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A review by kamrynkoble
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Well, I am still in shambles. Much like when I finished Fourth Wing, I’n trying to write this in bed at 4am with tears still drying on my face.
I was super excited for this one. I preordered the hardcover and the ebook, an honor that is really just reserved for SJM at this point. Are my sprayed edges messed up? Yes. Are the pages Bible thin and with size six font? Yes. Did I catch multiple typos and errors? Also yes. But I was refreshing my phone’s kindle app in the car at midnight, which is something I’ve never done before. I just like to add a little ✨history✨ for myself in these reviews.
You know, I work in publishing. I am highly suspicious of Red Tower’s model. I would’ve waited longer to give them more time to figure their stuff out, and I hope they learn from how this launch went. And someone, anyone, please get RY some media training.
Onto the actual book!
Listen. I read Fourth Wing in 2023. I promise I didn’t skim. And I STILL kept finding myself majorly confused. There are so many characters, places, and odd concepts that just flew right over me. Blame it on me being a baby fantasy reader, but it was BAD how many times there was apparently a big reveal or Violet was SOOOO worked up about something and I was trying to dance around Google spoilers to figure out what in the world was going on. With this amount pages, I was disappointed by how many times I had to stop, confused. I can’t even remember the last time a book has done that to me like this. Honestly, I’m terrified for book #3 because I know I’m going to forget even more.
I’m still a little iffy about the YA-ish tone. It really reads as YA + sex scenes. Which is fine, but I think I’d like it even better with a little more maturity and nuance.
Why did I give it four stars? Again, the ending just nailed me. Mama Sorengail, Andarna, Xaden . . . It was too much for my weak heart. UGH! The last twist literally made me recoil in shock and disbelief after I’d already been crying.
I’m starting to really care about Violet. She kind of feels like a little sister to me—I want to shake her sometimes, but it’s out of love and wanting her to be better.
I could go on for hours. Oh my word. Well, despite all my issues, I did enjoy this one and Empyrean #3 will surely get the hardcover/ebook preorder combo.
I was super excited for this one. I preordered the hardcover and the ebook, an honor that is really just reserved for SJM at this point. Are my sprayed edges messed up? Yes. Are the pages Bible thin and with size six font? Yes. Did I catch multiple typos and errors? Also yes. But I was refreshing my phone’s kindle app in the car at midnight, which is something I’ve never done before. I just like to add a little ✨history✨ for myself in these reviews.
You know, I work in publishing. I am highly suspicious of Red Tower’s model. I would’ve waited longer to give them more time to figure their stuff out, and I hope they learn from how this launch went. And someone, anyone, please get RY some media training.
Onto the actual book!
Listen. I read Fourth Wing in 2023. I promise I didn’t skim. And I STILL kept finding myself majorly confused. There are so many characters, places, and odd concepts that just flew right over me. Blame it on me being a baby fantasy reader, but it was BAD how many times there was apparently a big reveal or Violet was SOOOO worked up about something and I was trying to dance around Google spoilers to figure out what in the world was going on. With this amount pages, I was disappointed by how many times I had to stop, confused. I can’t even remember the last time a book has done that to me like this. Honestly, I’m terrified for book #3 because I know I’m going to forget even more.
I’m still a little iffy about the YA-ish tone. It really reads as YA + sex scenes. Which is fine, but I think I’d like it even better with a little more maturity and nuance.
Why did I give it four stars? Again, the ending just nailed me. Mama Sorengail, Andarna, Xaden . . . It was too much for my weak heart. UGH! The last twist literally made me recoil in shock and disbelief after I’d already been crying.
I’m starting to really care about Violet. She kind of feels like a little sister to me—I want to shake her sometimes, but it’s out of love and wanting her to be better.
I could go on for hours. Oh my word. Well, despite all my issues, I did enjoy this one and Empyrean #3 will surely get the hardcover/ebook preorder combo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Sexual content, Death, and Death of parent