Iron Flame, Rebecca Yarros

 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros is the second book in the Empyrean series.

Started: 11/19/2023
Completed: 11/25/2023
Recommendation: Mild Recommendation
Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

The soft port theme continues.  This one escalates from "struggle to survive" to "struggle to save the world."  *SPOILER* The return of Jack is unpleasant and not well explained.  The "will they won't they" continues to be annoying.  It feels like this book is a collection of cliches and I find that mildly annoying.  So, not certain I will read any more of this series.  Still, I have to admit that the concepts are good and some of the staging is excellent.  The dialog is stilted at best and check caresses combined with the ardent desires held at abeyance for the other is droll.  I just feel like this book would have been much better if there was more time on the way friendships form and less on the "need" for one another.  I almost laughed out loud at some of the dialog..."you are my gravity."  So, I can mildly recommend it if you can skip/get by the soft porn, oh, and the torture (which is not as graphic, thankfully, as it could have been).

Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros

 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a hot new book that got so many good reviews, I wanted to add it to my library holds right away.  This is the first book in the Empyrean series.

Started: 7/4/2023
Completed: 7/10/2023
Recommendation: Mild recommendation
Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

I am not thrilled with the romance (will they won't they) that has started to take a larger part in fantasy novels.  I am OK with the concept, but the implementation has the feel of a "take off your shirt" romance novel and a tad of porn (hmmm...given that Yarros is a romance novelist, this should have come as no surprise).  I am really cool with the protagonist fighting off a real problem like EDS.  The writing is pretty good overall and without the "steamy" there is decent world building and an internally consistent magic system.  The plot is enjoyable and I will likely pick up the next book in the series.  I probably won't be breathless waiting for it to drop.