This is the second book in The Empyrean series. If you have not read the first book, Fourth Wing, proceed with caution as this will contain spoilers for it. However, there are no spoilers for Iron Flame.
Synopsis
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.
Review
I love this book and I love this series. It was so easy to get fully immersed into this book and the world and never want to leave. I love the characters but the book would be nothing without Violet’s dragons, Tairn and Andarna. Tairn makes me laugh out loud way too much.
Violet’s friend group is amazing and if anything happens to them there will be trouble. They all really care about her and each other and they would do anything to help. Even though Violet had a hard time keeping the truth from them, they never left her side.
I love Xayden and Violet together but they have relationship troubles in this book which adds lots of tension. It has everything to do with secrets and trust after it was revealed that Xayden has been working with the enemy and never told Violet.
Speaking of secrets, this book reveals a lot about different characters and the plot which I found very interesting. The plot continues growing with the wyvern and vennin and things get pretty intense. Of course the ending was a cliffhanger and I need the next book now!
This book also introduced new characters and settings. Instead of the majority of the book taking place at the war college, Violet visits multiple new places that help to expand the world. We meet some new characters and some are likeable while others not so much.
One thing I didn’t like about the book was how much Xayden and Violet were arguing. Violet’s inability to trust Xayden is understandable but also annoying. The way I see it is that Violet fell in love with the leader of a rebellion so she can’t expect their relationship to be “normal.” It very well might be safer, better, and smarter for her not to know everything.
Other than that I still really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for Onyx Storm to come out. I also heard that Violet manifests a second signet in this book but it is not outwardly said. Apparently we have all the information we need to figure out what it is but I’m not very good at that stuff so I have no idea. If you have read this book let me know what your guess is!