Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out as able over 5 days

Pages - 640

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

“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.



My Review

If you haven't read book one, do it then read this one as it is one of those series you absolutely need to know the history and backstory. So after the big reveal Violet and co need to appear as if all is normal and go back to school where everything kicks off. One teacher (lieutenant whatever his title is I call him teacher) clearly has something against Violet and pushes her through her paces. We jump between Violet and Xaden, Violet and co training, the new first years in the position Violet was and repercussions from that which passed in book one.

There is spicy scenes between Violent and Xaden, dragon dramas - I do LOVE Tairn's dry wit/humour and Andarna really comes into her own personality in this one, albeit in short parts. There is a lot of angst and back and forth between Violet and Xaden, trust issues (like more so than book one and a very different theme) which I think some folk will find a bit long in places.

It does have a lot of action, slow in some parts but I think if you are a huge fan you will be happy enough. Spice, emotive, jealousy, war threats and trials as with book one with threats of death if you fail (again like book one) but Violet and co are second years overseeing the first year hopefuls. Then having to do their own trials. Shady characters, some dodgy behaviours a hint of redemption maybe for some? Dun dun dun, 4/5 for us for this one, got book 3 on standby!

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The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - as able, in and out over a week

Pages - 528

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today 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


My Review

I kept hearing about this one and one of my workies, Rachel, was like you HAVE to read this so I have someone to talk to it about, I mean how could I not, also huge FOMO. Violet Sorrengail is twenty, youngest of the family. Her sister and brother dragon riders and her mother hugely proud of their warrior abilities and paths chosen. Violet is more like her dad, not a fighter and destined for the Scribe Quadrant, those who document all the battles/history, lover of the written word not a warrior. However Violets mother is one of the highest ranked leader and Violet will enter/try for the Rider's Quadrant and or die trying, nothing less is unacceptable. Violet isn't one for rocking the boat and does what is expected of her, despite being ill prepared, despite huge numbers of cadets dying before getting past the first obstacle but this is her path and walk it she must! Oh and THERE ARE DRAGONS!

Guys for me, summing it up quickly I would say Harry Potter meets Game of thrones with echoes of The Hunger Games. There is also some spicey scenes in it which for me was a little cringe/funny but each to their own.

I was liking the book but it was the very last/end quarter that bounced it to a 5 star read for us. I LOVE that we have dragons but a dragon with sass and shade it absolutely outstanding/hilarious. There is so much going on in the books, family dramas, relationships, friendships, dodgy characters, death, murder & the whole when the riders bond with a dragon they develop abilities and all are very different.

It is a huge book but it has something for everyone, yeah it is fantasy but it has loads of stuff folk will find relatable/enjoyable am sure. 5/5 for us and we have the next one lined up which I suggest you do too because if you like this you will want to pick up the next one immediately. This is my first time reading this author, book two is lying in wait.

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