Dragons, Drama, and... Who Are These People Again?

When Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros hit the shelves, it took readers by storm. It was fast-paced yet emotionally grounded, rich in character development without losing its grip on the action, and a masterfully balanced drama with authentic connections. For many of us, it was a book that refused to be put down. I devoured it in just two days and repeated it several times after. 

Then came Iron Flame, the highly anticipated sequel… and I wish I could say it lived up to its predecessor. But six months later, I finally read the last line. Dare I say it suffered from "middle book syndrome" 

Too Much Drama, Not Enough Depth

What made Fourth Wing so special wasn’t just the dragons or the deadly training grounds; it was the emotional resonance of the relationships. Violet and Xaden’s growing bond, the tension among cadets, and the personal stakes each character carried. Every dramatic moment felt earned, grounded in character development and world-building.

Iron Flame, on the other hand, seemed to throw drama at the reader like darts at a board. New characters were introduced with such speed and frequency that the story struggled under the weight of its cast. Every side character had a secret, a tragic past, or a plot twist, and instead of deepening the story, it made it exhausting to follow. 

The characters we already cared about were sidelined. Violet’s growth felt stunted, Xaden became more brooding than complex, and fan favorites from Fourth Wing barely got the development they deserved. If there was going to be some character development, then why couldn’t it be with Imogen, Garrick, or Bodhi? Characters I already knew about and liked. I even would have appreciated the character development of the beloved dragons: Tairne, Andarna, and Sgaelyl. There was so much potential in adding character development to the bonded dragons of the characters without overshadowing the human characters. The emotional connections that grounded the first book were drowned in a sea of unnecessary plot threads. 

The Sequel That Came Too Soon

It’s not that Iron Flame shouldn’t exist. It wasn’t ready. The pacing felt rushed, like a book that was trying to capitalize on momentum rather than thoughtfully continue a story. Where Fourth Wing took its time to introduce the world and nurture relationships, Iron Flame sprinted through plot points without giving the characters room to breathe.

What we needed was a sequel that allowed its characters to linger a little longer, that let us feel the consequences of the first book before throwing us into another whirlwind of chaos. We needed more healing, more growth, more real moments between characters. This is exactly what Violet needs in her relationship, and this is why she and Xaden are so distant in this book.

While Fourth Wing kept me turning pages late into the night, Iron Flame had me putting the book down for weeks at a time. It lost the magic of connection and for a series built on bonds between dragons and riders, friends and lovers. This will have to be a ‘no’ for me.

Here’s hoping the next installment remembers what made me fall in love in the first place. I haven’t picked up Onyx Storm yet. I’m still sulking over the letdown from Iron Flame. 

Tell me your thoughts. 

It’s been a breeze!