WOW! I loved this book! There's finally a Roman Empire that the Romantasy girlies can think about everyday. Dragon shifters, witches, Fated Mates, insane chemistry, touch her and die with instalove. Julian and Malina are such well rounded characters. There is plenty of tension and they both fight the good fight, trying not to give into each other (but there is only so much you can do when you're fated mates). Julian is instantly enthralled with Malina and even though there is a master/slave dynamic it is made clear that it is not something that Julian wants to continue. I understand that this situation might not be for everyone, so just keep that in mind when choosing to read. I would classify this as a slow burn not quite enemies to lovers alternate history fantasy romance. The world building is really great in this story. Without spoiling the plot too much, this story gives Julius Cesar vibes but from the perspective of Brutus.

This audiobook was very well done, with duel narration so you can fully immerse yourself in the story. The voice actors were very easy to listen to and I loved Julian's voice - so smooth :). Overall I would definitely recommend this book for fans of romantasy, alternative history, and just fantasy lovers in general. Thank you for the audiobook ARC and I can't wait to continue the story with the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley & MacMillan audio for the advanced listener copy of this book!
I'm really having a hard time understanding why the actual book has bad reviews because I literally ate this book up! This book/audio book was so good so here's my thoughts on the book itself. I loved the DARK romance part of this book. The spice was nicely done, the story kept my attention & I thought the author did a great job with the world building. She developed the characters perfectly even with their distinctive traits & yes I understand that this was a master/slave love story so there are triggers in this book but they are NOT listed in the physical copy of this book nor are they mentioned on the audio book. .
Now let's talk about the audio book. I really enjoyed both the narrators for this audio book. I thought they did a really good job at keeping my attention but also the way they portrayed each character. I do wish with a story like this it would've been dual narration within the chapters instead of the male narrator reading the part of the female character & vice versa. Overall, I was very happy with the story & I'm literally left hanging so I'm waiting not so patiently for the 2nd book to come out so we cant continue this fascinating story. Thank you again to Netgalley & MacMillan audio for approving this audio book for me.

“To be my partner in this infernal world. To be my helpmate as we crush the Roman Empire and build a new one.”

✨ Overall Rating 5/5
📈 Plot 5/5
🖊️ Writing 5/5 - based on audio
👤 Characters 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships 5/5
🗺️ World Building 5/5
🔥 Spice 1.5/5
😭 Emotional Damage 3/5

Themes:
🖤 Dark Romantasy
🖤 Loosely Based on the Roman Empire - He is Julius
🖤 She was stolen and forced into slavery (not by mmc)
🖤 Strong FMC
🖤 They want to take down the roman empire
🖤 He saves her
🖤 Fated Mates
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 He is a dragon shifter x she has special powers
🖤 Technically Master x Slave; however he does not see her as a slave

“There are some who believe that it doesn't matter whose gods you worship. There is an order to the world we cannot comprehend. To life and death. Pluto will grant passage into the underworld for those who deserve it, where her soul will find peace, whether she believes or not.”


I sincerely enjoyed this story by Cross! This is my first book by this author and I am pleasantly surprised. I saw some comments about people being upset about the Master x Slave dynamic--which is completely understandable--however I urge you all to give this book a chance. This is based in a historical time and the author does write the dynamic well. The MMC does not see the FMC as a slave. She is thrown into slavery by others and he takes her away from there.

The characters are written well and I love that the FMC is not a damsel in distress. She is a strong woman with fire in her soul. The plot flows well and there were not any areas in the story where things got super boring...it keeps you drawn in from start to end.

I love that Julius is wanting to take down his horrible uncle, Cesar. His hatred for the man is palpable. A revolution is coming, led by Julius and I cannot wait to find out how it all plays out!!

The narrators in the audiobook suite the characters well. I feel they did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. I listened to it all in one day lol
I did have to listen at 1.25x as it was otherwise too slow.

Please read TW’s before starting this book. Your mental health matters.

*I received an ALC from #netgalley and am leaving an honest and voluntary review*

I can not stop recommending this book. Once I started reading it, it was hard to step away from the plot. Initially i was nervous about the dynamic of the two main characters but the author navigated the delicate nature of it admirably and even had me easily rooting for them. Highly recommend for anyone who wants a romantasy or a fun fantasy set in a Roman time frame!

i’m writing this review with 95% of the alc i received finished. i will say that simply put i would not read this book if it were not a fairyloot pick. i enjoyed the base of the story, the dragons and the mythology. the audiobook narration is very well done and the book is in dual pov which i always enjoy (oh and duet narration! always a plus!).

my problem? the captor x captive trope. except its SLAVERY captor x captive. the fmc literally has to wear a metal collar with the mmc’s name on it. she’s referred to as property multiple times. power dynamic aside it just made me feel uncomfy and a bit icky. another point of contention? the sheer amount of violence against women. i know that this is supposed to be a period piece, and in some fantasy books there is, to some degree and *sometimes*, a level of such topics, but not to the extent that this book takes it to. I thought it would stop or not be ‘on screen’ mentioned after the first major instance (within the first 75 pages, might i add), but it was not. it was a recurrent theme. again, it just made me feel uncomfortable every time it was brought up or mentioned.

my other disclaimer, and maybe it was my own fault for a lack of research or maybe it was the books marketing, but i just didn’t know what this book was about; i try to get alc / arcs of all the fairyloot books before so i can see if i want to skip or not. i heard dragons, mythology, ancient Rome and thought that it would be fun and i would enjoy it. i truly think the only reason i made it as far as i have is because i listened to this on audio. i was also holding out hope that we would jump into the *lore* a bit more, focus on the powers and magic system at play

“Every dragon waits for his god-given treasure his whole life. And I have found mine.” ❤️‍🔥🐉

We’ve got:
— Enemies to Lovers ❤️‍🔥
— Captor / Captive tension ⛓️
— Fated Mates destined by the stars ⭐️
— Forbidden Romance (the kind that hits even harder) ✋
— Touch her and die… literally 🔥

Set against an Ancient Rome backdrop, the story wraps you into a world of rebellion, dragons, gods, traitorous bloodlines, and found family!

Our FMC Malena was gifted with god-like powers from the goddess Minerva — a divine punishment bestowed upon her after a tragic event. Her gifts are meant to right the wrongs of mankind and punish the wicked… and that mission? Adds a whole extra layer of high stakes. ⚔️✨

Julian, our dragon shifter MMC, fully leans into his dark, possessive side — and I love that we get to see the dragon POV take over when those instincts hit.

Some more popular tropes you might enjoy:
— Rebellion
— Traitorous family ties
— Found Family
— Fated connections
— And of course, a heavy dose of spice

The concept was so unique, I just wish the world building had a little more depth, especially with such a cool setup and mythology. The plot was somewhat lacking, along with the lack of angst, and I really feel like the framework of the story is there! It just lacked so much depth, which is why I can’t speak too much on it. The ending was abrupt, but it definitely left me invested enough to want book 2.

I know people didn’t like the master/slave dynamic, but it wasn’t entirely cringe for me, though it did get redundant.

It’s an okay read if you’re looking to add a dragon shifter book to your TBR — just read it for the vibes.

And don’t forget to check your TWs before diving in! ⚠️

This book was so engaging. I could not stop listening once I started. It was darker than I was expecting but not in a bad way. I do think the triggers in this book need to be made clearer in the marketing. I read a lot of dark romance so I didn't have an issue with the slave/master set up but I feel the marketing does not make it clear that the MMC literally owns the FMC. Also the narrators for this book were so amazing, they really brought the characters to life. I'm so excited to see where this series goes moving forward

Firebird by Juliette Cross review

I really enjoyed this book. I was excited to try it because I thought the premise was very clever. The idea of ancient fantasy Romans being dragon shifters was just such a perfect combination to me. Like, of course, if you had to pick any creature to compare the ancient conquering Romans to, it would be dragons. I loved the inclusion of Roman mythology in the world building, and I didn’t feel like I was overwhelmed with information up front. The book hit all the beats that a first in a romantasy series should. It really spent time introducing you to the world, the people, and the main conflict, though as someone who reads a lot of romantasy, I wasn’t surprised by any of the twists or revelations. And there wasn’t a lot of specific action toward the characters’ goal of getting rid of the emperor. But I could tell the story was building toward something, and I was happy to keep going to find out. Malina is taken into Julian’s house, we spend a good amount of time with her learning that Julian isn’t the cruel general his reputation says, which leads to their inevitable romance. There’s a lot of political maneuvering on two fronts—in the background with the others who want to overthrow the emperor, and in the foreground, trying to maintain the façade of loyalty to the emperor as they get their plans together. The plan doesn’t happen like they had hoped, and the MCs are in a very different place at the end of the book, which has me excited for the next book. I look forward to seeing what the MCs do now that the way in which they must plan and act has to change.

Blair Dade and Kale Williams did a great job as the narrators. It was always clear who was talking when they had to narrate scenes with multiple characters. They also did the voices of people of different genders well—it didn’t sound unnatural and take me out of the story like it can if not done well. They both brought the story to life and drew me in. I had to take a break at about 70% in because I felt something bad was about to happen. I was so invested, and I could feel my anxiety climbing. I needed a day to calm down and make sure when the bad thing happened, I didn’t keel over from the tension. (It turned out to be unnecessary because the bad thing I thought was gonna happen, didn’t).

I’m excited for the next book!

With its gorgeous cover and intriguing premise, I had high hopes for Firebird. While it didn’t quite hit the depth or complexity I was expecting, there were still standout elements. The dragon shifters were vividly described, and I loved the empowering take on Medusa and her sisters. The Roman Empire influence added an interesting historical angle that felt unique.

That being said, the story felt a bit predictable, and although there’s a sequel coming, the ending wrapped up cleanly enough to stand alone. It read more like a YA story with spice, but overall, I think it’s a good intro to romantasy for anyone looking for something approachable with a magical world, a touch of mythological flair, and a story that’s easy to follow

BTW, check trigger warnings before diving in.

*Thank you to Bramble, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for access to the advanced reader copy and advanced listening copy for this book!

I was a bit worried I wasn't going to enjoy this book and I'm happy to report that I had no reason to be worried.
This book was such a great read!
The blending of Roman history, mythology, and fantasy works so well as a backdrop for this story and as a means to influence this story's evolution. Juliette Cross builds the world of this book so masterfully that it's incredibly digestible for the reader. So often fantasy novels can get stuck in the world building and lose their audience, but Cross absolutely avoids that! Realizing that I wasn't going to get confused by this story's setting and the background of the world the reader is dropped into made me incredibly eager to continue with the book.
Another well executed aspect of this story involves her development of our two main characters as separate entities and in their relationship with each other. I feel that Cross did a great job with her characterization and making the motives of her characters clear, even as they change throughout the book. The time taken to develop our female and male main characters individually adds so much to their romantic development and really helps to keep the reader engaged.
I thoroughly enjoyed the unique use of dragons in this book. I don't think I've ever read a book with dragons used/characterized in the way Cross does in this story and it was really refreshing to discover a new way to utilize a creature that's so popular in fantasy books.
I absolutely love audiobooks and the narrators for this story were great. They helped to bring this fantasy world to life as I made my way through the story, creating an immersive experience and adding enjoyment to my reading experience.
My one criticism of this book is that several of the steamy scenes between our main characters felt clunky due to their placement within the story. The romantic storyline builds slowly throughout the book, which feels appropriate and works really well for the characters. The first steamy scene was placed perfectly and supports the overall narrative. I wish Cross would have left the steam at that because future scenes feel unnecessary and therefore over indulgent and gratuitous.
Overall, I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read this book (print ARC) and listen to this audiobook as I found my reading experience to be so enjoyable. I can't wait to continue with this series when the second book is published!

I received a gifted copy of FIREBIRD by Juliette Cross from Bramble and a gifted audiobook from Macmillan Audio!

I flew through the first half. This is a world where Rome is ruled by dragons (or dragon shifters anyway). I went into this one a bit wary as I have seen a lot of negative reviews about the slave/slaver / conqueror/conquered dynamic to the relationship that isn’t addressed in the synopsis. To address that, that is definitely a dynamic in the book. The main female character is from a country overrun by Rome and taken into their custody. The main male character is someone with power who does take her in as a slave. It is portrayed as a good thing for her, saving her from some very brutal treatment, and as something where he’s giving her as much agency as possible, at least behind closed doors of his home. It is something to be aware of. I do feel like the author is trying to address this and there are some turns to the story that change this dynamic as well.

Apart from that dynamic, I do appreciate that there is a bit of a slow burn. There is definite instant attraction on both sides (they do meet before Rome has taken her people). I do like the nature of the dragon shifters though I’d like to see a bit more of the wider world than we got in this book.

The edition (this is the standard first run deluxe edition) is gorgeous as well!

I am going to start out by saying this books is 100% NOT young adult. I think there are a few adult Romantasy books that are tame enough you could recommend it to a bit younger audience. This is not one of those books.

FIREBIRD is a sweeping fantasy with dragon shifter warriors, witches, magic, an enemies to lovers romance, political intrigue and lots of mythology weaved into the story. It’s dark, gritty, unfiltered and brutal. But that’s what we want in a war torn world of Ancient Rome, right? Once I got past my initial shock to some of the more explicit scenes, I really enjoyed reading this one.

The author’s version of dragons is something I have never seen before and found that super fascinating! The magic system was intriguing, I liked the relationship building and I found the pacing of the story really well done.

If you know that you are someone who can be sensitive to certain topics when reading, I urge you too read the author’s content warnings.

4 stars. I had a hard time believing there was chemistry between Malina & Julian when they meet again, largely in part to the slave/master dynamic where emotions are not obviously voiced to start. But then I was getting some Spartacus vibes (but with dragons) and it hooked me more. COMMUNICATION makes all the difference.

Do I wish it was a standalone and all wrapped? Yes. Am I intrigued where it’s going after that last line? Also very yes.

There were elements of this story that I really enjoyed. I loved the world building and the reimagining of Ancient Rome. I loved that characters were descendants of dragons and titans. And while the characters themselves were ok, the slave/master romance is what gave me an uneasy feeling and ultimately made this a less enjoyable read. While I understand the decision due to slavery at the time and I am well aware that raping has always been a part of our world’s history, I feel like there can never be a true choice when one person in the relationship is at such a low footing compared to their Paramore. I feel like this could have been enhanced were the relationship not that of a slave and master.

so i was very excited after seeing this all over the place for the last few months, finally looking at the description and seeing “for fans of hotd & fbaa” but i was very much not expecting a slave/owner romance nor detailed on page SA… i think that this book should have been marketed differently and come with a CW...

safe to say, unfortunately not for me

I was really excited about this book! Dragon shifters and witches in Roman times ….hell yes!
But I do have to be honest as a person of color , this premises was pretty dark. Slave /slave owner also slight grooming going on. I didn’t love those aspects.

I did love the action and the fates mates trope. But the mmc was just unredeemable for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I LOVED this book and could not put it down for a second! Ancient Rome + Dragons + Steamy Romance? YES please!!! I can’t wait for the next book to be released! There was a cliffhanger, but it wasn’t too bad! Make sure to check trigger warnings with this one, as it is a dark romantasy!

Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook, the narrators did a fantastic job!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

I really enjoyed the magical elements in this book and the concept of dragon shifters. It was fast paced, with some interesting components and world building that was well done. However I probably would not have grabbed this one if the content warnings were available at the time.

The master/slave dynamic between the two main characters was not for me. It felt very much like instalust and I didn’t feel any type of actual emotional connection between them. There was also a lot of sexual assault and abuse of power between characters. While this likely fits the time period of the story, it was extremely uncomfortable.

I listened to the audio and thought the narrators, Blair Dade and Kale Williams did a nice job with the emotions of the characters. The narration was clear and easy to understand even when sped up.

Absolutely EPIC dark fantasy romance! Hands down one of my top 3 books of the year. I was hooked from the first time he growled “MINE!”. Certainly everything a romantasy girlie could want in a gorgeously wrapped package. Fantastic world and character building. I loved that the Romans were dragon shifters. There’s so much to love about this book that I don’t want to spoil it. This is a dark fantasy, while no trigger warnings are listed in the book itself, they can be found on the authors website & include attempted SA, slaves, death, gore and violence, master slave dynamics with what can be construed as non con or dubious consent.

The voice actors gave the story even more life and emotion with its dual narration.

This book is a dark fantasy so please check trigger warnings! I really enjoyed the audiobook! I really enjoyed seeing Melina's magic grow throughout the book! And that cliffhanger! Had me screaming at the end of the book!