Iron Flame (Standard Edition) (The Empyrean, 2) Hardcover – November 7, 2023

Iron Flame (The Empyrean Book 2) Kindle Editionby Rebecca Yarros (Author) I blame Anne McCaffrey for my love of dragons and their riders. Rebecca Yarros, Violet, Xaden, and their dragons had a lot to live up to, in fact, the entirety of Pern! And Ms. Yarros does live up to Ms. McCaffrey.Where, at times, the first book in the Empyrean felt like a young adult book that had spice added in to move it from the young adult shelf, Iron Flame is fully rooted in adult fantasy, with just the right amount of spice and the perfect measure of angst and pathos.The relationship between Violet and Xaden sits in the center of the story, but there is so much more. We have siblings with a reason for vengeance, a hidden royal heir, jealous love rivals, and a race for a magical solution. It's all in there. All of the feels and all of the tension. The only issue I had was that about ¼ of the book could have been shaved. In the realm of fantasy and fantasy romance, many authors seem to be in a race to see who can write the longest book. Yes, SJM, JLA, and now Ms. Yarros, I am looking at all of you. Apparently, they are all racing to take the tile of the biggest book away from the Giga Codex.That said, I am in love with the world that Ms. Yarros has created. It feels very concrete, as if I could smell the dust on the trails that the dragons and the griffins climb, the sweat under the flight leathers, and the spice of the lust that seems to be in the air. It is a real world, tangible, and fascinating.Ms. Yarros is the new queen of the Shadow Daddy (if you don't know, go look it up). Xaden is not morally grey, so much as he is morally flexible. He is willing to burn the world... heck, he'd burn the universe for Violet, but he is also full of honor and strength.Violet is not the paragon of virtue or the slightly insane fantasy heroine we are used to. She is very clearly, a fighter – not only of her very real enemies, but also the illness that she must overcome every day to be a rider.One of the stand out part of Iron Flame is the dialogue. Ms. Yarros is a master of using dialogue to move the story along and to further character development effortlessly. Unless the reader takes a step back from the story (which is as difficult as climbing Everest barefoot!), it isn't easy to see the masterful techniques she utitlizes.The plot,which at times (as I said before), is a bit overloaded, moves along as fast is possible in this height of book!To be completely honest, I received this book as a gift (the hardback) from the husband, and also borrowed it from KU when it was available, because I needed them both to finish.If Fourth Wing lived up to the hype, Iron Flame went beyond the hype into a completely different universe!Complete with a masterful use of technique, a beautifully built world, and an intricate woven plot, Iron Flame, in fact the entire Empyrean series, is a modern classic that will go down in literary history with the Lord of the Rings, the Dragon Riders of Pern, and the Witchworld stories.4.75 stars out of 5 (a .25 deduction because some of the book could have been shaved) rounded up to 4 stars out of 5

Wow. It’s absolutely fascinating to me how someone can create this type of world. The story so far is absolutely epic! The characters, the spice, the intrigue, and especially all the heart and realness of the emotions. I laughed, cried, and said a few "oh heck no's". This series is intense and will give the reader all the feels. 10 out of 10 I recommend. 🐉❤️💯❤️🔥🐉

Iron Flame picks up right where Fourth Wing left off, and it wastes no time putting you right back in. The pacing is slower in some sections, but there is a lot more world-building and political maneuvering compared to Fourth Wing. We get to see deeper into the characters and their loyalty. I liked that we get to see more of Violet’s mental strength as she deals with the everything she has been through.The romance is still there, but there is definitely more war, betrayal, and strategy instead. When I was reading the action sections, it was intense and worth the buildup. I also appreciated that more side characters got page time, adding layers to the story outside of just Violet and Xaden.This book feels darker and heavier than the first, but it kept me engaged and left me eager to see where the series goes next. If you liked Fourth Wing, you will want to keep reading.

Iron Flame, the second book in the Empyrean series, absolutely blew me away. Rebecca Yarros has created a world so immersive and electrifying that I couldn’t put this book down. The pacing is intense, the stakes are higher than ever, and every twist had me gasping for my next breath.What makes this series so special is not just the action and the dragons (though those are phenomenal), but the depth of the characters and the way their relationships evolve under unimaginable pressure. Violet’s journey in this book is powerful, emotional, and inspiring. I felt every victory, every heartbreak, and every moment of growth right alongside her and Xaden.This sequel doesn’t fall into the trap of “middle book syndrome.” Instead, it elevates the entire series with a thrilling plot, sharp dialogue, and such a unique concept that it truly stands apart from anything I’ve read before. It’s an unforgettable story filled with heart-pounding battles, shocking revelations, and the kind of world-building that stays with you long after you finish.If Fourth Wing hooked me, Iron Flame completely sealed the deal. This series is nothing short of phenomenal, and I cannot wait to see where Rebecca Yarros takes us next in Onyx Storm!!