Iron Flame (Book 2 of The Empyrean Series) by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, New Adult Romance Fantasy
Rating: 2/5
***
Iron Flame, the much-anticipated sequel to Fourth Wing, Book 2 in the Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros, sadly fails to meet the expectations set by its predecessor. While I had hoped for improvements in plot intricacy, character development, and overall engagement, these aspirations were misplaced.
Violet’s arc, our protagonist, maintains a plateau, with no growth or transformation. Her character is plagued by naivety and misplaced self-righteousness. The recurring argument between her and Xaden about truth, lies, and trust—Why doesn’t Xaden tell Vi everything—echoes the same discourse from Fourth Wing.
These arguments are repetitive and frustrating, adding no value or depth to their relationship or the narrative. The argument itself lacks a foundation of rationale or resolution. I am puzzled as to why this wasn’t condensed or completely removed.
Xaden’s character takes an unexpected turn as he becomes as irrationally protective of Vi, akin to Dain Aetos in the first book. There seems to be no need to bring Xaden’s arc here; instead, the romance could’ve benefitted from further exploration of their dynamics in new ways.
Romance, a crucial aspect of the narrative, is conspicuously absent between Violet and Xaden. After two books, their deep connection remains elusive to the reader, overshadowed by the clause of their dragons being mated for life. Their physical intimacy comes across more as erotica than a genuine romantic connection.
The novel leans heavily on explicit scenes, overshadowing any substantive content. The poorly written intimate moments contribute to an overall lack of a distinctive storyline.
Iron Flame struggles to define its core plot, subjecting to witnessing two hormonal teenagers engaging in repetitive, icky make-out sessions, devoid of genuine emotional connection.
In this second book, as the narrative ventures into enemy territory with a majority of riders making Aretia (city outside Navarre borders) their home, riders and fliers (gryphon riders) come into close contact. However, the anticipated threat of these creatures, carefully cultivated in Navarre, in the first book, falls flat. Compared to the dragons, gryphons are basically house cats who can fly (but not very high). This raises questions about the Continent’s orchestrated facade of conspiracy and the purported menace of gryphons and fliers. Again, a glaring flaw in the overall world-building.
The coming together of riders and fliers brings with it such a treasure trove of opportunities to delve more into this fantasy world, its cultures, its religion (which is referenced often but never explained), and its many as yet unknown rules and laws. But this opportunity is squandered in favour of introducing Xaden’s ex, Catriona. This arc seems more geared towards a young adult audience and does not add value to either of the primary characters.
Iron Flame is marred by rampant plot inconsistencies, glaring loopholes, and one-dimensional secondary characters. The interactions between characters feel contrived, lacking authenticity and realism. And even the elaborate map within the book isn’t very helpful because it doesn’t list half the cities and outposts mentioned in the book.
The dragons, a promising element introduced in Fourth Wing, fail to receive the page-space they deserve. Plot points and character dynamics that could have added genuine depth to the narrative, like Violet’s relationship with Brennan and General Sorrengail (her brother and mother) and their individual abilities aren’t given their due. The mother-daughter relationship, a potential source of emotional depth, remains unexplored, leaving readers yearning for a more profound connection.
Instead of addressing these issues, the narrative is propped up with convenient tidbits of exposition or dragon lore, contributing to the book’s dragging pace.
The pace picks up during the final chapters of the book, where we do see some action and a grand showdown between the forces of good and evil. This part is brilliant. The strategy, action and execution of the battle are intense, thrilling and offer a glimpse of what this book could have achieved. Some of the plot twists are intriguing and promise a host of upheavals in the characters’ lives in the next instalment.
Just like its predecessor, Iron Flame suffers from the absence of world-building, a crucial element in any fantasy narrative. Rules governing the fantastical world are inconsistently applied, particularly in the case of Violet and her friends, undermining the narrative’s credibility.
Despite the immense potential in its premise, Iron Flame falters in its execution. The narrative struggles to rise above mediocrity, delivering a lacklustre addition to the fantasy genre. The hasty publication timeline and lack of editorial refinement contribute to a narrative that feels rushed and underdeveloped.
My overall impression is one of a lazy approach to world-building and writing, with vital aspects conveniently overlooked, leaving the readers questioning the author’s choices at every turn in the narrative.
In conclusion, Iron Flame, much like Fourth Wing, lacks the depth and finesse characteristic of successful fantasy novels. For readers expecting a fulfilling continuation of the Empyrean Series, the disappointment is palpable.
#YKAReads #bookreview
This book has been published by Hachette.