Iron Flame Book Review

​​Title: Iron Flame 
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy 
Published: 2023
Pages: 880 (Kindle Edition)
Goodreads Rating: 4.37
Rating: 9/10

“You can defend Navarre, or you can fight for the Continent.”

In the 2nd installment of The Empyrean series, continue to follow Violet and Xaden through their death-defying escapades. The stakes are higher and tomorrow is not promised. So live each day like it’s your last. 

Pros
Addictive
Iron Flame is an exceptional continuation of The Empryean series. Just like Fourth Wing, this book is especially addictive. Expect an obsession level that keeps you up until 4am. 

Action scenes
Yarros does not shy away from nail-biting, nerve-wracking action scenes. You get a bit more downtime compared to Fourth Wing but not by much. Right when you think the characters are safe, a death threat struts onto the scene. 

Nice surprises
You think you know a side character until you don’t. Some character arcs are unexpected and I tip my hat to you, Yarros. 

End of story epic battle and shocking ending 
The end-of-story epic battle is one of my favorite tropes and Yarros delivers in Iron Flame. As the battle wanes and you start to breathe again, the most shocking moment of the book knocks the wind out of you once again. 

Eagerly awaiting the next book
So many questions remain unanswered! It has me eagerly awaiting the 3rd book of the series. 

Cons 
Cringey moments
*Sigh* The cringey relationship moments are amplified in Iron Flame. And I gotta say… it crossed my tolerance line once or twice. The sexy times were generally appreciated. The number of self-conscious, insecure moments… not so much. Is it realistic considering the characters’ ages? Sure, fine. Is it still annoying? Yes. 

Signet ability details
Am I the only one dying to find out more about other signet abilities?! There’s gotta be a way to introduce us to more types of magic. So far in the series, the opportunities to sate your appetite for side character magic are few and far between. 

Overall…
I highly recommend this series! The magic system is balanced, the dragon bonds are enviable, and the action scenes are top-notch.