This book is 5 stars for me!!! I loved it!!!
It is based in Ancient Rome so the world building is minimal and there is more of a concentration on the characters and the dragons and each form they take, the bloodlines and the hierarchy of the Roman Empire.
The first couple of chapters really grabbed my attention!!! The prologue and back story fave just enough to make me want more.
The narrator’s were both amazing, easy to discern the characters they were voicing and were both wonderful at both female and male parts.
The tension and the yearning and possessiveness starts right from the get go and I was screaming for it!! Did I say I loved this book???
The politics were not overwhelming and I never really felt like it slowed down, I did hate the emperor and I’m just waiting for him to be destroyed as he very deserves everything that hopefully is coming for him.

I love the dragon shifters and the whole dynamic! The ancient gods involvement an Melina’s magic. I don’t think we’ve seen the full extent of her powers yet. Of course I love a fated mate bond!!! And an overly possessive MMC.

The cliffhanger has brought forth the beginning of brand new dark fantasy that I’m ready for!!!!
The spice was hot and it was a slooowwwww burn
Spice was 2.5/5 🌶️🌶️

Dragon shifters? Yes please! I absolutely loved this story, the romance, the revolution, the magic! It felt so original and all consuming.

Went into this book with little knowledge of it, but had heard it was highly anticipated and boy oh boy this did NOT disappoint!! Ancient Rome with dragons?? Literally so cool! I loved the world building and slight changes to already-established history (like making the Roman gods dragon shifters). I also found the characters very dynamic and they held a lot of depth. I cannot wait for the second book!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this amazing book!

Roman nobleman and warrior/dragon shifter and heir to the (political) throne Julian meets Goddess-blessed witch turned slave from the Carpathian Mountains Malina. This is a dark romance in a light sense. I've read much darker romances than this, but there are some heavy aspects to it. Anyways, they first meet when she is 17 and then again when she is 21. I like this type of plot line in romances--guy meets girl, something about girl sticks with guy, then years later guy meets girl again and this time they get together. The second time they meet, Julian saves Malina and "kidnaps" her by taking her to his home/dragon den. This honestly did not strike me as a "slave/master" dynamic because it is clear from the get-go that he does not treat her as a slave, nor does he internally regard her as one. He kidnaps her to save her, not to make her his slave in the truest form of the word. Enter in Roman politics, Julian's uncle Julius CAESAR, references to Roman gods and goddesses, and political turmoil mixed with dragons, and you get this creative story. Warning: SMUT alert. (In the best way. Very spicy. Not for YA or kids, despite the pretty cover.)

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

I just want to start off by saying love a good shifter/monster romance! The MMC being a sweet at heart dragon shifter who is protective to his mate??? Count me the fuck in! A very fun and badass FMC!

* Fated Mates
* Dragon Shifters
* Powerful FMC
* Found Family
* Plotting to overthrow the government! Love that for them!
* Happy Ending (so far;)

I highly recommend this audio book, I believe it was beautifully done and can’t wait for more!
3.75⭐️

Firebird by Juliette Cross
5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
3🌶🌶🌶

Wow, what can I say? This book was amazing, in such a special way. I feel like ancient Rome is such an under used setting for fantasy, much to my recently discovered dismay! I love a good fated mates trope and Juliette also did this in a very unique and swoon worthy way. In this story the Legionaires of Rome are all dragons that have a human and full dragon from as well as a half shifted form called half-skin.

Malina, our FMC is a Dakkian woman with a unique magical gift who through a series of events finds herself serving in the house of Legitus Julianus, a general of Rome. But there's much more to Julian than meets the eye, and Malina's magic calls to Julian's dragon in a way neither of them have ever felt before. This story kept me fully invested in the political machinations as well as the blooming love story. The ending has me pining for the next book in the series and wanting to yell at everyone to READ THIS BOOK!!!

Thanl you to Netgalley for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had so much potential but unfortunately didn't live up to any of it.

First of all, there are no content trigger warnings for the master/slave dynamic, the implied SA, attempted SA & DubCon. There is a tiny blurb added as an afterthought to the bottom of the Goodreads synopsis and that's it.

The world building could have been amazing but the author seemingly just relied on the fact that it's set in Ancient Rome and was like, BAM! add dragons and there ya go! That's all you need to know! There's minimal political intrigue IN ANCIENT ROME. So many trips to the forum and discussions about the senate but not actually getting to witness any of it? That's a travesty. All we get to witness is some behind closed doors plotting and it's secondary to the romance, which is also lacking.

The romance is love/lust at first sight. There's no yearning or pining. No tension. Just insta-lust. The majority of the book is the 2 main characters talking and it's painfully obvious what happening between them. The spice was also disappointing. To say I was bored is an understatement because NOTHING HAPPENS until like 90% into the book. None of the reveals or "twists" were shocking, the few action scenes are so short and underdeveloped they resolve within a few pages. I understand that this book is majorly setting up all the action to take place in the next book but this does not leave me needing to know what's happening next. Just left feeling unsatisfied at all the loose ends.

The master/slave dynamic was also not it for me. I get that he's a dragon but the amount of times he says "mine" is crazy. Especially since she's his slave... It just feels icky. Then there's the dubcon scene (dubious consent). It's one thing to be between the MCs and there's an established trust and understanding between them but for it to be between the villain and another character as a show of power was gross.

Malina was the only saving grace of this book. It was refreshing to have a FMC who was strong and confident and not whiny.

I will refrain from posting my reviews for a until a few weeks after release and will update here when I do post them.

Love love love love love. I finished listening to this audiobook so fast. There's something about ancient Egypt and ancient Greece that will have me automatically adding a book to my TBR. Somehow, despite all the hype I've seen about Firebird, I didn't know until right before I started it that it was in ancient Rome. I've never read a dragon shifter book before, but I really enjoyed this one. I know some people have been really turned off by the master-slave dynamic, but I thought it was well done. It didn't bother me and I feel like this book is marketed on the dark side of fantasy, so with that in mind, readers should know what they're going to get. Yes, the power dynamic is messed up, but I think Julian had every opportunity to turn toxic and be red flag material, and he didn't.

Also, I found Malina's powers to be unique and interesting--which is a difficult thing to do these days when there are so many fantasy books out there. I really enjoyed her as a character as well and respected that she didn't want a relationship with Julian while she was his slave (even though she ended up changing her mind on that).

The villains were perfectly villainous, to the point where I'm sad to see one of them go because how can you top that? I loved to hate them. They made me STRESSED. Currently very grateful this book didn't have a dramatic cliffhanger.

My only complaint is that I wish the climax was a little longer. It felt like the main "fight" was over in a minute. With the plot and subject matter of this book, we need to see a little more action.

I'm so excited for the sequel to see what happens next and sad I'm going to have to wait forever to read it.

I loved this dark romantasy! I thought the background of ancient Rome mixed with dragons and gods was intriguing. There is a power differential between Julian and Malina (Roman master and slave) hence the “dark” romantasy. I thought this book did a great job setting us up for the series. I am excited to read more and hope that it will give more background into dragon shifters, Malina’s family, the coup and so forth.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Firebird is a dark romance/dark romantasy featuring a master/slave dynamic between the main characters, who are already in a relationship when the story begins. I found the story really interesting, and I’ll probably pick up the next book because I’m curious to see how the series develops.

While I enjoyed it, I do think the plot could have been a little more focused instead of leaning so heavily into the smut. That said, it’s still a solid story overall. I think the author did a good job balancing the master/slave relationship without making it feel exploitative. Malina, the female main character, came across as a strong woman, and I never felt like she was being taken advantage of, which is really important in a dynamic like this.

One thing I loved is that the main character is a dragon shifter and Malina is a witch — it added a really fun fantasy element to the romance.

I was lucky enough to receive both an eARC and an ALC (audiobook) so I could read along while listening. I absolutely loved the dual narration! Blair Dade and Kale Williams did a fantastic job bringing the characters' voices and emotions to life. I definitely recommend picking up the audiobook if you can!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for the eARC and ALC.

I did not finish this book. Between the master/slave relationship (mentioned in content warnings) and the FMC being 17 at the start of the book, it was hitting too many of my ick so me to even get through the first chapter.

Dragons, Romans, and dancing women, what more could you want.
Corrupt leader. Dragon treasure. Magic sisters. Roman Gods/Goddess
I got to listen to this an audio and both narrators did fantastic this is a dual narration

I know a lot of readers are loving this one, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

I never really connected to the characters, and the lore — while ambitious — felt a bit scattered and hard to settle into. The worldbuilding didn’t fully click, and I found myself struggling to stay invested.

I listened to the audiobook, which was well done and definitely helped me stay engaged, but even so, the central romance just didn’t sit right with me. A love story between a slave master and slave felt uncomfortable and, frankly, kind of icky. I get that it was meant to be redemptive, but it never landed in a way that felt earned or safe for me as a reader.

What worked:
🎧 Strong audiobook narration
🔥 A bold, sweeping concept

What didn’t:
💔 Disconnect from the characters
🌪 Lore felt unfocused
😬 Power dynamics in the romance made me uneasy

Final thoughts:
This one wasn’t a fit for me, but I can see why others are enjoying it. If the premise appeals to you, I’d suggest checking out some other reviews to see if it might be more your vibe.

Firebird

you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

The narrators did a good job, I felt they represented the characters well.

Here’s my review of the ARC, this still applies to the storyline:
This book has magic, dragons, Roman Gods, and some serious chemistry between the FMC and MMC. The story has a quicker pace, since it’s just over 300 pages. It hooked me fairly quickly and kept me wanting to come back for more. I really enjoyed Malina and Julian’s story and I’m excited to see where the rest of the books go. Oh, and there’s a nice little plot twist at the end!

Some of the writing was a little cringy(Cunny)🫣 But overall very much enjoyed this story!

*screaming into pillow*

I ate this up. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint.

This is certainly a world inspired heavily by ancient Rome, with the addition of magical elements and dragon shifters. And yes, that means that you get all of the brutalities and all of the messed up stuff romans were known for.

I would classify this less as a romantic and more of a political historical fantasy with romance. But don’t worry the spice is still good. Definitely a lot of focus on the political intrigue and scheming in this so if that isn’t your cup of tea just be warned.

This is great for fans of “touched her and you’ll die” and fated mates.

Screaming at the final Chapter because I knew it and I cannot wait for the next book to be announced.

3.5 ⭐️
Firebird was a fast paced read. I went in blind only knowing there were dragons in the story. 🐉
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to anyone who likes dragon shifters, fated mates and forbidden romance.

I didn’t really feel a huge connection between Julian and Malina. It was insta-love without a lot of getting to know each other. I think that was the main thing lacking for me and why I only gave 3.5 stars.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I will read the next book to find out what happens next. Cesar must dieeee.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date 4/8/25

Firebird by Juliette Cross
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

This Roman Empire-inspired fantasy sets the stage for a bold new series from Juliette Cross, featuring a dragon shifter/witch romance at its heart. Julian, the Emperor’s nephew and a commanding war general, steps in as our brooding dragon shifter MMC. Malina, a powerful and self-assured witch, is the FMC who finds herself tangled in both political and personal stakes. Ciprion plays the antagonistic thorn in Julian’s side, setting up some intriguing tension for the series ahead.

While I wanted to love this more, I found myself a little thrown off by the insta-love between Julian and Malina. I typically prefer more emotional build and slow-burn tension, and this connection felt a bit too quick for my taste.I also hoped for a more expansive fantasy plot—the Romanesque setting had so much potential, but it didn’t fully deliver the depth I was looking for.

An important element to note: this story includes a master/slave dynamic between Julian and Malina. While it wasn’t personally off-putting to me, I know this may be a concern for some readers. The dynamic could’ve used more finesse, but Malina is written as a capable and empowered woman, which helps balance the relationship and avoids reducing her to a passive role.

On the bright side, the audiobook narration is truly a highlight. Blair Dade and Kale Williams did a fantastic job bringing these characters and their chemistry to life. Their performance added emotional weight and richness that elevated the story beyond the page.

📚 Trigger Warnings: Includes a master/slave dynamic and power imbalance. Please check the author’s full list of content warnings.

🎧 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this advanced listener copy.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced listeners copy of Firebird, this is my honest review.

This is a dark romantasy with dark subjects. The setting is great and I’ve been wanting a good fantasy romance in Rome but the execution of this book was wrong. This is master/slave and the FMC is still a slave when the romance starts to take place.

“Are you offering yourself to me. Malina?”

“You’ll take me anyway” I snapped back.

“Tell me you’re giving yourself to me.” He demanded.

Even if the master/slave wasn’t so present in the spicy parts, it was still very cringey and not well done. I do believe there was a better way this could have been written to lessen some of the power dynamics going on because in the same scene as this she talks about her slave collar. She should have been made to be more of an equal before the spice started, otherwise, it’s just uncomfortable.

This was simply not for me. The narrator was alright but I was not grabbed by the story at all. It confused me to have the world based off ancient Rome and use some of the same terms but also to have it be its own thing. I feel like it strayed too close to what is known about Rome to be able to carve its own identity separate from that.

I really wanted to love this one, and there were things I genuinely enjoyed—especially the female lead. She’s fiery, strong-willed, and doesn’t shy away from standing her ground, which made her a compelling character right from the start. I was rooting for her.

That said, I was disappointed by how quickly she gave in to the male protagonist. For someone with so much strength, it felt out of character to surrender so easily to someone who, frankly, came off as more controlling and whiny than charming or persuasive. I tend to prefer a slower burn, a bit of tension—more of an enemies-to-lovers dynamic.

This story just didn’t deliver on that front for me. I know some listeners will love the dynamic and the romance, but personally, it didn’t hit the mark. Just not my vibe.