What a story. I’m sitting on the edge of my seat just baffled. This was amazing and what I yearn for. I will 100% be purchasing this for my shelf when it is published! This was a fresh read and didn’t feel like I was reading the same books over and over again like so many others.

I will be in a reading slump for the next 4-6 business days. I fear that I may not emotionally recover...

Thank you NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge and Macmillan Publishing for this ARC.

I originally read the 10 chapter sampler and immediately begged for the full copy because I could not stop thinking about it.

Mikayla, you absolutely killed it and I could not put this book down. It does lean pretty YA so keep that in mind when reading but I absolutely adored this romantasy adventure and think that it is a must read.

Follow along Kel and her bold phoenix Sav as they navigate the world of phoenix racing having to deal with loss, betrayal, and new blossoming feelings for a certain cocky phoenix rider. I am not a big politics person and prefer to keep that out of my stories typically, however the little sprinkles of their societal politics and secrets added a layer of depth to the story and the world building that I really enjoyed.

There were some twists that I fully expected, but when the dots finally connected for a specific moment in Kels story my heart absolutely broke and I was not ready for the end of the book to happen.

Things I loved most:
-Enemies to lovers - immaculate execution
-Phoenixes & Racing
-Found Family

Each and every character has gone through some hardship in their life and it makes them all the more relatable. I think it is a big reason why they work so flawlessly together and their little found family grew to be my favorite story.

I will be running to pick up this book as soon as it is published on July, 15th, 2025

Of Flame and Fury is a fun and easy-to-follow standalone fantasy that felt like NASCAR but switch the cars for phoenixes. I enjoyed the characters, and the "enemies-to-lovers" romance was super sweet. I think there could have been more worldbuilding, and it felt like there was a bit of a plot hole at the end with the shocking reveal, BUT the vibes were good, and I had a great time reading this one! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Mikayla Bridge for the opportunity to read an eARC of this title. All thoughts are my own.

3.75/5⭐️

Of Flame and Fury has entered the chat with its F1 style phoenix racing, slow burn romance, high stakes, and a plot twist that will have you rereading immediately.

Enter Kelyn, 17 years old and left to fend for herself after her father's death. When debts are stacking up, she turns to phoenix racing with her friends and phoenix, Savita, to win money that will help keep her farm. After an unfortunate accident with their rider, the Crimson Howler's are forced to work with her arch nemesis, Warren 'Coup' Coupers, who is the LAST person Kelyn thought she would team up with on the circuit.

While this story wasn't necessarily a slow start for me it did take some time to get into as any fantasy/romantasy would with the world building. I fell in love with our MCs because both were putting on fronts to hide their true pain. The moments leading up to and finally their romance breaking out was beautifully written.

Let's just say I did NOT see that plot twist coming! The little crumbs that Mikayla sprinkled throughout the story that would've tipped me off were so well camouflaged that I noticed them, but thought they were related to something entirely different.

I am dying to know what is going to be in the epilogue and praying we get a second book. I feel like we just scratched the surface of this world, and I want to know more!

Tropes
> F1 Phoenix Racing
> Rivals to Lovers
>Found Family
>Mythical Creatures
>Fake Dating
>Underdog Team

'Of Flame and Fury' is set on an Island where people race using tamed pheonixes. Insert Kelyn, A 17 year old girl living on a farm by herself ever since her Dad passed away. She is the pheonix tamer of her racing group, the Howlers. After their rider dies in a race, she unwillingly teams up with Warren Couper, better known as Coups, and his brother. The Howlers are given a sponsership offer by Cristo Industries, giving them an oppurtunity none of them had ever been given before.

~ Enemies to lovers ✨
~ Magical companions ✨
~ Mythical creatures ✨
~ Mystery ✨

I can't wait for other people to read this book once it comes out, and Mikayla Bridge better get cracking on book 2 !

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced reader copy of this book!

Wow! What an absolute gem of a book. This fast paced, unique, yet fleshed out story is a must read! Of Flame and Fury follows a team of young adults in the world of phoenix racing. each member of the team has a specific role, very similar to F1 racing. Mikayla Bridge wrote an absolute POWERHOUSE of a debut book.

The characters were developed, with room for even more growth if there is a sequel (🤞). Kel and Coup were excellent main characters, but the side characters were also so lovable and fun to read about.

The plot itself was fast paced, and I literally could not put the book down. There are so many plot twists, with one in particular towards the end of the book making me audibly gasp. I hope a second book is to come!

If you love:
- found family
- YA romantasy
- political storyline w/ a romance subplot
- racing
- futuristic settings
- reverse grumpy x sunshine
- fake dating
- rivals to reluctant allies to lovers
Then this book is for you!! Check it out when it releases in July!

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this title. I
tried so hard to get into this book but I just couldn’t. I DNFd at 40%. It was just so slow getting started. Maybe it just wasn’t for me. 😔

Of Flame and Fury is an absolute masterpiece for a debut novel I am blown away!!! I loved seeing our heroine Kel and her Phoenix racing team the howlers struggle to make ends meet so close to the wins they needed. To right the ship. From page one we feel the bond between Kel and Savita as she works with her beautiful Phoenix day and night to prepare to win. I loved the descriptions and strength listed for all the different types of Phoenix’s the writing was incredibly vivid bringing the world of racing and its dangers to life.Then swaggers in her nemesis Coup all glitz and danger rolled into a media darling package you can absolutely feel Kel’s annoyance, irritation, mistrust and yasss attraction despite herself. Then tragedy strikes after Coup does an extremely dangerous maneuver. One that not only garners a winning place but edges out the Howlers at a devastating cost as Kel’s own rider (attempts to make up the distance) tries the same maneuver unsuccessfully losing her life. Leaving the Howlers without a rider. Said same move gets Coup kicked off his own team and an unlikely alliance is eventually forged as both Kel and Coup are out of options. Then enter stage right is charismatic tech mogul Cristo who has all the right sweet nothing to say to try to whoo the team to let him sponsor them. I think Kel who was raised to mistrust such entities relented to fast and on top of that giving half ownership over Savita floored me. No matter how desperate I would never have given over partial ownership over a majestic and valuable creature like her. But hindsight and all that for it doesn’t take long to realize things are not as they seem and those sweet nothings Cristo whispered are nothing but bitter ash on the tongue. But revaluation after revaluation ensue and soon things are so far off kilter it’s hard to see up from down. Leaving the team with one last juncture. A showdown of the ages where only Savita would be the winner if the Howlers could pull it off to defeat Cristo. If I thought phoenix racing was cool it was nothing compared to that final ride with all its dangers. Oh how I wish to know what happened next. This was a wonderful book about a phoenix and her tamer. Their relationship was the most beautiful in this book. Even with Savita having such a wild nature only Key and Coup could get near her and the end oh my gosh when Sav took Kel with her that was just sob worthy. Have no idea what that means but I really loved it. Such a beautiful moment. I hope to find out so fingers crossed. I truly highly recommend this book it’s amazing!

LOVED THIS BOOK. It is non-stop fast-paced, whip-smart, and the world is so fresh and fun. This is going to be a huge hit.

So grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Favorite quote(s):

“Squinting, Kel watched Savita shine brighter than she'd ever seen. Brighter than the stars above them. Brighter than the sun.”


Review:

I don't even know what to say about this book. I loved it so much! Phoenix racing, rivalry, found family, secrets, heartache, romance, and so much more. Each character was unique and had their own backgrounds and parts to play. I loved how much Kel loved her phoenix, Savita, and how Savita loved her back. The banter between Kel and Coup was top-notch and had me kicking my feet. The bond between Kel and Dira was incredible. I loved their friendship so much. It was nice to have the story touch on Kel’s father and his love of phoenixes, which he passed down to Kel. I did not trust Cristo from the beginning. He seemed sus, and I was right. He sucked. Bekn was a great brother and friend; he put up with a lot from Coup and sometimes the others, but was always there for them. The phoenix racing was so cool, I've never read anything like it before, even with all its dangers. It was cool how there were different types of phoenixes, too. Things were intense and made you want more. I loved every moment of it. The writing was incredible and vivid. Though I hope there is an epilogue or something like that, because that cliffhanger was shocking. Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought it was a great debut. I just want more of it, including the world and its characters.

There’s supposed to be an epilogue but it’s not in this ARC??! RIP ME I’m a mess right now and I need that epilogue.
Let me breathe. Ok, I can write this now.

What a beautiful book about a phoenix and her tamer. Their relationship was the most beautiful in this book. They literally have been together almost their whole lives and went through a lot together. I mean Kel is a teenager living by herself with just her phoenix, trying to win phoenix races to keep afloat. Of course she loves Sav, not only do they race together but they take care of each other.

I enjoyed getting to know Dira and Rahn and Coup and how their little racer team become successful. Making coup sort of a rival to Kel but also a reckless rider was the cherry on top. I enjoyed this world full of magic but still has technology for other things, I generally enjoy it when the book combines these elements into the story. How the phoenix are magic and how they still use tech to monitor vitals or provide care. The best of both worlds.

I was so tempted to rate this one 4 stars because I was having fun and fully loved these characters. But once I hit the plot twist about Estra and Kel not knowing things, I was awestruck because (at least for me) I felt as confused as Kel, I felt her shock and surprise. Once it hit and saw everything else unfold I was fully struck. I absolutely loved this book. And yes I will be preordering it because I NEED THAT EPILOGUE WHY IS IT NOT HERE.
(P.S. is totally going to be an Estra epilogue isn’t it? I can see it playing in my head already)

Thank you netgalley and macmillion children’s publishing group for an ARC of the book in exchange for a review!

features:
•found family
•enemies to lovers
•f1 style racing but make it phoenixs

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS WAS A DEBUT! This was everything i needed in a romantasy. It wasn’t the usual fantasy books i read that you can see something coming a mile away. The premise of this was so interesting with the racing. The book starts off with a bang when our FMC, Kel, the tamer, watching for the temps as her phoenix. Savita races and this go awry from there. BUT the MMC Warren Coupers, Coup… YES LADIES YES.

The Howlers racing team become such a family through out this book, and it gave me chills. I loved watching Kel have them through out the entirety of the novel. & the FINAL TWIST?? jaw dropping! I genuinely did not see that coming. I highly recommend!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. Just wow.

Debut author Mikayla Bridge absolutely nailed this book. It had everything I could've ever hoped for plus some extra, and I couldn't be happier to have had the opportunity to read this ARC! I have preordered this book even after finishing it, it was really THAT good!

*SPOILERS AHEAD!!*

Let's start with a quick recap of the plot. Think F1 racing but with phoenixes and some enemies to lovers sprinkled in there. The main character, Kelyn (Kel), competes on a phoenix racing team under the Cendorian Association of Phoenix Racing (CAPR) as the tamer for the team's phoenix, Savita. Kel unfortunately has some really dire circumstances chasing her, and she is forced to make a decision that will change the dynamic of the team but also will expose the true intentions of a very famous tech guru. As a tech person myself, I was so entranced with both the story and its tech. I couldn't put this one down!

There is a romantic subplot I'd say, but it's definitely enemies to lovers DONE RIGHT!! So many romantasy books don't feel like enemies to lovers to me because of how fast it moves, but Bridge did such an amazing job of letting the reader feel what the MCs were feeling. I'm totally obsessed with Coup and Kel by the way.

The ending though? I had to sit and stare at a wall for a bit. I'm really hoping this isn't a stand alone because I need to know what happens. I need more of these characters and story ASAP!!

Give this a read!! You won't regret it!!

3.75⭐️ Rounded up. Of Flame and Fury is a fun and fiery debut novel! This really started off hot, with great world building and an interesting cast of characters. I loved the phoenix racing aspect as well as the discussion of morals throughout the book in this regard. Then we have political intrigue, a mild rivals to lovers plot, and a mysterious disease. At no point did I know what was going to happen next. So much so that when the big twist happened, it kind of took me out of the story a bit. To me, it just seemed like something was missing , but I am hoping for another book as the ending left room for more. This was a fast paced fantasy read and I would recommend it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As soon as I saw phoenix racing I knew I had to read this book. And we start right away into action with a race that helped me get into the story from chapter one. We meet Kel, a phoenix tamer who is part of a racing team called the Howlers alongside her friend Dira and others. After a loss they are in search of a new rider and they must join forcers with Coup, who Kel despises and his brother. As the howlers get noticed and gain popularity they are recruited by a popular company in the city that's responsible for a lot of the important technology used with phoenixes. There they are face with secrets and strange happenings.

What I liked about this story is that it was fast paced and the races we very well written out, they were my favorite part. Along with Kel's phoenix Savita, she's so sassy. Kel is a strong character that despite being so young had a lot of responsibilities and managed to deal with them very well. Her back and fort with Coup was fun and the found family aspect made me care about every character. I get why it was compared to Fourth Wing in the blurb due to the racing but to me it is nothing like it. The main characters here are 17 and act their age in a good way, they go through different things, romance is slow burn so not a main theme. And has nothing to do with a war college so I don't thing the comparison is fair. The are two main plots interconnected here, the phoenix racing and a blight. A strange illness that despite not being contagious can attack anyone and has no cure so a lot revolves around that also. The one thing I found it was bit lacking was in the world building, I feel like something was missing but it didn't deter me from enjoying the story. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

I have been drawn since page 1. The FMC is so captivating. She is strong because her life has been hard. Not having a family and having to make due. However she is able to soften people through her love for animals or in this case the Pheonix.

The romance has been tense throughout the whole book and you could feel the heat coming out of the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian for the opportunity to read the ARC for Of Flames and Fury! This was my first approved ARC, and I truly enjoyed the experience and am excited for continued opportunities!

The beautiful cover along with the description of Mikayla Bridge’s debut novel, instantly piqued my interest – Fourth Wing vibes? Enemies-to-lovers? Phoenix racing? – who can resist?!

While I did not get “Fourth Wing” vibes, the book’s premise is unique and leaves me wanting more from this phoenix racing romantasy! There is so much that contributes to this world – phoenixes, alchemy, mysterious illness, and various conspiracies. “The Gilded Lullaby”, just has to have breadcrumbs for how this story is going to develop! The plot was action packed from start to finish with twists and turns along the way. The found family with The Howlers and the relationship that Kel has with Savita brought a lovely softness and relatability to the story; especially with parallels that can be drawn to the real world and what humans are willing to do for profits.

That said, there were a few areas that I felt the story could have been more fleshed out especially regarding the world building and the pacing did not always feel consistent. I could have really used the epilogue to close out the story, but understand it is an ARC! Overall, this is a strong YA debut, and I’m excited to see how the story develops and concludes.

Overall Rating: 3.5

Thank you to NetGally for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This book follows Kel Vara, who rides a phoenix named Savita in the fast paced and dangerous phoenix races. It’s action packed from page one, with a slow burn enemies to lovers romance with the MMC Coup.

The phoenix racing is unique and exciting, and the action pulse pounding. The world building can feel a little confusing or not fully fleshed out. There is a lot of telling, not showing which can frustrate some readers or weaken a reader’s emotional connection to the story. The pacing of the story felt a little off as well. Some major twists suffer from a lack of setup, leaving them feeling abrupt or unearned.

That said, romance was what I enjoyed the most.

3.75/5

I ended up really liking this. It was a little hard to get into at first, but things really started to progress in the second half. It was pretty fast paced, and hard to put down at that point. This was also a super interesting concept and very original. I’m hoping that cliffhanger ending means there will be another book, and is not the actual ending. I need to know more! I’m hoping to maybe learn more once the epilogue is available when the book is released. I’m dying to have more information!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG I need this epilogue!

This book was really unique, and no comp could do it justice.

The story drops us in the middle of the action - better said in the middle of a phoenix race. Yet what sounds like fun also has a really dark aspect to it: in this world phoenixes get bound and collared, as they are deemed a great danger if let free.

Kel and her phoenix Savita compete as well, but soon things become dangerous and the question is who gets burnt in the fire.

The pacing of this book is insane, doing the race aspect more than justice. So much is happening, and I felt like I couldn't breathe during the entire book.
And I mean this in the best of ways.

Oh yes there's also Warren, the beloathed new team member and all around hottie.

I can highly recommend this if you want YA with action, great characters and a message. If you don't love phoenixes yet, you will after reading.
And if you want a cheat sheet for different kinds of phoenixes, this book has got you.

4,5/5 stars

Thank and @netgalley and #macmillanchildrenchildrens for the eARC!

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