I really wanted to love this book based on what I’d read in the synopsis. It sounded badass - a woman fighting for her rightful throne against those who would oppress women and are determined to overthrow the matriarchal ways in which their clan historically operated.

However, maybe it’s just my lack of knowledge of how these types of clans work, or the fact that I didn’t know until 30% in that this was inspired by HOTD, but I had to slowly piece together the fact that **the main characters in this book are related**. If that’s going to be the case, it absolutely needs to be mentioned in the content warnings of the book before it starts, and it wasn’t. And I’m not talking distant relations, I’m talking third cousins (technically, half third cousins). Again, if I’d known this was HOTD inspired, I could have maybe assumed this going into it. But I was caught off guard and left wondering for the entire book if they were related, which absolutely affected the experience of reading it. I did guess early on that they were third cousins, but it’s never fully explained well enough to say one way or another. I resorted to reaching out to the author to confirm (who was very nice and I appreciate the information she provided!!) Again, it needed to be stated explicitly in the CWs or at the beginning of the book, not assumed that the reader will understand the clan lineages based on the vague information that’s provided. This was just my experience, so I’d be interested to know if anyone else had this experience.

It’s also very clear that this is HOTD inspired. There are changes made, but if you’ve seen the show (I haven’t read the book), I think it’ll be clear where the inspiration was drawn from. Sometimes to the point that it felt too on the nose.

Finally, I just felt like the plot was too rushed for the romance to have happened realistically. I wish we’d had more time to develop the relationship, but it just felt like one thing happened after another so quickly and by the time the romance starts, I found it hard to believe that it would have actually happened given what was going on around them and to them.

Overall, this was a classic romantasy, with typical character arcs (though again, I wish we’d gotten more development) and a brutal cliffhanger. I did enjoy the plot, it was fun and the characters had good banter and the enemies to lovers appeal, and I really do think if I’d known what I was getting into ahead of time I would have had better expectations for what it would be, but the lack of clarity and my issues with the inspiration and pacing made this a three star for me. All in all, a fun, quick read and I’ll be picking up the second book when it’s out to see it through.

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

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I keep going back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars so I'm giving it 4 stars.

The plot of the story is really good, it felt really thought and was detailed. It a true enemies to lovers story, and I look forward to seeing more of that journey in the next book! The FMC is very strong-willed and has a strong since of right and wrong. The MMC thinks that what he is doing is protecting the people he cares about. Also I loved the FMCs brother he seems so caring and Im hoping to see more of him in the next book!

One thing I wish had a little more detail/ was more clear is the make up of the clans. Like what are the family's with in the clans? How are they connected to each other? Who is related to who? I'm hoping that will be further explained in the next book.

Thanks to Net Galley for this eARC. This is my honest review


I was so excited for this book because it looked so promising - the fighting, the dragons…
But the characters is what fell through for me. The FMC was just plain old bitchy and so conceited. Normally, I can overlook that, but it was just so annoying to me. The dragons was the best part in my opinion.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a mesmerizing tale of rebellion, power, and reluctant alliances, set against the backdrop of a kingdom on the brink of ruin. With lush world-building, complex characters, and fiery political intrigue, McBride spins a story that feels both sweeping and intimate. This is the kind of fantasy that hooks you from the very first page, pulling you into a world where dragons soar, loyalties are tested, and love may be the greatest risk of all.

Tìr Teine, once a land defined by matriarchal strength and magic, is now a kingdom corroded by the anti-magic dogma of the True Religion and weakened by a succession of ineffective kings. McBride’s portrayal of the oppressive religious influence feels eerily relevant, as it explores themes of cultural erasure, fear, and power disguised as faith. The True Religion’s chokehold on Tìr Teine heightens the stakes for Aemyra, making her fight not just a personal quest for her rightful place, but a battle for the soul of her kingdom.

Aemyra is a dynamic protagonist—fierce, cunning, and deeply loyal. Her fire-wielding abilities and connection to dragons make her a formidable force, but it’s her emotional journey that makes her unforgettable. She’s lived most of her life in hiding, waiting for her moment to rise, and when her plans go awry, her frustration and sense of betrayal are palpable. McBride balances Aemyra’s strength with vulnerability, making her a heroine you can’t help but root for.

Then there’s Prince Fiorean, the cold and calculating fire-wielder who stands in her way. Fiorean is the epitome of a reluctant antihero—steeped in duty, shaped by a corrupt royal lineage, and burdened by his own internal conflicts. The slow-burning tension between him and Aemyra is expertly crafted, with their banter crackling like embers in a fire. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic feels earned rather than rushed, as McBride allows their relationship to simmer amidst the larger political chaos. The emotional depth of their connection makes their alliance—and their eventual romantic entanglement—both dangerous and thrilling.

The dragons in A Fate Forged in Fire are more than mere accessories; they’re woven into the narrative as powerful symbols of strength, legacy, and connection. The bond between a dragon and its rider is portrayed as sacred and primal, heightening the stakes for Aemyra as she fights for her rightful place as the queen and dragon-bonded ruler. McBride’s descriptions of the dragons are vivid and awe-inspiring, capturing their majesty and ferocity in a way that will delight fans of dragon lore.

The political intrigue in the novel is intricate without being overwhelming. The court of Tìr Teine is rife with scheming nobles, betrayals, and shifting alliances, and McBride handles the machinations with finesse. The pacing remains steady as Aemyra navigates one treacherous situation after another, though there are moments where the narrative slows slightly during detailed world-building and exposition. However, these quieter moments are rich with history and atmosphere, grounding the reader in the world’s complex mythology.

Thematically, the novel explores the cost of power and the sacrifices required to forge a new path. Aemyra’s journey is not just about reclaiming her throne—it’s about rediscovering who she is outside of vengeance and survival. McBride doesn’t shy away from showing the emotional toll of leadership, love, and war, making the story as much about personal transformation as it is about political upheaval.

At 4 stars, A Fate Forged in Fire is an enthralling fantasy filled with fire-wielding heroes, deadly betrayals, and unforgettable dragons. Hazel McBride’s storytelling is both fierce and lyrical, blending action, romance, and political drama into a captivating tale of destiny and resilience. Fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Song of Ice and Fire will find much to love in this beautifully crafted novel that reminds us that true power lies in the courage to forge our own fate.

Aemyra, the heroine and protagonist of Hazel McBride's A Fate Forged in Fire, offers stabby FMC, feminine fury, and dual vulnerability as well as strength in a fast-paced, character-driven, and exciting romantasy story. I admire Aemyra's fierce loyalty to her family, her connection with her dragon, and her deep desire to unite her people under a queen whose rule would be characterized by love and joy, instead of misogyny and fear. I wanted more on-page interaction between Aemrya and Fiorean, but I really enjoyed their scenes together and feel that readers haven't truly gotten to learn and know all of Fiorean's backstory! The cliffhanger ending of A Fate Forged in Fire has me eagerly awaiting book #2.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC copy.

A valiant take on a dragon-rider's romantasy, but ultimately this did not soar for me.
While the world-building was fairly well done, the pacing in this story felt very off-kilter. There was a lot of action overall but the places where I needed more plot or character development as lead-up to those moments never materialized, making it feel disjointed and unbelievable at times.

While I enjoyed the true enemies to lovers aspect, the relationship development didn't feel like it carried the romance. The spice felt a little out of left field, though was well written for me.

I had major frustrations with the FMC, whose fiery, brash demeanor felt like all talk, because when it came to the conflicts, she really lacked agency and felt sort of juvenile and naive. I also felt like the author couldn't decide who she was? Tough blacksmith? Healer? Warrior?

I did love the feminist themes, bisexual representation, and commentary on religion and patriarchy which were chillingly relevant to modern times. This book did have some beautiful one-liners and quotes I highlighted.

I did not see the last plot twist coming so the cliffhanger was a real doozy and may make me finish this duology just to know what happens!

Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 rounded down.

I really did enjoy reading this story. I think the first 20% was hard for me to get through because it was a little boring, but after that the pace picked up. I'd say that the last 30% was my favorite, which is usually true with most books for me.

The biggest flaw for me was how immature the FMC was. She was supposed to be 26, but was acting like she was 17 the whole time. How could someone with a fully developed frontal lobe make these decisions??? Especially someone who also had years to prepare for her future role as queen. She just kept making the absolute worst decisions over and over again.

The romance aspect was very meh to me - I enjoyed some of the banter and Fiorean had some endearing lines, but it wasn't overly exciting for me. It also freaked me out that they were related (I'm still confused on how distantly...), which maybe I just haven't read enough fantasy yet for me to get used to this? Idk. I also felt like they went from hating each other to loving each other too fast, there was very minimal buildup so the payoff didn't really hit for me.

The magic system was...okay. I feel like it was explained fairly well without overload, but it just seemed too easy for a lot of it. The conflict with the Covenant also felt too easy for me as well, with them having so many tools against magic. The overall political conflict with them left me wanting more. I did like that the politics of being a ruler and how public opinion/knowledge of events was brought in so much, as in a lot of fantasy books they often forget how important commoners really are.

Also, the "twist" at the end (if it could really be called that) was not even that shocking to me since the romance felt so half-hearted. I also was just kind of annoyed that each plot point was just a repeat of what had already happened, so I just didn't really like the end.

All of this being said, I did enjoy reading the book and will be looking out for the next one.

Dragons are having a big moment currently. This felt a lot like Rhaenyra/Aemon Targaryen fanfic to me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but neither Amyra or Fiorean were nearly as developed as their House of the Dragon counterparts. The premise was fun, but Aemyra was grating and flat. I don't think all main characters need to be likable, but there has to be something there for me to at least want to root for them and spend time with them.

I legitimately loved this book!! My video that includes me reading this book has not yet been uploaded but I couldn't wait to give my review. This book is quite literally spectacular!! I cannot believe I have to wait at least a year and a half for the next one. My only criticism is that the first half was a little bit too fast paced for me, but that's just a personal preference. My rating is roughly a 4.75, so near perfect for me it was incredible.

Hazel McBride weaves a captivating tale of political intrigue, forbidden magic, and slow-burning romance in A Fate Forged in Fire. Set in the fractured territory of Tìr Teine, Aemyra’s journey from exiled heir to reluctant ally with her sworn adversary, Prince Fiorean, is packed with tension and twists. McBride’s worldbuilding shines as she explores the complexities of court politics, the oppressive influence of the True Religion, and the mystical bond between dragons and their riders. The dynamic between Aemyra and Fiorean crackles with fiery chemistry, adding emotional depth to the high-stakes plot.

When I was reading this it reminded me a bit of House of Dragon - not realizing that this author wrote GOT fanfiction. Either way, it was reminiscent in a good way.

There's religious fanaticism, dragons, a broody/scarred MMC, a MFC with daddy issues, and court politicking. I didn't feel there was a lull in the storyline at all, regardless of how much was going on.

The ending has me very eager for the 2nd book.

What a rollercoaster.
It was such a mix of emotions since the beginning, idk how I’m still standing.
It was a bit hard coming to the book. To understand and completely emerge myself in this world building. Especially cause of the writing and then trying to understand who is who, and what is what.
I started to fully emerge myself in it about 20% in. When I got the ropes of it and also the pace started picking up. And once it starred IT DIDNT STOP! It happed so much in this book that was like reading 2 in 1. Also the reason I’m curious to where the second book is going to take us. I think it could have a little less going on and bit a little better constructed on the plot.
The characters are a bit hard to describe tbh. In one chapter I felt various emotions towards 1 ou more characters.
The fmc is brave, is temperamental, is witty, and human who makes mistakes, especially in this new court life. And the author really portrays her as such! Which is kinda relatable. At the same time frustrating.
The mmc is another all together!! I went to hate to love to hate.. what a range 😭😂
I’m still rellinf from the end!
Definitely super curious about the next book and how’s it gonna be since the first one had so much.

3 out of 5 stars because the plot seems to have been used 1,000 times before. Same plot, same character battles, same romantasy theme written over and over again. Nothing really new and everything expected, I don't want to start yet another series to read all the same things again. Sorry, Hazel McBride, if I'm being too rough, but we need something new. ♥️

idk how a book can technically have everything i want in a romantasy but still b so fucking irritating. like adult fmc? acts like she’s 17. enemies to lovers but it’s not slave x master? dry asf! (tbh may b bc fmc makes the decisions of a 12 year old boy playing swords with sticks in his backyard) bi fmc and neither mcs are virgins? dialogue was cringe and tbh the sex was boring.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
5⭐️

Spoilers will be stated later, spoiler free for now. I DEVOURED this book. I couldn’t remember what it was about between my request for a copy and starting it so I went in totally blind. Although not explicitly stated, this definitely takes place in this world’s equivalent of Scotland and holds true to phrases and ways of speaking, names, and lore. Beyond that, this has:

•A bad ass FMC
•Unique magic system
•Hidden powers
•Enemies to lovers*
•Dragons
•Some delightful banter
•Perfect amount of spice

I can’t stand a whiny FMC. Or at the very least not one that doesn’t show any signs of change through the story. Not only is Aemyra a bad ass from beginning to end, she has such great growth throughout. I was prepared to give this book a 5 star rating even at just after the 50% mark. I can’t wait for more of this story.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Although I gave this 5 stars, I was absolutely fuming at the plot twist at the end. The story is still amazing but I had such hopes that Aemyra and Fiorean were made for each other. I am so disappointed in him but have high hopes for his redemption later.

*Enemies to lovers. To enemies again.

I mean, if there's one thing this book has going for it, it's dragons. Especially around this time. Dragons are in high demand. The leads however, didn't quite capture my interest wholly. You have your typical broody MMC, and I honestly didn't care for the FMC. But what may not be for me may still be enjoyed by others, so give this book a chance!

I enjoyed this book but I did not love the FMC. She really doesn't seem to be mature enough to be 26, much less a queen. She has lots of rage and
makes questionable decisions for someone who wants to lead. It was fast paced and I did want to know more. Honestly, I'm more taken with the morally gray MMC. I'm not sure if I like him or not but he seems to have more layers than our FMC. I'm interested to see what Book 2 brings.

Once I was able to get immersed into the world building (which I will say, took me a minute but thankfully there was a pronunciation guide) I was hooked. Aemyra is such a complex FMC, and I love that we get a new piece of who she is in each chapter. She is able to fight with the best of them, but she also feels very deeply. Her twin Adarian (who is a totally HOTTIE by the way), and her have a strong bond that has been built through hardship, and having to hide in plain sight.

But the true fun begins when it's time for her to step into the light and become the QUEEN that she has been training for her entire life. Without spoiling anything, you can look forward to DRAGONS, epic fighting scenes, hot STEAMY scenes between our FMC & MMC, and plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Trust me, you will be begging for the next book just like I am!!

A huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I can hardly wait to see where this story goes next!

maybe 3.5. This book was a little slow to start for me, but once it got going a I had a good time. It hits all the good highlights of romantasy, dragons, magic systems, etc etc but doesn't super stand out in any way for me. Some of the writing was a little clunky at times, a few things felt shoe horned in. But overall its an enjoyable fun read. The MMC is broody and mysterious and the dragons are great, real moment for dragons right now. Nothing earth shattering but definitely a good time. recommend.

Great concepts and dragons always rock. I will be looking forward to see how this title pans out throughout the series.