I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was compared to Fourth Wing and Iron Widow, but I don't think those are fair comparisons. The romance is very tame, the enemies to lovers aren't really enemies, and while Kel has her convictions about how the phoenixes should be treated there isn't a war going on and there aren't any battle scenes. This isn't quite as action packed as those two books, so I don't want readers to expect one thing and get something else. This is in my opinion YA whereas both of those books were New Adult/Adult when it came to the romance and violence.

I wanted more backstory on the phoenixes and the world. The phoenix racing was a really cool concept, but the origin story of the creatures was missing as to how the creatures came to live among humans and it wasn't clear if they had magic or not and how that worked. There is a poem or tale of sorts that Kel mentions several times, but it isn't clear where it came from.

This follows Kelyn aka Kel and her phoenix Savita. Kel's father found Savita and raised her from a young age. Kel is essentially a phoenix whisperer, she is Savita's handler and works with her and her team to race in elaborate and dangerous phoenix races. Their team isn't sponsored so they don't have the best gear or tech like some of the other teams. When a race goes sideways and they lose their rider, the team has to join forces with exiled members of a rival team. They are also approached by a sponsor who can really help their racing progress. The problem is Kel's least favorite person Warren Coupers aka Coup is their new rider. She doesn't really like him for his reckless stunts. Kel is a bit uptight and prickly and wants everyone to do things her way, it kind of makes her unlikable. Coup is fun and has no fear and he wants Kel to loosen up and live a little. As Kel actually gets to know Coup, she realizes he isn't that bad. They also uncover some questionable practices within their sponsor's research facility that don't add up to what they were told.

Overall I think this book was enjoyable, but there were some things I felt were underdeveloped. I wanted a bit more worldbuilding from the perspective of the magic system, the lore, and the character development. The descriptions of the races was done well and that concept was really cool. I think as an adult I want more from my books these days and I think a younger audience would really enjoy this.

A romantasy that has dystopian vibes, right up my alley. All the perfect tropes too...rivals/Enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and found family. I ate this up. I loved loved loved the fire phoenixes so much! The audio really enhances the book soooo much! I highly recommend reading and listening, the narrator did an absolutely amazing job!

🐦‍🔥🎧I listened to the audiobook for Of Flame and Fury. Safiyya Ingar does a great job at narration. She gave a distinct voice for each character so it was easy to understand as she brought the story to life.
The book itself focused a lot on the Phoenix racing itself which was really fun and different. I have always loved phoenixes so this book was right up my alley. In this book, phoenixes are wild, aggressive, and unapologetic which makes the races deadly. There’s also a mysterious illness going around so that’s a big storyline as well. The tagline for this book compared it to Fourth Wing and I just want to say that while it has some similarities its overall vibe was not the same. At least for me. It’s still fun though. There’s a great found family and the last 30-25% was so much fun! I’m excited to see where this story goes. 💜
Also, for anyone who read the eARC but not the audiobook of this be sure to check out the epilogue. It’s in Coup’s POV! 🥰

If you enjoy reluctant allies to lovers, found family, and young adult fantasy then grab your copy today!

Happy Release Day!!!!!!

Of Flame and Fury
By @mikayla_bridge

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Love Burns Bright”

I loved the whole idea of this book! Move over dragons, phoenixes have arrived!
Though this is YA it doesn’t necessarily feel like a YA book, more like New Adult. The characters are 17ish but fully on their own and supporting themselves (for a few different reasons).
You could easily age them up to 21 and it would still fit.
The hard working spitfire underdog team, the Crimson Howlers, are thrown together after the horrific death and a plummeting career. They all need each other in more ways than one.

Though the story centers around the mains the side characters are fully developed and really make you want to know more about them.

As the plot unfolds, the more you find out the more you feel the anger, despair, grief and betrayal from each of the characters.
The romance which can be distracting in a lot of YA novels makes sense in this book. It’s enemies to lovers and the banter is amazing. Both of the mains have very good reasons for acting how they do, they really grow together.

I’ve seen some people say this is similar to Fourth Wing, maybe as far as action goes, but to me it’s a lot more similar to Divergent and other dystopian novels with the addition of phoenix magic.

On top of the action shown in the phoenix races, you get a medical mystery over arching plot line with the AB illness that seemingly strikes people down out of nowhere and people can’t seem to figure out how you contract or why.

You also get political intrigue with companies that work with the governments to breed phoenixes, captivate phoenixes, and kill them if they deem necessary.

The main question of this book is “do the means justify the ends?

I enjoyed the audiobook, and I believe that the narrator did a great job and not only the different voices but the cadence of her performance.
I was actually able to listen to this all the way up to three speed if I wanted to, which is super unusual!!!

#offlameandfury #mikaylabridge #ya #yanovel #distopianbooks #fantasy #fantasynovel #fiercereads #arc #arcreader #arcreview #bookish #selkiereader

I wasn’t that much of a fan of this one. It took me forever to get into and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. The main character was really difficult to like, which made it hard to enjoy the rest of the book.

I liked the mix of technology and magic and I liked the phoenixes. I think I’m just the wrong audience for this book maybe.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an early copy of OF FLAME AND FURY written by Mikayla Bridge, narrated by Safiyya Ingar.

--Performance Review--

This was my first time listening to an audiobook narrated by Safiyya Ingar and I would definitely listen to more from this narrator! I thought Ingar did an excellent job conveying the tone and intensity of the story in the performance. She also did well with using a variety of voices and accents to portray different characters and personalities.

--Story Review--

Move over, dragons, because phoenixes are on the rise! I absolutely loved all of the phoenix lore in this story! That was my favorite part for sure. The way the author built this world and the magic around these powerful and terrifying creatures was refreshing and also left me wanting to read more books with phoenixes and firebirds.

I thought this was a solid upper YA fantasy story. The tone felt appropriate to the age group of our main cast which I really appreciated.

The thing that lost the book for me was the romance. I think it held a lot of potential, but I wasn't really sold on it. I would have preferred there to be either no romance at all, or a slower burn that had a payoff in the next book.

While it was a bit predictable at times, the ending was satisfactory and I would be keen to pick up the sequel!

3.5/5 stars

What a fun summer read! I really love the idea of Phoenix races (or races of any mythological creature really). Placing something in a strange environment is a really cool concept!

I know a few book boxes have picked this up for their YA books and I’m so curious to see what those special editions look like! Can’t wait!

Thank you NetGalley for the audio arc of this book!

4.5
Ok, one thing I feel I need to say before I start reviewing.. if you are a true " enemies to lovers" fan.... Please, PLEASEEEEEE, don't listen to all the people labeling this " eNeMiEs To LoVeRs" in reviews.. it's really not, like it's really, REALLY not.. Then you're going to be disappointed by this book because you're looking for something that's not here! But it's not the Author's fault you were misinformed. Because this really was SUCHHHH a great, original , &, fun read. So seeing this get undeserved hate is going to irk me.. I really feel like a sub genre needs to be created for love interests that aren't quite "enemies to lovers" but also not "love at first sight"ers

AnyWHO, now that I've ranted that rant, let's actually get into it.

This was a super fun and original read! Think horse racing but instead of riding horses we're riding flippin Phoenixes!!!!!, so COOL.!!. & of course there's all different breeds of these beautiful creatures!.. but just like in real life, there will always be those trying to hurt animals.. while others are just as easily willing to put their lives on the line to try & protect them. This book is a beautiful telling of a very real life issue.

Not every great fantasy book needs to be a 1,200 page & 17 book series. This book is also a great example of that.

I'm truly grateful I was able to receive an ARC of this book

Oh my God!.. & these Phoenixes?!.. yeah, the descriptions of these Phoenixes will be living rent free in my head till the end of time!

The end of this book gave me chills
& The epilogue left me balling like a baby

Honestly the last few books from Netgallery have been SOO good, my personal TBR pile is about to send me a "Dear John" letter

Edit: It has been days & I still can't stop thinking about this book! 😭

Kel Varra has put together a group of phoenix racers called The Howlers who are desperate to win, needing the prize money to survive on. However, after after a difficult race they need a new rider and the only one that will help them reach their goal is her longtime rival Warren Couper. Together they get a sponsorship deal that should bring them to new levels of fame and money, but Kel doesn't totally trust that they have their best interests at heart. As the team progresses she and Warner have to spend a lot of time together... is something hot brewing between them or is it just the phoenixes? Of Flame and Fury is an intense, action packed story with phoenixes, intense politics and a slow-burn romance. The perfect book for fans of fantasy and F1 racing!

Mikayla Bridge has taken aspects of books we all know and love and completely turned them on their head to create a unique story with a deadly premise. I really enjoyed the depth of Kel and her relationship with Warren as well as her dedication to her phoenix. I did find the plot pretty predictable and not overly complex but overall it was an enjoyable read.

🌟 4 stars 🎧 Audiobook: 4 🌟
This novel, a YA fantasy, felt like a twist of Wings of Fire, How to Train Your Dragon, and even a touch of Cars! It follows a young girl and her phoenix as they face a series of thrilling challenges. The bond between the main character and her phoenix is touching—there’s a constant sense that the phoenix needs her, which adds emotional depth to their journey.
The story includes high-stakes racing, the struggle to get her phoenix the help it needs, and a few other layered trials that keep the plot moving. The romance subplot was light and age-appropriate, making it a great fit for middle to high school readers.
Thanks to @netgalley for this audiobook!

This book was fantastic! The only reason that I did not listen to it in one sitting is because I had stuff to do. This book will hopefully be devoured by many people in one sitting, it deserves all the praise. The story includes high stakes phoenix racing, rivals to lovers tension that you can feel right through to your bones, and a beautiful blend of a variety of characters. I said in a recent reel that is this book does not become the next big thing talked about in the book community, then there is no hope for humanity. I just loved it so much and you will too if you love any of the above, as well as maybe even racing of any kind.
The conclusion is somewhat satisfying and I say that only because I want so much more from this world. The world building is very good, but there are more lands to explore. I feel like we have just scratched the surface of the magic system that starts to become clearer towards the end of the book. To make it clear, the characters, plot and world are all well developed, but should the author have plans to continue this as a series, I see so much potential. That ending means I’m not crying upon the story’s conclusion, but I am left wanting more. I want more Kel, more Coup, more Bekn, more Dira, and much more Savita. Phoenixes have always been my favourite mythological creature, but this book is amping it up to a near obsession.
I listened to an early audio copy of the book and Safiyya Ingar did a magnificent job of bringing this story to life. I highly recommend listening to the audio.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early listening copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.

Fourth Wing but with Phoenix riders, in a modern world, and written for a YA audience? Yes please!

In all seriousness, this was a fun and easy listen! Mikayla Bridge created a captivating world with a rivals to lovers romance which kept me turning the (metaphorical) page. Safiyya Ingar narrated the story beautifully which enhanced the experience. I look forward to seeing where the story continues in Of Venom and Vengeance.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook ARC!

This was a super fun and entertaining listen for me! A great YA fantasy debut, and I thought this made a wonderful audiobook! The narrator was great and it was easy to get lost in, I had a good time with this one. It was a fun take on the idea of phoenixes, which I’ve always pictured as being pretty docile creatures but this story portrayed them as aggressive and dangerous and more dragon-like in my opinion, which as an interesting switch! Overall, this was a fun book and I do recommend giving the audiobook a listen!

Thank you to @macmillian.audio @netgalley , all thoughts and opinions are my own. 𝐎𝐟 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐲 is out tomorrow, July 15!

great world building with phoenix races! the book started off thrilling and fast paced. towards the middle, the pace slowed down but it does go back up towards the end and keeps you on your toes with its suspense and worry. overall, it is an enjoyable and entertaining read. however, i didn’t feel a connection to the characters.

Thank you to #macaudio2025 , Mikayla Bridge, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. I wanted to love this book so much. The concept was fantastic and different and I was really pumped about a fantasy about phoenixes. The phoenixes and the races were definitely highlights in the book but I personally felt the character building and world building fell short. At the end of the book, I still felt infested in the  Phoenix at the center, but didn’t really feel drawn to the humans. The narration was wonderfully done and I think had it not been an audio, I would have struggled to finish this one.

Dragons are out, phoenixes are in this summer (don’t worry I am sure dragons will come back but it’s hot and phoenix’s deserve the summer). Add in racing and holy smokes we got a book. Of Flame and Fury has certainly been one of my top reads of July. Set in a southern Island Kingdom we meet Kel and her team, struggling to survive and well, not kill each other. This book is chaos in its best form, with rivals, corporate scheming, and the dark underbelly of a world that is falling apart. Kel and her team are thrown into the utter chaos from page one, and the pace only picks up from there.

The world building is absolutely phenomenal in this book. It is so hard for any author to pack this much in while also keeping the story moving, and for a debut author to do it? Pure gold. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I absolutely could not get enough of Cendra and everything that came with this island. Emotional, gripping and an enemies-to-lovers plot that is engaging and feels original, this book combines all of that with an F-1 feel. Now I don’t really like F-1 but I was blown away but the intricacies and originality that came with the racing aspect. I also appreciated the guide cause holy epicness that were the phoenix’s in this book.

Also, the audio production on this was fantastic. I generally speed up my books to see if the quality can keep up and it truly did. Even sped up the pacing was perfect, Safiyya Ingar did a fantastic job. It was my first time listening to her narrate and she was absolutely perfect for this book.

Mikayla Bridges is making her debut with a blaze of glory!

Thank you to Macmillian for this ALC, it was wonderful!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audiobook ARC!

"On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly."

This is going to be the next big fantasy series, I just know it.

First - the narrator for the audio book was amazing. Quick, clear, and kept her voice interesting.

The actual story though? WOW. This is such a different fantasy, and I loved it! The magic, the animals, the characters. All of it was so well done. I have no notes. And the twist at the end? I did NOT see that coming! That ending - I am unwell. I hope that there will be a second book!

The main characters were a dream. Interesting and not annoyingly whiny. The side characters made you fall in love with them. The villains were so well done as well!

Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!

Of Flame and Fury is Mikayla Bridge's debut novel and she showed up! The story is about Kel who is a phoenix tamer. After her father dies she is left trying to keep things afloat with her phoenix racing team. She is forced to join forces with a rival phoenix rider, Coup, and a tech company that Kel has reservations about.

This YA fantasy had me hooked from the beginning with a high stakes phoenix race. The plot continues at a decently fast pace which kept me interested through the entire story.

The world building is immaculate. I couldn't get enough about the magical creatures and the racing dynamics. I really enjoyed seeing phoenixes as the main creature in the story. It was something different from what I have read lately and was super refreshing.

The characters are loveable and you get a found family aspect with the racing team. The rivals to forced allies to lovers relationship between Kel and Coup is sweet, not spicy.

This book is full of twists that will have you questioning the length one will go to save their loved ones.

Rating: 5

This is a stand alone?? I could read a whole series in this world. If you love mythical creatures, in this case phoenixes, adventure, found family, and high stakes, you will absolutely love this one! I'm actually surprised I'm not hearing more about this book. I am absolutely obsessed!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Kel is a phoenix tamer, and part of a team of phoenix racers who are determined to win the annual races. But when something goes wrong, and they are desperate for a new rider, she has to swallow her pride and join forces with Warren Coupers -- her rival. After her home burns down, Kel is forced to accept a job from a mysterious tech mogul, one who Kel knows better than to trust. Without any other choice, Kel and her team go to work for their new benefactor, and things seem to be too good to be true. As she quickly becomes aware of his intense interest in Savita -- her phoenix -- Kel will have to work with Coup in order to save her phoenix and expose a conspiracy that will destroy everything as she knows it.

There's a lot that I enjoyed about this book, but the biggest argument comes in the form of whether the phoenixes should be collared or not, bringing us to the idea of how much intelligence does a creature need to have in order to retain its freedom. (Which is a huge topic of debate going on today... with other animals. Obviously. I'd be very surprised if there were phoenixes in the world.) Kel is a tamer, but it was her dad who advocated for phoenixes, fighting against their mistreatment. And then, of course, you have the racers. Who are literally riding giant birds that are ON FIRE. There's so much world building here, and yet I feel like I'm still missing part of the picture just because of how much went on. I will say the only thing I didn't really understand was the sickness that people were getting and how or why? So unless I missed that, I just didn't fully understand that part. But otherwise, I liked the romance, I liked the action, I liked all the questions that felt very philosophical at times in regards to animal rights and animal cruelty. But this was very fast-paced, it was a quick read, it was a lot of fun and also very emotional. I would definitely recommend this.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars