By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros #BookReview #Romantasy

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Fourth Wing. Book #2 Iron Flame
“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. The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Fourth Wing Book #2 Iron Flame

🍁Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarrosr 🍁

One-word review: Intense

Emojis: 🐉⚡🦸‍♀️

Rating: 5 (FW)/ 4 (IF) =  4.5🌟s

My thoughts:

Fourth Wing is incredibly intense from start to finish, and I absolutely loved the resulting fast pace. It reminded me a lot of Hunger Games because of the political machinations, the life and death stakes brought on by the competition between their peers, and different daily challenges. However, many people relate it more to Divergent, which I could see too. And if you didn’t already know – it has lots of dragons! Giant dragons, small dragons, every color of dragon, and I love that. The characters all have a moral grayness about them that I enjoyed, and the romance feels like something is at work to make it more intense than it would typically be; either that or it’s just too fierce for full buy-in. Lastly, the ending is a shocker! I’ve seen it before but didn’t expect it from this story.

On the other hand, Iron Flame felt more like a too-long story written to set up the following three books (it’s supposed to be a five-book series, from what I’ve heard). I would have been much happier with it if it had stopped at the halfway point rather than where it did stop. But, I can see where many aspects can be developed going further into a very satisfying tale. I just hope that they are. This part of the story wasn’t as intense, and the two main characters (the romance) are separated, so there is no actual development in that area or even individually. And I think that is indeed the root of the problem. There is no natural development in any aspect of the story, just potential for upcoming books in the series, and the book is very long. Those two things combined make for a read that just doesn’t deliver, but it’s not so bad as to put this reader off to the next book. So until then!

24 Replies to “Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros #BookReview #Romantasy”

  1. Janette says:

    That’s the second review I’ve read of Iron Flame and they’ve both said pretty much the same thing. It’s a shame that it’s a bit disappointing although it does mean that I’m not waiting quite so impatiently for my copy to arrive from the library. 😃

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tessa Pulyer says:

      It’s still a very compelling read. I didn’t realize the issues until long after I finished but I still 4 star liked it. I did however notice how long it was while I was reading. I’m sure you will enjoy it!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Books Teacup and Reviews says:

    I want to get this series. It sounds amazing and I enjoyed both hunger games and divergent so adding dragons to similar storyline is just cherry on the top. I just hope the series doesn’t end like those two comp series.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. BonnieReadsAndWrites says:

    I loved them both. I actually liked Iron Flame a bit better. There are fewer long sex scenes in Iron Flame. I find long sex scenes to just be filler. Plus it is a well-woven beginning to the unfurling of the whole series plot, but there are quite a few revelations in this book. I’m putting my review of IF up today too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tessa Pulyer says:

      I’m glad you liked it that much. I did find it completely compelling. I felt like I did a reading marathon after I finished and I love the kernels that will hopefully bloom into even more compelling storylines.

      Like

  6. Teri Polen says:

    Okay, I didn’t read your review, but it’s because I have both books waiting, and I’m trying to go in blind. All I know is there are dragons. That alone would make me read it.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Jonetta | Blue Mood Café says:

    Dragons? Nobody told me about dragons!!! The buzz about this book is deafening and I was waiting for a friend review before I got on the wagon (the library queue is insane). Outstanding reviews, Tessa💜

    Like

  9. Jacquie Biggar says:

    I am so in love with Xaden! And so torn with how Iron Flame ended- oh, my gosh! I read them back-to-back and wanted to dive right back in when they were done, lol

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tessa Pulyer says:

      I didn’t see the ending of Iron Flame coming at all but I love the possibilities it opens up. My mind just exploded with all the possible plot lines that could come from it.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Leslie says:

    Okay, I had to come here after finishing Iron Flame. I totally agree. Iron Flame was kind of a mess for me. I felt like the relationship was just annoying with all the miscommunication. There are so many theories out there and some would be insanely cool. Can or will she do it? I’m not so sure… she definitely should have waited on this release & edited it down! Great review!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tessa Pulyer says:

      I think so too. It could have easily been two books – part 1 and 2 each being an individual novel (or edited down – which would have been even better). I’m excited for the possibilities of that ending though. I can just imagine the many different directions it could go. I hope she takes her time and makes it all that it can be.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Leslie says:

        Yeah, for sure. Editing it down a ton would have helped tremendously! I agree! There’s so many amazing things that can happen from that ending and I hope she takes all the time she needs. I am still worried that there are TWO more books after the third one!! lol

        Liked by 1 person

  11. D. Wallace Peach says:

    I’ve read some wonderful reviews of these books, so I was definitely interested in your thoughts, Tessa. It’s too bad that Iron Flame seemed to stall. I hope it was just a setup for the next books. I’ll probably wait to see how those go before starting the series. Thanks for the reviews!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. shanaqui says:

    I really need to give Fourth Wing a shot — I’ve been curious for ages, and I have a copy now… 😆 It sounds so fun!

    Liked by 1 person

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