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!

#OfFlameAndFury #Netgalley #ARCReading #Bookstagram

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.