Iron Flame - Gut Wrenching Ending

The second book in the Empyrean series broke me, fixed me, and then broke me again.

If Fourth Wing hooked me, Iron Flame owned me. This book is darker, heavier, and more emotionally layered. Violet is no longer the underdog trying to survive—she’s a rising force caught between love, war, and the crumbling foundation of everything she thought she knew.

And Xaden? He’s not just the broody, morally gray rider we fell for in book one. He becomes something more—and it hurts.

What to Expect from Iron Flame (with light spoilers)

Violet’s trust issues are front and center.

She’s stronger now—physically and mentally—but also deeply guarded. Her past trauma (and the sheer number of secrets around her) causes her to spiral more than once. At times, her jealousy and self-doubt over Xaden’s secrecy made me want to shake her… but also hug her. Her reactions are messy, but real.

Xaden is still everything.

If you thought he was intense in Fourth Wing? Prepare yourself. He carries the weight of a rebellion, hides impossible secrets, and puts Violet above everything—even when it costs him. He’s distant at times, but never disloyal. He’s fighting battles she doesn’t even see—and when the truth comes out, it hits like a gut punch.

The romance gets rocky.

This isn’t your typical fantasy romance where love conquers all. It’s complicated. Passionate. Broken. Rebuilt. Then broken again. Violet and Xaden go through it—and the emotional whiplash is real.

The plot? Ruthless.

There’s training. War. Strategy. Betrayal. Massive world-building expansions. And just when you think things can’t get worse? They do. In the best way. Rebecca Yarros gives no one plot armor.

And yes… the ending.

Without spoiling too much: Xaden makes a choice that shattered me. It’s the kind of ending that makes you close the book slowly, sit in silence, and whisper “no, no, no” into the void. He sacrifices everything—for her. And now we’re left wondering if the man she loves is even the same person anymore.

🪶 Final Thoughts:

Iron Flame is raw, painful, and powerful. It digs deep into the emotional fallout of war, love, and leadership. Violet is flawed, Xaden is heartbreaking, and the dragons are as loyal as ever. There are no easy answers—just hard choices and consequences that cut deep.

This book isn’t a comfort read. It’s a battlefield. And I'm waiting on Book 3 to crush me some more.