Iron Flame (Empyrean #2)

My house. My chair. My woman.

Available at Amazon.com

Iron Flame
Rebecca Yarros
Empyrean, book two
623 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
ISBN 9781649375858

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

4 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | graphic audio 

Previously in the series:

2025/02

Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1)

A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.
A rider without their dragon is dead.

Available at Amazon.com

Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros
Empyrean, book one
517 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2023 by Entangled: Red Tower Books
ISBN 9781649374042

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

"I know exactly who and what you are, Violet Sorrengail."

What is she? 

I have questions. So many questions.

3.5 out of 5 stars. And those stars earned are strictly for Xaden Riorson, Tairn, Andarna, and Ridoc, because Violet... I'm not there with her yet.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | graphic audiobook 

2025/01

Watching Wednesday: One and Only

One and Only

Genres: Romance, Historical, Chinese
Cast: Allen Ren, Bai Lu

Rated: PG-13

Year Released: 2021

Synopsis from CdramaLove

Watch on iQiYi | First Episode Free w/ads

Prince Nan Chen becomes famous in his youth from making great achievements in battle. He is determined to be loyal to his country and his rigorous style and modesty are praised by the world.
The only daughter of the Cui family, Shi Yi is born to be the future crown princess. Because of her family friendship with the palace, she is sent to the palace to study art from her elders.

Cui Shi Yi’s kind-hearted, lovely, lively and intelligent personality is deeply adored by everyone in the palace. She is also very fast in learning skills and livens up the palace.

While getting to know each other, Cui Shi Yi admires Zhou Sheng Chen’s lofty ambitions and refined character, and falls in love with him unknowingly.

Whether it is staying at the palace waiting for a victory or fighting alongside Zhou Sheng Chen, Cui Shi Yi is Zhou Sheng Chen’s strongest supporter.

The emotions of the two warm up quickly, but they still remain courteous. The border was in an emergency again, and Zhou Sheng Chen was obliged to lead the soldiers to the battle. At the same time, Cui Shi Yi had to take the responsibility of the family reputation and marry the Crown prince.

Zhou Sheng Chen fights bravely against the enemy, becomes seriously injured and dies after leaving his last words to Shi Yi.

Watching Next :::::

Season 2: Forever and Ever

When Shiyi (Played by Bai Lu), a sweet, low-key but talented voice actress, meets the elegant Zhousheng Chen (Played by Allen Ren), an oversea returnee chemistry professor, at the airport for the first time, they felt a sense of familiarity. In order to save his family's business, Zhou agreed to his mother's terms and proposed to Shiyi, whom he had a crush on. During their time together, they started to fall for each other. Shiyi was always by his side when Zhousheng Chen faced difficult decisions. Later on, in order to save Zhousheng Chen who was framed, Shiyi became injured and fell unconscious. Zhousheng Chen took good care of Shiyi and she finally woke up; promising each other that they would never part ways in this life. (Synopsis from iQiYi)

Watching Wednesday: Serendipity

Serendipity

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Adventure, Chinese

Cast: Sky Li, Wen Mo Yan

Rated: PG-13

Year Released: 2021

Synopsis from Viki

Watch HERE | No subscription required

Fifteen years ago, fate brought Mu Xiao Ru (Wen Mo Yan) and Yan Sui (Sky Li) together. Though their meeting was brief, both were left with memories that would stay with them the rest of their lives, and Xiao Ru was left with a little something more. Picking up a strange bracelet, Xiao Ru had no idea that in doing so, she would ultimately alter not only her fate, but the fate of countless universes as well.

Still fascinated by the bracelet she found more than a decade ago, Xiao Ru keeps it with her always. Completely unaware of the unique power it possesses, Xiao Ru might have been ignorant of that power forever, had she not wandered into a bookstore one fateful day. Activated by a mysterious flame, the bracelet pulls Xiao Ru into not just one parallel universe, but many. Traveling between these strange new worlds, Xiao Ru soon meets the very same Yan Sui, who she met all those years ago. Shocked by this unexpected meeting, Yan Sui initially tries to brush off this chance encounter. But it doesn’t take long for him to realize that the fate of these worlds is directly connected to Xiao Ru’s sudden appearance.

Determined to save the worlds from the clutches of a growing evil and help Xiao Ru get back home, Yan Sui and Xiao Ru embark on a journey that will literally change all of their lives forever. But the evil that hunts them is relentless and it soon becomes apparent that they are quickly running out of time. Will good ultimately triumph over evil?

An epic adventure through multiple worlds, “Serendipity” is a 2021 fantasy adventure romance drama directed by Liu Ding Ye.

I'm four episodes in. Despite a bit of cheesy "It's taste" and "It's flavour" concerning a fried potato, I find myself rather enjoying this adventure. Unfortunately, there's no trailer to post (yet?).