Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros

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. (LINK)

Review: 3/5

I haven't been reading much fantasy lately, but I did like this book! I know there are a lot of torn opinions and reviews but I thought it was good for what it was; a second in a trilogy (maybe?) and Yarros’ second fantasy book.

I thought the tension cycles replicated the intensity of the first book well, without feeling redundant of the previous problems. There weren’t many repeat problems from the first book in the second, which I thought was great; I feel when it DOES happen, it can drag and not feel like a different book. I felt a pang of Divergent/Hunger Games nostalgia with the theme of revolution/rebellion.

I think it can be really tough to write a second book after such a blowup on the first and such high expectations. So, this is me giving Yarros my kudos. I also think a middle book is always going to seem slow for the purpose of introducing new topics, characters, places, plot lines, character arcs, yadda yadda. I thought the book was LONG (having taken 5 days to read it while on a vacation) but I didn't often feel like it dragged on unnecessarily.

HOWEVER - and this is the portion of the review I'll be cynical - the whole theme of Xaden and Violet fighting was SO annoying and exhausting… It was the same fight over and over again. I appreciated it at first because I thought that is a common theme of relationships; you can feel unheard and like you’re running in circles. but I mean… Violet literally says “why have we been having the same fight for 5 months” BITCH I'M ASKING THE SAME QUESTION??? YOU'RE THE PROBLEM! you’re in a revolution! your BOYFRIEND is the HEAD of the REVOLUTION. HE'S GOING TO HAVE SECRETS. she’s all “me me me why is he keeping secrets. i don’t trust him, but i love him” whenever this happened i had to do a little breathing exercise because it was just so unbearably repetitive. I don’t know if Yarros was going for that twang of immaturity (wishful thinking) but it was overdone by the end. I'm getting physically hot just THINKING about how annoyed I was.

Compliment sandwich (returning to the good) bread time. I did love the unpredictability of the new characters, I knew we would love Sloane, and I LOVED that she hated Violet. I thought it was realistic to have such a massive miscommunication… but then the letter part aggravated me. You save Liam’s letters and they’re mentioned once after you use them for blackmail? But she’s been reading them and doing what she needed to in order to receive them? It was such a big deal for her to snatch the letters and hide them in the first place. I mean... talk about undercooked - RAW STEAK. Coulda put a SMIDGE more on that. I would have appreciated a little exploration on that.

I also liked the combination of adding the other griffon riders or whatever they’re called. Do I know all the dragon's names? Do I understand how the sections work? Do I know the differences between the outposts? No to all.

For honorary mention (because I CAN'T NOT mention it)… yes, the throne scene lives up to the hype. this book sent me into a smut dive… so yeah it was good.

As a smart person who overworks herself, i have decided to do one playlist for full book series (#internal boundaries). I believe it will make it more cohesive for you - the reader - and make it easier for me- the writer. Wow, look at me being a compromising queen!

So for this series, The Empyrean, I’m getting major dragon riding and fighting vibes (duh!). It’s a little bit of an angsty tech vibe but suited for fighting. If you’ve read it, you know. Listen here!

Spotify: LINK