently, to Violet, its not. its an extreme breach of trust and she breaks off the relationship with him because "how can i be with someone who cant trust me?"

THEN we discover the entire plot of book 2 is around them going through POW scenarios about being interigated and not breaking to reveal secrets. ALL THE MORE REASAON HE IS BEING REASONABLE AND SHE IS NOT. But no, the author thought that because, oh well every book ever has a toxic relationship dynamic, that there needed to be uneccesary padding because reasons.

Extremely stupid and arbitrary BS that perpetuates Toxic relationship culture and needs to stop.

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ko_rax's review against another edition

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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

3.0

Iron Flame is the sequel of Rebecca Yarros' romantasy, preceeded by Fourth Wing, featuring further development of the revolution and conflicts arising in Violet's interpersonal relationships.

First things first: I cannot stand the protagonist, Violet. I have not liked her in Fourth Wing, either. Violet portrays toxicity for me, something I can do well without. Even so, I was hoping for her to have some character development (that proves good character building) and am troubled to find that I cannot discern much of it here.
Her conflicts dragged to a point that I feel like her slow-paced inner work does not match the high-strung tension of a fast-paced plot

that only ever took a breather during smut scenes

. That is not to say that inner work should be quick: Her disagreements felt repetitive -

a point that Violet herself acknowledges

- and it took away from the quality of the rushed plot, instead adding value by pushing lacklustre character development. Also, I wish

Xaden took back saying that Violet is a rational being - she is not.

For a novel focused on romance, I dare say that it was lacking heavily in the romance department. I can only hope for The Empyrean series to improve from now on.

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annenichols's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

Incredibly enjoyable adventure fantasy. The characters and the plot twists are extremely compelling. So many of the characters have depth which is revealed in this book more than the last. The relationships feel real, bu the physical intimacy does not overpower the book. I reread the last 15 minutes to understand the final plot twist, which I haven't done since Harry Potter. Such an exciting read in a magical world sufficiently rich in detail to delight the imagination.

The voice is still somewhat young, but less so than the last book. The prose is good but not great.

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ckozik1017's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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woodweird's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No

3.0

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