Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, Are sponsored for racing by a wealthy man. He tells Kel that he wants to preserve phoenixes and have the population grow. Against her gut feeling she agrees because she needs the money and she doesn’t want to lose her beloved phoenix Savita. then the unthinkable happens. Kel learns the truth and Savita is in danger. Kel tries her best to protect her best friend but in the end Savita is the one to save Kel.

This book has a slow start. But when things started to happen it got interesting. And the sadness to know that Kal was doomed and still would die to save her friend even though there was no proof that Savita would save her.

✨ Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge
⭐ 3.5 Star Review
🎧 ALC Review
📅 Releases July 15, 2025

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author Mikayla Bridge for the advanced audio of Of Flame and Fury.

Synopsis:
Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races. But when they recruit arrogant rival Warren “Coup” Coupers as their new rider, the track heats up both on and off the course.

When a powerful tech mogul takes an unsettling interest in Kel’s phoenix, Savita, she’s thrust into a dangerous conspiracy that could destroy everything…including the fragile bond forming with Coup.

This story blends fiery romance, volatile magic, political scheming, and high-stakes races in a battle where not everyone will make it out alive.

Tropes:
🐦 Phoenix bond
🔥 Rivals to lovers
🏁 Competition/race
🏆 Underdog team
⚔️ Political intrigue

My Thoughts:
This was definitely an interesting read! I felt like it was a little longer than it needed to be, with the racing often overshadowing the action. I wish there had been more depth to the history; especially around how the phoenix were collared, and more focus on the romance. The connection between Kel and Coup felt like it took a back seat and didn’t develop as organically as I wanted.

Still, the concept of phoenix races and the mix of magic and politics made for a unique ride, and I’m curious to see where this author goes next.

Of Flame and Fury pulled me right in with its fiery world and thrilling phoenix races. I loved Kel’s determination, her bond with Savita, and the sharp banter with Coup that slowly turned into something more. The mix of action, danger, and just the right amount of romance made this such an addictive read.

I listened to Of Flame and Fury on audiobook and really enjoyed the storyline—there’s phoenix racing, enemies-to-lovers romance, and a tough, fiery main character named Kel. The world is full of danger, rebellion, and politics, and I liked how the stakes felt high throughout the book. I wasn’t a big fan of kel felt like she was just doing the most half the time.

That said, the narration didn’t work for me. It felt overly dramatic at times and kind of pulled me out of the story instead of pulling me in. I think I would’ve connected more with the characters and pacing if I had read it as a physical book or ebook instead of listening to it. Great story, just not the right format for me.

I really enjoyed this book! I would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different in the fantasty/romantasy genres. This book focuses on a team of Phoenix racers and the action will pull you in from the first page. It is fast paced, high stakes, has elements of found family, and the romance is slow burn. The plot twist at the end was great, I didn't see it coming at all. I am really hoping for a book two as I'd like to continue to follow these characters journeys and explore more of what this world has to offer.

If you enjoy audiobooks I HIGHLY recommend this one! The audiobook was so fantastic that I had a hard time choosing between reading and listening. The narration and production were both AMAZING!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC! Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

In Of Flame and Fury we follow Kel and her team of phoenix racers as they struggle to be successful racing. Kel is trying her best to keep her families phoenix Savita from being taken away from her as she struggles financially along with savita having some aggressive behaviors.

The narrator does a great job and the story is fine but it’s a bit to young for me and it wasn’t really want I was looking for when going into a book using Iron widow in the tagline

This fantasy sounded intriguing but it fell flat for me. The worldbuilding felt lacing in the beginning and then drawn out in the middle, the romance is set up but left hanging, and the plot lost momentum midway through. I could tell this was set up to be part of a series, but it did not work for this book. I found myself wanting to read other books instead of picking this one back up. This was marketed as F1 but with the phoenix, nut it was far from that.

The audiobook narration lacked depth, and felt as though I was listening to someone talk about their shores. It added to the overall disconnect I felt from the story.

Maybe I will try this one again before the next in the series comes out.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners, Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book.

4.5⭐️
Phoenix racing? Count me in. Fast-paced, high stakes, slow burn romance, found family, and absolutely addictive. I’m hoping we get another book in this world! One of my favorite listens this year, with a narrator who brought the story and characters to life in the best way.

Thank you NetGalley + Macmillan Audio for the Arc!

A decent debut, but ultimately not for me.

The whole racing aspect really wasn't my thing, I found myself skimming the race sequences. The races were supposed to be high-stakes, but I just didn't feel connected enough to the characters to share their tension and worry about how dangerous the races were for them.

The relationships also didn't feel very strong to me. Kel is willing to die for Sav, but their connection didn't feel well enough developed for that. They don't share a particularly unique animal-human bond that you'd expect for the kind of relationship we're told they have. The Kel/Coup relationship was more interesting and well-developed, but did feel a bit rushed.

The world building also needed some work. The magic system wasn't very well developed for how central it was to the plot. Also, overall, there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. Otherwise, Bridge's writing was great and easy to read.

Again, this isn't a bad book, but it just didn't land right for me. It might be because I'm a seasoned YA/fanatsy reader, so it just didn't feel particularly novel or exciting to me.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, Safiyya Ingar and Macmillan Audio for allowing me the chance to listen to this eALC. This review is honest and unbiased.

Do you like F1 racing but wish instead of cars it was Phoenix racing? Well then this book is for you! There's of course racing but also a story of bonding, suspense, hidden agendas, and slight romance.

Hold on to your seat in this action packed performance, Safiyya Ingar does an excellent job at narrating this story. She was easy to follow along with and had a great range for the different characters. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her and quickly became entranced by it.

Now excuse me while I go and try to figure out how to own a Phoenix! Enjoy reading!

Is there more? I need more. I swear I was half on the verge of crying, half laughing, half fist bumping the air all the book. The way I went out to buy a physical copy DURING the audio because I knew I needed this was beyond all reason. And Oofda. I loved it.

This book is…fine. It's serviceable, as they say.

The GOOD

It works best when it focuses on the banter between Kel and Coup. It’s just better in general when it’s just the two of them.

I will say the team around Kel and Coup are a lovely found family.

The OK

The plot is pretty predictable. Only one plot twist at the end truly shocked me.

This book is marketed in some circles as an F1 story meets Firebirds, and I mean…I GUESS. I mostly think that was a marketing attempt because F1 is popular now.

The narrator did a decent job but her “American”-like accent sounded off.

The BAD

This is one of those books published lately that knows it’s going to be part of a series and leaves so many things open for “future books” that it’s truly frustrating.

Finally, can we talk about the completely overwhelming index of firebirds at the start of the book. WOW. I kept thinking: am I going to have to remember all these different kinds of firebirds? I am NOT going to be able to remember all these different kinds of firebirds? And mild spoiler: you really don’t have to. Maybe it will come into play in later books but not in this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners, Mikayla Bridge (author), Safiyya Ingar (narrator) for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this YA debut where Formula One Racing meets Crown of Feathers!

We begin at the racetrack where The Crimson Howlers are trying to place in the top three teams to win some money to help pay bills that are piling up.

It doesn’t go so well for our phoenix tamer, Kelyn Varra, and her team. They need a new rider for their phoenix, Savita, and the cocky daredevil racer Warren “Coup” Coupers whom Kelyn can’t stand is their only option.

All good teams need a sponsor and the Kelyn/Coup duo is sought after by a billionaire tech mogul whose interest in The Crimson Howlers may not be as altruistic as first appearances would seem.

Things I liked:

- Found Family
- Enemies-to-Lovers / Good Banter
- Phoenix/Tamer Bond
- Fast-paced, high-octane action
- Queer representation with two team members in a sapphic relationship
- Excellent world building where phoenix can cause mass destruction at any time and there’s also a deadly virus called AB that is very dangerous so this is a very precarious world we’re reading about and there are some very surprising moments.
- Standalone that ends well; However, according to the author, there will be another book set in the same world focusing on a different set of characters

Things I didn’t like:

- Even though there are very unpredictable moments, the main plot point of the story is very predictable
- The audiobook narrator, Safiyya Ingar, does an excellent job but there were times when the narration would vary in sound (like she was moving toward and away from the microphone while taping) that I found distracting

Overall, I really enjoyed this extremely original story and I look forward to any other books written in this world.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my Early Listening Copy. All opinions expressed are my own. #macaudio25

4.5🌟-0🌶️-4.5🎧

Savita, a feisty phoenix, is Kel’s world. Kel would do anything to ensure that Savita is cared for and safe. Along with her underdog racing team, Kel quickly realizes that accepting an offer from a tech mogul is important for not only her team’s future, but for Savita’s future too. Even when accepting means that she has to work closely with Warren Coupers, her sworn enemy.

Thank you Mikayla Bridge and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest and thorough review. All thoughts here are mine and mine alone.

I greatly enjoyed the fantasy elements of this story with the phoenixes. I could see the world in my mind’s eye. The thrill of racing was also well done, but overall the story fell a bit flat for me. The romance between Kel and Coup heated up a bit quick and I felt like, as the reader, I didn’t experience enough of the enemy part first to really enjoy the lovers part.

The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life and I appreciated her pacing and voice fluctuations.

Safiyya Ingar brings this story to life with an engaging, emotionally rich performance that made this audiobook an absolute blast. Her portrayal of Kel Varra was fierce, grounded, and full of heart, and she gave each character a unique voice, especially Coup, whose tension-filled banter with Kel was a standout. The phoenix racing scenes were pulse-pounding, and the worldbuilding felt vivid and immersive through Ingar’s narration. I loved the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc, the found family dynamics, and the fresh take on magical creatures. Some plot twists felt rushed or unclear, but overall, the audiobook kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m hoping for a sequel.

Mikayla Bridge’s first book, Of Flame and Fury, is an absolute blast! It’s set on a scorching island where phoenix racing is not just a sport, it’s a way of life. Kel Varra, an underdog, and her beloved phoenix Savita have to rise from the ashes to challenge the elite racers. Along the way, they dodge fiery talons, corporate conspiracies, and a dangerously attractive rival named Coup. Coup quickly becomes the kind of reluctant partner you can’t stop rooting for.

The races are a mix of Formula 1 and mythical mayhem, with the phoenixes getting hotter the faster they fly. I couldn’t wait for the next race! But what really sets this story apart is the charming chemistry between Kel and Coup. Their enemies-to-lovers banter is electric, and their romance grows from mutual respect, shared danger, and the occasional spark that turns into a full-blown flame without ever feeling forced or insta-love.

To make this 5 stars, the world-building could have been better and the pacing more consistent between the high-octane racing scenes. But this was a binge-worthy read that kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re a fan of romance and fantasy with a sense of humor, then Of Flame and Fury is definitely worth checking out!

The audiobook narration was fun and Safiyya Ingar brought all the excitement and drama of the races to life through her masterful narration work.

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Of Flame and Fury is a standalone story about Kel, who is involved in phoenix racing and through a series of events, is pushed towards a rider who she hasn't liked in the past. They end up in a situation and working with a person who may have more interest in the phoenixes than racing alone. I really liked the concept of phoenix racing and it wasn't something I'd read about before. It definitely like there was potential for more than one book being set in this world.

I struggled with the pacing a bit. For me, it felt like we got some good setup at the beginning, but then there was a chunk of time where not a ton happened, only for ALL THE THINGS to happen at the end that there could have been more hints along the way. The eARC I received was missing the epilogue, so I was super excited to get the ALC that did have the epilogue! It is not one to skip!

I LOVED the narrator for this audiobook and may have liked the book more the first time if I'd started in that format. She speaks clearly and I was able to speed up without issue. I loved her accent so much.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book for an honest review.

This book was ok. I was disappointed that I felt like it wasn't set up enough for me to fully understand what was going on and how the world worked, but it's a fun read.

I didn’t just read Of Flame and Fury—I consumed it like a dragon hoarding every last scrap of burn-your-soul tension and enemies-to-lovers chaos it threw at me. Mikayla Bridge fed my obsession and left me starved for more all at once.

The MMC? An absolutely unhinged, morally grey menace dripping power and perfectly weaponized soft moments that ruined me. The FMC? Sharp-tongued, stubborn, ready to burn the world rather than bow to it—and gods, I adored her for it. Together? Volatile. Electric. Utterly feral.

The banter? Had me screaming into pillows. The spice? Melted my spine. The slow burn? Excruciating in the best possible way. And when it finally ignited? A cataclysm I’ll be rereading at 2AM until the end of time.

Of Flame and Fury didn’t just give me romance—it gave me claws, fire, and a kingdom I’d sell my last heartbeat to defend. Obsessed. Ruined. Reborn. And begging for the next book. 🔥🐉❤️‍🔥