SCREAMING. CRYING. THROWING UP.

I ate this ish up. Magic and dragons and female rage? SIGN ME THE F UP.

I did think our FMC was a bit naive for a 26 year old who was secretly schooled to be a queen and healer but I get that she was in an extremely high pressure, stressful situation behind enemy lines. Honestly, I’d have fallen for that charm and pretty face too I think. I’m still like WTF. I did not see that twist ending coming so I guess I can’t blame my girl.

Don’t even get me started on the patriarchy barfing Chosen and their crusade against women. I mean, could this be more on point?! They took it farther than I expected in this book but I was zero percent surprised by their actions, women have been enduring this type of treatment for centuries. To see women however just meek and following was sending me into rage aneurisms.

I still just have so many feelings. I’m going to be thinking of this one for a long, long time. I was completely absorbed and now distraught I have to wait to see what happens next.

I felt actual stress reading this book. The religious aspects had me putting the book down and taking deep breaths. I could just feel my blood pressure rise with the appearance of certain characters. I cannot wait for a certain someone to bite it.

As for Aemyra, she does some dumb shit. After reading a few other reviews, there's a consensus there, but I lean toward that being a good thing in terms of story and character development. She's rash, she makes mistakes and gets cocky. This is part of being human. She's known she's royalty her whole life, but hasn't really been involved in real world applications of diplomacy and battle strategy, so she's bound to overlook things and act spontaneous.

I do wish there was more expansion on the world building. The separate clans are explained briefly in passing so it's difficult to really get into the world itself, but I had little issue following the politics.

The pacing is also choppy for about the first half; you're more or less thrown right into the middle of everything. The second half really picks up and gets back into the groove though.

A solid fast paced romantasy with flawed characters, traditional Scottish Gaelic vibes, and badass dragons.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ -A promising spark that hasn’t yet become a flame

Going into this book, I was buzzing with anticipation. The premise promised a searing blend of magic, power, rebellion, and irresistible tension between enemies. A fire-wielding blacksmith vying for the throne of a fractured realm? Sign me up. And while there were flickers of brilliance that kept me turning the pages, the execution didn’t fully match the epic feel I was hoping for.

The setting is undeniably intriguing—rich with Celtic influence and ancient legacy, complete with a kingdom weighed down by religious tyranny and unraveling traditions. There's an undercurrent of something bold and fierce here, especially in the dynamic between a decaying patriarchy and a heroine set on reclaiming the power of women and magic. Still, the delivery felt uneven at times. I often found myself wishing for clearer foundations. Certain elements of the world—especially the spiritual bonds and magic hierarchy—seemed to leap ahead before I had a chance to settle into them.

Aemyra, our heroine, is all fire and fury, and though her passion is undeniable, her choices often left me more puzzled than inspired. Her determination is admirable, but I struggled to see her as a future queen—at least not yet. Meanwhile, Fiorean plays the perfect foil with just enough mystery and sharp edges to make things interesting, though I didn’t feel like I fully understood his inner world or convictions by the end.

Now, about the romance... it definitely simmers, but never quite reaches the boil. The attraction is there, but the emotional arc felt undercooked. I love tension and forced alliances as much as anyone, but the transition from animosity to affection didn’t fully land for me—it felt more like flipping a switch than a slow burn.

That said, dragons always earn bonus points. The lore surrounding them, and their connection to the throne, adds an exciting layer, and I hope future installments dive even deeper into that mystical bond and the other magical creatures hinted at in passing.

All in all, while this one didn’t quite soar, it did light a spark. There’s something here—something that could really shine in book two with more refinement. I’m definitely intrigued enough to keep reading, especially to see how Aemyra’s growth unfolds and how this magical, volatile world evolves.

If you're into fantasy with rebellious women, slow-building power plays, and a touch of heat (romantic and elemental), this is worth a try—just manage your expectations and enjoy the ride for what it is: the beginning of a journey, not yet the destination.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine | Delacorte Press for sharing this digital copy of one of the most anticipated fantasies of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts—I truly appreciated it!

"A Fate Forged in Fire" by Hazel McBride is an enthralling and immersive fantasy novel that takes readers on an epic journey filled with magic, danger, and romance. The story follows Elara, a young woman with hidden magical abilities, as she becomes embroiled in a rebellion against a tyrannical empire.

McBride's writing is evocative and richly descriptive, bringing the world of Aeridor to life with vivid imagery and intricate details. The plot is well-crafted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. Elara is a compelling protagonist, and her growth throughout the story is both inspiring and believable.

As Elara embraces her powers and joins the rebellion, she forms alliances with a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique skills and motivations. Among them is Kaelen, a skilled warrior with a mysterious past, who becomes both her confidant and her love interest. Their relationship is complex and emotionally charged, adding depth and intensity to the story.

One of the strengths of "A Fate Forged in Fire" is its exploration of themes such as freedom, sacrifice, and the corrupting influence of power. McBride delves into the moral complexities of war and rebellion, forcing readers to question the true cost of victory.

Overall, "A Fate Forged in Fire" is a captivating and unforgettable fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of authors like Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo. It's a sweeping tale of magic, adventure, and romance that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

A Fate Forged in Fire was hard to get into. Took me until about 40% to really become immersed in the story. One thing I did truly love was the enemies to lovers. It’s probably my favorite trope and I enjoyed how well it was done here. I will be giving A Fate Forged in Fire another chance down the road.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC opportunity. This is an honest and voluntary review.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Hazel McBride’s novel “A Fate Forged in Fire" – “To become the first queen in centuries, a powerfully blessed blacksmith must use her wits and fire magic to overthrow the corrupt powers ruling her kingdom—while also fighting her growing desire for one of her dragon-riding adversaries—in the first book of a sizzling Celtic-inspired fantasy romance duology.”

A Fate Forged in Fire is a romantasy that blends Celtic mythology, elemental magic, and dragons with themes of feminism, political intrigue, and enemies-to-lovers romance.

At the heart of the story is Aemyra, a fire-wielding FMC who is as strong and gritty as she is vulnerable and raw. Hidden away since birth to protect her from the patriarchal regime that has usurped her family’s throne, Aemyra is determined to reclaim her rightful place as queen of Tir Teine, a kingdom weakened by the oppressive True Religion. This group not only demonizes magic but also enforces a suffocating doctrine that reduces women to subservient roles.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Aemyra and Fiorean is, without question, one of the book’s strengths. Their animosity is palpable, with knife-to-throat tension and mutual attempts to outwit each other. As their relationship evolves, the chemistry between them is undeniable, marked by subtle glances, razor-sharp banter, and moments of vulnerability that feel earned. Fiorean’s journey from antagonist to reluctant ally is just as compelling as Aemyra’s, and their connection is as much about respect and growth as it is about romantic tension.

The world-building is immersive, weaving Celtic-inspired elements, Gaelic phrases, and a matriarchal kingdom into a backdrop of religious and political turmoil. While the abundance of details—clans, royalty, elemental magic systems— which can feel bit dense, they add depth to a narrative that feels both fantastical and relevant. Themes of female empowerment and rebellion against systemic oppression resonate throughout the story, making it as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

Whether you read this for the dragons, the feminist themes, or the enemies-to-lovers trope done to perfection, this book delivers it all. It’s engaging and emotional—a must-read for romantasy fans and fans of House of the Dragon.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read this ARC through NetGalley.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full of magic, suspense, and drama. It was interesting enough that I wanted to find out what happened in the end, but it was rather disappointing so I don't know if I will continue on with the series.

2 stars.
I wanted to love this SO much. This type of fantasy novel sounded right up my alley and I've been reaching out more into traditional fantasy following ACOTAR/TOG. This just isn't for me.
I didn't love the main character for the predominance of the story. She's childish and arrogant but with no real character development? I don't feel like she really grows throughout, which is really hard. I am a huge fan of fiery/ragey FMC's, but I need something to level them even the slightest. I struggled alot with the choices she made, which just didn't feel consistent.
Overall, this just felt really all over the place. I struggled with the word building, which didn't feel as immersive as you truly need fantasy to be.

A Fate Forged in Fire is a breathtaking, emotionally charged fantasy that sets the standard for character-driven storytelling. At the heart of this inferno is Aemyra—resilient, obstinate, strong-willed, courageous, and every inch a queen.

From the first page, Aemyra commands attention. She is not simply a heroine; she is a force of nature. In a world that constantly tries to bend her, she refuses to break. Her journey through betrayal, war, and inner turmoil is a masterclass in character evolution. Every setback she faces only tempers her spirit, like steel in flame.

What sets this novel apart is how it balances sweeping world-building with Aemyra’s intimate struggles and triumphs. Her courage isn’t performative—it’s raw, painful, and real. She doesn’t strive to be likable; she strives to lead, to protect, to rise—and in doing so, she earns our admiration tenfold.

A Fate Forged in Fire is more than just a fantasy novel. It’s a tribute to the power of perseverance and the indomitable will of a woman who knows her worth. Aemyra isn’t waiting to be saved—she’s too busy saving a kingdom.

If you’re looking for a queen worth following into battle, Aemyra will be etched in your heart long after the final page.

I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology, brimming with magic, dragons, and fire wielders. It is an epic and captivating tale that draws readers in and leaves them breathless.

Tir Teine has grown weak after a long succession of ineffectual kings. Under the sway of the True Religion, an oppressive faction spreading anti-magic doctrines, the region suffers. Aemyra, born to rule and blessed with fire, has lived in hiding to protect her life, awaiting the death of the current King so she can bond with his dragon, ascend the throne, and safeguard her people. However, when the King dies and her plan unravels, she must confront her greatest rival, Prince Fiorean. Amid the engulfing the court, they are compelled to form an uneasy and perilous alliance to claim the throne.

Although it begins somewhat slowly, the story builds momentum and delivers an exhilarating experience.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly I spent majority of this book confused. I liked that the FMC acknowledged her faults and wasn’t some unbeatable character. She failed spectacularly this book.

I hate how as soon as I started liking the other MC?¿ it all got flipped. I have no idea where the next book could go and I have no idea what happened at the end? But I’m intrigued to find out what happens next.

I liked the magic system and the battle between the two religious sides. It felt like a weird cult mix with the Savior people things? Some of the scenes were VERY graphic in regards to their beliefs and what they tried to do the FMC.

PS dragons are always a win

Sadly. I just can't get into this book. I have tried. Few times to push thru but it's time to call it at 25%.

The start of this book and world building is just heavy and slow. I love fantasy I'm used to a book needing time to set up and get the reader immersed in to a world. Yet this one I just couldn't find my self to really care.

I'm giving book a 3. I think half this washes a reader and it just not fitting my taste. The other half was the book itself. The reviews for this book is pretty polarizing so I think it could either be a new favorite for many and flop for others

I thoroughly enjoyed A Date Forged in Fire. I loved the fact that the FMC was just unapologetically herself and I loved the enemies to lovers trope that was well done here. This was such a fun read!

Thank you for the arc in advance. I had to DNF. Could not get into this. There’s no glossary to help with pronunciation and one is needed. Every other sentence I seem to be struggling. I had high expectations for this book but there was no hook for me and I could not get into it. Others may enjoy this book.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc

unfortunately, dnf @ 16%

i found a fate forged in fire too difficult to get into, and that ultimately made me lose interest. i’m sure this book will find its audience, but i don’t think it’s me.

A Fate Forged in Fire is the first in a Celtic inspired fantasy romance duology about a queen trying to regain her throne from corrupt kings and an oppressive religion.

On paper this checks a lot of boxes for me: rebellion, dragons, magic, etc. However, I really struggled to get engaged with the story. I feel like so many of the characters had a lot of potential to be really interesting, but I wasn’t particularly attached to any of them. For example, we know Sorcha is a barkeep and former lover of Aemyra, but we don't know anything about her personality or how they interacted together outside of that. We see the most of Fiorean and we know he has a troubled past with his father, but I didn't feel any hate or affection for him.

It’s told all from Aemyra’s POV, but I wish I could see better into what she’s feeling. All the events seem to take place close together in time and brief bits of history are mentioned but sometimes I struggle when characters change their behavior without much motivation. She hates him, he tells her a sob story, she likes him, he does one questionable thing but also doesn't kill her even though he can so he likely is brewing something, she hates him. Bonding with her dragon wasn't exactly easy, but it was surprisingly so given people have barely ever seen The Terror before now. In general, I was missing both strong feelings about the characters and investment in the outcome.

This had a really cool premise and I think it just didn’t know what to do with it. Plot points would happen and then just trail off as if the author didn’t know how to achieve their idea. The characters were really uninspired and felt like an unfortunate copy/paste of common characters. The lack of thought out world building was a disappointment too.

I feel like this has so much potential but it ultimately fell so short for me. I really enjoyed it in the 60-70% but the beginning kind of dragged, and then the end made me so mad. I thought we had redeemed this guy and then he goes and does this?? Trying to keep it spoiler free here!

But the only spoiler you need to know is that they are third cousins. It’s just weird to me that he called her kin, and thank goodness a friend told me that (she confirmed with the author) or I’d be guessing the entire time.

Overall there were some good moments, but ultimately I just didn’t vibe with it. I don’t know if I’ll continue to book 2 or not at this point.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an arc.

😬 just because you have an idea for a romantasy book doesn’t mean it’s gonna be good or that you should write it.

The world building was SO heavy in the beginning, and was confusing! I also wasn’t warned that the main character was going to be bisexual. With an emphasis on her relationship with another female character. I wouldn’t have read it if I would have known. You could also tell that the author was bitter or disrespectful of Christianity which didn’t sit well with me at all. This book just fell so flat and was so boring to read, and predictable. There was a paragraph at the beginning that gave the whole book away… basically just skim read this book.

The only good parts of the book were Adarian’s character, when Fiorean said he never knew what it was to burn until he met Amyera, and Draevan telling her he could have been a better father. Speaking of Amyera she was terrible, like a very unlikeable FMC. She kept making bad decision after bad decision that led to catastrophe not only for her but for her people. Also she is trying to convince EVERYONE the whole book that she is the “true queen”. Lady, if you’re spending your whole life trying to convince your people and everyone else that you’re the queen… you’re probably not the person for the job. Also, when all of her people were fighting for the cause she was just moping and goofing off in her room or tent exactly what a “queen” would be doing. 🙄

Also, the menacing and terrible black dragon that no one has ever bonded or even tried, she bonded in like 2 minutes and was a paragraph of explanation in length… and when a dragon rider who has been bonded for 10+ years doesn’t know about the “bond” MAJOR plot hole!

All in all I would not recommend this book. Don’t waste your time. Fourth wing, throne of glass, and a million other romantasy books are better than this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you NetGalley, and Random House Publishing for this ARC.

4.25 STARS

Really enjoyed this one. Some of my favorite elements and tropes including TRUE enemies to lovers, dragons, bonds, elemental magic, political intrigue / rivals, messed up family dynamics, and some good world building. The FMC was her own vibe, very unapologetic about who she is. Some of the pacing with the tension between her and the MMC was slightly off, but still liked their dynamic overall. Scottish/Gaelic influence is always a plus for me. Definitely recommend if you like any of the above and looking forward to see how the story continues.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC! All feedback is my own.