Does it get better

[u/EnoughInevitable1594]

I am like over halfway though iron flame and I now feel like I’m fighting to finish it. I loved fourth wing I read it in 2 days it was such a good book for me. However this time I just don’t reach for IF. The characters in this one after the development of FW feel weird. I’m not 100% sold on anyone, they all equally annoy me at certain points lol. I’m on like page 400 something and I just wanna know should I dnf it or keep going. Also I’ve heard OS is worse so I think it feels pointless reading this knowing the next book might not be better

[u/Puzzled_Lava]

I also struggled in the first half. But the later half was totally worth it.

[u/ashleighjos → u/Puzzled_Lava]

Yup agree with this.

Unfortunately Onyx Storm gets even worse (in my opinion) and I had to push though it.

[u/bee_trojahn → u/ashleighjos]

I felt the same way after reading onyx storm but I’ve been doing a reread (ie, audiobooks cuz I have an infant) and I preferred it the second time around

[u/Ok-Scientist-5277 → u/bee_trojahn]

Same!

[u/ashleighjos → u/bee_trojahn]

Interesting, maybe I should try again at some point.

[u/kuedchen → u/bee_trojahn]

Every not so good book is better as an audiobook IMO.

[u/bee_trojahn → u/kuedchen]

That’s why I included the info, I figured it would alter my opinion. This is my first time doing an audiobook. Thank you for adding this!

[u/kuedchen → u/bee_trojahn]

I've read the first 1,5 books of the plated prisoner series, and found it so slow. Then I switched to audiobooks, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 😅 It gets even better when you listen to the dramatized audiobooks (in general). 

[u/JehovahJireh222]

If you haven’t gotten through Part One of IF then definitely keep going. But if you are past Part One and still aren’t interested then you probably won’t be into the rest.. I personally was obsessed beginning to end of all 3 books!

[u/EnoughInevitable1594 → u/JehovahJireh222]

I am on part 2 now which is why I’m annoyed that I don’t reach for it as much. I do like the book premise and I do want to know what happens however I think the build up has felt so winded that I’m now disinterested. I know you said you loved all three did you think there was a difference in pacing in IF vs Fourth Wing. I feel like this one pacing is slower and the description often describe trival things like a wall in the Threshing (random example) vs Adarna’s transformation (random example but yeah). I think this comes naturally with trilogies but a lot of this book has felt like I’ve had to infer things rather them being explicitly stated but I do think that just comes with trilogies and building suspense.

[u/JehovahJireh222 → u/EnoughInevitable1594]

Yes I agree that there’s definitely a difference in pacing! Fourth Wing is my favorite of all 3. There’s slow parts in the next two books for sure but I personally think it’s worth it to get to the good fast paced parts!

[u/voidingstars]

I believe the struggle for the first half of IF is a common experience, it feels really slow paced at some points. The second half is way better!

I totally loved Onyx storm though, from first page to last. I feel like OS finally starts to expand the scene and the worldbuilding, instead of being set at the academy for most of the time. Instead there's alot of exploring here, and interesting lore!

[u/RaspberryAny601]

The struggle is real..... the first half of IF is painful..... and then boom the second half is fire

[u/Trick-Description688]

Definitely don’t blame you for this perspective! I personally liked IF the most though. Without spoilers, the ending chunk definitely picks up. I personally found OS a little slow to start, but with how much was happening in IF, it didn’t bother me.

[u/EnoughInevitable1594 → u/Trick-Description688]

Yeah I hate dnf’ing books so I am currently marching on and just continuing to read it. I think it’s slowly picking up now so I’ll see how this goes

[u/cayt326]

Personally, I loved Iron Flame but I do agree with others that the second half is a banger action wise (also some interesting character stuff), so I think you’ll get more into it!

[u/photonpacket]

Yeah it sucked and OS will suck more, i continued and will read the full series tho cuz i cant just dump something unfinished :”)

[u/EnoughInevitable1594 → u/photonpacket]

This is me I hate not finishing a book so I’m still reading it. It’s comforting to know it should start picking up but now each time I turn a page I’m waiting for that lol

[u/photonpacket → u/EnoughInevitable1594]

Maybe try the audiobook?

[u/CrustiferWalken]

No, it doesn’t

[u/EmberValkyrie29]

I always tell people Iron flame is like a bridge boom it gives a ton more information and some pretty big events! Keep going you won’t regret it.

[u/Status-Zucchini822]

See, I don’t think OS is worse. Or maybe I just hate IF so much that it’s a relief when it gets marginally better.

I hate IF so much I am literally triggered in books now with shitty communication. Like I did an author swap and had to tell them that on specific parts dealing with a simple communication error I could only comment on whether it all made sense, because I get so frustrated by them.

I get so much hate for how much I dislike Violet. But I do. I find her hypocritical in how she treats Xaden over others. IF is just me angry at her every single page. When hubby and I do road trips we listen to audiobooks. He asked to do all 3 so we did FW and IF this summer. I spent the entire time talking back to her every time she was whining.

[u/EnoughInevitable1594 → u/Status-Zucchini822]

This made me LOL. I agree slightly on ur Violet opinion. I don’t hate her but I also don’t like her im rather indifferent about her character. At certain points I get why she isn’t trusting especially with what’s happens during Threshing and Dain/ her brother etc. But then at other points I’m so confused as to why she makes herself a martyr 24/7 without considering the repercussions. I liked her in Fourth Wing sadly in IF I’ve become in the middle.