Iron Flame: An Honest Review 1 Year in the Making

Alright, so anyone who is online knows that Onyx Storm, the highly awaited third book in the Empyrean trilogy, is dropping tomorrow. Last year, I read Fourth Wing after hearing so much hype around it. I was skeptical at first, but a friend said, "You'll love it. There's magic and fighting and romance." Said friend then also implied that Violet reminded them of me, which as soon as I cracked the book open I took as an insult. Right after I finished the first book, I started Iron Flame (tangent: I kept accidentally calling it Iron Storm). Immediately, this book was not as good as the first one. I had high expectations, not because I loved the whole first one (though a lot more happens during it) but because the end of the first book is jam-packed. Liam is dead. Brennan, who is assumed to have been dead for the entire first book to the point of his presence kinda haunting the story, is actually alive. This story should start with a BANG.

It doesn't.

Instead of getting good plot, we are left with 600 pages of communication issues between Xaden and Violet. Some of their issues in the first half are derived from them being separated. Xaden is stationed somewhere else while Violet is still at school. Since their dragons can't be apart for too long, they have to fly back and forth to each other every so often, which is when they see each other. During those visits, they make out or have sex, and fight. Part, then repeat. Suffice to say, I got bored of this dynamic super fast. For two people who can speak in each others minds because they're bonded through dragons, they have way too many trust issues. There is quite literally no reason for it.

Alright, so i got bored, so I put the book down at page 375 and did not pick it up until 2025. Why, you may ask? Great question. First, I have a compulsive need to finish a series, even one that I don't like or I think has fallen off, because I want to know what's going to happen. Second, I kept seeing people on TikTok talk about Onyx Storm coming out, all their theories, and the Taylor Swift songs for each character. That kinda promotion pulled me in like an absolute sucker. So with a few days before the release, I picked Iron Flame back up and chugged along with the goal of finishing it fast.

My return had the advantage that the second part of fantasy sequels tend to be automatically better than the first half because the action is gearing up for a major climax. This was no different. I loved the style of having the notes from journals, history books, and letters at the beginning of each chapter. That type of format gives us so much world-building without having to do too much work as the reader. It also gave SO much foreshadowing to the point that you knew what was going to happen at the end. The end felt inevitable with the amount of foreshadowing (despite the fact that I think the choice made was unnecessary and I don't think the character would have actually made that decision).

Alright, so the last 100 pages flew by. Loved the amount of side characters we got time with. Loved seeing Sawyer more and Ridoc more. Also, unpopular opinion, but I actually grew to like Brennan during the second half of the book. I know, I know. I thought he was so annoying those first 375 pages, but when I came back to the book I liked him. What can I say? Having the three siblings together and their mom finding out that Brennan is still alive. Damn. Good stuff! Such good stuff.

The side characters thrived developmentally. Cat had a good arc. I loved that (spoiler) her motivation wasn't loving Xaden; it was that she wanted the crown she was supposed to have when they were engaged. I also think catty drama to allies is always a nice arc. Xaden, on the other hand, got a bad arc. So many times in this book, he defaults to Violet, which is fine, but he says things like "just say the word and we can leave all this" or "we can run". Excuse me???? He did so many things or said so many things in this book that don't align with his cause because he's afraid of Violet dying. Fair in some ways because he loves her; however, that is the behavior of a "I'll let the world burn for her" character instead of seeing the bigger picture and acting for the greater good. And let me be very very clear: Xaden Riorson is the type to act for the greater good and not let the world burn or leave innocent people defenseless. Sorry if you don't agree and think that he was acting in character. You're wrong, and he wasn't.

I hope Onyx Storm is better though because Xaden acted so out of character in this one. There will be tons of drama. If people's theories are right, there will be a new potential love interest for Violet. Can we all say "yay, Xaden will be jealous and have to grovel"? That could be entertaining. I just really want there to be way more action in the third book. High stakes and high drama. High emotions. It's a fantasy series set during a war! There should be action. That is what I want, thank you very much. I've already been disappointed in this series, so it shouldn't be too hard for Onyx Storm to surpass my expectations.