Title: Iron Flame
Series: The Empyrean
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Release Date: November 2023
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
Gaahhhhh!!
So I planned to reread Fourth Wing & Iron Flame before the release of Onyx Storm. Annndddd I just finished Iron Flame and what the fffffff-
I mean, I KNEW it was coming - bc it was a reread- but that still got me! I will now be left in a ball of anxiety & anticipation waiting to get my hands on Onyx Storm because I need to know what happens next!!
But Iron Flame picks up right where Fourth Wing left off - Violet starts her second year of the the war college which faces all new challenges for not only Violet as second-year, but her relationship with Xaden as well.
Between the long distance relationship once Xaden is stationed away and then trying to work out communication and trust again, to the new Camander who is trying to prove how powerless Violet truly is, and betray the man who broke her trust - Xaden. But that is only the beginning.
While I still absolutely love the world & the characters from Violet, to Xaden, to Rhi, Ridoc, & Sawyer and of course the dragons- I stand by what I said previously and how the conflict between Xaden and Violet lasted longer than it should have resulting in too much of nothing. I get the build up, and the miscommunication between them. I get the tension, and angst and then trying to work through everything. But I still think it could have been condensed some.
Overall I love the story & the world, the characters, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.
4⭐ out of 5⭐
2🌶️ out of 5🌶️.
