Reviewed by Kaitlyn Murphy
Rebecca Yarros’ Iron Flame, the second book in the Empyrean series after Fourth Wing, dives deeper into the harsh world of Basgiath War college and the jarring reality of being a dragon rider. This book has a perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and political turmoil. Readers get to experience what it’s like to be a second year at the college through Violet’s point of view, as she tries to navigate being thrown into the rider’s quadrant as one of the most fragile riders in the history of the school. Violet not only has to worry about staying alive, but she is now involved in a rebellion that could get herself and her friends imminently killed. Not knowing who to trust is a continuing challenge that she must face while fighting for her spot, and her life.
Yarros keeps her readers on their toes throughout the entire book with her graphic imagination and crazy plot twists. The world-building vastly expands in Iron Flame with intricately woven details that make the 640 pages engaging from start to finish. She does this by using imagery of betrayal, loss, redemption, etc. Though this book’s themes and overall plot are daunting, many comedic reliefs will have you going from on your toes to hunched over laughing. Iron Flame focuses on the ideals of success or death, shown through the number of riders that do not survive year after year. It also takes a deeper dive into the hidden secrets of Navarre’s’ history and the lies that it has been built upon. Yarros’ writing truly brings the world of Navarre alive, making it incredibly easy to imagine everything that is being read.
In the first book, Fourth Wing we learn that Violet was trained to be a scribe but was thrown into the rider’s quadrant within a day’s notice and without any training. She successfully survived her first year despite many of her classmates who died trying to find their spot as a rider. Violet not only survived but managed to bond with two dragons, which was unheard of up until then, one of which being the most powerful kind of dragon known amongst riders. Iron Flame allows us to see the growth in her powers, and the connection that she attained with her two dragons on a much deeper level. In this world, once you bond with a dragon you can start to channel a signet (a power), whether that be, siphoning, far sight, truth saying or lightning wielding, and many more. We learn Violet’s first signet in Iron Flame but since she has two dragons, she is likely to have another signet that has yet to be discovered. This has brought upon a huge debate throughout fans on what her second signet could be.
While Violet has the main point of view in this book, we do get to see some of Xaden’s POV throughout Iron Flame. Xaden and Violet have an enemy-to-lovers relationship that has an insanely messy upbringing. In Fourth Wing we learn that Xaden is a rebel by association with his father who started the rebellion. Xaden killed Violet’s brother and hates the commander of the war college, who happens to be her mom. The mess extends further because the two are bound to each other by their dragons who are mated. They begin to realize that there is a fine line between love and hate. While the first book showed their disdain for one another, Iron Flame reveals another side to their relationship. The tension between Violet and Xaden makes for a thrilling and unexpected read.
Iron Flame effectively builds upon the foundation laid by Fourth Wing, offering readers a vividly crafted world filled with enticing battles, powerful dragons, magic, and complex relationships. This book is a worthy continuation of the series, leaving its readers eagerly anticipating the next book coming out in January 2025.