I have come to two conclusions about this book, and each revelation can be divided into two categories: politics and romance.

Politically: This book was so desperately needed given the current state of our democracy… and what is still to come. Reading this book felt like a breaking and a healing. It gave me something I wasn’t sure I had much left of: hope. Hope that there are people who see injustice and fight for the betterment of society. And even in this fictional world, the women displayed between these pages are as fierce, strong, and capable as the women who fight for justice in our own world as we all collectively sing, “fuck the patriarchy!”

Romantically: What the actual fuck. Not only did this book serve enemies to lovers on a silver platter, it had the audacity to revert back to enemies so shortly after they had come together. And for that… I am overwhelmed. So not only did I finish the book with an enormous amount of fury… I’m also left with a heaping amount of questions. Obviously I’m still crossing my fingers and toes for these two little fire-wielding-dragon-riders to sort their shit out and reunite… but I’m also not sure how they can come back from that ending.

Overall, loved everything about this book… and I’m salivating for the next installment.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
World Building: 🌏🌏🌏/5

This is the first in a celtic fantasy duology and I am burning for the sequel! A female blacksmith (who doesn't love that?) dragon-riders (again, love!) and her growing magic and rise to queen makes for such a fun read and I just want to live in this world. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!!

The book is about a talented blacksmith who is in search of her birthright with her father and brother's assistance. The main character has to remain invisible to the world in fear that she'll be killed off once discovered. When her chance comes to ascend her throne, she tries to take chances into her own hands getting caught by the enemy and played a FOOL being betrayed at the end after falling in love with an enemy.

While an OK story to read, I have some qualms. The storyline is what I would consider clunky. By clunky I mean, the author jumped from plot point to plot point without including much depth to the story. Others may love this, but I prefer more in-depth storylines to fully assist in the world building experience and to learn more about the characters.

The main character was insufferable at times, but I think this is important for the story and honestly very relatable. While being trained her whole life for her birthright of being queen, once it came to fruition, she was making half-considered choices and being very impulsive. I get it, I am the same. As a reader though, I was able to predict the upcoming plot points/twists, and I did not quite enjoy the predictability.

Overall, it was a read I did enjoy despite my earlier discussed qualms. I do think the series has potential and some of my issues will be addressed in the future books. I am excited to see where this story goes, and I do appreciate the pronunciation guide in the back of the book - more authors need to do this.

i had high hopes for this one! i couldn't really connect with the story or the fmc, some of the choices that were made had me scratching my head. the pacing felt off, and the ending didn't seem like a big enough payoff for me? i'm unsure. very disappointed but thankful nonetheless that netgalley gave me an arc!!

Didn’t love it honestly. While there’s a pronunciation guide, there’s no glossary (at least in their version I received). Unless you’re super familiar with Scottish traditions I found myself googling quite a bit. What’s more is some words she’s made up but I feel NEEDED to be defined or at least explained. The world building was fine. The characters were fine. The dragons were fine. HOWEVER… the spice sections were written in a way that had me visibly cringing.

It was a fine book, but doubt I’ll read the next one.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd thought I was going to. Is it first book stumbling, I truly hope so cause the story has so much potential!
The main female character reminded me of someone much younger and not adult.
I hope the next book brings more enjoyment

I enjoyed this romantasy for the most part. The pacing was good but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. There were some good fight scenes and I enjoyed the politics aspect of it. The romance wasn’t really doing it for me and the love scenes were a teensy cringey but otherwise it’s a sold read and it is pretty fun! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Aemyra is blessed by Brigid, the fire goddess, and is the rightful heir to the throne. The throne should be passed down to the matriarch, but male heirs have ruled for the past several decades. Ever since birth, Aemyra has been hidden away for her protection until it was time for her to claim the throne. Her quest to the throne is full of secrets, betrayals, grief, and maybe even love.

WHHHHAAATTTT?!?! The world building was complex, and it took me a good bit to really understand what was happening. The first 30% of the book was world building so it was a slow start for me (not as complex as When the Moon Hatched). Once the book got to 40%, I couldn't put it down and binged the rest in one day. Aemyra was a great main character, she was witty, charming, empathetic, strong, resilient, and sometimes immature. The religious cult aspect of the book was entertaining and maddening. By the end of the book, I wasn't even sure who to believe or trust, shewww.

What I enjoyed:
*LGBTQ rep
*Matriarchal rule
*Slow burn
*Empathetic FMC
*Conflict - not knowing who to trust

I love a great fantasy series but I'm also very upset because now I'll have to wait a LONG time until the second book comes out since this book doesn't even release until 2025.
 
Huge thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is the first in a celtic fantasy romance duology and i CANNOT WAIT for the sequel. A female blacksmith, dragon-riders, and her growing magic and rise to queen makes for such a fun read and I just want to continue in this world for so much longer. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was slow to start, though I did enjoy it once the story started moving. However, the forshadowing was heavy handed and the main character never acted her age. Repeatedly in the story it was said that Aemyra was 26, but she consistently acted like a teenager. She has been living in town, hanging out in taverns and working as a professional blacksmith. She should have more common sense about personal motivations and how the economy works. Instead she is very naive and lives in a house with her foster parents without a second thought. It felt like the author made her 26 exclusively so she could drink alcohol and have sex, but otherwise aged her in no way beyond 16. It is also book one in a series and ends unsatisfactorily. Nothing is resolved in the plot.

This book has some great things and some things that weren’t my favorite. I really liked the setting, the enemies to lovers vibes, and the mmc. I didn’t love the FMC and wish the magic system had some more explanation. Overall, it was enjoyable!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story is about a young woman named Aemyra. Aemyra is the sole surviving heir of a long-forgotten matriarchy, and she has been hidden away for her safety. Now, she must navigate a world rife with dangerous secrets, betrayals, and the awakening of her own powers. As the last of her lineage, Aemyra’s journey transforms into a quest for survival and a battle to restore her people’s lost legacy.

I genuinely wanted to enjoy this book. The beginning of the story captured my attention. Aemyra is in hiding and working as a blacksmith. She came off as a fearless woman. However, the world-building and political history was confusing to grasp at times. This story definitely gives me vibes of House of the Dragon.

Cons:
-The writing style felt a bit uneven; there were moments of detailed storytelling followed by sections that felt rushed, as if the author was eager to move on to the next plot point.

-Very little romance for a "romantacy" book. This is an enemies to lovers, so maybe book two will have more romance between Aemyra and Prince Fiorean!

Pros:
-The magic system.
-Dragons...duh!

Overall, it was an ok read. Hoping book two brings more action, romance, and dragons!

I truly enjoyed this book! I was engrossed from beginning to end! I like reading fantasy, but not every fantasy. It has to be gripping and exciting. I can’t read any fantasy book and love it. I loved this one! The spice was *chefs kiss* although I could have done with more.When I say I like enemies to lovers THIS is what I mean. The writing style was great, the characters were likable and about halfway through I couldn’t put it down. Now I will be anxiously awaiting the second one!

There were a lot of elements that drew me to this book.
A fallen matriarchy waiting to be revived by a hidden queen? Yes
Celtic lore and goddess worship? Yes
Elemental magic and dragons? Yes, please.

The world building in this took some time to get through, and the first 25-30% went pretty slowly for me with a lot of parts of the world left unexplained. Once I passed the 30% mark I was pretty invested in the outcome, though found myself disappointed as conflict after conflict played out.
The pacing of the book is fast. We see the heroine in multiple acts: as a hidden queen, revealing herself, retreating to fight for her cause, being captured, falling in love, being released/escaping, leading her army into battle, winning until she loses, and fleeing again.

Though the book promised a strong female lead set on bringing the power and wisdom of her goddesses back to her realm, the FMC does not deliver that at any point in the book. She is petulant and impulsive, and every time she has the opportunity to make a decision or solve a conflict with her strengths or skills she is bested by the men she is fighting. She falls into the trap every single time it is laid for her, and the only reason she makes any progress or is saved is because a man helps her out. It was disappointing. Particularly because there are several pretty powerful lines about women's power and autonomy that let me know that the author is deeply committed to writing a feminist story.

I love enemies to lovers, and this book did provide real groundwork for that trope, though it did it so well, that I'm not sure the lovers part could realistically come to fruition. As a reader I struggle with violence against women, particularly when the MMC perpetrates it on the FMC, no matter how good his eventual stated reason is.

There's also a pretty horrific sexual assault scene that I will honestly probably have nightmares about.

I want this book to be good. I want this heroine's arc to be satisfying. Am I disappointed with how this turned out? Yes.
Will I probably read the second book when it is released? Unfortunately, also yes.

Aemyra, a fiercely gifted Blacksith, has spent years hiding in the shadows, steering clear of the treacherous politics of the court. She bides her time, waiting for the king’s death—her only chance to bond with his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. To become the first queen in centuries, she must outmaneuver the corrupt rulers who hold the kingdom in a vice grip and unleash the full fury of her fire magic.
When the court is thrown into turmoil, Aemyra is forced into a reluctant alliance with Prince Fiorean, a dragon rider and master of fire magic. Their alliance ignites into something more dangerous than either of them could have predicted.

This book was not for me but if you enjoy dragons, strong female leads, and elemental magic this might be for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3 stars ⭐️ i was super excited to read this especially it being about dragons and enemies to lovers. starting off with things i did enjoy about the book:
- very well written
- action packed
- dragons
- different type of magic
- interesting side characters

things i wish were different:
- i keep forgetting aemyra is 26 bc she truly does act like a child and her thought process is astounding to me, i like that she is called out on this multiple times in the book
- wish the magic was better explained esp the connection w the dragons, she just had a couple sentences when she was talking to fiorian abt the bond and how she can just feel it like girl obvi he doesn’t
- ik it’s not but idk the whole family lineage so it felt a little weird to me that they are super distantly related i think??? maybe i got the family tree wrong but they technically both descend at some point from the same family no? but i guess it’s giving the game of thrones aspect? LOL
-enemies to lovers very abrupt

all in all to say, the book was well written but i think there was a lot going on to keep up and something lacked in it a bit for me personally. i definitely think the set up is good for the second book though!!

This book was humorous but also in general terrible. The plot never made sense but at least it was funny sometimes.

A slow burn fantasy with just enough bite to keep you wanting more.

Raised to take her rightful place on the throne finds Aemyra staring down the royal court with fire in her eyes and the blessings of the Goddess on her side but when things go sideways she finds herself shackled to the kingdom and clawing her way out from under it with only her wits and perhaps a dragon or two in the skies nearby.

The beginning of this was rocky and I found myself struggling to stay connected enough to the story to settle in and enjoy it but once we got a few chapters in the rest came so easily I was shocked when I found myself at the acknowledgments.

The plot itself is fun a little GOT and Fourth Wing dragon like fun those this features more political uprisings to match the former. The fight for the throne and the growing religious rule vs Goddess and matriarchal society twists the plot in a way that I have to imagine will bleed into my day to day but that’s a topic for another forum. I liked the pacing of this I think it gives action and then scheming in equal doses and really ramps up when it needs too fully fleshing out the conflict and characters in ways that make you care more about them even if they only show up in brief instances.

The characters are fantastic I like how Aemyra went from so sure to not even close and recognized the faults of confidence in situations like this making her an easy pawn but greater leader as she can see all sides. Her dynamics with her family, generals and ultimately the royal family were so layered as she worked through these new challenges. I really (really really) loved the romance here and every trope we have we check off that box in so many delicious ways but I can’t spoil that!

A great read and a perfect set up for a series I am absolutely signing up for!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a fantasy romance following a blacksmith with a hidden identity as she faces off against the inept royal family ruling over her home. It has dragons! It has spice! It starts with a bang and never slows down!

I went into this completely blind and I'm so glad I did. Once I started, I could not put it down! It had a shotgun start that didn't stop or slow until the very last page. And if that doesn't convince you--our MC was giving major Aemond Targaryen vibes that I ATE UP. And our main girl was so showstopping, I loved her strength and her kindness but most of all that she had flaws and admitted when she was wrong. It was so refreshing to follow an FMC that was so well-rounded.

Needless to say, I gave this book five stars and I need book two ASAP--especially with an ending like that! So so good, make sure and add it to your TBR, you won't regret it!

*SCREAMS IN CLIFFHANGER* Listen, I love powerful women, I love morally grey man that gift strong women knives, and I love dragons. This was an easy 10/10 If you need more convincing to read this the fmc is a bisexual icon, this is enemies to lovers and then enemies, there is birth control tonic which we love to see, the cops are the bad guys, and there’s a not very convenient marriage.