CW Rooms

In my last book blog, I wrote about my thoughts on Fourth Wing. Without delving into the story, I wrote broadly about impressions that the book gave me, how well I thought the characters carried the story, my favourite elements in the book and how much I enjoyed this fantasy-romance book.

Normally, I endeavour to keep my reviews spoiler free. I try to keep them general enough for those who haven’t read the books to understand the general vibe and strengths of the book while throwing in hints about specific topics to those who have.

I’m separating the Iron Flame blog from the Fourth Wing one because I want to dedicate this blog to the Empyrean story. I want this to be a spoiler full zone. Do not read this blog if you haven’t read this book. Not only will I have ruined the story for you, but you’ll have missed out on an incredible experience. Click here for the Fourth Wing blog if you haven’t read it yet!

Do Not Read This Unless You Are Up To Date With The Empyrean Series

Ready?

Xaden

I’m starting with the end of the story so far because it is the biggest plot milestone yet to exist in these books. Xaden turns into a venin right at the end of the book.

My experience with Xaden’s character is that the simplest answer is usually the correct one, for example, when it was revealed the Xaden had a second signet. It was clearest to me that it must be the inntinnsic ability given just how secretive he was being about it.

It also fit perfectly with his character and explained much of the previous occurrences from both books where Violet would think something, Xaden would answer and she’d explain it away with a quick “I must’ve said that out loud.” No, Ma’am. That won’t fly with me.

That said, the inntinnsic ability was the perfect step up for Xaden. For all the same reasons, it only makes sense that he was revealed to be the Tyrish king. The seventh chair at the council table was empty in the start of Iron Flame, with the only contender being Xaden, and he’s always commanded way too much respect than any other authority figure normally would.

Now, Xaden has turned into Venin. This has not yet been clarified in the books as it was only indicated in the last 3-5 pages, but I do have a suspicion. I suspected the inntinnsic signet, so I’m feeling good about this one.

Given the physical form of Venin, being blue and veiny with red eyes and sketchy looks, this could either be a vampire situation or a white walker situation. I strongly suspect that Venin are created by dying then being resurrected once more by a Sage, Dragon, or Wyvern.

It is my suspicion that when Violet felt Xaden die as her mother, General Sorrengail, was also dying, I think he did die. Xaden’s death would have caused Violet’s senses to be completely overpowered by grief, but she was already mourning her mother.

Not to mention, Violet did feel Xaden dying, but was immediately distracted by her mother’s death. Her reaction to her mother’s death, senses being heightened and grief taking over her mind and body, sounds suspiciously similar to Violet’s heightened feelings when Tairn and Sgail are together and Violet does not block them out.

This could all be a coincidence. However, given my strong suspicion of how Venin are made and the details and adjectives used to describe their physical appearance, I’ll take my chances!

The Casualties

I feel the need to recognise a couple of important losses from over the last couple of books that make an impact to this day. One friend’s absence was notably felt, while the loss of another became a sorrow-filled opportunity for growth.

Liam’s death was oddly emotional. We are made to expect all sorts of death from Basgiath, and tons of cadets do in fact die. We rarely ever lose friends.

First, Aurelie was lost on the gauntlet, marking Violet’s growth with a dark spot that could either sink her or help her. Of course, Violet chose to learn a lesson from this loss and that lesson comes up overtime.

Liam’s death was expected, and yet unexpected all at once. Someone was destined to die at some point, but given the nature of deaths in this book, I didn’t think it would happen so soon, and I hoped it would continue to spare some of the purest characters in that story.

General Sorrengail, of course, also lost her life during the war. A emotionally complex death for the Violet, and somewhat to me as a reader. I’m not sure if I should have felt worse about it, but this woman, who I had no sympathy towards most of the time, managed to get a single tear out of me in her last moments.

I suppose her motives as a mother were not completely dishonourable, but she definitely went about it the wrong way. The more difficult element of her death, however, was that all three of her children were around her – even the one she thought was dead and who hated her for as long as we’d known him.

Brennan was just as impacted by General Sorrengail’s death as Mira and Violet, which should tell us, readers, something about how deep emotions are for mothers no matter how old, estranged and complex the relationship gets.

The War and Action

Iron Flame featured a significant increase in action sequences than Fourth Wing did. Fourth Wing might’ve had the odd sparring match and that battle with Venin and their wyvern at the end. Iron Flame had a torture chamber, a 1v1 Violet vs Venin, a few sparring matches, a fight between first years, Violet and a crazy dragon, a revolution and oh, a full war.

Action in Iron Flame far surpassed that of Fourth Wing. I was much more invested and I did feel an improvement in action writing by Rebecca Yarros – thank you for that.

Of course, I have to mention the incredible scene during the war where Violet jumps from her dragon, down to another, passes her friend Ridoc a weapon, Jumps down to another dragon to free her friend Sawyer and then makes a plunge to thee ground, sure that Tairn will come to her rescue.

I read that scene and watched it in my head at the same time. One word comes to mind – Badass. It isn’t particularly the newest sequence, but it fit perfectly within the story and added a boosting element to the war just as it was slowing down a little.

Andarna

Enough about the war, I need to say something about Andarna. Firstly, I’d like to get out of the way that adolescent Andarna is the funniest Andarna. The dialogue between Tairn and Andarna, dismissing teenage angst, being roasted by a small dragon and Andrana’s indigence at being carried by a harness because ‘she’s too old and doesn’t need any help,’ I was very amused.

This particular aspect of the book I’d like to give a specific 5-star rating. I was so amused that I walked around my house mumbling “adolescents,” around my teenage siblings and sighing – as if I have anything to sigh about regarding my siblings. They’re fine, they’re just… Adolescents.

The second, and by far the most important element of all, is Andarna’s true nature. Andarna was revealed to be the 7th, secret and almost extinct breed of dragon that we don’t yet know the name of.

She can change her scale colors, camouflage, and so far we know that she is, by nature, a very dark hue with reflective scales that shine like the rainbow at times.

For all these reasons above, I truly thought she was a wyvern before her true breed was revealed. Lo and behold, Andarna is quite literally one of an ancient kind. It’s exciting to know that there still are mysteries to crack.

I Could Go On, But…

I’ve already written so much. I could go on for days about this book, but I’d like to hear your thoughts. Whether it’s an instagram DM or a comment below, let me know your thoughts about where this story is going and anything that stood out to you.

The third book in the Empyrean series is set to come out sometime this year. Originally, the date was rumoured to be during the early half of the year, but is now confirmed to be December of 2024. This will be the third book of five, so we’ve got quite a ways to go! Are you excited? I am.

Thanks for reading 🙂