I was so excited to dive into A Fate Forged in Fire. Celtic-inspired fantasy, dragons, and a magically blessed blacksmith destined to take down corrupt rulers? It sounded like everything I’d love. But unfortunately, the story didn’t quite live up to the promise.

The magic system was intriguing and the setup had real potential, but the world building just never came together for me. I found myself confused about the territories and the conflicts between them, and I kept waiting for it all to make sense, but it didn’t. And Aemyra, our main character, didn’t help much. She came across as immature and kind of entitled, which made it really hard to connect with her or root for her journey.

The side characters didn’t leave much of an impression either. Most of them felt flat and underdeveloped, which made the story feel a little hollow overall. Even with the way it ended, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series. It had some cool ideas, but the execution just wasn’t for me.

I am already ITCHING for the next book, because that ending was INSANE.

The world building was progressive, it started with a good foundation and expanded naturally. The plot kicked up quickly and did. not. stop!!! Something gripped me in almost every single chapter. I felt the full spectrum of emotions through the story along with our FMC… anger, giddiness, devastation, rage, loss, betrayal, violation, warm-fuzzies.. all of it!!!

The FMC, Aemyra, delivers on every front. She faces challenge after challenge and, despite her flaws, she keeps moving in the best interest of her people.

The witty quips, feminist empowerment, and overall badass energy was top notch. I will be thinking about this every day until book 2 is released.

3.5⭐️ the world-building in the first 30% was extrtemely confusing - so many names and places and words I’d never seen or heard before. I know fantasy worlds can be hard to establish, but I really wish we had gotten more information and backstories about the magic system, the goddesses, people and the royal family history. for a while I was afraid the love intest would be her cousin (he’s her 3rd half cousin) because I didn’t understand the royal bloodline🙈

overall I did like the writing - especilally the fighting scenes, but I didn’t like how we were thrown into this magical world with little to no explenations. I did reach out to the author and she sad a lot was cut out including some important lore. I wish her publishers/she had chosen to keep a bit more of it in the book 🙌🏼

in addition to that, I wish I had had a glossary list and a family tree! that would have been an immense help😌 it did kinda click after 40%, but it would have been nice for the Scottish/Celtic words to have either explanations or translations somewhere, since I didn’t know any of them. even though I didn’t understand it, I really liked how it was incorporated into the fantasy aspect!👏🏼

it took me a while to read, and I’m not sure if that’s because of the book or because I’m swamped with uni at the moment🤷‍♀️ the premise was great and the pacing fast, but maybe a bit too fast some times. everything happened really quickly and a few times I wish we would have spent more time exploring certain moments or feelings. when things were revealed to Aemyra she didn’t really act on it, which felt like something her character should have done. and the moments we were supposed to <i>feel</i> didn't really have any impact on me 🙈

the ending honestly annoyes me a bit. firstly, I kinda guessed it, but secondly I really wanted Aemyra to show a grand display of power for once, but that just didn’t happen😞

I think the series has potential, so I could see myself reading the next book in the future. I did get an uncorrected ARC/proof so I don’t know if some things mentioned above has been changed in the final version 🤷‍♀️

thank you to Hazel McBride for the e-ARC! this is my 100% honest review

I really tried.

I was white knuckling this book the whole way through. I was wondering if this would change in the last hundred pages like some other authors like to do and it just wasn't it for me. I just wanted to slap Aemyra because she reminds me of all the pretentious girls at my daughter's school. I never rooted for her and thus, I knew this book just would not land in my mind.

I can tell how others would like this (dragons!) but when I don't care about the main character... I am done. Sorry!

"A Fate Forged in Fire" by Hazel McBride is a fantastic 5-star fantasy read! Aemyra has been living in hiding, waiting for the moment she can claim her birthright as Queen of Tìr Teine. But when the current king dies, nothing goes according to plan. Her biggest rival is Prince Fiorean, who will stop at nothing to ensure his family retains control of the crown. Aemyra and Fiorean clash multiple times, leaving readers wondering which family will ultimately triumph.

I don’t read a lot of fantasy, so this story truly amazed me! It’s fantastically written, with superb world-building and rich layers of political and religious intrigue. Plus, there are dragons and magic—what more could you want in a fantasy novel? If you're hoping for romance, it appears about halfway through the story.

Some of the names and terms are derived from Gaelic, so be sure to check out the helpful pronunciation guide at the back of the book. Additionally, make sure to check out the author’s note to see the content warning, there are topics which may not appeal to all readers, including strong negative opinions towards women from many of the male characters.

I only wish the second book in this duology were already out—I can’t wait to see how the story concludes!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press, Hazel McBride, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

In A Fate Forged in Fire, Hazel McBride delivers a sizzling Celtic-inspired fantasy romance packed with fire magic, court intrigue, and dragon riders. Tìr Teine was once a land ruled by powerful queens, but centuries of weak kings and the rise of the oppressive True Religion have left the territory in decay. Enter Aemyra: fire-blessed, fiercely stubborn, and raised in hiding. Her plan is simple—bond with the dead king’s dragon, claim her rightful place on the throne, and protect her people. Naturally, everything goes wrong.

Aemyra, like many modern fantasy heroines, is frustratingly stubborn and rarely listens, but despite myself, I couldn’t help but root for her. Her dynamic with Prince Fiorean, a dragon-rider loyal to the very regime she seeks to dismantle, is electric. He’s cold, arrogant, and… somehow still very likable. Their enemies-to-lovers arc is deliciously slow-burn with just the right amount of tension, angst, and betrayal.

Let’s talk about the dragons. Bonded dragons? Yes, please. I just wish we got more: more emotion, more inner connection, more of that deep, magical bond we were promised.

The villains? Horrifying. In the best (and worst) ways. These aren’t your cartoonishly evil bad guys. They are insidious, deeply misogynistic men with power, and wow, Hazel really doesn’t hold back. There’s one scene that left me full of absolute rage. If you’re sensitive to religious themes, consider this your heads-up: the True Religion’s grip on the court is suffocating and deeply reminiscent of real-world extremism.

Pacing-wise, this book surprised me. The middle never dragged, and I was fully immersed until the last chapter and a half, where everything exploded. I finished this book furious. Like, scream-into-a-pillow mad. Hazel, what did you just DO?

Will I read the sequel? Absolutely. Do I trust Hazel not to wreck me again? Absolutely not.

If you love enemies to lovers, feisty FMCs, sarcastic-but-sweet MMCs, fantastical creatures, dragons, and a touch of Scottish myth, A Fate Forged in Fire will absolutely set your bookshelf ablaze.

4.5/5 ⭐️

Aemyra has been blessed with fire magic but is in hiding until her time to claim the throne as the rightful heir. Prince Fiorean has also been blessed with fire magic and is one of the most powerful dragon riders in the kingdom. He’s also Aemyra’s biggest adversary and is entwined in his family’s corruption that is starting to spread.

This book was a true enemies to lovers story. It was a serious slow burn but was well worth the wait. The spicy scenes were so well done. While the pacing was a bit slow to start (have to establish the world and whatnot) it really picked up after the first few chapters. I am a sucker for any books with dragons and definitely need more of them in book 2. I also really loved the Scottish mythology and lore this world was built around.

I loved this book and can’t wait for the next book!

Tropes:

🔥True enemies to lovers
🔥Scottish mythology
🔥Dragons
🔥Feminine rage
🔥Political intrigue
🔥Religious cult and persecution
🔥Slow burn
🔥Touch her and die

Thank you to Hazel McBride, Random House, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the ebook.

**Definitely check trigger warnings on this one**

Aemyra is a blacksmith with a secret. In the city she lives in an oppressive religious order has influence over the king. This group is against magic and Aemyra is biding her time for the king to die so she can bond with his dragon and get rid of the True Religion.

Someone said this is Outlander meets House of Dragons and that is the perfect way to describe this book!! I will say this did take me a bit to get into. Some phrases like “pissing” rain were a bit strange to me. And the world building was a bit confusing. But after 20% I was obsessed with this book! The FMC is very feisty and literally gave zero f*cks which I liked. Also this is a true enemies to lovers!!!! I’ve been waiting for this for so long!!! Aemyra is such a strong FMC. Truly. The trauma she goes through in this book is no joke. She is the epitome of feminine rage. And the spice! Omg!!! It was so good! The ending almost had me shedding tears!! I need Hazel to go ahead and release the next book tomorrow. That’d be great!

🔥 Dragons
🗡️ Elemental Magic
🔥 Celtic Inspired
🗡️ Hidden Heir
🔥 Political / Religious Intrigue
🗡️ Enemies to Lovers

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was very slow paced. It took 10 chapters just to figure out who the FMC really is to the whole plot of the story. After chapter, the author was like buckle up butter cup we are going for a ride. It took off. I loved the action. Magics role in the book and how that affected the world in the book. The fact this whole book is based on matriarchy instead of patriarchy was absolutely amazing. I loved how inclusive it is. This 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ certified. I loved it.

I was so excited for A Fate Forged in Fire. I was expecting a romantasy with dragons, a strong-willed heroine who becomes queen, lots political intrigue and plotting, and an enemies to lovers romance. However, it didn’t deliver on any of my expectations. The pacing was off and it was difficult to get into. I wanted more of the magic and dragons that I typically expect from a fantasy book. The characters felt one dimensional, and a little bit underdeveloped, so it was hard to connect with them. Aemyra was childish, arrogant, and blindly trusted the wrong people. And Fiorean had no personality or depth at all. He was barely present in the book. I wanted a lot more plot and world building, and I found myself missing the political intrigue that I was expecting. The romance felt like it came out of nowhere, so it fell flat for me. Aemyra and Fiorean are related and look the same, which put me off. They hardly interact at all, and then they’re forced to marry, so it wasn’t even enemies to lovers. It was more like strangers to insta-love. I really wanted to love it, but I found myself struggling to finish it.

Thank you to Delacorte Press, Random House, Hazel McBride, and NetGalley for the ARC.

📔A Fate Forged In Fire
✏️ Hazel McBride
📆 May 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🔥dragons and fire magic
🔥political intrigue
🔥religious cult and persecution
🔥arranged marriage
🔥female rage
🔥enemies to lovers

A Fate Forged in Fire

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

“This is so you remember that a woman has her own power, and that you do not have any right to take it from her.”

A Fate Forged in Fire is a fantasy romance inspired by Celtic and Scottish lore. Aemyra is blessed by fire and next in line for the throne. Hiding until it is her time to claim the her crown, she takes the kingdom by surprise and they are not willing to accept her. Prince Fiorean is her biggest adversary - dragon rider, powerful fire wielder, and intertwined with his family’s corruption.

This story is a true enemies to lovers. Political adversaries with chemistry and tension. There are dragons, twists and turns, and lots of feminine rage. There is bisexual rep through our FMC. The characters are lovable while flawed as they try to navigate this complex political climate.

Thank you to Random House | Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

If you ever wondered what Merida would be like if she was a bi-sexual dragon rider with fire powers then you’ve found your next read! The FMC Aemyra is powerful, brave, smart and cares immensely about her people. Set in a world where previous queens blessed by goddesses have ruled for centuries the Tir has been without a queen as the male line has taken over using the threat of a new religion that does not acknowledge the goddesses. Aemyra the secret rightful heir to the throne must hone her powers and take back her kingdom in the name of the goddesses.

The pacing of this book was fantastic. I was never bored and I was also never sure who to trust. I felt that all of the characters were well rounded and the story was exciting while also being easy to follow for the most part. I do believe that the book could have better set up the current power struggles with a bit more background information at the start of the book. I’m not normally a fan of stories where we are dropped into an immediate conflict without enough background information, though this one continued to build on things enough throughout the story that it wasn’t something I would complain about. My one complaint is that the pronunciation guide was at the end of the book and it absolutely needed to be at the start. It may not be such a big deal when the physical book is released but people using E-readers or having digitally arcs like me will find it challenging. That being said I had a great time with it and will eagerly be awaiting the next one. I hope it has just as many twists and turns as this story.

A Fate Forged in Fire is the Celtic-inspired story of Aemyra - a fire blessed blacksmith fighting for her rightful place as the first Queen in centuries.

Fire wielder • Hidden heir
Forced marriage • Enemies to lovers
Political intrigue • “My wife”

This book was full of my favorites - dragons, elemental magic, and a fierce FMC. The strong family bonds, especially the brother sister relationship, were wonderfully written. The political scheming had me questioning who the true enemies were especially by the end. I loved Aemyra and Fiorean. Their chemistry was perfection with amazing tension and a delicious slow burn.
Pick this up if you’re looking for a romantasy with fire and feminine rage ❤️‍🔥

This is the first in a duology, and the emotional ending makes me so excited to see where the story goes. I will be impatiently waiting for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eARC

3.75⭐️

👻 book 1/? ongoing fantasy romance series
🍑 open door spice
👻 dragon bonding and fire magic
🍑 enemies to lovers
👻 kingdom politics
🍑 prince MMC x princess FMC
👻 heavy themes of misogyny
🍑 old vs new religion

Firstly thank you so much to random house / Ballentine for this eARC!

~My Thoughts~
This is for the readers who love a plot heavy, lore heavy world building book so y’all know I had a good time 🤭

The main plot point of the book is ‘f*** the patriarchy,’ its revenge, its ‘taking back what’s rightfully mine’, its feminine rage. All of this is the main drive for FMC Aemyra and as the plot unfolds, it forces her to be a strong badass female warrior. But not in a gentle way. Like the girl is vicious

It does take some time to properly get going (like half the book 😬) but when it does? 😮‍💨 there’s betrayal, death, action, more betrayal and more death, and again alllll the destruction of the patriarchy (or the aim to destroy it)

I’m undecided about the romance? And feel like it may be my least favourite part of the book? Rogue, I know but I’m not super sold on it yet. I think it’s because of how they come to be… I just wasn’t super convinced that the relationship fitted Aemyra’s character. Though, the ending did whet my appetite 👀

I think it’s a strong start to the series and I’m super intrigued to see where it goes.

If you’re down for destruction of the patriarchal royal family and a princess who tries to fight for her birthright (actually if you just enjoy destruction of the patriarchy) you’ll enjoy this

I really wanted to like this book. The concept had so much potential—fiery powers, mysterious politics, a morally gray love interest, and a powerful female lead? Sign me up. But unfortunately, A Fate Forged in Fire just didn’t work for me. I kept pushing through, hoping something would click, but it never really did. By the time I finished, I felt more frustrated than fulfilled.

Let’s start with the main character, Aemyra. From the very beginning, I had a hard time connecting with her—and honestly, that never changed. She’s introduced as this strong-willed, rage-filled, take-no-prisoners kind of girl, but instead of coming across as fierce or empowered, she mostly just seemed mean-spirited and self-important. She constantly looked down on others, especially other women, and it was hard to read lines where she belittled people who were in the same powerless position she’d once been in. It gave strong “I’m not like other girls” energy in the most exhausting way. Her personality wasn’t just unlikable—it felt inconsistent and forced.

What made it worse was that her actions didn’t match the persona we were sold. She talks big, sure—but when a major turning point hits (like learning the truth about who was behind her family's death), there’s no payoff. No explosion of righteous fury, no clever plan for revenge. Just more internal whining and vague threats about what she might do if she gets her magic back. All bark, no bite. And for someone who’s supposedly burning with rage, she barely even smolders.

Then there’s Fiorean. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you a single defining trait about him beyond “mysterious.” He felt more like a placeholder love interest than a real character. Their relationship lacked chemistry, depth, or even basic emotional connection. The romance just didn’t work for me, and that’s a problem when it’s such a big part of the book.

The pacing also gave me a headache. Everything moved so fast—new names, new factions, new magic systems—and yet none of it felt grounded. There was very little context or backstory to help me keep track of who was who and why anything mattered. I love complex fantasy with layered world-building, but here, it felt like I was being thrown into a whirlwind of terms and locations without a map.

And maybe the biggest issue? I was too distracted by my irritation with Aemyra to care about the world at all. Every time I thought we might get into some intriguing plot twist or dive deeper into the lore, her behavior would yank me right out of the story again. I’ve read plenty of flawed heroines—and I like flawed heroines—but they still need to be compelling. Aemyra wasn’t.

I don’t doubt that this book will hit differently for some readers—especially those who connect more with Aemyra’s rage or enjoy morally gray heroines with sharp edges. But for me, the disconnect was just too strong. Between the lack of emotional depth, the unlikable characters, and the chaotic world-building, I walked away feeling disappointed.

Dragons, fiery queen, elemental powers & an explosive love interest, all mesmerizing...but I struggled with this one. Aemyra is entitled, arrogant & temperamental. She expects the kingdom to bow to her, but she doesn't inspire faith or loyalty.

I, personally, struggled with so many characters & their names. Could be the Gaelic? The world building was beautiful, but stopped short of giving that last thrill. I think the next in the duology might hit that sweet spot I was looking for. I will definitely be hoping for Aemyra to grow & flourish in the next book!

Thanks to netgalley & Dell for the ARC.

Written by a Scottish author and base in Celtic mythology and lore, this book gave me major 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 vibes with two families warring for the throne of Tìr Teine.

I loved the female rage aspect of this story. Tìr Teine was always a matriarchal society, until the loss of a female heir led to kings in power and a new religion that oppresses women. Without giving spoilers, Aemyra is our FMC fighting to right the kingdom.

The dragons were one of my favorite parts of the story, and I hope we get to see more of them in the next book. I didn’t feel strongly emotionally invested in the relationship between Aemyra and Fiorean. I was more interested in Aemyra and her former lover.

With all the elements you’d want in a Romantasy, including a twist and cliffhanger ending, this is the perfect story for fantasy romance lovers. However, there is not much to differentiate it from many other similar books in the genre.

🎧 Narrator: Samara MacLaren
🎧 Length: 13h 21 m

Samara MacLaren was the perfect narrator for this book! I felt immersed in the mythology of the story. I had some trouble following along at times due to not fully catching on to many of the Celtic names, but I think I would have found it easier to understand if I had read instead of listened to the book.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and PRH Audio for providing me with copies of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a wild ride. It started a little slow and I had difficulty getting into it until about 20% or so. Once I passed the twenty percent mark I couldn’t stop reading, At times, the world confused me a little bit and I only kind of understand it now but I understand why the author couldn’t just info dump. I would definitely read the next one when it comes out and I highly recommend this to fans of Fourth Wing or Throne of Glass.

3.5 - ⭐⭐⭐ 💫

“Even before I knew who you were, I wanted you.”

A Fate Forged in Fire is the debut novel in the adult fantasy romance series by the same name. Written in third person POV, the story follows Aemyra, a princess in hiding. Centuries ago, the maternal line used to lead the realm through golden ages alongside dragons but when only sons were produced it seemed a curse fell upon the monarchy...especially when there were no more dragon eggs produced. Years of kings ruling has savaged the realm and Aemyra is the only hope, the daughter of an exiled line…except the current ruling family wants to maintain power alongside a new zealous religion.

In preparing for a coup twenty six years in the making, Aemyra has lived among her people as a healer and blacksmith. When her time finally comes, though, things go awry and the person in her way? The second son of the current king, Prince Fiorean, who acts as the cold calculated arm of a corrupt family. In the game of war and court these two find themselves working together. As sparks fly between them can these two find a way forward behind enemy lines or will the rot consume everything...including the throne Aemyra is willing to put everything on the line for?

This book had a really great start but I will say not all of this was for me.

Aemyra comes off a bit cocky throughout the novel and I think this comes to her view on her heritage. Seeing her have to come to turns that she won't simply be handed the crown challenges and humbles her. She makes some pretty stupid mistakes but there is this glimpse into her that shows she cares a lot for her people.

Fiorean is a character that, even at the end, I struggle to fully understand. He is loyal to his family even when he knows there is corruption. He doesn't fully understand his dragon but his backstory shows that there is a goodness to him. In a situation where he is attempting to be three steps ahead of everyone he often is doing a lot of bad stuff to pave that way. I felt there was a connection between him and Aemyra but the ending has me confused about his intentions.

“...From that very first moment in the forge, when you blazed through my glacial pretenses, I knew I never wanted to be free of it. Of you. Because the intensity with which you burned simmered through me soul and left me forever changed…I never knew what it felt like, to burn…”

This book does contain spice - I would say 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. These characters take a LONG time before we see a romance blossom between them and there are good reasons. Romance doesn't start going until the second half and the spice really doesn't appear until 80% in. The spice is well written and highlights the feral and angry aspect to their relationship because they see each other as reluctant allies. Initially they hate each other and try to kill one another, in fact. I will say I found the romance flips like a switch. Once there is romance I really love it but this book does toy with your emotions and I didn't like where the romance went at the end.

In terms of the story, I loved the magic systems with the animal bonds. I enjoyed the setting of the stage with the opening chapter. I also found the political intrigue while Aemyra is a political prisoner to be engaging. At the same time I was a little lost in the chaos of what Aemyra wants and what her father is doing to help gain the throne - especially the whole way she comes across a dragon that we really don't get to unpack here. It felt like the characters didn't fully have a grasp on things as well which didn't lend itself because there wasn't really any strong antagonist to pull the strings. I also wished the romance was more fleshed out. The ending gives you a pretty big cliffhanger and I wasn't the biggest fan of it as a romance girlie.

Overall I think if you're in for the fantasy vibe with political coups, betrayal, and dragons then this will be good for you!

Thank you Dell for this arc!

Also please note a trigger - there is an attempted assault on the FMC on page.

3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

An enemies-to-lovers Romantasy featuring dragons & elemental magic

I enjoyed reading the book, but the ending felt a bit rushed and - as is typical in this genre - has a cliffhanger that could probably be solved by everyone taking an extra minute to talk & line up their stories

Still a good read & I plan to continue reading the series!