‘A Fate Forged in Fire’ follows Aemyra’s journey to claim her birthright as the first true queen in centuries while battling an oppressive religion, politics, misogyny, and a patriarchal society.

Aemyra has lived her whole life in hiding waiting for the opportunity to claim her throne as she has watched her people experience oppression and corruption. When the king dies and her opportunity for ascension arises, not all goes according to plan.

Aemyra must forge an unlikely alliance with Prince Fiorean, in an attempt to help secure her throne, but constant obstacles and tribulations prove to make her ascension much more challenging than initially thought.

This had fire-wielding magic users, enemies to lovers, dragons, and female empowerment and I can’t wait to see how the series continues.

Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hazel McBride, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me access to the e-arc.

3.5 stars

This was a difficult one for me. I’m still unsure how I feel about everything. I like parts of the story but as a whole, it was not my favorite. I liked Aemyra as the FMC. She is vengeful, powerful, and cares for her people. But there were moments when she was so weak. It didn’t match her character. Fiorean as the MC was not my favorite. He felt like a 2D character. I didn’t understand his wants and motives for the actions he took. I was frustrated at times throughout the book with all the roadblocks the FMC faced. I never felt like she achieved anything which made it like we never got a win. The romance comes out of left field. It felt like a switch was flipped. After, that I was starting to slowly root for the romance. That ending was something…

TW: Attempted SA and Sterilization

This book was easily one of the best books I have read so far in 2025 and the year has just begun. The feminine rage in this book with Aemyra over just wanting to see her kingdom right is so well done. I was sitting here cheering for her. I loved how well the political environment was done. I was so enraptured by the brewing conflict between Aemyra and the royal family. I’ll be honest I am so torn with whether I am supposed to like Aemyra’s father or not but I will say I love the dragons. I am all for the dragons and the ones we do know about and their personalities, perfect. I am trying so hard not to spoil things but this book was just so well done. The setting, the characters, the conflict, everything was written so well and crafted beautifully. My jaw was on the floor when the book ended and honestly I don’t know how I am going to contain myself while waiting for this book to be released. It really is just so well done, I can not state that enough. I really am hoping that a specific prince isn’t really gonna break my heart like that. I don’t know how I will survive.

Absolutely incredible. There are no words to describe how much I loved this book. Cannot wait for book two!

I really enjoyed this book! Strong willed FMC, she’s feisty and she doesn’t back down, she’s also learning who she is and finding her identity which is a journey in itself, true enemies to lovers, dragons, politics! It was a fun read. There was some things that I feel didn’t add to the story. I do wish that the pronunciation guide was at the beginning of the book not the end because I didn’t see it and definitely butchered some names. All in all, I’ve already recommended this book and would love to get my hands on the second!

How exciting was it to get the email for this! Following @hazelmcbrideauthor from her HOTD fic that served as a basis for this was so cool!

Heavy with Scottish influences, this novel follows Aemyra, our stabby fiery FMC, as she tries to fight back for her crown from an oppressive religious and patriarchal regime. In a true enemies to lovers with political complexities and dragons, readers get taken in a neck breaking journey that leaves us with a very chaotic cliff hanger ending.

I so thoroughly enjoyed reading this and seeing how the story was molded and fit into its own form. If you’ve watched HBO’s House of the Dragon, you’ll pick up quickly on the influence(s) and enjoy the inspiration for the MMC 🤌🏼

A big kudos to @hazelmcbrideauthor and I can’t wait for this to hit shelves in 2025!

One of the steepest battles when crafting a story is ensuring the audience can relate, justify, or even like the main character. It's not a requirement to be a fan of the MC, but if we're living in their head, we need to understand the places they're coming from. I could not stand Aemyra. There's been many a story where I've felt similar hatred for the MC, but she had little to no redeeming qualities. Self-centered, angry, belittling, even to those she claims are near and dear. I have a feeling this is going to be marketed as the next big dragon romantasy, so it'll be interesting to see how the general population reacts to her.

Alright, this book was a rollercoaster. In the first half, I was really worried. I had super high expectations for this book! But once we reached the infamous 30% line, things started clicking along and it felt like a different, much better, book.

The first in a duology, Hazel McBride introduces us to her blacksmith heroine Aemrya in this Celtic-inspired fantasy romance. There are battles fought between two warring religions, each with their own idea of who should be the successor to the throne. Forging alliances, swords, and … frienemies? Aemyra must learn to play the politics of court while danger lurks all around.

This book brings together SO MANY of my favorite things: Celtic inspiration, dragons, high fantasy, and a unique magic system. I read the second half in one sitting and can’t wait for the second one!

My only complaint, and what keeps it at 3 stars, is that it feels overdone - like a well-cooked steak. All the pieces are there, but the author needs to chill out and trust her characters to show her story rather than telling it, even in dialogue. The writing is heavy handed, preaching to the reader (including some points about not preaching at people?); the main character spends a lot of time shouting her opinions in an us-versus-them mentally, pushing her own version of morality from a nasally and downright obnoxious tone. It really hurts the reader’s ability to empathize with the main character, especially in the beginning of the book. Ultimately, I would’ve tweaked the end product, but it is great, even with its flaws.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance review copy!

I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this one. Never read this author before but I really enjoyed it!

THISSSSSSSS book y'all, I was not expecting it to go this hard but I am SO GLAD I requested this arc and got to read this story holy crap... I am already drooling for book 2!!!

There is forced-marriage trope, enemies-to-lovers, lost Queen must take back her rightful kingdom, FREAKING DRAGONS (I am always a sucker for dragons), SLOW FREAKING BURN, etc!!!

If you enjoy falling in love with the morally-gray "bad guy" you'll love this story, Aemyra is such a bad-a$$ and I just love the way she carries herself and is not afraid to stand her ground and speak her mind, she endures a LOT and it was hard to read at times I willl be honest, but I got a "MY WIFE" moment which kinda sorta made it worth it :-)

"So how can I be fire? If the only thing that makes me burn...is you?" STOP MY HEART RN OML
"Come here,' ______ said, his voice low. By the Goddess, Aemyra did as she was toild." IM SAT

"A Fate Forged in Fire" is not just a tale of political intrigue; it is also a rich exploration of identity and sacrifice. As Aemyra uncovers the depths of corruption within the court, she is faced with difficult choices that test her resolve and challenge her beliefs. The narrative expertly balances action, romance, and character development, making it a compelling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

With vivid world-building and a cast of multifaceted characters, this book offers a perfect blend of fantasy and romance that will appeal to fans of both genres. As Aemyra’s adventure unfolds, readers are left eagerly anticipating the next installment, wondering how far she will go to claim her throne and whether love can truly blossom in the midst of betrayal.

Overall, "A Fate Forged in Fire" is a must-read for anyone looking to lose themselves in a tale of magic, rebellion, and the complexities of the human heart. Prepare to be enchanted by Aemyra's journey and the fiery world she inhabits.

I was really excited to get the ARC version of this book so I’m thankful for that opportunity.

Honestly, I was disappointed in the book. It had the potential to be an amazing book.

The FMC was so aggravating and just plain bratty. I tried to understand where her anger was coming from and why she acted the way she did but everything was done in anger when she had to make a choice. She made sooooo many mistakes and still thought she would outsmart people.

It seemed the routine of this story was three bad things happened then something good would happen to make the book too a certain way then more bad things happened and shifted it a different way.

To the point where I knew it was a trap but for some reason she still thought she could kill them. She definitely thought herself better than everyone else and so easily trusted the prince who captured her. I was thinking enemies to lovers but to trust him and want to have a back up plan just in case is crazy to me.

I almost DNF but I was given the opportunity to have this ARC so I wanted to make sure to finish for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for access to this eARC. This book was on my tbr for when it released and I was thrilled to have an advanced copy.

This was a masterpiece. I was invested in this world and these characters from the get-go. Aemyra is a formidable main character, but not without flaws. In fact, many of the characters are on the sliding scale of morality and the twists and turns (and twists again) of the choices they make are gripping.

Hazel McBride has created a world that is at once fantastical and wholly believable. The battle for sovereignty against the backdrop of religious fanaticism feels completely realistic. The addition of magic and dragons is just a bonus.

The story was so wonderfully woven that I flew through this. And now anxiously await book 2.

Man, I’ve got mixed feelings on this one. It checks all the boxes for a romantasy, it’s definitely enemies to lovers, there isn’t a kiss until 70% of the way through so a good slow burn, the FMC is 26, so she’s not a teenager, it’s got arranged marriage……

BUT. BUT. The FMC is just SO unlikable. She’s cocky and so sure of herself and yet she makes THE DUMBEST CHOICES. She does NOT think most things through, she just does things on a whim and then oh no surprise pikachu face, there are terrible consequences.

The MMC is fine, the dragon part was cool, the plot was decent. Like it has solid bones and I do think most people that read this will like it, and I did enjoy reading it- I just didn’t love it, ya know?

Also, the plot twist at the end, part of it I had guessed, but one part I didn’t? I’m still not sure I grasp the whole magic aspect, and I didn’t love the religion part.

BOTTOM LINE: I enjoyed reading the book, if fantasy is new for you, you’ll probably really enjoy this. The FMC is just a hard pill to swallow, ya know? (That’s what HE said)

Absolutely loved A Fate Forged in Fire! I hope everyone else loved it like I do! I had conflicted feelings towards Fiorean, but I felt all the characters were well written!

I love-love-loved this book! the tension, the mythical beasts, everything was amazing! And the romance - a true enemies to lovers!

DNF at 43%

I genuinely wanted to like this book—there’s nothing inherently wrong with it. The writing is solid, and there are aspects that I was totally here for, like the feminist undertones and the Scottish Highland themes. However, I found it mind-numbingly boring.

I pushed myself to read almost halfway, but I just couldn’t convince myself to pick it back up. It wasn’t engaging enough for me, though I recognize that others might enjoy it more.

This isn’t a bad book by any means—it just wasn’t the right fit for me. 🥲

Unfortunately I didn’t know there was a pronunciation guide until I got to the end of the book cause it’s on kindle.. 😭 so I spent a lot of time googling how to say things🙃🙃

I don’t think this book is for me unfortunately I didn’t feel connected with our FMC and found her annoying to the point where I just wanted the book to be over with.

This book is enemies to lovers and has dragons in it. Don’t expect it to be centered around dragons like fourth wing!

I also feel like this book needs to be marketed differently then it currently is now because I read the description for it but once I started it I felt like I was reading a completely different book than the description!

Link to my review below. I try to keep my reviews short and sweet.
As stated I struggled with the MFC. I didn’t find her sassy but rude. However, the dragons in this book saved the day and I loved the fighting scenes. The MFC is in need of strong character growth.

Title: A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride
Genre: Romantasy
Pub Date: May 27, 2025

"The moment you unleash me upon
this kingdom, Tìr Teine will know what
it means to belong to fire"

Fire Magic
Dragon Riding
Badass Blacksmith FMC
Political Intrigue
Reluctant Allies
Slow Burn

Preface this review knowing I also disliked Fourth Wing, so if you liked that one, you might enjoy A Fate Forged in Fire, too! It definitely has some similarities! 🫶

⭐️⭐️✨️

This book had potential but it just didn't hit the mark for me. It had all the right tropes, featuring a Celtic inspired world with dragons and a fierce FMC who weilds fire... It sounds great, in theory.... Unfortunately, I found Aemyra to be decidedly unlikeable and if Prince Fiorean was a spice, he would be ✨️flour✨️ There was no chemistry and all of their interactions felt so clunky and awkward. I wanted to love it, I tried to love it, but I had the immense urge to DNF early on.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the digital review copy 🔥