The highly anticipated sequel to Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing, Iron Flame picks up right where its predecessor left off, with Violet recovering from injuries in the aftermath of the War Games while discovering the truth: the rebellion is alive and well, spearheaded by Xaden. She is kept in the dark because of her inability to shield her memories from Dain, but ultimately she becomes a vital piece in the fight against enemies bigger than she ever thought possible. 

Rebecca Yarros knew exactly what she was doing when penning this work, and she delivered at the highest rate. The detail in this work is virtually unparalleled, and it’s easy to see that she put her heart and soul into her storytelling throughout this book. The emotional turmoil presented throughout the entirety of the work is heart wrenching as Violet is met with an almost-impossible dilemma: distance herself from Xaden or put the rebellion at risk. Given their history in Fourth Wing, this causes quite the rift between the group who are part of the rebellion; however, an unexpected twist causes Violet and the others to regroup and change tactics in order to ensure a future for themselves and Basgiath. 

I’ve said before that Yarros has an incredible knack for creating a world full of intrigue, and she continues to shine through a writing style that separates her characters from others in a way that should discussed among the greats of today; the way in which the story moves and how the characters evolve add to the storyline outside of the plot, and the audience can see the shift in focus from the beginning to the end of the work. There’s so much that this work has to offer, and the progression is a work of art that not only allows for the narrative to expand past the immediate conflict, but explore the way in which different upbringings can inspire those impacted to revolutionize their way of thinking and the way they view the world. 

My only complaint about this work is it is more Violet/Xaden centric, whereas the first installment had more interaction with the secondary characters. I understand why this is the case given the progression of the plot, but I missed dreading about the antics of Ridoc and Bodhi, as it seemed like it gave Fourth Wing a more airy feel that would assist in lightening the mood as opposed to the seriousness found all throughout this work. However, I think that going forward, Yarros will find a way to include more of the side characters after seeing how endeared they are by her most loyal readers; one can only hope, but my fingers are crossed. 

Overall, this work is a solid 4.5 stars for me. I recommend it to anyone that asks me for a good science fiction read, but I will say that the ending left much to be desired for me. It felt rushed compared to the rest of the book, and while I wasn’t a huge fan of the twist found at the end, I understand why it happened. The book itself is a great example of engaging science fiction, and you can bet I’ll be waiting for the third work to come out soon!