I adored this story! Sariah Wilson’s writing is easy to read and engaging. I really liked the character of Lia - her determination and how she thinks about things. I think the romance with Jason was done well and I really enjoyed their time together. The plot twist at the end! Amazing! Loved it! It makes me wonder how book 2 will progress and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

“𝐼 𝒹𝑒𝒸𝒾𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓃 𝐼𝓁𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒶 𝒷𝑜𝓃𝒻𝒾𝓇𝑒.”

A Tribute of Fire is Sariah Wilson’s first romantasy novel and it absolutely did not disappoint! Lia, the princess of the cursed nation of Locris, will do whatever it takes to restore her homeland and put an end to the annual sacrifice of two Locrian maidens by the nation of Ilion. This year, Lia is one of the maidens who has to compete in a life and death race to the temple of the goddess and if she has any hope of lifting the curse, failure is not an option.

I absolutely loved every single second of this book! The world building was excellent and I love that it’s based on a Greek mythology story that, at least to me, is relatively unknown. At first, I thought it was going to be difficult to follow due to the number of characters, but each of them had a distinct voice and personality which stopped them from blending together. I don’t think I can even speak about Jason’s shenanigans, but I adored the connection between him and Lia, and can’t wait to see where their relationship goes! The banter between them made me laugh quite a few times and the writing in general was just stunning!

My one note is that I had expected more of the story to involve the race through Ilion. It wouldn’t have added anything to the story to have more happen, but from the synopsis, I had assumed that the race was the main focus of the story, so I just wanted to point out that it’s not, in case others are thinking the same!

I may be just a little bit obsessed with this story. I was able to predict some of the plot points, but I was still on the edge of my seat as they happened and I think there will be a lot more to uncover about the characters and what’s happening in the world as a whole in book 2. I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

Thank you to Sariah Wilson, Tales and Teacups PR & NetGalley for the ARC!

As a fan of Greek mythology, I really like how the author did a deep dive into the story of Cassandra - I wasn't aware of the Locrian maidens and this was an interesting introduction to the topic.
The overall plot was a bit predictable and the romance was not enjoyable. I wish that more time had been spent developing Lia's character and the dynamic between her and the temple priestesses, and less time on Lia's romantic dreams about Jason. I am excited to read the sequel, though! The worldbuilding is interesting and I want to learn more about this ancient-Greece inspired fantasy world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC!

If I'm honest, it took me a little bit to get into this book but when I did, I didn't want to put it down. The cliff hanger left me impatient for the next book. I liked the concept of it, the twists and turns as well as the library security guards.

The book does contain a bit of lust which is not my favourite part to be honest but interested to see the purpose of it in the storyline. The characters were interesting and fully formed. Worth reading for sure.

I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.

In A Tribute of Fire, we follow Lia, a fierce princess of Locris, a kingdom cursed to endure an annual sacrifice where young women must run a deadly race across enemy land. Set in a rich, arid landscape of intrigue and peril, this story stands out with its unique blend of myth-inspired trials, fierce sisterly bonds, and a reluctant romance that feels as combustible as its setting.

The world-building is immersive, placing readers in a land baked by a curse yet brimming with hope. Lia’s character is both fierce and deeply sympathetic; her battle-honed skills lend her an edge in this deadly game, but the race’s stakes hit home when her untrained sister, Quynh, joins her on this dangerous path. The bonds of sisterhood feel especially moving here, giving Lia’s struggle an added emotional depth.

The story also introduces Jason, an Ilionian sailor who becomes a complicated romantic interest. He’s equally intriguing and frustrating for Lia, embodying the enemy yet sparking a reluctant attraction. Their chemistry adds an extra layer of tension to the story, balancing Lia’s internal struggles with the external threats she faces.

While the plot is exhilarating, with twists at every turn, some scenes in the labyrinth of Ilion could have benefitted from tighter pacing. However, this minor flaw doesn’t detract much from the book’s overall impact, as Lia’s quest to break the curse is filled with stakes that only build with each chapter.

A Tribute of Fire is a solid read for those who love mythological-inspired high-stakes quests with layered, complex characters. Lia’s journey is about more than survival; it’s a fierce push for freedom and change, making this story as impactful as it is suspenseful.

This story gripped me from start to finish with its fierce, determined heroine and the high stakes of her journey. Lia, a princess fighting for her starving nation, has a singular mission: recover a long-lost relic of the goddess who once abandoned her people, casting them into centuries of famine. The relic lies deep in enemy territory, where those who try to retrieve it often don’t return. To reach it, Lia must survive a deadly ritual run, where enemy soldiers hunt maidens on sacred ground—a tribute to the goddess who once ran for her own freedom. But Lia’s determination is matched only by her resourcefulness, and she soon finds herself both aided and distracted by an infuriatingly charming sailor, Jason, who appears at the most unexpected (and inconvenient) moments.

This story pulses with female empowerment, determination, and found family. Lia’s journey is full of growth, grit, and grit. She’s complex, strong, and exactly the kind of heroine you root for with every page. Jason? A total swoon, with just the right blend of cocky and caring. And then there’s the world itself, steeped in mythology, with ancient temples, goddess lore, and a library guarded by geese that had me laughing out loud.

The writing style stands out too, with a modern touch that makes it digestible without breaking the epic feel. It’s a tricky balance, but this author nails it, blending the timeless with the accessible in a way that completely worked for me.

And that ending? I’m absolutely reeling! Just when I thought I had it figured out, the twists hit, leaving me speechless. This cliffhanger promises an intense Lovers-back-to-Enemies storyline in the next book, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. With dragons, goddesses, temple training, and a dangerously charming sailor on the horizon, book two can’t come soon enough—I’m counting down the days!

“It only takes one person to change the world, one person to save a life.”

A Tribute of Fire is the first book in The Eye of the Goddess series by Sariah Wilson and can we just say we are in absolute book love and counting down the days to the second instalment A Vow of Embers.

Wow, it was SO good, we’re obsessed! There was drama, battles, twists, magic, mythology, and characters that stole our hearts. The world-building was immense and it had enough intrigue to keep us absolutely compelled as the story moved along in the most exciting of ways.

The characters were all so well developed and written we became completely immersed in their stories! We are loving all the amazing fantasy books we’re coming across right now from new to us Authors. If you love enemies to lovers and slow burn romantic fantasy then this is another series to fall in book love with!

Just beware of an OMG! - That cliffhanger!

‘And as soon as I saw his face, my heart whispered, Oh, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you.’

“It only takes one person to change the world, one person to save a life.”

A Tribute of Fire is the first book in The Eye of the Goddess series by Sariah Wilson and can we just say we are in absolute book love and counting down the days to the second instalment A Vow of Embers. Wow, it was SO good, we’re obsessed! There was drama, battles, twists, magic, mythology, and characters that stole our hearts. The worldbuilding was immense and it had enough intrigue to keep us absolutely compelled as the story moved along in the most exciting of ways. The characters were all so well developed and written we became completely immersed in their stories! We are loving all the amazing fantasy books we’re coming across right now from new to us Authors. If you love enemies to lovers and slow burn romantasy then this is another series to fall in book love with! Just beware of an OMG cliffhanger!

‘And as soon as I saw his face, my heart whispered, Oh, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you.’

First I want to say thank you Sariah Wilson for gifting me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝
Did I read this ARC a little late? Yes. Sadly. However, I read it exactly when I needed some feminine rage, and IT DELIVERED! 🤬

A Tribute of Fire follows Lia as she sacrifices herself for the chance to free her nation from a curse. She must compete in a life-and-death race to reach the Temple in Illion, only if she reaches the Temple can she have any hope of saving her dying country.

This was action-packed and emotional! It was easy to get into, and just a good intro into the world of romantsay. I did find it a little slow at points, but that’s to be expected given the fact that it’s also setting the scene for the series. And to top it off Sariah has left us with SO many questions (which is half the fun of fantasy series).

I really love the found family aspect of this book. Her Adelphia and the Priestesses kinda reminded me of Fourth Wing and their sections. 🗡️ It was an instant dedication to each other, and I loved watching all of the girls grow their connections.
I seriously can’t wait to see what happens in book 2! I need to know what’ll happen with Jason AND what’s going on with all the vague shit the goddess keeps telling her!!! I NEED TO KNOW!
♡︎ Ancient Prophecies
♡︎ Found Family
♡︎ Trials & Secrets
♡︎ Feminine Rage
♡︎ Forbbiden Romance

For those wondering about spice levels, I have no idea where this series is going to go, but this book was a lot of kissing. Aggressive kissing and maybe some medium petting, but minimally descriptive.

Lia is a princess of Locris, a barren kingdom cursed by the goddess many years ago. She and her sister Quynh are chosen as the two maidens from Locris who must participate in a race to the temple. They are hunted as they race, so it's not without its perils. Lia's plan is to win the race and figure out how to lift the goddess's curse on Locris. Complicating things is Jason, the handsome sailor she can't seem to get enough of.

Fantasy is not my go-to genre but I was intrigued by the book description so I gave it a go. I was not disappointed. What's not to love about a strong female character on a mission to save her kingdom?

This was amazing!

Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and From blood and ash. It's a great starting point for those who don't usually read fantasy since the world building isn't hard to understand at all and it sucks you right in from the start. Left me gasping at every twist and turn. Truly, what a cliffhanger!
Loved the female friendships and the character development. The found family in this book is chef's kiss. I cannot wait for the second book!

Thank you Sariah Wilson and netgalley for the eArc.

Unfortunately this book is just not for me. I have tried multiple times to get into this book, but I'm just not vibing with it unfortunately. I know other people will love this book, but it's just not for me!

From the very beginning, I was hooked, especially learning about Lia’s country’s traumatic history. The Locrians must sacrifice two maidens to the Illionans, where they’re forced to survive a dangerous run through their city to reach the temple of the goddess. Once inside, they are safe. No one is allowed to help them, and to this day, no maiden has survived. Lia, not only to be determined to be chosen, but to also survive so that she can save her country.

While the trial was intense and kept me on the edge of my seat, it was the found family Lia discovers along the way that truly captivated me. Her goal may have been to find the Eye of the Goddess, but by the end, what she finds is something so much more—new sisters. When her sisters learn she needs to trespass in the temple to search for the Eye, they volunteer to help without hesitation. Their unwavering loyalty gave me all the feels!

I went into this book completely blind and was pleasantly surprised!

This book follows Lia, a princess preparing to the trials of a death-defying ritual in the hopes that she will find a way to save her country if she succeeds.

Initially this book got off to a bit of a slow start but once things picked up, it didn’t take long for me to get invested. This book included a lot of very descriptive kissing scenes that I felt were a bit unnecessary; however, they did help build up a big reveal at the end. This book may have been pretty long (more than 500 pages) but the last few chapters made it all worth it.

10 out of 5⭐!
Wow, this book was phenomenal, best book I've read for a while. I'm so mad about the cliffhanger though, gah!!! I need the next book right now!
🌶️/5 spice, just kisses BUT they were the spiciest kisses I've ever read!

Perfection. I wanted to start it over immediately after finishing it. I saw the twist coming for a while and it was still brutal at the end. It did slow down a bit in the middle after a strong start but just about the time I was getting bored with it, it picked right back up.

Found family, secrets and betrayals, a badass fighting FMC, tension, banter... I can't wait to read book 2!

I tried to get into it but just couldn’t. It was ok but just not for me personally. The story idea is a good one.

This book is not good. At least to me it’s not.

I’m finding it to be rather boring and so so unrealistic. Two young girls have to run from a whole group of trained men. Run for their lives. And one is a princess betrothed to the prince of the very land she’s fighting for her life on. I’m not buying it.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. It’s just not for me.

This book is a great Romantasy, interesting, and easy-to-follow world building, banter, a fierce FMC, and a good plot. This story is inspired by Greek myth, and it definitely feels inspired by Reylo.

For anyone who liked The Hurricane Wars, I would recommend reading this one.

The main character is Lia, who is the Princess of Locris, a land cursed by an earth goddess, a goddess who is worshipped by their rival nation Ilion. Every year, the nation of Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice. They take two Locrian maidens who must compete in a dangerous race to reach the goddess’ temple. The only thing is, in a millennium, not a single maiden has survived.

Lia is badass. She has been trained to fight, and she is generally a feisty character. Her aim in this story is to save Locris by surviving the race and finding a secret item within the temple.

Upon reading the blurb of this book, I thought that the race would take up the majority of the story, but there is much more in the story than that. There is a really great found family in this book, Lia’s Adelphia is such a diverse group, and it was so enjoyable to read.

The male main character, Jason, is quite scrumptious. He is intense, flirty, and mysterious. Instantly, there is a connection between the two. It definitely is insta love/lust, but I really enjoyed it.

I had a great time reading this book. The only drawback for me was that it took a while to build, and I found the twists predictable. It was still enjoyable, though, and I will definitely be reading book two.

This is a fantastic book! The premise and the unique setting (a quasi-Greek/Roman fantasy world) caught my attention but it was the delivery that made it truly special. If you think you know where the story is going -respectfully- you don't. It's a ride. Buckle up. I also loved, Loved, LOVED how the relationship developed between the FMC/MMC-- their interactions, how they were described within their setting, and especially their conversations. The dialogues between two clever people, and their banter-- Ah! *chef's kiss* delightful. Absolutely recommend!