It took me until about %50 in to this book to reach the point of "okay now I can't put this down" and it was like a rollercoaster after that I loved the MMC and I LOVED that the enemies to lovers in this book stayed true to that trope. I loved the banter and the characters were really loveable! It felt like at some points I was really there with these characters or watching a movie of the scenes and it mad the highs and lows that much more intense. I liked the ending and cant wait to see what we have in store for book two!!!

5 stars

LOVED this one! Once I delved into the world I didn’t want to come up! Strong FMC (with a few slip-ups in her story) and rich storyline. Read quickly and didn’t really experience any sections that drug on. Don’t want to give anything away but well worth the read.

Can’t wait for the second installment!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the arc!!

That was a crazy opening hook but I guess it did its job. The first half of the story had me completed enraptured, but it started going downhill for me when Fiorean captured Aemyra. The story then dragged on and on from the 45% mark until the end with a bunch of things happening, but at the same time, nothing happening at all. While there were some highlights in these remaining chapters, I struggled to connect with the writing that felt choppy and scrambled compared to the first half.

Regardless, I enjoyed the premises of the book. I loved the betrayals, the politics, the fight scenes, and Aemyra’s unyielding nature, and I can see that there is great potential for following books in this series!

I enjoyed A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride right up until the end, which disappointed me greatly — or maybe that’s just my tender heart! I’m hopeful the second volume will make up for it.

The good: the ending of this book was completely unexpected and twisted the story in a way that has me needing book 2!
The meh: The plot was great, but it was written in a way that at times had me wondering what I had missed.

I have not read a book that more clearly and fully makes you feel the female rage that this book does. Aemyra is the hidden but rightful heir to a kingdom that is slowly being taken over by the worst parts of a (basically christian) religion. In this world, it is magic passing through the female line that has ruled peacefully for ages but recent generations have not born female heirs. The traditional religion that governs the magic of the world is a matriarchy that Aemyra (FMC) is fighting to bring back. When her plan for taking the throne goes wrong and she loses people she loves, she goes after the enemy herself. She is a growing character in this first book making mistakes but slowly learning from them and reluctantly gaining allies is what would seem to be the worst situation.

Rating -🐉🐉🐉🐉 4/5
Genre- historic fantasy with some romance, LGBTQIA+,
Spice - 🌶️🌶️ 2/5
Pace -medium fast
vibes- deep, dark, and intense feminine rage against the patriarchy, religious trauma, multifacited characters and their development, Dragon mythology , political intrigue

Tropes- Enimies to lovers, LGBTQIA+ FMC, betrayal and trust issues

This was my first ever ARC edition of a book I ever read and can I just say how happy I am to have read it. This book was absolutely a 5 star read for me. I was drawn to it by the summary description and from the moment I started reading, I couldn’t stop. To me, this book was like Fourth Wing on steroids. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved fourth wing, but the elements in this book just did something to me. This book also reminded me of Game of Thrones in the best way possible. I am obsessed with the FMC. She is one of my new favorite FMC’s. She is completely determined to do what is right even though the society she is in belittles woman. I truly related to her character. The enemies to lovers was top tier. It felt like a true enemies to lovers in the sense that the romance wasn’t rushed to a point that wouldn’t make sense for their characters. The spice was definitely there which I loved. There were dragon riders, a unique magic system, possessiveness, feminine rage, what more could you ask for?? I am so pleased I got the chance to read this book and I am impatiently waiting for the second book in this duology because don’t even get me started on that ending. I don’t think I’ll ever recover until I find out what happens next.

As soon as I saw this I had to request, and was so excited I got the approval. I couldn't wait to dive into this, so I didn't and started reading almost immediately. I absolutely LOVED this book. The plot was amazing and I was so happy that the romance came in second to the rest of it. It had all the best tropes, and it did the enemies to lovers quite well. I am a sucker for good banter, and the banter here was fantastic. The ending killed me, but all these books seem to end on cliffhangers these days making you want more. I am absolutely looking forward to book 2 when it comes out!

4.5 ⭐️

A Fate Forged in Fire kicks off an exciting new fantasy romance series that promises to captivate fans of Danielle L. Jensen and Rebecca Yarros. With a delightful mix of beloved tropes and fresh twists, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves intricate world-building, sizzling romance, and compelling political intrigue.

At the heart of the story is Aemyra, the last heir to a once-thought-destroyed matriarchy. Hidden away for her protection, she must navigate a world of dangerous secrets, betrayal, and her own growing powers. As the last of her kind, Aemyra’s journey is both a personal quest for survival and a fight for her people’s legacy.

What truly sets this book apart are the rich, multi-layered elements woven into its narrative. The relationship between Aemyra and Prince Fiorean is full of tension, sparks, and intrigue. Their dynamic is further enhanced by an engaging mix of banter and the slow-burn romance that builds over time. There’s also an exciting magical system at play, where bonds with mystical creatures empower individuals, adding an extra layer of excitement to the story. And, of course, the dragons—an essential element of any good fantasy—are present in all their fiery glory.

Beyond the romance, A Fate Forged in Fire is rich in political machinations, making for a plot that’s both thrilling and unpredictable. Fantasy readers who love strong female protagonists, an LGBT normative world, diverse representations, and a healthy dose of drama, will be eagerly awaiting the next installment!

Enemies to lovers done so damn well and the slow burn is to die for. THAT CLIFFHANGER IS RUDE AND I NEED THE NEXT RIGHT NOW

I loved this so much thank you thank you

The world building in this book is incredible. I love how Fiorean and Aemyra’s relationship builds. Their meet-cute is perfect for who they are; vicious and stubborn creatures.

The cliffie is a DOOZEY. I am fine with cliffhangers in general, but this one is going to hurt a little. All the tension and build up between A & F is a slow burn that is worth the read. I hope that Alfred eats rocks and Katherine comes around. I can’t say much more without giving away too much, but this one is going to weigh heavy on my heart until the next comes out.

After seeing in previous reviews, I agree that the pronunciation guide should be at the front. That is my only critique, which honestly is not really a critique.

Spice: 2/5
Romance: 2.5/5
Enemies to lovers
Third person POV
One love interest

RATING: 3 out of 5

I’m going to break this review down into sections of the book because my feelings were constantly changing while reading this book lol.

1% - 30%:

I do not like Aemyra. She is way too ignorant, cocky, and bratty with none of the depth and soul to back it up.  Also I feel like she made two really weird comments about her twin brother? I’m sorry but I would never say my sibling’s shirt brought of their eyes or that the tight pants they wore accentuated their muscular legs. Cringe. Ew.

30% - 50%:

Aemyra has grown so much and I finally get to see the humility and depth that balances out that cocky attitude that I love to see behind the FMC. I already love Fiorean even though he is not getting as much screen time as he deserves and hope we get to see more from him. I am finally immersed in this book and I love the way this story is heading. Some parts were predictable (who cares, I still love it) but there were a few things that happened that I genuinely didn’t expect and I was left shocked and reeling.

50%-70%:

There is a lot of mixed writing in here. One chapter was very detailed and had so much soul behind it and the next chapter was choppy, immature and awkward. I don’t understand why everyone is saying the enemies to lovers is done well because it wasn’t, they were enemies for like a total of 3 chapters. It did not feel realistic and it did not progress from enemies to lovers naturally. It was rushed. Also was she a healer or a blacksmith??

70%-100%:

This felt very rushed and chaotic to finish this. The characters stopped having growth and became very one dimensional. I did not connect with this book but I did like the idea overall so I would be willing to try the next book and hope the author is more consistent in the writing. I personally don’t have a problem with this but maybe some people do: it did end on an expected cliffhanger.

Thank you so much to Hazel McBride, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for letting me read this!

* A Fate Forged in Fire* is an exciting blend of Celtic-inspired fantasy, political intrigue, and fiery romance that pulls readers into a richly crafted world. Hazel McBride introduces Aemyra, a fierce and determined heroine, whose quest for her rightful throne is both gripping and intense. The chemistry between Aemyra and her adversary, Prince Fiorean, is electric, adding a thrilling romantic tension to their alliance. The vivid world-building and well-paced plot make this novel a captivating start to a promising duology, perfect for fans of strong-willed heroines and magical battles.

First of all, thank you to Random House publishing and Netgalley for granting me an arc!
Second of all, these opinions are my own thoughts and level of enjoyment on the book.

I'm going to rate this as a 3.75 stars.


There were elements that I liked, but I did not really care for the characters all that much unfortunately. A book about dragons? I'm all for it, but I wish there was a more in depth look at dragons. The elemental magic and world building was interesting and complex, mainly fire magic AND dragons? Sign me up please. A matriarchal society battling the ongoing presence of a patriarchal and misogynist religion is definitely interesting and I appreciate the author for including it. While we are on this topic, I just want to add that this book has a scene that could potentially be distressing to some readers, please please check the Author's Note in the beginning for any trigger warnings and distressing themes.


About the FMC, Aemyra... well I liked her in the beginning, but then she did something so stupidly impulsive that even she knew it was foolish herself afterwards. This was the first moment I kind of sighed and got a bit mad at Aemyra. Our FMC is fiesty, mouthy, impulsive, and has childish behavior unbefitting of a Queen and an adult I might say. She has to try really hard to reign herself in and her anger almost always shows itself through her magic. I get it though, we have a character who has control over fire and she herself has a fiery temper so it's hard to control.

The MMC, Fiorean I also liked in the beginning and appreciate a good enemies to lovers, but I also like slow burn, which a number of reviews said this story had. I, personally do not see this as a slow burn, but maybe more in the middle. I think this book is an enemies to lovers, although there may be some argument on that depending on the way readers will view things that happen in the story.

I think one thing to note is that this book is apparently marked as "young adult" and "adult" and I believe this should be classified as an adult book. Aemyra is 26 years old iirc even though I think she acts petulantly. There is also some spice in this book, I'd maybe say it's maybe a 2 or 2.5/5 on the spice scale.
I almost feel like the most interesting character was actually one of the side characters, I don't want to name them since I want to be safe and not give anything too spoilery just in case, but their name does start with a D.

I can see a lot of readers that would love this book, and to a degree I did like it and enjoy it, but I do not enjoy Aemyra as much, she is just not my cup of tea.
That being said, I think I will pick up the next and last book because of the frustrating cliffhanger. I want to see where the story will progress and please please PLEASE have more parts with the dragons, it's one of the main reasons why I wanted to read this story.

Review published on Goodreads 11/7/24

Very few books have had me in an absolute chokehold from the very first line. A Fate Forged in Fire is one of them. I experienced probably every single human emotion while reading this book. I laughed, I sobbed, and I giggled and kicked my feet like a schoolgirl with a crush.

This book has everything that I look for in a romantasy: enemies to lovers, magic, and, most importantly, dragons. There were lovable characters, hateable characters, and absolutely loath-able characters. It was fast paced, thrilling, and had me on the edge of my seat needing to know what happened next. The only reason I didn’t read this book in one sitting is because I need sleep. The world is Celtic-inspired with elemental based magic and two warring religions, arguably the most important aspect of this book.

A lot of what happens in the book is so relevant to our world today, especially how the women are sometimes treated. I’m not sure if the author intended to make those parallels or if they kind of just happened. Either way, it had me sobbing with anger, frustration, and heartbreak for the characters, which is something no other book has been able to do. Pretty impressive if I do say so.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely, even though it made me sob at 1a.m. If any part of my review intrigued you or made you interested in reading the book, listen to your instinct and READ IT!

This book is for you if you enjoy fantasy with a dash of romance! With a matriarchal pagan religion under attack from a monotheistic outside religion that aims to destroy a culture, it is evident that the world building had a lot of Celtic influences. Considering that crazy cliffhanger of a conclusion, I hope the second book shows us more of the nation.

This book was absolutely amazing. I went into this honestly not expecting much as it was an uncorrected proof and I've not heard of this author but this was one of the best books I have read all year. I learned this is to be a duology i believe, but i wish it would be way more because i would buy them all. This is definently a 5 star rating book. Aemyra is an amazing character with depth that I did not expect to see. I really enjoyed the relationship and acknowledgement of Terrea and Aemyra. The enemies to lover with Fiorean was written perfectly and had me really engaged. And I don't want to spoil anything but the villian aspect wirh Alfred was one of the best I have seen. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. I started this book last night and ended up reading over 70% while I was at work and couldn't stop. If you enjoy fantasy, enemies to lovers, magic, dragons any of it then get this. The book is well worth a pre order.

Wow!!!!

If you want a female rage with all types of betrayals and an interesting magic system, this is for sure the book for you!

Aemyra is a very complex, yet kind character. I loved the way her character's decisions felt relatable, especially simple mistakes that many of us would've also made. It helped to make her feel real and build a certain level of trust.

Now the enemies to lovers to enemies plot was so good. I did feel like they had a really interesting dilemma that made them enemies in the first place. I'm interested to see if the MMC will continue to be the enemy, or if it's somehow for some level of the greater good.

Overall, the story kept me interested and the plot twist was pretty unexpected so I enjoyed getting to read something I honestly didn't see coming. I will most definitely be continuing this series as more of the books come out. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy of this when it is published.

WHEW i wasn't ready. i was not. A fate forged in fire is SO GOOD. the feminine rage i needed. It is a true screw the patriarchy story. Plus dragons. i truly at no point knew where we were going (not in a bad way) every time i thought i had it figured out i was wrong. I read it all in two days and could not get enough.. . while the FMC is 26, she is flawed. She was not raised in the courts. I found myself understand her struggle to understand what it meant to be queen. I cannot wait to see book two! i need it IMMEDIETLY

I heard that this was a debut... If that's true, it's one heck of a debut and if not, it's a hell of a book anyways! How dare you leave me in the lurch like this, ma'am.
This was thought-provoking, exciting, and DRAAAAAGONS! Eek! I could go on about this one for awhile, but I won't. I'll just say this: My favorite debut book the first half of the year was James Logan. My favorite debut for the second half of the year is by Hazel McBride.

4.25/5.0