I was so excited for this book and thought it was going to be a new favorite fantasy romance in the beginning! Sadly, it became a slave/master romance, which is very problematic, and I could not continue on with this content.

So Firebird is set in this Roman-inspired empire where dragons rule, and we follow Malina, a dancer with this empathic magic, who ends up soul-bound to a super intense dragon general. The vibes are very dark romantasy — enemies, power imbalance, forbidden connection… all of it. There’s war, magic, and some really emotional moments. I loved the world-building and the whole dragons-meet-Roman-empire thing. Definitely one for fans of fated mates and morally grey love interests.

I was excited for to see how history inspired this interesting take on romantasy. The world was built but not fleshed out. The plot felt both too slow at moments and rushed at others. I'm curious what will happen in the sequel. The romantic relationship felt incredibly rushed given the nature of there undying love. Perhaps, the speed for the shifter falling can be attributed to the "fated mate" element.

Firebird offered a refreshingly unique take on dark romantasy. I haven’t come across many romantasy novels set during Roman times—especially ones that weave in dragons—so the world-building immediately caught my attention. While the romance between Julian and Malina takes center stage, I was equally drawn in by the high-stakes plot to overthrow Caesar. The mix of political intrigue, gripping battle scenes, and intense chemistry made this story truly stand out. Given the Roman-inspired setting, the story does include themes of slavery and references to sexual assault. That said, I felt these elements were handled with care and never veered into gratuitous territory. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantasy books!

If I could give a book zero stars I would. I had heard a lot about this book but I wanted to make my own opinion because booktok tends to exaggerate. However this book was the absolute worst. Not only is this author trying to make a slave/ master romance sexy but she is also using the trauma of the Romani people to make this romantasy book. When I read this book all I could see and from what she referenced the struggles that the Romani people have faced being made as inspiration for a romance. It was disgusting but unfortunately I expect nothing less from a white woman. I will never read anything from this author again.

I loved this! It was refreshing to read something new in the dark Romantasy genre. I can’t wait to read the second one when it comes out!

This story was intriguing and different from what I usually read. Some reviewers are clutching their pearls because of the “owner/slave” dynamic between the two MCs, but it’s ridiculous when there are much worse things happening in contemporary stalker romances.
Due to the setting, I didn’t find their relationship a hindrance at all.
The biggest hindrance was some of the author’s word choice- “cunty” in particular. That was honestly the only thing I didn’t like about this book.

I have unfortunately DNF'd this book for the moment. I read a few chapters and was enjoying it, but I then heard from some other people who had finished it that it was pretty spicy and was more of a dark romance vibe. Dark romance and super spicy books are unfortunately not my thing at all, but we have plenty of customers who love dark romance, so I will for sure be recommending it to those I know like a spicy book and don't mind the darker romance themes! It's a beautiful book and I think if it can get to the right people they could really love it! I'm not opposed to coming back to this book and finishing it sometime in the future, but for right now I wanted to prioritize reading other ARCs that I knew would be a little more my speed.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this ARC.

Personally, Firebird was a very solid and enjoyable read. I loved the setting, the tension and the romance, even though the book had some heat coming its way because of the themes, I thought that delicate balance in the relationship was very well done by the author.

3.5 stars. I know this has been getting mixed reviews and I’m not someone who can fully comment on whether or not the slavery is harmful. Besides all of that I enjoyed the story line and the shifter element. The character development for the fmc was a little weak and I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more. The romance dynamic was good overall i think it would have been a bit better if the book marketed what their dynamic was going to be a little more. Overall I think the thing that this book needed was a little bit more stronger marketing that accurately portrayed the book.

I have a bad feeling I’m going to get backlash for this, but some things need to be addressed. Firebird is getting way too much heat for things it very clearly is not.

There’s been a lot of discourse around the “master/slave” dynamic, and some people are calling the relationship toxic, abusive, or even grooming. And I need to push back because that interpretation flattens what’s actually a nuanced, slow-burn romance set in a brutal, high-stakes fantasy world.

First: Malina is not a slave in the sense people are implying. She’s not being trafficked or used for someone else’s gain. She enters into a protective role, disguised as a slave, to surviveeeee. There is never any exchange of money. She is not bought. That distinction matters. It’s not about ownership or submission. It’s about survival in a violent, hierarchical world where her status could literally get her killed.

And the grooming claims? Let’s clear that up once and for all. Malina was eighteen when she and Julian FIRST met. There was nothing romantic, nothing sexual, nothing predatory, and it was a 5 minute interaction.

Their romantic relationship doesn’t begin until FOUR years later. By then, she’s grown, hardened by war, trauma, and she’s making her own choices. Julian doesn’t pursue her. He waits. There’s no manipulation here, no power games. If anything, he’s the one holding back.

Malina has agency, period. She’s not some naive little lamb being coaxed into love. She’s sharp, observant, and doesn’t hesitate to push back when something feels wrong. She’s allowed to be vulnerable and strong.

Julian is morally gray in the best way. Yes, he’s part of an oppressive empire, but he’s also actively fighting against it in the ways he can. He’s not cruel. He’s not abusive. He protects Malina at every turn and never uses his position to manipulate her. And let’s be real, if you’re reading morally complex fantasy but want your love interest to act like a golden retriever at all times, maybe this genre isn’t for you.

Absolute slow-burn perfection. No rushed kisses, no insta-love. Every ounce of affection is earned. You feel the emotional stakes growing over time, built on trust, shared trauma, mutual respect, and real chemistry.

The Roman Empire vibes, the caste system, the underground resistance, the DRAGON SHIFTERS. It’s epic and cinematic and lush. This isn’t just a fantasy backdrop for spice, it’s a fully realized world with depth and history and teeth.

So no, this is not a book that glorifies abuse. It’s a story about surviving in a system built to crush you. It’s about love in the wreckage. It’s about two broken people trying to build something new out of fire and ash.

Audience: Adult
Plot: 3.75 out of 5
Characters: 3.5 out of 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ out of 5

Keywords: Romantasy, Ancient Rome, Dragons, Medusa myth, Historical Fantasy, Steamy

Tea Pairing: Pears and Cinnamon Herbal Tea by Plum Deluxe

Favorite Quote:
“If she was hurt before I could free her, I’d set the world on fire and gladly watch it burn” (Chapter 33)

Firebird tells the story of Malina, a Dacian dancer, who captivates a Roman general and dragon-shifter named Julian Dakkia with one dance. Years later, their paths meet again, and this time he rescues her from the chaos of the battlefield. Taking her back to Rome, Malina is caught up in court intrigue, along with her growing feelings for Julian. Meanwhile, their love threatens to burn down the world.

This was a fast-paced, enemies to lovers novel that focuses on mystical elements, as well as hints of revolution against tyranny. This is an emotionally intense novel that I couldn’t help but be transported into this world. Told in dual POV, between Malina and Julian, I felt that there was a perfect blend of emotion and action, which really aided in the pacing. It would be the perfect read for a weekend.

I really appreciated the author’s research and the care taken to convey ancient Rome, and the harsh reality of colonialism. The descriptions of the various settings – the forum, marketplace, the temples, the food and drink, etc. – the everyday customs that would have taken place were very well researched and thought out. As someone who studied classical and ancient history, this was very much appreciated. And I thought that it added a layer of depth to the story and the characters.

Having a “Roman”tasy was such an interesting idea, and I commend the author for writing this. I really enjoyed the overall story, and I look forward to reading the sequel. Overall, I would recommend Firebird to anyone who enjoys romance novels with dragon-shifters, such as Abigail Owen’s Inferno Rising series, as well as the HBO’s Rome series.

I LOVE the fated mates trope so much but I wish I loved the romance in this one. I didn’t love nor hate this book to be honest. With the Roman setting, the empathic “witch” and the what sounds like a really hot Roman going against his very powerful uncle.. I felt like I REALLY would have loved this one. Unfortunately, I felt like the romance was too rushed and insta lovey, the world wasn’t built up enough and I really didn’t feel anything for anyone. I didn’t care. And that’s because we were just dumped into this world and relationship and then kind of rushed to the more serious parts and I felt like I didn’t truly know the characters. I also enjoyed the dragon shifter concept but wish that was expanded upon too.

Overall, I’d love to see how the magic and dragon shifters came about and more world development to fully understand and care about the events of the story. But also won’t continue on with this series for some very obvious reasons.

There definitely should've been some trigger warnings but you know what this was one of the most original books I have read in a very long time. I absolutely love reading about ancient times and setting a dragon love story in there was absolutely brilliant wow I cannot get enough my new recommendation for fantasy lovers with some romance. cause damn

Not a fan of the master/slave romance dynamic.. that was... a choice. I personally DNF'd this. I would recommend a sensitivity reader next time.

This book started out promising but ended up not being close to a favorite. It had all of the elements that I love in a Romantasy but it just came out feeling generic and unspecial. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. It just exists.

A big problem for was the lack of content warning regarding SA. Now, i did read an ARC so maybe in the published version, there will be a warning. The book starts off with a reference to Medusa being assaulted (not too graphic, but it is stated blatantly). And then there are several more references and a couple pretty intense scenes that were uncomfortable (never between the MMC and FMC). So if that’s a sensitive topic for you, definitely avoid this one.

The chemistry between the love interests just wasn’t there for me. And for a book that advertises political intrigue, it was pretty boring. There was a little scheming but it was pretty obvious and not interesting or suspenseful. I saw every plot beat coming a mile away which isn’t necessarily bad as long as those beats are fun, but these were just bland.

The right reader could enjoy this. It just wasn’t for me.

Firebird by Juliet Cross is a steamy, slow-burn romance that had me hooked from the start. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the world-building is rich and immersive. I couldn’t put it down and found myself thinking about the story long after I finished reading.

I ended up really enjoying this, though I did find the writing to be a bit stilted in places. Overall, it was a solid read and I liked the romance between Malina and Julian.

I don't think that the marketing for this book was done correctly. If I had known exactly what kind of romance this was, I probably wouldn't have requested this. I am not a fan of the slave and slave owner relationship, and was honestly sickened by it. I know that there are plenty of people who will love this, and I am happy for them, but this was not my cup of tea.

I know juliette has written some slightly problematic books in the past but this one takes the cake. I was so excited because them premise of the romance empire but with grading shifters entrigued me. But I couldn’t get it at the slave master situation. And while he treated his slaves better than the rest it was still ick.