Book Review: Iron Flame

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 because I am obsessed with Fourth Wing. I got my pre-order last week and just finished the 600+ fantasy romance novel a couple nights ago!

I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll keep the synopsis brief! At the start of Iron Flame new students are arriving and those hoping to make it into the riders quadrant are getting ready to cross the parapet, including Sloane – Liam’s younger sister. Violet promised Liam she’d look out for Sloane, but it’s immediately evident that Sloane doesn’t want Violet’s help and blames her for what happened to her brother.

Violet and Xaden are working through their issues after some big secrets were revealed at the end of Fourth Wing and despite how much they both love each other, Violet needs time. But even though they are working through their issues, they have to work together along with the other riders who found with them at the end of Fourth Wing to keep everything secret when they return to Basgiath. It’s hard for Violet to keep secrets from her best friends back at school but she knows she has to protect them. So while her secrets and growing distance between her and her friends plague her, she must work with Xaden and the others who know everything to find a way to protect everyone and defeat the venin.

I loved this book as predicted! It was definitely slower than Fourth Wing but I think that’s understandable since a lot of it dealt with the aftermath of Fourth Wing and was a buildup of information and set up for what’s to come next in the series. I still loved being reunited with Violet, Xaden, Tairn, and Andarna! Teenage Andarna was hilarious with her sass. And I love Violet and Xaden so much! And even though this book was slower than book 1, I was still fully invested in the storyline and characters. And the last 100 pages or so had me on the edge of my seat! And that cliffhanger!

I can’t wait for book 3 and hope Rebecca Yarros posts some sort of update on the status of that soon!