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eleanoreuven 's review for:
Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
Let me be honest—the first half of this book was a tedious mess.
But the second half? It did get better.
The final 10% was genuinely strong.
So instead of 2 stars, it’s a soft 2.5.
For most of the first half, I found myself begging Malek to come take me—
and cursing the god of luck for abandoning me the second I foolishly picked up this book again.
And yes—I’ve read it before.
I keep returning to this series not because it’s brilliant, but because the first book is fun in that chaotic, messy, popcorn-fantasy kind of way.
But this one? I forget the plot every single time.
That should’ve been a warning sign.
Violet—the queen of drama—is exhausting.
Her endless inner monologues and constant poor decision-making made her unbearable.
The author clearly wants her to come across as clever and cunning, but it just didn’t land.
And Xaden? He felt like her dramatic twin.
With all their over-the-top love declarations, they drained me completely.
I’ll admit, I have a soft spot for Sawyer, Rhiannon, Mira, and Ridoc.
They brought loyalty, comic relief, and flickers of charm—but most of them still felt underdeveloped.
Rhiannon had the most depth among them.
The final battle, though? Gripping, well-executed, and emotionally satisfying.
And then came the moment that truly got to me:
Lilith Sorrengail.
Yes, she was strict. Yes, she was harsh. Yes, she did unforgivable things to others.
But when it came to her children, she wasn’t evil.
Even if her methods were flawed, her intentions—where they were concerned—came from love.
“Most generals dream of dying in service to their kingdom.
But you know me better than that, my love.
When I fall, it will be for one reason only: to protect our children.”
— Recovered, Unsent Correspondence of General Lilith Sorrengail
I’m glad she was given the death of a warrior—a defender’s death.
Overall? Shallow character development, slow pacing, unnatural dialogue, a well-written ending, and a writing style that relied far too much on telling rather than showing.
Maybe I’ll continue to the next book to see how the author handles that wild Xaden ending.
Or maybe not
But the second half? It did get better.
The final 10% was genuinely strong.
So instead of 2 stars, it’s a soft 2.5.
For most of the first half, I found myself begging Malek to come take me—
and cursing the god of luck for abandoning me the second I foolishly picked up this book again.
And yes—I’ve read it before.
I keep returning to this series not because it’s brilliant, but because the first book is fun in that chaotic, messy, popcorn-fantasy kind of way.
But this one? I forget the plot every single time.
That should’ve been a warning sign.
Violet—the queen of drama—is exhausting.
Her endless inner monologues and constant poor decision-making made her unbearable.
The author clearly wants her to come across as clever and cunning, but it just didn’t land.
And Xaden? He felt like her dramatic twin.
With all their over-the-top love declarations, they drained me completely.
I’ll admit, I have a soft spot for Sawyer, Rhiannon, Mira, and Ridoc.
They brought loyalty, comic relief, and flickers of charm—but most of them still felt underdeveloped.
Rhiannon had the most depth among them.
The final battle, though? Gripping, well-executed, and emotionally satisfying.
And then came the moment that truly got to me:
Yes, she was strict. Yes, she was harsh. Yes, she did unforgivable things to others.
But when it came to her children, she wasn’t evil.
Even if her methods were flawed, her intentions—where they were concerned—came from love.
“Most generals dream of dying in service to their kingdom.
But you know me better than that, my love.
When I fall, it will be for one reason only: to protect our children.”
— Recovered, Unsent Correspondence of General Lilith Sorrengail
I’m glad she was given the death of a warrior—a defender’s death.
Overall? Shallow character development, slow pacing, unnatural dialogue, a well-written ending, and a writing style that relied far too much on telling rather than showing.
Maybe I’ll continue to the next book to see how the author handles that wild Xaden ending.
Or maybe not