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eviethebookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I enjoyed the magic system, the dragons, and the lore in Iron Flame, I definitely found the cyclic arguing between the main characters to be repetitive. Also, Xaden’s story arc is giving Anakin vibes, and we don’t stan a self-righteous anti-hero who sacrifices sanity for… whatever he has for Violet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness and Suicide attempt
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What. Even. I have to wait until DECEMBER? I really can’t. The ending of this book is such a cliffhanger and a twist I was not anticipating. I enjoyed this book, but felt some of it could’ve been condensed. I also felt that some of the magic wasn’t explained as well as I would’ve liked, but all in all, this was a good part 2. The characters are embedded in my heart now, and I hope they all have a happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
writerres27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
Total rating: 3.75
Overview:
I enjoyed this book and found it to be a good follow-up to the first book, Fourth Wing. I am happy with the development of the plot and its pacing, but was disappointed in the amount of time spent on some aspects that felt like a waste of pages. I am looking forward to continuing the series, but I do hope Yarros takes her time with this next book, as there were aspects of this one that felt rushed and unrefined.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot commentary:
Great pacing. The characters' world is thrown into disarray at the end of Fourth Wing, and the fast-paced chaos of Iron Flame is exactly what one should expect to follow that. I was engaged the entire way, eager to see what would happen next. I found the duration of the book to be acceptable, though there are certainly a handful of repetitive scenes regarding Xaden and Violet's dynamic, as well as those involving Cat, that I feel were not necessary/took up too much time. The conflict in this book was complex, looking at the internal conflicts within both Violet and Xaden throughout the whole book as well as the conflict between them, the greater conflict of Aretia against Basgiath/Navarre, the conflict-turned-alliance between Aretia and Poromiel, and the big-picture conflict of all of these parties against the dark wielders. There were a variety of dynamics and plot points to pay attention to, and I feel all of them were adequately addressed, even if certain aspects could have been developed a bit more clearly and others may not have needed as much attention as they received.
Character commentary:
The vast majority of the characters felt that they were in the midst of an evolution, which is what I would expect in a second book of a series. While some characters felt a bit overdone, such as Cat, I found all of the characters that carried over from the first book were facing new and continued challenges that, while developing their character, posed significant moral questions for the characters to work through. I found the characters to be consistent, nothing felt extremely out of place for any of them. I found general relatability in the character, though it is always a challenge when your main characters, in this case Violet and Xaden, are being stubborn and make you want to yell at them. I found the character development of the dragons, as well as the relationships between the dragons and their riders, to be one of my favorite aspects. Learning more about this dynamic certainly influenced my rating of the book.
Setting/World-Building commentary:
The one significant flaw with this book, likely due to the speed at which it was released, is that I found myself having to go back to earlier sections of the book, as well as all the way back to the first book, to better understand new developments in the magic system and the world. While I was still engaged, there were definitely moments where things that were likely obvious to the author were lost in translation to the reader. I could have used a bit more re-contextualizing at the beginning, and I would have appreciated some of the new discoveries made by Violet, Jesinia, Dain, Rhi, and Xaden being expanded upon.
Misc./Other commentary:
I did need to reread paragraphs, or even pages, multiple times along the way because they were not written in the most digestible way. Once again, this is likely due to the fast pace at which the book was published, and I think it would be valuable for Yarros to take her time on the rest of the series to ensure readability and flow is a bit stronger. I did not have these issues with the first book, so I'm optimistic that they won't continue. I'm eager to see where she takes the rest of the series, especially given the fact that she has once again served us a cliffhanger ending, in multiple regards this time.
Overview:
I enjoyed this book and found it to be a good follow-up to the first book, Fourth Wing. I am happy with the development of the plot and its pacing, but was disappointed in the amount of time spent on some aspects that felt like a waste of pages. I am looking forward to continuing the series, but I do hope Yarros takes her time with this next book, as there were aspects of this one that felt rushed and unrefined.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot commentary:
Great pacing. The characters' world is thrown into disarray at the end of Fourth Wing, and the fast-paced chaos of Iron Flame is exactly what one should expect to follow that. I was engaged the entire way, eager to see what would happen next. I found the duration of the book to be acceptable, though there are certainly a handful of repetitive scenes regarding Xaden and Violet's dynamic, as well as those involving Cat, that I feel were not necessary/took up too much time. The conflict in this book was complex, looking at the internal conflicts within both Violet and Xaden throughout the whole book as well as the conflict between them, the greater conflict of Aretia against Basgiath/Navarre, the conflict-turned-alliance between Aretia and Poromiel, and the big-picture conflict of all of these parties against the dark wielders. There were a variety of dynamics and plot points to pay attention to, and I feel all of them were adequately addressed, even if certain aspects could have been developed a bit more clearly and others may not have needed as much attention as they received.
Character commentary:
The vast majority of the characters felt that they were in the midst of an evolution, which is what I would expect in a second book of a series. While some characters felt a bit overdone, such as Cat, I found all of the characters that carried over from the first book were facing new and continued challenges that, while developing their character, posed significant moral questions for the characters to work through. I found the characters to be consistent, nothing felt extremely out of place for any of them. I found general relatability in the character, though it is always a challenge when your main characters, in this case Violet and Xaden, are being stubborn and make you want to yell at them. I found the character development of the dragons, as well as the relationships between the dragons and their riders, to be one of my favorite aspects. Learning more about this dynamic certainly influenced my rating of the book.
Setting/World-Building commentary:
The one significant flaw with this book, likely due to the speed at which it was released, is that I found myself having to go back to earlier sections of the book, as well as all the way back to the first book, to better understand new developments in the magic system and the world. While I was still engaged, there were definitely moments where things that were likely obvious to the author were lost in translation to the reader. I could have used a bit more re-contextualizing at the beginning, and I would have appreciated some of the new discoveries made by Violet, Jesinia, Dain, Rhi, and Xaden being expanded upon.
Misc./Other commentary:
I did need to reread paragraphs, or even pages, multiple times along the way because they were not written in the most digestible way. Once again, this is likely due to the fast pace at which the book was published, and I think it would be valuable for Yarros to take her time on the rest of the series to ensure readability and flow is a bit stronger. I did not have these issues with the first book, so I'm optimistic that they won't continue. I'm eager to see where she takes the rest of the series, especially given the fact that she has once again served us a cliffhanger ending, in multiple regards this time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Animal death
isabellemay14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.75
This book had everything I loved about Fourth Wing but MORE!!! More adventure, more action, more romance, more humor, more magic, more intrigue, more puzzle pieces clicking into place. The main characters admittedly go through annoying periods but in hindsight I thought it made them more human as they worked through challenges. Iron Flame kept the perfect balance of answering some of your burning questions from the first book while also introducing new mysteries to keep you hooked and guessing. There was so much adventure to move the plot along, and I felt like the characters became more well-rounded and fleshed out—flaws and all. There were some admittedly disappointing editing errors that I wouldn’t have expected, but I don’t think they retracted from the overall enjoyment and understanding of the read. I will be eagerly awaiting book #3!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Torture, Blood, and War
Minor: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
jenniferbowman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Great overall story, but would prefer a quicker pace that builds rather than multiple mini-events with lots of “waiting” time in between.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
xoey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I have no words. I got through the whole last part of the book gaping and <i>shooketh</i>. What do I do while waiting for Empyrean #3 to come out? This will consume my thoughts non-stop until then. This series will go on my highly recommend list 🔥
I’m still new to romantasy but I do feel like I enjoy the fantasy more than the spicy parts - but the 🌶️ was more tolerable and less graphic than A Court of Thorns and Roses which was the only other romantasy I’ve read so far
I’m still new to romantasy but I do feel like I enjoy the fantasy more than the spicy parts - but the 🌶️ was more tolerable and less graphic than A Court of Thorns and Roses which was the only other romantasy I’ve read so far
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
I AM NOT OKAY!!! Not one bit okay!!! Rebecca Yarros has really just torn my heart from my chest & fed it to a dragon!!!
If you have not started this series yet. DONT! Atleast not right now, wait for all 5 books to come out first!! I don’t know how I’m going to survive until book 3 comes out & we don’t even have a release day yet! 😭
That being said. This book was INCREDIBLE!!! I do highly recommend it, just be ready for all the emotional turmoil that comes along with it! Cause I was not, I thought I was, but I was severely mistaken!
If you have not started this series yet. DONT! Atleast not right now, wait for all 5 books to come out first!! I don’t know how I’m going to survive until book 3 comes out & we don’t even have a release day yet! 😭
That being said. This book was INCREDIBLE!!! I do highly recommend it, just be ready for all the emotional turmoil that comes along with it! Cause I was not, I thought I was, but I was severely mistaken!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Deadnaming, and Vomit
wryrye'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Torture
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, and Chronic illness
blacksphinx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My feelings from the first book hold steady - an entertaining popcorn read with the worst aspect by far being the romance. I groaned every time Xaden showed up because I knew I was going to be subjected to page-long kiss descriptions and poorly written sex scenes. Violet has so much stupid emotional drama over this boy, I hated it. It really dragged down the middle of this book, especially the jealously subplot. I kept reading because I wanted to know how the conflict with the venin was going to shake out and because I wanted to learn more about the dragons. There were some nice developments on that front, and the set up for the next book will keep me reading.
Some things stood as as really jarring. There is a returning minor character whose actions are all over the place in an illogical way. I cannot reconcile their behavior. It also bothers me thattorture is constantly portrayed as a valid and reliable way of getting information, when in real life torture is completely ineffective. The fact that the author is military-adjacent only makes me feel more sour about this.
Some things stood as as really jarring. There is a returning minor character whose actions are all over the place in an illogical way. I cannot reconcile their behavior. It also bothers me that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Sexism, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Medical content, Alcohol, and Colonisation
zg0612's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book was really good, but it definitely had its flaws for me. For one, it took me almost an entire month to finish. That might just be a me thing, but it still irritated me. A second thing was the god damn trust issue thing going on. Like, sure maybe the first one was ok, but 600 pages later??! No. now it’s just tiring and not making any sense. i was done with it. I did like how Violet and Dain have started to repair they relationship even if they’re not “friends anymore. I love Imogen now too. Aaric was definitely a little funny surprise, but he didn’t have a big enough roll in this book, which means he still has more left to do.
SAWYERS LEG???!!! poor leg. at least he’s not dead tho.
I’m also liking the character development between Violet and Cat. that was good.
SAWYERS LEG???!!! poor leg. at least he’s not dead tho.
I’m also liking the character development between Violet and Cat. that was good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent