Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College–Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits–and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College–and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.
Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.
okay WAIT STOP?! why was this actually kinda good 🤭 but first off let me just say Rebecca let a girl be with her man like omg everytime I got so happy that they'd be with eachother and then you'd have them leave after five minutes like calm down its okay give...give them time I promise u ppl will actually read those parts!!
also for those who said that violet and xaden were never together im kinda giving yall a side eye bc there was a good bit of scenes where they were together and way more romantic scenes than what i was told but just saying like tho they were limited on time I for one enjoyed they cute one on one scenes ❤
lowkey im invested now and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND listening to the audiobook as a graphic version instead of reading bc its way less boring!!
so 🥂 to finding out the rest of tea in the next audiobook part 2 and hoping that no one spoils it bc thats just annoying and rude and robs ppl of their beautiful reading experience
Hoping the dramatized adaptation and the fact it’s split into two parts makes this book more enjoyable this time around. But let’s be honest, this book could never compare to Fourth Wing.
Okay, I can confirm that splitting this into two books was 👌🏻. Part of the reasons I knocked points off the book was because it dragged and it definitely should have been two books. Well, this dramatized version is doing just that and I AM SO HERE FOR IT.
Tugged at all my heart strings. Parts of the storyline had me angry, other parts left me absolutely gutted, and I 💯 fell more and more in love with xaden and violet. Ugh, and those dragons. Forever here for ALL the banter Yarros brings to her character dynamics.
Really getting excited for onyx storm. Part two of iron flame will surely leave me distraught because that ending is absolute rubbish but hoping the audio makes the experience better.
I seriously love this series so much! 3rd time reading the 1st and 2nd books and then 2nd time reading the 3rd, they are quickly becoming comfort reads for me! I can't get enough of Violet and Xaden, and I'm so happy they kind of made up! when Violet gets caught after stealing the journals and is tortured for days and days and starts seeing Liam, I tear up every damn time! They better bring him back somehow, but I know he probably won't 😭 I also am really liking the graphic audio versions of these books! It's so cool listening to everything going on like it's a movie! It's definitely an awesome thing to do for action-packed fantasy series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Overall I am super unhappy about this graphic audio adaptation.
This is the first time that the graphic audio has IMO detracted from the overall listening experience of the book. The music that was chosen was extremely weird, to the point of being distracting at some very important moments. Some of it sounded far too modern or just strange.
The sound effects were very loud and sometimes inappropriate for whatever was going on, such as super loud footsteps while characters are supposed to be sneaking or a ton of people laughing or whispering in the background when the scene is set in a small group, etc.
The VAs did a good job, I don't really have complaints there - they've gotten a lot better about being consistent on pronouncing things which I really appreciate.
Unfortunately the editing really fell short. I listen to a lot of graphic audio and audiobooks in general and this is the first time that I really prefer the standard audio over the graphic audio. Not even Gabriel Michael can save this one.
I forgot how much this feels like two books, finishing part 1 feels like a stand-alone. This was equally as epic as Fourth Wing in this dramatised audio version. I’ve never felt so immersed in an audiobook! It’s truly been the best way to recall the details ahead of Onyx Storm. Part two, let’s go!
☆ ALL THE STARS! IF I COULD GIVE THIS BOOK ONE THOUSAND STARS I WOULD! ☆
Excuse my screaming but OMG THIS WAS AMAZING I'M SO GLAD I STARTED THIS SERIES WITH THE GRAPHIC AUDIO VERSIONS I COULD CRY WITH JOY!
Tiern is still as badass and sassy as ever. Violet still has an admirable backbone to her. She's also getting just as badass as everyone else. She's great! Xaden is really getting up there on my Unofficial Book Boyfriend Ranking™ (UBBR™ for short). He's probably Top 3 at this point. I just have such a soft spot for men who unapologetically love, defend and respect their women. He will wreck his life and the world (literally) if it means she's safe and by his side.
I love how Violet's friends have now been brought into the fold somewhat. She's also managed to probably upend a good chunk of the Empyrean training forces at the academy with how she gave everyone a chance to see the truth. Her former childhood BFF (Dill, Dane, Don I hate him I still couldn't care less about his name) really grinded my gears for a good portion of this book. He still hasn't been redeemed (), but I guess he's on his way. If anyone could die in this series it would be him. My conscience wouldn't even blind twice.
Overall, this series has been FANTASTIC so far! I'm VERY excited for future books. I'm also not looking forward to the wait between releases. I'm also probably going to wait even more because I intend to read this entire series as Graphic Audio editions. We'll see if I get desperate enough to pick up the regular audiobook when the time comes.
P.S. I'd like to personally thank Graphic Audio for not cutting off Part 1 of this book at a major event/twist. My mental health really appreciates the consideration (considering where the cut-off for Book #1 Part 1 ended up being). That was the reason why I made sure to only pick this series back up until the full Book #2 was out. My heart can only take so much ♡
I forgot how much I enjoyed the continuation of the rider school and politics! Also liked the introduction of the new characters. There were a few things in this GraphicAudio book I didn’t care for. I found some of the sound effects didn’t match the storyline or were too loud when the voice actors were talking. Excited for the next one!
3.5 ⭐ this was actually quite dramatic if i say so myself. i hope part 2 is even better :)) I would've completed this yesterday itself but i picked this up from where i left off late at night and then fell asleep not knowing till where i had heard and the audiobook kept playing, it was over when i woke up 😭🤣 so i had to find my last mark and then continue listening lol. some background noises are so loud that I had to really concentrate to hear what the person saying the voice acting is cool though the smut bhahahaha, ya there are some interesting sounds to say the least.
I know this was only part 1, but so far it's even better than Fourth Wing, so I'm not sure what all the complaints were about... Guess I will find out next month!
♥️ I love these books ♥️ I love the GA the sound effects and the full cast! Gah the dragons and the special effects in this book are amazing. So why the low rating?
CAUSE THEY BUTCHERED THE BOOK! WHY DID THEY EDIT SO MUCH FROM THE ORIGINAL BOOKS?!! LIKE SOOOO MUCH! And important stuff to. Dialog and actions and tells from the characters that are SO IMPORTANT to GET THE FULL FEEL AND UNDERSTANDING of the characters. I swear every other paragraph has pretty important edits out of it l! Way to destroy such an amazing book and all the little things that make it special. Like WTF! Fourth wing is the same. Highly disappointed.
The books themselves and the cast and special effects get 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had a much better time listening to this than I did attempting to read it last year. Now I’m off to finish the second part before Onyx Storm comes out 😆
Iron Flame already had you gasping, crying, or feral-annotating your Kindle, then the GraphicAudio edition takes that emotional chaos and cranks it up to eleven. This isn’t just an audiobook, it’s an experience. Explosions, dragon roars, heart-stopping battles, raw emotion… I felt every second in my bones. It was a whole movie in my ears and how I loved it.
Hearing Violet, Xaden, Tairn, Andarna, the other side characters, all of them, voiced by a talented cast brings their personalities to life in a way that’s almost surreal. Xaden’s deep, broody voice? Wrecked me. Violet’s fear, rage, hope? Goosebumps. Tairn’s voice? ICONIC. Andarna’s playfulness? Adorable. The moment they speak telepathically? Absolute chills. You can feel the power of the bond in a way that’s unique to this format. The actors don’t just read, they live these characters.
The sound design is INSANE. You can hear sword fights, lightning strikes, screaming wyverns, ripping wings through the air, whispered betrayals and echoing halls. The immersive sound effects turn every scene into a cinematic moment. It adds tension, urgency, and visceral weight to the story, especially the action-heavy chapters.
Iron Flame is an emotional rollercoaster and here the feels hit you even harder. The heartbreaks, the near-deaths, the betrayals… they sting more when you hear Violet crying or a character’s voice break in real-time. I already knew what was coming, and I still sobbed.
The pacing feels like a movie. Even though the book is long, the GraphicAudio format keeps it moving. The production adds rhythm and momentum that makes even dialogue-heavy scenes feel alive. It’s genuinely addicting. They cut some parts of the writing to make it more fluid, though, so it's not unabridged. If that bothers you, do as I did and listen to it while reading the actual book so as not to miss any single part.
Noteworthy though, you’ll need to be fully focused. This isn’t a “listen while you do chores” kind of audiobook. It demands your full attention (and it deserves it). Make sure you use headphones. Speakers don’t do it justice, you want to feel those dragon wingbeats in your soul. Trust me!
Finally, the GraphicAudio edition of Iron Flame is a masterclass in immersive storytelling. It’s intense, electric, and emotionally shattering in the most satisfying way. Whether you’re rereading or diving in for the first time, this version will make you fall in love with the story all over again, or ten times harder. I got introduced to Graphic Audio through Fourth Wing and let me tell you, I was addicted as soon as chapter 1, I live to find new productions of books I've already read to reread or new ones to enjoy. It's a one way trip.
3.5 I love you and hate you all at the same time stars
I'm really torn on this series. On the one hand it is really readable. On the other hand the reader is sometimes asked to accept stuff, just cuz, and Violet the MC occasionally is just remarkably dumb. So much so that I almost didn't make it past the first 100 pages because I was irritated with her.
Violet has just found out (spoiler for Fourth Wing) , and she throws this big fit over it. To her it is just a huge betrayal that she wasn't trusted with the secrets. Which I found utterly ridiculous since one, they weren't just Xaden's secrets and two Violet's mother is the General so why would you give her information like that.
“Stop bringing logic into an emotional argument.”
But it seems there needed to be some extra drama or tension between the love interest so we had to deal with this manufactured drama...ugh. But once we got over that eye rolling nonsense there was some really cool fighting and war stuff going on. Xaden and Violet have to deal with being separated at times to since Xaden has graduated and is part of the war while Violet is just in her second year.
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.”
I think what really sells the series for me so far is wanting to know more about the Dragons and the Empyrean. I love how the bonding works and I'm usually a fan of the fated mates tropes so a lot of that is working for me. Tairn is a fantastic character and I enjoy his viciousness in the protection of Violet and Andarna. Andarna's transformation from a feather tail into the color she will be as an adult and her "teenage" years are pretty funny at times and eye rolling at other times. There really was no in between.
A few items to put in the plus column for this book is the expansion of the world building. We get a clear view of who the enemy is and what they are capable of. Character development, when Violet isn't being completely stupid over some stupid secrets, she becomes a bad ass in some other ways. Introduction of the infantry and their roles in the war along with the Griffin's and some of their riders. I liked learning more about the greater world outside of the school for dragon riders. Development of the General and Violet's relationship as well gave the reader some deeper insight to the actions of the general and a very touching moment at one point in the book. I enjoyed learning more about the scribes lives as well and the true reasons why the general sent Violet to threshing.
The stakes are higher and the rebellion/revolution is on. Violet is put through some incredibly difficult situations and targeted not just because of who her mother is but also because she and Xaden are an item. Delving into Xaden's origin story and the burden placed on him to protect all of the children from the rebellion what a huge addition to the overall story.
A few of the items in the minus column are Violets "I need to know all the secrets" mentality. It was really tiresome. The continued schooling that killed off rider after rider. So many deaths that felt hollow. The length of the book. It is almost 40% longer than the first book. I think there were some things that could have been streamlined. It almost felt like 2 separate books.
The ending had a very nice twist that I should have seen coming but didn't. It will be interesting to see what comes of it in the next book. While I saw most of the twists coming the one involving Xaden at the end I did not, so well done there Ms. Yaros.
Overall, I can see why so many people seem to like this series. I will continue on but hope that some of the manufactured tension is more believable and that we get a look at the dragon culture and how the Empyrean really works. Dragon politics, I want more.
Narration:
Well this is a full cast and that just adds to ever enjoyment factor for this series. Sometimes the special effects in the background can get a little overpowering. Especially in the middle of battles. But overall having different actors for all the main voices adds so much to the overall impact of the narration. Graphic Audio always does a great job with all of their adaptations and this one is no different.
So freaking good. I don’t have enough words to express and I’m immediately going to dive into part 2. Gosh this made me feel all of the things and all of the emotions so well.. and so far it’s my favorite graphic audio I’ve listened to thus far.
The scenes with Liam.. when Violet was getting tortured by Varrish… I mean it was just so well done. I’m still having trouble putting all of my thoughts in order, I just loved it.
I do have one thing that bothers me and it is purely a ME problem. The same voice actor, Gabriel Michael (I think is his name) that voices Xaden, also voices Lucien in the ACOTAR series and I had a hard time separating the two characters. My thoughts kept going back to Lucien’s character a lot and I had to force myself to not go there lol. But, still it was great and really well done!
is it silly of me to give the physical book only 4 stars but give this 5 stars?? i feel like i enjoyed listening to this more than physically reading it. i just KNOW part two is gonna get me so heated though, but that is when the TEA happens.
Re-read to prepare for Onyx Storm ⚡⚡⚡ I had the absolute pleasure of rereading Iron Flame to prep for Onyx Storm, and let me tell you, listening to the graphic audiobook version was a total 🌟 chefs kiss! 🎧❤️
This book hit differently the second time around! 📚🔥 I appreciated Violet’s journey even more this time. The first half was just as I remembered, showcasing her weaknesses more than her strengths, but I didn’t loathe it like I did during my first read. 🙌🔄
For those who haven’t had the joy of diving into this incredible series, here’s a quick recap:
In Part I, Violet returns to Basgiath for her second year, where all riders from Athebyne are being hunted. 🏰👀 With the revolutionary town of Aretia having an unpowered wardstone, Violet’s mission kicks off as she strives to learn how to power it up! 🔌✨ But there’s more—while Xaden is busy building a forge to smelt daggers capable of vanquishing the venin, Violet steals crucial journals from the royal vault. 📜🗝️
With the loyal support of her squadmates and the mystery of Aaric (who turns out to be King Tauri’s son), things heat up quickly! 🌪️💥 But when danger looms, and secrets come to light, the stakes rise, leading to an escape that’s epic and filled with heart-pounding moments! 🏃♀️💨
Iron Flame is a thrilling dive into rebellion, courage, and the strength of friendship.