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A review by jenessalikes
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a 4.5 star read for me! (Non-spoiler)
The first 20% of the book struggles with a slow pace in my opinion. I found myself drifting off to look at my phone or wanting to skim. After that initial 20% mark though, the pacing picks up and then it. doesn't. stop.
I'm not joking. 80% of this book left my heart pumping, my anxiety spiking, and my mind spinning. Rebecca gives us small peaks and valleys of action and then cools us down with sweet moments, funny moments, or spice. But overall, the story is arcing towards something big. You can feel the underlying ominous tone for the entire book.
And my gods, does it deliver with that end. I had about three theories running and none of them were fully correct.
How do we go on from here? How are there still three more books planned? IDK but I'm excited as hell to find out.
So why not a full five stars? There is a certain trope that is pretty popular with romantasy books that tends to bug me when it gets drawn out. And this book had that in spades. Eighty percent into the book and we're still dealing with that specific trope, and it did make me want to rage.
Overall though, the story, the plotting, the highs and lows, the characters, the dragons... all of it was leaps and bounds better than Fourth Wing, and I thoroughly enjoyed that book for the vibes. This book isn't just vibes, it's substance. And again, that ending has left me feeling pretty damn feral for book three.
Spice was also spicin, I'd rate it 3.5/5
The first 20% of the book struggles with a slow pace in my opinion. I found myself drifting off to look at my phone or wanting to skim. After that initial 20% mark though, the pacing picks up and then it. doesn't. stop.
I'm not joking. 80% of this book left my heart pumping, my anxiety spiking, and my mind spinning. Rebecca gives us small peaks and valleys of action and then cools us down with sweet moments, funny moments, or spice. But overall, the story is arcing towards something big. You can feel the underlying ominous tone for the entire book.
And my gods, does it deliver with that end. I had about three theories running and none of them were fully correct.
How do we go on from here? How are there still three more books planned? IDK but I'm excited as hell to find out.
So why not a full five stars? There is a certain trope that is pretty popular with romantasy books that tends to bug me when it gets drawn out. And this book had that in spades. Eighty percent into the book and we're still dealing with that specific trope, and it did make me want to rage.
Overall though, the story, the plotting, the highs and lows, the characters, the dragons... all of it was leaps and bounds better than Fourth Wing, and I thoroughly enjoyed that book for the vibes. This book isn't just vibes, it's substance. And again, that ending has left me feeling pretty damn feral for book three.
Spice was also spicin, I'd rate it 3.5/5