I struggled to get into the storyline. The narrator was good, but the plot didn’t pull me in. I stopped listening several times and it took awhile to finish.

Firebird
🎧Auduibook review🎧
Dual narration by Blair Dade & Kale Williams
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!

📚Story: This was a darker fantasy, filled with themes and topics that would make some readers uncomfortable- and it’s definitely not for everyone. The story was interesting, and definitely had moments that pulled me in. Had the pacing been a bit faster, or had some of the worldbuilding been delivered in a more organic and streamlined manner, I would’ve been far more invested in the story. It did drag out at parts, and I found myself rewinding more than once after zoning out during some scenes. That being said, I will likely continue with the second book to see where everything goes. The romance was darker and complex, with just enough spice to keep things interesting. The classic fantasy elements, such as the dragon shifting MMC, were definitely the highlights of the book.

🎧Narration: I enjoyed both narrators, and thought they did a nice job of giving life to each and every character. They are both very talented, and added layers of complexity to the overall story. Would definitely listen to more by both of these narrators.

Overall: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plotline: 4/5
World-Building: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Tropes: MF Romance; Master/Slave; Enemies to Lovers; Dragon Shifter

Themes: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Spice Factor: 3
Enjoyment Factor: 4/5

Audiobook: 4.5/5
Review: I really enjoyed this book. The Roman setting was amazing, and the addition of dragon shifters was so interesting and added a ton to the world. The relationship was a bit weird in the beginning, but I still enjoyed the romance and how it evolved over the course of the story. I am fascinated with how the world works and the politics of the story, and am excited to read more. The audiobook was fantastic as I could not put it down and kept it going while on an airplane just so I could know what happened.
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not for me, the slave/master dynamic is something that should be handled with a lot of care or avoided all together. Parts of the story were intriguing but most were not well developed and fizzled out. I liked the narrator.

I love Juliette Cross and her books! I struggled with this audio. There was a part in the beginning that made me uncomfortable listening to and I unfortunately was unable to continue. It was well written though and the narrator did a great job from what I listened to!

I dont think this was the one for me. It was a bit different than what was advertised and I couldn't make it through the whole story because some parts were jarring and felt out of place.

DNF at 60%.

First, I don't think this book was marketed correctly or else I wouldn't have picked it up. There is a slave/master relationship that was not disclosed prior to release of the book when reviewers took note of it.

Secondly, it was just terrible. There was barely any plot or character development besides "she is mine", "he's the worst but I can't deny his sexiness", etc.

I don't fucking care.

I was really excited to pick up Firebird because I liked the idea of a Roman-inspired world with dragons. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me. The romance felt uncomfortable because of the big power imbalance. I wasn’t a fan of how the story used themes of slavery and trauma to drive the relationship. Even though the atmosphere had some interesting ideas/themes, I struggled to stay invested because of how off putting the relationship was to me.

I liked it!! Was this the biggest hit of the year? No. But I enjoyed it and the audiobook helped move it along and get the most out of it. I think it's right up there with many of the popular fantasy releases. Good and enjoyable but not completely mindblowing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this Audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate it!

Firebird blends Roman-era intrigue with dragon-shifter magic and a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance. Malina and Julian have electric chemistry, and the worldbuilding is rich and immersive. Some of the darker themes are intense, but if you love high-stakes romantasy with heat and heart, this one’s for you. thank you NetGalley for the eArc!

This story swept me away with its mix of dark romance, dragons, and an alternate Roman Empire. I loved how the world-building felt rich and immersive, and the slow-burn relationship between Julian and Malina was full of tension and heart. The political intrigue and rebellion storyline kept me hooked, and I appreciated how the story didn't shy away from the darker realities of that era. While a few parts felt a little repetitive, overall, I was fully invested. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Blair Dade and Kale Williams, and they brought the characters to life beautifully. Their performances captured the tension, passion, and intensity of the story. This is a gripping and emotional fantasy romance that fans of dragons and high fantasy will enjoy. I can’t wait for the next book.

This is a dark romantasy and not for all. But I enjoyed it.

Malina is sassy and strong and I loved her fire. Julian is also strong and intimidating in his role. You see their spark immediately. Not a typical love story.

And ... DRAGONS!

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC.

3.5⭐️-rounded down
It's not so much that it's a dark, captor/slave Romantasy as it was some of the cringey writing. I also understand the discourse around this book- however, even though in her mind she is a slave, he never saw her that way, but it was more so to protect her. I've definitely seen worse versions of this trope-not that it's ever any better. Overall, I think the story has potential, but I thought that it was kind of rushed and there wasn't enough character development.
"Treasure", "my mate"... all the roaring... it was just a bit much. And like I said, got a bit too repetitive. I'm assuming the ending was the set up for one of the sisters' story, but if she thinks they're dead-also who would they wind up with- is what might get me to read the next installment.
Definitely look up trigger warnings

This is a fun, fast paced romantasy read!
There was a lot of hype about this book and it definitely delivered. I enjoyed the world building. I didn’t get board of it. I was interested in it the whole time. The romance was great too. I literally live for the fated mates trope. I loved that the MMC was a possessive dragon shifter. Our FMC is a stubborn and strong witch. I will say that I thought the ending was very rushed and I wanted more details and more romance at the end. But I am excited for book two and will be reading it! Also the physical book is absolutely STUNNING!

3 ⭐️

I have a lot of mixed feeling about Firebird. On one hand I really enjoyed the story and the concept of a dark fantasy set in an alternate roman empire where dragons rule. I love that we were able to see the complex society and inklings of political themes that we get in House of the Dragon, but the story fell flat for me. I expected more political intrigue and maneuvering with trickles of the romantasy elements. I think the world-building was a bit lacking as well compared to what it could have been - Roman Theology mixes well with Dragons, but I feel like the author didn't go deep enough into the world building, just focusing solely on a questionable relationship.

Malina is an interesting character - a witch, a prisoner of war and someone fighting to just live. She's captured and taken as a body slave by Julianus, the nephew of Caesar and a powerful general and dragon shifter. However, it doesn't take long for him to fall for her and become obsessed with her. They're in a master/slave romance and that wasn't accurately portrayed in the marketing for this book which is a major issue. I don't feel I can speak on the romance there, but it didn't make me love the book. The additional SA Malina and other slaves endure may be accurate to the time period, but I didn't love reading about it. I wish it had similar elements with the dragon shifters and political intrigue, but without concealing the more unsavory elements under it just being called "dark romantasy".

<b>Audiobook Narrated by Blair Dade & Kale Williams.</b> The narration was the absolute saving grace of the story. I don't think I would've enjoyed reading this as much as I did if I was physically reading it. The performances easily get a 5 ⭐️

<i>the star rating is only regarding the content of the book, not the performance.</i>

🔥 Alternate Roman Empire setting
🔥 Master/slave relationship
🔥 Touch her and ☠️☠️☠️
🔥 Dragon Shifters
🔥 Forbidden Magic

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for sending this audiobook (ALC) for honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | An inferno of dragons, destiny, and off-the-charts chemistry—easily a top read of my year

Juliette Cross takes every “dark romantasy” promise—fiery beasts, fated lovers, high-stakes empire intrigue—and turns it into a breathtaking, ear-devouring experience in Firebird. Imagine House of the Dragon’s political claws meeting From Blood and Ash’s addictive swoon, then crank the heat until your earbuds melt.

🎧 Narration that breathes fire
Blair Dade imbues Malina with equal parts mystic grace and steel, while Kale Williams gives General Julianus a gravel-rich intensity that had me rewinding just to hear certain lines again. When they share the mic, the tension crackles like a live sparkstone—every whispered vow and dragon-roared command lands straight in the chest.

🐉 A Rome ruled by dragons
Cross reimagines the empire with sky-raking deathriders, molten aerial battles, and court machinations sharp enough to draw blood. The lore is lush but never bogs down; instead, each revelation about witches, talismans, and draconic lineages pulls you deeper into the firestorm.

💔🔥 Lovers bound by fate (and claws)
Julianus—ruthless conqueror, reluctant protector—meets his match in Malina, the dancer-prophet who can set both kingdoms and hearts ablaze. Their bond treads the edge of feral possessiveness and soul-deep devotion, making every stolen moment feel like the calm before an eruption.

✨ Why it soars above the rest
Pulse-pounding action balanced with intimate, “pause-the-track-to-breathe” tenderness.

Complex world-building that feels both ancient and otherworldly.

Narrators who elevate every beat—turning an already stellar script into a sensory feast.

Bottom line? Firebird isn’t just a read; it’s a full-body experience—one that left me scorched, swooning, and desperate for more. Five blazing stars, and my wholehearted shout-out as one of the best audiobooks of the year.

3.5 stars for me. I have seen all the mixed reviews on this one. I enjoyed this romantasy take on Rome and understand there is some of the discourse about the dynamics between the main characters. Overall, this one was good and I enjoyed that it was a bit different than other romantasies I have read recently. The magic system is the book was very intriguing and the fantasy elements are well done. I think this could have definitely benefited from better marketing and been more transparent about the slave/master dynamic.

This one just didn’t sit right with me. While I went in expecting a dark romantasy, I wasn’t prepared for the intensity of some of the themes. There are elements like master/slave dynamics, attempted SA (not between the main characters), and dubious consent (again, not between the leads), but still it was enough to make me uncomfortable. I kept hoping it would redeem itself, but it just didn’t work for me. Some moments felt unnecessarily heavy, and it took away from any connection I might’ve had with the characters or romance. Just wasn’t my kind of read.

Firebird by Juliette Cross is a romantasy set in an Ancient Rome where dragons rule. Malina is captured by Roman leader Julianus, a fierce dragon warrior who can shapeshift into a powerful man, nephew to Caesar. To protect Malina, he makes her his body slave and in doing so turns both their worlds upside down.

With Firebird, I would advise doing your research as this may not be for everyone. Additionally, I could’ve did with out the constant references to a certain piece of male anatomy, though it does go with the time period it was set in. The narration of the audio book also adds a lot to the story, and I do think listening to it is a definite must.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bramble for the advance audio arc!

If I could give a book zero stars I would. I had heard a lot about this book but I wanted to make my own opinion because booktok tends to exaggerate. However this book was the absolute worst. Not only is this author trying to make a slave/ master romance sexy but she is also using the trauma of the Romani people to make this romantasy book. When I read this book all I could see and from what she referenced the struggles that the Romani people have faced being made as inspiration for a romance. It was disgusting but unfortunately I expect nothing less from a white woman. I will never read anything from this author again.