“For the little girls who were told to put their fires out. Burn them all to the fucking ground.”
That is the dedication page to A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride. I knew right from that page that I was going to like this book.

If you love House of the Dragon, you will love A Fate Forged in Fire. It has dragons, true enemies to lovers, political intrigue, feminist badasses, betrayal, Scottish mythology, matriarchy.

Born to rule and blessed by fire, Aemyra has begrudgingly lived in hiding rather than risk her life in court, waiting in anticipation for the current king’s death so she can bond to his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. But when the king dies and Aemyra is ready to take what is rightfully hers, her ambitious plan is foiled and she is thrust into a game of vicious politics and plots.

Her biggest adversary is Prince Fiorean, a dragon-rider and one of the most powerful fire wielders in the territory. Cold, arrogant, and blindly supportive of his corrupt family, he is everything Aemyra despises. But as chaos engulfs the court, they find themselves reluctantly entwined, forced to forge an uneasy alliance—one that quickly ignites into something more dangerous than either of them expected.

What I loved most about this book is how much I related to the FMC and her quest to end the oppression of women under the One True Religion, a religious cult that has recently settled into the territory and spreads their message of oppression of women and magic. Depending on what part of the world you live in, there is a lot of oppression of women right now especially when it comes to bodily autonomy. I loved Aemyra’s determination to end the oppression against women and magic in her territory. It gave me hope that we can end that same oppression here in the real world.

Be sure to read the trigger warnings as there is domestic violence and violence against women and forced sterilization in this book.

I highly recommend you add this book to your TBR!

Thank you Random House Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm stuck on what to rate this because the ending made me so mad with the twist!! This book is big Game of Thrones mixed with Throne of Glass vibes. The first queen in centuries has been preparing her whole life to overthrow the current ruling family to reinstate the Queendom. Living as a blacksmith with her adoptive family, the moment finally comes and her father helps her begin the war.

This fantasy world has the typical elemental magic - Fire, water, air, earth and they also have bonded creatures. (yay dragons!)

But! when she gets captured by the enemy, she is forced to marry her biggest adversary. I love the arranged marriage/forced proximity vibes and how they grew to know each other. No spoilers but this is also the thing that made me the maddest later.

If you love big fantasy drama, dragons, romance, and big GOT vibes this is for you.

“Weak men would rather guilt strong women than become strong themselves, and Aemyra was content to show him what strength truly looked like.”

In this breathtaking story of fire magic, loyalty, and religious uprising, Hazel McBride crafts a world as fierce and beautiful as its protagonist — a queen forged in fire (see what I did there?) and resilience. She is no damsel in distress, nor is she a figurehead sitting idly for her throne. Instead, she is a warrior, a strategist, and above all, a woman who refuses to compromise her values in the face of betrayal, war, and impossible odds.
The narrative is rich with emotional depth, exploring the weight of leadership and the personal cost of choosing conviction over comfort.

Aemyra’s journey is not one of ease, but each challenge she faces only sharpens her strength and deepens her compassion for her people. What truly sets this book apart from many others like it is Aemyra’s unflinching strength, conniving spirit, and her unwillingness to give up (even at knife and sword point). In other words, she’s a badass. I’ve found many fantasy books these days see a similar arc of young, breakable 18 year old girls walking in to a new chapter of life like a baby deer. Not this one. Aemyra knows who she is and she’s willing to burn the ones who stand in her way using her brain and trained brute force. Aemyra quickly became one of my favorite FMCs to date — she’s confident, she’s independent, she’s highly intelligent, she’s empathetic, and she’s the human embodiment of female empowerment.

It took a few chapters to get the lay of the land, but once I was in it, I couldn’t put this book down. Even the side characters are ones readers can easily fall in love with. I loved Fiorean’s arc and getting to see more into his choices and feelings as the story went on. I’m curious to see what happens in the next book…
“Get your filthy hands off [redacted]”

One warning, check the content warning list. There is some on-page trauma (no spoilers) that can be very heavy to read. On that note, while it was hard to read, I think it further solidified the religious war that is brewing, just be warned.

I fell in love with this book and these characters and will anxiously be waiting to read the next in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up

A Fate Forged in Fire is the first installment in a fantasy duology. The book kept me interested, mainly because of the bonded dragons along with the feistiness of the main female character, Aemyra, and her evolving relationship with her adversary Prince Fiorean. It is quick paced, however since it follows some typical romantasy tropes, I found the plot not too surprising. I will read the second book just to see how the story plays out, but it will probably not be at the top of my TBR pile when it comes out.

The Celtic-inspired language made me thankful for the pronunciation guide at the end of the book.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Feminine rage? Enemies-to-lovers featuring dragons, stolen kingdoms, and kickass queens? Hazel McBride's A FATE FORGED IN FIRE is everything I wanted it to be and more.

While I was drawn to Fiorean and his (handsome) face (and heart) full of scars, Aemyra stole the show. It's rare, for a main character to so easily captivate me, but from line one, I was absolutely in love with our fiery would-be queen. The conflict between a matriarchy struggling to reclaim its power and a band of Covenanters determined to subjugate the women of this world felt all too timely, and the complex dynamics between the warring sides in this story made it that much more memorable.

Run, do not walk, to buy your copy as soon as you can!

This one was tough for me, I’m not gonna lie. I think I started this one multiple times and would soft dnf it because I thought I wasn’t in the mood for it. But now that I have finished reading, I think it just wasn’t for me.

The first 50% was spent in confusion because of the amount of info dumping about the history and politics of this world. I would rather have learned gradually than be told right at the start of the book. The next 20% of the story, I actually did enjoy it. I thought we were getting somewhere and there was a few times where I actually rooted for the fmc. But it ultimately just died off gradually towards the end. It didn’t help that I didn’t particularly like anyone in this book. I thought the fmc was annoying and the mmc gave nothing to me either. Their romance just didn’t seem convincing to me.

I do wish there was more scenes and talks about how you bond with a dragon and the other mythical creatures that you can bond with. But the scenes/mentions were few and far in between. I really had hopes for this one cause the premise sounded good but, it fell flat to me. I enjoyed the last half for what it was and I don’t know if I’m going to continue this series.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll admit, the first few chapters of this book were rough for me. It wasn’t so much a graceful dive into fantasy as it was more of a clumsy tumble into a strange new world, filled with unfamiliar terms that didn’t quite seem to connect to anything. A friend told me to stick with it, so I did – like the good, faithful reader I am. And I'm glad I did. As the story progresses, it starts to click, and before long, I was hooked. The plot moves at a good pace, lulling you into a sense of security... only to rip that comfort away. By the end, you will be spit out and left feeling confused, a bit pissed off, but also eagerly counting down the days until the next book.

Thank you Hazel McBride, Random House, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

I DNF'd at 34%> This was not for me. I'm not sure if it's my mood or the writing. It falls flat for me. I'm not wowed or intrigued. There's lots of internal dialogue and narration more than actual dialogue. The author gives character names to random characters rather than just being that person's partner or the stable maid. She used lots of made up names but then randomly a Heather and Dianne. It had potential for me and I loved the dedication but wildly disappointed.

Oh my god. I need book 2 asap. The twists and turns, the unexpected betrayals and allies. The yearning, the hatred of wanting each other. This book has the ability to become the next sensation. It is more fantasy with a romance storyline that drives the plot farther. The strength of the fmc, the passion she has for her cause while still allowing herself to yield to her feelings. I loved this book so much. Wow. This is a 6-star read for me. I am definitely adding this to my god tier bookshelf when this book is officially published.


Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book!!

Thank you to Hazel McBride and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for making this digital ARC available to me to read via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.

Overall, I liked this. I liked the magic and the dragons. I liked that it started at a good point. It started off gradually and the pace ramped up as the story went along. The ending was probably a little too fast and I found the biggest battle scene confusing because I couldn't keep the names straight. My biggest issue is, however, that I didn't really care for the romance. I liked the FMC, flaws and all, but I didn't find plausible her attraction to the MMC because of all the things he did or let happen. Except for a few moments, I really didn't like him. I sort of wish they had remained enemies and maybe a slowly developing relationship might have worked for me. I do, however, want to know what happens next and will read the next book. I'd give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

If you love Celtic-inspired fantasies, dragons, a head-strong FMC, elemental magic, and political machinations, then this book is for you. Not only that, it's got a matriarchal culture, an enemies-to-lovers romance, and so much female anger. This book is full of intrigue, perfectly paced, and brimming with action.

The female main character is Aemyra, who has been hiding and waiting for the right moment to claim the throne as the true ruler of her realm. In order to gain support and allies, she needs a dragon. The scenes with Aemyra and her dragon invoked extreme jealousy in me. Who doesn't want a dragon to bond with? However, this isn't just a girl and her dragon book, it's mostly a book with political intrigue. Aemyra must not only contend with the 'false' king and his irritatingly attractive brother, she must also fight against a religion, and its leader, that is indoctrinating her people and the royal family. The religion teaches that magic is evil and that women must remain in their rightful places, ie., in the home as mothers and wives. This religious (and patriarchal) opposition is juxtaposed with the Aemyera's matriarchal culture/religion, and exposes how cruelty, marginalization, and atrocities are often committed under the guise of religious morality. Aemyra has so much feminine rage, and rightly justified. There are scenes of female injustices in this book, so please check trigger warnings. Additionally, Aemrya is a fire-wielder, which is an apt power. Her fire becomes a symbol of her fight for her people, but most importantly, it's a symbol of her personal power as a woman. There are sections in the book where her fire is both metaphorically and literally extinguished. But, she perseveres.

The world in this book is expertly crafted, but, thankfully, we don't get info dumps. This book is heavily Celtic-inspired, and there are Scottish phrases and names throughout the book. There's a sense that there is so much history to this world and its people, and we feel Aemyra's love for her people. The magic system is elemental, and people's powers are enhanced by bonding to magical creatures, such as dragons, phoenixes, etc. While elemental magic may be simple, the author adds a lot of lore to add dimension to the magic.

The second half of the book focuses heavily on the romance, which I think will appeal to those who love emotional and physical tension. As Aemyra and Prince Fiorean come to understand and trust each other, we start to see their vulnerabilities and weaknesses, which adds to their complexities as characters. There is obvious chemistry between the two characters, and I couldn't help but root for their relationship, even though there's so much stacked against them.

The plot of this story is driven by Aemyra's choices. She is bull-headed, impatient, impulsive, and reactive. Her personality will probably irk some people. She makes a lot of questionable choices that have serious consequences that hurt and affect a lot of people around her. While her intentions are good, the measure of a good person cannot solely rely on someone's good intentions. I hope that in the next book, we see her grow in wisdom. This book would be a completely different book if Aemyra showed restraint in her decision-making. Despite this fact, I appreciate how fully she embodies her beliefs and passionate nature.

Overall, this book is an impressive debut. The author writes with the confidence of an established author. The ending (!!!) left me wanting the sequel yesterday. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacourte for providing me with an eARC for my review.

*A Fate Forged in Fire* is an absolutely riveting fantasy that had me hooked from the very first page. The world-building is immersive, the magic system is unique and well thought out, and the characters—oh, the characters!—are layered, flawed, and fiercely memorable.

The story follows a gripping path of destiny, sacrifice, and resilience, with just the right balance of action, emotional depth, and intrigue. The prose is beautifully written—lyrical without being overdone—and the pacing never lags. Each twist genuinely surprised me, and the stakes felt real every step of the way.

What I loved most is how the author explores the idea of fate—not as something fixed, but as something forged, challenged, and earned through fire (both literal and emotional). It’s powerful, inspiring, and lingered with me long after I finished the last page.

Highly recommend to fans of epic fantasy with strong character arcs and stunning world-building. Can’t wait for whatever comes next!

This started a little slow but eventually got good and interesting. The end had a twist I wasn’t expecting I’m curious to see what happens next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I struggled with the main love interests. I love an enemies to lovers plot but this mmc felt iredeemable to me. I didn't see how she could find him desirable at all after the things he did and the people he defended. The fmc was whiny and headstrong. She continuously didn't think and ran into danger without thinking about everyone else. They were constantly talking about her having to prove herself and be responsible and she just kept missing the point entirely. I just couldn't force myself to really care about either of them.

I did enjoy the dragons element, especially the mysteriousness around the fmc's dragon, but it did feel like there wasn't enough focus on it. I wanted to know more about them and the bondings.

The world building was okay. Not really very in depth. Didn't hate it, didn't love it.

I did see the ending coming from a mile away but I figured it was better that way honestly.

Overall, this book was just very average to me. It read like most romantasy books with just different character names. Not particularly unique or distinguishable. 3 Stars

First, thanks to Hazel McBride and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book!

I can’t lie. At first I was pretty certain I wasn’t going to like this book very much. Which was disappointing because I have already preordered it! The beginning was hard to get through and I found the main character to be really bratty and hard to like. But I stuck through it because I read reviews that said the beginning was rough but it got really good if you stuck to it. And they were right ! The second half of this book was hard to put down! There was a lot of story and character develop and the action was perfect! Non stop.
Aemyra was not my favorite character. She was impatient, rude, and a brat. I do feel like by the end of the book it was tempered a bit and she was more likable. I’m hopeful in the next book she’ll grow on me more as well.
Fiorean was a good main character as well, but sometimes he felt a little all over the place and wishy washy. And the ending? Sort of felt out of character. But again, I think book two will clear all that up.
I would have loved more if the dragons and the Bonds!
Terrea was perfect. I expected no less.
Overall I did enjoy this book a lot, even with the rough beginning! I really look forward to the next book and eagerly await to see how this story goes!!
The beginning of the book gets three stars. The rest of the book gets five. So that’s how I’ll rate it!

Some mixed feelings but overall really fascinating fantasy read. Giving this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Give me female rage in fantasy!! This book absolutely delivers on this point. In a world built on the power of women which has been co-opted by the patriarchy, Aemyra is the unapologetic female protagonist of our dreams. I do admittedly think her sanctimonious nature can be a bit grating and it definitely toes the line of unlikeable, but we wouldn't give a second thought of she was a male character, which I think is honestly the point.

I'm here for the fantasy but I honestly could've left the romance behind. For an enemies to lovers trope, I feel like the differences and at time inability for Aemyra and Prince Fioren precludes any real chance at love. But BIG kudos to Fioren for respecting boundaries.

After an initial slog, the book goes at a breakneck speed and dragons are the best so I will be anxiously awaiting Book 2.

This was a really interesting book that I could t put down. The characters were mysterious and intriguing.

Enemies to lovers meets the House of Dragon vibes. Bratty blacksmith destined to be the queen finds it's finally her time to shine and claim her rightful spot on the throne, but of course there's obstacles in the way. The story was a bit slow to start but definitely sucked me in after a bit more of the backstory set in. I could've done with a little more world building since this is the first book of the series and a lot of information was provided, but also seemed a smidge lacking with providing a full background. Overall though, it turned out to be a very compelling read and I look forward to the next installment in the series!

Expected publication May 27, 2025
Thank you to Hazel McBride, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is good, not great. I think it could have used a few more rounds of editing. The pacing in the first half was off and it truly felt like an uphill battle to get to anything interesting. I also bounced off the writing style a bit. McBride's prose is clunky and it kept me at a distance. It was hard to get close to the characters. I might have put it down if I wasn't reading the book to write a review.

I liked the premise and what McBride was trying to do. She just didn't quite get there. The plot is interesting enough and I did want to know how things would shake out in the end. I don't know that I would pick up the second book though.

Honestly I should write a longer review but what tot really need to know is:

If you wanted to be ahead of the rush, beat the hype and get in on the ground floor of the next BIG thing, grab this immediately and jump in with both feet. Truly extraordinary story, wit, and worldbuilding.