Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Blood, fantasy violence in sex-heavy, more of the same romp.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In IRON FLAME, Violet Sorrengail continues her "studies" at the Basgiath war college as a dragon rider. Her romance with Xaden is more enthralling to her than ever, even after certain revelations were spilled at the end of her first year. The brutality of her life hasn't gotten lighter, as the dangers to her, her family, and her friends continue to rise. Fellow students continue to lose their lives to various threats, and this year, she'll have to prove herself even more. A larger threat looms on the horizon, too, and it will be up to Violet and her friends to stop it.
Is It Any Good?
For better or worse, this sequel from Rebecca Yarros is more of the same. There seems to be an attempt in Iron Flame at more world building, but it isn't well-executed, even if an instructive world map is provided at the beginning. It's as if Yarros gives up halfway through, realizing that her strong suit is driving her characters forward onto the next quest as they head toward the "big fight" at the end. The middle parts of this 600+ page beast tend to drag with new characters getting introduced and killed off. The villains are generically drawn with no backstory, motive, or ferocity beyond their ability to kill someone easily. As for the frequently-cited sexual content, it is explicit, descriptive, and over done. Because the ramp-up to Violet and Xaden's coupling is absent (unlike in the first book), the sex scenes here simply feel like a requirement being met. The stakes aren't life or death, no one's going to betray the other, so the sex scenes are just not imbued with the tension they deserve. For newcomers to the fantasy romance genre, or those seeking a fun, mindless read, this won't be a waste of time, but for veterans of the genre, there is really nothing new here; dragons, magic, the war college, they've all been done elsewhere better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in fantasy novels. Did you find the violence in Iron Flame exciting and thrilling? Was the violence depicted in a fitting way for the genre? Was any of it too much?
In Violet Sorrengail's world, how is violence treated? Is it viewed in the same way the real-world views violence? How is it different? Is courage important in her world, or is it just necessary?
Did you find the romantic and sexual aspects of the novel appropriate? Do you think the sex scenes add or detract from the novel? Why and/or how so?
Was the sex depicted in the novel represented respectfully and positively? What seems to be the general attitude toward sex and romance in their world?
Were you satisfied with the ending? Why or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Entangled: Red Tower Books
- Publication date : November 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 17 - 18
- Number of pages : 623
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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