Iron Flame

I enjoyed this a bit more than the first book, but it certainly wasn't perfect. Mainly because I was not as annoyed with Violet in this book (emphasis on the “not as”). I had fun with this plot, as it focused more on the conflict and answering some of the questions left unanswered in the first book. The action scenes were riveting and the book's ending delivered equal parts hope, sadness, and anger. I was sobbing by the end of the book. The romance part was the weaker point compared to the fantasy elements, even if I do overall like Xaden and Violet together. It's just not executed as well as it could be.

Some minor complaints (no plot spoilers):

-Violet, Violet, Violet. I liked her a lot more this book, but the conflict with Xaden felt much more forced this time. Her trust issues are so bad that I genuinely think the Healers Quadrant should dedicate a few healers to her therapy. She was being pretty unreasonable, but part of the reason it didn't bother me as much is that I knew that's how she was going to be. I tuned her out when she was being annoying. Our boy Xaden was trying his best and she was not making it easy.

-Side characters: Rebecca is trying to create a big world with this series. I get it. But there are SO MANY side characters I'm supposed to care about that most of them feel very underdeveloped. A more focused approach to side characters would probably make them more compelling.

-The writing: It's not that different from the first book, but I still some of the dialogue and themes feel quite superficial. Some people say it felt rushed, and that could very well be it. After all, both of these books being released the same year is a good indicator of this.

If you enjoyed the first book, I would absolutely recommend reading this. I had a very good time reading it and found a lot of the plot points very compelling and interesting. I didn't pick up this series expecting perfection, just a fun time. And it mostly delivered. I am invested in this storyline and will be picking up the next book.

Note: I read this book while also listening to the audiobook. I feel like it enhanced my reading experience and the emotions felt much more palpable. Take this into account as the medium one consumes a book can make the experience very different from others.