A very neutral 3 star rating as I DNF at ~25%. The premise is interesting and the writing is fine, I'm just not really vibing with it right now. I'll come back at a later date.

Of Flame and Fury was an absolute thrill ride! The world-building and pacing start off as a slow burn, but around the halfway mark, the story explodes with twists and high-stakes tension. I loved the gritty phoenix races, the sharp banter between Kel and Coup, and how the plot kept me guessing. This was a fantastic debut—I’m seriously hoping it becomes a series!

I love this book. I was a little hesitant at first, but wow, it blew me away.. The detailing and the work out into this is amazing. This author really nailed this. I just want to kiss this book and cuddle it haha. Very well done, this author should be very proud of this book and I can't wait for book 2!

4 stars ⭐️ Action, romance, and fantasy! It delivers Fourth Wing x Hunger Games vibes. The first half of the book is slow paced but the second half was fast. It took me a long time to get into the world and characters but once I did, it was a great read.

What to expect:
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating
- phoenix racing
- found family

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

This was fast paced, exciting, and an overall fun read! I enjoyed the phoenix racing, like how cool is that? There’s high stakes, romance, and awesome competitions. It was entertaining and the overall story was well written. I had never read anything like it. It has a mix of modern day technology with fantastical elements. Was a very interesting concept and the execution was good. Would definitely recommend.

**Of Flame and Fury** is an explosive thrill ride from start to finish—part adrenaline-fueled phoenix race, part slow-burn romance, and all heart. Set on a smoldering island where fire is currency and danger is sport, the story grips you with high-stakes competition and a fiercely driven heroine in Kel Varra. Her bond with her phoenix, Savita, is as touching as it is powerful, and the chemistry between her and Warren “Coup” Coupers crackles with intensity. Their dynamic—equal parts rivalry and reluctant alliance—adds heat to an already volatile world. What really elevates the narrative is its layered plotting: behind the breakneck races lies a deeper conspiracy full of tech intrigue and political tension. The writing is bold and immersive, with visceral action scenes, swoon-worthy moments, and emotional depth that lingers. *Of Flame and Fury* is the perfect storm of magic, romance, and rebellion—fiery, fierce, and unforgettable.

The plot is good and characters well developed. There are parts that I think are too adult for a YA book.

This was a really cool and unique story. I loved the racing aspect. Every once and awhile it got a little slow but overall it was a fun read. I loved the phoenixes!

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing this ARC.

Loved this fiery YA fantasy, loved how unique the plot was considering this is an overcrowded genre, fast paced and action packed with enemies to lovers, sold! Really enjoyed reading this I cant wait to read more by this author!

This book was one full of trials and a journey the FMC does out of desperation. Little did she know that the path that seemed the easiest really lead her down a road there was no turning back.

There is found family, magical creatures, danger around every corner, banter and an ending that will make you very curious about what is to come next.

There is no spice and very little parts that have to do with even kissing but very plot based.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for an ARC of this unique, fiery story that is out July 8. Flame and Fury is Mikayla Bridge’s debut novel and the first in the series. We are introduced to phoenix racing and it’s non stop from the beginning! If you love strong female characters, enemies to lovers, and intense races, this is the book for you

Kel has a phoenix but she needs a rider in order to participate in the wildly dangerous phoenix races. Enter Coup, the reckless but talented riddler that Kel cannot stand!

This book was everything I want in a fantasy, with good world building and brilliant characters. I loved every page, and once I'd finished I immediately bought the beautiful first edition because I just had to own a copy!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review

What a ride! Every competition had me on the edge of my seat. This is well written and easy to follow along. I love Kel Varra. Her determination is amazing! Coup is something else. The whole enemies/rivals to lovers trope was nicely done. The tension was tangible.

This book has a lot of fun things going for it. The phoenix racing was such an interesting concept and the world around it was fascinating. I enjoyed following Kel and her team as they went through the plot.
However, I will say it felt a bit slow in parts which made me feel like I needed to push through.
But overall, I would say it was a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for letting me read this early!

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc of Of Flame and Fury

4⭐️/5

I really enjoyed this story of Kel and her phoenix Savita. It was refreshing to read about about a different magic system and world. This is the first story about phoenix that I've read and I was surprised by how much I liked it. The pacing of the book could've been better but it wasn't enough to keep me from wanting to continue reading. I just wish the ending hadn't been so rushed and that the epilogue had been included. I would've liked more explanation and developments in the ending. The love story between the two main characters also could've been a bit better developed but was still enjoyable. I hope there's a second book in the series so we can see what happens with all the characters and the fallout of the events at the end of the book. Overall it was a really good YA fantasy book.

I need a moment to emotionally recover from that book... 😢 I NEED the epilogue once the book officially comes out on July 15, 2025—I’m begging!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Mikayla Bridge, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Kelyn “Kel”, an experienced phoenix tamer who works alongside her sassy and lovable phoenix, Savita “Sav.” Kel has a deep love for phoenixes and is fiercely protective of them. Her best friend and sidekick, Dira, is her partner on their racing team, the Crimson Howlers. After a series of unfortunate events and some unexpected publicity during their most recent race, they’re forced to team up with Warren “Coup” Coupers and his brother Bekn, who have bounced between teams due to Coup’s unpredictable behavior. Now, they’re seeking a new team and come up with a proposal that brings their worlds crashing together.

Their new partnership lands them under the sponsorship of Cristo Industries, run by the powerful and influential Canen Cristo, who takes a particular interest in Sav. Canen offers to sponsor the Howlers if they agree to relocate to his facilities and work under his terms—which quickly throws them into a whirlwind of rising tension, secrets, and suspicion.

Things I LOVED about this book and think others will too:

Grumpy x Sunshine

Found family

Debut novel (!!)

Romantasy with a YA vibe

Twists and turns

Phoenixes (YES please)

A Hunger Games x Fourth Wing energy

Enemies to lovers

Political corruption and secrecy 👀

Some parts of the book were a little slow and repetitive for me, but overall I really enjoyed it. The cover is absolutely STUNNING, and this definitely leans more YA than the blurb initially suggests—which I actually loved once I adjusted expectations.

Let me tell you—I gasped when all the dots connected for Kel (you’ll know exactly the moment when you get there 😭). I was shocked and heartbroken so many times. Sav is the sassiest phoenix, and I absolutely adore her character. The bond between Kel and Dira was so heartwarming, and watching them build a found family with Coup and Bekn was one of the most rewarding parts of the story. I loved how much they leaned on one another and grew together—it added so much depth and heart to the story.

This was such a strong and emotional debut, and I’m already desperate for more from this world!

Phoenix racing, magical creatures, mysterious tech mogul, grumpy/sunshine romance.. what more could we ask for?
This book centers around Kel and her phoenix Sav. She and her team race to earn money they all desperately need and find themselves in need of a new rider. They decide to take on Coup - a rider who seems to have no limits and will do whatever it takes to win, even if it could kill him. And when Kel's home burns down they feel their only option is to take a position with the mysterious tech mogul who wants to sponsor their team but seems to have a weird obsession with Sav.
The races are intense, the romance is steamy (the tension is - this is YA after all), the twist at the end I did not see coming.
I loved it! Did not know what to expect from this one but so glad I was chosen to read this ARC! I am desperate for the Epilogue though as the ARC only had a note that it was to come..
This comes out in July 2025 and I can't wait for a copy!


Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for an eARC of this book in exchange for honest review!

Kel, the phoenix tamer, Savita, her phoenix and the rest of their team, the Crimson Howlers race Savita in intense and deadly phoenix races in the hopes of making enough money to keep their lives from falling apart. After a tragic loss, Kel and her best friend and teammate Dira must make an unlikely alliance with the Coupers brothers. Warren ‘Coup’ is Kel’s longtime enemy because of his recklessness as a rider but when he becomes Savita’s new rider she is forced to work together with him to keep their team, and her farm, going.

The style is light and enjoyable; the second half of the book felt quick and much faster paced. I was able to predict some moments, but there was enough surprise to keep me intrigued.

🔥 Phoenix Racing
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Found Family
🔥 Secrets
🔥 Rich World-Building

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for accepting my request for an ACR of this book!
4.5/5
“If you could escape up here— just keep flying … would you?” Coup asked softly, breaking her reverie. Her eyebrows arched. “That’s a very existential departure from whining.”
When I started to read this book, I instantly got the same feeling of reading another book that had a similar plot but with dragons, and I was sucked in. I love when fantasy is merged with reality but it is a balance that isn’t trying to “fight for attention”. The introduction of the different types of phoenixes, at first had me a little worried, but I was thankful for the descriptions what made it easier to go into Cender without it being too confusing. Kel was an amazing protagonist, I loved her character and her relationship with Coup. My only critic with the book is that I felt like there were some areas that weren’t explored as much as I had hoped, so it caused me to be confused. I also wish there would have been more in depth world building, it was a truly unique setting that had me wanting more.

This book really sucks you in quickly. The descriptions of the phoenixes are so vivid and colorful, the racing full of danger and excitement. The world is described in beautiful descriptions, and the characters are endearing. The found family aspect in this book is utter perfection, and the animosity between Kel and Coup is highly entertaining, especially when thrown in front of the media as the new "it" couple in the racing world. The darker mystery surrounding the deadly AB illness and the political wars surrounding the phoenixes create tension and intrigue. Overall, this was an incredibly enjoyable book, fascinating and hard to put down.