Iron Flame (The Empyrean, 2) Paperback – May 20, 2025

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 (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

It’s rare that the sequel is better than the first book but this one definitely is. I can’t wait to read Book 3. The only reason I’m not giving the book 5 stars is because of the swearing. I think it is way over done. I truly wish I could give 4 1/2 stars. The story has everything you could want in a fantasy. Adventure. Romance. Intrigue. The excitement never ceases from cover to cover. It should appeal to most audiences. I highly recommend it!

Iron Flame is a brilliant sequel that takes everything I loved about Fourth Wing and cranks it up to an entirely new level. From the very first page, the stakes feel higher, the world deeper, and the characters even more compelling. It’s a rare follow-up that not only meets but exceeds the expectations set by its predecessor, and Iron Flame does just that—and then some!Violet's journey is absolutely breathtaking. She’s grown so much from the first book, grappling with the aftermath of everything that happened in Fourth Wing and the emotional toll of her decisions. What I love most about her is her strength, but also her incredible vulnerability—she's not invincible, but her determination and resilience are so inspiring. Her internal struggles make her journey all the more captivating, and I found myself rooting for her harder than ever.Xaden’s character continues to evolve in Iron Flame as well. He’s fiercely protective, but he also has his own demons to confront. His unwavering love for Violet shines through in every scene, but there’s also this haunting complexity to him that makes him feel so real. Their relationship has such a deep emotional core, and it was impossible not to feel the weight of their connection as they navigate this new chapter together. If I thought I had a good grasp on him in Fourth Wing, Iron Flame completely turned my perception upside down. He’s more layered, more unpredictable, and I’m so invested in whatever his journey holds. The chemistry between him and Violet is still undeniable, but it’s clear that Xaden is struggling with his own inner turmoil—and that adds a whole new dynamic to the story.Dain also gets more of a spotlight in this book, and his relationship with Violet continues to be one of the most interesting aspects of the series. There’s this sense of unspoken tension between them, and I honestly love how his role continues to challenge Violet’s decisions and growth.The plot is so tightly woven—there’s political intrigue, action-packed dragon battles, and jaw-dropping twists that left me reeling. The way the author balances character development with high-stakes action is nothing short of genius. The world of Iron Flame feels so much bigger, and I loved diving deeper into the lore and the history of the dragons, the factions, and the power struggles that run throughout the narrative.But above all, the emotional moments in this book hit hard. The stakes feel personal, and the characters' growth feels earned. The writing is absolutely stunning, and I found myself turning the pages at lightning speed, even when I didn’t want to leave the world just yet.Iron Flame is an unforgettable ride, and I am beyond excited to see where the story goes next. If you loved Fourth Wing, this is a must-read! It’s action-packed, emotionally charged, and full of unexpected twists. A true five-star experience!

Just finished book 2. Like the series so far. Lots of twists & turns. Characters are well developed The story is well pace and just when you think you have something figured out, it might be right or might not. The many relationships ring true and aren't sappy. They help Keep the narrative flowing. I think this is a good fantasy series.