Iron Flame: Chapter Summary and Spoilers (Chapters 1-10)

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Chapter Summary & Spoilers (Chapters 1-10)

The Bite-Sized Version

Buckle up for the latest tea from Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series – we’re diving into Iron Flame with our main protagonist, Violet Sorrengail, an elite dragon rider who’s just had a slightly dramatic week.

So picture this: our girl Violet is having the MOTHER of all reality-check moments when her supposedly dead brother Brennan (who’s been ghosting her for SIX YEARS) shows up like “Surprise, sis! Not dead, just casually running a revolution!” But wait – there’s more! Not only is he warm-blooded and holding the fancy title of Lieutenant Colonel in said revolution, but they’re all hanging out in a fortress that was supposedly burned down, and those scary venin stories? Totally real! Meanwhile, there’s this Assembly meeting that’s serving more drama than a season finale of Real Housewives, complete with petty arguments over magical weapons, trust issues flying faster than wyverns, and some mysterious tea about what Xaden Riorson did last summer that has Viscount Tecarus clutching his pearls and refusing to share his luminary.

Things get even SPICIER when our resident dragon queen Andarna debuts her goth phase glow-up – we’re talking twice the size, scales so black they’re purple, and all the coordination of a baby giraffe on roller skates (dragon puberty is rough, y’all). The squad manages to sneak back into school (because apparently hiding a massive black dragon is totally doable), just in time for graduation where our boy Xaden gets promoted to Lieutenant Hot Stuff and immediately gets shipped off to Samara. But the drama train doesn’t stop there! We’ve got an incognito prince trying to pull a Hannah Montana, Sloane Mairi serving “you killed my brother, prepare to die” realness, and a casual neck-snapping incident during orientation because apparently, that’s just how they welcome new students at Basgiath now!

Just when you think we’ve reached peak chaos, we’ve got Colonel Aetos being shadier than Xaden in his brooding phase, a one-eyed dragon trying to turn everyone into BBQ, and our favorite lieutenant showing up in Violet’s room with mysterious letters and room coordinates like some kind of fantasy-world treasure map. Meanwhile, Tairn‘s over here spilling ancient dragon tea, Violet’s trying to balance trust issues with combat training, and everyone’s trying to pretend they’re not literally sitting on a powder keg of political intrigue and magical warfare.

The Bit-Sized Version

CHAPTER 1

This bit opens the book with our leading lady, twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail, recovering from nearly getting un-alived during a venin attack and sharing honeyed biscuits with her not dead older brother, Brennan.

• Violet’s processing a lot of truth bombs that were dropped on her: Brennan’s not only warm-blooded, but is a Lieutenant Colonel in the revolution, she’s currently dining in the fortress of Aretia that had been supposedly burned down, and venin aren’t just characters out of a fantasy world. Can we call in for an emergency therapy appointment?
• Brennan gets called to an “Assembly meeting” and it’s basically like a Real Housewives reunion. Violet, Imogen, and Bodhi watch from the bleachers as the five assembly members verbally spar over their desperate need for this thing called a luminary to make weapons to fight the venin. BUT some guy named Viscount Tecarus is being petty about loaning his after Xaden Riorson apparently did Something™️ last summer. Without it they’re basically trying to fight the venin with pool noodles.
• Next on the meeting minutes is whether the first-year and second-year cadets who fought at the battle of Resson should be allowed to return to Basgiath War College, or if they’ll go back and spill the beans. We’re reminded that we lost Soleil and most importantly perfect BFF Liam during the venin attack.
• They also not-so-subtly make it clear that they do NOT trust Violet because she’s the daughter of General Sorrengail, with some members suggesting taking her prisoner. Brennan’s like, “um hi I was also created by that woman” and Xaden’s like, “SHE’S WORTH A DOZEN OF ME”. He also reminds the Assembly that he’s taken responsibility for Violet, and we don’t know exactly what that means yet other than that he’s trying to claw his way out of the dog house for lying to her.
• The meeting wraps up with Xaden and Brennan getting their way, and Violet walks away a free woman. Xaden tries to win more brownie points by encouraging her to spend time with her brother while she can. We’re going to need popcorn for this catch up after six years.

CHAPTER 2

This bit opens up with Violet’s brother Brennan, dropping gossip bombs left and right. We learn about all the secrets the rebels have uncovered and just how big Violet’s trust issues are about to become. And oh ya…Andarna has a MASSIVE glow up.

• So we get caught up that Violet’s brother Brennan just pulled the ultimate ghosting move by faking his death for 6 years only to pop up running a secret revolution. Like, we couldn’t get a secret note? “Hey sis, not dead, just casually overthrowing the government” would’ve been nice!
• The tea about venin attacks is SCALDING – these magical baddies aren’t just stories Professor Kaori tells first-year cadets. They’re out there creating wyverns and spreading like a magical plague. We’re talking two flavors of dragon: blue fire and green fire (spicy vs extra spicy).
• We find out that the higher ups in the Kingdom of Navarre, including Violet’s mother General Sorrengail, are trying to keep it all hush-hush and have been for a long time now. Gotta love more trust issues for our girl Violet.
• While we are getting a Kingdom of Navarre history lesson, Brennan is also dropping details of where our shadow daddy Xaden Riorson has been. Violet is still pretty salty about Xaden keeping secrets, but supposedly he hasn’t been ignoring Violet. He has been guarding a healing Andarna 24/7. This man knows his way to our protagonist’s heart. It’s giving “my heart says yes but my trust issues say absolutely not.”
• According to Brennan (who’s giving major “I’ve seen some things” energy), they’ve got about 6 months before these magic-hungry venin come knocking at Navarre’s door. He casually drops that there is a dormant wardstone at Aretia like the one in the riders quadrant, but says no one knows how to use it. So while Brennan and his revolutionary squad are all like we need a luminary and we need weapons, our girl’s like “Um, hello? Ancient magical protection device right here?” She thinks if they could figure out how to fire up this bad boy, they might be able to actually protect people instead of just stabbing bad guys. Pretty solid logic, if you ask me!
• Now for the glow-up of the century: Andarna went from a small golden adolescent dragon to a full-on gothic black dragon queen. We’re talking twice the size, scales so black they’re practically purple, and all the grace of a newborn giraffe on roller skates. She’s basically going through magical dragon puberty, complete with attitude and balance issues. In her growth spurt we learn that she lost her time-stopping signet power and isn’t showing signs of any new ones just yet.
• The OG gang decides to head back to Basgiath War College despite the risks. They think if they don’t show face then everyone will know their secrets. They’ve got 48 hours to make it back for graduation so they strap Andarna into her saddle and take off. What could possibly go wrong? (Narrator: Everything. Everything could go wrong.)

CHAPTER 3

This bit follows the newly minted revolutionaries back to Basgiath War College from Aretia, not knowing what everyone there knows or doesn’t know about their little side quest. Read on to see if these first-year and second-year cadets graduate or get executed!

• Violet, Xaden, and the rest of their squad make the 18-hour trip back to school from Aretia, attempting to sneak back in like they’re on a covert mission. Don’t know how covert one can be on a large black dragon (spoiler: not very), but we’ll give them an A for effort in this complex fantasy world.
• During the flight, Violet gets the scoop from Gossip Girl (Tairn) on how the First Riders basically begged the dragons to help fight off venin attacks 600 years ago. Turns out neither side particularly enjoyed the other back then, and we’re shocked there could be dragons more curmudgeonly than Tairn.
• They land at Basgiath with Andarna in her saddle. Helicopter mom Violet is panicked about keeping her hidden and getting her safely to the Vale. It’s going to be a long day.
• They get into the riders quadrant, and no one knows what happened, so their plan to fake it till they make it just might work. Violet sneaks up to Liam’s room to save letters he had written (sob) before they get burned with the rest of his things when everyone learns of his death. She tells Rhiannon he’s gone and smoothly lies about why, but asks her to keep his letters for safekeeping.
• Violet and Xaden also of course get into it. Violet’s all, “I trust you with my life” but she’s still mad about all his sinister secrets and demands complete honesty from him. The irony of her just lying to Rhiannon is not lost on us. Meanwhile, Xaden’s like “Um, I’m leading…this thing…called a revolution…so no.”
• The moment of truth: they walk into formation just as the death toll from the War Games is being read. Who is a part of the count? Xaden Riorson and Garrick. HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIIIIIIIDDDDEEEE

CHAPTER 4

This bit opens with the ultimate music video entrance from our favorite squad that has been presumed dead for the last six days at Basgiath War College. Jaws are on the floor, sinister secrets are coming out, and Dain Aetos is still trying to make a move on Violet?? Boy, get the hint. The chapter ends with us finding out what is in store when Violet and her fellow cadets get promoted from first-year to second-year cadets. 

• We open with Violet and her squad making the most dramatic entrance after being presumed dead for six days. Everyone at the Basgiath is absolutely SHOOK when they walk across the courtyard. Captain Fitzgibbons nearly drops his death roll scroll, Commandant Panchek looks like he’s seen a ghost, and Colonel Aetos (father of our least favorite squad leader Dain) is like “oh crap”.
• Our boy Xaden, smooth as ever, steps up with the cover story about gryphon fliers gone wild beyond the wards. But it’s not all creative writing – they really did lose Liam and Soleil, and Violet legit got stabbed with poison during a recent venin attack that threatened their chances of success.
• Violet takes a risk to see what her mother’s reaction is, she looks and realizes her mom wasn’t in on Colonel Aetos’s shady War Games plans. When General Sorrengail realizes what happened, she gets properly frosty (literally brings on an ice storm). There’s this beautiful moment where Mom breaks character for a sec to actually show concern for her daughter before snapping back into Mommy Dearest mode.
• Then THE DAIN DRAMA™️: Dain tries to play the concerned maybe-ex-boyfriend, and Violet threatens to remove his hands. Then Xaden swoops in with this absolutely devastating verbal smackdown that basically screams “she’s with me” to the entire riders quadrant. The fellow cadets are swooning and Dain is floundering from the hit to his ego.
• Things get heavy during graduation (thank gawd we have the BBC for processing all these plot twists). All the third-years get commissioned into the Kingdom of Navarre’s forces, including Xaden, who has to leave the next morning for his new post. Violet has a mini panic attack about Xaden leaving but remembers that she will need to see him every few days because of Tairn and Sgaeyl’s mating bond.
• Final tally for Violet’s squad: 5 survivors out of 11. Not great, not terrible… okay, maybe pretty terrible.

CHAPTER 5

This bit takes us on an emotional rollercoaster as Violet and her fellow cadets get to celebrate surviving their first year at Basgiath War College and becoming second-year cadets. The high doesn’t last long, though, as Violet Sorrengail and Xaden get some news from Colonel Aetos and a new Vice Commandant (we’re not sure who invited them to this plot twist).

• The Riders Quadrant is POPPING OFF because hello, these eLiTe dragon riders survived their first year! Violet and her Iron Squad are celebrating with some sus lavender lemonade while dishing about their second-year cadet perks like getting to go to this town nearby called Chantara and mix in with cadets outside of the Riders Quadrant.
• Things get awkward when these fellow cadets start asking about the recent attacks and those gryphon fliers. Like read the room, people! Violet’s squad, who lost fewer dragons than most during War Games, is like, “hi, this is real life” and the others realize that not everyone just went through a training exercise. They all pour one out for Liam after.
• Enter LIEUTENANT Xaden Riorson making us forget our trust issues in his new officer gear (complete with dragon scales, of course). Violet, definitely feeling that lemonade, goes to chat with her situationship. Their conversation is basically: Violet: “Secrets = no smoochies” Xaden’s like: “Challenge accepted”
• A far less attractive military officer, Colonel Aetos, interrupts the chat, and introduces a new Vice Commandant, Major Varrish who gives us the heebies. They drop the news that Xaden’s heading to defend the Kingdom of Navarre at the front lines AND they’re only allowed to visit each other every seven days. Alright, we’d like to speak to the manager, thank you.
• This is obviously problematique because Tairn and Xaden’s dragon Sgaeyl (and maybe also their riders) can end up in legit pain when separated for more than three days. Tairn has THOUGHTS and roars his disapproval for everyone to hear.
• As if he hadn’t already said enough, Colonel Aetos wraps up this plot twist with some comment about secrets dying with their keepers. Sir, we were playing a nice game of hard to get before you showed up.

CHAPTER 6

This bit opens with Colonel Aetos not learning any lessons from his previous Sorrengail encounter and continuing to threaten Violet, proving once again that the political intrigue in this book is never ending. Amidst the drama, we find out that Xaden and Violet are about to learn what a long-distance relationship is like for dragon riders. We end the chapter thinking is there ever going to be good news, when we get a sweet surprise! 

• So Daddy Aetos just straight up threatens Violet  AND her older sister Mira if Violet starts spilling war secrets from the first book to the second book. Sir, this is NOT how we treat the daughter of General Sorrengail, did you not just see her reaction to your first secrets?!
• Poor Violet’s signet power is like “nope nope nope” and she nearly goes full Thor in the Riders Quadrant. Xaden’s like let’s take this outside before you accidentally redecorate with your lightning strikes and rushes her into the courtyard. 
• Then we get hit with the worst news ever – Xaden’s being shipped off to Samara, which is a whole DAY away by dragon. This leaves them with only a few hours a week together and also is too far for them to speak through their mental bond. Tairn and Sgaeyl (Xaden’s dragon) are losing their ever-loving minds. 
• We get this whole “fake goodbye” scene that’s giving major delicious tension between them. They’re trying to act like they’re just saying goodbye for the benefit of onlookers, but Xaden is really dropping warnings about who and who not to trust during these recent attacks and invasion attempts.
• Our resident Shadow Daddy leaves readers with one more swoon when he tells Violet “you won’t go find another rider because you still love me.” Violet’s response? “Fuck off and leave, Riorson.” Ok girl, we get it – the man has sinister secrets, but also he’s leaving so can we maybe take this to the bedroom??
• But wait! There’s good news at the end of the chapter. Rhiannon gets promoted to squad leader! But because the Empyrean series loves to mess with our emotions, guess who’s running the wing now? DAIN AETOS. Dun dun dun.

CHAPTER 7

This bit kicks off with the second-year cadets in a new classroom at Basgiath War College, trying to figure out why they’re in a new classroom. And then they realize that they’re second-years and that means they have new classes now. Math is hard.

• Well, the second-years survived five days straight of drinking and a lot of other things we’re sure are R rated. Tomorrow’s Conscription Day, when all the baby dragon riders show up to start their journey of questionable life choices, so the whole Riders Quadrant is buzzing in preparation.
• Part of our main squad–Ridoc, Rhiannon, Nadine, and Violet, sit down for Orientation in a u-shaped classroom they’ve never been in before. Nadine’s sporting a fashionably wrapped hand from a fall, and we learn that the healer Nolon has been so busy since War Games he hasn’t been able to fit people in.
• Then in walks Professor Grady (sorry, Captain Grady – he’s still getting used to the title change), who introduces everyone to an acronym even Violet’s never heard of: RSC aka Rider Survival Course. Boy, does it sound like a party… if your idea of a party includes learning how to survive falling off your dragon, withstanding interrogation (some might say torture), and getting randomly kidnapped for “trials” throughout the year. Wasn’t second year supposed to be fun for these first-year cadets turned second-year cadets?
• There are only 89 cadets in the room, though, apparently the smallest class to walk Basgiath’s halls since the First Six. We learn via Tairn, because he’s the only one who gives us any goss these days, that it’s because fewer dragons are bonding due to the Empyrean trying to plan Switzerland on the whole venin thing. Lame.
• After this cheery Orientation, Violet heads to her happy place – the Archives – where she reflects on the quiet life she could’ve had in the Scribe Quadrant not facing death threats every other minute.
• She decides to use her scribe chops productively to help the war effort, though, and meets her friend Jesinia to get some books about Basgiath’s founding and its wards. She ends up lying to get her to help her with this (the irony is still not lost on us), and then embarks on a solo research mission to save everyone’s lives.

CHAPTER 8

This bit brings us back to the good ole Parapet at Basgiath War College, the elite dragon rider training ground where Violet’s journey continues. Its Conscription Day and the new cadets are about to try their best to cross the balance beam from hell. We get some surprise guests, surprise dragons, and a lot of reality tv worthy moments. 

• It’s Conscription Day at Basgiath War College, and Violet is now on the other side of that terrifying sky-high balance beam that nearly killed her last year. She’s trying her best not to look at faces because like, who needs more nightmare fuel, right? She’s teamed up with squad leader Rhiannon, Nadine, and Dain Aetos, the latter giving off such strong “awkward ex” energy he might as well be wearing a t-shirt that says “Not Xaden Riorson (But Trying Really Hard to Be).”
• VIPS INCOMING – First up we have a secret prince from Violet’s childhood who is trying to pull a Hannah Montana by going incognito as “Aaric Graycastle”. And THEN in walks Sloane Mairi who’s serving major “you killed my brother, prepare to die” energy toward Violet. Even with Sloane’s “you’re on my hit list” energy, Violet can’t help but big sister her way into telling her to tie back her hair. Safety first, revenge later!
• Fast forward through a death toll of 71 fellow cadets who didn’t quite stick the landing, and they’re doing squad assignments. Through some masterful political intrigue that would make any reality TV producer proud, both our incognito prince and Miss Grudge-Holder end up in Violet’s squad. Sloane throws a fit and quite literally every character in the book tells her to STFU and get in line.
• Just when everyone’s thinking that has to be all of the drama for today, Vice Commandant Varrish and his one-eyed dragon Solas crash the party, apparently thinking “light toasting of students” was on today’s agenda. Some candidates make a run for it (they obviously didn’t read Fourth Wing), and Solas goes full BBQ mode on everyone, including bonded riders! Not cool, Solas. Not. Cool.
• Violet, being the hero we don’t deserve but definitely need, goes full superhero mode and tackles Sloane out of harm’s way. Nothing says “sorry about your brother” quite like saving someone from being burnt to a crisp. Just when Solas is warming up for round two, Violet’s large black dragon Tairn swoops in like “EXCUSE ME, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING TO MY HUMAN?” and basically threatens to make Solas’s one-eye situation a no-eye situation.
• The chapter wraps with Major Varrish mean-mugging Violet like she just insulted his entire ancestry. And Violet thought venin attacks were going to be her biggest problem this year! Another spicy chapter in Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

CHAPTER 9

This bit has Violet literally running from her feelings with an assist from Imogen – and everyone’s like ?¿ whomst is this person. Meanwhile, Battle Brief is packed with lies that only the liars and the yung rebels know about. We’re about to end the chapter relatively drama-free when it ends with a SNAP that’ll make your jaw drop.

• Violet wakes up in a cold sweat (as you do when you’re dealing with venin-filled nightmares) and decides the best cure for PTSD is… checks notes… running? Like, honey, there’s therapy, but sure, let’s go with cardio at the crack of dawn in the Riders Quadrant.
• Imogen, the surprise MVP, decides to play running coach to help Violet build up her stamina that she didn’t have when she needed it at Resson. We get this semi-awkward encounter where Bodhi (looking suspiciously like Xaden Riorson 2.0) and the gang try to figure out why these two former fellow cadets are suddenly jogging buddies. NUNYA.
• Time for the first Battle Brief of the year with Professor Devera and Colonel Markham (sketchy head of the scribe quadrant). They cover two attacks and tell the class that gryphon fliers attacked both Sipene village in the Esben Mountains and…the Athebyne outpost. Oh, so it’s like that, huh.
• While everyone’s acting like these are just regular attacks and not, you know, VENIN-RELATED CATASTROPHES, Violet’s just silently drowning in panic as she sees firsthand that the Kingdom of Navarre sits on a throne of lies. 
• After class, she tries to corner Bodhi into letting her help with La Résistance, and he’s like, “How about you focus on surviving and also strengthening your weak shields.” Rhiannon, the smart devil that she is, notes that she’s getting suspicious about what’s going on in the Healer Quadrant, noting that Nolon’s looking no bueno.
• Assessment day rolls around and Sloane (who apparently has a death wish) tries to challenge Violet to a fight. Give it a REST – she literally just fought an army of venin, okay?
• Just when we think we’re going to wrap up with Sloane’s drama, this absolute UNIT of a first-year cadet just casually…snaps Nadine’s neck after she says she’s Violet Sorrengail. Nadine’s jaw drops almost as hard as ours. Plot twist: activated!

CHAPTER 10

This bit opens with a HORRIBLE case of mistaken identity that leads to one hell of a smackdown. Just as we are recovering from the surprise, our resident Shadow Daddy, Xaden Riorson, returns after being gone for 8 days. We can only imagine what bombs he has to drop now.

• So we’re back at just your standard training exercise in the Riders Quadrant, where a normal day turns into complete chaos. The mysterious massive first-year cadet has officially killed Nadine, who he thought was Violet.
• Then we get into what we can only describe as the fantasy equivalent of WWE SmackDown. This humongous first-year student (seriously, he’s described as basically being the size of a tree) tries to take on Violet. Bad move, my guy! Despite nearly getting her windpipe crushed, our main protagonist pulls off some serious knife work and, well… let’s just say the first-year won’t be making that mistake again. Or any mistakes, really. The creepy cherry on top? He whispers “Sinister secrets die with the people who keep them”, ok…
• Turns out this wasn’t just some random act of violence. Colonel Aetos ordered the hit, which apparently is some kind of twisted family tradition since the same thing happened to Violet’s older sister Mira. I guess getting murdered is like a family tradition for the Sorrengail sisters? Wild flex but okay.
• The day gets even MORE interesting when Violet finds Xaden in her room. He’s been away for eight days, but shows up looking ready to throw down with whoever hurt her – even though they’re “not together” (sure, keep telling yourselves that).
• We learn he and Xaden’s dragon Sgaeyl have dealing with judgment about family background at Samara. But the real kicker? He’s warded Violet’s room for total privacy, complete with a cute “you must be holding Violet’s hand to enter” rule. Though naturally, he gave himself a free pass in!
• The chapter ends with our new favorite lieutenant having to leave again, but not before giving Violet a mysterious letter and his room coordinates at Samara (where she’ll be heading in seven days). Because nothing says “we’re definitely not together” like leaving bread crumbs to your private quarters, right?