'Iron Flame' by Rebecca Yarros is the highly anticipated second installment in the Empyrean series. The Empyrean Series currently includes two books titled 'Fourth Wing' and Iron 'Flame.' These novels are praised for their detailed stories, interesting characters, and well-crafted worlds. In this review, we dive into the narrative of the second book, 'Iron Flame.' 

Overview

The story delves into the challenges faced by Violet Sorrengail as she navigates the complex and competitive environment of becoming a dragon rider. Violet manages to survive her first year at Basgiath War College. In a world filled with war and mystical creatures, 'Iron Flame' tells a captivating story about overcoming challenges and societal expectations. This fantasy novel promises an engaging narrative with adventure and personal growth, continuing Violet's compelling story. The intricate world created by Yarros expands in this novel. 

Writing Style and Structure

In this second installment, Yarros added more depth to the main and side characters. Violet explores a new part of the world, providing a better understanding of the story's setting. The author gives more details about the existing characters and introduces new ones. Readers learn more about the world through the new characters, subtle information in the story, and the epigraphs. Despite the long narrative, the book contains no fillers, and the story's pacing is smooth. 

A review highlights that the story's slow pacing introduced more aspects of Violet's second year at Basgiath. More action is also incorporated in the book. The reviewer loves the dynamics between Xaden and Violet in this book, stating that the challenges have brought a new side to both. Xaden's lines also evoke emotion in the reviewer. The reviewer expresses anticipation for the next book due to the impactful ending. 

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Brittany's review stresses the idea that the book is like two novels put together incoherently. The book is divided into two parts, each with a distinct narrative. The first part is like a continuation of 'Fourth Wing,' while the latter tells the story's next phase. Brittany also points out the minimal world-building and the huge number of characters introduced, making the story not fully developed. The reviewer also found similar issues in the first book but stated that she loved the second book more. 

Overall Review

This book continues Violet's story and adds more depth to her character as she navigates her second year, where she will endure intense training to become a better dragon rider. The slower pacing of this book brought more action than the first book. The book showcases emotional engagement, character depth, and captivating elements that evolve with the narrative. 

'Iron Flame' has a solid foundation with engaging characters, emotional depth, and improvements in world-building. While there are areas for improvement, the positive aspects have excited readers about the next installment in the Empyrean series. 

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