Ray Ellis’s Reviews > Iron Flame > Status Update

Ch.64-66 + acknowledgements - Violet restores the Basgiath wards using the power of seven dragon breeds, but her mother sacrifices herself to make it possible. The wyverns are destroyed, yet Xaden returns changed, with red-rimmed eyes. Xaden reveals that he has drawn power from the earth to save Violet—confirming that he has become venin.

Ch.62-63 - Violet rescues Sawyer after he is badly injured by a wyvern, then is cornered by venin who have orders to capture her alive. Andarna suddenly appears and saves Violet with her newly discovered ability to breathe fire. Jesinia then reveals that Lyra’s journal says seven dragons, not six, are needed to restore the wards, leading Violet to realise that Andarna represents the missing seventh dragon breed.

Ch.60 & 61 - Violet discovers that Jack has been venin for some time and that he planted rune lures around Basgiath. As the venin attack begins, Violet uses her lightning to fight the wyverns, but the sheer numbers overwhelm the riders. A venin targets Violet specifically, and Rhiannon jumps onto Tairn to defend her.

Ch.58-59 - Violet and Xaden agree to be completely honest with each other, while Violet realises that Basgiath—not Samara—is the venin’s real target. They fly back to Basgiath with other riders, but Jack Barlowe sacrifices his dragon to destroy the wardstone, causing the wards to fall and leaving Basgiath exposed.

Ch.56-57 - Violet and Xaden activate Aretia’s wardstone, successfully stopping the attacking wyvern. Xaden reveals that his second signet allows him to read people’s intentions. In chapter 57, Melgren asks Aretia for help defending Samara, but Brennan refuses; Violet’s mother then reveals that Warrick’s journal was deliberately misleading and gives Violet Lyra’s journal to uncover the truth about the wards.

Ch.53-55 - Violet, Cat and Sloane encounter Solas, Varrish’s dragon, and barely survive the attack, with Visia killed and Sloane’s new siphoning signet revealed. Afterwards, Violet and Xaden argue about secrets, and Violet confronts him about his mysterious second signet—just before Brennan arrives to warn them of an approaching wyvern attack.

Ch.49-52 - Violet and Dain work together to translate Warrick’s journal, discovering that the wards require the fire of six dragons, not riders’ blood. As tensions with Cat and the gryphon fliers continue, Violet learns that activating the wards would protect Aretia but prevent the fliers from using their powers.

Part 2 Ch.46-48

Part 2 Ch.44-45

Part 2 Ch.39-41