Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to sample this book. While not the most captivating or original I've read, Of Flame and Fury presents an interesting beginning and I wouldn't be opposed to reading more. I liked that Kel and Coup's relationship seemed to contain real dislike for each other that wasn't unnecessarily distracted by physical attraction like some other books do, although I believe this book should be marketed as "rivals to lovers" rather than enemies. I particularly enjoyed the lore and portrayal of the phoenixes; I liked that they were depicted as dangerous animals that need proper training and care to handle. I'm not entirely sure where the Iron Widow comparison comes from just yet, but I suppose that will be coming later. All in all, a nice if slightly tropey read.

Stop teasing me with the sampler and give me more. I’m already invested and I need more!!! I was a little hesitant going into this because it’s compared to Fourth Wing and Iron Widow, which I do love both yes but sometimes that worries you when it’s compared to two of your favorite books. This, however, just the sampler did not disappoint.

This was fascinating and I cannot wait to read more of this book! The world building is intriguing - though I can see it overwhelming some readers. The idea of racing phoenixes - who are at their core wild and untamable - is fascinating. I love a world that combines technology and magic! Just in these first 100 pages I am utterly hooked by the action, the stakes, and the world as a whole. I can't wait to see if Kel and Coup are able to work together and if Savita will ever sing for Kel.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR) for the opportunity to read the first 10 chapter sampler of Of Flame and Fury! The author throws you right into the world in the very first chapter with a pretty intense ending. I wasn't feeling totally connected to the characters or story (but again, this was only the first ten chapters) but I may end up picking this up over the Summer. I personally wasn't getting a Fourth Wing or "enemies to lovers" feeling - maybe more dislike or rivals? I'm not sure! Hard to say in only ten chapters but this does seem like a book with promise and a unique plot. :)

These first ten chapters were so easy to get into.
I was hooked from the very beginning, where we learned about phoenix racing, and how brutal it is. Our main characters at the moment; Kel, Dira, Coup and Bekn might seem like they dont work well together, but I have a feeling if they put their differences aside, their group, the Crimson Howler's would really prosper.
Anyway, these chapters sold me on this book, and hopefully I can get the rest of this arc!

This sampler contains only the first 10 chapters of Of Flame and Fury. And let me tell you, I was hooked from the beginning. We are immediately thrown into the thick of phoenix racing and learn the different roles on the team...and the tragedy and violence of the sport.

Bridge has set the stage early for us to learn more about the phoenixes, Kel's father, and how the government works. I am screaming for a map so I can see how these islands are set up! She has eased us into this world so that we can easily understand what is happening and how the world works but leaves us wanting to learn more.

I think this might be my favorite way for a couple to be forced into fake dating. I also love the grumpy/sunshine thing going on where Kel is the grumpy and Coup is the sunshine. I cannot wait to see their relationship develop more.

My heart is breaking for Kel at the end of this sampler and I am desperate for the rest of this book! I will definitely be snatching it up as soon as possible!

Ok first off whoever compared this to Fourth Wing was obviously drunk. The only similarities are mythical creatures. I really enjoyed the Phoenix racing aspect of the book. I will say Kel is not my favorite she’s a grumpy bitch. Coup however is awesomely charming. I can’t wait to read the rest of the book when it releases.

My only complaint is that it’s just a sample and I want the whole book 😆 After trying the sample, I know I’ll want to continue with the full book. It starts off with lots of action and I like the way it’s written, giving enough detail without being too wordy with the world-building. The racing Phoenix is awesome! Bring on the full book!

Thanks for the opportunity to try the sample!

I am trying to start all my reviews with basic data points that I look for when selecting my reads. This book is third person, with primary focus on 1-2 characters (Kel and Savita), plenty of dialogue to drawer the reader in and chapters about 10 pages each. I loved how this story just dropped us into the world. Although this was just a sample (10 chapters), I found the story to be great in world building and character development. I love the concept of riding the phoenix and the blend of sci-fi feeling technology. I cannot wait to get to read the rest of the book and listen to the audio in an immersion read experience.

This was SO good! I was excited to see a sample for this book because, while I thought it sounded pretty interesting, I wasn’t sure I would get into the racing aspect. I no longer worry about that. I’m hooked from just this little bit I read. I love the writing style and the characters. There is so much more I want to know, such as Dira’s backstory as well as the Coupers brothers. In other words, I am stoked for this book and now I really hope I can get the full ARC!

I rated this book based on the fact that i only had a sampler and I'm not sure how the rest of t he story will go. Once i read the book i will re rate it on all my posted reviews.

There is so much action right away on the first page to hook you right in and to be curious about what’s going on. We start in the middle of a Phoenix race not just the beautiful birds flying around.

We have romantsay tropes of enemies to lovers, found family, and games and trials. I was only given an arc of the first ten chapters and I can’t wait to finish and see what this book has in store for readers!

This book was tagged at similar to Fourth Wing and while i can see the way it would be considered similar with just the sample alone I couldn't in good faith truly agree however; it is a great read so far and I am excited to read this once it's released. Mark your calendars for July 8th 2025!

Thanks to NetGalley for the sample eArc!

I loved this book! It does have similar vibes to Fourth Wing. I was worried when the synopsis said similar to “Fourth Wing.” Usually when books say “similar to” or “for fans of a book”, it never ends up meeting expectations. That was not the case with “Of Flame and Fury”! It had the fan favorite romantsay tropes of enemies to lovers, found family, and games and trials. I was only given an arc of the first ten chapters and I can’t wait to finish and see what Makayla Bridge has planned for this book! Mark your calendars for July 8th 2025!

Thank you so much for the chance to read the first few chapters. The overview of Phoenix racing is really cool! The blend of sci fi and fantasy is definitely right up my alley. I'm excited to see how this unfolds, however I'm not sure I would call it enemies to lovers. We shall see!

Of Flame and Fury is wonderful debut by Mikayla Bridge, giving us high speeds and magical creatures!

At the beginning of the book we are introduced to a series of different Phoenix races and are giving a run down what their abilities, as well as strength and weaknesses are (This truly helps later!).
We meet our new friend and FMC that is the lead of her racing team, which has to form an alliance of sort with another team - begrudgingly, might I add. Enemies to reluctant lovers, with one big bad who is wanting to take our FMC's Phoenix.

Great mix of technology, magic, enemies to lovers and the found family trope!

Give it a try and I am sure you will enjoy the race!

This seems so unique, cool, and has such a fun, interesting concept to it! This chapter summary has me totally hooked, and I'm totally ready to read the rest of the book!!

Interacting with Magical Creatures? I was able to read the first 90 pages and I’m hooked into the story. I enjoyed elements so far, the found family with her friend, the sass the main character has and the annoyance she has with the male main character and his wild ways. I’m very interested in the plot, she is struggling for money and was hoping for a win on that race. She is loyal to her friends when someone comes up offering an investment opportunity.

I just wished the descriptions were a tad more detailed, just a few more sentences on top of what was already woven in. We are in this magical dystopian with these beautiful creatures. I appreciate the descriptions of the species up front but was their phoenix the only Carnel Phoenix in that first race? The phoenix that one first, what species was it? I feel like that is something the main character could have just casually mentioned/thought of while she was up in the stands to help us get settled into the world. It could have helped cement herself as very knowledgeable of not just her own Phoenix but the species as a whole.

And the descriptions of her friends seem to be lacking. I know her friend is dark skinned but that was all the description said. When the photo fell of the two of them and their original teams after their first win fell, she could of picked it up and just thought about how her friends’s colored hair has grown since then while her own lanky figure was already a few inches taller or something to just give a little more descriptions to fill out these characters.

Overall it is still a very good book. I like the plot and the characters and look forward to picking up this book to know the rest of the story!!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group for sneak peak of the story!

This review is for the first 10 chapters / 90 pages of the book. I received a free chapter sampler from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced chapters.

Magical creatures are ALWAYS a plus for a book in my opinion.

In Of Flames and Fury, we follow Kelyn (Kel), who is a Phoenix tamer participating in a racing league to earn money to save her bird and her farm. She begrudgingly has to work on the same team as Coup, a reckless racer that she dislikes, in order to keep her dream alive.

Positives:
The phoenixes are the most interesting aspect of this book. I enjoyed getting to learn more about the different species and how they varied in size, speed, and temperament. The racing element added a bit of action and competition, which was fun, but I was also interested in the tension between the CAPR and folks who were advocating for better treatment of phoenixes.

I love it when a book has in-world swear words or phrases & 'flames' is such a cool choice for an expletive :)

The writing was really easy to read and the pages flew by.

Negatives:
I'm tired of romances being billed as enemies-to-lovers when there's really like...no reason to call them enemies. She doesn't like him because he's cocky and reckless. He doesn't like her because....??? he perceives her as uptight? Maybe more of this tension is revealed in the rest of the book, but I just wasn't really sold on it.

Overall:
I was entertained reading this, but it really didn't pull me in as much as I wanted it to. I would say if you're interested in the premise, give it a shot! I think this is a case where I'm simply not the target audience for this, but I'm sure it will be a hit with the right readers.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced chapters :)

This sucked me in and when I reached the end of the sampler I was drooling over how to find the rest of the story.

July 8th can’t get here soon enough!!

***This is my initial review after reading the first 10 chapters***

Of Flame and Fury had my full attention right from the start! I was introduced to a plethora of interesting characters (and phoenixes) who immediately stole my heart. I’m all about an enemies-to-lovers trope and the electric chemistry between Kel and Coup gave me life!!

This book is packed with exhilarating phoenix races, thrilling danger, heartwarming found family dynamics, and undeniable romantic tension. This book is a summer must read!

Of Flame and Fury has a new feel to it for the fantasy worlds. It's based on Phenoix racing, and a world where there are several different species of them. I do kind of wish I knew a bit more about the world since it started right into basically a race without much back story, and in the few chapters we are given we learn very little about the actual world. We really only meet 6 characters, which is fine and really expected in a sample. It will be very interesting to see where the story goes from here. So far it is set up to be action packed.
I received this ARC from publishers via Netgalley
#OfFlameandFuryChapterSampler #NetGalley