What Worked:

• Seamless continuation: The story picks up right where Fourth Wing left off without awkward time jumps
• Worldbuilding expansion: The Empyrean universe grows richer with new revelations
• Accessible fantasy: Maintains the approachable style that makes complex fantasy digestible
• Part Two payoff: The second half delivers the thrilling, can’t-put-it-down experience fans expect

What Didn’t:

• Formatting issues: Extremely small font size made for a physically challenging read
• Pacing problems: Part One contained repetitive scenes that could have been trimmed
• Character inconsistency: Violet’s development occasionally felt uneven
• Separation trope: Heavy use of this plot device may frustrate some readers

The physical presentation of the book significantly impacted my reading experience. The unusually small font size (noticeably smaller than Fourth Wing) made this already lengthy book feel even more daunting. This, combined with some pacing issues in the first half, made Iron Flame take me much longer to read than anticipated.

⚠️ Warning: Spoilers Ahead ⚠️

The following section discusses specific plot points from Iron Flame. Skip to the final thoughts if you haven’t finished the book.

Spoiler Discussion

Structural Observations

Part One and Part Two of Iron Flame felt like entirely different books. Part One suffered from what felt like insufficient editing – repetitive conversations (particularly between Violet and Xaden) and redundant scenes that didn’t advance the plot. Part Two, however, recaptured the tight storytelling that made Fourth Wing so compelling.

Character Arcs

Violet remained a protagonist I rooted for, though her character progression occasionally felt inconsistent. One particularly frustrating pattern was her repeated acceptance of food/drink from untrustworthy sources despite multiple betrayals – a surprising lack of learning for this otherwise intelligent character. Dain’s redemption arc was a welcome surprise. His actions during Violet’s torture scene and Xaden’s subsequent confirmation of his genuine intentions provided satisfying character development for a previously despised figure.

Shocking Revelations

The ending delivered several jaw-dropping moments:

• General Sorrengail’s sacrifice: The emotional impact was amplified by the chapter excerpt foreshadowing this moment
• Andarna’s true nature: The revelation that she’s a seventh breed dragon was unexpected and fascinating
• Xaden’s transformation: The cliffhanger ending with Xaden becoming venin sets up compelling conflicts for future books

The breadcrumb storytelling technique Yarros employs continues to shine, with subtle hints (like references to Violet’s distinctive hair) suggesting deeper mysteries yet to be revealed.

Final Thoughts

Despite its flaws, Iron Flame ultimately delivers an engaging continuation of the Empyrean series. While Part One’s pacing issues and some character inconsistencies prevent it from reaching the heights of Fourth Wing, the shocking revelations and emotional payoff in Part Two remind us why this series has captivated so many readers. The ending leaves numerous intriguing threads for future books, particularly regarding Violet’s special nature, the ongoing war, and Xaden’s new condition. While the wait for Book 3 will be long, I remain invested in seeing how these conflicts resolve. Recommendation: If you loved Fourth Wing, Iron Flame is absolutely worth reading despite its imperfections. Just be prepared for a slower start and keep pushing through to the thrilling second half.