Iron Flame

Rebecca Yarros

Nov 2023 · RB Media · Narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton

About this audiobook

“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. Book #1 Fourth Wing Book #2 Iron Flame

Ratings and reviews

I. Hate. Violet. The overall story is good, but I can't stand the petulant, volatile brat that is the protagonist in this book. The character dynamic between Violet and Xaden is a blatant rip-off of the main characters in A Court of Mist and Fury, by Sarah J. Maas (which is a much better book overall). Even the character's skill sets are similar. There is no way that this is a coincidence. It's one thing to garner influence from another writer, but it's another completely to just totally rip off character concepts. This book was more like a fanfic than an original work.

starts off ok but just takes a big nose dive in part two. dialogue is predictable and cringy the characters are single layered and lack depth, and the romance doesn't progress, feels like teenagers listing after eachother honestly. the different regions cultures aren't really developed. not a great book.

loved it until I predicted the end I hoped wouldn't happen. felt "really" so disappointing wish I hadn't of ordered 3rd book before end of this one. hopefully it's not dragged out and next book resolves this ending quickly