This book was engaging and hooked me right from the beginning! The worldbuilding and character development was well done, although I would have liked to have more information about AB earlier in the story and throughout.
There was a twist that felt a little bait-and-switch for a third person POV, but it didn’t change my overall impression of the story.
It seemed at the end there was supposed to be an Epilogue but it wasn’t included in my ARC ebook. I would love to know what it said about the next phase for the characters.

A really wonderful debut, and a great, fantasy read. Would highly recommend for fans of nostalgic YA fantasy and enemies-to-lovers!

f Flame and Fury’s plot got me immediately intrigued. A high tech world with tame and untamed phoenixes, focusing on a group of phoenix racers who come upon an opportunity that is too good to be true and, when they accept, things take a turn. On the surface this team of racers is lucky to get signed on to a new team with a new facility but once they start races and life in this high tech facility, not everything is what it seems. This book did take me awhile to get into but, once I did, I sped through the last third so fast and absolutely can’t wait for the second book. There’s no spice in this book, it’s very much YA, but a romance is a small part of the plot. I thought this was really interesting and a good read.

First of all, name twins!! Second of all, WOW!! I am so incredibly impressed by how original this story is. This novel is proof you don't need ten books and thousands of pages to tell a good story. Vibes are immaculate.

I love a good destructive, magical creature, and RACING PHOENIXES is a concept I can honestly say has never crossed my mind. The stakes are high, the found family is snug as a bug, the romance is NOT enemies-to-lovers and at times so physically cringey to read I could hardly stand it, but I could mostly overlook that because of the pure intrigue of the rest of the fascinating world this is plotted in. The challenges of each race had me on the edge of my seat. Very reminiscent of the trials we all loved in many a late-2000's YA dystopian series (you know the ones).

I originally rated this a 3-star read, but I haven't stopped thinking about it several months later, so it has earned a spot in my "yes, would recommend to a friend" tier rating.

I received a copy of this audiobook for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC!

Honestly I was a little unsure about this book for the first few chapters, but it picks up quickly and remains fast paced until the end! I really liked all of the characters and their little found family dynamic. The phoenixes, CAPR, races, Fume, and Cristo Industries were all interesting elements and had me waiting for more information to be revealed.

This was a great debut novel and I am so ready to read the next one!

I really enjoyed this book. I normally struggle with hate to more romances the book worked for me. I really liked the plot, characters ad world building in this story. It was a fast pace read with book that was hard to predict. I also liked the side characters in this story!! I really hope we get a seuel to this story cause this one was so fun!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up really enjoying this! Cool action scenes with competitive phoenix racing, a little found family, fighting back against corrupt corporations and a sweet little romance.

At times, there were cases where the writing was a little confusing or it seemed like things happened just to happen, but with this being a debut novel, I have so much faith these things can be ironed out.

Overall, the race sequences were really well written and very intense. The friendship between Kel and Dira was a great example of best friends being there for each other unconditionally while still calling each other out for stupid decisions.

Kel and Coup’s relationship felt like a whirlwind, with them going from rivals to lovers pretty fast, but I do feel like it was building up the entire time, so it wasn’t abrupt. I ended up really liking how they were able to break down each other’s walls and be there for each other.

And then the main star of the show, Savita, perfectly encapsulated how I think a hot-headed and intelligent phoenix would act. This is Kel’s best friend (also, totally a green flag that Sav got comfortable with Coup so fast), and Kel’s entire motivation. Every decision she makes is with Savita in mind. I loved how Kel acknowledged Sav should be free and it really hit the message of how if you love something, you should set it free. And maybe, like Sav goes for Kel, the thing you set free will come back and eat the enemy who is trying to kill you for you.

Overall, recommend this book and will be following this author in the future.

Of Flame and Fury is a thrilling and emotionally charged debut that throws readers headfirst into a world of phoenix racing, political corruption, and a slow-burn romance that simmers beneath the surface. Mikayla Bridge has created a unique fantasy setting on the island of Cendor, where phoenixes aren’t mythical legends—they’re raced, bred, and exploited, often at the cost of their freedom. And right in the heart of it all is Kel Varra, a strong-willed protagonist who refuses to let the world dictate her fate—or that of her beloved phoenix, Savita.

From the very first chapter, the book moves at a rapid pace, immersing readers in high-stakes action and tense emotional dynamics. The concept of phoenix racing is fresh and compelling, and it’s easy to get swept up in the adrenaline of each race and the intense moral questions they raise. Kel’s bond with Savita is one of the book’s strongest elements, rich with emotion and layered with a powerful message about love, loyalty, and choosing compassion in a world built on cruelty.

The romance between Kel and Coup, her supposed rival, is a slow burn that develops through shared hardship and reluctant trust. While it doesn’t reach a fever-pitch level of spice, it feels genuine and grounded. Some readers may wish for more romantic tension or heat, but what’s offered is a refreshing shift from insta-love tropes—it’s careful, tender, and believable.

That said, the story isn’t without its flaws. The breakneck pace sometimes leaves the reader craving more background—whether it’s about the politics of Cendor, the history of the phoenixes, or the motivations behind certain characters’ choices. The world is fascinating but feels like it’s only just been scratched on the surface. Additionally, the ARC version of the book ends somewhat abruptly, with little resolution or epilogue, leaving readers eager for more closure than they receive.

Still, Of Flame and Fury stands out for its originality, emotional core, and the strength of its protagonist. Kel is the kind of heroine readers can root for—fierce, flawed, and deeply human. Her journey is one of resilience and defiance in the face of systems that devalue both people and creatures. With themes of rebellion, justice, and found family, this book will appeal to readers who love their fantasy fast, emotionally layered, and driven by character over cliché.

Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, Iron Widow, or anyone craving a new kind of fantasy adventure, Of Flame and Fury is a solid start to what promises to be an exciting series. Here’s hoping book two dives even deeper into the magic, politics, and romance that made this debut shine.

This story about Kel and phoenix racing had a unique concept that immediately caught my attention. It started strong, but the pacing quickly became uneven. After a solid beginning, the story seemed to stall and drag for a while before picking up again near the end—though not quite enough to fully pull me back in. The idea was original and promising, but the execution didn’t quite land for me. This was my first book by this author, and I’m honestly on the fence about whether I’ll pick up another.

2.75 stars

I really, really wanted to enjoy this book. Despite my best efforts, I DNF'd at 52%.

The writing was simple but every sentence ended in punctuation, so there's that. The dialogue was very awkward and clunky and did not flow between the characters.

The characters did not feel fleshed out or likeable. The fmc's mood changed drastically and she did not have a consistent personality. The mmc was an obnoxious amalgamation of booktoks worst mmcs.

I feel like the premise of the story had a lot of potential but the execution was simply no there. As I was reading this, it felt like a knockoff version of Fourth Wing and that the author was trying to capitalize on the hype before it died out.

Thank you for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 ⭐️’s rounded up!!
I usually have a hard time getting into fantasy’s but this book was easy to follow! Pretty simple world building and not an extreme amount of characters. I really liked the Fourth Wing vibes we got and loved the relationship between the Phoenix’s and their owners. I definitely plan to read the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book! 💕

Thank you so much to the author and Macmillan Publishing for the gifted eARC of this title. 🫶🏻

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚪(YA Fantasy)

💜Of Flame and Fury
✨by Mikayla Bridge
💜available NOW!

Wowww! This was such a fantastic debut, and the fact that it was my first YA fantasy of the year was so beyond amazing!

Mikayla did a wonderful with crafting these characters, world building and making an over all entertaining story! Our MMCs, Kel and Coup, really brought the enemies-to-lovers trope to life as they quite frankly don’t like each other from the get go. 🤭

The friend group was a great addition and I absolutely love the F1 style phoenix 🐦‍🔥 racing because that’s just so unique and creative!!!

I loved this YA fantasy and definitely look forward to this author’s next release!

*I received a gifted copy of this title and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. Opinions are my own.*

such a great concept for a YA romantasy! i loved this so much, a very unique world and magic system, i love the phoenix’s and the relationships between kel and sav and the rest of the team. the enemies to lovers high stakes political intrigue all come together in such a unique and entertaining way! love this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Of Flame and Fury
Of Flame and Fury started off a bit slow for me. I honestly wasn’t sure if it was going to be my kind of book. But if you’re anything like me, stick it out past the first 15%! Once I got past that point, I started to really get invested in the characters, and the story began to grab my attention.
One of my biggest struggles was the heavy focus on racing in the beginning. It’s just not my favorite element in books, and since so much of the start revolves around it, I found myself a bit bored at times.
I really enjoyed the world-building overall. There were times I wanted more depth and detail, but the way the world is introduced leans heavily on fact-telling instead of weaving it naturally into the story, which can feel a little overwhelming to absorb. Some plot points were predictable, but there were a few twists and mysteries that genuinely surprised me!
I’m always a sucker for a good found family, and I loved that this was such a strong theme here. I do wish there had been a bit more backstory for the characters. We get glimpses, but I’m greedy when it comes to character depth (which is probably why I tend to prefer series over standalones!).
Elements to love:
🔥 Mythical creatures - phoenixes, sprites, and more
✨ Found family - a tight-knit group of loyal friends
💥 Enemies to lovers - of course!
🏇 Racing - think Mario Kart meets flying, fire-breathing phoenixes that could burn you alive at any moment
📚 YA - but with characters who feel older because of how fast they had to grow up
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Mikayla Bridge’s first book, Of Flame and Fury, is an absolute blast! It’s set on a scorching island where phoenix racing is not just a sport, it’s a way of life. Kel Varra, an underdog, and her beloved phoenix Savita have to rise from the ashes to challenge the elite racers. Along the way, they dodge fiery talons, corporate conspiracies, and a dangerously attractive rival named Coup. Coup quickly becomes the kind of reluctant partner you can’t stop rooting for.

The races are a mix of Formula 1 and mythical mayhem, with the phoenixes getting hotter the faster they fly. I couldn’t wait for the next race! But what really sets this story apart is the charming chemistry between Kel and Coup. Their enemies-to-lovers banter is electric, and their romance grows from mutual respect, shared danger, and the occasional spark that turns into a full-blown flame without ever feeling forced or insta-love.

To make this 5 stars, the world-building could have been better and the pacing more consistent between the high-octane racing scenes. But this was a binge-worthy read that kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re a fan of romance and fantasy with a sense of humor, then Of Flame and Fury is definitely worth checking out!

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book reminded me of THE PHOENIX KEEPER but without the cozy vibes. We accompany a phoenix tamer who is part of a racing team, the Howlers. Yes, racing. Think F1. This society is crazy about seeing phoenixes and their flames race each other, and these animals are very cutthroat and wild; so, in other words, they're not pets.

We accompany the behind-the-scenes of the Howlers, including the many setbacks that bring about a new rider who our main character *absolutely* despises, and a billionaire who is committed to "helping" phoenixes out and curing an epidemic that's been slowly killing people. All throughout we get an amazing found family with a realistic dynamic, as well as the relationship between our girl, Kell, and her phoenix, Sav, who is entering her first rebirth season and is therefore more agitated than usual (totally relatable if you ask me--I too would freak out about dying).

The romance falls within the typical enemies-to-lovers path, but I wouldn't say it's the main driver of the plot. Fortunately, we actually get a pretty compelling story going on that made this fast paced and exciting to read. I think the big bad of the story was hinted at from the very beginning, but what made this character a good villain was actually their motivation. They weren't cartoonishly evil, they were just too blinded by a cause that they believed was worth certain sacrifices. This made this character a lot more three dimensional and brought about more complexity to the book, including ethical questions that I appreciated.

Overall, I had fun reading this book but I recognise I'm not a huge racing/F1 fan, which lead to my being pretty bored during the racing scenes (truly lost interest after the second one), which is what is bringing the rating down.

A Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge is a gripping fantasy romance packed with fiery tension, complex characters, and a richly imagined world. The slow burning relationship between the fierce heroine and her brooding love interest keeps the pages turning, while the high-stakes magic and political intrigue add thrilling depth.

I have been diving more into the fantasy/romantasy world and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read this one. So good.

Thank you so much to Macmillan and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a pleasant surprise and an amazing new world to dive into. Phoenix racing, but think Mario Kart meets....NASCAR, maybe? Or horse racing I guess would be more likely. If the horse was flying through the air and burning hot enough to kill you, and there were parts of the track trying to kill you, and there are other phoenixes trying you kill you.

Our main character Kel owns a Phoenix that is part of a racing team, but in one bad race they lose both their rider and their tech engineer, so she and her best friend are forced to join forces with a rival team. Coup, a wild card rider that takes too many risks, and his brother, who works as in PR/ his agent.

I had such a fun time with this book! The romance was so cute (enemies to lovers), the stakes were high, the twists were VERY twisty (and unexpected!) And the ending had me gasping. There HAS to be another book because I need to know what happened.

Of Flame and Fury is a standalone story about Kel, who is involved in phoenix racing and through a series of events, is pushed towards a rider who she hasn't liked in the past. They end up in a situation and working with a person who may have more interest in the phoenixes than racing alone. I really liked the concept of phoenix racing and it wasn't something I'd read about before. It definitely like there was potential for more than one book being set in this world.

I struggled with the pacing a bit. For me, it felt like we got some good setup at the beginning, but then there was a chunk of time where not a ton happened, only for ALL THE THINGS to happen at the end that there could have been more hints along the way. The eARC I received was missing the epilogue, and I've heard that it is important so I will get my hands on that as soon as I can.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This is a perfect YA fantasy read. I loved the characters, the world, and the magic. I did not want this book to end! It did feel a bit predictable, but not in a bad way it just made the characters interactions a little cheesy at times. I really enjoyed the writing, I never was confused and the races had me gripped. If you loved this book, I think you would enjoy Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow.