You know that moment when you finish a book, take a long breath, sit back and stare into the blank space and think to yourself, “What just happened”? Yes! Iron Flame ending puts you in the same situation. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on dragons, the battles, the betrayals, and the swoony romance, it amps up everything to the max and tosses your emotions straight off a cliff.
Rebecca Yarros did not come to play in the sequel. She came to destroy our souls with sacrifice, betrayals, secret powers, and a cliffhanger that has readers emotionally unwell until book three shows up.
Today, we’re diving headfirst into the scorching, heartbreaking, “did that just really happen” ending of Iron Flame. Spoilers ahead, so grab your emotional support dragon and let’s do this.
⚠️ Spoiler Alert: The following section contains major spoilers from Iron Flame. You have been warned.
Iron Flame (2023): Love, Loss, and One Hell Of A Cliffhanger
Quick Recap: Violet Sorrengail has survived more than her fair share of battles, betrayals, and bad decisions, but nothing prepares her for what’s waiting in the final stretch of Iron Flame. She is knee-deep in the fight against the Venin. The battle is brutal, dragons are flying, people are dying, and things go sideways fast. Violet, the fierce warrior scholar hybrid, is doing her best to survive, protect her people, and maybe, just maybe, figure out how to end this madness.
But Iron Frame does not settle for just one jaw-dropping moment. Let’s get into the big moments.
Xaden Goes Full Vernin!
Let’s talk about that scene. Just when you think that Xaden couldn’t possibly be more dramatic, he proves you wrong. Violet is in mortal danger, being levitated by General Venin, and on the brink of death. Xaden, in a move that screams, ‘I love you, but also this is a terrible idea,” And Xaden finally snaps. He can’t bear to lose her. So he breaks the one rule no one’s ever supposed to break. He taps into the earth’s raw magic – the forbidden kind. The kind that twists people into Venin.
And guess what? His eyes glow red. That’s it. He’s crossed over. It’s heartbreaking. His decision is pure love-fueled desperation, but now he’s part of the enemy – or at least, something adjacent. He saves Violet, sure, but at what cost? Is Xaden still Xaden?
Oh, and let’s not forget Jack Barlowe, the Venin we all love to hate, dropping the chilling line: “Welcome to the family.” Yes, that family? Deeply messed up. And apparently, way more organized than anyone thought.
Andarna’s is Not Your Average Baby Dragon.
Meanwhile, baby dragon Andarna’s been acting a little different. Not growing like she should. Not behaving like the other dragons. Turns out, there’s a good reason – she’s the seventh type of dragon. A super rare, ancient breed with magic that hasn’t been seen in forever.
And what does that mean? Her unique powers might be the only thing that can fix the wardstones – the magical shields that protect Navarre from the Venin.
Of course, this also puts a giant glowing target on her shiny scales. So Andarna starts pulling a mini cosplay moment, disguising herself to look more like Tairn. Smart, cute, and potentially life saving.
The General’s Last Act of Love
Let’s take a moment for General Lilith Sorrengail. Just when you think that the emotional whiplash can’t get any worse, Violet prepares to sacrifice herself to restore the Wardstones. She knows the cost; channeling that much power means that death is certain. And she’s all ready for it.
But her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail – cold, commanding, terrifying, battle-hardened, emotionally unavailable Lilith pushes her daughter Violet out of the way and takes her place, allowing her magic to be siphoned by Sloane..
She lets Sloane siphon her power, aware that she won’t survive. That moment is devastating, and it changes everything we thought we knew about her. Turns out, under all that armor and command is a mother who would die for her kids.
Xaden’s New Identity & What’s Next
So, let’s tally up:
- Xaden’s now technically Venin.
- General Sorrengail is gone.
- The Venin are way more strategic than anyone could have expected.
- The wards are back – probably not strong enough.
- Andarna’s secret is out, which could be great or dangerous; we don’t know that yet.
- And we have no idea where Violet and Xaden’s relationship stands, now that he’s glowing red and soul sippy.
The cliffhanger here is brutal. We’re left with massive doubt. Will Xaden lose himself to the darkness? Can Violet trust him? Will the dragons accept him? And how is Navarre going to survive what’s coming?
Final Takeaway
Iron Flame does not end with a whisper but with a scream. A scream of love, sacrifice, secrets, and the kind of choices that leave permanent scars. It’s bold, brutal, and brilliant and sets the stage for a finale that’s bound to be absolute chaos in the best way possible.
The book drops us into the void with questions that won’t stop buzzing. Will Xaden be saved or lost? Will Ardana live up to her mystical legacy? And who’s really pulling the strings behind the Venin?
Your turn: What do you think Xaden’s future looks like? Is he the enemy now or the hero Navarre desperately needs?
Conclusion
From dragon secrets to forbidden magic, Iron Flame delivers an ending that’s equal parts thrilling and heartbreaking. It completely challenges everything we thought we knew about the characters and the world they inhabit.
Such endings prove that sometimes, the best stories don’t really tie things up neatly; they tend to crack them up wide open, leaving us with flaming questions and just enough hope to keep flipping the pages.
So until the next book arrives, we wait. Impatiently. Anxiously. Wondering if love can survive Venin red eyes and if Violet and her crew can actually save the world.