From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)

Rebecca Yarros

Start date: November 1, 2023

Finish date: November 30, 2023

Discussion: Book of the Month

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Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Nov 12, 2023 Alicia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dragon, library-books, ghosts, pre-orders, fighty-chicks, fantasy, time-travel, boarding-school-and-academy, audiobook

This starts out where the last book ended. Violet is with her squad healing up at a rebel camp after their vice commander tried to have them killed, then they have to rush back in time for graduation. Bring on second year!
I feel like all of Violet’s cunning and wits were lost in this book. Whereas before she was planning and pre-empting problem situations, she mostly just sits around arguing with Xaden and waiting for her squad to get picked off one by one. Where was the planning and tenacity fr This starts out where the last book ended. Violet is with her squad healing up at a rebel camp after their vice commander tried to have them killed, then they have to rush back in time for graduation. Bring on second year!
I feel like all of Violet’s cunning and wits were lost in this book. Whereas before she was planning and pre-empting problem situations, she mostly just sits around arguing with Xaden and waiting for her squad to get picked off one by one. Where was the planning and tenacity from her character in here? Because it felt like she just kept her head down and peeked around corners and read some books. She didn’t even try to circumvent the vice commandant, and it really felt out of character and like pointless political manoeuvring that was entirely frustrating to read. It just becomes rather senseless. (view spoiler)
A lot of this was really repetitive too. Especially the whole Violet/Xander relationship drama, which just bogged the story down. There were enough outside problems to keep the plot busy without sticking this in there as well.
I’m not 100% sure of that ending either… (view spoiler)
I liked the expansion in the world building and lore in this book. There is a lot going on, and the conflict and big bad are not being left behind and dragged out to a final book. We get action. We get confirmation and exposure. There are new characters introduced, and old characters removed in the blood thirsty way that is this book. I did personally love the conversation with griffin riders over their bonding/tempest and the reactions, because yes!
Overall: lots of action and researching, drama and angst, and needless violence. The politicking was way too high for my tastes, but I enjoyed it anyway.
...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Nov 08, 2023 Taylor Leszczynski-Walters rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

Literally sobbed through the ending I’m not ready for another book I need to re-read the series again because I can’t let it go this author truly knows what it means to get the heart strings highly highly highly recommend this book get it as soon as possible read the first one read it again read this one read it again and keep reading them until book 3 comes out because if this is a book 5 series I need 3 4 and 5 now.

From character development to world building to absolutely falling in love wit ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2025 Jade 🦢 ✨ W rated it liked it

Currently training for the gauntlet 🐉🥾⚔️⚡️

Although I didn’t enjoy this as much as FW. I have high hopes to OS.

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2023 Thecritic rated it liked it

It becomes boring some times, the characters like to repeat themselves all the time, as if the author is paid by the word count. It would be nice if there was an editor who would just cut some of the repeated sentences out.

I think Rebecca believes her readers all have alzheimers.

The characters have the same personality, they all crack the same jokes and it's really hard to tell them apart.

Imogen and Cat are the same person. ...more

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Aug 27, 2024 Helena rated it it was amazing

98/100

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Nov 25, 2023 Jeidyne rated it it was amazing

LOVE IT OMG. Buuuuut I feel like the fighting was just crammed in at the end to make room for a cliffhanger, like EVERYTHING led up to this battle for this to kinda be it? Love it though

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