5 Stars | 3 Chillies | 5 Stars for GraphicAudio Narration
Fourth Wing made me fall in love with Xaden Riorson. Iron Flame made the obsession even worse.
I absolutely loved Fourth Wing, so Iron Flame had some pretty big shoes to fill. Somehow, I ended up loving this one even more.
From the very beginning, it was a wild ride that just kept getting better. Every time I thought things couldn’t get more intense, something else happened that had me even more invested.
I loved the story, the romance, the spice and getting to spend more time in this world.
And Xaden? I didn’t think it was possible for me to love that man more than I already did.
Apparently, Rebecca Yarros took that as a challenge.
I listened to Iron Flame on GraphicAudio, and honestly, I wouldn’t want to experience this series any other way.
Five stars for the book, three chillies for the spice and five stars for the narration.
And that ending? I was absolutely desperate to start Onyx Storm.
What Is Iron Flame About?
Iron Flame is the second book in Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series, picking up after the events of Fourth Wing.
Violet Sorrengail is back at Basgiath War College for her second year, but surviving her first year was only the beginning.
The stakes are higher, the training is brutal, and Violet is carrying secrets that could change everything she thought she knew about the world around her.
Meanwhile, her relationship with Xaden is becoming increasingly complicated as love, trust and secrets collide.
There are dragons, dangerous enemies, political secrets, romantic tension and enough emotional turmoil to keep me completely invested.
And, of course, there’s Xaden Riorson.
Which, let’s be honest, was already reason enough for me to be excited about this book.
Did I Enjoy Iron Flame More Than Fourth Wing?
Yes! And considering how much I loved Fourth Wing, that is saying something.
Fourth Wing will always be special to me because it was the book that brought me back to reading and introduced me to romantasy.
It also introduced me to Xaden Riorson, so obviously it has a permanent place in my heart.
But Iron Flame gave me even more of everything I loved about the first book.
The world felt bigger, the stakes were higher, and I was already so invested in the characters that every new development had me hooked.
I loved watching Violet and Xaden’s relationship develop, and the extra complications only added to the tension.
The spice was fantastic, the emotional moments hit hard, and I genuinely enjoyed the entire experience.
There wasn’t a point where I felt like the book was dragging or wished something had been different.
It was a wild ride from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it.
Violet and Xaden: More Romance, More Secrets and More Tension
I loved the romance even more in Iron Flame.
Fourth Wing gave me all that delicious enemies-to-lovers tension and the build-up to Violet and Xaden finally getting together.
Iron Flame gave me the next stage of their relationship, and I was here for it.
The secrets and trust issues added so much tension. I actually enjoyed watching them navigate all those complications while trying to figure out how to make their relationship work.
They were no longer just fighting their attraction to each other. They had to deal with everything that comes after, and their circumstances certainly weren’t making things easy.
And then Cat entered the picture.
Honestly, adding her into the mix made everything even better.
The extra tension she brought to Violet and Xaden’s relationship was exactly the kind of drama I love in a romantasy.
I was completely invested in these two, even when things between them were complicated.
And their chemistry?
Still absolutely incredible.
Xaden Riorson: Top-Tier Book Boyfriend
I need a moment to talk about Xaden.
He was already one of my favourite fictional men after Fourth Wing, but Iron Flame took him to a whole new level.
The romance, the tension, the possessiveness, the way he loves Violet. I loved all of it.
And then there was the interrogation scene.
When Violet was being held prisoner and Xaden came to rescue her, I was already an emotional wreck after everything that happened with Liam.
But the bodies outside the door?
All those people he had killed to get to her?
Yep. Top-tier book boyfriend.
The fact that he had fought his way through everyone standing between him and Violet just made me fall even harder for him.
And then, of course, there is THAT scene.
MY HOUSE. MY CHAIR. MY WOMAN.
Excuse me?
I don’t think I need to explain how I felt about that particular moment.
And having Gabriel Michael deliver those words directly into my ears through GraphicAudio did absolutely nothing to help the situation.
Xaden Riorson, you have officially ruined my standards for fictional men.
The Spice: Three Chillies and Two Unforgettable Scenes
Spice rating: 3/5 chillies
I absolutely loved the spice in Iron Flame.
I’m giving it three chillies, but some of these scenes are going to live in my head rent-free.
The shower scene? Loved it.
The chair scene?
MY HOUSE. MY CHAIR. MY WOMAN.
Honestly, Xaden. What am I supposed to do with that?
What I particularly enjoyed was the chemistry between Violet and Xaden. The romantic tension and emotional connection made their spicy moments even better.
I don’t need a book to be five chillies to appreciate a really good spicy scene, and Iron Flame certainly delivered.
And listening to those scenes on GraphicAudio, with Gabriel Michael voicing Xaden?
Headphones.
Definitely headphones.
Emotional Damage Assessment: Liam Broke Me All Over Again
This section contains spoilers for Fourth Wing and a scene from Iron Flame.
I genuinely wasn’t prepared for the interrogation scene.
When Violet saw Liam, I was broken all over again.
Losing him in Fourth Wing was already devastating, and hearing him again in Iron Flame brought all those feelings straight back.
And because I was listening on GraphicAudio, it hit even harder.
Hearing Liam’s voice again while Violet was going through something so awful was absolutely heartbreaking.
I thought I had recovered from what happened in Fourth Wing.
Apparently not.
Then Xaden came to rescue her.
After everything she had been through, hearing him arrive and knowing what he had done to get to her was incredible.
I went from being completely heartbroken over Liam to falling even harder for Xaden.
This book really did put me through it.
Iron Flame GraphicAudio Review: Five Stars for Narration
GraphicAudio narration rating: 5/5 stars
I gave the Fourth Wing GraphicAudio five stars, and Iron Flame gets exactly the same rating.
The full-cast production is such a fantastic way to experience this series.
I love being able to hear the characters, the dragons and the world around them rather than just having someone read the story to me.
The sound effects, music and individual character performances make everything feel so much more immersive.
The interrogation scene was a perfect example of why I love listening to this series on GraphicAudio.
Hearing Liam again absolutely broke me. It brought all those emotions from Fourth Wing straight back, and the performances made the entire scene so much more powerful.
Then Xaden arrived to rescue Violet, and I was completely invested.
And Gabriel Michael as Xaden?
Honestly, that man has no business sounding that good.
I already knew I loved his voice from Fourth Wing, but Iron Flame gave him even more opportunities to demonstrate why he’s one of my favourite voice actors.
Between the emotional scenes, the romance and the spice, his performance was incredible.
Especially during the chair scene.
There is something about listening to a fictional man say certain things directly into your ears that makes you deeply grateful for the invention of headphones.
Five stars for the narration.
I wouldn’t want to experience this series any other way.
My Favourite Iron Flame Moments
I cannot possibly choose just one, so I’m giving you three.
The chair scene
Do I even need to explain this one?
MY HOUSE. MY CHAIR. MY WOMAN.
That scene has taken up permanent residence in my brain, and I am perfectly happy to let it stay there.
The shower scene
I loved the spice in Iron Flame, and the shower scene was definitely one of my favourite moments.
The chemistry between Violet and Xaden was fantastic, and listening to it on GraphicAudio made it even better.
Xaden rescuing Violet
After everything Violet went through during the interrogation, Xaden coming to rescue her was incredible.
Seeing Liam again had already broken my heart, and then Xaden arrived after fighting his way through everyone standing between him and Violet.
That entire sequence was such an emotional rollercoaster.
Basically, my favourite moments involved either Xaden making me fall even harder for him or Rebecca Yarros emotionally destroying me.
Sometimes both at once.
That Iron Flame Ending!
WHAT. WAS. THAT. ENDING?
I was absolutely shocked.
After everything that had happened throughout Iron Flame, I genuinely wasn’t prepared for the way it ended.
And now I’m supposed to just carry on with my life?
Absolutely not.
I was desperate to start Onyx Storm immediately.
I need answers. I need more Xaden. And I need to know what happens next.
Rebecca Yarros, you cannot do that to me and expect me to be normal about it.
If Iron Flame Had a Scent
Dark amber, dragon smoke, black cherry, storm air, smoked vanilla, cedarwood and a little leather.
Something dark, warm and intense.
A scent that feels like stepping into Xaden’s world, with a storm building outside and absolutely no intention of leaving his company anytime soon.
Fourth Wing was the storm.
Iron Flame is the fire.
If Iron Flame Was a Drink
I’d go with a dark cherry and blackberry whisky sour, with smoked rosemary and a hint of cinnamon.
Rich, intense, a little dangerous and best enjoyed in low lighting while listening to a fictional man make some very questionable demands about his furniture.
For an alcohol-free version, I’d go with a black cherry and blackberry fizz with a hint of spice.
If Iron Flame Was a Snack
Dark chocolate and cherry truffles with a little chilli.
Rich, indulgent and just spicy enough to keep things interesting.
Basically, the edible equivalent of Xaden Riorson.
Should You Read Iron Flame?
If you loved Fourth Wing, enjoy romantasy with a strong romantic storyline, and want more dragons, danger, secrets and Xaden Riorson, Iron Flame is absolutely worth continuing the series for.
I particularly enjoyed the way the romance developed, the extra tension between Violet and Xaden, and how the story kept getting more intense.
And if you enjoyed the Fourth Wing GraphicAudio, I would definitely recommend continuing with the same format.
Just make sure your headphones are connected before the spicy scenes start.
A quick comfort-level reminder: Iron Flame contains fantasy violence, war, injury, death, torture, emotional trauma and open-door sexual content. It’s an intense read, so check the content warnings if any of those topics are difficult for you.
EmberSas Review Snapshot
| Detail | My rating |
|---|---|
| Book | Iron Flame |
| Author | Rebecca Yarros |
| Series | The Empyrean, Book 2 |
| Format | GraphicAudio |
| Overall rating | 5/5 stars |
| Spice rating | 3/5 chillies |
| Narration rating | 5/5 stars |
| Favourite fictional man | Xaden Riorson |
| Favourite spicy moments | The chair scene and shower scene |
| Biggest emotional moment | Seeing Liam during the interrogation |
| Favourite book boyfriend moment | Xaden rescuing Violet |
| Ending reaction | Shocked and desperate to start Onyx Storm |
| Headphone warning | Absolutely required for certain scenes |
Final Verdict: Was Iron Flame Better Than Fourth Wing?
I loved Fourth Wing, but Iron Flame was even better.
From the very beginning, this book was a wild ride that just kept getting better. I loved the story, the romance, the spice and getting to spend more time in this world.
The complications between Violet and Xaden added so much tension, and bringing Cat into the mix made everything even better.
And Xaden? Somehow, I fell even harder for him.
The chair scene. The shower scene. The way he came to rescue Violet after the interrogation.
Top-tier book boyfriend.
But this book also broke my heart all over again.
Hearing Liam during the interrogation scene was devastating, especially through GraphicAudio. I genuinely wasn’t prepared for how emotional that moment would make me.
The narration was incredible throughout, and Gabriel Michael’s performance as Xaden was everything I wanted it to be.
Then that ending happened, and suddenly I was desperate to start Onyx Storm.
Five stars for the book, three chillies for the spice and five stars for the narration.
Fourth Wing made me fall in love with this series. Iron Flame made me even more obsessed.
And if you thought Xaden was a problem in the first book, just wait until you hear him in this one.
For the love of everything, check your Bluetooth.
One Last Thing Before I Start Onyx Storm…
“Okay, I need to talk about Iron Flame because WHAT WAS THAT?
First of all, Xaden.
MY HOUSE. MY CHAIR. MY WOMAN.
The shower scene. The rescue. THE BODIES OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
Sir, I was already obsessed with you. This was unnecessary.
And then Liam showed up during the interrogation, and I was emotionally destroyed all over again.
Also, Cat turning up and making things even more complicated between Violet and Xaden? Loved the extra drama.
I genuinely thought nothing could top Fourth Wing, but Iron Flame was even better.
And that ending?!
I’m going straight into Onyx Storm because I need answers.
Five stars. Three chillies. Five stars for GraphicAudio.
My headphones and I have been through a lot.”
