Iron Flame (The Empyrean Book 2) by Rebecca Yarros

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.

My Review

“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

This second book is in this addicting fantasy series and starts with two parts and an excellent quote in the blurb.  You get sucked back into the Romantasy with Violet and Xaden as they navigate Basgiath War College as dragon riders. I appreciate the warning about the content at the beginning of the book. 

Violet is still mystified by the surprise in the last book.  The parts back at the war college are very political but also heartbreaking as they go from lovers back to friends and from forced proximity to enforced separation. 

Violet’s second year is just as volatile as the first. Her relationship and experience are complicated this second year with Xaden; she is not there and still has targets on her back. 

The back-and-forth banter and fated relationship pull this story along as they are separated this year. Violet is much more robust, and Xaden is more truthful, but they still can’t get over the secrets between them. This story does get steamy. 

This story’s antagonist is Major Varrish, but I must discover all the whys. What is with bringing back previous characters like Violet needs one more challenge. 

Their missions seem to always land them on the wrong side of the school authority, but with every risk comes a great reward or a near-certain punishment. This book gets very dark toward the end. Violet looks bleak, and I am waiting for Xaden to rescue her. 

Part one of this book ends with a new chapter in their lives. 

Part two 

This book is more rebellious than the last, but you still get Violet and Xaden. However, the vibes in the storyline are very different. They are still fighting for survival but in a different form.

This second year has a lot more juvenile interactions, with jealousy, anger, and miscommunication in the relationship between Xaden and Violet. The first book was primarily concerned with their survival, and this book is more about all the emotions. It reads very young adults in maturity but new adults in interactions. Their interactions with the Viscount are twisted again, putting Violet in danger. 

The love triangle goes back again in this story as an ongoing trope. I love Xaden Alpha’s protective side and his excellent care in gentle interactions. He isn’t in this story as much as it is mostly Violet. 

The end of this story is an epic fantasy riddled with intense action, heroic moments, and amazing powers. Oh my god, this book ends with one heck of a twist. 

You can preorder the last book in the series Onyx Storm now.

I devoured these books. I loved every minute of reading them, and I will probably reread them in the future.

If you want to read Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, you can find it on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book, you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: New Adult, Romantasy, and Dragons.