Iron Flame

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros was another really good addition to the Empyrean series. After everything that happened in Fourth Wing, I was excited to get back to Violet, Xaden, and the dragons, especially with so many unanswered questions hanging over the story. I really enjoyed how much the world expanded in this second book. We get to explore more of Navarre, its history, and the secrets surrounding the dragon riders, while also beginning to understand just how much Violet still has to learn about the world she’s grown up in. Of course, every time I thought I was finally getting some answers, Rebecca managed to give me even more questions.

One of the things I continue to appreciate about Violet is that her intelligence remains just as important as her abilities as a rider. She spent years preparing to become a scribe, and I love that all that knowledge hasn’t suddenly become irrelevant now that she’s bonded with dragons. Violet is naturally curious, questions what she’s been taught, and isn’t afraid to challenge information when something doesn’t make sense. She relies on her research and ability to think things through rather than simply charging into every situation. I also appreciated that her physical limitations haven’t magically disappeared. She’s becoming stronger and more capable, but she still has challenges to work around, which makes her growth feel much more believable.

I also enjoyed seeing the relationships between the characters continue to develop. The friendships and found-family aspects of this series have become some of my favorite parts, particularly because the characters have already been through so much together. There’s a genuine sense of loyalty between them, even when circumstances make it difficult to know who can be trusted. I liked that the story continued to explore those connections alongside the larger conflicts rather than focusing entirely on the romance.

And then there are the dragons, who are still one of the biggest reasons I love this series. Tairn continues to be a favorite of mine, especially with his personality and the way he interacts with Violet. His attitude and dry humor are always entertaining, and I enjoy that he doesn’t hesitate to make his opinions known. Andarna also becomes even more interesting in this book, and I loved seeing more of her personality emerge. The more we learn about the dragons, their history, and their relationships with the riders, the more convinced I become that those secretive creatures know a whole lot more than they’re willing to share. I would happily spend even more time learning about them and the world they come from.

The relationship between Violet and Xaden, however, was where I started getting a little frustrated. I understand that they have legitimate reasons for struggling with trust, especially considering everything they’ve experienced and the circumstances surrounding their relationship. I could see where both of them were coming from, and I didn’t expect them to work through everything immediately. My problem was that they seemed to spend a little too much time going around in circles with the same issues. After a while, I felt like we’d already established where they stood, and I wanted to see more progress rather than revisiting the same disagreements. I still enjoyed their chemistry and cared about their relationship, but some of those conversations became repetitive for me.

The pacing was another thing that kept this from being a five-star experience. Fourth Wing pulled me in almost immediately and kept me turning the pages, but Iron Flame had stretches where the story moved considerably slower. I appreciated the additional world-building and the attention given to the political conflicts and hidden history, but there were moments when I felt the story could have been tightened without losing anything important. I definitely noticed the length more this time around, particularly through the middle, when I found myself wanting the larger mystery to move forward a little faster.

That said, I really enjoyed the direction Rebecca took with the overall storyline. There’s much more happening beyond Basgiath and the relationships between the riders, and I liked that Violet was beginning to question things she’d previously accepted as truth. The secrets, political tensions, and growing understanding of the dragons all made the world feel more complicated and interesting. I was especially invested in uncovering the truth behind Navarre’s history and figuring out how everything connected. Even when the pacing slowed, I still wanted answers, and once the story began picking up momentum again, I had a hard time putting it down.

As for the spice, I’m giving this one three out of five peppers. There’s definitely sexual tension between Violet and Xaden, along with some explicit scenes, but the romance doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the story. I appreciated that there was still plenty of attention given to the dragons, friendships, training, political conflicts, and the larger mystery. For me, the romance works best when it’s part of everything else happening rather than becoming the main focus, and I think the balance of romantic tension and fantasy elements was generally good, even with my frustrations over their communication.

I experienced Iron Flame in both eBook and dramatized audiobook formats, and I enjoyed each for different reasons. Reading the eBook allowed me to take my time with the world-building, pay closer attention to the details, and revisit passages when I wanted to make sure I understood something. With so much history, political intrigue, and new information being introduced, I appreciated being able to slow down and absorb everything at my own pace.

The dramatized audiobook, on the other hand, brought a completely different experience to the story. I really enjoy the full-cast performances, and the sound effects and background audio make the world feel much more immersive. I especially loved hearing the dragons brought to life because their voices and personalities have so much more presence when you’re actually listening to them. The battles and action sequences also benefit from the dramatization, making it easier to picture everything happening around the characters.

What I like most about having both formats available is that they complement each other. The eBook gave me the opportunity to focus on the details and follow the more complicated parts of the story, while the dramatized adaptation made the characters and their world feel more alive. I know full-cast audiobooks aren’t everyone’s preference, but I’ve really enjoyed experiencing this series in both formats and definitely plan to continue doing so.

My Verdict: Would I Recommend Iron Flame?

Absolutely! If you enjoyed Fourth Wing, I definitely recommend continuing with Iron Flame, especially if you’re interested in learning more about the dragons, Navarre’s history, and the secrets surrounding the world Rebecca Yarros has created. There’s plenty of action, romance, political intrigue, friendship, and mystery, although I would go into this one expecting a somewhat slower pace and more world-building than the first book.

I would also recommend both the eBook and dramatized audiobook, depending on how you prefer to experience a story. The eBook is great for taking your time with the details, while the dramatized adaptation adds another level of immersion through its cast performances and sound effects. I personally enjoyed having both, especially with a story that has so much happening.

For me, Iron Flame was a solid four-star read. I loved the expanded world-building, Violet’s continued growth, the friendships, and especially the dragons. The slower pacing and repetitive trust issues between Violet and Xaden were what held it back from five stars, but I was still completely invested in the larger story. I finished with even more questions than I started with, and I’m looking forward to finding out where everything goes from here.

⭐ 4/5 Stars | 🌶️ 3/5 Spice

-SASSY