From the Bookshelf of Scripted in Fantasy and Fiction …

Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)

Rebecca Yarros

Start date: November 7, 2023

Finish date: November 30, 2023

Discussion: Book Club Chats: SEQUELS

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Book Club Chats: SEQUELS

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What Members Thought

Jan 26, 2024 Kelli rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Finished Fourth Wing only to immediately dive into this one.
She knows how to write a good novel and how to hook you and it’s just fun to read. What I would call a big old January winter hibernation read.
I love that the first half of this one is carving out the character development of Xaden and Violet. The world building seems richer by book 2. And the relationships with the dragons get fleshed out more.

In the best possible way, I think book 2 resembles Harry Potter. The school has already been Finished Fourth Wing only to immediately dive into this one.
She knows how to write a good novel and how to hook you and it’s just fun to read. What I would call a big old January winter hibernation read.
I love that the first half of this one is carving out the character development of Xaden and Violet. The world building seems richer by book 2. And the relationships with the dragons get fleshed out more.

In the best possible way, I think book 2 resembles Harry Potter. The school has already been established. It’s all about classes and training. And in a cozy way, it’s kind of fun reading it. It’s entertaining and keeps me reading during the first half getting to know the friends and the characters more. I love Bodhi and Sawyer and Ridoc — the squad she has at Basgaith is super cute. Garrick has some cute scenes too.

I did start to get bored with the back and forth of going and visiting each other over and over ‘for the dragons sake’ the book is clearly buying for time and slowing down but what worked so well in book 1 wasn’t as forth coming for book 2. Xaden was the Wingleader in Fourth Wing which added an element. He was always there at the college and it created those tension moments that kept the pages flying. All the middle has much of is realising how much we hate Varrish and I’m just constantly ready for Xaden to take him out. Plus tons of ‘research’ that Violet is doing on wards.

The best of the middle is the fun way the squad starts to band together. Again, this is where it feels like Harry Potter and I’m here for that. The story changes pace around then too, when Violet gets taken by Varrish. Seriously, Xaden has the best entrances and the best intense dialog — ‘who did you kill?’ ‘Everyone’

Part 2 definitely has better pacing. And it does have chapter 48. Definitely Violet and Xaden iron out alot then. Of course they are swoon worthy, the things said. But also still wishing the smut level was less spicy/cheesy🌶️. However, Yarros makes up for it with cute communicating between the two. That’s better and more precious than any of their smut stuff.

I think I’m going to have to reread the first one to get this intense ending out of my head. It feels like it will be such a long time till the third. I’m not even sure what to think happened fully after the wards are raised. Not even sure what Yarros’ direction is with venin and Xaden or how she could write three more books with that plot. I’m sure it seems crazy because it’s gonna get us to read book 3. I just need her to stay true to Xaden. He’s intense, holds his emotion, and always wins the fight.
I do want to give all four stars to part 2 because it’s the most insane half.

Fourth wing - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Iron Flame - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ...more

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