This book!!!!! OMG!!!’ 5 stars! The romance, the family, the betrayal, the atmosphere, THE DRAGONS!!!! Aemyra is now one of my all time favorite FMC of all time!!!! The royalty, the political intrigue, the twists!!!! Read this book RIGHT NOW!!!!!

Magical, romantic, and sweeping in scope. The worldbuilding was rich, though a bit heavy early on. Once I settled in, the emotional arc and fantasy elements captivated me. Great for fans of romantic fantasy with high stakes.

"A Fate Forged in Fire" by Hazel McBride is a brilliant fusion of intricate world-building and a captivating enemies-to-lovers romance. What truly stood out to me was the depth of the magical system – it felt incredibly well thought out and added a unique layer to the story's conflicts and resolutions.

The character development, particularly for Lyra, was a highlight. She's a protagonist who grows significantly throughout the narrative, facing formidable challenges with grit and determination. The secondary characters are also well-fleshed out, adding richness to the overall tapestry of the world.

Beyond the magic and characters, the plot is incredibly engaging, filled with surprising twists and turns that kept me guessing. The balance between the action-packed sequences and the developing emotional relationships was perfectly struck. Hazel McBride has crafted a truly immersive and unforgettable read, and I can't recommend "A Fate Forged in Fire" enough to fans of high fantasy with a strong romantic core. This is one you won't want to miss!

I really wanted to love this book but after 30% I felt like I knew nothing and was so lost. I ended up dnfing this story sadly

A Fate Forged in Fire is a richly imagined fantasy rooted in Scottish Gaelic mythology, complete with elemental magic, political unrest, and a bond between humans and dragons that feels both ancient and deeply emotional. Hazel McBride weaves a world of matriarchal power structures, mystical traditions, and brutal religious extremism, and once the story found its footing, I found it nearly impossible to put down.

What Worked Well:
Worldbuilding with Depth: The use of Gaelic mythology gave the setting an authentic, earthy foundation. The matriarchal society was a refreshing shift from typical fantasy norms, and the religious zealots (very reminiscent of the Faith of the Seven and the High Sparrow from Game of Thrones) added a chilling layer of realism to the antagonistic forces at play.
Unique Creature Bonds: The dragon bonding system was a standout. It moved beyond the typical "magical companion" trope and introduced a nuanced connection that felt soulful, complex, and essential to the story’s emotional stakes.
Compelling Character Dynamics: The protagonist is fierce, flawed, and emotionally charged - a true force of nature. While some of her decisions were frustrating, they felt in line with her character. The male lead, a powerful and brooding presence, brought intense chemistry to their dynamic. Their relationship evolves quickly, moving from enemies to something more intimate, then back into conflict, and that emotional volatility served the story well.
Themes of Identity and Power: The inclusion of a hidden heir, forced marriage, and queer representation created a layered narrative that explores duty, legacy, and personal freedom in the face of control.
Cinematic Action: The dragon battle scenes, in particular, were high-stakes and visually vivid. Fans of House of the Dragon will feel right at home.

Areas for Improvement:
The pacing in the early chapters was slower than expected and took time to establish momentum.
While the heroine’s impulsiveness added realism, it occasionally bordered on frustrating. Still, her growth arc remains satisfying overall.

Tropes You’ll Find:
Enemies to lovers (to enemies again)
Hidden heir
Dragons
Elemental magic
Forced marriage
Unique magical bonds
“My wife” / “Who did this to you?” energy
Queer representation

Final Thoughts:
A Fate Forged in Fire is a gripping, mythology-driven fantasy with strong character work, high emotional stakes, and a world that feels both magical and politically charged. Readers who enjoy elemental magic, dragon lore, and character-driven conflict will find plenty to love here. I will definitely be continuing the series to see how this story plays out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for my eARC! All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed our FMC and I was unsure of the FMC at first, but he won me over, until the ending.
There are some tropes that have done before and parts are a bit predictable, but I really do love the FMC and how much she truly cares about her people.
I feel like the way things played out in the ending is going to end up being a whole “if he’d have just spoken to her” thing it would have been fine and that can be annoying in books sometimes.

That being said, I will definitely still read the next book because I’m so curious as to how things are going to play out between them now.

I have yet again fallen victim to a beautiful cover. The story was very difficult to connect with and just seemed to drag on for ages.

A Fate Forged in Fire swept me into a world where legacy weighs heavy, and power—especially a woman’s power—is both feared and revered. Hazel McBride crafts a Celtic-inspired fantasy that pulses with purpose, told through the eyes of a heroine who is as steel-spined as she is soul-tethered to the land she loves.

Aemyra is not just a warrior or a would-be queen—she’s a blacksmith blessed by fire, a woman born to wield magic in a kingdom that has tried to erase it. Watching her step out of hiding and into the ruthless court felt like watching an ember grow into an inferno. Her strength doesn’t shout—it smolders, and that made her rise all the more satisfying to witness.

The political intrigue was layered with nuance, the magic system elemental and elegant, and the lore—especially the matriarchal legacy of Tìr Teine—was refreshingly rich. McBride writes with a quiet lyricism that gives even the most tense moments a sense of intimacy.

And let’s talk about Fiorean. A rival, a dragon-rider, a man with his own sense of duty that complicates everything. Their chemistry is slow-burn in the best way—built not on tropes, but tension. Their alliance felt earned, their banter crackled, and their bond? Let’s just say I’m already eager to see where it leads next.

This book felt like standing on the edge of something ancient and wild—where love simmers, loyalty is tested, and fire speaks. If you love:

🔥 A headstrong heroine with literal fire in her veins
🐉 Dragons as symbols of legacy and power
👑 A court steeped in danger and secrets
❤️‍🔥 A slow, simmering enemies-to-allies-to-more romance
⚒️ Feminine rage channeled into reclamation

Then A Fate Forged in Fire will absolutely deliver. I closed the final chapter already hungry for the next installment.

Thank you Penguin Random House, Ballantine, Delacorte Press, Hazel McBride, and Netgalley for the eARC and the finished copy!!! I can't wait to see what the next book brings!

What I liked:
-Dragons
-The banter and dialogue between Aemyra and Fiorean.
-Great settings
-LGBTQ representation

What I did not like:
-Plot took a long time to actually get going. Thought about DNFing until we got to the 20% mark.
-Aemyra was not my favorite characters head to be in.

Overall I think I will continue to read the series as it progresses because the ending was very good. However, if you go into this one just know it might take you a long time to get into it.

The way I need book 2...

First of all, thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this eARC 🔥

This book has a lot of really cool lore and world-building, but it was a little bit hard to have to keep checking the pronunciation guide to read it properly. However, I did not knock it down a star for that, because I love all the really cool Scottish Gaelic terms incorporated. I think the story was beautifully told, but for some reason it took me a minute to get into it for some reason. I'm not sure if it was because it was a lot of world-building upfront or having to check the pronunciation so much (this could just be a me thing because it bothers me when I can't hear the word in my head 🙃

BUT! Once it got into it I got.into.it. There is a cliffhanger so I need book 2 soon, please and thank you 😀

I would rate this book at 4.25 stars. In the beginning, keeping track of all of the places was a little confusing but I finally got it straight and as the story continued on, I could not wait to see what was going to happen as Aemyra made her play for the throne. I did not see the ending coming at all and was shocked as the story unfolded. I cannot wait to continue this story.

Note: Check TWs before reading, as there are dark themes throughout the book, as well as religious elements involving trauma.

I had to sit with this book for a bit before I could write a review, as that ending left me reeling.

Aemyra is the one born to rule but forced to hide until the current king dies. The previously matriarchal society has been infiltrated by those that don't believe, and Aemyra and her family need to protect themselves and bide their time.

Raised as a blacksmith's apprentice with her brother, Aemyra finally gets her chance - and of course it doesn't go according to plan. These things never do. Aemyra is forced to adjust her plans again and again, and her frustration is evident throughout the book. Aemyra has a lot of growth to do, as she hasn't had much of a chance to spread her wings in her true role as ruler. She doesn't know much about how to act in court as she spent her formative years hiding with no one to tutor her on that aspect.

I knew going into this that there would be dragons, and Hazel did not disappoint! The politics of the area followed into the sky as the few remaining dragons struggled to hold their own places. I adored Terrea and how she interacted with Aemyra.

Prince Florian, on the other hand... I went from wanting to wring his neck, to wanting to kiss him, and back to wanting to wring his neck.

I loved Aemyra's brother, as well as many of the cast of 'secondary' characters, and their reactions to finding out just who Aemyra really is.

I look forward to the next instalment to see continued character growth and just what Aemyra will do after that cliffhanger!

"For the little girls who were told to put their fires out. Burn them all to the fucking ground."

Thank you so much to Random House and Hazel for the eARC! My opinions are my own.

The premise and cover of A Fate Forged in Fire immediately caught my attention, and I requested it as soon as it became available on NetGalley. A Celtic-inspired fantasy with dragons, fire magic, and a rightful queen fighting to reclaim her throne? It sounded like everything I love in a fantasy novel.

We follow Aemyra, a blacksmith blessed by fire and born to rule, as she attempts to reclaim her kingdom from a corrupt regime. Her greatest obstacle is Prince Fiorean, a dragon-rider and staunch supporter of the current monarchy—making him both her enemy and, eventually, her uneasy ally.

Unfortunately, the book didn’t work for me. From the very beginning, I found Aemyra difficult to connect with. Despite repeatedly asserting that she was born to be queen, her decisions often felt reckless and poorly thought out. Her naivety in political and personal matters made it hard to root for her as a strong protagonist.

The romance, which plays a central role in the story, felt rushed and unconvincing. It escalated from animosity to intense attraction in the span of just a few pages, without enough emotional development to make it believable. As a result, the chemistry between the characters fell flat for me.
Additionally, the supporting cast lacked depth. If someone were to ask me about any of the side characters, I’d struggle to describe them—they all blended together without distinct voices or personalities.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Remnants of House of Dragons. Great chemistry and sparring between Aemyra and Fiorean. The dragons are characters in their own right like in the Fourth Wing. The Chosen are clearly the patriarchy and the Catholic Church with their old school thoughts on women. There is an assault scene that had me as scared as the character and feeling their dread. Great surprise ending. Wonder how this is going to end.

Fun, classic romantasy. Plot was slightly predictable and felt choppy throughout the story. Ending was fantastic and definitely hooked me for the sequel.

This has a lot of opportunity but it’s very uneven. I did enjoy when the main characters got together and the dragons. Probably needed one more round of edits to be really good.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is like House of the Dragon but with a far less cunning queen.

I loved going into this story because it was about a matriarchically society and seemed to be very pro women. Unfortunately it fell flat for me.

None of the characters were very likeable. Then there was the back and forth between hate and lust and hate again for the two main characters. It was honestly quite irritating to me.

Super hard to stay engaged with the story. Will not continue the series.

A Fate Forged in Fire was everything I hoped it would be. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book. Every time I thought I knew what would happen next, Ms. McBride would throw a curve ball. The writing was absolutely chefs kiss. And the world-building - immersive in it's brutality.

This was a true enemies to lovers. Like, trying to literally kill each other enemies. Then they're scorching the pages with their chemistry. I appreciated the complexity of each of their characters as well. Aemyra was full of righteous female rage. Even when I wanted to knock her upside the head, I felt for her. Fiorean was delicious in every way a villain could be.

Let's not forget, Dragons. We get fire breathing, temperamental, giant dragons. The fantasy was top tier and I'm dying the slowest death waiting for book two.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House for the arc. This is my voluntary and honest review.

A great start to a series! Some pacing problems at the start but ended up all working out. Love anything with magic and dragons and this was a fun addition to that collection.

A Fate Forged in Fire follows Aemyra, a powerful fire wielder and secret daughter to an exiled prince of the kingdom as her father's long-awaited plans to re-take her birthright as eldest daughter of historically a matriarchal clan and ascend as queen of Tir Teine. When the current king dies, they know it's time to take action - whether the king's sons agree to step aside or not. Aemyra is impulsive and hot-headed and things quickly go awry.

There are some things A Fate Forged in Fire does well and others that I think are done better in other books. I wasn't pulled into it or even really excited to see what happens next, at about 15% of the way in I predicted several of the major plot beats. While I enjoy foreshadowing, I'm not usually the reader that predicts so much of the book so early in - I usually enjoy the 2nd read of a book more to analyze the pieces that were subtle that they slid by me. Unfortunately A Fate Forged in Fire doesn't feel like it's one of those reads for me.

However - it features a bisexual FMC who primarily has a history with women, which I appreciate. There is some slight comparison of the MMC with past lovers, but it seemed to focus more on his attentiveness being why it was better than with other men and not a "obviously his penis is the best penis ever" which is a refreshing change for once.

I don't feel that the plot really got going for a long way into the book, and it almost couldn't decide if it wanted to be an action or political intrigue plot, which left it feeling unsatisfying and unfinished in a way. I know it's supposed to be a duology but there's "there will be a sequel" and then there's "this book needed another pass through editing to tighten it up."

I'm interested enough in the parts that the author has done differently & well to be willing to pick up the sequel.

If you like: female rage, matriarchal succession wars, siblings that are BFFs, forced proximity, politically motivated relationships, unusual magic systems and dragons - I would say, give this a try.