Reviews with content warning for Genocide - Iron Flame

While I liked the book, it was definitely a slower burn than the first book until the last few hundred pages. I felt that Violet and Xaden’s relationship was rocky the entirety of the book as they fought over the same thing repeatedly and I felt like even though they made up, the conflict itself, the entire reason they fought the entire book, wasn’t resolved in a way that made sense.

I also didn’t love the weird love triangle with Cat. I felt like she was just a really angry character with not a lot of depth besides “I want power and Xaden will get me that” because she was never really a threat to their relationship even though Violet and her had a rivalry over him???? I don’t love when strong women fight over a man.

Ridoc and Sawyer were my favorite characters throughout this book and were really fun to read more about them and Rhi. Their relationships were my favorite dynamic in the book and I liked that they were finally included in the plans about halfway through.

Tairn dealing with a teen Andarna was also really fun and kept up a little bit of the lightheartedness the novel needed.

I get trying to give Dain a redemption arc, but it was kinda annoying to me bc I don’t think he deserved to be forgiven just because he saved Violet from being tortured???

I didn’t expect Xaden’s second signet at all, but I’m wondering if Violet has one from Andarna because she has 2 dragons? Alo I’m shook about her being a 7th dragon breed.

Also, why the hell would Violet and Xaden both almost die at the end to save the other when their lives are tied together??? Like did Violet not think about the fact imbuing the stone to save him would kill her, which would then kill Jim because they’re connected??? That made no sense to me then as well why Xaden became a venin? Like I don’t get his mind in terms of how that would help either of them.

Lastly, Brennan was super annoying during this book. I get he was hurt by his mom but the moment she sacrificed herself to save them all he’s all crying?? What was that about? I get he was salty, but the entire book was him not believing in his sisters or mom.

I did really enjoy the history of the cities in this book, along with the political aspects as well. It really helped with the world building and pushed the plot along really well.

Content Warnings

debhawkins's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

silverhill's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

luna2020's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

sunsetwillcome's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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.

Content Warnings

More...