Political intrigue, a hidden bisexual queen, betrayals, enemies to lovers romance, Scottish-based world building, religious conflict, and DRAGONS! I absolutely devoured this book over the span of a few days and my only regret is that I now have to wait even longer for the next chapter in Aemyra's story. If any of the listed tropes piques your interest, absolutely get this on your TBR list.

Having lived in the shadows for her entire life, Aemyra is finally called up by her estranged father to claim her rightful place on the throne after the king dies. This is of course complicated by the current ruling family who is determined to maintain patriarchal dominance and are backed by the True Religion, which views the magic that runs through many of the people's veins as evil and is determined to push women to serve men. Aemyra needs to learn how to be a queen all while finally being exposed to the realities of court and her father's machinations. Oh, and I forgot to mention some absolutely delightful spicy scenes between Aemyra and her eventual love interest.

As I said, I really enjoyed this book and will be coming back for the next installment - I did find some of the beats of the story to be relatively predictable with the genre, however, I was still happy to be along for the ride. The pacing also did seem a bit off toward the end where so many events happen at once and there just didn't seem to be enough space to let the story breathe a bit as it crescendoed. I also wish we saw a bit more character development from Aemyra as she gets more entrenched into everything going on, but I hope that gets fleshed out further in the next book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy.

At the heart of the story is Aemyra, a heroine born into a legacy of power but forced into hiding as she navigates the treacherous waters of court life. Blessed by fire, she is as fierce and fiery as the element that marks her destiny. The depth of her character is one of McBride's greatest strengths; Aemyra is not merely a caricature of a princess waiting for her moment; she is a woman torn between ambition, duty, and the harsh realities of a kingdom plagued by betrayal. Her inner conflict provides the emotional core of the book, as she wrestles with the weight of her heritage and the expectations it carries.
The introduction of Prince Fiorean adds a compelling twist to the narrative. Cold and arrogant, he embodies the very traits that Aemyra loathes. However, as their fates collide, McBride skillfully peels back the layers of his character, revealing vulnerabilities that make him far more complex than he initially appears. Their reluctant alliance evolves beautifully, creating a dynamic filled with tension and chemistry as both characters are forced to confront their prejudices and inherent loyalties.
McBride's exploration of magic and its intersection with power offers a fascinating commentary on the consequences of fear and oppression. The True Religion's suffocating grip on Tìr Teine serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of dogma and the courage it takes to challenge it.
Overall, this story is a powerful exploration of what it means to fight for one’s rightful place in a fractured world. Hazel McBride has crafted a captivating story that entwines intrigue, romance, and the nuances of power dynamics in a refreshing way. I recommend this book to fans of fantasy who appreciate complex characters and an enthralling plot woven with themes of love, loss, and the struggle for justice.

This was a DNF for me (page 84). I’m honestly not sure why I could not get into this book, but it felt like pulling teeth trying to get through the first 100 pages. I had a lot of trouble connecting with literally any of the characters or caring about their motivations. In the little that I did read, Aemyra came off as hyper-aggressive and hyper-sexual with no explanation or reason as to why she was that way. I’m totally okay with a main character that is unreliable, flawed, or morally gray, but I’m pretty sure that the author wasn’t going for that when writing Aemyra.

Ultimately, I decided to give this two stars because there’s a possibility I might come back to this book to give it a second chance. There was just something holding me back from enjoying this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of A Fate Forged in Fire!

It took me a bit longer than expected, but I finally finished A Fate Forged in Fire, and... well, I have some mixed feelings. On the one hand, I absolutely loved that the story pulls from Scottish folklore—it’s such a refreshing change from the typical fantasy landscapes. Plus, dragons. Seriously, throw in a dragon or two, and that’s an automatic 45% boost to the awesomeness factor, right?

But... here's the kicker. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. They just didn’t grab me the way I’d hoped. And the pacing? Oof. It took a while for me to really get hooked, and then the big moments felt spaced out too far. There were times when it felt like the story was dragging its feet with filler material. Not ideal, especially when you’re waiting for the plot to pick up.

BUT. (Yes, a big but.) The ending? Oh, the ending was *chef’s kiss* level good. That betrayal? Gut-punch. The cliffhanger? Savage. I’m pretty sure I’ll have no choice but to pick up the next book when it drops, even if I’m still grumbling about the pacing.

So yeah, while this book wasn’t a home run for me, I think it’s still worth a shot—if only because you’re going to want to know what happens next. Trust me.

3 stars
This book was alright not great or anything super special. The MFC was annoying and I didn’t feel any connection to her or any of the other characters.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book for an honest review. Hazel McBride did an amazing job building the world and creating political tension. If you enjoy enemies to loves this book is for you! Aemyra is a strong and powerful MC and I loved reading about her own personal conflicts. Fiorean is a perfect love interest and the tension between the two characters is *chefs kiss*. The ending left my jaw on the floor and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series to see what happens next. Despite how much I enjoyed this book, I felt like there could have been some changes to make the book even better. Aemyra is a great MC, however there was limited growth in her character and she stayed the same from the beginning of the book to the end. My other complaint is that the end of the book felt rushed. I felt like the final events got pushed through quickly when it could have been in more detail.

If you enjoy enemies to loves, dragons, political tension, and fantastic world building check out A Fate Forged In Fire. I would definitely recommend it!

Title: A Fate Forged in Fire
Author: Hazel McBride
Genre: Romantasy
Overall: 4/5
I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I loved reading it. Once I got through the exposition, I had to force myself to put it down! I hate that it won’t be published until late May of 2025, and I have to wait until then to discuss it with my friend group. Additionally, I hate that I have to wait for the follow-up ! I need more!
I think this book is something special, and that romantasy fans will love it.
- - -
From the Publisher:
“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. Once a territory built on matriarchal rule and values, Tir Teine has since grown frail from a long line of fruitless kings. The most recent of which have ruled under the influence of the True Religion, an oppressive group who have steadily poisoned the region with their anti-magic teachings.
Born to rule and blessed by fire, Aemyra has begrudgingly lived in hiding rather than risk her life in court, waiting in anticipation for the current king's death so she can bond to his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. But when the king dies and Aemyra is ready to take what is rightfully hers, her ambitious plan is foiled and she is thrust into a game of vicious politics and plots. Her biggest adversary is Prince Fiorean, a dragon-rider and one of the most powerful fire wielders in the territory. Cold, arrogant, and blindly supportive of his corrupt family, he is everything Aemyra despises. But as chaos engulfs the court, they find themselves reluctantly entwined, forced to forge an uneasy alliance-one that quickly ignites into something more dangerous than either of them expected. Behind enemy lines and slowly falling for her so-called adversary, Aemyra uncovers just how far the rot of corruption has spread, and what she may have to sacrifice to claim her throne.”

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, secret royalty

- - -
Characters: 4/5
Aemyra: 4/5
Aemyra’s driving force is to protect her people from harm, and she believes that by taking her rightful place as Queen, she can do just that. She is headstrong and fearless, and is indeed a strong female protagonist. That being said, she is deeply flawed, and I am of the belief that she is written that way on purpose. She makes a lot of mistakes throughout the book, but I think that is much more believable than having an FMC who is naturally good at everything she does.
Fiorean 3/5
Fiorean remained an almost complete mystery to me throughout the book. I assume that we will find out more about him in the next book.
Antagonists 5/5
The primary antagonists in the book are made up of the followers of the True Religion. They’re a non-magical people who believe that magic and goddess-worship should be extinguished from the world, and they are led in our story by two characters within the city: Sir Nairn and Athair Alfred. They are BIG bad. (There is for sure a comparison here between the True Religion and… other major religions, but that’s a different discussion.)
Spice: 2/5 (there weren’t very many spicy scenes in this book, but the ones that were written were great!)
Suspense: 4/5 (Truly, I couldn’t put it down)
Emotional: 4/5
There are some very triggering scenes: medical assault (plays out on page), loss of parents (one on page, one off page), death of children
Thrill:
World Building - 4/5
Perfect for fans of: The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia #2) This has a similar vibe to Oraya and Raihn’s story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Hazel McBride for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. It has been an honor and a privilege to read your work.

This book was incredibly hard to follow in my eyes. The entire dragon aspect felt very reminiscent of Fourth Wing. My favorite part of the book was the time Aemyra was in the castle, especially seeing her relationship with Fiorean unfold. However, in the beginning chapters of the book Aemyra made a comment about "not liking c*ck" which seemed very disrespectful to throw her into a heterosexual relationship. Why spend the time showcasing the progressiveness of Aemyra liking women but then disregarding that entirely. It made me feel very unsettled.

I am so thankful to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc.

I greatly enjoyed the world building and story as I read this book so quickly. I was intrigued by the synopsis, captivated by the characters, and then was left feeling empty when I finished. A Fate Forged in Fire is for sure set to be an up and coming story that will capture everyone’s attention.

While there were a lot of things I liked about this book, as it's premise is so incredibly cool, but I found that it ultimately wasn't for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this eARC.

This fast romantasy had me hooked from the beginning. Aemyra, our FMC, is a total badass and quite the stubborn lass but we love her for it. She is destined to take the throne and blessed with fire magic she fights for her rightful claim to the throne.

Fiorean, our MMC, is the brother of the usurper and a fierce warrior and dragon rider. He is the morally grey villain we all swoon over.

Our two MC’s must form an alliance and figure out how to not only work together but help save the kingdom from the corrupt, True Religion.

This fast paced story keeps you engaged the entire way through then ending with a cliffhanger 🤬 Packed with politics and religion this is a wonderful story in the fantasy world and for lovers of magic and dragons.

While I loved the fast pace, it lacked a bit of world building and deeper character development. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me, but I felt we could’ve flushed it all out a bit more.

There was one particular scene, it was in the trigger warnings, that was intense to read but made me want to burn it all down right alongside Aemyra. “For the little girls who were told to put their fires out. Burn them all to the fucking ground.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/💋/🌶️🌶️

I liked it honesty anything with dragons I am there. But with how fast pace the book was mixed with the name dropping and little to no backstory made this difficult to follow, the main character lacked consistency, and she was a bit too immature. I liked the magic system but that was about it for me, I wanted to enjoy this a lot more than I did.
Thank You for allowing me to read this story.

I have so many feelings about this book. Mainly that this book was absolutely amazing. On the other hand, Hazel McBride—you better count your days for that ending.

A Fate Forged in Fire has it all: a ferocious, fire-wielding, protagonist, betrayal, dragons, corrupt institutions, magic, and ENEMIES to lovers. Did I already mention dragons?!

AFFIF also challenges sexism, the patriarchy, and corrupt religion while tackling women’s rights and featuring LGBTQ+ representation.

This book has easily become one of my favorite reads this year and I am counting the days until the public will be as obsessed with this story as I am!

You can check out my review now on my Instagram page, @autumnsannotations.

I am predicting that this is the next big fantasy book!

Our FMC is living a double life, keeping her true identity a secret. That is, until the King dies. Aemyra attempts to take what is rightfully hers; the throne, her kingdom, and her dragon. But when her plan is foiled, she is captured and forced to marry the late king’s younger son, Prince Fiorean.

This is a true fantasy story complete with all of the tropes below:

⚔️ true enemies to lovers to enemies?
⚔️ magical elements
⚔️ bonded dragons 🐉
⚔️ badass FMC
⚔️ banter
⚔️ spice 🌶️
⚔️ battles scenes

CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!!! There is a SA towards the end that made my blood boil. So beware when reading that it’s graphic.

Thanks SO much for the early copy. I genuinely enjoyed this from start to finish. The cliffhanger was a doozy!

A Fate Forged in Fire is a fantasy novel set in the kingdom of Tir Teine, a kingdom once ruled by a matriarchy but is now ruled by a corrupt patriarchy. The story revolves around Aemyra, a skilled blacksmith with a hidden identity as the rightful heir to the throne. Meanwhile, the "True Religion" seeks to dominate society by condemning magic and oppressing women.

Likes:
Adarian. Need I say more? Genuinely though, Adarian's characterization is my favorite thing in this book and I wish we got to see him more than we did. Fingers crossed for book 2.

I also quite enjoyed the way current women's rights issues were brought up while maintaining the book's fantasy elements. I thought that that was done incredibly well. Parts of the description of the True Religion and the actions of those who follow it made me incredibly uncomfortable because of the connections to today's society but I firmly believe that that is a good thing and that uncomfortable feeling is why I enjoyed that aspect of the book so much.

Dislikes:
Honestly, it's not that big of a deal and this is more of a personal preference than anything, but I am slightly disappointed that the dragons couldn't converse to the humans they bonded with. From my understanding, they could feel each other's emotions and I enjoyed that, don't get me wrong, but I do wish that there was a more humanized communication with the dragons because I feel like their characterizations have so much potential and could be very interesting to read.

For me, the pacing was a bit off and hard to follow. It took me a while to get into the book and I feel like while part of that is simply I'm a college student and don't have a lot of time for personal reading as the semester wraps up, a major part was the pacing was simultaneously too fast and too slow. Most of the time it felt like there was so much happening and yet nothing actually happened to further the plot.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Aemyra was actually twenty-six years old. I don't know if I missed a mention of her age earlier in the book or simply forgot it but I fully thought that she was 16-18 until almost 50% of the way through the book. I thought she was younger and not an adult with a fully formed brain because quite honestly, Aemrya can be incredibly immature at times. I do think that this leaves room for her character to develop more in book 2 as she grows into her role as queen and I truly hope that happens.

Overall, I enjoyed the vibes and definitely think that this series has potential and I'm excited read book 2.

Aemyra is the promised queen living in secret as a blacksmith while waiting for the current king to die so she can seamlessly insert herself in the line of succession without unnecessary bloodshed. Things do not go according to plan.

This was really fun. I loved the dynamic with fiorean, and really enjoyed the dragons. I thought the “true religion” was a really interesting way to include some additional political and religious elements. However, it felt a little too convenient that the priests had so much immunity to fire. I wish we did get to see more of the surrounding countries and their citizens given that they play a pretty big role in the conflict.

Thank you to Hazel McBride and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Actual rating: 6 ⭐️

What to expect:
- True enemies to loves
- Well-written fantasy world
- Dragon riders
- Betrayals
- Elemental magic (fire, earth, water, air)
- Quick fast-paced read
- Spice 2/5 🌶️
- Bisexual fmc
- ⚠️CLIFFHANGER⚠️

I don’t even know where to start. Maybe with the fantastic world-building, the sizzling relationship, or perhaps the badass female main character? Seriously, everything about this book was amazing.

Let me begin with the relationship. This book is a rare gem in the enemies-to-lovers genre because it actually features true enemies. I’m talking about holding a knife to each other's throats and promising to kill one another. The progression from enemies to lovers was phenomenal; it felt natural and wasn’t abrupt. There was no insta-lust or insta-love, which was incredibly refreshing.

The female main character, Aemyra, is the definition of a badass. She’s aware she is the rightful queen and makes sure everyone knows it—#Goals! I loved her quick-witted comebacks… they had me laughing out loud. On the flip side, her vulnerability also stood out. Aemyra was raw in a way that I wish more main characters could be.

And then there’s the male main character, Fiorean. Wow. I went through all the emotional stages while reading about him. I hated him, then I liked him, then I hated him again, only to sort of love him (after that ending, I can’t be too sure). I swear, this book gave me whiplash! He was amazing, and I loved how he treated Aemyra. He wasn’t overly possessive; instead, he genuinely cared for her and wanted her to be herself. He embodies the idea “I wouldn’t burn the world down for you; I’d hand you the matches.”

That cliffhanger was brutal… I refuse to accept that I have to wait 1-2 years before I get to read the next book.

My favorite scenes:
- Aemyra helping Fiorean with his bond
- Fiorean calming Aemyra after Sir Nairn
- Any scene with Terrea and Adarian
- Ameyra masturbating at the thought of Fiorean 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed this book. I am bummed it ended on a cliffhanger, as I was hoping for a somewhat happy for now ending. I am hoping it's a duology vs longer series. I feel like there were some especially "current topic" type moments (my body, my choice; religious patriarchy). The mfc reminds me a bit of Aelin from Throne of Glass/Maas. It's not a bad thing, as sometimes there needs to be mistakes and bad decisions to allow for growth...but she is definitely full of herself from time to time. I hope she finds some actual female friends in the next book. I was not expecting the results for one of the main protagonists in this book (eventually yes, but not that soon.) Also, yay for dragons - they seem to know their stuff better than the people at this point. I liked the magic/old gods vibe and dragons, otherwise it would have been a bit dry/too historical romance for me. I do think the sort of 180 for the mmc was a bit much, but I'm sure it will be explained more in the future book(s). Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC opportunity.

If you’re a fan of fantasy with dragons, elemental magic, and a badass FMC, A Fate Forged in Fire is a book you don’t want to miss. This is the first book in a fire duology, and I can’t wait to read the second one after that cliffhanger.

I loved the FMC—she gave me "female rage" vibes, and I’m all for a matriarchy! There’s political intrigue, power plays, "the world is on fire," and in the middle of this chaos, we have enemies-to-lovers.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves epic fantasy with fire, dragons, and a kickass female lead. You won’t regret it!

Tropes:
- badass female main character
- feminine rage era
- matriarchy
- elemental magic
- enemies to lovers
- DRAGONS
- cliffhanger
- fire duology

Do you like dragons? This book is for you.

1-10: I give this a 6
Spice:🌶️

This book I feel missed out on a lot potential for so many things it would be hard to talk about with out giving spoilers, I do have to say I felt all the arguing and fighting through 80% of the book with out much romance tension after this is under a romance category this made it more fantasy then romance