Aemyra wants to be the next future Queen in a society that has lost matriarchal social structure. It is her right to be queen based on her power and her heritage. I appreciated Aemyra determination, her strong will and her fight to get to the top.

The bad. I wanted to love this so much, a powerful heroine? A matriarchal society ? Dragons? Romance ? Enemies to lovers? Sign me up! I was very wrong. The writing has an abundance of cliches and Mary Sue energy thats so strong I thought I was reading fan fiction. Actions are told not shown and how the reader should feel about things is told to the reader. Also, the catalyst wasn't explicitly clear. I couldn't say when exactly it showed up, maybe at 15% (or something that resembled a catalyst) when typically I would expect it by 5%.

Overall, great story idea that's badly executed.

Very excited to see where this series goes! A beautifully evoked fantasy world with complicated and engaging politics, and steamy romance to boot. I am excited to see other parts of this world and the wonders in store.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this arc! This review is entirely my own opinion and thoughts.

3.5 stars

This is one of the hardest books to review. I think the story is absolutely amazing and has you hooked. It does take about 25% of the book to get into it though which is why it took me so long to read. It begins with a lot of world building that feels like it is info dumping. When things were happening, they happened quick though!

In the pronunciation guide it explains that there are Scottish words used which makes more sense now but while I was reading, these words seemed made up and nothing was explained what it is and I couldn’t look up what the words were on my kindle due to the spelling. For example, for most of the book, I could not figure out what a “Duileach” was even though it was used constantly. When I finally got into the book I finished it that day but I was still very confused most of the time with the word choices. I feel like there needs to be a glossary and family tree of the clans to bring clarity.

I also had a really hard time with the FMC. That girl stressed me out. I think she was very frustrating and impulsive but overall had good intentions but I always felt like she was going to cause a mess, and she usually did. The MMC was my favorite character and the enemies to lovers was probably the best I have seen though. Also, great if you love the female rage trope. This did not lower my review because I think this was intentional and will be developed throughout the series.

Small spoiler with no details: the ending felt like everything that she worked for was for nothing and in the next book, she is going to have to basically do it all again…I am not sure if I would read the next one because I don’t want to go through all of the emotions again.

Overall, the book is a really great story and has great bones. McBride is clearly gifted at making you feel things and she almost had me in tears multiple times for things I don’t normally cry about. I think if we could bring more clarity to world building and explaining things more instead of dropping facts, this could be a 5 star read.

Same review posted on StoryGraph and Fable.

3⭐

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.

“Aemyra had been forged in fire, but a queen would rise from the ashes."

Thank you to Hazel McBride, Delacorte Press & NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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. She makes some pretty stupid mistakes but there is this glimpse into her that shows she cares a lot for her people.

The side characters in this were all flat, I felt like I never really knew her brother, and directly inspired by Game of Thrones. Katherine was a copy of Cersei. This story also claims to be Celtic-inspired but I saw nothing of Celtic culture in this story. It only used Celtic names and the old religion but it otherwise was typical medieval Europe.

The romance was appreciated in the second half, but I wouldn’t say I understood or connected with it. The way the book ended in regard to their relationship has me puzzled as to either of their true feelings because I never really understood them in the first place. I enjoyed the authors writing, but feel like some of the plot was missed opportunities or lacking.

The synopsis sounds like something I'd normally love but sadly I didn't. I found this book really hard going at times as I wasn't rooting for any characters in particular as everything was going to fast, like a movie where everything is pretty obvious and the characters just take too much time to figure it all out.

I really enjoyed this book and the plot! I can’t wait for the next book in the series to see how the story continues!
I liked that the main female character was a bit different from what I’ve read recently. Aemyra knows how to use her powers. She has had to live in the shadows and in hiding to stay alive and now is her time to step out into the light and take her throne and become Queen. She makes some silly mistakes, but tries her best to make things right. I really enjoy how we get to know her and see how she cares for others and how that helps shape her and the type of Queen she wants to be.
I really appreciated the pronunciation guide at the back of the book. It helped a lot. I would appreciate some descriptions of what some of those words mean. Most of it you can figure out eventually, but there were a few words that it would have been helpful for a definition of them at the back of the book to be able to figure out the first time you see the word. For example, “the Seann”. I was very confused the first couple of times I saw it.

A Fate Forged in Fire delivers a thrilling mix of dragons, destiny, and slow-burn romance set in a richly imagined fantasy world. Hazel McBride crafts a heroine you’ll root for—strong, stubborn, and trying to find her place in a world shaped by war and ancient magic.

The story balances action with heart, and the dragon lore is especially well done—majestic, fierce, and deeply emotional. If you love stories where characters are tested by fire (literally and figuratively), this one’s for you.

Rating: 4.5/5
Epic vibes, emotional stakes, and dragons. What more do you need?

Hazel McBride’s A Fate Forged in Fire is the kind of romantasy that punches you in the gut, lights your hair on fire, and then hands you a dagger like, “Good luck, babe.”
The book thrives on emotional chaos, sharp-tongued enemies-to-lovers angst, and high-stakes political scheming—all wrapped in a gritty, matriarchal fantasy world. Aemyra is the definition of “born to rule, but also, girl, what are you doing??” Her decisions had me screaming at the page, but that’s the point—she’s powerful, emotional, impulsive, and still learning what leadership actually means. You’ll love her. You’ll hate her. You'll probably want to shake her. But you’ll feel her.
And Fiorean? Oh, he’s not just the morally gray, emotionally scarred prince you hate to love—he’s also the problem. And he knows it. The slow shift from enemies to forced proximity to barely-trusting allies to full-on knife foreplay and choking while arguing is a journey I didn’t ask for but absolutely devoured. Their chemistry is feral. If you’re into lovers who fight during foreplay and enemies who might still kill each other mid-kiss, this one’s for you.
The world-building? Deep, raw, and timely. The matriarchal foundation of Tìr Teine is a breath of fresh fire, and McBride doesn’t shy away from the social commentary—this book takes a hard look at religious extremism, gender roles, and power dynamics in a way that feels painfully relevant. Some of the scenes are heavy (read those TWs), but they’re never gratuitous. They serve the story, and more importantly, Aemyra’s evolution.
Yes, the Gaelic-inspired names are a lot, and yes, I had to flip to the pronunciation guide more than once. But honestly? Worth it. Because everything else—the dragons, the betrayal, the court games, the war brewing under every scene—it all hits.
And the ending? A cliffhanger that left me pacing my room, dramatically whispering “no” like I was in a movie. Book two can’t come fast enough.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Read if you like:
* Throne of Glass meets Game of Thrones
* Enemies-to-lovers with real teeth (and claws)
* Powerful, messy heroines
* Angsty forced marriages
* Dragons, politics, and betrayal that HURTS
This book will stress you out in the best way. Grab snacks. Stay hydrated. Prepare to be scorched.


SUMMARY

Born into a land scorched by corruption and silenced queens, Aemyra is no ordinary blacksmith’s daughter. Gifted with fire magic from the Goddess Brigid, she knows she’s destined to reclaim the matriarchal throne of Tìr Teine—a kingdom once ruled by powerful women and protected by dragons, now twisted by an oppressive, male-dominated religion.
With the king on his deathbed and dragons nearly extinct, Aemyra plans to bond with the last dragon and rise to power. But her hopes unravel when she's pulled into a deadly web of court politics, betrayal, and brutal choices. Her fiercest rival? Prince Fiorean—a dragon-rider with icy eyes, a sharper tongue, and a history soaked in everything she despises. When a devastating betrayal forces her into an arranged marriage with her enemy, Aemyra must navigate love, rage, and rebellion as she inches closer to either salvation or destruction.

3.5 Stars Received this as an e-ARC
Dragons, destiny, trauma, and a romance that can’t decide what it wants.

Okay, so let’s talk about *A Fate Forged in Fire*—a book that had me hooked by the concept (hello, dragons and secret royalty), confused by the pacing, and still somehow reaching for the next one by the end.
McBride throws us into a world of Celtic Clans, Dragons, forced marriage, political scheming, and big emotional stakes. And I *wanted* to love it. The lore has so much potential—Celtic influences, magical bonds, ancient rivalries—but it felt like we were constantly skimming the surface. I needed *way* more backstory on the clans and the Dragon bonds to really buy into the stakes. Instead, it’s kind of like, “Here’s a dragon bond! Trust us, it’s intense.”

Let’s get to the romance. It's enemies-to-lovers—but not in that delicious, slow-burn, “I hate you but also your hand brushed mine and now I’m spiraling” kind of way. No, this one’s more: “I hate you. Now we’re married. Now we’re kissing. But I still hate you. Wait—I love you. Now we’re enemies again.” I mean, whiplash much? I wanted to *feel* the tension, not just be told it was there.

Also, heads up: heavy trigger warnings—child death, forced marriage, abuse, drugging, and more. And while I appreciate that McBride doesn’t shy away from tough topics , it's a dark world, and not always handled with the sensitivity it needs.

That said… the book *does* get better the further you go. The second half flows better, the emotional moments land a little more solidly, and even though the ending leaves a ton unanswered, I wasn’t mad about it. I was actually kind of excited to keep going. There’s *something* here, even if it’s not fully realized yet.

So, final verdict? It’s messy, chaotic, but still strangely addictive. If you’re into dramatic, chaotic romances, dragons, and emotional turmoil with a side of magic and politics, give it a shot. By the end, I was invested enough to want book two. I’m curious to see where the story goes next.

While I did enjoy this, it felt almost like a copy paste of other romantic fantasy books I have read recently. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had I not read fantasy in a while. Also, the pacing was a bit too fast and that made it difficult for me to really connect with the characters

“For the little girls who were told to put their fires out. Burn them all to the fucking ground.”
That is the dedication page to A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride. I knew right from that page that I was going to like this book.

If you love House of the Dragon, you will love A Fate Forged in Fire. It has dragons, true enemies to lovers, political intrigue, feminist badasses, betrayal, Scottish mythology, matriarchy.

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.

What I loved most about this book is how much I related to the FMC and her quest to end the oppression of women under the One True Religion, a religious cult that has recently settled into the territory and spreads their message of oppression of women and magic. Depending on what part of the world you live in, there is a lot of oppression of women right now especially when it comes to bodily autonomy. I loved Aemyra’s determination to end the oppression against women and magic in her territory. It gave me hope that we can end that same oppression here in the real world.

Be sure to read the trigger warnings as there is domestic violence and violence against women and forced sterilization in this book.

I highly recommend you add this book to your TBR!

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

I'm stuck on what to rate this because the ending made me so mad with the twist!! This book is big Game of Thrones mixed with Throne of Glass vibes. The first queen in centuries has been preparing her whole life to overthrow the current ruling family to reinstate the Queendom. Living as a blacksmith with her adoptive family, the moment finally comes and her father helps her begin the war.

This fantasy world has the typical elemental magic - Fire, water, air, earth and they also have bonded creatures. (yay dragons!)

But! when she gets captured by the enemy, she is forced to marry her biggest adversary. I love the arranged marriage/forced proximity vibes and how they grew to know each other. No spoilers but this is also the thing that made me the maddest later.

If you love big fantasy drama, dragons, romance, and big GOT vibes this is for you.

“Weak men would rather guilt strong women than become strong themselves, and Aemyra was content to show him what strength truly looked like.”

In this breathtaking story of fire magic, loyalty, and religious uprising, Hazel McBride crafts a world as fierce and beautiful as its protagonist — a queen forged in fire (see what I did there?) and resilience. She is no damsel in distress, nor is she a figurehead sitting idly for her throne. Instead, she is a warrior, a strategist, and above all, a woman who refuses to compromise her values in the face of betrayal, war, and impossible odds.
The narrative is rich with emotional depth, exploring the weight of leadership and the personal cost of choosing conviction over comfort.

Aemyra’s journey is not one of ease, but each challenge she faces only sharpens her strength and deepens her compassion for her people. What truly sets this book apart from many others like it is Aemyra’s unflinching strength, conniving spirit, and her unwillingness to give up (even at knife and sword point). In other words, she’s a badass. I’ve found many fantasy books these days see a similar arc of young, breakable 18 year old girls walking in to a new chapter of life like a baby deer. Not this one. Aemyra knows who she is and she’s willing to burn the ones who stand in her way using her brain and trained brute force. Aemyra quickly became one of my favorite FMCs to date — she’s confident, she’s independent, she’s highly intelligent, she’s empathetic, and she’s the human embodiment of female empowerment.

It took a few chapters to get the lay of the land, but once I was in it, I couldn’t put this book down. Even the side characters are ones readers can easily fall in love with. I loved Fiorean’s arc and getting to see more into his choices and feelings as the story went on. I’m curious to see what happens in the next book…
“Get your filthy hands off [redacted]”

One warning, check the content warning list. There is some on-page trauma (no spoilers) that can be very heavy to read. On that note, while it was hard to read, I think it further solidified the religious war that is brewing, just be warned.

I fell in love with this book and these characters and will anxiously be waiting to read the next in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up

A Fate Forged in Fire is the first installment in a fantasy duology. The book kept me interested, mainly because of the bonded dragons along with the feistiness of the main female character, Aemyra, and her evolving relationship with her adversary Prince Fiorean. It is quick paced, however since it follows some typical romantasy tropes, I found the plot not too surprising. I will read the second book just to see how the story plays out, but it will probably not be at the top of my TBR pile when it comes out.

The Celtic-inspired language made me thankful for the pronunciation guide at the end of the book.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Feminine rage? Enemies-to-lovers featuring dragons, stolen kingdoms, and kickass queens? Hazel McBride's A FATE FORGED IN FIRE is everything I wanted it to be and more.

While I was drawn to Fiorean and his (handsome) face (and heart) full of scars, Aemyra stole the show. It's rare, for a main character to so easily captivate me, but from line one, I was absolutely in love with our fiery would-be queen. The conflict between a matriarchy struggling to reclaim its power and a band of Covenanters determined to subjugate the women of this world felt all too timely, and the complex dynamics between the warring sides in this story made it that much more memorable.

Run, do not walk, to buy your copy as soon as you can!

This one was tough for me, I’m not gonna lie. I think I started this one multiple times and would soft dnf it because I thought I wasn’t in the mood for it. But now that I have finished reading, I think it just wasn’t for me.

The first 50% was spent in confusion because of the amount of info dumping about the history and politics of this world. I would rather have learned gradually than be told right at the start of the book. The next 20% of the story, I actually did enjoy it. I thought we were getting somewhere and there was a few times where I actually rooted for the fmc. But it ultimately just died off gradually towards the end. It didn’t help that I didn’t particularly like anyone in this book. I thought the fmc was annoying and the mmc gave nothing to me either. Their romance just didn’t seem convincing to me.

I do wish there was more scenes and talks about how you bond with a dragon and the other mythical creatures that you can bond with. But the scenes/mentions were few and far in between. I really had hopes for this one cause the premise sounded good but, it fell flat to me. I enjoyed the last half for what it was and I don’t know if I’m going to continue this series.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll admit, the first few chapters of this book were rough for me. It wasn’t so much a graceful dive into fantasy as it was more of a clumsy tumble into a strange new world, filled with unfamiliar terms that didn’t quite seem to connect to anything. A friend told me to stick with it, so I did – like the good, faithful reader I am. And I'm glad I did. As the story progresses, it starts to click, and before long, I was hooked. The plot moves at a good pace, lulling you into a sense of security... only to rip that comfort away. By the end, you will be spit out and left feeling confused, a bit pissed off, but also eagerly counting down the days until the next book.

Thank you Hazel McBride, Random House, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

I DNF'd at 34%> This was not for me. I'm not sure if it's my mood or the writing. It falls flat for me. I'm not wowed or intrigued. There's lots of internal dialogue and narration more than actual dialogue. The author gives character names to random characters rather than just being that person's partner or the stable maid. She used lots of made up names but then randomly a Heather and Dianne. It had potential for me and I loved the dedication but wildly disappointed.

Oh my god. I need book 2 asap. The twists and turns, the unexpected betrayals and allies. The yearning, the hatred of wanting each other. This book has the ability to become the next sensation. It is more fantasy with a romance storyline that drives the plot farther. The strength of the fmc, the passion she has for her cause while still allowing herself to yield to her feelings. I loved this book so much. Wow. This is a 6-star read for me. I am definitely adding this to my god tier bookshelf when this book is officially published.


Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book!!

Thank you to Hazel McBride and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for making this digital ARC available to me to read via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.

Overall, I liked this. I liked the magic and the dragons. I liked that it started at a good point. It started off gradually and the pace ramped up as the story went along. The ending was probably a little too fast and I found the biggest battle scene confusing because I couldn't keep the names straight. My biggest issue is, however, that I didn't really care for the romance. I liked the FMC, flaws and all, but I didn't find plausible her attraction to the MMC because of all the things he did or let happen. Except for a few moments, I really didn't like him. I sort of wish they had remained enemies and maybe a slowly developing relationship might have worked for me. I do, however, want to know what happens next and will read the next book. I'd give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

If you love Celtic-inspired fantasies, dragons, a head-strong FMC, elemental magic, and political machinations, then this book is for you. Not only that, it's got a matriarchal culture, an enemies-to-lovers romance, and so much female anger. This book is full of intrigue, perfectly paced, and brimming with action.

The female main character is Aemyra, who has been hiding and waiting for the right moment to claim the throne as the true ruler of her realm. In order to gain support and allies, she needs a dragon. The scenes with Aemyra and her dragon invoked extreme jealousy in me. Who doesn't want a dragon to bond with? However, this isn't just a girl and her dragon book, it's mostly a book with political intrigue. Aemyra must not only contend with the 'false' king and his irritatingly attractive brother, she must also fight against a religion, and its leader, that is indoctrinating her people and the royal family. The religion teaches that magic is evil and that women must remain in their rightful places, ie., in the home as mothers and wives. This religious (and patriarchal) opposition is juxtaposed with the Aemyera's matriarchal culture/religion, and exposes how cruelty, marginalization, and atrocities are often committed under the guise of religious morality. Aemyra has so much feminine rage, and rightly justified. There are scenes of female injustices in this book, so please check trigger warnings. Additionally, Aemrya is a fire-wielder, which is an apt power. Her fire becomes a symbol of her fight for her people, but most importantly, it's a symbol of her personal power as a woman. There are sections in the book where her fire is both metaphorically and literally extinguished. But, she perseveres.

The world in this book is expertly crafted, but, thankfully, we don't get info dumps. This book is heavily Celtic-inspired, and there are Scottish phrases and names throughout the book. There's a sense that there is so much history to this world and its people, and we feel Aemyra's love for her people. The magic system is elemental, and people's powers are enhanced by bonding to magical creatures, such as dragons, phoenixes, etc. While elemental magic may be simple, the author adds a lot of lore to add dimension to the magic.

The second half of the book focuses heavily on the romance, which I think will appeal to those who love emotional and physical tension. As Aemyra and Prince Fiorean come to understand and trust each other, we start to see their vulnerabilities and weaknesses, which adds to their complexities as characters. There is obvious chemistry between the two characters, and I couldn't help but root for their relationship, even though there's so much stacked against them.

The plot of this story is driven by Aemyra's choices. She is bull-headed, impatient, impulsive, and reactive. Her personality will probably irk some people. She makes a lot of questionable choices that have serious consequences that hurt and affect a lot of people around her. While her intentions are good, the measure of a good person cannot solely rely on someone's good intentions. I hope that in the next book, we see her grow in wisdom. This book would be a completely different book if Aemyra showed restraint in her decision-making. Despite this fact, I appreciate how fully she embodies her beliefs and passionate nature.

Overall, this book is an impressive debut. The author writes with the confidence of an established author. The ending (!!!) left me wanting the sequel yesterday. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacourte for providing me with an eARC for my review.