I began reading Iron Flame on January 15, 2026 and finished it on March 20, 2026. This is the second book in The Empryean series by Rebecca Yarros. The length it took me to read this book isn’t due to the story or book in any way, shape or form. I got sick and the symptoms wouldn’t go away for the longest time. It put me behind on everything. I just wanted to clear that up before I continue on.
This book review contains spoilers…if you don’t want to know, please don’t scroll!
As you may recall, the first book left us with a nasty cliffhanger. We had just found out Violet’s brother was still alive! Well, it turns out he’s not only still alive, but he’s living in Aretia and has joined in the Revolution! He changed his last name and everything.
We’re introduced to some new characters and new locations, but they’re just too numerous for me to remember them all and to write them down. You’ll just have to read the book to find out. 😉 Let’s just say, some have been a welcome addition to the cast of characters in this series, while some can kick rocks. A book should make you care about some characters and hate others, and this book does, at least.
Our girl Violet, went through so much torture and trauma in this book, I felt it was becoming really unnecessary. If I could criticize anything about this book, it’s that. Not because I can’t handle torture (I do dabble in true crime), it’s because it was constant and the punishment didn’t beget the crime. It was overkill. I was literally like:
At least some of her torturers received justice. I don’t know what she did to Varrish, for instance, but the way he treated her, it was like she did something to him personally. She did learn to control her lightning wielding powers a little bit better. She made new friends and even more enemies. She was reunited with her sister, Mira too. Brennan, Mira and Violet end up fighting together on the same team against their mother, General Sorengail, who gives Joan Crawford (Mommy Dearest), a run for her money. Both Mira and General Sorengail were rightfully shocked to find out Brennan is still alive. Their mother would eventually redeem herself a little bit at the end, by giving the ultimate sacrifice in order to save Violet.
Violet’s still bonded to two dragons, Tairn and Andarna. Tairn is still a grumpy old man in dragon form, who I can totally see golfing at a time share in Florida. (Isn’t that a visual.) Andarna becomes an adolescent and you know what that means…rebellious attitude and smack talk. I can see her sneaking out of a cave when Tairn’s not looking, in the middle of the night, trying not to make a sound, while also taking selfies. For the most part she obeys, but I found it so endearing, funny and relatable all at the same time. Andarna is always there when you need her the most, even if she’s told to stay away. Anyways, at the end you find out why Andarna picked Violet, and what she truly is (a camouflaging dragon). I’m not sure what you call her kind yet. Hopefully we’re told in the next book. I had always thought it was a little weird how Andarna was so different from any other dragon. My gut instincts are never wrong. She makes herself appear black because she admires Tairn so much. And she’s looking for her family. I balled like a baby. She’s been waiting for over six hundred years for someone like Violet, so she can bond with a human. Tell me that doesn’t get you right in the feels. I just wish Andarna could fly like the other dragons do. I have never liked two dragons more.
Xaden is still Xaden. Almost too protective. Sexy. Smart, and it turns out he’s practically royalty. Before the rebellion, his family ruled Aretia. He has an ex (Cat), who controls emotions, who’s found out about Violet and wants to hurt her because she’s not good at handling rejection well. And she even joins in the fight, so that’s fun. Cat and Violet do learn to get along, but only because of they’re fighting a common enemy. He and Violet have learned to use their bond to their advantage, but they are still keeping secrets from each other. He always wants her to guess. Why doesn’t he just tell her? That would be frustrating for me. Violet’s not a mind reader! It turns out he can read intentions within people, and people with this signet tend to be killed because it’s too powerful.. Honestly, I’m still confused about why that’s more threatening than say…someone who can siphon. We also find out Xaden was enlisted by Violet’s mother to ensure Violet succeeded at Basigath War College in the Riders’ Quadrant, because she knew Violet was going to be very important in the war. This, of course, only makes the trust issues between them widen even more. Was his time and attention an act or was it real?
At the end of the book, he makes a decision to save Violet’s life, which is an another tear jerker moment for me. It’ll be interesting to see how this changes the story in the rest of the series. We get a brief glimpse of Xaden’s point of view, so we understand what he’s going through, but we’re just going to have to wait and see how Violet will cope with this new plot twist.
My favourite scenes are the action sequences. From climbing up a mountainside to battling venin and wyverns…my stomach felt like it was doing somersaults. (I am scared of heights and get motion sickness very easily.) The suspense keeps me reading. I love the camaraderie between Violet and her friends in the second year squad and how they joke around, but also are willing to do whatever it takes to be there for one another, especially when they’re partners in crime.
Overall, the story is good. Slow moving in some parts. Too fast in others. My best advice is to grab yourself a box of tissues for the ending of the book because you’re going to need it. Off to read the third book in this series, Onyx Storm…
I give Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What are your thoughts on this book? Please feel free to comment below! Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Until the next time…✌🏻
Watch. Read. Write. 