I am a reader, not a writer... so how do I write a review to convince you to read this book?

I am a fan of fantasy/romance (romantasy) novels. Books with dragons, witches, and elves are all exciting to me. Firebird contains quite a bit of this magic in it's pages. The magic system is simple and "believable." There aren't any situations in the story that need to be explained, which is one of my pet peeves.

I wholly enjoyed both main characters. I want to save them in my heart, wrap them up, and save them from all harm. The romance scenes were spicy, but done tastefully at the same time.

I want you to read this book, just so I have more people to discuss it with. I hope for another in the series soon!

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. I loved both of the dual narrators. The male narrator did a great job using a gruff voice in moments that were needed for storytelling.

Thank you to Juliette Cross, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Juliette Cross weaves a mesmerizing tale of dragon shifters, Greek/Roman mythology, and Roman Empire intrigue in Firebird. With its breathtaking world-building and an epic romance at its heart, this book is an unforgettable journey.

Malina is a standout heroine—fierce, loyal, and deeply connected to the goddess Minerva, who has gifted her with the ability to sway people’s emotions. She is not just powerful but also undeniably deserving of the goddess’s favor. Her strength and unwavering loyalty make her a force to be reckoned with, especially in a world ruled by deception and cruelty.

The male main character (MMC) is equally captivating—tough on the outside but carrying a soft heart beneath his hardened exterior. His need to protect others leads him to conspire and plan a secret rebellion against his uncle, the vile Emperor Caesar, is made even more tragic by the fact that he doesn’t know Caesar is keeping a dark secret. Their slow-burning yet intense romance is beautifully executed, featuring the beloved “he falls first” trope that adds emotional weight to their journey.

Cross’s descriptions of dragons are stunning, making them feel both majestic and awe-inspiring. The story’s mix of mythology, romance, and political intrigue keeps the tension high, leading to an incredible cliffhanger that will leave readers desperate for the next book.

If you love powerful heroines, swoon-worthy romances, and a world steeped in mythology and dragon lore, Firebird is a must-read.

The audiobook narrators were both perfect for this book and really delivered and drove this book home

Thank you netgalley and Juliette Cross for the audiobook arc in return for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 Stars)

Firebird by Juliette Cross is a scorching, dark fantasy romance that completely consumed me from the very first scene. Set in a vividly reimagined Rome ruled by dragon shifters and guided by prophecy, this book is rich with mythology, danger, and fierce emotion.

This is very much a dark romance, and readers should be aware that it features master/slave dynamics, trauma, and themes of non-consent, so please check trigger warnings before diving in. That said, the story handles these topics with care and depth, using them to highlight the characters’ emotional growth and resilience rather than glorifying harm.

Malina, the main heroine, is a standout. She’s both vulnerable and strong, navigating a brutal world that tries to bend her but never breaks her. She leads with quiet strength—and when the time comes, she’s not afraid to burn everything down to protect those she loves. I found her absolutely captivating.

Julian, the dragon-shifting Roman commander, is everything a fantasy romance hero should be: loyal, protective, honorable, and kind, even when the world demands cruelty from him. His bond with Malina is slow-burning, intense, and deeply emotional. Their chemistry crackles, and their connection feels fated.

The worldbuilding is phenomenal—a rich blend of Roman history, mythology, magic systems, and political intrigue. I was immersed in every detail and already can’t wait for book two.

And the audiobook narration? Incredible. Blair Dade and Kale Williams brought these characters to life with so much emotion and intensity. I could feel the tension, heartbreak, and longing in every word.

Juliette Cross may have just earned a spot on my list of favorite authors. Firebird is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy, dragons, mythology, and slow-burn romance with teeth.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Juliette Cross for allowing me to review this unforgettable audiobook. I am absolutely hooked.

This story is about a beautiful gifted dancer named Malian. Malina and her sisters are not ordinary dancers but ones that have been blessed by a God. This god gave the three gifts to Mailina and her sisters to protect them from wicked men and is also the one that helped Medusa. Julianus the nephew of the Roman Emeperor and is the head General of the army is captivated by Malinas dancing and leaves her with a special token. Many years later Malina encounters the dragon warrior and he saves her life again, and takes her as his hand maiden.
This story takes place in Roman where humans and kingdoms are run by dragon armies. During battle Julianus notices that Malina who is considered to be a witch and the dragon tries to find out what special abilities.
Julianus loyalty to his uncle the Roman Emperor is threatened when other dragons fighting for power note his attachment to Malinas. They want to know why the army general is so protective of this beautiful slave and why is she so special. This is a story of fated love, dragons, witches, and fight to defeat the evil and powerful dragon emperor. Who will win this battle and does love conquer all.
This book started slow but once the pieces fell into place I became invested in this story.
I’m so looking forward to see where this story goes next.
Thank you to Net galley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to review this arc. I enjoy the ride!

Set in a world where Rome was created by dragons who turned dragon shifters and now rule as Gods over the city. Dragon shifter Julian is also a Roman commander who sets his sights on Malina and then crosses paths with her years later after she’s caught in a raid. Malina is an emotion manipulating witch and is prophesied to save the world, though she doubts she’s anything special.

Julian “saves” Malina by making her his body slave before she’s abused by some of his dragon shifting guards. She is suddenly in the middle of so much political baggage and plotting that was nice to have woven into the story.

You know I love my fantasy with a little bit of mythology, this one rooted in Roman mythology The world they’re living in could’ve used some more building, I’m not as familiar Roman mythology than Greek so maybe that’s why I felt a bit lost at first but when I looked up the correlating names, that changed the game for me (Persephone/Prosperine, Hades/Pluto, Athena/Minerva) and of course the Medusa story in the prologue woven in.

Okay this is DARK so if you don’t want to read master/ body slave vibes, this is not for you. This is also a FAST burn that stays burning… and fast paced story over all!

Audio narration was great! Preferred listening over reading this one. Will definitely be following this author and looking for book 2!

Thanks the NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 4/8/25.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan publishers for allowing me to listen to this as an ARC. This is an AUDIO book review. I really enjoyed both male and female voice actors, and felt they did a great job. The male especially I felt knew all the roles well and brought them to life. The female did great as her main character. For historical fantasies, I always appreciate listening to others because lets be honest, some names can be very hard to pronounce and I felt I wouldve had a difficult time with some of the names if I had read it. In terms of the story, I over all enjoyed it. But honestly I think there are some triggers that should be noted such as non-consent situations, and slavery for example. When I read this story because some the world isnt entirely a new world, but based off of historical sites it felt like an alternate universe. And in history there is/was war and war crimes. I liked that the MFC is likable, she has a reasoning for being the way she is and she is strong. I liked the MMC because although he is strong, he is kind and just. Also - he falls first. Overall I liked it, it was one of the books I couldnt stop listening to and wanted to finish as quickly as possible so Id know what happens next. Theres also some spice. I personally will be buying the deluxe edition, fairyloot edition and bookishbox edition because I really liked it. Overall, the audio was really great and brought the story to life in my opinion and its possible thats why I liked the story so much!

I enjoyed this listen. The narrators were fantastic; they did a great job of bringing the characters to life.
The world building and the magic system were engaging. The two sides of the magic system are what engaged me the most. On the one hand, there are dragon shifters, and on the other, a mind manipulation magic. The book has much to offer in this domain. As for the world building, For most of the book, I felt like it was going to be a standalone, and maybe it could have been, but then as the plot unfolds and more conflict comes into play, it becomes clear that there is no resolution to be had within the pages of one book. The initial setup of the story paints a very grim picture indeed, with a power hungry megalomaniac doing pretty much anything that he wants - and I mean anything, so watch for trigger warnings here.
Malina is a strong FMC that does not bend to anyone, even as Julianus' newest acquisition (he has a heart of gold, trust me on this one, no malicious intent whatsoever). The dynamic at the beginning is as master/slave, but Julianus only treats her as a slave when in the company of others - he has an important image to uphold after all. I did not find the relationship between them uncomfortable; I found that the boundaries were quite clear.
Some beloved tropes in here include: enemies to lovers, fated mates, shifters (dragon shifters here!)
The story includes some pretty heavy topics - war, rape, brutality... - the author handled them in a way that depicted the difficult situation, but also provided the possibility of hope (I hope I am describing this adequately). I feel that there are potential triggers for some, but they are necessary to the story and in no way glorified.
I recommend this book to people that enjoy fantasy with some spicy romance.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy of the book.
The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

LOVED IT!!!!!! Great story, I love how it's tied in to ancient Rome and Julius Ceasar but with dragons! Great story! Can't wait for book #2 and thank you to NetGalley for letting me have this audiobook ARC.

I absolutely loved this book! It had a new interesting twist on dragons and I loved the setting. I think this will be the next Romantasy hit!!

Please note this is a DARK fantasy romance with a master/slave trope. That being said, I was comfortable with it and had a good time. I think this is a perfect dark fantasy book but because it’s not being marketed as such I am glad I read it so I can help spread the word to my readers that this is not just an enemies to lovers fantasy book.

It wasn't for me...

It's a great premise and a great story, and i can see it being very popular but the whole slavery and dragon shifter smex stuff turned me off of this book. I'm not here to "ick anyone's yum", this story just wasn't for me.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in exchange for a honest review.

First, I'd like to mention this audiobook is dual narration and both voice actors did an amazing job. I do wish duet narration becomes the standard though, because it's so much better.

Now onto the book itself. Cross put together an alternate Roman Empire where dragon shapeshifters rule. They are blood thirsty beasts focused on spoils and conquests and the MMC is a Legatus for the Empire and falls for a young gypsy with a gift from the Gods.

He is fierce and possessive, but he is very gentle in his courtship despite the terrible way they were united. She is smart and resourceful and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship grow.

I think the plotline was well put together and nicely paced, and the suspenseful ending got me really excited for the next installment.

I really liked this novel but I don't see why it's being compared to From Blood and Ash. The only similarity I can see is that the FMC was kidnapped in both novels...

You can expect the following tropes / elements:
-Dragon shifters & magic
-Roman Empire
-Forced Proximity
-Forbidden Romance
-Touch her & die
-Fated Mates

The concept of Dragon Rome was so strong and well thought through… until we get to the slave/slave owner romance plot line. I really could have enjoyed this book. The narrators did a fantastic job, the world was well thought through and interesting, and the characters themselves, especially Malina, we so interesting fully fleshed out. However, I have a real issue with the dynamic between Malina and Julian. I’m all too familiar with fated mates under dubious circumstances (I.e. held against their will, in compromising situations, enemies) but slavery? I’m sorry, I don’t care that the two characters are mates. At the end of the day, the MMC steals the FMC away without her consent, puts a collar on her, and forces her to bathe him. It’s uncomfortable and I don’t think for one second that you can give your consent when you are considered someone’s property. And don’t get me started on him telling her to SUBMIT to him when they finally have their coupling. (She isn’t a free woman at this point, she is still his slave.) This book could have been great but I am left with a foul taste in my mouth. 2 stars for the potential in this book and the great voice actors.

This book was so unique. I loved that it had shapeshifters as dragons and the whole plot of the story just has you hooked. Truly enjoyed this one

This book was excellent—I absolutely loved the author’s unique take on Ancient Roman society, reimagining Romans as shape-shifting dragons (yep, you read that right!). The premise was so intriguing and instantly drew me in.

The romance was fantastic, with just the right amount of spice! I enjoyed both main characters’ POVs and appreciated how creative and fresh the whole concept felt.

Firebird is a sexy, dark historical romantasy that lovers of Fourth Wing and From Blood and Ash will absolutely adore! This book had a very interesting take on dragons that felt both fresh and classic; I loved seeing what class dragons would be, and how they would act in society as the ruling class in this version of historical Rome. It also had all the classic romantasy tropes that made the book absolutely delicious! I have no doubt it will absolutely be a hit when it comes out!

This book is such an adventure and really makes you question yourself. I loved/hated the characters so much for how amazing this plot was! An absolute must-read if you like action, dragons and questionable romance.

The story grabbed my attention from the very beginning. This is a historical friction setback in the Ancient Rome era so I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it, but I absolutely did.
The MMC is a dragon shifter. The FMC is a human witch..

Malina‘s entire family and community is unalived by order of the Emperor . She is the last of her family when she is captured by the Roman guards who are all dragon shifters.. when she’s about to be taught a lesson, she is saved by the Emperor’s nephew, Julian. Not only does he not want any of the prisoners tortured but his dragon immediately feels a connection to Malina and has the touch her and die mentally.

To protect Malina from everyone, he makes her his slave, but things are not what Malina thinks and she find out while she lives with Julian..

I immediately fell for Julian. I loved his character and the way he carried himself with his troops and with Malina. I also loved Malina, she was very sassy.

The audiobook was perfect and the narrators really brought the characters to life! I was only able to get an ALC so I can’t wait for the book to come out to do a re-read with the actual book!

I would like to think NetGalley and McMillan audio for the opportunity to review this ALC of Firebird.

4.5/5
I absolutely could not stop listening! I was sucked in by the immediate tension and banter of the FMC and MMC. The use of Roman background made it easy to follow and the dragon Shifters are always amazing. Although it's a master/slave relationship it's not that all. Julianus is a next book boyfriend that isn't a shadow daddy. I loved the found family dynamic and the magic of the FMC is a breath of fresh air that it's not some of the typical romantasy ones. I absolutely loved this and the narrators did an fantastic job. Especially the male narrator that you could understand how voice and didn't automatically just go to the deep sultry voice for everything that a lot of fantasy narrators do and it sounds like mumbling at times. He has a clear easy to understand (I listened to it at 2.5x's speed)
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian Audio!❤️‍🔥

Dragons rule, Rome and Cesar is relentless in his debauchery of being the ruler….. well you know what’s going to save Rome is a witch…and her dragon lover Cesars Nephew and General of the Roman Army!

Well I just loved this traditional fantasy i was immediately hooked a few chapters in with this retelling of Romes uprising and downfall. Putting dragons and witches in one book is just genius and it was amazing and to make them fall in love as a forbidden romance was icing on the cake.

I cant wait for book 2 and to see what happens next it ended on a cliffhanger 😭

All fantasy girlies will truly enjoy this book 📖