The pacing in the beginning threw me a little, but once things got going I was invested! The worldbuilding around dragons was fascinating and pretty unique in my opinion, and while the "main" plot felt a little slow sometimes the climax and payoff was incredible. I would love to read more about this world and will be paying attention to anything else this author writes!!

Hello again dear reader or listener, today I have a bite-sized fantasy treat that will nonetheless leave you fulfilled and satisfied.

The way I ran to request this book the moment I saw the cover art is not even funny, and the fact I got approved for it on NetGalley very soon after just had me downright giddy so, thank you Tor for granting that request.

Do you enjoy epic action fantasy, love dragons and knightly quests, but are mentally exhausted and balk at the prospect of a rich and thick series just now? The Fireborne Blade is the perfect novella for any reader that is going through that (me being one), or even for anyone wanting to try out some classic fantasy for the first time but only wanting to dip their toes in it to start.

I’m not usually a big fan of novellas because I am always left wanting more, but Bond’s work actually surprised me in that even though I definitely want to read much more of this world, the story was perfectly self-contained and limited so as to not feel too short or leave me hanging. I truly felt as if I got to witness a snapshot of this world which has so many stories to tell based on where I turn to look.

In barely 200 pages, Bond managed to create deeply interesting and multilayered characters whose motivations and drives we got to gradually unravel through some non-linear storytelling, interspersed with entries chronicling dragon slaying history, which also rendered the depth of her worldbuilding further, without actually weighing down the story at all. The chronicling especially, I found somewhat entertaining juxtaposed to the main storyline of Maddileh and her squire making their way through The White Lady’s lair, for some reason, but that’s me having a very broken sense of humor.

Also, I wouldn’t say the final plot twist is predictable as much as it is very well foreshadowed, and it still had some surprising elements to it that I deeply enjoyed in any case. And, even if you can call the end, you still get that bit of a twinge to the feels that we all love because deep down we are all masochists when it comes to reading, let’s face it.

The Fireborne Blade is a speedy yet enthralling and gritty read to enrich your afternoon with knightly heroics, dragons, magic, and a badass female protag making her way in a man’s world (reminiscent of Brienne of Tarth for the GoT fans out there), while trying to reclaim her honor by slaying the dragon and retrieving a legendary magic sword. This is the kind of fresh and modern epic fantasy I am glad to be getting to read more of because it has everything that I love about classic fantasy but is more nuanced and seamlessly inclusive towards its current readership and not everything is like it seems.

Plus, I’m simple gal, I see a Boss Ass Bi and I am happy, and I will say it again, have you seen that cover art?!

And, much like the first time, I once again ran to request the second novella in this brand new fantasy series, that might just become a new favorite.

Until next time,
Eleni A. E.

This sapphic fantasy novella follows Maddileh, a knight who is searching for the Fireborne Blade. With her squire, she traverses through the White Lady’s dragon lair to find the sword and defeat the ancient creature. I really enjoyed this novella, it has compelling characters an interesting magic system, and a splash of women taking their power over the patriarchy. Looking for a short, captivating dragon book? This is the one for you!

3.5 stars rounded up for that last 20%. And happy publishing day!

Surprisingly, I found that I liked the 'scholarly' chapters best in this. They seem to have been written with more care and attention (and a great deal of English humour). There is no doubt that Maddileh the knight is a decent protagonist to follow, but the writing in her chapters felt a bit wooden and the dialogue forced at times, not to mention the themes.

What intrigued me about this book (besides, you know, the dragons, even though I'm firmly in the dragons-as-besties camp) was the promise of a high fantasy story told in a shorter format. And while I must commend the writer for making the world feeling properly lived in, the characters sadly lacked in depth. In fact, the pieces coming together in the end might have been a lot more impactful if I'd been given the space to truly connect with them.

Still, it's a straightforward story, the mystery is quite good, and I'll be keeping an eye out for the next instalment and other Charlotte Bond works.

This book is for you if you enjoy:
- dragons of the hoarder variety
- lady knights set on restoring their honour
- a well-crafted fantasy mystery
-a quick story set in a lived-in world.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Charlotte Bond and Tor Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book.

This is a book that I read a while ago when I received my copy but have been slow to review it because my feelings about it are a little mixed. Reviewing this book was honestly a no-brainer for me as soon as I saw it was about knights and dragons. As a long-time fan of fantasy, especially stories about knights, squires, and their fiery adversaries dragons, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of Maddileh’s quest. The story was engaging enough to capture my attention with its promise of dragon-slaying action and its complex character dynamics. However, despite its interesting setup and themes, the book didn’t particularly stand out in the crowded genre of fantasy novels about dragons.

I can say that I loved the characters in The Fireborne Blade and found them undeniably interesting, especially Maddileh, whose struggle for acceptance and to regain her honor in a male-dominated field is the most interesting aspect of the book for me. The relationship between the knights, squires, and various other characters adds layers of intrigue and personal conflict that I really enjoyed. My main gripe is that I do feel like the worldbuilding was somewhat lacking. The setting has a lot of potential but honestly felt a bit underdeveloped to me, leaving much about the background and lore of dragons and that of the world itself largely unexplored. It honestly made it a bit more difficult to immerse myself fully in the story.

Despite the parts of the aspects of the book I thought could have been better I still thoroughly enjoyed The Fireborne Blade and will be getting the next book in the series. I won’t hesitate to recommend this book to anyone looking for something new to read, though I think it would be of particular interest to anyone who has a soft spot for classic dragon fantasy. Its blend of action, personal struggle, and the presence of dragons make this the perfect book for fans of traditional fantasy.

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We're given a strong FMC who needs to prove herself worthy to defend her honor. I'm already excited for a badass FMC - add dragons and magic, and you've got a recipe for an epic fantasy.

I thought there would be a heavy focus on dragons - as we were provided accounts of previous interactions with knights attempting to slay dragons, and running into ghosts along the way. This pulled me in right away, and I was mentally prepared for an epic battle with a fierce dragon. They seemed to have magical forces repelling humans from them, and was cool to see the unique magic tied to them and the physical effects upon their death.

"Then I started hearing noises. Voices, sort of, but also not. I imagined, at the same time, in the dark, that they were the voices of the people she'd killed".

This may sound odd, but I wasn't on board for killing this particular dragon. It wasn't wreaking havoc on a village, but collecting "shiny things". It kindly asked her to choose something else from her trove, and I feel like she wouldn't have threatened her at all if she had left the Fireborne blade and taken something else. It also seemed rather easy to kill the dragon, and the entire "battle" was very short.

After that, it seemed like the rest of the story was strictly focused on unknown intentions and betrayals that didn't fit with the first half of the story and the ending was rather abrupt. I think if this was a full novel vs a novella, there would have been more time to tie everything together nicely.

Thank you, NetGalley & Tor for this eARC.

This was a pretty solid novella! The world is a standard dragons and magic medieval world, so it should be approachable for even a fantasy novice. The story follows Maddileh, a knight trying to retrieve the titular sword to restore her honor to her king. The novella is told through three different views: current day and past Maddileh, and journal entries about other dragon slayings. While I did enjoy the humorous interludes of the journal, I felt it distracted from the main storyline, which when you are working with a novella things have to be plotted pretty tightly. Still, it seemed to leave itself open for a sequel, and I would check it out.

I loved this novella! I am happy it’s the start of a series, giving Murderbot vibes. The magic system was exciting, and I really enjoyed the MC. This was sort of like “Fantasy for Beginners,” but not in a bad way. You get all the magic and lore and excitement of a fantasy dragon quest without the huge investment of pages and pages of world building. The story still felt rich, but I could have been more emotionally invested if it were longer. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

If you're looking for an epic quest fantasy but you don't want to put in the work to read a 1000 page book this is for you. It's a 176 page novella but packs the punch of a big book. I was so taken aback by how good this was! The plot twist had my jaw on the floor.
The story follow Maddileh as she searches for the Fireborne Blade to restore her honor with the king. You have magic, dragons, deceit.... all in a novella. It was fantastic.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

The Fireborne Blade is a simple and straightforward fantasy that is a quick read. Its incorporation of dragons and a quest brought back many fond memories of older fantasy novels. While I listened to this book on audio, I would have found more appreciation for the story if I had read it physically. However, for me, this book lacked world-building. I will admit I struggled to create a bond with the characters. Yet, those searching for a high fantasy book or those who adore older fantasy books will enjoy this short book.

Slaying dragons seems difficult enough without ghosts that give you eternal nightmares and magic that isn’t always so trustworthy. Welcome to the world of The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond, an upcoming fantasy set to be published May 28, 2024

This was such a fascinating book, and the perfect fantasy to give me a break from the mountains of sci-fi I’ve been working through. The Fireborne Blade is what I like to call subtly sapphic, at least in the onset, something pretty common in speculative fiction. In a novel (novella?) this short, that protagonist needs to carry, and carry Maddileh does. I may just be a sucker for a woman in a suit of armor–and who could blame me–but I found Maddileh’s struggles within her world more interesting than I typically find the sort of laden misogyny that often plagues fantasy. The Fireborne Blade is a pointed critique of patriarchal fantasy in the guise of a simple, dragon slaying adventure novel, which ultimately made it all the better for me.

If you’re looking for a new fantasy read (that I believe has a sequel coming soon-ish) then you have to pick up The Fireborne Blade. Action and mystery rolled into one (with an amazing twist) this is the fantasy to pick up if you’re on the go but don’t want to sacrifice depth of narrative or world. Bond reminds me of Tamsyn Muir’s work, giving you just enough and always leaving you wanting more!

This book weaves dragon lore and history through the story as well as a couple of chapters where the reader discovers how Maddileh got to where she is. There is a constant sense that both the reader and Maddileh are on the back front as they go through this story because things aren’t quite adding-up but it is in subtle, little ways that are easy to brush… at least until the truth is no longer avoidable. This sense of not having quite all of the facts worked really well for the story as the narrative twists and turns were not predictable.

Whilst this book is relatively short, it didn’t leave me feeling unsatisfied, in fact it left me with a feeling of excitement for what we might see next in this story. There is a suggestion of a sapphic romance between Saralene and Maddileh which I hope that we see develop further as well as leaving the reader with some questions about the true nature of dragons in this world. I am definitely very intrigued to see where this series will take me and look forward to picking up The Bloodless Princes soon.

I love it when an author can take two timelines and pull them together so seamlessly and given that this was able to happen the short length of a novella was even more impressive. I devoured this story in just under two hours. It is packed full of magic, knights, dragons, and some very fun “down with the patriarchy” moments.

If you love fantasy, but are looking for a quick read, I highly recommend this as it is a story full of character and twist that caught me off guard in the best way possible. I loved the world-building that Charlotte Bond was able to do in so few pages.

I am so excited for the sequel The Bloodless Princes that releases later this year!

A short book, but excellent writing. Maddileh appears to be the only woman knight, or at least it isn’t common in this world. She’s out to slay a dragon to win a magical sword. Dragons used to be intelligent but have devolved. And then there’s a thing that happens which I just can’t think of a way to describe in a review without it being a major spoiler! It’s an excellent novella and you should read it to see the plot twist. I see there’s a a book two listed in Goodreads called The Bloodless Princes. I’ve marked that one to read and marked the author to follow. I’m excited to see what she writes next.

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This fantasy novella took me by surprise in all the best ways. A female knight reminiscent of the beloved Brienne of Tarth, an old lady dragon shrouded in folktales, and hints at a possible sapphic romance to come? Say less.

Maddileh and her mediocre “squire” Petros are on a classic fairytale quest to slay a dragon and retrieve the Fireborne Blade from her lair.

The chapters go back and forth between the current action, three months ago, and excerpts from an in-world text. I’m a sucker for world-building documents and found this to be a delightful way to clue the reader in on the stakes of the adventure and magic system.

The ending felt a little rushed and I wish we could’ve spent more time on the page with one of the characters. However both these things are so hard to fix when you’re writing a novella and I think the author did a great job with the page count she had. While I didn’t completely understand all the magic elements, it did not hinder my enjoyment.

With a twist I wasn’t expecting and an ending that has me eager for more, I recommend A Fireborne Blade to anyone looking for a short but action-packed adventure. Bring on book two!

A short adventurous read!

The Fireborne Blade is told in alternating chapters between texts of dragon slaying and our FMC on a quest to slay the dragon The White Lady and retrieve The Fireborne Blade. This read like a classic medieval tale filled with mages, squires and dragons.

With it being under 200 pages, I felt that I wanted more. More time world building and more time with the characters.

The ending? Absolutely crazy lol and while it started slow for me. The ending had me wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley for this eArc!

Very short! The chapters alternate between records of dragon slaying (or attempts) + present day. The main character is a female knight trying to prove her worth in a man’s world (Brienne??). There’s magic, mages, ghosts, and lots of poisonous sludge. I’m always impressed by what authors can achieve in a short (176 page) story. I had fun, and it even took me on some unexpected twists. The ending wrapped up a bit too fast though, in my opinion! Sapphic romantic subplot hinted fornbook 2? Approved for that ARC which I’m looking forward to. 3.75-4⭐️

I'm not sure what it is lately, but I really have been enjoying novellas lately. This one was action packed and interesting. I did end up wishing we had more time, but that's just my preference for chunky books.

This was a fun, quick fantasy read. It had some great twists and parts that kept me completely hooked, particularly the ending.

I think there is only so much you can do in 200 pages, so I did find the world building almost none existent. Because of this, I found the first half tricky to get into and was often confused about who was who and their role in the story. You are kind of just thrown straight into the story, so it almost felt like I was missing information, which was confusing at times.

Having said that, there was lots I also really enjoyed. It has that classic medieval fantasy feel with knights & squires & the added bonus of DRAGONS! I loved the fact the main character was a knight but also a woman so the roles were reversed.The twists the book took had me hooked, and the way it has been left makes me now want to definitely pick up book 2 when it comes out!

A quick, fun adventure quest story.

A disgraced knight sets out to slay the fearsome dragon the White Lady and reclaim the Fire Born Blade to regain her standing. Along with her squire, a mage named Petros, they set off into the dragons cave. Interspersed with excerpts from a text in dragon slaying with accounts of past knights and they dragons they vanquishes. The ending was a bit crazy and unexpected.