Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge is a romantasy (probably my favorite genre) described as Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow, and is all about a group of phoenix racers. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

Kel is a phoenix tamer, participating in phoenix racing with her best friend since the death of her father as a way to earn money. But after losing the other two members of their team, Kel is forced to work with her least favorite person - popular, but reckless phoenix rider Warren Coupers (aka Coup) - and let him near her precious phoenix, Savita. After an accident forces her to work for the head of the famous tech industry Cristo Core, the morality of phoenix racing (and human control over phoenixes in general), and Kel’s own participation in it, is becoming increasingly questionable. And Kel will do anything to protect Sav, even if it endangers herself.

This is set in an entirely fictional world, and the world building for it is incredible. There are four different islands, each with their own magical creature. This book mainly involves Cendor, the phoenix island, and I desperately want sequels involving the other three. I was immediately drawn into the world, and the characters, and although the author could definitely add more, I never felt like this made up world was unfinished or unrealistic.

And of course we love a good enemies-to-lovers story! Kel and Coup have great banter that casually turns from true insults to masked concern. They have great chemistry, and despite their issues to understand each other’s reasoning in the beginning, their change of heart as they get to know each other never felt forced.

That ending though! I love how this story ends; it really feels like exactly how it needed to be. And the final twist came truly unexpected to me. There were a couple instances throughout the middle to end of this book which had me a little confused, and seemed a bit unrealistic, but this twist explains them perfectly, and I love them all the more now because of it.

This is definitely a must read for fantasy lovers (and really for all fiction readers in general). It is the perfect blend of action and fantasy with a hint of romance, and the writing is very well done.

This was another fun fantasy book. It had F1 and So Let Them Burn vibes but with phoenixes (it's also dealing with a corporation instead of a government).

The book was text dense, so it make some of the more intricate information a little more tricky to follow along with the audiobook (I requested the ARC to go along with the ALC, and it helped with those types of scenes). On the flip side there weren't too many named characters to track so it balanced out.

Also really appreciated that this was written as a complete stand alone while leaving room for a possible-somewhere-in-the-world future spin-off.

... but also WTF is going on with her mom?


🎧 Narration was good, but the audio quality was not as crisp and clean to listen to at a higher speed (as my brain usually prefers).

The only CON that stuck in my head was that some of the kissing+ scenes were a little too detailed for a book with under age romance - had they been 18+ it would have been fine, but something was just off listening to it all be described knowing they were kids. That's the only reason this wasn't a 5⭐️ read.

i will say …. the blurb compares this book to Forth Wing and Iron Widow and having read both of those books, i don’t agree. BUT THAT IS NOT A BAD THING!

i thought this book was incredibly unique. the authors world building really drew me in. its intricate and detailed in a way that isn’t too much to process and genuinely so interesting! when can i start my new position as a phoenix biologist??? the author does well developing not just a FMC to care about, but a whole cast in the Howlers. the romance isn’t overbearing, could be a bit repetitive, but i think gave the right amount of longing and playfulness for a YA novel.

what took it away from being five stars; i did feel that the build up to understanding the full scope of the plot was a little drawn out, but in no way would I consider it boring.

if you like intricate world building, found family and magical creatures …. pick this one up!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

Of Flame and Fury started slowly for me, but I was hooked by the middle of the book. I don’t quite see the comparison to Fourth Wing or Iron Widow and ultimately that’s to the story’s benefit. This was refreshingly YA and felt like a fresh take on a fairly saturated genre of mythical beings.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Phoenix racing?!

I really liked Kel and Coup and their relationship and I am anxiously waiting the next book.

I tried SO HARD to get into this, and I was bored the entire time.

Mikayla Bridge's debut novel is advertised as a combination of Iron Widow and Fourth Wing-- one book I really enjoyed and one... not so much (respectfully). I knew going into this, the likeliness of it leaning one way or the other is never zero, and I was optimistic the premise being far enough away from *dragon school* that it'd be more fun. Rather, the merge of technology and fantasy, in this context, feels more like tidbits across media that was too familiar, and, consequently, boring. I don't think this is the fault of "Of Flame and Fury," but rather something I have surpassed that didn't offer me anything new.

Like of course the infuriatingly handsome rival is the love interest (that was promised in the blurb).
Of course tech company bad (this is too real).
And of course the cliffhanger beckons a duology (that I honestly don't care enough for)...

I can't quiet put my finger on what this exactly reminds me of, but it fell short of inspiring. That being said, if you want a sportier take on fantasy (and don't mind slow building tension), this might be a good introduction to fantasy as a whole! What this book lacks in originality (to me), Bridge makes up for in sheer writing prowess that is accessible and well developed.

This was my first phoenix book and it was so fun! I think all the dragon-rider readers need to check out phoenixes next!

Think F1 with phoenixes instead of cars and an enemies-to-lovers romance that burns brighter than a rebirthing firebird. Kel, the tamer of her team and the owner of their phoenix, is forced to team up with Coup, a reckless rider whom she's been locked in a rivalry with. Phoenixes are dangerous creatures on their own, but when racing on an unpredictable track with a rider strapped to their back, burning up in their leathers? The sport is beyond bloody. Kel is also out of money. Forced between giving up her phoenix and working for the very man her father hated, Kel must risk lives to protect her team.
The first chapter grabbed me by the collar and dragged me along. Phoenix racing had my heart racing, because it's not just the prize at stake. I clutched the book so hard whenever Coup got on a phoenix. That man has no sense of self-preservation, and he had my heart breaking. I love his and Kel's romance arc. They're so cute together. The charm of enemies-to-lovers is that they hate each other but are undeniably connected, and I love their connection to each other via their talent for working with phoenixes. The fake dating doesn't hurt, either. The found family also had me tearing up. Their connections are so pure. I love everyone on the team and only wish I had more time with them.
Aside from the romance and relationships, I found the ethical debates fascinating. The politics of working with phoenixes and those dangerous tracks were intriguing and complicated. I flipped often on how I felt about Canen.
I'm so excited for the second book set in this world. There's so much more to explore and that ending left me devastated but with a huge grin on my face. I can't believe Mikayla is a debut author. This book is talent incarnate.

This book started off really strong, kept an excellent pace and had unique world building. I thoroughly enjoyed the push and pull ethics of phoenix racing, paired with how climate change is affecting the species.

There were points of this book where I became less enthralled with “what happens next” and it would become redundant, but I’m still happy that I finished the book.

The ending was UNREAL and left me wanting to jump into the second. Would recommend to others but likely would not do a re-read of this novel.

This was such an enjoyable experience for me!

We follow FMC Kel, a phoenix tamer for the CAPR- as she navigates the brutal world of Phoenix racing.

After her rider dies traumatically in a race, she’s forced to pair with bad boy, Coup. Coup plays by his own rules, and reckless is an understatement. But to gain a coveted sponsorship, they must team up. Only, the glitz and glam isn’t what it really seems- and there’s a dangerous secret that puts the very world they’re a part of in jeopardy.

This is a story of found family, secrets and doing what is right when the easy option is to go along with the masses. But do the masses really know what’s happening?

Not only is this YA, but also a debut author. Need a read to help you get over fourth wing (or other dystopian reads)? This one is it. From start to finish it keeps the readers interest. I loved the fact they were racing phoenixes! There is adrenaline, romance, fantasy, world building, games and trials, found family, social issues, and magic. I mean what more could we ask out of a book! The plot does move medium, but dont let that detour you. The way the author describes the experiences, and the world has you transported/immersed feeling ever word.

Our FMC is an underdog, but one you will be rooting for. There is a slow-burn romance with Our MMC "Coup". I found myself rooting for them. There is also side characters that honestly i hope we learn more about in future book. The story ends more on a "to be continied"; This is pt1 of a duology, so sit back, because there will be more adventure awaiting us!

Fire, phoenixes, and high-stakes racing. On an island built from ash and shrouded in flame, phoenix racing is as profitable as it is deadly. Kel dreams of only one thing — keeping her late father's farm afloat and holding on to Savita, her beloved phoenix. Her only chance to earn the money she needs is to join the races. But for that, her team needs a new rider to help.

This book has an amazing and unique worldbuilding. Unexpected twists, found family, and loyal friends. I liked how the book shows that wild animals — even when in captivity and treated well — shouldn’t be expected to give you anything except what they choose to. The same goes for any living being. A reminder worth repeating.

This story gives off major The Scorpio Races, How to Train Your Dragon, and Formula 1 vibes — and I mean that in the best way.

Tropes:
— enemies to lovers
— fake relationships
— found family
— racing
— phoenixes
— slow burn

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 4.25 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Content Warning: injuries, violence

+ My favorite thing about this story is the phoenixes and how they are used in racing competitions. Kel's phoenix Savita, is the only thing she has now after the death of her father, and her bond with Savita is special even though phoenixes are creatures to show affection. I felt like the little Savita gave to Kel was a lot compared to how phoenixes are portrayed and I loved how that was enough for Kel.

+ I also enjoyed the found family trope in this story because Kel doesn't really have anyone except Savita and her friend Dira. Their found family grows when Coup and his brother Bekn joins the team even though there is animosity between Kel and Coup.

+ The romance is not the main focus but I like how it goes from dislike to like. Coup has the charmisma and Kel is the grumpy one. They are forced to pretend they have a budding romance for the press, but behind closed doors and behing Kel's animosity they train together and learn more about one another. I was rooting for them and wish there was more time to explore their feelings but I was kind of broken hearted for them at the end.

+ This story is faced paced because of the action-packed phoenix races which I enjoyed a lot! There is high stakes which adds to the tension in the story and some secrets too. Also there is a twist I wasn't expecting.

~ The world building is interesting but sometimes confusing. It's a fantasy but more like a dystopian world...I think? That's how it feels like when reading it because of the tech that they use so would that be sci-fi? It's hard to put into a category. Also out of the blue comes these rebels - a group that want phoenixes un-collared and to fly free. I think we needed more information about them.

~ Is there a sequel because of that ending? This needs a sequel!

Final Thoughts:

This book is fast-paced, action packed, fun but filled with danger, secrets, and phoenixes. I liked that Savita is a wild phoenix and not easily controlled even though she is collared. The found family and romance had me invested and I really hope there is a sequel after that ending. I did have minor issues with it like needing more world-building but I enjoyed reading this story regardless.

When I saw that this was recommended for F1 romance and fantasy fans, I immediately had to read it! I definitely see the similarities.

The concept of competitive phoenix riding was really intriguing, and I enjoyed the high action race scenes. The romance was also sweet and well done, especially for a YA book. I ate this one up - it's such a quick read! I loved not only the phoenixes but also the inclusion of other fantastical creatures.

The main plot points were mostly predictable, but I didn't mind because it was well written and I enjoyed the story and characters. I would have loved some more in depth world-building.

Kel and her phoenix racing team need a win in their next race. But rival rider Coup steals victory away with a daring move. Will she be able to work with him when he and his brother want to jump ship to her team? And what about the tech mogul who wants them both to race for him?

Read if you like:
-Magical Creatures
-Mystery Illness
-Pulse Pounding Action
-Dislike to Lovers

I went into Of Flame and Fury thinking I was going to love it, but sadly, it was not for me. In my opinion, the book has too many plot points to juggle and can't handle them all. This book could have been many things: dystopian, futuristic, fantasy. But doesn't quite fit into any. There were so many missed opportunities, and while not all of them could have been fit into the book, choosing a focus would have helped to incorporate some of them. The mystery illness, magical creatures, fake dating, and the potential for an unreliable narrator could have been utilized so well, yet the book only seemed to scratch at the surface.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All opinions in this review are my own.

1.5 stars. DNF'd at 63%/C32/End of Part Two.

This is one of those books that has a fiery start in the middle of the action only to fizzle to ashes not long after and then never rebirths from it. A true death as it were.

I think for this review, I am going to put my complaints into a list.

- The FMC felt sidelined in her own story. Even with it being 3rd person, it was very clear that we are experiencing everything through her but she felt like such a secondary character. Like once the MMC came onto the scene and became the phoenix rider, there was almost no need for the FMC. The MMC basically bonded with the FMC's phoenix right away and was attuned to her. What's the point of having the FMC be the tamer if the MMC is both a good rider AND tamer himself?

- Everything outside the phoenix races is frustratingly vague. Technology is mentioned and used heavily but no reference as to how far along in this technology we are talking about, like is it Cyberpunk, 90's, 2000's, or present times? Same with the the islands and magic. Could not tell you anything about them in a concrete fashion other than names. There was also repeated mentions of an AB virus that is lethal and has killed a bunch of people but its not contagious but yet, no one knows how it spreads and there is no cure? It doesn't make sense which kind of leads me to my next point.

- A lot of the plot revolves around suspending disbelief in a heavy manner. Even if it is fantasy, you still need to have actions, systems, etc be plausible or at least a very good explanation as to why its not according to our modern understandings. This book had neither. Society as a whole didn't make sense for a bunch of kids to be able to race to the death on these phoenixes and there was some kind of regulating body with rules but it was all bark and no bite it seemed like. Other than one of the side characters being (barely) an adult and the tech billionaire villain, where the adults? How are all these children, and I mean children, able to live on their own, pay bills, drop out of school, and be in the public limelight doing dangerous phoenix racing (before the tech billionaire comes onto the scene) without several adults asking questions. And its not just the FMC and gang doing this, its several different groups of children for decades apparently. Like it would be one thing if these kids were doing unregulated races and got caught and then sponsored, but thats not what happened and a functional society wouldn't allow this, magical phoenixes or no. Leading on from that...

- This felt like it was intended to be a New Adult or Adult book but then was heavily toned down to fit into the Young Adult market but then missed the mark in editing to adhere to my last point. Its also being marketed as a Fourth Wing/Iron Widow mashup which the first is clearly New Adult and the second is Young Adult but has the grittiness and cross readership appeal that this novel lacks. I can see elements of inspiration from both that the author pulled from but it doesn't quite spin it into a new direction that is both exciting and enthralling.

- It felt like this novel tried to cram a lot of different points in but didn't succeed in navigating any of them. The phoenix races, the AB virus, the mysterious tech billionaire, the magic, the romance, the backstories. None of it quite landed.

- And this one is kind of a personal rant but I beg authors to please to do even a little bit of research into things you are not experienced with and in this particular novels case, burns and their severity. I have personal history with life threatening burns with almost losing one of my little brothers as a toddler to it and sustaining some myself. Neither mine nor my brother's burns will ever go away but while my second degree burns are minimal and easily covered, his are third degree that cover a large portion of one of his extremities and can never be "fixed" or "healed" and he is extremely lucky he has full use of all of his limbs and body. In this novel it is described over and over how burns are common in phoenix racing and in one particular scene, the MMC sustains FOURTH degree burns to his ABDOMEN and was prescribed a few days of rest after surgery. This just isn't possible not only by how his positioning was described in the race scene but also because even that severe of a burn is likely life crippling if survived especially in such a vital part of the body. I know this is fantasy but this brings up my earlier points (2 & 3) with the need of having a sense of what is realistic and also having a magic and technology system that supports it if it falls outside the realism angle. It wouldn't have raised so much eyebrows if I even knew what the technology is like in this world because maybe it is good enough to lessen the impact but the problem is that we aren't even shown, let alone told, what it is. This tell but no show was also a common problem throughout the book.

All in all, this was a novel that had a spark but could never bring it to quite ignite into flames that were full of fury.

This book was a fun, fast-paced ride that I enjoyed it a lot!

Phoenix racing scenes? Plentiful.
Hints of fake dating? Yes.
A non-broody MMC with a personality besides being a mysterious bad boy? Also yes.
Lots of lore on phoenixes? Hell yes.

I will say, I know publishers are being liberal with the enemies to lovers term for marketing purposes, but this really isn’t an enemies to lovers story.
Coup, the MMC, is a phoenix racer known for his reckless style of flight that the FMC, Kel, dislikes. But they’re really not enemies. His manner just rubs her the wrong way and she thus finds him grating. They start to warm up to each other quite quickly.

And this brings me to their relationship development.
In my opinion, the author didn’t quite manage the transition from reluctant teammates to lovers here. While I actually did enjoy their relationship once they’d gotten to know each other more, I found Kel’s change in how she thought about Coup a little sudden and not well developed enough. There’s a pretty pivotal scene that leads to this change in their dynamic, and while I liked the idea behind it, I just don’t think their feelings for each other were showcased enough prior to this. I would have loved to have the fake dating trope (that I liked here!) explored more and utilized to its full potential for more cute moments between them.

Onto the phoenix racing plot point.
I really loved the whole concept behind the phoenix racing and the entire teams behind the sport. The mechanics of it were fascinating, and I almost wished we could have gotten more deeply into the sponsorship aspects and technical aspects of this sport, though we did get plenty of racing scenes. I liked that the phoenixes were portrayed as willful, powerful animals that really couldn’t be controlled. They weren’t cuddly, they weren’t docile — they were beautiful, wild animals that could easily kill humans in their vicinity, and their danger was palpable whenever they were on-page. That said, yes, the worldbuilding did feel a tiny bit bare overall. I really wish we had gotten more information on other racers and teams, because the lack of it led to the world feeling strangely empty at times.

Aside from that, the book had an overarching plot that also slowly builds throughout the book.
This one, as it is revealed, was slightly predictable. It was fine and competently executed, but not nearly as compelling as the aforementioned elements. There was a pretty surprising plot point involving another character that sprung up in the last batch of chapters that threw me off for a while and made me question why exactly the author added it. Yes, it’s tied to a certain revelation pertaining to the FMC, but I felt like it was unnecessary and distracted me from the story as I tried to make sense of it.

Otherwise, I’ll just reiterate again that I had fun with this! It’s definitely not a perfectly written book and not some wildly original masterpiece, but it delivers on excitement and is, in my opinion, a well-executed YA fantasy story.



Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a blubbering mess!! I adored this book it was breathtaking in so many ways! I received an arc of this book so I have no idea what happens in the epilogue at this point I am hoping on an HEA but I don’t know. I’ll be the first at the store to buy this just to read the epilogue. This book was so refreshing and new. I’ve never read a book about phoenixes and i absolutely adored it. Hoping there is a sequel to this? I would definitely read every book in this series if there are more to come. I fell in love with Savita and find myself wishing I had a phoenix of my own 😊

This book was unique and wonderful. I could not put it down and I was completely consumed with what was happening. I love the Phoenix racing and the whole dynamic with them. The romance in this was great too. Enemies to lovers, fake dating, slow burn, and great banter. It had such a great way of evolving and I was so invested. The epilogue was not actually included in my copy and I was a little stunned. I hope that clears up the ending or that there is more to come. I really enjoyed this story.

Mikayla Bridge's debut novel weaves adventure, high stakes, found family, and rivals to lovers all into one story with an amazing phoenix, Sav, at the center. After a particularly brutal race Kel's racing team (The Howlers) is down members and has to team up with her local rival and risk taker, Coup and his brother. They are just getting started when witnessed recollering an uncollared phoenix. With their faces all over the media, they get a tempting offer for sponsorship from a tech billionaire, initially skeptical of his practices they say no. But after a devastating fire they have no choice but to say yes.

Once there they truly begin to build up the Howler's team and they win treacherous races. The question is at what cost? Things aren't adding up and Kel and some members of the team get suspicious, while others lean into their new life and just want to trust it. I really enjoyed watching each character's actions and responses in this new situation and how the author demonstrated different human responses. The exploration on change and loss and how we respond really came through in this. While we see it in some characters more than others, it was present in all of them--how we respond, and I really enjoyed that this book asked that question.

If you like rivals to lovers, fantasy animal main characters, solving mysteries, and action-packed pages I would recommend this one! It is one I'll add to my library for sure. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.