Week 45 Review: Iron Flame

From Goodreads:

"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.

My Review:
Well yeah, I loved reading this book! I loved the first, and I loved this one! After that ending with the reveal, and after all that happened, I was really anticipating this book! And it delivered, I couldn't put it down, and it has me anxious for more! 

I had no idea how things would work out so they could go back to Basgiath. Though it turned out to be pretty simple-and I loved that face off with Dain's dad, that was pretty satisfying! But then there was also dealing with the broken trust between her and Xaden, especially now that he's graduated and has his orders. It was all so every entertaining!

The big plot of this book is dealing with the threat of the bad guys. The main issue is that the shields that are currently up don't cover all of the contient, which means to protect everyone, they'd have to be within those boarders. But the guys in charge don't want the truth to get out. And the alternate is what Violet is searching for-how to create the shield, so they could cover more ground.

Oh, and of course surviving this next year of the college. Like seeing how some of the other divisions were trained and organized. And dealing with the awful vice commandant who has a bone to pick with Violet. She had to deal with a lot this year! And oh, I can't believe the places that it went in this book! It has another ending that has me dying for the next! 

My one complaint would be, she finds out her brother is actually alive. They spend a bit of time together. And then she almost never thinks about the fact that he let her and the family believe a lie. So that felt a bit weird.

Loved reading this book and I hope the wait for book 3 is as short as it was for this one, because I need more! 

Author: Rebecca Yarros 
Series: The Empyrean #2
Read: November 7th, 2023
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Love her writing and the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Published: November 7th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars