First, I’d like to thank Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a wonderful romantasy that has left me ITCHING to read the next book (which is unfortunate for me since this first book hasn’t even been released yet 😅). I will say that the pronunciation was super challenging for me, especially in the beginning. I didn’t realize that there was a pronunciation guide at the end of this arc copy, and I am unsure of where it will be placed in the final copy of the book.

Like many fantasy novels, the first 30-40% was a little slow because there was a lot of world-building and background (& hard words lol) to get through before we could get into the fun stuff. That being said, it was 100% worth it. I really enjoyed the story, and I absolutely loved how refreshing it was as a romantasy in a sea of many copy and paste romantasies that are enemies to lovers to TRULY be enemies to lovers. It felt unique enough, while also staying true to everything we know and love about the genre. I feel that both our FMC and MMC still have a lot of growing and maturing to do, and I’m excited to see that unfold in the next book. The ending of this one had me on the edge of my seat!

Overall, a solid badass romantasy read. I definitely recommend you check this one out when it releases on May 27th!

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a fierce, addictive ride from start to finish. The heroine’s journey is full of grit, strength, and heart as she fights for the crown that’s rightfully hers—all while navigating a tangled web of political intrigue and betrayal. And just when you think she can’t take on more, enter the slow-burn romance with her sworn adversary… the tension is everything. Add in dragon riders, high-stakes strategy, and jaw-dropping twists, and you’ve got a story that refuses to let you go. I couldn’t put it down.

as a hardcore romantasy lover, i’m actually deceased writing this because i’m in love with it. this is everything i usually love in books all wrapped up in one. i knew from the first page this was going to be amazing and it didn’t disappoint.

A Fate Forged in Fire is a tale of one woman’s fight against the bigotry, heresy, and cruelty that has overtaken her kingdom. Hidden away for years to train in secret, Aemyra is prepared to do anything to reclaim Tir Teine and restore order to her kingdom. In a battle of wills, secrets, and forbidden romances, Aemyra fights for her birthright, the power of women, and the return of magic.

As a debut novel, it is fantastically well written. The reason I rate it a 4 out of 5 is because it was a slow burn – not only with the romance but also with the pacing of the action. I would have enjoyed more action sooner, however, the world building was very important to the story and Aemyra’s motivations. Additionally, I struggled with the Scottish terms since it made remembering characters and locations difficult since they all sounded similar.

Despite my critiques, I quite enjoyed the novel. The female rage is such a unique perspective and not often one I see in stories. While Aemyra is fighting for the kingdom as a whole, the fight for her community of women, the battered, the queer, and those deemed different is distinctly at the forefront of the novel. That subtle perspective change makes me believe this story will emotionally resonate with readers more so than others that are currently published. Readers will rally behind Aemyra because her desire for power is not used to control people but instead a deeply held sense of duty that comes across as very humble.

A few other bits I loved from A Fate Forged in Fire with no context:
Him giving her the gemstone: one of the best enemies to lovers I have ever read
One of the best sex scenes I’ve read: so steamy but also so emotionally charged
One of the best plot twists I’ve ever read: no notes

Fans of Aelin from Throne of Glass and Daenerys from Game of Thrones are sure to be enamoured with Aemyra. Additionally, fans of enemies to lovers, slow burns, magic world building, and romantasy should read A Fate Forged in Fire.

Disclaimer: Thank you Random House Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I did not finish this book and stopped reading it at 43%. I found it difficult to like/root for the FMC and did not enjoy any moments involving the MMC. Although the story and plot had great potential, some plot points did not make sense in how they unfolded and it felt like there was more telling vs showing when it came to the FMC’s development and actions. I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC and am open to reading other work by the author in the future. However, this book was not for me. I found myself being more frustrated with the book than enjoying it.

What a fun ride! This story took a little while to get into due to the heavy use of the Scottish Gaelic language and when reviewing the pronunciation guide inevitably meant I was pronouncing most of the words wrong. Despite that, once you get into the story, it is fast paced, easy to follow and a fun ride.
The dragons were spectacular, The FMC is fierce with a heart of gold and though nothing seems to go right for her throughout the whole story, she is easy to root for. She tries to learn from her mistakes, though how the bad guys keep outsmarting her I found rather annoying after she plotted to overcome her previous mistakes, they were always one step ahead. Sometimes her choices were foolish but she faced the outcomes well and her mental struggles through her losses and experiences were easy to relate to. The MMC I desperately wanted to like but ultimately never really cared for. I LOVED the 'touch her and die' moments though initially they didn't fit into the overall narrative as they were very much true enemies to lovers. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers and the deep hatred which fell apart when they finally share the truth with each other.
My biggest complaint was that I didn't realise at any point that this would be a series. As I neared the end it became obvious that there was more story to tell so I will now anxiously await the next book!

**SPOILERS**
In the end, I was very upset with our MMC's turn of heart and betrayal to his Queen. Given the progression of the storyline, I wasn't totally shocked as I kind of expected something to happen however I was deeply disappointed that it was him going against her. I really wanted a heroic moment for our FMC to swoop in and save our MMC when things clearly went wrong but alas, he turned on her.
While things are looking rather bleak for our FMC and Queen, I'll be left waiting anxiously for this story to continue in the next book.

My first book by Hazel McBride and I am not disappointed. Told in the third person this is a dragon fantasy that will have you turning the pages wanting to know more.
I really liked that in this book our FMC, Aemyra is aged up. Unlike a lot of fantasies/romantasy she is 26, in her mid twenties. And we see that religion is pretty heavy in the book. I did see that some people said it reminded them of Game of Thrones or House of Dragons and I would say that would be an accurate representation of what it reminded me of as well.
I really liked that our FMC was working as a blacksmiths apprentice. I really liked Aemyra overall as a character. I thought all the characters were pretty well developed.
The story I thought was really well developed it flowed really well. I do wish that I saw that their was a pronunciation guide in the listing in the beginning because I would have ran to that so fast...I need to learn to look a little bit better at the contents breakdown in regards to chapters when I am opening the book. But that was very helpful after the fact!
Overall I am excited to see what is next for this series and am excited to get a physical copy!
Thank you to Random House for gifted copy In exchange for a honest review!

This was a slow start (world building and understanding the world) but I did end up enjoying this read.

I rate this book a 4 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

I can see how this story is influenced by Game of Thrones/House of the Dragons and it was the reason why I was so interested in reading this book (dragons and magic) but of course I'm here for the romance.This is an enemies to lovers to enemies and I'm here for it. The tension between Florean and Aemyra was everything! The ups and downs/push and pull with their relationship (enemies to lovers)

I will be patiently waiting for book- because that cliffhanger--- I need book 2 immediately.

The beginning of this read was quite slow, but once I got the world and the pace picked up I was fully invested!!

Really looking forward to book 2 because it just started getting good and then was over! I want more!!!

We LOVE the dragons!!

The trope is a truly good Enemies To Lovers!

You know how evvvveerrryyy book has a princess with a hidden identity and powers they didn’t know they have? This is only slightly that story.


Welcome to Erisocia, where the goddess blessed female is to sit on the throne. Unfortunately, a female heir hasn’t been born in a very long time. When there is no female heir nothing is fertile and dragons become weak. Yes thats right, dragons! This story is heavily swayed to female empowerment and females making choices for their own body and futures. Which I absolutely love

Speaking of females:
Here we have Aemrya. She is 26 and not 19. She knows of her powers but has been hiding in plain sight until her father gives her the signal it is time to rise up and claim her throne. This girl knows who she is and what she can do. She is going to get her rightful throne and claim the most powerful dragon. But of course nothing is that simple.

Without giving too much away this book is slow burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity. We have magic, dragons, political intrigue, and feminism. Truly what more can you ask for.

I would be remiss to say, this story has a slow start and Amerya is kind of arrogant and a little wishy washy at times. Because of that she makes some of the dumbest choices, It’s refreshing to have an older FMC who makes mistakes?

I also need to point out that the book is heavy in religious themes. Thats really the plot of the church trying to take over and have males be more powerful. There were times when bible verses or religious benedictions were used that I could finish for the character. While I would not say this needs to be trigger warning, it hit very close to home and made me feel icky. Which is the point and the author hits it well.

In the end, I will be reading book 2 as this ends in a turn of events. I need to know the outcome.


Thank you Random House for the Arc

I liked this book immediately. I had no idea how starved I was for a strong FMC until I read this and was not disappointed! Fans of anything Celtic, dragon, Arthurian, or Fourth-Wing-esque will enjoy Aemyra's story. I admire her spirit so much and was glad that her resolve didn't waiver - unlike so many books lately with the overwrought damsel leading the plot. The magical system felt very fresh for the genre but also harkens back to classic fantastic tales. I also kept thinking of The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley but with a modern spin set in it's own world. Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC :)

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a beautifully written fantasy with fierce emotion, high stakes, and characters you can’t help but root for. McBride’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, and the slow-burn romance crackles with tension and depth. The heroine’s journey is both empowering and heartfelt, making this a standout in the genre. A must-read for fans of emotional fantasy with strong character arcs and a touch of the mystical.

🔥 A Fate Forged in Fire 🔥

(?) what has been your most read genre of the year so far?

over half of my reads of 2025 have been romance BUT I read A Fate Forged in Fire in March & it totally got me in the mood for some fun, magical fantasy reads 🫶

check this one out if you like...
✨️ fantasy with dragons & fire magic
✨️ a queen trying to claim her rightful throne
✨️ legitimate enemies to lovers vibes
✨️ romantasy with more plot than romance
✨️ Celtic-inspired reads
✨️ a strong-willed queer FMC

I truly had such a great time reading this one! thanks so much to @netgalley @delacortepress & @penguinrandomhouse for the advanced copy! keep your eyes peeled on May 27th for release day 😏
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#afateforgedinfire #advancedreaderscopy #dragonbooks #hazelmcbride #fantasylover #thursdayreads #bookdragon #romantasybooks #newbookrelease #keeponreading

4-4.5 ⭐️

What a fantastic ride!!! 🐉🔥

The beginning for me was a little slow to get into but once I really grasped everything I flew through this and I loved it!

This is definitely a read first, find your answers later kind of book which I adore!
I thought the world building and pacing was great and I almost wish this was longer to build an even stronger connection, so I’m very excited for the next book and to see where this is going!

The dragons are fabulous and EVERYTHING I wanted!!!!

Expect a true enemies to lovers, political intrigue, some traumatic moments!!!!…and twists! 🔥

Thank you Netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

I had such a fun time with this! Was it predictable at times? Yeah, sure. But so is this genre.

This is perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and Fourth Wing.

If you love:
💕 enemies to lovers
💕forced proximity
💕arranged marriage
💕well-written spice
💕dragons
💕elemental magic

…you’ll love this novel!

It ended on a cliffhanger so I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next novel!!!

5/5 stars – This book owns my soul.

No spoilers because this one? You need to feel every twist, every moment, every dragon-fueled heartbeat for yourself.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is everything I want in a fantasy: rich, emotional, action-packed, and impossible to put down.

Let’s talk tropes:
- enemies to lovers (and YES the tension is chef’s kiss)
- political intrigue that had me questioning everyone
- a badass heroine fighting to restore the old matriarchal ways after a king stole the throne
- celtic-inspired worldbuilding that feels ancient and magical
- elemental magic that’s just so well done
- and yes… dragons. and when they fight? you’ll be holding your breath. every single time.

Aemyra is that girl. Skilled. Smart. Fierce. Unapologetically powerful.
Fiorean? He’s an asshole. He’s also hot. And thoughtful. And annoying. And perfect. I love him. I hate him. You get it.

This book gave me all the feelings—hurt, love, rage, frustration—and I loved every second of it. The story pulls you in deep and doesn’t let go. I was fully immersed from beginning to end.

If you’re into emotional, high-stakes fantasy with unforgettable characters and incredible writing, this is your next read.
we love her. 100% recommend. go. read. it. now.

rating this a soft 4! the reliance on scottish mythology & history was so beautiful that i have such a great appreciation for the author and the work she had put into this story! i found the premise, reliance more on the queen and less on a king, was incredibly intriguing and unique for a fantasy romance! my favorite character, of course, was the fmc's twin brother because there is always something about twins that MAKES ME FEEL SO !!!!

the ending did fall a little flat for me, as i felt like the shock of the betrayal was almost expected? other than that, a great first book in a new series!

Rating: 3.5⭐️/5

This was a good first novel in a Romantasy series about vicious dragons, a game of thrones, and a fierce FMC with Khaleesi vibes. I think the build up for the romance was lacking a bit for me, there was a decent amount of spice. Also at times I did think the Aemyra, the FMC, was a bit whiny at times and while fierce wasn’t as strong as I would have liked. Also the trauma that she goes through and some of the fighting, the injuries they sustain would have incapacitated them for days/weeks but she gets up and starts running? I get it’s a fantasy but…

Overall I did really enjoy the plot of this, the political intrigue and the fight scenes. I think the romance and character development could have used some more work.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is refreshingly unique. In a market that is flooded with dragon fantasy, the author has a distinct voice and story that sets A Fate Forged in Fire apart.

Hazel’s characters are well developed and fleshed out. I appreciate the times Aemyra checks herself internally for hypocritical behavior while also staying true to who she is. I loved the female-centric storyline - isn’t it true that women stay fixing the problems caused by men in power? The representation is chef’s kiss and I’m a sucker for a TRUE enemies to lovers - not general annoyance, HATE. AFFIF hit the spot because Fiorean is an idiot to start. The world building was complex, and I did struggle at times reading digitally because I needed the map, but the story truly pushes you along.

I can’t wait to add this physical copy as a trophy to my shelf!

Oh, and I bet the audiobook is going to SLAY. I can’t wait to hear Fiorean’s “voice”.

Edited to add- I loved the inclusion of the glossary with pronunciation. I forgot to mention that. Dying for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of this book! This book has everything you could want in a romance: a fiery FMC, a broody MMC, and dragons—what more could you ask for? The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was chef's kiss, and the world-building felt incredibly refreshing. I'm so excited for the next book to be released!