A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson is a thrilling fantasy with hints of Greek mythology, a fierce FMC, cursed nations, and a tension-filled romance with a mysterious sailor! Lia, short for Thalia, is the princess of Locris, a desert kingdom cursed by the goddess centuries ago. Every year, the enemy nation Ilion sends two Locrian maidens to compete in a dangerous ritual, a life or death race, to the goddess' temple while being hunted by the men of Ilion. Not one single Locrian maiden survived before, and this year Lia has to not only save herself but her fragile sister Quynh as well. This is not a fight for life anymore, there are more lives at stake than Lia can think of, and maybe the salvation of her nation is in her hands too.
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Starting this book, I never knew I'd be so invested in every single page so I must start by saying that I loved this book more than I expected. A Tribute of Fire has everything a reader would need, and more! The world building is very detailed and well thought out, with vivid descriptions of Greek inspired settings. Sariah Wilson kept me hooked with nonstop action, dangerous twists, and high stakes. I think her writing was really captivating and made it very easy for me to get into the book right at the start.
Another thing I loved about this book was the characters. The FMC Lia's character was just everything I love to see in a heroine. Her devotion to her nation, bravery, determination, but also vulnerability felt very real and I appreciated it very much. The relationship and found family she established with her friends on the temple were really sweet and reading about a female friendship is always cheering for me as a reader. Our MMC on the other hand, well who doesn't love a mysterious and dangerously attractive sailor in their books? I most certainly do, and the tension and chemistry between Lia and him, FIRE!! Even though I'm not really into insta-love/lust, I was rooting for them from the very start, and also as the book progresses this will make sense to the reader. I also believe that book 2 will shed more light on the situation since it ended with a big question mark.
Everything about the plot, writing, and characters were on point for me and the cliffhanger at the end made everything even better! If you, like me, are a fan of high stakes fantasy with a bit of romance, A Tribute of Fire is the book you need. Trust me you won't be able to put it down and most probably lose sleep over this one.
I am desperate for book 2 and I don't even know how I am going to wait patiently, but I will do my best.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sariah Wilson for providing me with a digital copy of A Tribute of Fire in exchange for an honest review.
#atributeoffiretheeyeofthegoddess #netgalley

5/5⭐ 1/5🌶️*** (More tension, low spice)

•Strong, smart, overall badass FMC
•Goddess-Cursed Nation
•Major Nods to Greek Mythology
•High Stakes Fantasy
•Reylo-Coded🐀/Fated Mates/Dyad-in-the-Force vibes
•Found Family and sisterhood
•Death Trial/Race
•Dragons
•Mysterious History and Magic System
•Enemies to nearly lovers to ???

I went into this eGalley *a pinch🤏 * hesitant. I was in a massive post-Iron Flame reading slump and found out after signing up for the arc that this book was very low-spice. I had some concerns, a Reylo and Greek Mythology coded romantasy with no spice?!?! I was worried that it could read as too YA for my preferences, especially when the reading slump was already absolutely awful.

I am glad that I gave this a chance, because it now is shelved as a five-star read for me. I finished in late September and I’m still thinking about it. I loved this soooo much. Even without explicit spice scenes, the freaking tension between Lia and Jason was perfection. The banter and chemistry between them is delightfully magnetic from their first meeting (the scene under the tree🥵), creating this taboo desire/forbidden love scenario with Jason, who happens to be an Illonian sailor/warrior. (Hello enemies to lovers!)

I was instantly in love with Lia's character when she was secretly training and volunteering to save her people from the Goddess’s curse. I love a determined, strong, cunning, badass princess FMC.

The mysterious lore surrounding the Goddess, the curse, and the politics between the Locrians and the Illonians was intriguing. I am hoping for more insight in book two.

The themes of sisterhood and found family were stunning. The scenario with Quyhn was so very heartbreaking 😭

I was slightly suspicious about two of the components of the plot twist, but overall, I was shook. With that cliffhanger, I NEED book two like yesterday. With more dragons and hot, angsty Sailors, please? 🥵

Anticipated Publication Date: November 1, 2024

A big thank you to Sariah Wilson, Literary Media Tours, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review! Reviews posted to NetGalley and GoodReads.

If anything can really draw me to a book, it's a Greek mythology retelling. But also written by one of my favorite romance writers? I am hooked!

🔥Greek Mythology
🔥Enemies to lovers to enemies
🔥Slow burn
🔥Found family
🔥Stabby FMC
🔥Broody MMC

Lia has a plan to save her cursed nation and is selected to be a part of a deadly race to the Goddess temple where she can retrieve the gem she needs. She is determined to complete this without getting too close to anyone. Including the dreamy sailor she meets along the way. Can she save her nation while also fighting off enemies (including a goose!) every step she takes?

This was action filled from the first chapter and constantly had me dying to read more to see what else would happen. The mysteriousness and charm of Jason had me wanting Lia to give in to him. But I am glad that, for the most part, she was able to stay on track with her mission. I feel like there are more people in this story who have secrets than we know. This ended on a cliffhanger, and I need more! Can't wait for the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Five stars isn’t enough. Six, seven, ten? I absolutely loved this book.

A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson took me by surprise. I was hooked from the very first page, and the enchantment lingered long after I turned the last one.

The world Sariah Wilson created is rich and immersive, filled with intricate details and woven with backstory and lore. It felt so palpable that I could almost step into it and stand alongside the characters. Idealistically, I would love to, but I’m not sure I could keep up with them! The supporting characters are beautifully crafted and well-rounded, each bringing a distinct personality that enhances the story.

Lia, the FMC, embodies a perfect blend of toughness and selflessness. She’s fiercely protective, intelligent, and always moves with intent and a plan while also being open to self-improvement. Jason, the MMC, is a morally grey delight, exuding an attractive arrogance and swoon-worthy devotion. Together, they create a heady combination of smoldering attraction and a torturous slow burn. Their chemistry is off the charts.

With elements of Greek mythology, enemies to lovers, found family, forbidden romance, quests, and magic dragons, there’s so much to love.

This book is a romantasy, rich with adventure and mystery, yet it also offers a profound exploration of how tradition can be both beautiful and harmful. It highlights the importance of devotion and the need to protect loved ones while celebrating the value of vulnerability and community. It almost felt like a tribute to every woman who’s ever fallen victim and been unable to defend themselves, reminding us that we can learn to stand up for ourselves.

This book encompasses everything I’ve described and more—feelings that are too big to put into words. I’m already yearning for book two, and I’ve only just put the first one down.

4.5 Stars! Wow! This book got me out of a reading slump (FINALLY)! I was sucked in to the story, read overnight, and finished within a 24 hour period.

I found this world to be very interesting and look forward to learning more about their magic system and goddess. Our FMC is a princess who plans on saving her kingdom from a curse by secretly training to survive a horrific trial. The forbidden love story had me kicking my feet and the support system from the FMC's found family is fantastic.

There are secret identities and secret plots, and even though I had my hunches, the ending still had me SHOCKED! I need book two immediately!!

Trigger warning: If you have a history of religious trauma, some aspects of this book might be difficult to read. Since the FMC is training to become an acolyte (against her will), signs her life away in temple ceremonies, and is gaslit by higher priestesses, some of those passages might be uncomfortable.

Thank you to the author, Sariah Wilson, for sending me an eARC copy! This is my honest review.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing style but that didn’t prevent me from being engaged in the story. I’m curious to see how the series continues and how the relationships change.

I loved the twists and turns of the book! The mythology retelling vibes were perfect, and I adored the relationship between Jason and Lia. There were so many swoon-worthy moments, and I adored the slow burn. The only thing I would have loved to see was a more even balance between the romance and fantasy aspects of the book, as if it felt more fantasy-heavy than romance, especially in the middle.

₊⊹A Tribute of Fire
Firstly, thank you Sarah Wilson for reaching out and asking me to read your ARC! I appreciate it!!

When she told me this novel had:
enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn story (it also has a death trial, found family/sisterhood, a stabby FMC, is Greek-mythology adjacent and has some dragons),

I knew I wanted to read it!

And I definitely enjoyed this one!!! buttttt it felt like a tiny something was missing for me..I can’t really put my finger on it but it just felt like I was waiting for something to happen but I didn’t know what? The plot twists that did happen was great, I did eventually catch on to a couple of them but the ending was quite a shock to me and will definitely have me picking up book 2 just so I can have some questions answered!!

I do wish the author touched more on the creatures and magic lore in this world but maybe that will develop more in book two! (Because who doesn’t want more dragons, magic and mythical creatures?!)

I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, so I did love that aspect of this! The political scheming and a few heist made for a fun read. The found family was everything and I would like to join their Adelphia please 🥹 and Jason!!! I don’t know how to feel about you sir!!!!

"A Tribute of Fire" introduces readers to a cursed nation in dire need of salvation, centered around a fierce warrior princess whose journey is both physical and emotional. The narrative weaves a gripping tale of urgency as she embarks on a life-or-death race to a sacred temple, tasked with breaking the curse that plagues her land.
The themes of found family and camaraderie shine throughout the story, as the princess forges bonds with her companions, each character bringing depth and personality to the group. This dynamic enriches the plot, making the stakes feel personal and enhancing the overall emotional impact.
The enemies-to-lovers arc is particularly well-executed, adding layers of tension and complexity. As the princess navigates her feelings for a rival, the forbidden romance unfolds with palpable chemistry, drawing readers into the tumultuous emotions and dilemmas faced by the characters.
The world-building is immersive, combining elements of fantasy and mythology that create a vivid backdrop for the characters' struggles. The pacing keeps readers engaged, balancing action with moments of introspection and character development.
Overall, "A Tribute of Fire" offers a compelling blend of adventure, romance, and the power of chosen family, making it a must-read for fans of epic fantasy. The promise of further adventures in "The Eye of the Goddess" series leaves readers eager for more.

Wow, wow wow! I absolutely ate this book up! From start to finish I couldn’t put it down and the need to know how it was all going to end had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. The mythological elements, the diversity in characters, the tension, all of it was so well done I found myself literally messaging the author at the halfway point to fangirl about the book! I loved everything about this story and I need book two asap! If you’re looking for your next romantasy read then look no further, this book will be all you can hope for and more! I highly recommend putting this one at the top of your TBR for next month.

Thank you to the Author for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Sariah Wilson for this Arc.

Overall this book had a very promising story line but I felt it to be too predictable for me. I didn’t find the tension with Jason at the start gripped me, it was almost a bit too insta loveish and I suspected the plot twist immediately.

I think if you are a newer to the Romantasy genre you may really enjoy this book because you won’t necessarily see the twists coming.

I loved A Tribute of Fire!! Set in a world where every yearthe Kingdom of Locris must select two maidens as tribute to the goddess who was defied a millennia ago to run a life or death race to reach the Temple of the Goddess and become a priestess.
Lia, the princess of Locris has been training in battle combat and has taken it upon herself to go into this year's ritual and try to save her kingdom. I absolutely fell in love with Lia. She is such a strong, smart, and caring person who only wants the best for her kingdom and believes she will be the one to make it and return the eye of the goddess to her desert homeland. There are a few things she didn't account for: her sister being put in danger along with her and a man who she is inexplicably drawn to, but doesn't know if she can trust.
There are so many elements to this book that I love... High stakes, found family, instant attraction, love for family, and things that aren't what they seem at face value. Sariah has also done it again with the wittiest banter and steam between Lia and Jason (the man she cannot help but be drawn to). I love the way she plays these two against each other and when they weren't in the page together, I longed for it because of how great it was.
All I can say is after that ending, I NEED A Vow of Embers (like yesterday 😬).

3.5 out of 5 stars rounded up
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝-𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡

I, for one, have zero complaints about romance authors venturing into Romantasy! As someone who enjoys romance but always wishes for more dragons, this makes perfect sense. Sariah Wilson, a proven romance author, takes her first stab at Romantasy with A Tribute of Fire — and trust me, there’s a lot of stabbing. If you love your FMCs sarcastic and stabby, you’re likely to enjoy this one.

We’ve got Greek-adjacent mythology, death trials, found family, enemies-to-lovers, dragons, and even more dangerous…geese! 🪿 I won’t spoil anything, but there’s a goose scene that had me laughing out loud and forcing everyone around me to read it (my husband now knows this as the "goose book").

Heads up! It ends on a cliffhanger. I saw some of the twists coming but had no idea how they’d actually unfold, so I’m excited to see what happens next!

3.5⭐️
This book has a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to future installments because I really do enjoy the plot. I will say, I think the romance was not it for me and felt random and didn’t flow with the story well. I also think the beginning could have been cut down a lot as it felt like 3 different plots in the first like 50 pages

WOW! This was one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a LONG time. Throne of Glass meets Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing! The world building truly takes you to another world and grips you into the narrative from the start. From page 1 until the very end the plot is action packed. The FMC is fierce, determined, honor driven, cunning, and tender all wrapped into one incredible character that you will be cheering for the entire book. AND THE ENDING 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I quite literally cannot get my hands on book 2 fast enough! I can tell this is going to go in the same category as ACOTAR, TOG, and Fourth Wing as one of my favorite fantasy series ever. So incredible!

This is a wonderfully written fantasy romance steeped in Greek mythology and lore. Part of the story is based on Ajax’s nation, Locris, and the maidens cursed to suffer for his actions. Lia is a strong FMC who is willing to do whatever it takes to save her nation. Although the romance is focused around Lia and Jason, there were so many supporting characters that I adored and am invested in their stories in coming books. The plot is intricate and kept me on my toes as there are several twists throughout the story, including a double-whammy at the end that left my mouth gaping and not believing this is where the book ended. I am eagerly awaiting the next book!

Read this if you love: enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, death trials, found family/sisterhood, mythology

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC Review

Wow, what a book!

I absolutely loved this story. From the get go, I was invested in Lia’s tale and quest to save her homeland.

Her journey is brutal and exciting, with the trials I knew were coming and all of the unexpected twists and turns.

Her character is beautifully developed with each hardship she faces and she has other amazing strong females supporting her. I’ve highlighted so many inspirational quotes.

It’s also the most steamy book I’ve read which doesn’t go further than kissing!

I’m seriously engrossed and can’t wait to find out how the story ends.

Beware of the goose 🪿 & also the cliffhanger…

Themes/Tropes:
Romantasy, Mythology, Retelling, Chosen One, Prophecy, Magical Artifact, Survival, Trials, Mentor, Outcast, Found Family, Forbidden Love, Arranged Marriage, Gods, Magic, Monsters/Fantastical Creatures, Dragons & Mental Health.

1/5 🌶 rating

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had the chance to read this as an ARC, and now I’m eagerly waiting for the next installment! A Tribute of Fire completely captivated me from the start. This fantasy adventure blends action, trials, and just a touch of romance perfectly. The protagonist faces a life-threatening challenge to protect her home, and her journey is nothing short of intense. The story showcases powerful, dynamic women and unique adventures that kept me hooked. While there’s a bit of romance, it’s not the main focus—and I appreciated that balance. What really stood out was the theme of strong women uniting to overcome impossible odds. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say the cliffhanger is deliciously agonizing! I can’t wait to see what happens next.

First and foremost what a journey this book takes you on. It has completely destroyed my heart! Sariah Wilson does a wonderful job of making you love or hate her characters or both. Reading the authors note at the end and seeing where she got her inspiration from for the story makes it even better.
The main story is about Lia, a princess of Locris, who begins a journey to save her people and lands from a centuries old curse where nothing will grow on their lands. She is put through the wringer from day one and the hits do not stop coming as she keeps trying to find the one thing that she believes will save her people. She continues to have to over come obstacles after obstacle and each thing makes her even stronger than she was before. By the end you just don’t want to stop seeing her kick butt and then the author just leaves you dangling over the cliff at the end dying to know what comes next in her story!

4.75 out of 5 stars

Thank you to @literarymediatours and @sariahwilsonauthor for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book as part of Amazon’s First Reads program. The publish date is 11/1/2024 if you don’t have prime.

I would suggest this if you enjoy:
Slow Burn
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Hidden Magic
Positive sisterhood
Training and combat

Wow. Wow. This book was so awesome! I loved the fact that this book had all of my favorite tropes in it. The sisterhood, the intrigue, the mystery, the danger and, my personal favorite, the enemies to lovers/forbidden love trope.

The descriptions and atmosphere were stellar. The relationships between the girls were also really well fleshed out. I found myself excited and wanting to know what was going to happen next.

I pictured the temple as the place where Dr. Strange trained and I think that really enhanced my reading experience.

Also, book 1 has barely come out and I’m ready for book 2 immediately. I’m not above begging 😂@sariahwilsonauthor