2.5 stars rounded up

Unique story - enjoyed the concept a lot. I also love dragons so that helps. Reminded me a little of How to Train Your Dragon but I heard this was based off bull fighting, but with dragons. The writing is also pretty good and readable. I believe this is one of those books where I enjoyed the concept more than the actual book.

Some things weren’t explained enough such as the magic system, I still have a lot of questions on it. The pacing itself was a struggle for me and it gets off track at times, losing focus on the story. This book felt too long too so I was a little hard for me to get through as well. The romance was a bit eye roll inducing for me.

I did really like that the Spanish words/language were included as well as the chapters being labeled in Spanish too. Thank you high school Spanish class, I actually learned something.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Mad props for how well Ibañez translated all the colorful traditions of Flamenco dancing and bullfighting into a world full of dragons. I'm against bullfighting in general, but the culture surrounding it is ancient and beautiful, and how seamlessly and respectfully it all is incorporated into the story is a big part of what won me over.
That said, the story is one revelation after another with great action scenes balanced out by emotional character development. I loved how little things about Zarela and Arturo get revealed as the plot progresses and the stakes get higher and higher.
I will concede that two of the biggest revelations were ridiculously easy to figure out and I knew they were coming way before the plot actually gets to it. However, the road to them being revealed and the way it was done kept me glued to the story despite it, which is always a win in my book.
Overall, this is a fun and exciting read with great cultural representation and dragons. I mean, who doesn't love a story with dragons?

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the beautifully exciting read!

What a ride! This book was such a unique fantasy, featuring dragons, Dragonadors, romance, mystery, betrayal, and medieval Spanish influences. I haven't read anything like it before!

Zarela is facing everything all at once. Immediately, she faces death and destruction surrounding her loved ones, leaving her to have to figure out why and how these things are happening to her family, and to take care of it all herself. But Zarela is a strong character, full of fire and fury, and watching her grow through the story was great. I don't want to give anything away, so this is a very vague synopsis and review!

The first half of the book is really interesting, but it can feel slow at times. The second half picks up the intensity and excitement and once I got to that point, I didn't want to put it down. Recommended for you if you love dragons, the idea of traditions changing, lots of betrayals and mystery, strong female characters, and a bittersweet feeling at the end of books.

Thank you to Netgally and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

When I started reading this book, I intended to read a few chapters and then quit to go do some other things. Instead, I ended up reading almost the whole thing in one sitting, and then rushing back to finish it as soon as I could the next day.

I was immediately taken with the story world– a world in which Dragonador fighters perform fights against dragons for huge crowds. I loved Zarela and her love for flamenco and the way that kept her connection with her mom. The way that love plays out in the story was incredible, too. I didn’t expect that at all. I love that it elevates the story beyond “dancing girl becomes fighting girl,” even though I would have loved that story, too.

The beautiful thing about it is that not only did the story challenge its traditional gender roles by Zarela’s learning to fight a dragon, it also showed the need to go beyond those traditions and the possibilities of new and amazing things to be found there.

I also loved Zarela’s character– her devotion to her family and her stubbornness. Arturo is awesome as well. I loved how grouchy and scowling he is, and the sweet boy beneath that mask.

I really liked (still like!) WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT, this author’s debut, but TOGETHER WE BURN might be my new favorite of her books.

Together We Burn is a fantasy, YA novel with dragons and an enemies to lovers trope. In a world with many types of dragons that have historically hurt humans, some people found a way to fight back - they capture dragons and fight them gladiator style in grand performances. Zarela, the daughter of a famous Dragonador, lost her mother to a dragon attack at a fight gone wrong when she was young. Now, another tragedy has occurred that leaves her father seriously injured and Zarela in charge of saving the family business. But it seems that her hopes reside with a dragon hunter and trainer who believes in caring for dragons instead of fighting them.

Ibanez creates a detailed fantasy world, complete with various forms of magic, a deep culture, and all different types of dragons. She also creates drama between her characters at a family level, as well as the tension between Zarela and her new dragon trainer. I felt like I could really become immersed in the world and lost in the story.

I enjoyed reading this one, especially with the different approaches to dragons and using them to fight in the rings like bulls. I also loved how Zarela switches what she does with the dragons at the end.
This starts out packing a punch with Zarela experiencing disaster and tragedy when she's at the arena with her father watching her mother dance before the dragon fight is to start. This disaster leads to her, as a flamenco dancer trained by her mother, having to figure out things to save her family legacy. When the Dragon Guild tries to take the family inheritance from Zarela, she finds herself with no choice but to train to become a Dragonador. She has to figure out how to get Arturo, the most talented dragon hunter in the land to help her train and learn all about dragons to keep the Dragon Guild from taking everything from her and her family.
Zarela has to help her father with his health and running things and then train to become a Dragonador to keep from losing everything to the Dragon Guild. It's hard work and Arturo is infuriating and hard for her to train and get along with at first, but then things change and their story becomes a love story. As things go along, there are a few big surprises or twists in the story and we see Zarela grow and change as she comes into her own. Others are trying to sabotage things for her and her family as well that she has to figure out who it is, what they're doing, and how to stop them. I would give a few content/trigger warnings though of grief, and death, and a bit more explicit on the page intimacy action also.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for letting me read and review this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An epic adventure! Mysterious, with a stubborn, grumpy love interest. The romance is slow burn and swoony and I love the way Isabel explores the ideas of tradition and loyalty in a way that still allows her characters room for growth and change. Everyone’s a bit of a grey character, and when they come together as the plot crescendos.

And dragons!

Together We Burn is an intricate fantasy set in medieval Spain, filled with magic, flamenco dancing, and dragons. The stakes are high in Zarela's story as she takes over as a Dragonador after her father is injured and tries to save her ancestral land with the help of Arturo, a broody dragon hunter.

I've never a read a book like this before and I was captured by the beautiful setting that Isabel Ibañez weaved together. I felt like I was there with Zarela and Arturo and visualizing everything that was happening was easy with Ibañez's detailed descriptions.

While the romance between Zarela and Arturo was swoonworthy, I really enjoyed the personal growth Zarela undergoes through her journey. She has to face her fears and shows courage. Zarela is a strong and stubborn main character and I'm all for it!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

OKay, this book deserves more hype. The world-building is so cool. The idea of combining a story about dragons with bullfighting and flamenco dancing is just so cool. I love the bits of culture that many of us are familiar with brought into a fantasy genre. And it really works. The main character is her own person. While not entirely a new concept, she doesn't feel like every other YA heroine I've read. She feels like a real, thought-out character. I do feel like some parts of the plot weren't as fleshed out as others. The romance was definitely a bigger part than the plot for some portion of the book (not that I'm complaining) but again, it worked. Some things were maybe wrapped up or resolved a little too easily. And when I say some things I mean most of the conflicts that we have in the story. We also never really got to see more with the magician's guild even though it seemed they'd come more into the story. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story and it's only in the aftermath that those things even come to mind.

I saw dragons and I knew I had to read this, but aside from that I wasn't really sure what to expect going in! This ended up being a really great read filled with culture, romance, adventure and intrigue! (and of course... lots of dragons!)

Zarela is a fiery, stubborn main character who will stop at nothing to save her family's legacy and restore their good name - including facing the monsters that plague her with fear as the next Dragonadore (people who fight dragons in arenas while people watch and cheer them on). Given that she has no experience fighting dragons, she hires a dragon hunter to teach her - enter Arturo!

Arturo is dry and sarcastic, and doesn't show alot of emotion - it makes for a great enemies to lovers trope! Watching him peel back little tiny layers at a time to show Zarela what's hiding underneath was my favorite part of the book!

The magic system was a fun little twist to the book, and even though some things were predictable, it was still a great read! Unique storyline, great main characters, and a swoon-worthy romance all make this a read I recommend! There are quite a few Spanish words thrown into the mix and unfortunately it's not always 100% clear what they mean so bear that in mind if you (like me) don't speak Spanish! You may have to Google a few words lol!

Overall, this is a fun, easy read. I like the writing style, and will be looking into the author's other books in the future!

Happy Pub Day to Together We Burn!
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This book was unlike anything else and I was instantly drawn into the story. Set in a fantasy fictional country, Zarela is trying to save her family business while caring for a sick father and trying to figure out who is sabotaging it (the business). There are dragons, a swashbuckling (former) dragonator (think Spanish Matador), and ethical questions about whether dragons should be hunted for sport.
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I don’t want to give too much away! The story is unique and the writing is superb. The author provided a guide of terms (which is I flipped to a few times so a paper copy is nice for this).
Being in a fantasy world there are chapters needed to provide the background and context, the pacing was perfect for me to visualize this new world, but it may feel slow to others - esp if you read a lot of fantasy.
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There’s action, intrigue, gorgeous imagery, and romance. Dragons are a part of the story but not the only aspect…
One note of caution: There are dragon fights (think bull fighting)….not the easiest to read about but are necessary for the storylines.
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I am so thankful for diverse books like this! We need more. A Spanish fantasy - I love where publishing is going and I can’t wait to read whatever and wherever this author takes us next! Congrats @isabelwriter09 I hope you have a great day and your book is loved.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC in return for this honest review.

What a unique fantasy novel! Zarela belongs to a family of Dragonadors - basically conquistadors but with dragons. When things go horribly wrong, Zarela has to fight to save her family legacy. Along the way, she learns more about dragons and about herself.

I loved how the dragons were fascinating, beautiful, and very scary. The magic system was interesting too, and the Zarela's friend Lola and the tamer she hires (Arturo) also have a strong presence. And I thought the ending was very satisfying.

Thanks to netgalley and Wednesday Books for the chance to read this novel!

I received a copy of this book for my honest review.
Isabel Ibanez has written a book with romance, mystery, courage, and the strength of a strong woman woven all together into a beautifully, unputdownable story. And let’s not forget about the dragons! The way she described their ferociousness, and then switched it up so your thinking of them as being performers was completely enthralling to me. I will never be able to read another dragon fighting book the same way again!

A classic, straightforward fantasy with dragons. And also, reluctant allies to lovers.

Zarela is a young woman desperate to recover her family’s legacy after a tragedy leaves several people dead, her father injured and a mysterious threat looming.

Arturo is a young man who has abandoned his upbringing and is content to leave dragons fights in the past. Until Zarela comes knocking on his door.

While the book wasn't necessarily bad, it also wasn't particularly memorable. I liked it enough to finish it but I'm not dashing to the stores to buy myself a copy. Though it was the book pick for one of my subscription boxes so I'll end up with a copy anyway

A fantasy inspired by medieval Spain with Dragonadors and dragons? I was ready to armchair travel and be swept away.

The setting is one of my favorite aspects of the story. The vivid descriptions of the sights, clothing, traditions, dances, and food (seriously, I was hungry every time food was mentioned) made it easy to immerse myself in this world. Magic (simple to complicated spells) is a part of the culture, but doesn’t play a huge part in the plot. Spanish language is interspersed with English and gives the dialogue more of an authentic feel.

I have mixed feelings about Zarela. After her father is injured during a dragon attack, Zarela immediately jumps into action and is determined to save her home and preserve the family name and honor. I admired that. But some of the ways she went about this didn’t sit well with me. Arturo is brooding, snarly (did I just make up a word?), and stubborn, but with his love of dragons he grows on you and is easily my favorite character. He and feisty, determined Zarela clash from the moment they meet, but it’s no secret this is an enemies to lovers romance, and there are some pretty steamy moments between them that will make romance fans cheer.

It was easy to guess who’s working against the Zalvidar family, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this adventurous, fiery (literally) tale. I know it’s a standalone, but if the author chooses to revisit this world, I’d go back in a heartbeat.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

DNF @ 29%

With it blend of dragons and dancing, this one drew me in with its unique premise. While I found the concept engaging, the story is missing the action and depth I was expecting. I am not finding the world or the characters very developed, and I believe that the execution could have been stronger. I am sure that this is one that will appeal to many, but unfortunately, is it not for me.

Together We Burn is a magical, intimate dance beautifully orchestrated by the author as she directs characters, as well as readers, through the steps of this complex story. Red capes and dresses swirl, feet prance and glide while dragons breathe fire in this age old dance between man and beast. Like medieval Spain where matadors enticed the bulls and flamenco dancers enchanted audiences, Together We Burn is rich in Latin history, seeped in the culture and social beliefs of the times. Readers will find themselves totally submerged in this exquisite world of scintillating colors, magical beings and larger than life characters in battles of life and death.

Zarela Zalvidar and her father are carrying on a five hundred year old family tradition of entertaining audiences as she dances the flamenco with beauty and grace, and he faces down fire breathing dragons with courage and skill in their famous dragon fighting arena. Things are looking up until part of their stable of dragons escape during the anniversary show, killing several audience members and gravely injuring her father. When Zarela is summoned before the Dragon Guile to defend her family's honor and involvment, she understands just how dire their situation has become. The Zalvidar family is being held accountable for all damages, and they stand to lose their ancestral home and livelihood unless Zarela can prove someone sabotaged their estate and dragon ring. Who has reason to execute a dragon trainer and ruin their family name? A rival ring owner? One of the political groups protesting the killing of dragons in the ring? Zarela is determined to find out who murdered their only remaining dragon trainer as well as the rest of their fighting dragons. She will prove her family's innocence - even if it means she has to set aside her fear to become a Dragondor and fight in the ring herself. To do so, she must solicit the help of the baddest, most skilled dragon hunter and trainer in the land, Arturo Diaz de Montserrat.

Together We Burn is a compelling story that will draw readers in and hold them in a trance until the end. The setting is quite simply mesmerizing - it's picturesque, alive and humming with age old melodies and tradition - one of the most original fantasy worlds I've ever been privileged to reside in even briefly as a reader. The culture of medieval Spain is embraced and celebrated in brilliant, vivid color with no stone or detail left unturned. Ibanez's control of dialogue and symbolism is quite simply brilliant as it serves to drive this story forward at a fast clip. Character development is out-of-this-world amazing. Sparks erupt into flames as Zarela and Arturo come together in a dance of forbidden love - bantering back and forth, teasing and antagonizing one another while hiding true feelings. They're fire and ice with denied desire as Arturo trains Zarela for the ring in spite of his disgust at the killing of the dragons that he respects and secretly trains for other purposes. Zarela stands in defense of her family traditions and culture just as Arturo counters with all the reasons it's time for change. Their chemistry ignites the pages. A menacing tone persists throughout, reemphasizing the danger Zarela and Artula face as they investigate a murder and prepare for judgment day at Zarela's first fight as a Dragondor. A complex plot line overflowing with lies, secrets, betrayals and sabotage will keep readers burning through pages of twists and turns to the final death defying performance.

One of the things I love most about Together We Burn is the overall balance the author achieves across the board. While one can argue that this story is fantasy or a mystery or romance but also historical, it's such a perfect blending of genres sure to satisfy the palette of all readers. No one part overshadows the other. This phenomenal story addresses conflicting ethical, political and cultural beliefs. Zarela and Artura each represent opposite sides in an age old battle between tradition and the need for change with family, tradition and honor weighing heavily in both defenses. The author has woven a magical tapestry with an abundance of threads representing the many sides of social beliefs and traditions and a couple's journey to find a common ground. Together We Burn truly has it all. The fantasy is magnificent, the murder mystery dark and dangerous and the love affair scorching hot. I will be singing the praises of this book for months to come . . . and who knows, one day I may also get the chance to dance with a dragon. I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's not to be missed.

Bull fighting, but instead of bulls make it DRAGONS!

I mean, that's honestly all you need to convince you to read this book. But in addition, we have a sweet father/daughter relationship, sabotage, betrayal, and enemies to lovers romance.

It took me a while to get through this one only because I've been in such a reading slump. But I read a little bit every day and was able to really take it all in.

Oh, yeah. Did I mention the dragons?! I love a book with good dragon content!

Content: two fairly open door love scenes.

Together We Burn follows Zarela, a fierce flamenco dancer who must make impossible decisions when tragedy strikes her home. She has always danced flamenco in the arena, while her father fights dragons for show. It is an ancient tradition which she has never questioned- until the day the dragons are released from their cages and wreak havoc. With her family name on the line, Zarela finds an unlikely ally in mysterious dragon tamer Arturo. Together, can they put on one last show to restore the family name?

Together We Burn was a very enjoyable, lighthearted fantasy. I really liked Zarela and Arturo, they had a beautiful slow-burn romance. Zarela is fierce and determined to succeed. Her inability to give up on her family or settle for less makes her a particularly compelling character. Arturo is a great character as well, showing Zarela that traditions can evolve and dragons are more complex than she believes. I loved the final solution that Zarela created to save her family name! The ending felt a little bit rushed, but this did not impact my overall enjoyment of the story.

Ibañez fills the pages with stunning descriptions- especially of food! She paints scenes with vibrant colors, delicious smells, and marvelous sights. Ibañez will absolutely make you wish that you could eat some of the food within! Together We Burn is a beautiful and lighthearted fantasy. I would recommend this for readers who love dragons, determined characters, and slow-burn romance. Together We Burn is out now. Thank you to Isabel Ibañez, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

Together We Burn follows Zarela, a flamenco dancer and daughter to one of the most talented Dragonadors in Hispalia. After a tragedy occurs and her father is injured, it's up to Zarela to protect her family's name and home from further damage and from the Dragon Guild. She teams up with a grumpy dragon hunter, who can teach her to be a Dragonador. But things aren't what they seem and Zarela will have to uncover the truth and hopefully find a way to save her family's home.

Full of gorgeous imagery and scrumptious food descriptions, Together We Burn is beautifully written. It's such an interesting world and I would love to see more of the magic and how everything works. Zarela is a great character and I loved how fierce and determined she was. I also loved her friendship with Lola, who was such a fun character. Zarela and Arturo are definitely a grumpy/sunshine pairing, and I liked how their relationship developed. There were a few good twists and turns, and the final showdown was very satisfying.