Hell yes. THIS BOOK. This is how you do high fantasy with a true enemies-to-lovers romance.

A long-lost queen fights to claim her rightful place on the throne and bond with the world's most powerful dragon to restore goddess-blessed rule in a realm poisoned by a patriarchal religious faction.

A Fate Forged in Fire has seriously addicting House of the Dragon/Game of Thrones vibes with a gloriously angry and stabby FMC. I thoroughly enjoyed the Celtic history-inspired world of dragons and magical bonds with mythical creatures of lore. The world-building is complex and immaculate, with incredibly high stakes for the main characters and their people.

There's a lot to love and loathe about the FMC and MMC. They're both incredibly stubborn and quick to anger and solve problems with their fists and daggers. But behind their fiery facades are big, soft hearts that hurt easily. They're quite literally perfect for each other, even if it takes them A LONG time to realize it. Their idea of foreplay involves knives and making the other bleed. Romantic! I was barking at the banter and tension.

This one is a must-read for those wanting more epic fantasy with their romance.

I had zero expectations going into this one and was pleasantly surprised. My heritage is Scottish so I loved that aspect of it- knowing Hazel is actually Scottish impacted my reading too. Some people have been bothered by the fact that the main characters are distantly related but this information just immediately left my brain as soon as it registered. I liked the political aspect of it and felt like the book was a roller coaster essentially from the first chapter- the cliff hanger at the ending - are you kidding me?!

A romantasy hasn't gotten me in a choke hold quite like this book did in SO LONG.
Dragons ✔️
Coup ✔️
"My Wife" 🤤 ✔️

The battle of Old Religion vs New Religion reminded me a lot of The Faith of the Seven in Game of Thrones albet loosely, mostly the concept of how tyrannical and wild it can get. Granted, a lot of the major plot points I could see coming a mile away, but I still devoured it. Anyone who likes Game of Thrones for the dragons and the politics of Kings Landing should pick up this book. I received a digital arc and I pre-ordered the book by the time I was at 40% that's how strongly influenced I am.

I received this arc from NetGalley and Random House Publishing.
This book exceeded my expectations. I was hooked when I saw that it was a Celtic inspired romantasy, and it did not disappoint. The ending of this book blindsided me completely, which just made me love it more. I can’t wait for the next book in this series because I need to know what happens next for Aemyra and her family. This book is full of elemental magic, corruption, dragons, romance, and a badass heroine right at the very center. I loved the matriarchal society that was described in this story with women meant to inherit the throne instead of men. There were so many twists and turns and betrayals in this story that I was unable to put it down.

ARC
Rating / Recommend: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️ / YESYESYES

My Thoughts:
Amazing, awesome, fantastic. I have so many words and also no words to describe how I feel about this.

I loved the world in this book. It’s more of a high fantasy and the world building was so well done. The FMC had so much growth during this book.

The MMC… I like him? But that ending. Maybe I hate him…

If you love fantasy romance go read this. I feel so wrecked after that ending. I want book 2 right now.


CW: Read the trigger warnings!
• Adult language
• Open door scenes (easily skippable if you want)
• A lot of possible triggers!
Read the warnings!!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can see why so many people enjoy this book, Aemyra is fiery and tough. Who doesn’t love a strong FMC? However, it just did not resonate with me. I really struggled to get into it. There were some scenes toward the beginning of the book that I just wasn’t a fan of, personally. It deterred me from wanting to finish it.

I know that my preferences are not the same as others, so please don’t let this review deter you from giving this book and author a shot. It is certainly an interesting story line. Full of magic, romance, corruption, dragons… I mean, it’s worth a shot, right? Aemrya’s story might not have been my personal favorite, but who knows, maybe you’ll love it.

🔥 fantasy romance
⚔️ hidden heir
🔥 slow burn
⚔️ banter
🔥 dragons
⚔️ fiery FMC
🔥 enemies to lovers

I could not get into this book no matter how hard I tried. The FMC was insufferable and demanding in a way that was not empowering, but embarrassing. How can you love a book when you don’t even like the main character? How do you root for them?

It felt like this book had a goal of hitting major tropes that are interesting to readers and publishers, but it wasn’t fleshed out enough to over look the cliche of the tropes.

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

I should know better than to read things solely marketed as romantasy. I have struggled with almost every single one with a few exceptions. So many books are trying to capture
that Fourth Wing magic instead of writing a solid book. This was chock full of inconsistency, unsteady pacing, and just unlikeable characters. I didn’t know this was a GOT fanfic originally but the vibes are obvious and don’t work well. I have no doubt this will find its audience and I hope those readers are delighted but unfortunately I am not one of them.

This book had all the potential. I love the blurb, but unfortunately the blurb was the best part. I did not love the characters and there was a lot of inconsistencies in the plot.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it unfortunately didn't meet my expectations.

I was so excited to read A Fate Forged in Fire, as I've had it on my TBR for almost a year. The premise had the perfect formula for a high-stakes, plot-driven romantasy (with DRAGONS!!!)—I should have absolutely devoured this book! Unfortunately, none of that was truly delivered at the level I had hoped. There were a lot of inconsistencies, causing me to raise my eyebrows and scratch my forehead, thinking I had missed something. The writing would teeter back and forth between being really descriptive with beautiful prose, to all of a sudden being hollow, simple, and flat. The pacing of the plot was odd, some moments had me sucked in wanting to continue and then as soon as I turned the page, I was bored out of my mind. The world did, however, feel lived-in and fleshed out, and I loved the Celtic influence since it was different than anything I've read before. I felt like the author really tried to balance the heavy plot and romance, but it wasn't executed well, as both aspects were fighting each other instead of blending together seamlessly.

As for Aemyra... ugh... where do I begin? She's presented as a character who is "yayyy girl power," but her actions and inner monologue completely contradict that. There is one scene where a woman she despises (only because of who her husband is), hides behind her husband because Aemyra "gave her a feral smirk." Then in her inner monologue, she states, "Pitiful. These women have no strength." Now this was weird for me because up until this point, Aemyra constantly talks about how women in this world are so powerful and how tHeY dOn'T nEeD nO mAn, but then she talks down about women that aren't as "strong" as she is (even though strength is subjective, and comes in many forms besides physical). This just came across as gross... like Aemyra looks at women she can overpower easily as completely weak and useless. Her only personality trait was being "stabby" and "feisty," even during moments that didn't make sense. I was waiting for her to show some sort of emotion other than rage, but there was no real character development, causing her to seem unrelatable and one-dimensional.

Sigh... don't even get me started on the "romance," I'm completely icked-out. For those of you who don't know, A Fate Forged in Fire was initially a House of the Dragon fanfiction, and while I never read the fanfiction, I am very familiar with Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. The romance was very... Targaryen-coded to say the least. The ruling clan of Tìr Teine is the Daercathians, who are distinguished by their auburn hair and green eyes. Aemyra keeps her hair hidden, pulled up in a scarf (because she has auburn hair green eyes), waiting for the opportune time to take back the kingdom that is rightfully hers because she is basically the lost heir of the Daercathian throne. Enter Prince Fiorean Daercathian, our MMC (whose father is the current king, obvi), with his auburn hair and green eyes... NOW I'M NOT SAYING THEY ARE RELATED!!! But if 1+1=2... And obviously, they are both Daercathian, how far removed are they from the family tree? It's giving incest, without just outright saying it. I even went back after reading to try to find some clarity, but there isn't any.

I should never have to question whether or not the leading couple is blood-related.

I do appreciate that the first 50% or so felt like a true enemies-to-lovers, but there was literally ZERO time between enemies becoming lovers. Like give as a breather, damn. I blinked and all of a sudden they were having sex and confessing their feelings... LIKE YOU JUST HATED EACH OTHER A MINUTE AGO??? This could have been an excellent setup for an excruciatingly slow burn (which I would have loved), but nope. There was no chemistry, no lingering touches, no sweet moments, or buildup to their blossoming relationship after they were "done" being enemies. I felt nothing for either of them and didn't believe their relationship for a single second.

The only redeeming quality was the very end when the plot finally picked up, and of course, the dragons. I really, really wanted to love A Fate Forged in Fire and I'm so upset that it just didn't work for me :( There was so much potential, but so little payoff.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC (I still can't believe I got approved) for an honest review!

Hazel McBride’s A Fate Forged in Fire is a super fun, fiery dive into the romantasy world—with dragons, elemental magic, and a badass heroine at the center of it all. Set in a Celtic-inspired land where women’s power has been crushed by a strict religion, the story follows Aemyra, a fire-wielding blacksmith determined to take back her throne and restore balance. There’s political drama, magical rebellion, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with a brooding dragon rider that keeps the tension high. The world-building feels fresh thanks to the Gaelic touches and goddess mythology, and Aemyra’s a great mix of tough and vulnerable. Some parts start a little slow, and the romance could use a bit more depth, but overall it’s a great ride. If you’re into strong female leads, magical creatures, and stories about fighting back against oppressive systems—with some spicy tension thrown in—this one’s worth picking up. Rated a 4.5 stars out of 5!!

While the premise is strong, this one failed to hook me and not let me go. Dragons are amazing, the setting sounded great, but little kept me on my toes or made me feel compelled to keep reading. Many other readers have strong reviews, so there's clearly readership, this just isn't for me, and I"ll leave it at that.

This book is clearly well researched. The world building and pacing were well done. I loved the matriarchal society being oppressed by a theocratic misogynistic regime. The feminine rage and burn it all down vibes were immaculate!!!!

Enemies to lovers is my fav set up and the two of them were ENEMIES twice over. I loved the tension at the end and I can’t wait for the next one!

A Fate Forged in Fire offers a fiery blend of rebellion, magic, and slow-burn romance in a richly imagined Celtic-inspired world, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. Aemyra is a fierce and determined heroine, and her fire magic, paired with her blacksmithing background, makes for a unique and compelling premise. The tension with Prince Fiorean delivers some sizzling moments, though their dynamic occasionally feels rushed amidst the political upheaval. The worldbuilding is intriguing but could have used more depth, and certain plot developments felt predictable. Still, this is an enjoyable, trope-filled fantasy romance with just enough heat and heart to keep me curious about the sequel.

A Fate Forged in Fire offers a Celtic-inspired fantasy with dragons, magic, and political intrigue. Aemyra's journey to claim her throne is compelling, but the narrative leans heavily on familiar tropes. While the world-building and romance provide intrigue, some character decisions and pacing may challenge readers seeking originality.

Okay wow. Finishing that was just like tearing my soul into pieces. I need book 2 immediately and also I’m broken.
Going into this book I honestly was thinking it would be a four just due to how many words I had no idea how to pronounce and it seemed like an entire fantasy system was just being thrown at me. Yea well don’t be like me, there’s a glossary. The e-arc puts it at the end so learned that lesson but still. Even without figuring that out until after finishing, this book quickly became a five for me.

It had a strong FMC which honestly I loved. She’s a young adult fighting for her beliefs in the only ways she knows how. She makes mistakes, she follows her heart. I loved the realness of her. She completely and fully stands alongside her beliefs and I loved her strength in that. Also as someone who does not ever want children in the future, the subject of pregnancy in this book honestly made me want to tear up just from how seen I felt. Hazel does an amazing job showing how motherhood is a dream for some women, but it doesn’t have to be for everyone.

The twists. The betrayals. MY HEART STRINGS. I was getting pulled in every direction. And sometimes yea I guessed some of the twists but there were also ones I never saw coming. Maybe I’m just naive like Aemyra but I just was completely heartbroken and blindsided from that one twist (if yk yk).

Also, everyone knows that enemies to lovers is hard to completely achieve. I’ve only truly ever read one ACTUAL fully enemies to lovers and it was the folk of the air series. I haven’t found a book since that I felt like the characters were TRUE enemies….until this one. Honestly it’s the closest I’ve found and god did I eat it up. Sometimes I wasn’t even sure what we were and the lines between enemy and lover were so blurred, it was just so good.


Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc and thank you to Hazel McBride for writing this amazing book with our strong, badass Aemyra. She is a light and role model for women.

Tìr Teine once had strong queens, but kings under the influence of the True Religion weakened the region with their anti-magic teachings. Born to rule and blessed by fire, Aemyra lives in hiding, waiting for the current king’s death so she can bond to his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. When this plan is foiled, she's thrust into the spotlight after all. Prince Fiorean is a dragon rider and formidable fire wielder as well as everything Aemyra despises. The two are forced to forge an alliance as chaos erupts, which is nothing they had expected.

Aemyra, from the start, is sarcastic and has a temper to go with her ability to control fire. She is trained in blacksmithing and midwifery, and her fire control is seen as a gift from the Goddess. The True Religion is also sweeping through the land, widening the class divide and looking down on women. She is poised to claim the throne for the matriarchy, but of course, the other branch of the clan contests the claim and brands her a traitor. With essentially a civil war breaking out, the battles that ensue cover both those on the field as well as between Aemyra and the royal family. She must rely on Fiorean even as she doesn't trust him, and there are multiple other forces at work. Her hot-headed nature means she's easily manipulated, and there are some she trusts too easily.

There are times I found it hard to like the characters, but I still had to know what came next. They have conflicted emotions, and times of war mean that people die, soldiers are sacrificed, and the ones truly pulling the strings don't always reveal themselves. The kingdoms are heavily inspired by Scots Gaelic, with the matriarchy loyal to the Goddesses and their realms of magic. The True Believers are also known as Covenanters, and the utter disdain for women and willingness to inflict harm is appalling. The action sequences are well done and compelling, leading to the final showdown of the novel. It's political machinations and plotting with dragons, always a compelling mix.

I wanted to like this book, but sadly I didn’t. It was. A DNF for me. The MFC was so so annoying, she thought she knew everything , didn’t listen to reasonable advice and never got better. She made it hard to like the story. With could have been better. I felt like I didn’t know what the religion and politics were in the beginning and had to guess. She clearly states she doesn’t like men then somehow is having a romance with the lame prince. Also she’s so disrespectful to her brother and the prince when he picks up that sword. And just disregards her brother advice at all times. She was just unlikable.
Im not posting this review anywhere else because i don’t like to post negative reviews.

DNF at 36%=loved the vibes, and I'm hoping to return to it at a later date. The character driven nature of the novel grabbed me, but it took me awhile to settle into the atmosphere and the world building. A Fate Forged in Fire is definitely up my alley-I'm sure I'll finish it when the mood-reading fates hit me at the right time.

3.75 ⭐️ (but excited to continue the series and see where it goes)

Aemyra is fire-wielding 🔥 heir to matriarchal kingdom that has only had male heirs for generations and been slowly taken over by religious fanatics (anti-religion and anti-women). Fiorean is prince and second in line to throne. I leave summary at that for sake of spoilers, but also dragons! 🐉

True enemies to lovers here, along with forced proximity, magical bonds, and dragons. Celtic lore/ world that I’m excited to explore more.

I enjoyed this one a lot and I think as start to series it has a lot of promise. While I really liked Aemyra most of the time it did seem like maybe she should have better planning/foresight. I also really liked the incorporation of women’s bodily autonomy and power and the struggle against tyrannical religion set on taking that away.

What I think could have been better starts with characters. Outside of Aemyra I felt most characters either felt very one dimensional or we didnt get to know them enough to get passed the surface (but hopefully that’s remedied in future books). I also wish we’d gotten bit more on magical bonds (of all kinds not just the dragons). Finally I wish there was bit more interaction and learning during the romance. While there is some I could have used little more though I think some of that is intentional given the ending.

All of that said I still enjoyed this book and believe it has ton of potential and will definitely keep reading the series as it progresses.