"๐๐จ๐ฏ๐, ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ญ, ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ. ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐. ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ'๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ. ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐? ๐๐ก๐๐ญ * ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ * ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง."
- Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: NA romantasy
Overall rating: 4/5 stars
# books in series: 2 released, planned 5 total
Song: "Test Drive" by John Powell
BEFORE PROCEEDING, BE AWARE THAT THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING OF IRON FLAME. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
I was genuinely surprised at how much I loved this book.
The quality of the writing is not good. The originality is zero. The miscommunication through roundabout arguments is off the charts. There are so many plot holes and/or rushed plotlines I couldn't count them if I tried.
And despite all that, this book has consumed my thoughts since I started it until now, seven days after finishing it. It makes it so hard to rate, because while I enjoyed reading it (enjoyed seems too weak a term, but words are hard), I can't ignore the technical aspects that are just objectively bad. So keep in mind while reading that all my criticisms come from a place of love (mostly).
THE GOOD:
The vibes. I've been desperate to be back in the world of Navarre since finishing Fourth Wing, and it was so fun to revisit it in Iron Flame. Say what you want about Rebecca Yarros, but despite all her issues, she knows how to write an immersive story.
The supporting characters. Rhiannon, Ridoc, Sawyer, Jesinia, Imogen, Sloane, etc carried this book. I love the Iron Squad's dynamic, and the banter is so fun to read. Imogen's character growth especially was so cool to witness.
The pacing. I know a lot of people think Rebecca tried to do too much for 600 pages, and I can definitely see where they're coming from, but I personally like when fantasy books have that breathlessly fast pacing that leave you desperate to keep reading, even if you're not entirely sure of all the details around what's happening. Coming from a fantasy addict, one of the biggest pitfalls of the genre is the way the first quarter to third of a fantasy novel is the crucial period for gaining the reader's interest, and is often all worldbuilding/setup that gives important ground knowledge for the rest of the story but isn't all that interesting to read. It certainly helps that this book is a sequel, so a lot of the info dumping happened in Fourth Wing, but even then, it was a medias res start and didn't feel hard to get through. While I wouldn't say this series is by a long shot an exemplary or quintessential fantasy, it's definitely good for readers new to the genre who want to ease in with something action-packed and easier to read but that still packs an emotional punch โ and to be honest, I think that's a big part of why it's so ridiculously popular.
The worldbuilding/lore. Yes, this is basically a continuation of the last bullet point, but I have to give credit where credit is due โ as previously mentioned, most of the elements can be traced back to popular series like Game of Thrones, Divergent, Harry Potter, etc, but they're all woven together in a way that makes it perfect for fans of the classics to read a new story that's basically their old favorite in a different font. It's not a retelling of anything particularly, but rather reminiscent in the vibes. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. I just really liked how the history and politics of the Empyrean world play into the overall plotline.
The dragons. Tairn and Andarna (and Sgaeyl, who I'd like to see play a bigger character role in future installments, which given the ending of Iron Flame, seems likely) are my favorite. I love them. I love Tairn's grumpy grandpa energy, Andarna's whole teenager phase (cringe, yes, but also funny to watch her just roasting everyone for 600 pages), and above all, their fierce protectiveness of Violet. Everyone is losing it over Xaden's "Less than a minute," or several other textbook romantic professions while I'm in the corner by myself crying about "I chose you not as my next, but as my last." Also, dragon etiquette is so interesting to learn about, and I'm excited to see how Rebecca develops them as a species in the next books.
THE BAD:
Violet and Xaden having the same exact argument twenty million times throughout this brick of a book. My algorithm is deep in the Empyrean rabbit hole, so I'm seeing the whole Internet's opinions on the subject, taking different sides, and I personally think they're both in the wrong and acting stupid. Violet needs to stop blaming Xaden for not telling her about the revolution, take some advice from Elsa, and let. It. Go. He did it not only to keep her safe, but lots of others whose life is in the balance. And we see that it was a good decision on his part pretty much immediately as soon as she gets back to Basgiath, when Varrish gets on her case and assassins are around every corner. (Speaking of Varrish, he gets to join the very small club of literary characters I have a special hatred for, members including Dolores Umbridge and Jan Van Eck.) And on the other hand, Xaden "Ask me" Riorson either doesn't understand the fact that not everyone can read people like he can and immediately know what questions to ask, or knows that and uses it against Violet to manipulate her into thinking she had freedom in asking him things when he knew she would never even think to ask about the things he really didn't want to tell her. Both horrible options, but it's pretty much confirmed that it's the second one, because while Xaden is stupid about a lot of things, he's not that particular brand of idiot. He could have been the mature one and taken the initiative to be open and honest with Violet, and he just...didn't.
Xaden as a love interest, and the romance in general. I know I'm going to have all the bookstagram girlies on my case for this, but he's literally the textbook definition of the standard dark-haired, moody male love interest. Onyx eyes? Check. Tragic backstory? Check. Extremely and flawlessly hot? Check. Unhealthily obsessed with the FMC and ready to burn down the world for her? Check. Morally gray (which is code for toxic but less toxic than the other guy, so it's acceptable)? Check. I know it seems like I'm being unnecessarily hard on him, and we've already established that originality is not this series' strong suit, but I really didn't think giving him a few unique traits was out of the question. Anyway, my dislike (or maybe disinterest is a better term) for Xaden is probably a contributing factor for my disappointment in the romantic plot, but it's not the only one. This is supposed to be a romantasy book, but the relationship between Xaden and Violet is kind of lackluster. They didn't grow or develop at all throughout Iron Flame โ yes, there's conflict, but it's the same conflict over and over again that never gets resolved and becomes extremely redundant. It feels like their connection is mainly physical, what with all the smut โ which of course I skip over (see end of post for closed door modifications*) โ which tells me that if I'm not compelled to root for them, the main thing their relationship is built on is the physical attraction. I don't think I'm alone in believing that that's not enough for any relationship, let alone the main romantic couple. Also, I won't lie, I was expecting more groveling from Xaden at the beginning, even if I think what he did was understandable in a roundabout way. If Rebecca is really going to lean into the brooding MMC trope, she should have gone all the way. Anyways, all this to say I'm reading mostly for the fantasy aspect at this point โ although admittedly I was quite shocked and upset by the ending. I'm hoping Violet and Xaden will actually have some time to spend together during the third book in order to establish that mental connection as they search for a cure (and by mental connection, I don't mean them speaking telepathically.
Plot density/holes. How is that possible at the same time, you ask? Excellent question. Essentially, there are so many names, places, etc that I found myself losing track of who was related to who, how we feel about certain characters, where things were located, and the like. And because there was such an overload of information and many different plotlines happening at once, a lot of things got left behind or not explained well (or at all, really). I understand that this is the second installment in a planned five-book series, but there needed to be more loose ends tied up regardless.
Other woman drama? No thanks. I'll pass. The Cat/Violet animosity was just so unnecessary, and I was cringing every time it came up. Also, there was no explanation for how Cat's loathing for Violet just immediately disappeared after she saved her life in the cave. I understand that it was a heroic act and all, but feelings like that don't just vanish into thin air, It would have made more logical sense for there to be more of a gradual arc, if they had to fight over a boy at all.
Looking back at all I've written, it seems strange to be rating this book 4 stars, given its noteworthy shortcomings โ but it's such an addictive, action-packed book that I just can't give it lower in good conscience. I loved it. Despite the annoyances it presents, that readers' high of immersing yourself into a new world and emotionally investing yourself in the characters' lives is there. And having seen all the fascinating theories circulating the Internet regarding Violet's second signet, the identity of the Sage, the possibility of certain characters also being venin, and so much more โ I can say with complete certainty that I can't wait to see where Rebecca takes this series in the next installment. Literally. I need it in my hands now. For all my grumbling about Xaden, that was one heck of a cliffhanger to leave us on.
*If you want to read without the explicit scenes like I did, skip these chapters:
- 27
- beginning of 37
- beginning of 48
For some unhinged Kindle annotations, check out my bookstagram post.
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