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silvermoony 's review for:
Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For anyone who actually reads these ready yourself for another rant review because it's incoming.
I'm going to start with what I did not like about this book because I've been keeping it bottled up inside. Just as with Fourth Wing, my biggest problem with this book is Violet. Violet who spent most of this very long book whining about her relationship with Xaden, thinking about how hot Xaden is, and how WOUNDED she is that Xaden won't tell her everything. Then spends about another about 1/3 martyring herself because SHE HAS TO KEEP SECRETS. SHE SAW HER FRIEND DIE! Everything that has happened is her fault, obviously. As if, you know, Imogen or Xaden didn't see Liam die too or haven't been dealing with all this information for YEARS? As if she's the only person in the world traumatized. Then, of course, the normal bits about how she's so so fucking powerful. Like, look, I get the chosen one. I do. But even Harry Potter was only so-so as a wizard. I really could go on and on about this character and if it wasn't form her pov I think I would enjoy this story a lot more.
All right, things NOT related to Violet that made me crazy:
<b>Jack Barlow:</b> JACK BARLOW IS NOT A GOOD VILLAIN. Oh my fucking God, when he got into his villain speech about how he turned Venin because of VIOLET, because Violet was chosen by Tairn. That's...such a stupid reason. That man has been psycho from the beginning for no good reason that we are given. He pushed someone off the parapet the first time we meet him. Dude is just psycho and we are meant to feel anything for him other than annoyance??
<b>Cat:</b> We are doing the jilted ex in a <i>fantasy</i> book in our Lord's year 2023(2024 now)?! Just another person who hates Violet for no reason other than her being Violet because no one would <i>ever</i> find a way to hate her otherwise, of course. She even <i>showed up at Xaden's door in a see through robe</i> like...really. She seems like an okay character otherwise. I was waiting for her to die because she served her purpose of being that jilted lover, but she lives for another book! Probably will be killed off the minute that she and Violet become actual friends.
<b>Things I liked:</b>
<b>DRAGONS</b>. Tairn got a little on my nerves because she was babying Violet, but still love every aspect of the dragons in this series.
The fantasy world! Is it world-breaking? No, but I LOVE a good revolution/rebellion in a world with magic and the big powers-to-be lying to the civilians.
The Gryphon riders pointing out how INSANE and toxic Basgiath is. Like yes it is insane that you are just expected to be okay with people dying everyday. Totally normal to be forced to poison someone so you aren't kicked out or killed.
Dain! Dain got his redemption and I am down with it. He was the ONLY person in this entire book to make me laugh with the line: <i>"Are you in love with him?" He asks, his voice breaking on the last word as he pivots to face me fully. "Because Garrick and I heard the end of what he said in the interrogation chamber, and trust me, I might be in love with him after that declaration, but are you?"</i>
Xaden for the most part. He got obnoxious too and he is as flawed as every book boyfriend is, but doesn't mean I'm not a damn mess for someone who would let other people die to save the person they love. Like the, <i>"Gods, I wish Xaden were here. He'd simply pluck Luella up with shadows and ferry her across. Then again, he just might let her fall. I never quite know when it comes to other people."</i> The idea that he'd let someone fall but NEVER her? True morally grey and I am in love with that.
<b>The Wrap-Up: </b>
Look, I don't know if it's just this series or romantasy in general. I cannot handle the whining about a relationship. I get it. It's part romance, but with so much going on and Violet is thinking a stupid amount about how hot Xaden is? It's annoying. The writing is meh, as others have pointed out, but I don't care about that. I've read worse. The world-building is decent. The plot is STILL incredibly predictable. I've read this premise a million times in other fantasy books, but I keep coming back because I enjoy it. Will I read the next book? Very unlikely. If only because I won't be able to handle another six hundred + pages of her whining about her now venin boyfriend and blaming herself, <i>somehow</i> , for that happening.
I'm going to start with what I did not like about this book because I've been keeping it bottled up inside. Just as with Fourth Wing, my biggest problem with this book is Violet. Violet who spent most of this very long book whining about her relationship with Xaden, thinking about how hot Xaden is, and how WOUNDED she is that Xaden won't tell her everything. Then spends about another about 1/3 martyring herself because SHE HAS TO KEEP SECRETS. SHE SAW HER FRIEND DIE! Everything that has happened is her fault, obviously. As if, you know, Imogen or Xaden didn't see Liam die too or haven't been dealing with all this information for YEARS? As if she's the only person in the world traumatized. Then, of course, the normal bits about how she's so so fucking powerful. Like, look, I get the chosen one. I do. But even Harry Potter was only so-so as a wizard. I really could go on and on about this character and if it wasn't form her pov I think I would enjoy this story a lot more.
All right, things NOT related to Violet that made me crazy:
<b>Jack Barlow:</b> JACK BARLOW IS NOT A GOOD VILLAIN. Oh my fucking God, when he got into his villain speech about how he turned Venin because of VIOLET, because Violet was chosen by Tairn. That's...such a stupid reason. That man has been psycho from the beginning for no good reason that we are given. He pushed someone off the parapet the first time we meet him. Dude is just psycho and we are meant to feel anything for him other than annoyance??
<b>Cat:</b> We are doing the jilted ex in a <i>fantasy</i> book in our Lord's year 2023(2024 now)?! Just another person who hates Violet for no reason other than her being Violet because no one would <i>ever</i> find a way to hate her otherwise, of course. She even <i>showed up at Xaden's door in a see through robe</i> like...really. She seems like an okay character otherwise. I was waiting for her to die because she served her purpose of being that jilted lover, but she lives for another book! Probably will be killed off the minute that she and Violet become actual friends.
<b>Things I liked:</b>
<b>DRAGONS</b>. Tairn got a little on my nerves because she was babying Violet, but still love every aspect of the dragons in this series.
The fantasy world! Is it world-breaking? No, but I LOVE a good revolution/rebellion in a world with magic and the big powers-to-be lying to the civilians.
The Gryphon riders pointing out how INSANE and toxic Basgiath is. Like yes it is insane that you are just expected to be okay with people dying everyday. Totally normal to be forced to poison someone so you aren't kicked out or killed.
Dain! Dain got his redemption and I am down with it. He was the ONLY person in this entire book to make me laugh with the line: <i>"Are you in love with him?" He asks, his voice breaking on the last word as he pivots to face me fully. "Because Garrick and I heard the end of what he said in the interrogation chamber, and trust me, I might be in love with him after that declaration, but are you?"</i>
Xaden for the most part. He got obnoxious too and he is as flawed as every book boyfriend is, but doesn't mean I'm not a damn mess for someone who would let other people die to save the person they love. Like the, <i>"Gods, I wish Xaden were here. He'd simply pluck Luella up with shadows and ferry her across. Then again, he just might let her fall. I never quite know when it comes to other people."</i> The idea that he'd let someone fall but NEVER her? True morally grey and I am in love with that.
<b>The Wrap-Up: </b>
Look, I don't know if it's just this series or romantasy in general. I cannot handle the whining about a relationship. I get it. It's part romance, but with so much going on and Violet is thinking a stupid amount about how hot Xaden is? It's annoying. The writing is meh, as others have pointed out, but I don't care about that. I've read worse. The world-building is decent. The plot is STILL incredibly predictable. I've read this premise a million times in other fantasy books, but I keep coming back because I enjoy it. Will I read the next book? Very unlikely. If only because I won't be able to handle another six hundred + pages of her whining about her now venin boyfriend and blaming herself, <i>somehow</i> , for that happening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Torture, Violence, War