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kandacewright's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, and Death of parent
rehtaehwashere's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
- What I liked: I liked Andarna's sass, I liked that Xaden was so badass
until the very end of the book , I liked that Miradidn't even question her sister even though she defied their mother . I like that Brennan was doing everything he could for the resistance and that the dragon riders were so ready to accept and help the griffon riders. I like the beginnings of a union against the venin for the people that could see it. - What I disliked: Xaden's choice at the end, that Violet was so focused on Xaden 'lying' to her that she was a fucking moron through the whole book. The first book she poisoned everyone
and yet she drank suspicious water THREE TIMES?? THREE TIMES VIOLET YOU FUCKING IDIOT . That she couldn't solve the incredibly obvious riddle about the wards and that she couldn't figure outAndarna ISN'T A BLACK DRAGON even with her weird abilities and shifting scale colors . That she DOESN'T ASK QUESTIONS and then gets mad she doesn't know things. That she went from strong smart and resourceful to a fucking idiot in one book. - Overall thoughts: Poorly edited, a lot could've been chopped out to make for better characterization and letting us understand WHY Violet is being so stupid, that a strong woman got ruined by a hot guy for the sake of plot and she's no longer intelligent and resourceful just because she wants to be petty, the ending sucked and the book was a slog.
- Recommend to a friend? Y if someone wants to continue the series but N if someone is on the fence about the series
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Emotional abuse, Blood, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Death of parent
ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What a war! All the action and fighting and planning. I like how Yarros utilizes the dragons more in this book, especially Andarna (more frequent remarks that I found so funny and at the end). I don't see the romance as wanting to replicate the first book. I see it more as a romantic relationship that goes through tests of trusts. I do find it annoying and a bit controlling when Xaden expects Violet to ask him the correct questions in order for him to offer her the information she wants. And some of her remarks about Xaden became repetitive (though this may also be a me-thing, as I find too much mushy-gushy stuff in romance novels to be overbearing and annoying).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Animal death, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Grief, Torture, War, Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
iamlittlepanda_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
I know this book has had mixed reviews - however, I really enjoyed it. I really enjoy the style of how Rebecca writes - I find it really engaging, even in the slower parts. These books will leave an ache in your heart when reading, I loved the characters so much that you really are rooting for them to succeed and live happily and safely.
Xaden is such a complicated character and I honestly love him so much, he has such a good balance of really trying to be better but also being savage.
Tairn and Andarna live in my heart, I love them so much. They add a sense of comfort in the tense moment.
Xaden is such a complicated character and I honestly love him so much, he has such a good balance of really trying to be better but also being savage.
Tairn and Andarna live in my heart, I love them so much. They add a sense of comfort in the tense moment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, Animal death, Death of parent, and Death
the_rabble's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
CW fantasy drama with theater kid delivery. If that's not your flavor, read don't listen. I find the pacing of the audiobook narrator's action sequences really distracting (has onstage monologue energy which keeps everything at an 11 and can be more anxiety producing than emotionally impactful) but still enjoy the story and writing style.
Has an excellent sex scene involving athrone- 10/10 very cunning linguists.
Back half of the book moves, but first half is very masc-Dolores Umbridge, but with an unrepentant murder college instead of a whimsical murder boarding school.
You may want to wait for the entire series to be out.There's enough of a cliffhanger/hook at the end to be impatient about having to wait.
Has an excellent sex scene involving a
Back half of the book moves, but first half is very masc-Dolores Umbridge, but with an unrepentant murder college instead of a whimsical murder boarding school.
You may want to wait for the entire series to be out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Torture, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Abandonment
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: Sexual content, Animal death, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, and Confinement
Moderate: War, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt and Chronic illness
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: Death, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Blood, War, Drug use, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Torture, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, Vomit, Murder, Medical content, Kidnapping, Gore, and Gaslighting
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: Confinement, Torture, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Gore, War, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
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: Sexual content, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Torture, Blood, Chronic illness, 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: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Murder, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, War, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Xenophobia