This is how I think Yarros planned this book:
- Ok, I signed a contract for a five-book series, what can I add to extend this story?
… some god sh*t, yes, I’ve barely mentioned them prior to this but let’s bring them in.
… I can give them Violet’s second signet, but make it useless here, so the next book it’s interesting.
… maybe add some ACOTAR-type travel to heretofore nonexistent islands and include scare jumps to keep people on their toes. Oh! But let’s not get what we need from these islands, it will be a failure you know? We can’t have what we want.
… who can I kill? 
… I’ll add a bunch of battle scenes because dragons. But we won’t advance towards the goal because I still have 2 books to write. 

If you want a Turkish soap opera, you’ll love this book. Just when you think the plot is getting somewhere, the distant cousin of the great grandfather who is the father of the sibling who married the aunt will rise from the death and ruin it all. 
That is how this book feels. 
If you wanted a well thought out plot, with a clear goal and a rational flow, then run away. At the pace we’re going, this war will take us 10 books to finish. 

Positive things: 
- Violet is back to being a BAMF, and that is the best thing. I hated her insecurities in Iron Flame. 
- No main character death. 
- Dragons and their deadpan humor.
- The side characters ❤️

If I decide to continue reading, it will be for Ridoc my spirit animal, Dain my baby daddy, Aaric the most bad-ass little sh*t, and Rhi. 


 *whispers* this one was better than Iron Flame, at least.