bex_knighthunter 's review for:

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

3.0

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I still enjoyed this, but did find it weaker than the first book, with the main issue being it was overlong. The first half particularly struggled with feeling drawn out, repetitive, and like it didn't really move us on from the first book (a lot of the same things feature as we are still at the war college but it didn't feel fresh). There was a point if I questioned whether picking this up was a good idea and if I should just DNF. However, the second half was much better with some good new world building and dramatic battles towards the end. Too many new characters were introduced for me to keep track of and give enough development time for each, however I did enjoy getting to understand the family unit a bit better (

particularly learning more about her mother's motivations

). The relationship drama was just silly and not entertaining, and I wasn't a fan of introducing a jealous ex to the mix - the lack of communication just felt too constructed to force conflict again and trick us into thinking will-they-won't-they again (but it didn't work as we know these two are so central to the story). I actually enjoyed some of the politics and new world building, but do still find the 'bad guys' a little cartoonish (power good!). Some of the things that needed more background or didn't really make sense in book 1 were explained here (e.g.

the origin of the rebellion mark

). Overall a bit of a mixed bag, but one with a really good cliff hanger and that I overall enjoyed so as the next book is out already I'll probably continue but I don't know that I'll make it to the end of the series with waiting each time if they are all this overlong!