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Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, War
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, War
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol
The plot is packed, which was one of the book’s — and story’s — downfalls. It felt like too much was trying to be crammed into one book. The story would have benefitted from most (if not all) of the plot points and characters being more fleshed out.
As a side note, it feels like more effort was made in the first book to have an actively diverse cast of characters. There also wasn’t as much character development in this book, which is something the first one already lacked quite a bit. That being said, I loved seeing all of the characters, especially Violet, trust and rely on each other more and become a really solid unit.
All in all, the book was enjoyable with fantastic twists and turns. I loved the stronger focus on politics and war strategy, as well as the found family within the Iron Squad and its newcomers. It just seems like fast pacing is what’s being aimed for with this series to its own detriment. Even more so than Fourth Wing, Iron Flame feels too rushed, like developing both plot and character were sacrificed in favour of fitting as much in as possible. Which is bonkers, considering the book is 600+ pages long. The premise, world building, characters, and story are all so interesting and promising — I can only imagine how incredible this series would read if it were given the space to do so, with an author / editor / publishing house team that were willing to spend more time and care on it rather than prioritising churning the sequel out so quickly. Or maybe Rebecca Yarros just always writes this way.
But gosh darn did she get me and I read it in 13 hours, unable to put it down for long. So, I’m boo boo the fool.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racism, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
5/5 Stars
Made me cry, so instant 5.
Highlights:
📚 Book 2 of a series
🏫 School/College setting
🐉 Dragons
🪖 War & Revolution
🧑🤝🧑 Forced camaraderie
😏 Smut
🤐 Secrets
🛡️ Protection & Safety
💪🏻 Power & Weakness
💔 Loss
🧗🏻 Cliffhanger
Graphic: Confinement, Torture
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism