Review: Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2)

Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2)
By Rebecca Yarros

Published By: Piatkus
Publication Date: November 7, 2023
Date Read: November 26, 2023
Genre: Adult – Fantasy
Source: Bought
Format: Hardback
Pages: 623

From Goodreads:
She survived her first year at Basgiath War College . . . but the danger is only beginning.

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.

Spoiler from Fourth Wing present. If you haven’t started the series yet, read with caution!

Iron Flame is without a doubt one of the most anticipated reads of 2023. 2023 has well and truly been the Fourth Wing era! I, amongst many others, couldn’t wait to get their hands on this book after falling head over heels for this dragon infested world earlier this year. Before diving into this one, I was in an almighty reading slump so I left it for a number of weeks after release and in that time, whilst I managed to avoid any spoilers, I saw that Iron Flame was definitely dividing opinions. As always, I went into this one totally blind, not knowing anything and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t love it quite as much as the first book but this was such a great read for me!

Iron Flame picks up where Fourth Wing left off, with Violet learning the truth about her people and they will happily leave others in peril if it means their own safety. She is suddenly left with the reality of her choice to join the rebels and go back to Basgiath to work from the inside. When she is seperated from Xaden, she must learn who she can trust and who she can’t.

It’s no surprise to anyone how much I hated Dain in Fourth Wing, and don’t get me wrong I still dislike him immensely but my god Rebecca Yarros really said ‘hold my beer’ when we all thought it couldn’t get worse than Dain… Enter Varrish… the most hated character in the universe. He is evil personified and my god did I despise him. He was a fantastic villain but I couldn’t wait to see him meet his demise.

I personally feel like the reason Iron Flame is so polarising is that this is not a heavy romance book. This whole series is very much promoted as a Romantasy. In my opinion it’s more of a heavy fantasy series with a romance alongside the plot. The main focus of this book was world building, and as a fantasy lover… I loved it. We see a whole new side to this world now that Violet knows what is outside of Basgiath so a lot of time was spent learning about the other countries and places in this world. It is more plot focused and I didn’t get bored a single time in this book! I truly loved every moment and I can’t wait to read book 3 whenever it may be coming.

Iron Flame was a fantastic follow up to Fourth Wing, and I can’t wait to find out more in the rest of the series. Considering this is going to be a 5 book series, we are only just getting started and I am excited to see where it goes from here. If you’re a big fantasy fan, you’ll love this one and that ending will leave you reeling. I am so excited to read more!

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