Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
★ Top 5 book of 2023 · #3 on Best Books of 2023
Violet survived her first year at a brutal dragon rider war college, but the second brings tougher training and a cruel new leader pressuring her to betray the man she loves. She also holds a dangerous secret.
Best for: Fans of dragons, military academy settings and fierce heroines in romantic fantasy
Iron Flame is #3 on BookWard's Best Books of 2023, out of 34 2023 books that cleared our data bar.
What Iron Flame is about
Violet Sorrengail made it through her first year at Basgiath War College, but surviving the Threshing is only the start. A new vice commandant, Major Burton Varrish, wants her to betray the man she loves, and the school's secrets are becoming harder to ignore. She learns her brother Brennan is alive and part of a secret rebellion, and she cuts ties with her friend Dain over a violation she cannot forgive.
With Xaden posted at the Samara outpost, the two can meet only weekly through their dragons' bond. Meanwhile Violet quietly studies the First Six, who built the wards protecting Navarre, with help from the scribe Jesinia. As the danger around her grows, so do the costs of trust and loyalty.
This is the second book in the planned five-book Empyrean series, a romantic fantasy with high stakes and an intense mood. It suits readers who want love, rebellion and political conspiracy told at full speed.
Iron Flame on the Best Books of 2023
Iron Flame came out in 2023. Of the 34 books first published in 2023 that met BookWard's data bar, it ranks #3 on our Best Books of 2023 list.
Why it made the list: 1,079 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.3 out of 5 (38 ratings); 50 are reading it right now. The list ranks each year’s books on how many readers have picked them up, how highly readers rate them, and how many are reading them right now.
It earns Reader favorite.
Nearby on the 2023 list
- Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros, #1
- King of Pride Ana Huang, #2
- Powerless Lauren Roberts, #4
- The Chalice of the Gods Rick Riordan, #5
See all Best Books of 2023 Best books by year
More years: Best Books of 2022 Best Books of 2024.
The numbers behind it
- Readers: 938 want to read it, 50 are reading it now and 91 have read it, according to Open Library.
- Ratings: 4.3 out of 5 from 38 Open Library ratings.
| Signal | This book (0 to 100) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 91 | 55% |
| Reader love | 94 | 25% |
| Being read right now | 88 | 20% |
Questions about Iron Flame
When was Iron Flame published?
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros was first published in 2023.
Was Iron Flame one of the best books of 2023?
Iron Flame is #3 on BookWard's Best Books of 2023, out of 34 2023 books that cleared our data bar. 1,079 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.3 out of 5 (38 ratings); 50 are reading it right now.
Why is Iron Flame on the Best Books of 2023 list?
1,079 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.3 out of 5 (38 ratings); 50 are reading it right now.
More of the best books of 2023
- Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros, #1
- King of Pride Ana Huang, #2
- Powerless Lauren Roberts, #4
- The Chalice of the Gods Rick Riordan, #5
- King of Greed Ana Huang, #6
- The Housemaid's Secret Freida McFadden, #7
See the full Best Books of 2023, the Top 100, or new books on Rising.
How we know
This page uses public data: Open Library reader counts and ratings, and Wikipedia page views for recent years. The description is paraphrased from real source text. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Lists update monthly.
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