Get the most thought-provoking Iron Flame book club questions here. The hottest fantasy book sequel offers lots to discuss, from love to dragons, war, and that shocking ending. You’ll foster meaningful discussion and get free printable book club questions to use as a book club resource at your in-person meeting. Let’s get literary!
Quick Iron Flame Summary With Themes
My Rating: ★★★★☆ (Read more in my Iron Flame Book Review.)
For fans of the ACOTAR book series, The Fourth Wing book series by Rebecca Yarros, has swept readers away, including both fantasy newbies and experts, including Iron Flame, the sequel to Fourth Wing.
Iron Flame is a long and epic sequel that spans two parts:
- Part I: a slower-paced one dedicated primarily to character introductions, history telling, and fantasy world-building
- Part II: a fast-paced, action-packed battle of numerous forms against dark wielders
It begins where the shocking finale of the first book left off. Violet Sorrengail learns more about the big surprise that was dropped in the final pages.
Thereafter, Xaden Riorson graduates from Basgiath War College and heads to battle. Violet begins her second year, undergoing brutal training and interrogations.
Meanwhile, first years like Liam’s younger sister Sloane arrive for Conscription Day. Violet conducts intense and secretive research about all the shocking revelations she’s learned and what can be done about them.
This sets the stage for more action and surprises than you can imagine. It all leads to another shocking ending that leaves you wanting more. It’s a more challenging read in many regards, including its length, details, and pacing, but it is just as immersive.
Iron Flame is a popular book club selection for discussing themes such as love, loyalty, freedom, and sacrifice.
READING TIPS
- I recommend reading Iron Flame in print or digital format (versus audio), as there is a lot of world-building to learn.
- Utilize these book club guides to enhance your reading experience: Iron Flame dragons and creatures, Iron Flame signets and runes, and Iron Flame Map.
Watch Rebecca Yarros discuss this book with Entertainment Weekly on Youtube:
Rebecca Yarros’s Iron Flame: Book Club Questions
There are spoilers in these discussion questions about the Empyrean series. I included Iron Flame page numbers after some of the questions for easy referencing but please note these are page numbers from the Kindle version, which has 884 pages. The hardcover edition has 640 pages, so my Kindle page numbers differ from the hardcover.
Discuss the significance of the title and how it manifests in the plot.
Describe Aretia and how you picture it.
Discuss the various characters’ reactions to Brennan being alive.
Why do you think Navarrians wiped the history of venin and chose their protection by hoarding the alloy that powers the wards (but can also kill venin)?
Why was it said that scribes have more power than dragon riders, gryphon flyers, and even dark wielders?
Violet says, “They wouldn’t need as many weapons if they had wards.” (page 34) Why are wards more powerful than weapons?
Discuss knowledge and access to information as it pertains to this Iron Flame quote: “Just because no one knows how to create new wards today doesn’t mean the knowledge can’t exist somewhere.” (page 34)
What did you think of adolescent Andarna and her changes?
Was Sloane right to be angry at Violet for her brother’s death?
It was said that secrets make for poor leverage because they die with the people who keep them. Should secrets be revealed?
Discuss the Codex rule to defend the borders with lethal force but not take war to civilians.
Discuss the culture of Basgiath War College, in which many students lose their lives during their first year and the remainder “lose [their] humanity” in their second year. (page 145)
History telling is said to be incomplete by either ignorance or intention. What is at play here?
Discuss the difficulties of making objective records.
Discuss the impact of history getting lost in translation. (For example, The Gift of the First Six is written in Old Lucerish, a dead language.)
Violet’s father was writing a book on feathertails, and Violet bonded one. What do you make of this, if anything?
Violet describes her confidence in Xaden as “arrogant.” Is this a strength or a weakness of their relationship?
Discuss book banning in the context of Iron Flame and current events.
Is it right that the historians focused on unification rather than the sacrifices of dragons and humans to establish Navarre?
How does Violet attempt to answer her questions?
What role did trust play among the characters?
Why are lies described as “powerful tools”? (page 246)
Xaden wants “blind faith” from Violet, and she wants it in return. Is this a good or a bad thing?
Do you believe this statement is true?: “History and current events are tied because one influences the other[.]” (page 299)
In the Unification, Navarrians sacrificed culture and the ability to travel for safety. Is that a worthwhile sacrifice?
The riders discuss that something is printed for public dissemination, but that doesn’t make it real. How does this pertain to current events?
It is said that it’s foolish to think you can save everyone. Is this true?
Violet is told her weakness is the people she loves. Do you agree?
Tecarus thinks Violet’s wildest dream is peace for the people she loves. Is he correct?
Discuss the significance of adding runes to the plot.
Did your opinions of any Iron Flame characters change versus Fourth Wing?
Who is the biggest villain in Iron Flame?
How does Xaden’s and Violet’s relationship change?
Discuss how Violet’s Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is represented in Iron Flame.
Discuss how diversity is represented in Iron Flame.
Compare and contrast parts one and two of Iron Flame.
Discuss the pros and cons of Iron Flame.
Discuss the pacing and length of Iron Flame.
Which physical or mental challenge did you like the most and why?
Did Jack’s return surprise you?
Did any of the deaths surprise you?
Did the Iron Flame ending shock you?
Did you find any holes in the plot?
Did you find any “Easter eggs” in the plot?
Has Iron Flame caused you to re-think the accuracy of any of your own learning of history and current events?
Did Iron Flame live up to your expectations?
Who would you cast in the adaptation?
What do you predict Violet’s second signet will be?
What do you think will become of Xaden’s and Violet’s relationship?
How do you think venin will be fought in future books?
Printable PDF Reading Guide of the Discussion Questions
IRON FLAME DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
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Book Club Ideas For Food and Beyond
- Some Iron Flame book club food ideas include “dragon” eggs, food cooked over an open flame, dragonfruit, and other food with magical elements.
- Make dragon art or these Fourth Wing bookmarks, color eggs, learn magic, or have an egg scavenger hunt.
- You can also play trivia games to test how much detail you remember from this complex book. It would be a good idea to have everyone write their questions about the book down, then answer them aloud.
More Fourth Wing Guides
Read more about this romantasy book series:
- Fourth Wing Book Club Questions
- Onyx Storm Book Club Questions
- Iron Flame Quotes
- Iron Flame Spice Level
- Fourth Wing Series Order
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
I’m having difficulty understanding how and why Xaden turned Venin in order to save Violet. If Violet was under the safety of the wardstone her mother just sacrificed herself for, then why was it necessary for Xaden to give up the fight and join forces with the enemy? Since the beginning all we’ve learned about Xaden is that he’s the fiercest of fighters, and then he just gives in to a verbal threat by a Sage? A threat that’s unsubstantiated based on the fact that Violet was under the protection of the ward? Also, if Xaden and Violet had their own private ability to communicate, then if forced to fight to the death to protect Violet, wouldn’t he have already confirmed she was safe? (Either through their bonded dragons or Violet herself?) What am I missing? Where did my thinking go off track? I am new to the fantasy genre, and while I absolutely loved, Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, unless I can come up with a logical answer, (connecting Xaden’s character traits, and the immediate events leading to the ending of the book concluding with Xaden’s turncoat actions), then I have to say I’m extremely disappointed. Endings that don’t make sense (other than a marketing tool to purchase the next book in the series), cheapens the depth and value of the entire novel. These books were phenomenal! That’s why I’m hoping you can help me make sense with this ending, keeping with the integrity of the characters and the story within it!
Hi Lana, have you read my guide to the Iron Flame ending? That’s my most detailed assessment of what we know so far.