I hope that the rest of the book is so much more interesting than the sampler. While I love when I book starts off running, I finished the sampler without having any idea what any of the characters even look like. They are just names in my head without anything to identify them by. I wanted more world building and more details. I feel like the story has so much potential to be unique and interesting but without the world building, in my opinion, it fell at little flat.

This sampler was just the first ten chapters of the book and it has me hooked and ready to read the rest!

I am a sucker for a good enemies to lovers and the start of this book did not disappoint on the enemies portion between Kel and Coup with lots of tension when they have to team up. I will have to snag the full book so I can see where the relationship goes and what it evolves into.

The plot so far is interesting and fresh with a lot of action that started right from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this sampler!

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!

I've read a sampler from NetGalley, and I'm hooked! With 10 chapters to dive into, “Of Flame and Fury” by Mikayla Bridge grabs your interest from the very first chapter and doesn't let go!
Meet Kel, our grumpy FMC, a talented phoenix tamer trying to save her father's farm and legacy. Then there's Coup, her arrogant rival and phoenix rider, who's hot-headed and reckless. The tension between them is palpable, and their mutual dislike is entertaining to say the least. And let's not forget Sav, the feisty phoenix MC - “short fuse, aggressive, splattered coloring, high temp”, she's impossible not to fall for!
As one of my highly anticipated YA reads, I'm thrilled to have gotten a sneak peek. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the sampler. I'm now fully invested in the story and can't wait to see what happens next. And thank goodness the full book releases in just a few hours - I can dive back in without much delay!
Funny side note: despite being a huge dragon fan, my one and only tattoo, covering the left side of my rib cage, is a phoenix 🐦‍🔥 Guess you could say I have a soft spot for these fiery creatures!

good chapter and I want to read more and what a hook to get me to read more of this series. loved that it was a different world

wow we're going straight into the heat in the middle of a phoenix race. this is how you write a captivating opening!! it's like F1 races but instead of racing cars they're riding flaming phoenixes??? sign me up. seriously i was instantly hooked and was eager to read the rest of the book.

This was such a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled ride. Phoenixes, racing, betrayal, enemies-to-reluctant-teammates? I’m in. Kel and Coup’s dynamic had me hooked from the start (equal parts tension and chaos), and the world of phoenix racing is just so cool. It’s definitely more plot-driven than romance-heavy, but that worked for me. If the rest of the book is anything like this start, I’m strapping in for the whole series.

An emotional rollercoaster that had me in a vice grip from the start! This is a book with passion and loss, hard choices, and loyalties tested and re-forged. I raced through this book, once I started I couldn't put it down!

I ended up getting a full ARC of this book and left a long review. Based on the first 10 chapters, I was intrigued with the story, but had reservations about the two main characters--Kel and Coup--and their animosity toward each other. I flesh this out a bit in my full review, but the first 10 chapters did hook me, and I eagerly read the full ARC. This is a fantastic start to the series.

Dragons are out, phoenixes are in this summer (don’t worry I am sure dragons will come back but it’s hot and phoenix’s deserve the summer). Add in racing and holy smokes we got a book. While this was only the first 10 chapters, Of Flame and Fury will certainly be one of the top reads of July. Set in a southern Island Kingdom we meet Kel and her team, struggling to survive and well, not kill each other. We see the beginnings of the team dynamic, meet her phoenix, and start to see the dark underbelly of phoenix racing. If the rest of the book is anything like the first part, I cannot wait to see where it goes. There is a fair amount of world building, which is set up for us to dive deeper. Mikayla Bridges is making her debut, and it certainly will come on in what I hope is a blaze of glory!

Thank you to Macmillian for this sampler, I cannot wait to continue with the audiobook!

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge is fantastic. I was surprised that I loved it so much. The reason I say this is because young adult (YA) books have not been my friend lately. I've really been struggling with them as of late. I recently attended an event hosted by Fierce Reads featuring a few debut authors, and hearing Mikayla talk about her book had me rushing to NetGalley to see if I still had time to request an early copy. I found that I could instantly download a preview, but an e-arc was no longer available. I kept digging and found that I could request the audiobook. Figured I would give it a shot.

I am so glad that I did!
Once I was approved for the early audiobook copy, I started listening right away. I was hooked instantly. I've been waiting for a good Phoenix book since Crown of Feathers. Mikayla definitely achieved this with Of Flame and Fury. This book is so action-packed that it was hard to put it down.

Why would you want to put down a book about high-stakes phoenix races?
Think Formula 1 but on very large mythical birds.
Tropes and Themes:

* Enemies to lovers
* Found Family
* Conspiracies
* Fake Dating
* Only One Saddle
* Political Plot
* Racing (high-stakes)
* Grumpy/Sunshine (FMC is the Grumpy & MMC is the Sunshine)
* Slow Burn (but not too slow)

Of Flame and Fury focuses not the race team Crimson Howlers. The team has an unfortunate incident, and now they need a new rider. In steps Warren "Coup" Cooper. Coup was just kicked off his previous team for being too reckless. The last thing Kelyn "Ken" Varra wants is for Coup to join the team. She despised him and his reckless behavior. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, these two and the rest of the team have to team up.

Each Phoenix Racing Team has five team members and one phoenix:

* Kelly Varra (Kel) is the tamer. Tamers train and care for the phoenix.
* Dira is Kel's best friend. Her job is the winger. She is in charge of strategy.
* Warren Couper (Coup) is the rider. He is the one racing on the back of the phoenix.
* Bekn Couper is Coup's brother, and he is the publicist. His job is to secure sponsorships and help with their media presence.
* The last position is the engineer, which the team is initially missing and needs to fill the spot.
* Last but not least, we have Savita (San), our phoenix.

With this new Crimson Howler team, they end up attracting a sponsorship from Cristo Industries, which is run by Canon Cristo. Canes has taken a special interest in Save, and no one knows why. Due to this new sponsorship, the team has to relocate to the facilities at Cristo Industries, where they have to deal with lies, secrets, and tension. Ken knows something is up, but she can't seem to figure out what is going on.

This book takes the reader on quite an adventure. I loved the races, the slow-burning romance, and the political intrigue. I really enjoyed Of Flame and Fury. It has hands down become one of my favorite reads for this year. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I wish I had book two in my hands already.

Now I have one pet peeve with Of Flame and Fury. The use of CAPR (Ceridorian Association of Phoenix Racing) was used way too frequently. It was CAPR this and CAPR that. I think we could have dropped CAPR a few this, and the reader still would have known that it was CAPR involved. Out of the whole book, this is the only complaint that I really have.

On to the narration, since I did listen to the audiobook for this review. Safiyya Ingar did a great job with marketing. Safiyya added emotion that keeps the reader's attention, and she was easy to understand even at 2x the speed. The characters didn't come across as having distinct voices, so I wish this had been better, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed Safiyya's narration. I would highly recommend the audiobook. Definitely check it out.

For a good sampler pack. Can't wait to tell you the actual look!!!!!!!!!!!!fjckfngngxkcktjdk〽️🥳💩🖤🐰🖤😞🖤🐣🖤😊🖤🤣🖤🐣🖤〽️🤣😭😞😭🥳🖤😊

Phoenixes, racing, and betrayal, oh my.

Kel Varra is used to being an underdog, but she knows phoenix racing with the Howlers will eventually pay off. The Howlers are desperate to win, and have paid the consequences for being too eager for the fortunes that come with crossing the finish line first. Now, they need a new rider, and of course Coup Warrens is the best option they have. He is arrogant, reckless, and the current face of phoenix racing. He also happens to be someone Kel barely tolerates, but she's willing to put their differences aside for the team. When a tech mogul comes up to the new Howlers team and is willing to sponsor them to get closer to a win, the Howlers know it would be foolish to turn him down. But, not all is as it seems with this partnership, and Kel may have more than phoenix racing to deal with.

The blurb mentions this being similar to Fourth Wing, and I would like to give full disclosure that this comparison has more to do with the phoenixes and racing than it does with the romance. This book is very much YA, and I would hate to see it get negative reviews when people expect more from the romance vs the plot of this story, which is what mainly kept me hooked throughout. The pacing is fast and fun, and the racing adds a nice touch. The romance is there, but it seemed more like a sub plot to me vs the main plot.

There is a revelation that comes out around the 80-85 percent mark that I thought was genius and did not see coming. The ending is open too, and I hope that means we will eventually get a second book, since I'm not sure if this was meant to be a series or standalone. Regardless, this was a fun YA fantasy and I will be picking up more of Bridge's work in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This sampler definitely made me excited to keep reading. The rivalry between Kel and Coup reminds me of Divine Rivals in the best way possible and the world and racing is so intriguing. I cannot wait to find out more!

Right out of the gate, Of Flame and Fury takes off as a fast-paced story and it continues its momentum through the first 10 chapters I was approved to read. This story follows 17 year old Kel and her Phoenix Racing team. The stakes are high in Phoenix Racing, both on and off the track, as the prize money is a means of survival for the team and Kel. When circumstances change the team dynamic, Kel has to partner with Coup, a Phoenix rider from a rival team, and the enemies-to-(hopefully)lovers tension is palpable. While I was only approved to read the first 10 chapters, this story sets itself up for a plot full of political intrigue, world-building with a rich history of Phoenix species, complex family and friend dynamics, and dangerously exciting Phoenix races.

Ok yes I need to read this asap! I’m a huge fan of iron widow and this has me hooked! Palms sweating and heart racing already!

Thank you for this sampler. I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

From the first page, Of Flame and Fury completely drew me in. The worldbuilding is vivid and fresh, blending fantasy and romance in a way that feels original and immersive. What stood out most were the characters—unique, engaging, and full of life. Each had a voice and depth that made them feel real, and I was especially captivated by the concept of phoenixes—not just their existence, but the twist that they’re racing. That detail alone hooked me right away.

The plot is fast-paced and gripping, with enough tension and mystery to keep me glued to the pages. It’s clear the story is building toward something big, and I’m already eager to read the full book.

If I had one critique about the sample, it would be the emotional pacing in the opening chapters. There’s a heavy emphasis on the sound of a character's scream, which is described multiple times in intense detail. However, the emotional weight behind the event that triggered it felt somewhat glossed over in comparison. The narrative lingers on the auditory impact rather than delving into the deeper emotional consequences, which made that moment feel slightly unbalanced.

That said, it didn’t take away from my overall excitement. This sample promises an epic story full of heart, heat, and high-stakes fantasy. I can’t wait to read the full book and dive deeper into this world.

Highly recommended for fans of romantic fantasy, magical creatures, and strong character-driven stories.

The story of a small island built on the back of phoenix racing as a sport, shows how people are willing to do whatever it takes to make a fortune.

The first hundred or so pages of "Of Flame and Fury", start with a bang and kick us straight into the action with a phoenix race. When tragedy strikes Kel Varra and the rest of her team, the Crimson Howlers, have no choice but to partner with Warren "Coup" Coupers to try and win the race and try to earn their fortune.

Overall, from what I was able to read in the sampler, it's a solid foundation for a fun YA fantasy romance story, with some bad guys brewing in the background. However, I don't think I'll be missing much by not finishing the rest of the book once it comes out. It feels very reminiscent of books like Fourth Wing in a different font. You know instead of dragons let's use phoenixes, but they're huge and we can ride them. It doesn't seem like there is anything new happening here, but that was the case with Fourth Wing and plenty of people loved it still.

This is only a sampler, so I scammed through it to see if I’d like to request the full book. It wasn’t for me personally, but I can definitely see how others would like it.

I immediately when to request the full copy of this book after finishing this sampler. The world building is rich and unique - I have not yet read a fantasy with phoenixes. In many fantasies the mythical creatures are bonded to the main characters, which is somewhat the case here, but I like the aspect that they are still wild animals and dangerous. I don’t like animal racing in general, so I’m interested to see where the plot point of Kel and her father working to better conditions for phoenixes goes. I already love the tension and dynamic between Kel and Coup and am eager to continue the story!