I was hesitant to read Fourth Wing. Overhyped books on Instagram typically leave me feeling sour and defeated upon finishing. That wasn’t necessarily the case with Fourth Wing. After reading both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame last month, I totally get the hype.

When Iron Flame came out (the most recent book in The Empyrean series), my bookstagram was filled with posts and stories about the book. My instagram mom chat turned into chatter about Iron Flame as well as excitement about dragons and some dude named Xaden. I decided to give it a go.

I started Fourth Wing on my Kindle the next day. I finished the book in two days. I got swept up in this world of dragons and ruthless combat and silly romance (yet another broody, problematic boy to deal with).

Overall, I really, really enjoyed it.

What I liked about Fourth Wing was that when the book started, you were brought right to it. There was no soft launch into the story — you went right to the action. It felt like Hunger Games x3, with me on the edge of my seat as Violet tried to survive at this very brutal dragon rider military school.

Violet is super brilliant. She’s short and not fit to be a rider. But she is special. I best describe Violet as the Rory Gilmore of Navarre. Everyone is obsessed with her and I don’t quite get the hype BUT I digress …

Yarros has built a pretty neat world — I did not expect to love all the dragons. I live for their POVs. Forget the romance … I’m here for the dragons and dragons only.

Eek. The romance. All lust and young infatuation. Corny. Carnal. Super dependent. It gives me the willies. I will continue to work my way around the steam and focus on dragon fire and battles as the series goes on.

SO. I finished Fourth Wing and immediately purchased Iron Flame, ready for another experience like the first.

I was a litttttle disappointed in this book. It took me about a week to read it. I thought I would consume it in two days like Fourth Wing, but I had to put it down a few times for my own mental sanity.

I get it; second books have to set up the third book. It was just so sloggy with pacing all over the place. I wish the author had an editor with a steadier hand.

I described reading Iron Flame to my bookclub as taking a rolling hills Peloton class. I’d climb up to the top, out of breath from the effort, and then hit a flat road sprint, only to be brought back up a mountainous, impossible hill.

Honestly, the pacing got in the way of fully enjoying the story — I got in my head too many times about what I would have cut/culled down if I were in the publishing industry. The ending of the book was so rushed. The “big reveal” and POV chapter left me feeling frustrated and wanting more.

Remaining thoughts:

Xaden just isn’t my pal. I don’t trust him.

Let’s pull back on the number of times we refer to Violet as being short. We get it.

Rhiannon for life. LOVE her.

Give me all the dragons. All the time. I’m only here for the dragons.