Since I have been loving the Fourth Wing series, I thought...do I really need to read another "girl and her dragon" set of book?

The answer is duh, of course... sign me up for ALL the dragons!

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. However, you can see the dragon bond from a mile away, when there is a great data dump about this terrifying, illusive dragon no one has ever seen. NO ONE CAN TAME IT! (Ok. Settle down, we get it.) But once we get that out of the way, this book cruises along at a quick pace.

I am seeing reviews from some people who hated the central love story. But that wasn't true for me though. It's dysfunctional, but I actually thought they had some great natural chemistry that popped off the page and the love scenes were well-choreographed. You can kind of see the ending coming for these two as well, but it still is a nice set up for a second book.

I also liked that we had both battle scenes and "chilling as a kinda-prisoner at court" scenes. These seem nicely balanced and made the book flow well. Loved that this book was based around Celtic Mythology and that it is feminist AF. I know some people don't love Aemyra, but I found her interesting and can see that there will be room for her to grow--and to grow up--in future installments

Trigger warning: this book has a sexual assault scene. It makes sense in the context of the story and the act is interrupted, but it was still really hard to read.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

OH. MY. GOD GUYS

This book will be PERFECT for any of you who are going to fall into the Onyx Storm hangover- Dragons. Magic. TRUEEE enemies to lovers. Political Intrigue. Plot twists you’ll never see coming. Hazel did a phenomenal job with her worldbuilding throughout this book, painting vivid pictures every step of Aemyra’s journey. Plan your time off for May 27th because you’ll want to devour this in one sitting ❤️‍🔥

I struggled with the main character & the pacing of the story.
I did enjoy the story, but I also never felt the urge to pick it back up after putting it down.
I am curious about the next book, but not enough to read it.

Rage Rage Rage!! I absolutely was obsessed with the feminine rage from the start, as it is definitely needed and felt very relevant to the time right now. I immediately felt drawn into Aemyra's plight. At the beginning it felt a little rough going and I was unsure if I would like it. I know the story has a lot of Scottish inspiration, but I was having trouble separating the idea of Game of Thrones from it at the beginning. Still, I do enjoy that fantasy world and the dragons, but there was such a distinct lack of dragons at the beginning when I had hoped for more of it. Despite the rocky start for me, I am glad I held out and really picked up in the second half of the book. I think with so much going on at the beginning, it was hard to really pull apart the world building until we were at the caisteal and had more character building. The ending truly draws you in with a bang and the rage and trauma that our FMC goes through makes you want to burn the place to the ground with her. The world building solidified itself by the end of the book and you learn to love the characters and their backgrounds more, despite all the tension and anger. Going from uncertainty to being eager for its sequel, I look forward for what Hazel McBride will bring next to this world.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the eARC and opportunity to read and review it before its release!

This book has everything I like in a novel, dragons, slow burn, banter, political intrigue, elemental magic, all the bones for a great book! But I was left wanting *more*. I wanted to see more of the people who could wield elements, more of the bonding between of FMC and her dragon, just a liiiitle more world building.

I also thought our FMC was a tad frustrating at times, rushing into things without thinking them through, but at times she seems to be self aware so I’m leaning towards this is giving her room to grow in later books. I also felt the romance was a bit stilted. I was shocked when the FMC and MMC first kissed because I didn’t feel a lot of romantic chemistry leading up to it.

I did absolutely love the world building rooted in Celtic mythology, I think it gave life to the world and our characters and the religion.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
A Fate Forged in Fire had a great premise- a queen vying for the throne, dragons, fire magic, religious conflict and political marriage. It was a fun read, for sure. Sadly the main character, Aemyra, just didn’t resonate with me. I love a good ‘true queen’ plot and was bummed I didn’t find her character appealing. Aemyra came off as immature and naive which is at odds with her self-assured attitude. The book begins with her and her twin brother waiting around for the coup signal (they have been waiting for years), and although she makes repeated claims to be a great queen we don’t see any actions to back that up. Overall it was an entertaining story with all the components I usually enjoy, I just felt the execution was poor. The romance is more of this book’s strong suit, and I would read the next book to see what happens between the love interests. Thank you to Random House Publishing for the advance reader copy!

I struggled with the start of this book because Aemyra is a tough character to like at first. Trying to evoke mystery, the book gives you very few details of Aemyra's identity, and large doses of her anger. I'm all for feminine rage, but it is hard to connect with a character whose feelings are not explained. Once you get to the meat of the book, the story improves. Aemyra's bid for the throne and search or a dragon to bond is intriguing enough. Her capture at the hands of rivals for the throne was stupid, and a bit of a setback. As a captive, she is married to the infuriating but handsome prince, that we all knew would be a love interest from his introduction. They bicker, but ultimately can't resist their attraction to each other, of course. Some light political intrigue ensues. I found the politics to not be very well done. Overall, this book is ok, but nothing stellar.

*A Fate Forged in Fire* by Hazel McBride is a captivating read for fans of strong, empowered heroines and epic fantasy romance. Aemyra's journey of self-discovery, courage, and the unyielding pursuit of justice in a world where magic, politics, and passion collide is undeniably engaging. While I enjoyed the book overall, I found the characters to be underdeveloped and, at times, unlikable. Their actions and motivations didn’t always resonate with me, which made it harder to fully connect with the story. Despite this, the world-building and plot still kept me interested, making it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

A Fate Forged in Fire* by Hazel McBride is a fiery and compelling romance that seamlessly blends passion, humor, and a touch of drama. Set against a vivid backdrop, McBride crafts a story that’s both emotionally charged and undeniably addictive.

Strengths:
1. Complex Protagonists: The main characters are richly developed, with flaws and strengths that make them feel genuine. Their chemistry is palpable, creating a romantic tension that keeps readers hooked.
2. Engaging Dialogue: The witty banter between characters is a standout feature, adding humor and charm to even the most intense moments.
3. Unique Premise: The story’s setup feels fresh and creative, offering readers something beyond a standard romance novel.
4. Emotional Resonance: Themes of vulnerability, trust, and personal growth are woven into the narrative, giving it depth and relatability.

Critiques:
1. Pacing Issues: While the romance is engaging, the story’s pacing occasionally drags in the middle, with some scenes feeling slightly drawn out.
2. Side Plots: Certain secondary storylines could have been more fleshed out to create a stronger sense of resolution.

Overall, A Fate Forged in Fire is a captivating read with memorable characters, sizzling romance, and a heartwarming payoff. Fans of Hazel McBride and contemporary romance will find plenty to love.

I had difficulty trying to get through this due to the annoying FMC. I will try again later on, maybe after release, but this was a really hard read for me. I just think I might be in a fantasy slump. I'm sorry! Thank you for the ARC!

While I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers romantasy, this one was more difficult for me to get into. I had a tough time with the FMC, as she was immature and a bit mean..

The world was well developed and interesting, with exciting magical creatures! The plot moved quickly and made for some easy reading. The twists and the cliffhanger have me intrigued into reading the next book!

after working through majority of this book, i have decided to dnf it for now. my personal issues are with that of the fmc, who’s attmepts at badassery come across as belittling and mean girl in a daddy setting, and the mmc who is a cardboard box only meant to further the development of the fmc. i am ALL for spice in a fantasy but not at the cost of their emotional development :(

as i did not complete this book, i will not provide a public review- thank you!!

I just couldn't get in to this. I really disliked the main character and felt like I was sort of adrift in the world and didn't know what was going on half the time. Also I know that in this genre it's hard to have a completely unique plot but this just felt like it had been done a bunch of times before in a better way.

Magic, fate and fire

This well written fantasy was full of real, relatable three dimensional characters interwoven in a captivating storyline amidst phenomenal world building, woven together scene by scene, layer by layer until it became a living breathing place full of three dimensional beings. It was definitely a stay up too late, cannot put it down, it should get more than 5 stars kind of book. I fell head first into the story and was equally desperate to read it all at once and also to savor it and make it last. With the perfect balance of exhilarating adventure, nail biting danger, palpable tension, unexpected twists, deep emotions and soul touching romance, expect a twist windy roller coaster of a story from the first page to the last because instead of a slow ratcheting up of the danger and suspense, the story starts with intensity and just never lets up. Aemyra is a Dùileach with fire magic. She is also the first female heir of the Daercathian royal line born in a century. She has been trained to be queen while hiding in plain sight in Tìr Teine as a blacksmith’s daughter waiting for the current mad king to die. Her father’s projected painless coup does not go as planned and Aemyra soon finds herself a prisoner in the caisteal held by the enemy in an unwilling alliance with her most hated adversary, Prince Fiorean. With the war, the mania of the True Religion, a mad king, suffering citizens, and an ever increasing unwanted attraction to Fiorean, there is a lot going on for Aemyra. I especially love that Aemyra’s character, despite her unique overwhelming powers, how the rest of the world views her and the overwhelming task she has taken on, is still kind, impulsive, arrogant, stubborn, reluctant, flawed, and at times resentful which makes her a very likeable and relatable hero. This is not just an epic tale, it is also a deeply emotional book. At its heart, it’s a story of damaged and bruised but not broken people who continue to find their way by owning their choices, recognizing their scars, finding their strength, embracing life, and deciding to answer the call to do what is right, even when it is hard. The story includes all the goodness that you’d expect from this genre - fighting, dangerous situations, evil entities, henchmen, religious zealots, loyal friends and family, tragic back stories, mystical coincidences, snark, mystery, secrets, betrayal, revelations, and laughs. Be warned this is the first book in a duology so while some smaller story arcs are resolved, the overarching story arc of the series continues in the next book and I cannot wait to read it.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a fun, escapist romantasy with a good dose of feminist rage. All good ingredients in my book. The plot drags slowly at first, but then picks up as the book moves along. The enemies-to-lovers theme is similar to the true enemies-to-lovers arc in Heartless Hunter. I was entertained by this book and imagine it will hit the right market for some readers. There are too many adverbs used to convey emotion and theme. The characters are in their late twenties, but the dialogue and reads more like a YA soap opera, but with open door spicy scenes. The names and criticisms of our real-world society (True Savior, religion, patriarchy) were a little too on the nose. A darker fantasy book, but with some simpler good and evil characters, rather than the moral complexity of some of these other grim dark stories. As always, dragons are a highlight and I want one of these as my bestie.

‘A Fate Forged in Fire’ follows Aemyra’s journey to claim her birthright as the first true queen in centuries while battling an oppressive religion, politics, misogyny, and a patriarchal society.

Aemyra has lived her whole life in hiding waiting for the opportunity to claim her throne as she has watched her people experience oppression and corruption. When the king dies and her opportunity for ascension arises, not all goes according to plan.

Aemyra must forge an unlikely alliance with Prince Fiorean, in an attempt to help secure her throne, but constant obstacles and tribulations prove to make her ascension much more challenging than initially thought.

This had fire-wielding magic users, enemies to lovers, dragons, and female empowerment and I can’t wait to see how the series continues.

Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hazel McBride, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me access to the e-arc.

3.5 stars

This was a difficult one for me. I’m still unsure how I feel about everything. I like parts of the story but as a whole, it was not my favorite. I liked Aemyra as the FMC. She is vengeful, powerful, and cares for her people. But there were moments when she was so weak. It didn’t match her character. Fiorean as the MC was not my favorite. He felt like a 2D character. I didn’t understand his wants and motives for the actions he took. I was frustrated at times throughout the book with all the roadblocks the FMC faced. I never felt like she achieved anything which made it like we never got a win. The romance comes out of left field. It felt like a switch was flipped. After, that I was starting to slowly root for the romance. That ending was something…

TW: Attempted SA and Sterilization

This book was easily one of the best books I have read so far in 2025 and the year has just begun. The feminine rage in this book with Aemyra over just wanting to see her kingdom right is so well done. I was sitting here cheering for her. I loved how well the political environment was done. I was so enraptured by the brewing conflict between Aemyra and the royal family. I’ll be honest I am so torn with whether I am supposed to like Aemyra’s father or not but I will say I love the dragons. I am all for the dragons and the ones we do know about and their personalities, perfect. I am trying so hard not to spoil things but this book was just so well done. The setting, the characters, the conflict, everything was written so well and crafted beautifully. My jaw was on the floor when the book ended and honestly I don’t know how I am going to contain myself while waiting for this book to be released. It really is just so well done, I can not state that enough. I really am hoping that a specific prince isn’t really gonna break my heart like that. I don’t know how I will survive.

Absolutely incredible. There are no words to describe how much I loved this book. Cannot wait for book two!

I really enjoyed this book! Strong willed FMC, she’s feisty and she doesn’t back down, she’s also learning who she is and finding her identity which is a journey in itself, true enemies to lovers, dragons, politics! It was a fun read. There was some things that I feel didn’t add to the story. I do wish that the pronunciation guide was at the beginning of the book not the end because I didn’t see it and definitely butchered some names. All in all, I’ve already recommended this book and would love to get my hands on the second!