Iron Flame

Last night I finished Iron Flame, sequel to The Fourth Wing (second and most recent in the Empyrean series, which the internet thinks will end up being a quintet). I loved The Fourth Wing, it was one of my top picks for 2023, and was super excited to finally read this one. For the uninitiated, I think this series is the standard-bearer for the new “romantasy” genre (romance + fantasy, get it?), and as such it focuses both on the relationship between our protagonist, Violet, and Xaden, who live in a world full of castles and magic and dragons.

What can I say about this book? The top line is, I objectively loved it. As in, hard time putting it down, spending most of my precious free time with my nose in this book, and finished all 623 pages in less than a week. It's good. The world building is cool, I love the dragons, I'm invested in the characters. Buuuuuutttt....I could pick some nits. As in Fourth Wing, the foreshadowing is a bit on the heavy side for my taste. I actually think it's better in this book, as I was surprised more than once this time - but many things feel so obvious to me as the reader that you almost have to think the characters are totally unobservant to not get it sooner. Also, I would love to see Violet and Xaden evolve so that they don't have to be constantly at odds with each other. Like, there are enough obstacles in the world around them? Their relationship could be interesting and full of drama without the constant question of if they'll stay together? (Which, duh, of course they will). Really, though, those are nits. The book is great. If you loved Fourth Wing...you've probably already read this book. If you haven't, and you are either a fantasy or a romance reader, it's worth giving a try.

If you have read both and are not sure what else to read that might be similar - may I suggest Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik? To me very similar vibes to Fourth Wing but in a sci fi setting rather than a fantasy setting.