Raising the Stakes—A Review of Iron Flame

I went into Iron Flame with high expectations after Fourth Wing, and Rebecca Yarros absolutely delivered. The action never stops; you’ll be hooked from the start. I love this world and these characters, and the balance of plot and character development was really well done. We get a deeper look into the structure of the Infantry, uncover more secrets about the Scribes and the Archives, and, most importantly, learn so much more about Xaden. His relationship with Violet continues to be filled with tension, but I appreciated how he handled it—persistent yet respectful, always taking his cues from Violet. That maturity in their dynamic made the angst all the more compelling.

What I Loved

The tension in Iron Flame is phenomenal. Romantic tension, political tension, tension between friends (and frenemies)—it’s all there, and it makes the book an incredibly gripping read. There were so many twists and turns, some I saw coming and some that completely blindsided me, which kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending left me with a terrible book hangover.

I found myself wanting to tear through the book as fast as possible, but at the same time, I knew there were so many details I’d catch if I took my time. After rereading Fourth Wing and picking up on more the second time around, I made an effort to slow down with this one, and I’m so glad I did.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the dragons, specifically Tairn and Andarna. I loved their bander, and Andarna’s humor was such a great contrast to Tairn’s wisdom and gruff demeanor. 

“Can you carry a luminary?”

“That question insults me.”

“Can you carry a luminary while insulted?” 

Wow, Andarna's changed so much from the first book! I wish we'd seen more of her development. I do miss the Andarna from the first book, but I'm excited to see more of her in later Empyrean books.

The friendships in this book also stood out—Ridoc, Sawyer, Imogen, and Rhi proved to be the kind of loyal, ride-or-die friends Violet needs in such a brutal world. Their support added so much depth to the story and reinforced the theme of found family.

What Didn’t Resonate With Me

While I love this world and its characters, I won’t deny that Iron Flame is long. Some parts dragged, especially in the first half, where certain conflicts seemed to go in circles for hundreds of pages without real progress. My biggest gripe was the ongoing squabbles between Violet and Xaden. I understand the need for relationship tension, but some of their issues felt a little forced and confusing. I guess I'm not a big fan of the miscommunication trope. That said, if the choice is between endless romantic turmoil or excessive lovey-dovey moments, I’ll take the former any day.

Themes and Tropes

One of the standout themes in this book is survival—both physical and emotional. The quote, “The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity,” encapsulates the stakes so well. This book pushes its characters to their limits, forcing them to question their morals and choices. There’s also a strong theme of trust—not just in others but in oneself. Violet, in particular, has to figure out who she can rely on, when to stand her ground, and when to adapt.

As for tropes, we get some of my favorites: found family, slow-burn romance with a side of angst, morally gray love interests, and, of course, dragons. So many dragons. The miscommunication trope happens in the first half of the book. Also, the long distance relationship is a trope I haven't seen in many fantasy books, but I think it was handled realisically and added to the overall tension.

Final Thoughts

Be prepared for a chonky book that will keep you turning the pages. A lot happens in this book—way more than in Fourth Wing. It’s action-packed, relationship-driven, and filled with high stakes that had me completely invested. While it’s not without its slow moments and occasional frustrations, I still found myself utterly sucked into the world Yarros has created. If you’re a fantasy lover who enjoys action, drama, complex characters, and dragons, this series is an absolute must-read. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Considering the way it ended, I'm going to need some time to process before I throw myself into Onys Storm.