This book has some pretty intense world building, along with great plot twists and political intrigue. It's fast paced and kept me hooked throughout.

Amazing read from start to finish. I literally could not put this book down once I picked it up. Arranged marriage enemies to lovers perfection in a fantasy romance. Aemyra is badass FMC personified and she takes nothing from nobody. Fiorean WTH, I refuse to believe the last few pages of this books and I will not know peace until I have book 2.

This book was captivating the entire way through. I feel like the story is very unique and the plot was unpredictable and exciting. Aemyra is probably one of my favorite FMCs of all time. She was so well-written and badass and exactly what you want in a romantasy heroine. There are some very upsetting things that happen to her (definitely check the trigger warnings before reading) and to me seemed a little excessive. I really enjoyed reading this book but I just didn't love it so I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars. I do recommend anyone who likes romantic fantasy should check it out! Now I just have to patiently wait for the next one to come out...

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a review!

⭐️ 3.75 | 🌶️ 2

This started off a little slow but it finished strong. I had to look up names and pronunciations because it’s a Celtic inspired Romantasy novel, but FYI there is a guide in the back of the novel. It gave me Game of Thrones vibes but Scottish.

The world building is great and the characters were multilayered. Aemyra is a headstrong, confidant woman, ready to claim her throne, but she’s also quick tempered and doesn’t always think things through. Prince Fiorean always seemed cold and arrogant but after their marriage of convenience, he started giving “my wife” energy and seemed to really care about her!

The book ends on a cliffhanger. I was so shocked with the ending. I can’t wait to read book 2!

I DNF'd A Fate Forged In Fire at 61%.

I found the writing style to be completely unengaging and it rests heavily on the tropes it's marketed with, and that is not my preferred type of book/reading experience. There is a lot of telling and not showing—for that reason, I thought this was a debut but it turns out it is just McBride's adult romantasy debut—but it needed more editing to sharpen the tone of the writing and make it feel less elementary/underdeveloped. The FMC is supposed to be "fiery" but she is very impractical, impulsive, and flat out childish. It doesn't work with the contrast of lots of violence and spicier scenes. The world building was very minimal, I didn't understand the "why" of the book, and the politics, which are typically my favorite part of romantasy, were present but somewhat boring although I liked them the most out of everything else in this book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

Overall, this book had a lot of potential, but it was a bit lacking in the execution for my taste. The tropes and style are firmly within the romantasy camp, though the jury is out on the HEA since the duology is incomplete. If you’re a bit pickier on writing style, this may not be for you. If you’re a bit more laid-back in that regard and you like dragons, fiery FMCs, lighter battle scenes, and a touch of smut, this may be a great option for you!

What I liked:
-the dragons
-the magical creature bonds
-the politics
-generally speaking, the story’s premise was engaging

What could have been better:
-the writing - it felt… I don’t think elementary is the word for it, but there was very little finesse. There were pockets to be sure, but it felt very brute force overall
-tell vs show (so, so much telling)
-the messaging - I love girl power but it was shoved so far down my throat I choked on it. I prefer a bit more subtlety
-the tension - it wasn’t the smoothest transition but it wasn’t the roughest, either

Will I complete the duology? TBD - I’m not opposed, but it won’t be a priory given my extensive TBR.

Do you like dragons?(I do!!!) … Need I say more?

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I am an avid fantasy reader and have been craving a book about dragons so I decided to give this one a try. This is Hazel McBride’s debut book and it is fantastic! A Fate Forged in Fire is based in a Scotland-like land where a king is trying to overtake a matriarchal country. Aemyra, who is the true female heir to the throne, will fight to bring her land back to its old glory.

This book contains some of my favorite tropes like enemies to lovers and royal marriage/marriage of convenience. The magic system also took me by surprise. Humans with magic can bond to animals which strengthens their magic, however, they are not allowed to leave the geographical area in which they bonded. I wonder how that will play into the story as it goes on?

Aemyra, out FMC, is badass and has fire magic. I love how strong and determined she is. She is a blacksmith’s daughter and has secretly been trained to fight as well as to be a queen. She also has a twin that I wish we got to see a little more of in the story overall. The only slight criticism I will bring up with this book is that I found the FMC a bit annoying a few times. I think there are moments where she comes off a bit too naive and does things without thinking through the consequences. Overall, I enjoyed this book so much and I did not want to put it down as I was reading! I also was not expecting some serious topics to be included in this book. There is some serious social commentary that is the heart of this book and that made me love it that much more. One example of this is the element of warring religions in this book as well where the old, more “paganistic”, religion is being overtaken by a very suppressing patriarchal, one god, religion. It brings an extra layer to the story and adds interesting commentary to how religion affects people in the real world. The points the author is trying to make are that much more impactful when seen directly through the eyes of the main character herself.

Overall, this was an amazing debut by Hazel McBride and I cannot wait until the second part of this duology is out.

PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS!!! There is one particularly graphic scene so please take the trigger warnings seriously.

It’s a mixed bag. Aemyra feels very much a slightly sullen older teen. This isn’t a teen book though unless you’re cool with the teen reading a bit of gory violence, a few explicit sex scenes and other odds and ends. So… probable not an under 16 even being realistic about what a teenager can read online…. Spots are action packed and move quickly and spots do drag. I think there’s high odds that the obviously super evil male clergy of the monotheistic god wanting to prevent worship of goddesses and subjugated might bother some readers who are deeply monotheistic themselves so if that describes you probably not the book for you. For me, perhaps I’ll read the whole series once it’s all out. It does end in a bit if a cliffhanger. Two books? Three? Could be either.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I feel like a lot of the magic/world building pieces weren't laid out well and that made it hard to fully get into the book. I wasn't invested in the story until about 40% of the way in. Long past the place where many people would dnf. Overall story idea is interesting, but the execution didn't quite hit the mark.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading book 2. The beginning was difficult for me to get into because I was struggling to connect with the FMC and there was a lot of world building. Once the plot started picking up, I was more invested in the characters and interested in what would happen next. I highly recommend reading the pronunciation guide because I ended up pronouncing nearly everything wrong 🤣 There were some things that reminded me of Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon: court and religious group scheming, forced marriage, men on power trips, dragons, and an “it’s MY throne/birthright” queen…all things I like!

Vibes:
🔥 Celtic-inspired romantasy, book 1 of the duology
🐉 Elemental magic and bonds with fantastical creatures (with more of a focus on the dragons)
🔥 Enemies to ??
🐉 Flawed characters with different motivations all fighting for control of the throne
🔥 Political intrigue
🐉 Oppressive religious nutjobs that think women are only good for their womb…truly the only characters I HATED
🔥 CHECK THE TW - there is a very graphic on page scene involving previously mentioned religious nutjobs
🐉 FMC is naive and a lot of her decisions had me wanting to shout at her
🔥 MMC with a tortured past and lots of “my wife” moments
🔥 Cliffhanger ending that surprised me

Thank you Random House and Dell Romance for the eARC via NetGalley! ❤️‍🔥

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine, and Ms. McBride for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Struggling to rate this one tbh. I had very high expectations from the synopsis. I love a Gaelic-inspired language system and a Scottish Highlands-inspired setting; I LOVE a matriarchy; I love the early Celtic pagan vs Christian ""inspired"" politics; and let's be real, I heard the word dragon and was ready to rumble. All the better when there's a whole dragon-bonding situation. I grew up on Pern and Ramoth (IYKYK) and so so desperately wanted one for myself. Ugh. The feels. Anyways.

Aemyra was... difficult to warm to. Feisty, yes. Strong: definitely. Clever? maybe. Also, foolhardy, arrogant, smug, hasty, judgmental, overconfident, and rash. She did not ONCE stop and think things through. For all that she said she didn't really trust her dad, and outright admitted (!) he was power-hungry, she sat back and let him plan everything and did as she was told. She never once strategized, or planned, or thought things through. Repeatedly she disappeared without telling anyone where she had gone, for hours or days on end, but when it makes *sense* to leave, she refuses, because "queens don't run!" Girl, you are not queen yet, I am sorry to be the one to break it to you. A clandestine ceremony doesn't mean much when you're not on the throne and your allies are so thin on the ground you can practically get them all in the same room. She repeatedly gets her ass handed to her in fights of all kinds, and learns absolutely nothing in her back-to-back embarrassments at the hands of the Christians / Covenanters. I wanted so much to like her but she was, well, kind of a B.

There were lots of elements happening in this book. Some of them got kind of short shrift. Fiorean could have used more development, as could most of Clan Daercathian frankly. I actually thought the dragon element could have been bigger too; after all, Terrea was separated from Aemyra for the vast majority of their time together in the book. I'd like to know more about Kolreath (sp?) and Aervor and how and why they chose their Bonded partners. I thought that the Draeven/Aemyra side of the conflict was a little less explained than it ought to be (i.e., who's on their side? why? where are they coming from?) and the world in general could have used more background.

On the other hand, the political conflict between the followers of the Goddesses and the Covenanters/Chosen was very well done. I did really like that Aemyra was thinking through how the people would perceive her actions and choices as opposed to those of the Covenanters (the one truly Queenly thing she did). I liked that she actually used her talents for smithing and healing (as opposed to just saying she could do them). I got some real Claire from Outlander vibes from the scene with Edwyn and the bitterberries ;) In general the writing was compulsively readable and after a slightly slower start things moved at breakneck speed.

Overall, despite the areas I thought could have been expanded on, I did enjoy this very much. I definitely want to see where the author goes with the story; particularly (A) where the story will take Terrea (dragons first, always!) (B) what Aemyra intends to do about the Convenanters, because gf's hands are tied but good and (C) how that last-minute spoiler will resolve itself, of course.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Delacourte Press and NetGalley for the arc of this A Fate Forged in Fire.

I was absolutely enthralled with the world building in this book. Aemyra is fierce and a total badass (and a fellow bisexual, hell yeah)! The plot was intense and didn’t feel overshadowed by the romance, though I still was sucked into the romance elements of the storyline. This was epic, and I cannot wait for its sequel! 4.75⭐️

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.