Iron Flame (Wing and Claw Collection) (The Empyrean, 2)
Not yet published: Expected Sep 30, 2025
This stunning new edition of Iron Flame features gorgeous stenciled edges designed to match Fourth Wing and Onyx Storm—bringing all three books together in one striking visual set. Available as a limited first print run in the U.S. and Canada only.
Discover the instant #1 New York Times bestseller! TV series now in development at MGM Amazon Studios with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society.
Accolades for Fourth Wing
Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 • Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 • Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) • NPR “Books We Love” 2023 • Audible Best Books of 2023 • Hudson Book of the Year • Google Play Best Books of 2023 • Indigo Best Books of 2023 • Waterstones Book of the Year finalist • Goodreads Choice Award, semi-finalist • Newsweek Staffers’ Favorite Books of 2023 • Paste Magazine's Best Books of 2023
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Fourth Wing
Book #2 Iron Flame
Book #3 Onyx Storm
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Community Reviews
The sequel to Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, takes Violet into battle with her dragons between unspeakable odds and steamy romance.
I admit I got swept up in the Fourth Wing mania. I loved that book and devoured it within 6 hours. I was Violet for Halloween and dressed up for the Iron Flame midnight release.
And then I read Iron Flame….and was underwhelmed and disappointed.
Characterization
My biggest gripe with this novel is that Violet seemed to take a step back in her character development.
I loved the first book, how she used her knowledge to her strength, how she was the poison queen, and how she stopped letting her illness define her as a person.
She grew throughout Fourth Wing. But here, with Xaden, she pretty much became unbearable.
It was repetitive; her constant whining about Xaden and his secrets was getting so annoying, hurting her character and her relationship with Xaden.
Personally, I found that it diminished their relationship. In the first novel, Xaden worked to lift her up. He didn’t treat her like she was weaker than him. Instead, he lifted her up and treated her as an equal. It made them a good couple.
But now, their relationship had become so codependent it bordered on toxic. I honestly hated the back and forth between them, and the fact that the book’s first part is just them going back and forth repeatedly made for an exhausting read.
Storytelling
Now, as for the story…it was lackluster.
On top of the failing characterization, the story drags. I’m unsure how the story will be stretched out into five books.
Iron Flame could have easily been two separate books. Yarros could have flushed out the character dynamics in the first part of the novel, delving into everything going on.
In fact, the world has been the perfect opportunity to give Xaden his own POV and let the reader into his head.
Instead, it felt rushed; it felt like half-completed thoughts and sentences. I was reading the novel wondering, “Where are we going with this?” or “Are we going somewhere with this?” only to be left unfulfilled.
Final Thoughts
Iron Flame wasn’t terrible, but it was a disappointing follow-up. It could have easily been two separate books and used another editing round.
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