The second book in the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros was released on November 7th, 2023. The first Empyrean book was Fourth Wing and its popularity skyrocketed via booktok–Tiktok’s genre of book discussion. Iron Flame has also received a similar experience as it has been much anticipated since the first book’s release. According to Rebecca Yarros, there’s supposed to be a total of 5 books released, with the third one in the groundwork. While this book was hyped up, many are disappointed as the book seems rushed, likely the publishers were rushing the book for the hype from its predecessor. However, nothing has been confirmed and the book may also just be at a faster pace than the first. It’s recommended that readers are over 13 and are more mature as the book is a bit explicit.
The books follow Violet Sorrengail as she is thrown into the world of dragon-riding from her original plan to be a scribe to her mother, General Sorrengail. Violet ends up bonding with two dragons, Tairn and Andarna, and according to Rebecca Yarros, will have two signets because of it. Signets are essentially a combination of the dragon’s magic and the rider’s personality and ambitions, as humans don’t have magic and instead are a channel for the dragons. The first dragons bonded because of an unknown threat and to protect their hatchlings, as they were able to power wards but couldn’t weave the necessary materials to create them.
The second book follows Violet as she learns about an unknown threat and that the government in Navarre is corrupt and is hiding the unknown threat. Xaden, her love interest, is also the son of the separatist, Fen Riorioson, and is the leader of the revolution. We learn that the Trryendor province, where the revolution took place, was not destroyed and housed the new revolution. Aretia is where they are hiding out and find a warding stone to protect the rest of Navarre from the threat.