Mikayla Bridge’s Of Flame and Fury is a magical fantasy that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s got a strong heroine, epic battles, and a slow-burn romance that adds depth without getting in the way. The world-building is immersive, and the magic system is unique. This book was marketed to fans of Fourth Wing, and I think that is pretty accurate. If you liked Fourth Wing, and you like YA fantasy, you’ll definitely like this one. It’s got strong characters, a thrilling plot, and emotional moments that’ll make you feel something. It’s a promising start to a series that’ll leave you wanting more.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC!!

Of Flame and Fury has REALLY good bones. To me, it just did not fully deliver on what is was promising. I wanted more phoenix racing, more of the enemies to lovers vibes, more rebellion, more explanation, just more! The plot hit every beat that it needed to to tell a good story, I still enjoyed it, but I wanted more depth out of everything. Because there was so much that happened in this installment, some things felt surface level and not fully explored. It's almost like the first half would have made a great first installment, with the second half being the next book.

The entire Cristo Industries portion felt so choppy, and certain aspects felt so easy for our characters to work through. Like yes their team was competitive at their home location, but they move to this new island and suddenly win every race? And it's so easy for Kel to access any information she's on the hunt for? Some of it just felt too convenient and also rushed. This book would have benefited from a longer page count where we could sit with each place that they went to, sit with seeing the Howlers race more races, sit with even character relationships. I felt like I was told more than shown each relationship that Kel had with the surrounding characters, especially Coups. I knew they were going to be coupled up, but their development felt like it was out of nowhere.

***SPOILERS***
I did think the reveal at the end of Kel having AB was interesting, but it also felt unlikely. The biggest reveal was her not remembering someone in their circle that they had been talking to for months. I find it very hard to believe they didn't mention her in passing or talk about this person more if she was interacting so closely with Kel and the Howlers.

Additionally the epilogue was not included in the eARC, so I'll probably check it out when the book comes out to see if it gives any insight to what might be next or help close out what happened in the last chapter of the book. All in all, that last chapter gave me interest to potentially continue the series (if there is a book two) because I'd be curious to see where we go from here.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️
Themes/Tropes: Fantasy, Romance, Magical Creatures, Betrayal, Found Family

When I tell you I screeeeched when I got approved for this ARC!!! And my goodness did it ever live up to my expectations. I read the synopsis of this and was sooooo intrigued by the premise, and wow did Mikayla Bridge really pull it off.

We have phoenixes and phoenix racing and found family and evil mega corporations and unlikely romance and just omg there’s so much good stuff in this book. It was so unique while still having hints of so many of the things that I love in my fantasy books.

I absolutely adore the bond that Kel has with Savita, and the love that Kel has for all phoenixes. Reading about her fighting to protect them and their home had me in tears multiple times, and I think this installment only scratched the surface.

Now that Kel understands the freedoms that these magical beings truly deserve, what lengths will she go to in order to ensure they get it? I’m really excited for this series and can’t wait for the next book!!

Phoenixes >>>>> Dragons

Of Flame and Fury is a YA romantasy debut focusing around one of my favorite fantasy features: phoenixes. I've always been a lover of phoenixes in books, so I had to request this as soon as I saw it on Netgalley. I was mildly surprised by the truly wild nature of phoenixes in this book, and I really appreciated the questions of freedom and exploitation of nature.
I've seen a lot of reviews comparing this to Fourth Wing, but I honestly preferred this book immensely. Kel is a phoenix tamer who trains phoenixes for racing, and she's desperate for the money that comes with winning. The only issue? She'll need to work with her rival, Warren "Coup" Coupers. I thought the pacing and action were well done, and maybe I'm finally breaking out of a two-month-long reading slump, but I read this in two days, and it kept my attention piqued the whole time. Some of the plot twists were a bit predictable, but there was one major one that I missed completely. I thought the balance of romance and fantasy worked well. Overall, I just really enjoyed the fast-paced, action-packed plot of this book. My only complaint is that the ARC didn't include the epilogue, so I definitely missed some closure there, but I'm hoping this becomes a series.
I liked most of the characters, too, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between the Howlers. Bekn was the unsung hero, in my opinion. I mean, dude wears a fancy apron to cook pancakes...we love him for that. I really liked Dira as well, and her friendship with Kel was nice to see. I wasn't super fond of Rahn, but I think that was because we didn't have much time to connect with her. Kel was fine as a protagonist; I liked seeing her connection with her phoenix, Savita, and her character arc was super fun. I didn't mind Coup too much, and while I wouldn't say he's my favorite book boy ever, he's definitely better than a lot of them. If there ends up being a sequel, I'll be interested to see how the dynamics change with certain developments here.
Of Flame and Fury is the perfect YA romantasy for fans of magical creatures and magical competitions.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4/5

Almost 4 stars. I'm a fan of YA fantasy but sometimes, books can be just a little too YA for my preference. But given that I'm in my mid-30s, that makes total sense, as I am not YA, nor have I been YA for quite some time. I'm truly just not the target audience for this one. That said, I still really enjoyed Of Flame and Fury, but it wasn't without some flaws. Let's start with what is probably the best part of this book. Phoenixes! Anyone that has read reviews of mine knows that I am a sucker for books with animals, and a bigger sucker for books with magical animals. So you better believe that I was HERE for everything phoenix related in this book, and especially the phoenix racing, which was essentially like car racing but with phoenixes. PERFECTION! What didn't I love? This is marketed for fans of Fourth Wing and I just didn't get that with Of Flame and Fury at all. I think that really messed with my expectations. I also found the plot to be kind of predictable and the pacing was off. It took me a bit to get into this one (which to be fair, is often the case with fantasy books), and the first part of this was a bit slow. All in all, I did enjoy Of Flame and Fury, just not a much as I hoped I would. The concept was super unique (again- phoenix racing), and I can see a lot of people really enjoying this. I also think that this was a pretty strong debut that again, had a really cool concept. Was this Fourth Wing but with phoenixes? No. But that's ok, not everything needs to be Fourth Wing. Thank you so much to Bridge, netgalley, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. Describing the book as "Fourth Wing meets Iron Window in this enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy---! --- pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic --". The book is in no way comparable to Fourth Wing. While being described as "enemies to lovers" and a "steamy romance", they share a few kisses towards the end of the book, but that is all.

If I could give 10 stars I would!!! From the very first page you’re pulled in to a world of phoenixes magic racing and slow burn love interest. This book had me constantly on the edge of my seat or pacing the house. The MFC is an underdog you can’t help but root for. She’s stubborn but willing to risk it all. The author does such a great job of world building and edge of your seat drama that makes it impossible to put down. The ending couldn’t have been better executed. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan publishing group for the arc. This is my honest opinion

After a phoenix race goes a bit awry, Kel and her Howler team, what’s left of it, is forced to team up with Coup, a reckless racer and his brother. They don’t get along well at all, but after they both receive an offer from a the mysterious millionaire, Cristo, the Howlers find they have no choice but to accept it and are soon thrust into more wild races, interviews and more. The team will find that there’s more going on at the industry than they imagined.

This book was quite the whirlwind, paced really well and filled with excitement. It was hard to put down, but I let myself soak it in over a few days. I really enjoyed the phoenix magic and the races, the connection that Kel has with her own phoenix, Savita. Savita is such a fun bird, I enjoyed every moment of her.

The romance was *chef’s kiss,* the bickering, the crushing of walls, the growth. Perfect.

The ending took me by surprise and left me wanting more. I highly recommend to those who love fantasy, phoenixes, romance and dangerous races.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the chance to read this incredible arc.

enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy by debut author Mikayla Bridge.

This is what I have been waiting for...I was searching for something different and this was it.

I loved how fast paced it was. And the world building was amazing.

And Savi-Gave me so much anxiety, I swear if something happened to her.

This Fantasy hit all the places!!!!!!

Amazing Five star read!!!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for an eARC of “Of Flame and Fury”! I thought that the book was a thrilling and captivating read.

I loved the worldbuilding and I thought it was immensely detailed and rich. Overall, I felt like the book was fast paced and exciting even though the very start of it was a little slow. Although sometimes the plot was predictable, it was quite a refreshing read for YA!

However, the eARC didn’t include the epilogue and I felt that having the epilogue would have really helped the storyline. Still, I thought it was a fun and exciting read and I would definitely recommend!

🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Fake Dating (briefly)
🔥 Found Family
🔥 PHOENIX RACING

This was SO MUCH FUN. The pacing, the plot, the racing, I absolutely loved it.

We follow Kel & her phoenix Sav and their racing team. Kel is forced to work with Coup, the man she cannot stand, following a tragic accident with the rider of Sav's team. They end up sponsored by a tech billionaire who appears to want to save as many Phoenix as possible. Things end up taking a turn and Sav & her band of friends, her team, must face them.

This felt fresh & original. There is an incredible twist woven throughout the book that is revealed at the end. Some things were a bit predictable but not in a way that took away from the read. I will be waiting very impatiently for the next book!

Thank you so much to the publisher & Netgalley for this ARC.

THOUGHTS: Wow. There are not enough words to describe how intense and fantastical this book is. It is full of angst, passion, action, danger, betrayal, and more. The world-building is beyond scope, drawing you immediately into Kel’s world. In this one, all the action centers around phoenix birds. Yes, the mythological birds that burn to a crisp, then are reborn. Only in this one, they are huge and are used by riders in races. Flaming races that can get you killed. From the first page where Kel, a trainer, is racing her phoenix, Savita in order to earn enough money to save her home, you are drawn into her world. An unfortunate accident gets her rider killed and she is forced to take on another rider—Coup—an arrogant rider with too much attitude. But there’s something about him that both draws Kel and repels her.

They, along with Coup’s brother and Kel’s best friend reluctantly agree to work for a large company who can provide Kel with everything she needs to save Savita from being taken away for her debts. But it comes with a price that might be too high for them to pay.

The only downside I found to this was the end – and the missing epilogue in this ARC. I really, really wanted to know what happened to Kel and Savita! Maybe in the print version? Or a second book? I hope so.

Definitely recommended.


Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for sharing this ARC. All opinions are my own and are not required, requested, or influenced by anyone or anything.

The concept of this book is so cool. Pheonix racing?? They are vicious and fast and flaming hot.

I liked the small mysteries throughout this book. From medical questions of where does AB (a deadly illness) come from, to what is going to happen on the next racetrack, to can we really trust Cristo industries?

I liked the relationship between the two main characters. I loved their first kiss.

I liked how all the characters dealt with some serious issues and bonded over them. They constantly found things to connect with.

What I didn't like about this book was I feel like it lacked some key explanation. It tried really hard to be enemies to lovers, but there was no real reason why Kel hated Coup. The magic of how people were able to ride birds on fire was also very weird.

**spoiler**

The end is revealed that Kel has the illness, and they list all these symptoms as the reason they finally realize. The main one being short term memory loss because she can't remember this girl, they have all been hanging out with for months. Which I found really hard to believe. If you are friends with someone, you talk about them even when they aren't around. Even to say, I wonder if she will be at dinner today? So how did it never come up? I would have liked better if the symptoms were brought in earlier so that the reader could maybe put the clues together. Like maybe when they first arrived at the compound, they could have gotten an exam just asking if they had any sign or symptoms, especially because they just interacted with two people dead from the disease.

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridges is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, with phoenix racing at its heart—fast-paced, dangerous, and exhilarating. I loved how the races weren’t just about skill but also strategy and survival, making every moment feel high-stakes.

Kel is a fierce and determined protagonist, and her dynamic with Coup is everything I love in an enemies-to-allies (and maybe more) story. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and their reluctant partnership adds so much tension and depth. The found family aspect with the Crimson Howlers also warmed my heart—it’s always a bonus when side characters feel just as fleshed out as the leads.

If you love fantasy with action, tension-filled romance, and a unique magic system, Of Flame and Fury is a must-read. It gave me Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow vibes, but with its own fresh twist. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

This book was a little slow to start for me, but by the end of the first part I was hooked! The phoenix racing was an exciting plot and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Some of the plot points were predictable but I have to assume that’s because it’s YA? Overall enjoyable read. I had to take a star off because the eARC did not include the epilogue and it really feels like that was critical to finishing out the storyline. I was really crushed that was missing. Looking forward to this books release and actually reading the epilogue!!

What got me super interested in this book was the fact that they said it was like ACOTAR. I loved acotar. This was okay. It was not a steamy romance like it was listed and I had a hard time getting through the book. The ending was really good and I’m excited to read the epilogue but the beginning was super slow. I feel like I wasn’t super interested until the last 10 chapters. Overall the book wasn’t bad just not entirely what i am into!

Five stars! The characters were excellent and there was a twist I never saw coming! Will keep you hooked from the very first chapter.

This was just what I wanted in a fantasy book! The book was fast paced and very interesting with a great plot and just the right amount of romance. Thank you NetGalley for this amazing e-arc! I can't wait to read more by this new author!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This debut author nailed it! If you love a great magical fantasy book, I recommend reading this! Moreover, it had other great elements in this book as well. It came with action, romance, survival and suspense. It takes you on a wild ride with phoenixes, which had vivid descriptions that will forever be memorable to me. The races were exciting and I was eager to see what happens next!

It had an enemies to lovers trope, along with fake relationships in this book. I really enjoyed all the characters, including the minor characters. It did take a while for the characters to develop, which is understandable. The storyline felt original and it was easy to read. Even though this is in the teens and young adults genre, I feel like this can be read by different age groups. Be sure to read the content warnings. Her first book was definitely a great one that you do not want to miss! I give “Of Flame and Fury” a high 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Mikayla Bridge and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is set to be published in July of 2025!