I enjoyed this one very much! There were echoes of Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon, but way less ‘controversial’ romance plots. Lol! I felt like this was more of a high stakes fantasy that was a bit slow to start, but steadily gained traction and intrigue. The romance was sparking and the TRUE enemies-to lovers-to-enemies slow burn WAS DELICIOUS.

I enjoyed the characters, though I was literally screaming at the page over some of the things the FMC did time and time again, all in the name of character development…I certainly felt for her in some of those truly scarring moments, though. There were A LOT! This story heavily featured the message of a woman’s bodily autonomy, which was something I appreciated.

Overall I was very intrigued by the world steeped in Scottish Gaelic, but I wish we would have gotten a better idea of the other lands and magical creatures other than the dragons. Additionally, I would have loved to see more of Aemyra’s connections with the other secondary characters, like Fiorean’s other brothers, wives, etc.). Looking forward to the next installment!

Um. So I'm going to need book 2 ASAP. Haha.

That was fun! A really impressive romantasy debut. I liked Aemyra from the beginning and loved her unapologetic personality and drive immensely. The enemies to lover storyline was DELICIOUS and I can't wait to see where it goes in book 2. You can't fool me with that ending! 😉

I will say, I found parts of it a little bit difficult to understand and wanted more. For example, a history of the magic, the dragons, more battle at the end, etc. But overall I really enjoyed it and wanted to keep reading.

The audiobook was FANTASTIC. I could listen to Samara MacLaren narrate anything. She WAS Aemyra and I found myself eager to press play anytime I wasn't listening. Highly recommend the audiobook. It really brings the story to life and helps with pronunciations!

Read if you like:
-Feminine Rage
-Enemies to lovers
-Morally grey MC
-"You're Mine"/"My Wife"
-Political Intrigue
-Scottish Mythology
-Dragon Bonding
-Slow Burn

Thank you so much to Delacorte for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️: 4.5/5
🌶️: 2/5
Format: 📱

This was amazing, and I ate it up so fast. I already cannot wait for book two, and this just launched today.

Some things that are really great:
Characters were complex with depth and development. I found my loyalty shifting as characters grew, and there wasn't a single character who didn't have a little dark with their light or vice versa. The book beautifully displays the range of greys in humanity.
The political conflict was poignant and kind of like looking in a mirror as an American, which is good, I loved that, even if it was a little bit jarring.
The worldbuilding felt intentional and done with care and research. I can tell there's more lore to come, but I really liked the complexity of it.
That ending PRIMED me for book two, so I'm a little early, but we can be patient, right?
The "I'll kill you"-to-lovers felt real, felt visceral, and physical, which sometimes gets overlooked--sometimes we don't want to feel the way we feel and things happen we're not ready for.

Overall, McBride did just a wonderful job showing the reality of humanity with flaws, and what work it takes to overcome those flaws. It was so enjoyable!

Finally!! An enemies-to-lovers romance where the FMC and MMC are true enemies!!

As the heir to the throne of Tir Teine, Aemyra lives a life in hiding. The land requires a queen to thrive, but for decades, only Kings and male heirs held the throne. This results in the land and it’s people suffering under the True Religion, an oppressive group that demonizes the use of magic as they cannot wield it themselves. Aemyra awaits the death of the current king so she can ascend the throne, bond his dragon and save her people from True Religion.

Yet, when the king passes, her plan is discovered by Prince Fiorean before it can fully materialize. Now, they must form a rocky-alliance so she can claim the throne and save the Tir Teine.

The development of Aemyra and Fiorean’s relationship throughout AFFIF was PHENOMENAL!!!
Their relationship building along with the incredible lore and world building made it hard to put the book down. The emotional turmoil and vulnerability was present in Aemyra throughout the story had me tearing up at multiple points. I cannot wait for the next book! I need it ASAP!!!

Read if you Enjoy

Slow Burn Romantasy
Hidden Heir
Enemies to Lover
Dragons
Well throughout Lore and Worldbuilding

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an e-arc of the book and audiobook in exchange for a review!

When girl children ceased to be born to the matrilineal royal family, a war ensued, resulting in the law that a male may rule, but only until a female heir is born. Child of an exiled prince, Aemyra has been raised in secret to take her rightful place when the time is right. When the old king dies, Aemyra launches her campaign under the leadership of her ruthless father and with the support of her twin brother. Yet things don’t go to plan, and she soon finds herself in a precarious situation amongst her enemies, especially the infuriating Prince Fiorean.

Dragons and feminism? Say less. This was a good time, filled with politics, fighting, and sexual tension. The lore and world-building were spun well and while nothing felt brand new to me, it was all entertaining. The setup between Aemyra and Fiorean worked, and the spice was much hotter than I anticipated 🔥

While the romance is central to the plot, I equally enjoyed the complicated family relationships and the concept of the bonded magical beasts. The author doesn’t shy away from difficult plot points, and if the themes of female superiority are less than subtle, who am I to complain? I will definitely pick up the sequel!

*I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review*

A Fate Forged in Fire follows Aemyra and her journey to the throne. Aemyra is the first queen born to the royal bloodline in over 100 years in a matriarchal society. In this land, the rulers bond to dragons and share their magic. AFFIF starts with Aemyra and her adoptive family as blacksmiths until the current king dies. Following the king’s death, Aemyra’s uphill battle to the throne begins. Her fate begins to intertwine with the current royal family, particularly the second-born prince.

I ATE this book up. I could not stop reading once I started & have talked about it to anyone who will listen. Aemyra is so relatable as a fierce FMC fed up with the patriarchy, and I love the bond she shares with her twin and her little adoptive brother. AFFIF made me laugh out loud, cover my mouth in shock, and cry literal tears at one point. This book is such a good read for anyone who enjoys Throne of Glass, House of the Dragon, Fourth Wing, and Outlander. I can’t wait to see where the duology goes because I NEED to know what happened after that ending.

The premise of this book was so promising but unfortunately the reality just did not live up to it. I felt like I was struggling to get into the story line and the writing just wasn’t clicking with me. The book in addition was a bit confusing to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was everything I wanted! TRUE enemies to lovers, dragons and other mythical creatures, complex world-building, elemental magic with ties to Celtic mythology, and a badass FMC. This is for fans of House of the Dragon that wanted more magic and more feminine rage. But then, put it in the rugged and unforgiving world of Outlander.

Aemyra has spent her life in hiding as a blacksmith, patiently biding her time for the current corrupt king to die so she can bond to his dragon and claim her throne. But when her rebellious plans go awry, Aemyra is trapped behind enemy lines and must find a way to collaborate with her captors and become the queen she was born to be.

This romantasy will appeal to fans of high fantasy with complex world-building and political intrigue. McBride does an incredible job of boiling down complex history and lore into a palatable read, though I think she has enough material for more than two books here (this is my subtle request for more!!). The world building never felt overwhelming or verbose; easy to follow and yet immersive and captivating.

My favorite part of this book however was the politics. Aemyra and her clan follow a faith that is matriarchal with multiple goddesses representing different elemental magics. The opposing king and his family have taken up a new, monotheistic, patriarchal religion. With scant knowledge of the history of the British Isles, this seems allegorical to what happened historically to these peoples when Christianity was introduced to a polytheistic society. I loved this clash of the religions and power structures. And McBride did an incredible job weaving in magical elements with this conflict as well.

And then the romance. This is a true enemies to lovers, where they absolutely HATE each other and I wondered how they would ever become lovers. There is so much angst and yearning that once we finally get to the spice, the payoff is so worth it. This romance is so well written with lots of nuance and complexity, I’m eager to see what happens in the next book.

Bottom line: a perfect read for high fantasy and romantasy lovers alike. Don’t sleep on this one, an easy 5/5 stars.

Immense gratitude and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and for an ARC of this.

This was a debut from the author and I would definitely read more. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Our female main character, Aemyra, is the first female descendant in centuries must hid in plain sight as a blacksmith. She is waiting for the right time to take her place as queen. Well there is someone else in the way. Our male main character, Fiorean, is her rival and is from a corruption-riddled family. This is why they are enemies to lovers and we have some forced proximity. The romance is definitely slow and the plot is more fantasy heavy than romance. The start was a little slow, but once things picked up I was very engaged.

4.5 rounded down

I was honored to receive an ARC of A Fate Forged In Fire by @hazelmcbrideauthor, a romantic fantasy described as a House of Dragons x Reign meets Barbie’s “fuck the patriarchy” & whew that description is SPOT on!

If a book about dragons, politics, feminine rage, enemies to lovers, & elemental magics, that engages with topics like misogyny, matriarchy, & sexuality—this book is FOR YOU!

I truly cannot express how vindicated and FULL OF RAGE I felt while reading this book—in the most empowering way. I cannot wait for the next book, and for everyone to finally have the opportunity to experience this one!

Thank you Random House, Delacorte Press, & Netgalley for the ARC 💖

I truly don’t even know if I have the words for this one. I have been utterly and completely blown away, and if there is one recommendation that you take from me, let it be this one. Let’s get into it. First and foremost: FUCK THE PATRIARCHY!!!! This story is set in a world with a dying matriarchy that is being overrun by religious extremists who do not value women and women’s autonomy, and the stark truth of that and the underlying themes from our current political and social climate reflected on these pages in this world was jarring, and filled me with so much rage and grief, but more than that it filled me with so much power to see such a strong female main character persevere through it.

Aemyra is our fire wielding, blacksmith, badass, bisexual QUEEN and is one of the most well written female main characters I’ve come across in a long while. She is strong, fiercely loyal, and levelheaded while also showing raw and real emotions. A lot of the time, we see these badass FMCs who just have it all together 100% of the time and they make all the right choices, but seeing a character like Aemyra, the only living heir to the matriarchy who has lived in hiding her whole life and who doesn’t have it all together, balancing the weight of the world on her shoulders with grief, compassion, and grace was so refreshing. I cried with her, I laughed with her, and I cheered for her and I can’t wait to be reunited with her. She acknowledges that she isn’t perfect and makes choices that she thinks are good at the time, and those choices don’t always work in her favor- but that’s what gives her so much depth.

I know you all hate to see this coming because the enemies to lovers trope in fantasy romance books is both an overused and inaccurately portrayed trope…. But when I tell you guys this is THE BEST enemies to lovers romantic plot line I have ever read. You will genuinely doubt at times that Aemyra and Fiorean could possibly ever be lovers, but TRUST!!!!!! The pining, the small hand touches, the YEARNING!!!!!!! WE SAID ‘BRING BACK YEARNING’ AND HAZEL SAID ‘SAY LESS’!!!!!!! This was a masterclass in enemies to lovers. No notes. I sent Hazel voice notes SCREAMING guys.

And of course, the dragons!!!!!!!! Every element of them, the bonds that are formed, the personalities, I adore how they were written in this book.

I would be remiss to not mention that I did listen to the audiobook as well, and the narrator Samara Maclaren was absolutely phenomenal. She is Scottish herself, and there is a lot of Scottish Gaelic language used in this story, so she was the perfect fit and made it so much more immersive to me. Hazel included an incredible pronunciation guide, but I wanted to make sure I was doing the beautiful language justice so hearing it properly on the audio was an amazing tool for me to appreciate it more, and I would highly recommend it!

I knew before going into this book that it was going to be an infinity star read for me, I’ve been following and have been mutals with Hazel on socials since House of the Dragon season 1 (iykyk) and just hearing Hazel talk about this book and the world she was building and seeing all of the care and love that went into it- I just knew that I’d adore it but nothing could’ve prepared me for this. I would highly, HIGHLY recommend it, and I can’t wait for the second book 🫶

Thank you to Delecorte Press and Renegade Books for the early review copy! All opinions shared are my own.

Thank you to @hazelmcbride @randomhouse @delacourtepress for the #gifted book and @prhaudio #PRHAudioPartner for the #gifted audiobook.

This debut novel is a captivating journey through a world rich with Celtic mythology, magic, political intrigue, and dragons that will draw you in from the very first page.

Aemyra is destined to rule, but she’s been living in the shadows, biding her time until the king’s demise allows her to seize both his dragon and the crown. Her rival, Prince Fiorean, hails from a corruption-riddled family that she despises. Yet, as circumstances forge an uneasy alliance between them, unexpected emotions arise, challenging Aemyra to confront the harsh realities and sacrifices necessary to reclaim her throne amid escalating turmoil.

The characters are intricately developed, and Aemyra emerges as a compelling character, strong yet too trusting of both her father and Fiorean. The world-building is nothing short of immersive, blending Celtic-inspired elements, Gaelic phrases, and a matriarchal kingdom against a backdrop of deep-seated religious and political unrest. The seamless integration of magic and dragons breathes life into this vibrant realm. Aemyra’s fire magic is particularly significant and central to the unfolding plot.

The map included is stunning, enhancing the reading experience further. While the uncorrected copy I read featured a pronunciation guide, a Gaelic phrase dictionary would be a fantastic addition to the final book.

I experienced the story while listening to the audiobook, and the narrator's performance was exceptional, brilliantly bringing the characters and Gaelic phrases to life.

If you’re a fan of dragons, political intrigue, and a romance born from rivalry, this book is a must-read. Mark your calendars for May 27, 2025, because you won’t want to miss it!

This book was a struggle to get into and I couldn’t find any interest to keep going, which is a bummer because I thought the idea had promise!

First off, you get clobbered with references regarding the world without the fully building. I felt lost and confused about the magic, religions, the kingdom itself. And I read a lot of fantasy so I’m use to the early stages of diving into a new world, but this one felt like a bad info dump without much explanation.

Secondly, the FMC was so unlikeable. She was immature, annoying, and arrogant. The book told us she was talented and powerful but it was never shown. So her arrogance came off poorly and irritated me. She was probably the main reason I’m DNFing this book.

I so wish I loved this one! The main problem for me was our FMC, Aemyra. I found her insufferably annoying. And nothing in the story made it worth that. The MMC was fine but I found their chemistry lacking. Just not for me.

Happy Publication day! if you have been burning and yearning for your next Romantasy book with DRAGONS, then look no further than "A Fate Forged in Fire." The side characters were funny and great banter. & relationships. The romance is peak Romantasy!
The pacing and writing do feel new adult but can be childlike sometimes but I know Aemyra is young and naive, so it makes sense. This felt like a debut novel but I would be happy to read more.
The plot is twisty but not like a twizzler.

Perfect if you love:
Who hurt you? Let's overthrow this kingdom!
Slowly Enemies to Lovers
Elemental Magic
"F*ck it" Moments
Blacksmith Girly + Morally Grey Prince = A Fate Forge in Fire


Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!

I absolutely demolished this book in one sitting! I’m a big sucker for dragons so the second I heard that there were dragons in this one, I had to jump on it. I really love the FMC Aemrya, and how you can see her growth from the beginning to end of the book and how she has all the practical knowledge but still has naivety about her and a level of innate goodness. I will say, please check your triggers! There is quite a bit of dark things done on page that could be triggering to some!

The enemies to lovers in this was really good. Without saying too much, I was very much into it. And I love how the MMC loves Aemrya for exactly who she is.

The characters are complex in this one, besides Aemrya I’m not sure I’m on anyone’s side 100%. The only people I absolutely despise are “the Chosen” who think that women should be silent, do womanly tasks and are disposable, ten bucks on what religion that relates to 🙄. I do love how Aemrya takes absolutely zero of that flack and is ruthless in her approach when it comes to them.

Overall, I really liked the story and after the way it ended I’m extremely excited for book 2!

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

Upon first look, I expected this book to be the typical fantasy enemies-to-lovers story I’m used to. Boy, was I wrong! This book was a harrowing tale of searching for a glimmer of hope in a world rife with misogyny and religious persecution. It was dark, and the helplessness was overwhelming at times. I recommend thoroughly reflecting on the trigger warnings before reading. The twists and turns of this story were well done. They were predictable but still satisfying to see come to fruition. I have no idea how Aemyra will continue from here and can’t wait to read more from this world.

I loved this book! The plot twist at the end had me staring at the wall for a few hours, so to say I'm excited for book 2 is an understatement! I can't wait to see how the story continues and how Aemyra and Fiorean will continue their relationship! Thank you Random House for allowing me to read this ARC!

This was addictive from start to finish.

This is the type of romantasy book I enjoy - one with a plot. Filled with court politics, political intrigue, magic, dragons, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, this book is an excellent introduction to what I expect to be a highly engaging series.

Aemyra has been trained since birth to be the female heir of her clan. At twenty-six, she's been hiding in plain sight for the better part of a decade. She's been training, biding her time, waiting for the mad king to die. But she doesn't covet the throne for power. She truly cares for her people and wishes to restore the martiarchy on which their country was founded. Because over the years, with only male heirs in the clan line, and the growing influence of a hateful, fear-mongering religion, the people, women especially, are suffering.

But when Aemyra's attempt to claim the throne goes very, very wrong. She winds up married to the enemy, forced to live at court with people who distrust her at best and loathe her at worst. Especially the corrupt leader of True Religion, who lurks in the corridors of the palace, a man determined to reshape the nation into one where women are seen but not heard.

A dark, engaging, feminist fantasy this book keeps you on your toes. Its characters are complicated, complex, and nuanced. No one is without fault.

I am interested to see how the characters grow from here. And how the betrayal at the end shapes and affects the relationships going forward.

I didn’t love this book. Found it difficult to get through. The characters were too unlikeable with no redeeming qualities. I am always a fan of dragons and would have loved more!