Many characters in Iron Flame lie to protect the people they care about. The lies begin at the top of Navarre society: Navarre leadership has lied about the venin for hundreds of years to protect itself and the citizens within its wards. As a general in the Navarre military, General Sorrengail perpetuates Navarre’s lies by concealing the existence of venin from her children. Her son Brennan, on the other hand, lies about his death for six years so that he can rebuild the rebellion against the Navarre leadership and protect both Navarre and Poromiel citizens beyond the protective wards. Brennan reveals in the first chapter that he has limited Xaden and his friends’ knowledge for the past year for their own safety. Xaden lies and hides information from Violet because he believes it will protect her life and feelings, and Violet in turn hides the truth from her friends to protect them.

Yet throughout the novel, the protective power of lies proves to be illusory at best, and destructive at worst. Though General Sorrengail hid the existence of the venin from her children to protect them from them, Violet is nearly killed by venin in War Games, and Brennan turns his back on her when he discovers her lies.