This pheonix book was really unique compared to others I've tried reading. The romance being enemies to l9vers is kind of off, more like bickering rivals to l9vers which im a fan of so the romance was a big highlight to me. Plus the magic and how the pheonixs were made out to be these dangerous wild animals that cant be controlled was really cool and new for the genre. Is definitely a YA fantasy with all the usual tropes of a special girl who takes down the big bad. Fun banter and unique magic se this book apart and kept me engaged. Thanks Netgalley for the early copy of this one, It was enjoyable.

Like F1 racing but with phoenixes. Fast paced and a thrilling ride. Excellent story, I hope there is a sequel!!

Think Formula 1, but make it phoenixes. Also, sometimes knives fall from the sky during races. If that sentence alone doesn’t make you want to read this, I don’t know what will.

Of Flame and Fury follows Kel, a 17-year-old phoenix rider trying to keep her family’s farm afloat after losing both parents. She races with her team, the Crimson Howlers, and ends up being forced to partner with Coup — cocky, chaotic, and unfortunately very good at what he does. They get an offer from a mega-corporation, Cristo Industries, to sponsor them. Which sounds great… except Cristo might be evil? So now Kel and Coup are racing, trying not to die, figuring out what shady thing Cristo is up to, and catching feelings. Classic.

The worldbuilding here is super cool — creative but not overly complicated — and the pacing never drags thanks to all the deadly races. The plot throws a fair share of twists your way, and the mental health themes are handled with care. Also, props to the author for giving every character real depth without overdoing it.

Kel and Coup’s banter-to-lovers arc took a little longer than I wanted, but I had to remind myself they are, in fact, teenagers. Still, the chemistry was solid, and the emotional payoff made sense.

There’s a lot of moral grey area too — multiple villain-coded groups, ethical questions about phoenix control, and no easy answers. The ending got a bit repetitive, and I still don’t fully understand the phoenix-touching rules, but overall? Great debut. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel.

The premise of a team of phoenix racers really caught my attention, and this YA story had a refreshingly unique plot. I didn’t feel particularly attached to any of the characters, and I felt the world building and background details of this series could use some additional depth. For instance—truly explaining how the phoenixes came to be claimed, why some are and some are wild, how intelligent they are, and how the disease some of these people are sick with came to be. Totally get there’s a mysterious element to still be further explored here, but it just felt a little randomly thrown into the mix.

I didn’t feel fully immersed in this world, and was slightly disappointed in the detachment of the phoenixes to their riders. While I respected the aspect of them being wild creatures, and thus not forming a complete attachment to humankind, I expected there to be somewhat of a deeper bond with the main character, who was a gentle and protective tamer. Not much about the phoenixes are explained other than their descriptions.

Overall, the beginning of this series wasn’t incredibly strong, and it will need a bit more development to encourage me to continue it.

This science-fiction twist to phoenix racing was a fun read. Technology meshed with fantasy gives the story an edge pulling it out of the usual mold. Still, for all its potential, the world felt sketched rather than painted. The writing is firmly YA. It's clean and simple but without much depth into the larger machinations of this society. We only see the perspective of the Howlers, and I wish there had been more interaction with other cities, factions and insight into the broader consequences and rise of controlling magical creatures.

There’s a quiet ache beneath the fire in this book. A thread of grief and depression that feels real in a way much of the story doesn’t dare to be. Kel’s bond with her phoenix, Savita, is where this shines. Their connection is forged in loss and desperation. It's a tether keeping Kel from crumbling under the weight of a world that treats phoenixes as disposable entertainment. Those moments—where Kel’s love strains against her participation in Savita’s suffering—are the soul of this story.

The plot is predictable, even as it tries to soar, though the villain feels eerily relevant. But where Bridge nailed the representation of depression and loss, she let Kel’s romance slip through her fingers. The forced relationship with Coup is like smoke—there, then gone, without substance. Their hatred for each other was stiff and the love story was extremely rushed. The moments of honesty and shared grief between the two was where I wanted their bond to deepen.

And the ending, while dramatic, felt hastily assembled. The sudden arrival of a side character, and plot twist for Kel in the last few pages, left me scratching my head. The haphazard execution made what should have been a pivotal moment more of a plot convenience than a payoff.

But the phoenixes burned brighter than the pages themselves. Bridge writes them with reverence, as creatures of fire and fury rendered in such vivid detail that they breathe into your imagination. Every wingbeat feels alive, every plume of flame and ash a reminder that these aren’t just beasts but symbols of hope and power twisted into spectacle. Savita in flight and Savita defiant are the heartbeats of this book, and they make it worth reading.

⭐⭐4⭐⭐

"On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly."

So, I've had this arc for a minute and man am I mad that I waited until now to read it. This is a strong debut novel and I can't wait to see where Bridge takes this series.

Unlike what I've seen in a lot of fantasy novels, Bridge doesn't deep dive into world building and I know that could be a little off putting for some readers. There is also the late addition of what seems to be an important group of people with little to essentially no real explanation, however, I am giving Bridge the benefit of the doubt that they will be playing a larger role in the next book and we'll receive more information about them then.

Kel and Coup have a fun dynamic, a little grumpy x sunshine feel happening with Kel having a pretty short temper and Coup being a popular, though reckless, racer. Now mix that with a dash of faking dating, some forced proximity, and we have the perfect set up for flirty arguments and deep conversations.

If you're into found family, racing phoenixes, fake relationships, political scheming, and conspiracies then I would suggest giving this book a try.

My goodness this was a fun story! It was much more intense than I was expecting, and honestly I loved that about it. The Phoenix racing is quite brutal and chaotic. The world building around the races, the history, and the lore is all really well done and detailed. This is a YA, and as such the character development matches this designation. That said, these characters did not annoy me the way younger characters tend to. They were young and naive but also mature for their ages, in the way of children who went through hardship and loss would be.
Kel was a little tougher for me. I loved her passion regarding Phoenix care and conservation. However, she is a bit self righteous in her opinions about phoenix racing, especially considering she also is involved in the profession. I loved how Coup pointed that out to her because 1. Go Coup! And 2. It made her think on it more and open her mind a little to the grey area between right and wrong. The Howlers as a whole are a great group of kids and a fun take on found family. I like how they all managed to get along and tease each other, but also bounce ideas and stand up for themselves. The enemies to allies to lovers relationship had pretty good development and I loved Kel and Coup’s tension.
As I stated previously, the plot is very exciting and intense. ***Slightly spoilery so look away now if you must*** I like to think of this story as having two main plot points. One of them is more or less predictable but drives the story. The other one took me by surprise and gave me an “oh shit!” moment. Both were great and really contributed to giving this an exciting climax, and I loved the conclusion we get in the epilogue. It’s hopeful but not overly HEA. I think it was perfect.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Macmillan for this ARC opportunity!

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge was probably one of the best debut books I’ve read in a very long time. The book felt so well thought out and managed to be fast paced without being rushed. Set in a unique world full of magical creatures, it was amazing to have phoenixes take center stage—especially in the amazing context of racing them for sport. I was sat.

The rivals to lovers romance is given the perfect amount of tension and attention to make it a central plot point without losing any of the characters or world building. In terms of spice, I felt like this book flirted with transitioning to the older end of YA with some of the descriptive language used. While nothing actually wound up happening on page that would tip into NA territory, I will be curious to see if that line is crossed in the next book. Because there will be a next book… right? Right!?

I absolutely recommend this to anyone that wants to stay in their comfy YA/NA romantasy wheel house but with a fresh take from a fresh author.

I really enjoyed this story. I’m disappointed that there’s a chapter titled epilogue but it’s blank. It feels unfinished. Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The imagery was beautiful and the pacing was just fast enough to keep me reading. I’d recommend it to others and would love to have this be a part of a sequel especially since there was no real ending here.

4.5 stars
This was close enough to a knock out of the park for a debut. I was hooked the entire book. The gamut of emotions this story makes you run through will keep you on your toes for sure.
What the heck was that ending????
I will say that without knowing that this is being marketed towards Fourth Wing fans, I did feel a correlation at the beginning.
The only thing that I didn't like, but made sense for the story, is that the FMC is 17.

High-octane, high-stakes, and hotter than a phoenix mid-rebirth—this debut explodes right out of the gate with everything I crave in romantasy: ruthless rivalries, wild animal companions, dangerous flirtation, and a heroine who’d rather burn it all down than play nice.

Kel Varra is the definition of a ride-or-die MC: fierce, furious, and willing to claw her way through flame and ash for her team, her phoenix, and—unfortunately—her arrogant, infuriatingly hot new partner. Coup is the kind of enemies-to-lovers dreamboat you’ll scream about: smug, skilled, and hiding a tenderness that absolutely wrecks once it finally surfaces. Their chemistry? Off. The. Charts.

The worldbuilding sizzles with molten lava-core creativity—phoenix racing is brutal, sexy, and so vivid it demands a TV adaptation. Add in corporate conspiracies, morally gray tech moguls, and magic that feels genuinely volatile, and you’ve got a plot that never lets up. It’s queasy with tension, rich with heart, and has more twists than a firestorm in a canyon.

Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing’s dragon drama and Iron Widow’s righteous fury, this is the kind of debut that makes you text your friends mid-read to scream, “Oh my god, this SCENE???”

Get ready to ride or die, babe. This book soars.

4.5 ⭐️

I’m still pretty new to the fantasy genre so the beginning is always a little difficult for me. I found this book to be the complete opposite- I was hooked within the first 2 chapters. It was giving elements of Fourth Wing (with much less spice), so I think that’s why I was so intrigued. Regardless, there is no doubt that Of Flame and Fury will be in my top 10 books of 2025.

We love a good enemies to lovers book, and that’s exactly what this was, while also being so, so much more. Some other tropes I picked up on were forced proximity and found family. I think this book could have also done very well as a dual-POV, especially with the initial animosity and slow change between Kel and Coup’s dynamic.

The characters were all honestly very likable, the banter between all characters was great, and I loved how as the book progressed, the characters began to notice similarities they all shared. The bond Kel shared with her phoenix was also truly beautiful.

The epilogue wasn’t included in the ARC I received, but I must know what happened, so you bet I’ll be buying this book right now to find out!!

This was an incredible debut for this author and I look forward to reading more from her (and hopefully a sequel!!!) in the future :)

Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux (BYR) for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⋆⭒˚
F1 racing… but with phoenixes? Say less. It’s got everything I crave in a story—high-stakes competition, sponsorship drama, a vividly layered world, a spark of enemies-to-lovers tension, and a pulse of political intrigue humming beneath it all. Add in corruption, suspense, and you’ve got a fiery cocktail I couldn’t put down.
Sure, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth in a few characters and plot threads—but honestly? this one delivers a full, satisfying story without overstaying its welcome, and I’m all for that.

Mikayla Bridge is a debut author and her book has hit all the marks! I don’t read much YA Fantasy because I find it hard to relate to or focus on the stories but this book had me from beginning to end. There is something so interesting about Phoenix racing and I have never seen it in a plot until now. The world building is fantastic. The author dropped me right into the action with her descriptors and storytelling.

There is an enemies to lovers trope but it’s very age appropriate and doesn’t take away from the plot at all. The thrilling world of magic, phoenixes, and competitive racing where riders lose their lives took me on a journey. Early on, I suspected I knew the plot but the ending will blow you away. I was unprepared and I hope there is another book because I need to know what happens!

At some points, I did feel a little lost but I can’t tell if that was the author’s intention or if there were some plot holes. Of course, if this is a series then we may learn in another book.

Overall, I really enjoyed Of Flame and Fury!

I loved 2/3 and liked the last 1/3 of this fantasy. I loved the fresh concept, the pacing, the character dynamics, the action, and the central conflict. I lost a little enjoyment as everything unraveled & there was one problematic plot point in particular for me, but overall, it was fresh & exciting with enough depth to keep me invested. It felt like fantasy mixed with Sci-fi. Definitely a contender!

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge is a quick & intense young adult fantasy featuring phoenix racing and some romance….

These characters are complex and intriguing — I really loved Savita the phoenix most of all and felt a protective connection to her throughout the book. The world building is easy to follow and the politics aren’t too stressful as a reader trying to escape reality. The romance left something to be desired but perhaps there will be a continuation that will satisfy that.

I would recommend reading this if you are a fourth wing fan or just an adventurous romantic.

Thanks so much to Macmillan and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

There’s a lot here that feels familiar. The world has a big-bad-corporation vibe, the romance hits all the expected YA notes, and there are moments you can see coming a mile away. But then there’s phoenix racing. And that’s where things get interesting.

The author clearly put a lot of care and detail into building out this world, and it shows. The racing sequences are vivid and genuinely fun to read. It has a little bit of a sports romance feel to it, like if you swapped out the phoenixes for Formula One cars and changed absolutely nothing else, the emotional structure would still hold. Personally, I’ll take the phoenixes.

The romance is fine. A solid rivals-to-lovers arc that does what it needs to do. I didn’t find myself overly invested in it, but it wasn’t distracting either. And it’s worth flagging that the stakes here aren’t just theoretical. There’s real danger in this world, and people do get hurt. Some don’t make it out.

Up until the end, I would’ve called this a 3.5. A good, standard YA fantasy with one very cool and creative element holding it above the pack. But then the final scene happened, and it completely caught me off guard. It’s beautifully written, surprisingly emotional, and easily the strongest part of the book. It landed with just the right kind of weight, and that’s what tipped this from “maybe” to a solid four stars.

I hope there’s a sequel. I’d read it.

**Of Flame and Fury** by Mikayla Bridge
★★★★☆

Imagine the exhilarating podracing scenes from Star Wars reimagined as a fantasy adventure featuring majestic phoenixes, and you'll get a taste of what awaits in "Of Flame and Fury."

Bridge delivers exceptional characterization throughout the novel. The personalities of the mythical creatures - particularly challenging to portray convincingly - are crafted with remarkable skill and authenticity. The protagonists display depth and complexity that pulls readers into their world and struggles.

While the worldbuilding could have been more expansive, the strength of the plot and character development more than compensates for this minor shortcoming. The story flows with intensity and purpose, keeping pages turning well into the night.

Though marketed as YA, the novel reads more like adult fantasy, with characters whose maturity and perspectives seem well beyond their stated 17 years. Readers looking for explicit content should note that "spice" is minimal, keeping the focus squarely on the adventure and character journeys.

Despite its length, the narrative maintains momentum throughout. "Of Flame and Fury" proves to be an immersive, thrilling ride that I highly recommend to fantasy readers who appreciate character-driven stories with unique magical elements.

I’m struggling with this one. For a romantic fantasy ya, it’s good. But it’s also lacking in a lot of things that are hard for me to overlook even with it being young adult.

The good: The world building is fantastic. The phoenix races, the phoenixes themselves, and the landscapes are all wonderfully constructed. The characters had depth and acted appropriately for their age. The tension between the love interests was fun. The twists toward the end were absolutely insane!

The bad: I can’t overlook the holes in the world building. Yes, it’s fantasy and not real, but good grief that much heat and certain unfortunate events would not take a minuscule amount of time to heal. Tech isn’t incredibly advanced in the world (no cars), so the idea that one guy can suddenly heal people from near death in weeks is a stretch. The endings of chapters tended to be really melodramatic. Some transitions within chapters were choppy or didn’t make sense. Where did a certain character go when they were saying goodbye? The character was just not there anymore.

BUT, with all that said, I did enjoy the book. It’s fun and fast paced. I would suggest it to anyone who loves YA and would like to dip their toes into fantasy.

Thank you Macmillan for the gifted eARC!

Plot:⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Characters:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building:⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Themes:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As someone who loves animal companions (esp. mythical creatures), I was instantly intrigued when I heard about this book. Rarely do we get to see bonds between characters and phoenixes (probably because of the heat), and I enjoyed how the author used phoenix racing as the avenue for creating the bond. If you're similarly inclined, you will probably enjoy it too. In addition to having the trope of animal companion, this book also has reluctant allies to lovers, found family, phoenix racing, deadly virus, conspiracies, rebel groups, and fake dating.

This book starts out with a bang. We're not gently introduced to the world; we're thrown right into the middle of a phoenix race. The author has great command of language because the opening scene was exhilarating, explosive, and visceral. All I could see in my mind's eye was the action unfolding, and I forgot I was reading. I felt the thrills and the anxiety of each phoenix race in the book. I think that writing immersive action scenes is a skill, which the author does with aplomb.

After the opening scene, we're introduced to the main character, Kel. She is tenacious, loyal, and hard-working. When she is brought to her lowest point, she must give up her morals to take care of her team. Throughout this book, we see Kel remain steadfast and loyal to her friends, old and new. This theme is woven into every page of the book and serves as the stage for Kel's character growth. Regarding the other characters, I enjoyed seeing their own unique personalities, and I hope to see even more in the next book. Coup, the MMC, is Kel's opposite in almost every way. He risks, while she cautions. She's moody, while he's happy. I think their romance was sweet and well-balanced as it didn't detract from the plot. Additionally, I loved the character of Kel's phoenix, Savita. She was wild and mysterious, blood-thirsty and sweet.

The world-building in this book revolved around the phoenixes, their magic, and history. However, I felt like we weren't given enough world-building about the lore of the phoenixes. I wanted so much more. There were mentions of places and regions, but world-building has to be more than just names. We need to understand how those "names" fit into the story and give context. I do understand that this being a first book in a series, we can't be given everything. So I hope to learn so much more in the next book.

At times, the story felt like it had two separate plots: 1) phoenix racing and testing, and 2) mysterious illness with conspiracy. I knew that it would eventually converge and make sense, but the execution at the end felt a little rushed. Despite this, the ending was great, and I can't wait for the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with an eARC to review.