Iron Flame
By Rebecca Yarros
- Release Date: 2023-11-07
- Genre: Epic Fantasy
Description
Discover the instant #1 New York Times bestseller! TV series now in development at MGM Amazon Studios with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society.
Accolades for Fourth Wing
Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 • Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 • Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) • NPR “Books We Love” 2023 • Audible Best Books of 2023 • Hudson Book of the Year • Google Play Best Books of 2023 • Indigo Best Books of 2023 • Waterstones Book of the Year finalist • Goodreads Choice Award, semi-finalist • Newsweek Staffers’ Favorite Books of 2023 • Paste Magazine's Best Books of 2023
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
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.
The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Fourth Wing
Book #2 Iron Flame
Reviews
I’m screaming at the end
4By SillysideupThis book’s twist killed me. I really got invested in the main characters though it’s hard to track all the side characters. I thought the romance was a little melodramatic but the spicy scenes are this books saving grace.Good
4By she_nohI had fun, what more can I ask for from a book 🤷🏽♀️Can’t wait to read the next book!
5By kkcklockGreat read. Very gripping, keeps you captivated throughout the book.meow
5By lilasparagus6607so sad but so good slightly longer than it needed to be thoSo good!
4By SmutWifesHusbandI lowkey, enjoyed this book more than the first of the series. Rebecca Yarros didnt sell us short on an intriguing and strong story line of constant adaptation. Felt like was on a bullet train/rollercoaster love child in early morning fog so you cant see at all. Thoroughly enjoyed and am definitely one of the few that believe the second installment of the fourth wing series is better than the first.Oh yeah
5By loganessmomaIt's great. It keeps moving. The relationships between Violet and her dragons is amazing. Such a great easy read.Tedious Romance and Ridiculously Complicated Plot
2By FastprofYarros seems to be making it up as we go along. Throwing new characters, illogical turns to the plot and, finally, leaving the story so confused and tortured that I found myself reading only a few pages before becoming angry and frustrated.might be my favorite in the series so far
5By the monsterrrrrI love the first book, but this one might’ve topped it for me. We still had that exciting tension between Xaden and Violet, even though they already were together. The new things we discover keep me hooked. Of course, the end of the book had a abrupt and crazy cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more. The constant thrill of not gonna happen and the characters being in enemy territory, definitely kept me reading this. I never got bored and I could not put this down and I turned a lot of late school work because of this book. also bringing Xadens ex and was just the cherry on top. It’s so amazing. Take my word for it. You’re gonna love it.This book will wreck you in the best way.
4By The Haus of Hamilton Book ClubI have such mixed feelings about Iron Flame — on one hand I was so emotionally wrecked by some of the plot-lines, on the other, I was so frustrated by the introduction of the rest. And I may have wanted to murder a few characters… All I know is that the throne room changed me, and the ending broke me. If Rebecca continues to write cliff-hangers like this, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it through this series. Consider yourself warnedGreat read
5By GF TexasIt keeps you turning pages!So hooked…
5By AndiePR19Another page turner I didn’t want to see end. Fantastic! Can’t wait for book 3! Yes, please!Love this series!!
5By SMill93The adventure never ends!! I can’t wait for the next books!!World & Conflict Building
5By tessahrkalI enjoyed the continued character development in Iron Flame, especially seeing Violet. That said, I found myself wanting more from her relationship with Xaden—outside of the repetitive back-and-forth about secrets, which started to feel a bit overdone. This book leans heavily into world- and conflict-building, expanding the scope and complexity of the Empyrean universe. The fractures in society and deeper unrest begin to surface, clearly laying the groundwork for what’s to come in future books. There’s a lot happening here, and while I liked the layered plotlines and twists, I definitely feel the need for a re-read to fully absorb everything. Overall, it’s a solid second book—denser than the first, but more focused on laying critical foundations for the larger story to come.Love this book!!!
5By kayelynt2017Iron Flame is so good!!!!!! Best book I have read in so long!Read in 24hrs
5By ashley5463She does it again couldn’t keep the book downOMG@!!
5By KateW65Absolutely loved it! It will have you hanging on the edge of your seat! I have never read something so powerful! I’m totally hooked.….
5By rileywaggyHonestly, I loved this book until the end. I really dislike the end. Not where I expected the book to go.Not the finest
2By Rampant_WilderMystified by the amount of love for these boring, poorly written, not at all thought out books. As I read them I am convinced the writer believes all readers are absolute idiots - whatever happened to “show, don’t tell,” which I thought was a basic rule of writing. Very little world building, and what is in there is often excerpts from “correspondence” or books that the moronic main characters don’t bother to learn before flying off to long tedious battles that are miraculously won at the last minute, with long and detailed sex scenes between pretty flat and one dimensional characters interspersed between. I have read much better fantasy books in the free section of the Apple Books store. But clearly I am in the minority here, so sit, kick back, and enjoy an easy read with a magic super powerful purple dragon in peace, without my bewildered and heavy dislike.Good story, poor delivery
2By Oscarson45Entertaining story if you do not think about the details. Super smart, sweet, but physically weak and insecure hero becomes conveniently tough when getting revenge (like fight with Cat). She does not want a leadership role but takes lead during every crisis. Has negative (if any) relationship with mom but suddenly feels bonded at the end. Can’t dismount her dragon without knee injuries but jumps from dragon to dragon during battle? Never runs but somehow is the fastest in any group? Keeps secrets but gets enraged when others do? Moving on… Magic needs rules in story telling and while there is effort here, nothing is consistent. -Are dragons a conduit who draw it from air or the source? Depends on situation (See final battle). -How much is too much before burnout? Depends (Stopping time is ok despite draining a dragon but mending people is limited). -Can dragons be drained of magic? Again, depends (Holding hero in saddle is too much, but a few dozen lightening strikes in under an hour is fine). The text is often vague and big dramatic build ups fall flat and nonsensical with the reveal (where final battle will be for example). Why fliers, who have fought wyverns for centuries, have so little input into strategy makes no sense. Nor does the fliers’ complete ineffectiveness in any fight. Read it if you want a fast paced story (I skipped the long and excessive sex scenes) but don’t think too much about any world building details.
