This book starts at 100 and maintains that streak with no breaks Jesus.
So many questions were answered and so many more arose. I liked watching Violet deal with the fallout of the first book and have to reframe everything she knows. So many sassy dragon moments I loved it. There’s so much to unpack and I loved it. I can’t wait for the next book

Is this much longer than it needs to be? Yes. Is it the best written fantasy/romance? Nope. Are there are there a lot of common tropes throughout? Also yes. But man, there's something about the story that just hooks you and keeps you reading. I'm gonna say it's the dragons because the dragons are absolutely the best part of this book.

I am still not sure how this story is going to stretch over 5 books, though with that cliffhanger, I guess we have a seed for the next book. Maybe even the plot seed for the rest of the series. We'll see where Yarros takes this story next!

The whole back and forth with Xaden and Violet did get a little old by the middle of the book; just commicate with each other already! That whole kind of trope just gets on my nerve in general, but also Xaden's "just ask me the right questions" thing was another level that drove me crazy. How the heck is she supposed to know what questions to ask when she didn't even know what was going on in the first place??

Anyway, if you're looking for an entertaining romantasy that won't make you think too hard, that isn't too heavy in the world building and fantasy aspects, this is the series for you. But be warned: Yarros definitely likes her cliffhangers.

Unlike Fourth Wing, Iron Flame focused more on the relationship between Navarre's "most powerful" mating pair bonded riders, Violet and Xaden. Xaden graduated from the academy and Violet is starting her 2nd year in the academy. Because they are in the different years, they could not meet everyday unlike before. This pose a problem since a mating pair cannot be apart from each other for a long time. We would see the development of their relationship here. Both Xaden and Violet will try to poke and prod, and test each other's boundary since they could not really open to each other before.

Xaden's ex appears in this book and apparently there is something we largely forgot, Riorson is an aristocratic name. Xaden is the heir to the throne of their new "kingdom" and his ex is the beautiful heiress to their ally. Beautiful, cunning, and jealous of Xaden and Violet's relationship. She was not only an ex; Xaden and her was bethrothed because of old alliance clause. They "tried" for three-quarter of the year and broke up. This part is really full of YA romance where the ex taunts the female protagonist with male protagonist and ex's old relationship, female protagonist feels insecure, lashes out to everything and everyone, then male protagonist professes his undying love to her, and female protoganist be the bigger person to start working together with male protagonist's ex.
Oh there's also a hint to Violet's ex here. Apparently she dated someone in the infantry. We might see him on the next installment.

Since Violet and Xaden cannot meet everyday, Violet branches out to find more allies and friends. Now, she reaches out to her old friend in the Scribe Quadrant, Jesinia Neilwart. Violet and Jesinia were supposed to be trained together as Scribes. Alas General Sorrengail "foluntold" Violet to apply to the Riders Quadrant and be a Rider. We would see a little bit of the reasonings behind Gen. Sorrengail's action and the complex relationship between Sorrengail's family.
Violet's old tutoring in Scribes education plays a big part in unveiling the truth of Navarre's history and saving everyone.

Apparently Sorrengail is quite high in the totem pole since the third prince of Navarre is Violet's childhood friend, Violet was handpicked and trained by the Scribe's Master to become his successor, and Violet's father had several banned books in his possession (which became the start of his distrust in the government).

Being a second year means Violet and friends would see the new batch of cadets to try their luck and gamble their life in their journey to become a Rider, including Liam's younger sister, Sloane Mairi who hates Violet for her part in Liam's death. Tutoring new ducklings would pose a new problem for Violet and friends, and Violet would find how similar she is to Xaden.

Just like Fourth Wing, Iron Flame shows that betrayal could come from anywhere, anyone, and anytime. But that should not be a deterrent to try and forge new bonds since it might help us in the future. Forgiveness is also could be the key. A lot of secrets would unravel here; both humans and dragons have their secrets, secrets that could end everyone's life.

Our female protagonist, Violet, is not only magically powerful and the first human known to be bonded to two dragons, her dragons are both specials in their own way. Tairn is the Black Morningstartail which is a really powerful dragon type. Her second one, Andarna, was thought to also be a Black dragon like Tairn, but apparently she is the 7th type of the dragon which has not been seen in centuries. Either Andarna or every dragon has some kind of premonition since she tells Violet that she waited to hatch for centuries until on the 18th year of Violet's life, because Andarna knew Violet would be her rider based on her history and personality. Andarna would also be the key to save everyone and return magical protection to the land. Hopefully there would be another dragons in Andarna tribe so that they could save more people.