#12 [2024/CBR16] Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame (2023) by Rebecca Yarros is the second book in the Empyrean Series. I recently read the first book, Fourth Wing, and found it pretty entertaining. It felt like a combination of Fifty Shades of Grey and The Hunger Games--but with dragons. The second book has a similar feel, but was not quite as good as the first. There will probably be spoilers ahead, so take care.

Fourth Wing ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I was eager to start the second book and find out what was going to happen. Violet Sorrengail has just finished her first year at Basgiath War College. She has (accidentally) bonded with two dragons (Tairn and Andarna), and has a complicated but very intense relationship with Xaden, a third year whose dragon is bonded with Violet's dragon. Violet has just discovered that Wyverns and Venin exist and are a very real threat to her country. Finally, the brother she thought was dead was actually still alive and working on behalf of the rebels who have been helping outlying kingdoms fight the Wyvern and Venin.

This was all pretty exciting, but then Violet and the others decided they have to go back to the school--even though someone tried to kill them by sending them on a suicide mission at the end of the first book. Xaden is posted to a far away outpost, but the two have to/get to visit each other at least once every couple of weeks because their dragons are bonded and cannot spend too much time apart. Violet is mad at Xaden for not telling her everything earlier, but she also has to keep secrets at school.

Most of the things in Iron Flame happen at school. We meet some new characters, and there are challenges thrown at Violet and her class. The new general is suspicious of Violet and harasses her often. Her life is often in danger. Then Jack, the evil villain of the first book is brought back to life by a healer--for plot purposes.

The end culminates in a massive fight with the Gryphons and their riders helping the dragons and infantry at Basgiath War College to keep the Wyvern and Venin away. Jack reveals himself as a Venin, and he shuts down the Wards that protect the college that allow the attack. In the end, it is Violet's mother who sacrifices herself to bring the wards back in place.

Although there were some very intense and moving moments in this book, I definitely prefer Fourth Wing. The love triangle in the first book with Violet, Dain, and Xaden was a little bit annoying but an expected trope. However, I was glad when it seemed we'd moved on and Dain was clearly not a romantic interest. Instead, we get Cat, Xaden's ex, who is ready to make Violet's life a living hell. It felt unnecessary and kind of annoying. And the same goes for Violet being mad at Xaden for not telling her everything as soon as he met her. The angst was a little wearying and made the book less fun. My favorite part of the first book was when Violet bonded with her dragons, seeing how that connection worked, and how that changed her life at school and with Xaden. I did not feel the same magic in this book, and there was a little more trudging through the pages.

This book ends on another cliffhanger. Xaden, in a desperate attempt to protect Violet, allowed himself to be turned into a venin. This will definitely impact their relationship, and I'm curious what will happen next. On the whole, this book kept my interest. The first book was better, but I'm still planning on reading the third when it is available.