I was initially drawn to this book due to the Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow description. I haven’t even read Iron Widow yet (don’t come for me), but I love Fourth Wing and the Empyrean series. I knew I was probably going to like this book and Mikayla Bridge did an amazing job with this debut novel.

This book took me on a good kind of emotional rollercoaster. Needless to say, I need a second book!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to read Of Flame and Fury.

I was hooked from the start. Phoenix racing? Enemies to lovers? Mysterious illness? Sign me up.

This read like a movie for me, in the best way. I couldn’t hardly put it down. It was action packed and yet little twists and turns were thrown in. And I didn’t know who to trust. I loved it.

Kel is strong and fierce and loyal, just as any good FMC should be. But she’s dealt with a lot in her few years and my heart ached for her.

And the racing? So intense but also so cool. I feel like phoenix’s are underrated and probably one of my new favorite mythical creatures. Savita is incredible and I need more character art for her.

All in all I loved it. It was refreshing but checked all the boxes for a YA fantasy. I will absolutely be recommending it to everyone and I can’t wait to read the next one!

This book was such a wild ride! Of Flame and Fury is packed with action. I was seriously on the edge of my seat the whole time.
The slow burn romance was a big highlight for me. It felt natural and well-paced, with just the right amount of tension and emotion. I’m a sucker for a romance that builds over time, and this one definitely delivered. I also loved the concept of Phoenix racing! Getting to know all about these magical creatures was so fun.
If I had one complaint, it’s that the last quarter felt a bit rushed. There was a lot going on, and it seemed like the author was trying to wrap everything up too quickly. It pulled me out of the story a little, which was a bummer after such a strong start.
That said, I honestly wish the book had been longer. I wasn’t ready for it to end, and I’m really hoping there’s a sequel in the works. I’d love to spend more time in this world with these characters!

3.5 🌟

To start off, thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan for the opportunity to read the ARC for “Of Flames and Fury” in exchange my honest review! (This is my first ARC and I was so stoked!)

First of all, LOVED the title and the book cover design had me intrigued! Some of my favorite moments were the phoenix races which were so enthralling and a heck of a ride! Their team, “The Howlers” were set up very much like an F1 racing team, all working in tandem to get their rider to the finish line, which I thought was such unique touch! It made it feel like you were a spectator, watching all the race drama unfold on the course.

Our FMC and MMC were fine overall. I wasn’t a fan of the dynamic between Kel and Coup, as I didn’t feel their chemistry to be believable - nothing to swoon over and not very memorable in my opinion. BUT if we’re talking about Kel and her phoenix, Savita <333 I wanted so much more of their rider + phoenix dynamic and story!

Unfortunately, the pacing didn't feel very consistent, with so many plot points and themes trying to work together towards the end goal. Literally everything all at once that felt overwhelming and rushed - BUT I still appreciated how the story panned out. I haven’t read Iron Widow, but comparing this to Fourth Wing now feels like a streeeetch - they're not the same! And not in a bad way!

Cheers to the author for a great debut YA novel! If there’s a second book — SIGN ME UP!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I absolutely ate this up! It was a slow start but it’s worth it to keep going trust me! Loved the FMC!

This was an interesting read. I’ve never read a book series that has to do with phoenixes. I thought the world-building could’ve been better, but it was still a good read!

It did give me fourth wing vibes and had similar parts and vibes, but I think it delivered what it was supposed to.
It's enough for me to be excited for book 2!

3/5

I received an ARC from netgallery

I would not say it’s a cross between fourth wing and iron widow. I loved both and this was not really like either. The writing, characters, and plot were ok. This just wasn’t a huge hit for me.

Of flame and fury is a enemies to lovers new series. About dragons,war, romance, friendships. I did enjoy this book but it was very similar to fourth wing.

The concept of this book sounded very intriguing. The blurb also had me hooked and I knew I needed to read this one. Unfortunately the book just fell flat for me. The concept didn't feel fleshed out, or I just couldn't grasp the mix of technology and fantasy. The characters just never grabbed my attention. I do feel the writing style was mostly to blame. I couldn't connect to the characters, and it was very difficult to not put this book down while I was reading it. This just wasn't what I expected, and even with the cliffhanger, I probably won't read the sequel.

Fast-paced, fiery, and full of heart—Of Flame and Fury delivers everything I love in a fantasy read. This debut author deserves to be trending this summer and I predict she will be! Between high-stakes phoenix racing, unpredictable twists, and a cast of characters you actually care about (yes, even the side ones), I couldn’t put it down. Kel and Coup’s tension? Chef’s kiss. Buckle up, it’s a wild ride.

I really genuinely can’t decide if I liked this book or not. I keep seeing it described as “the hottest book of the summer,” and I don’t know if that is the case.

It’s definitely fast paced, and the story is intriguing, but I don’t know if I loved it.

It’s like the phoenix-riding version of Fourth Wing mixed with the action-adventure of Once Upon A Broken Heart.

If you liked Heavenbreaker, I could absolutely see you loving this book.

Some details you might like to know:
-third person, single POV
-young adult
-fast paced
-action packed
-cliffhanger ending

Thank you very much to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received it.

This was honestly such a fun book to read! I kept thinking Fast and Furious but with Phoenix’s, which is a unique take on racing.
A grumpy/sunshine enemies to lovers romantasy with fake dating! I absolutely loved the banter between the MMC and FMC. Nothing gets my love language going quite like good lovers banter. Chiefs kiss!
Something I really loved about this book was Kels love for Savita. The bond they shared was so special.
The first chapter of this book was very engaging and had me intrigued immediately! I could feel the intensity of the race and what was at stake.

Really love and appreciate how the story starts off in the middle of some action, zero info dumping. This story is full of action. There were a few small moments during action scenes where I would get a little lost and be confused.

The love story was adorable. Love the banter. Very YA. Adored all the characters, The Howlers and Savita are the coolest and have my whole heart. I never quite caught up to our villian's sudden shift of tone, it wasn't believable to me and felt a little over the top. However, that twist, I can't believe I didn't put it together sooner! As a reader, you feel like it's happening to you too. So good!

As someone who questions the humane conditions for horse racing in our world, I'm overjoyed how phoenix racing is similarly questioned in this fantasy world. Is it safer for humans to tame these wild creatures or let them roam free like nature intended? I wish we were given a straight answer.

My copy included a blank epilogue. It's a beautiful cliffhanger of an ending. The last few chapters had so much action and climbing (and stress!) I need closure desperately. My rank might be higher if I just had something more, I feel a tiny bit cheated. I'm grasping flaming feathers over here!

A final note is regarding the advertising of Fourth Wing lovers will also love this and I don't think that will be true. While I've enjoyed both stories, they're totally different in every way. If you don't like YA, you won't like this. The bond between a dragon and rider vs a phoenix and tamer are not comparable to me. I think it's an injustice to this story to compare it to FW, as it truly stands well on its own.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I connected to the characters and loved the plot. I look forward to what this author writes next, and you owe me a epilogue! 😜

3.5 stars, I'm rounding up in hopes there's a few more pages to tie up that ending after publishing.

I really enjoyed the book. It was an interesting story the pacing was excellent. I didn’t expect all the twists and turns with was really nice. I cant stand when I can guess where a book is going!

Needless to say I’m chomping at the bit for the next one!

Loved this! If you're a Fantasy/Romantasy fan you will devour this book. I really enjoyed the phoenix racing and learning about all the ins and outs of racing. The politics are also excellent, and really get going towards the end of the book. Everyone has something to lose, and the found family has to navigate their way through wild chaos. I can't wait to follow this series - highly recommend!


Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC!

I really liked this book. There was a lot of action and the author did a really good job of keeping me hooked throughout the book.

I really wanted to love this story. The concept had so much potential—phoenixes, enemies-to-lovers, magic—but unfortunately, it never fully delivered for me.

From the beginning, I struggled to connect with the main character, and that didn’t change by the end. The emotional distance made it difficult to care about the stakes or feel invested in the journey. The romance, including a fake-dating plotline, felt more like a device than something emotionally earned. I never fully bought into the chemistry between the leads.

The pacing throughout felt choppy—events moved quickly, but the narrative lacked grounding and detail. Around Chapter 25, the story showed promise and picked up a bit, and I began to feel some anticipation. However, the momentum wasn’t sustained, and the conclusion, while not predictable, felt emotionally flat.

World-building was one of the weakest elements for me. I didn’t get a clear picture of the setting or the phoenix magic system. It wasn’t always clear what kind of world we were in—fantasy or otherwise—and that lack of clarity made it harder to become immersed.

Ultimately, this book had moments of intrigue, but it felt underdeveloped in character depth, plot cohesion, and setting. Readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy with minimal exposition may find something here, but it wasn’t the right fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title before its release on July 15, 2025.

I guess I’m the outlier here but I kind of hated this.

Part 1 really sucked me in. It was a solid and start and an intriguing world. I really like the main character to start with and thought the world was interesting. I did think the writing was a little clunky at times - two characters asking what the hell someone is doing within a few page. Also, some of the plot needs a suspension of disbelief - in a sport where people routinely die, I am not sure a risk taker would be so ostracized.

Part 2 continued to build the world in an interesting way but I started to check out on these characters. Everything felt kinda stilted between them and the dialogue felt awkward.

Part 3 is when it just went off the rails. The villain is portrayed as a straight evil man, but I think there is some nuance to what is happening. Yes he is experimenting on animals but I didn’t think the author portrayed it in a horrifying way. There was no torture, he was just taking feathers and blood? With the noble aim of curing his daughter and other people of a horrible disease. Ultimately we then find out he was willing to let the main phoenix die, but still there was no even consideration from our main characters that this might save countless other lives?? Then at the end of part 3, the big reveal made me think the characters might start to see nuance.

Part 4 proved me wrong. At this point, I gave up and kind of skimmed. We kept getting reveal after reveal of things I barely saw foreshadowed and were just told about things that happened “off camera.” I think focusing the book on Kel and not exploring other povs really got in the way. And then it just ambiguously ended?

Awful.

** Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for giving me this eARC**

I've just finished Of Flame And Fury by Mikayla Bridge, and I'm honestly still catching my breath. This has been an exciting, adrenaline-packed ride from start to finish. Right from the opening phoenix race, Bridge plunged me into a vivid, thrilling world, making my heart race as fast as the fiery creatures tearing through the skies.

Kel Varra quickly became a heroine I couldn't help but root for—a strong-willed leader of the underdog Crimson Howlers, desperate for victory and fiercely protective of her phoenix, Savita. The shocking death of their rider, Oska, in the opening race immediately raised the emotional stakes, gripping me from the start.

Kel’s personal life was deeply compelling—she struggles with the emotional distance from her mother, who lives elsewhere, and the lingering pain of losing her father. When Rube, the Howlers’ trusted technician, announces they're leaving town for college, the team’s setbacks pile up fast. Thankfully, Kel’s best friend Dira remains fiercely loyal, a bond I deeply appreciated.

Enter Coup—Warren Coupers—arrogant, reckless, infuriatingly charming. Kel despised him initially, but when he shockingly gets booted from his own team and needs a new one, their paths collide. Their tense relationship evolved slowly and believably, especially after a wild phoenix attack forces them to work together. Kel bravely tamed the wild phoenix, badly scorching her hands, while Coup’s teasing—"not bad for a first night on the Howlers!"—made it impossible not to enjoy their dynamic.

Bridge creates a vivid, thrilling world where phoenixes are wild, dangerous creatures—not gentle pets. The political intrigue and secrets surrounding Cristo Industries kept me turning pages late into the night. I was genuinely shocked by the twists, especially when Kel uncovered disturbing truths about Cristo's motivations, and about her own missing memories and hidden struggles.

The climax was emotional and powerful, leaving me heartbroken yet hopeful. Kel’s journey had me fully invested—especially her complicated relationship with Coup, the bond with her best friend Dira, and her deep connection with Savita. Kel reluctantly leaving Coup behind broke my heart—I genuinely felt her sadness in that painful moment.

The ending was powerful yet hopeful, leaving me desperate for more. Of Flame And Fury masterfully balanced thrilling action, emotional depth, and high-stakes romance. I'm sincerely hoping this is just the first book in a gripping series because I'm not ready to leave Kel, Coup, and Savita behind just yet!