Phoenix Racing, But Make It High Stakes!

Narration: 5/5
Book: 5/5
Speed: 2x

So I don't know why when I first saw this book I was thinking, oh, cute YA about some phoenix racing probably a low stakes fantasy with some romance thrown in (in my mind I was imagining chocobos racing)--I was wrong and I couldn't be happier about it.

Enter into the world Of Flame and Fury, where the world of phoenix racing is a televised event, full crews support the racing of the magical birds, and the slightest oversight will lead to your untimely demise. This was an action packed adventure with rivals to lovers, political discontent, found family, mysterious illness, and of course, mystical creatures. The story follows our FMC, Kel, as she attempts to win the fortune that comes with successfully placing in phoenix racing, all so she can keep her phoenix (because as you can imagine, their care and upkeep are not cheap). Meanwhile, political unrest threatens the practice of keeping phoenixes and a deadly illness threatens the populous with no known cure. I found myself devouring this book and trust me when I say, you will not see what is coming next.

Safiyya Ingar did an amazing job on the narration. As a single narrator, I found her variations on the voices to be great. She did an excellent job conveying tone and emotion. YA narrations are hit or miss for me, I am glad to say this one was an absolute bullseye.

Thank you Mikayla Bridge, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the the opportunity to review the Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Of Flame and Fury remains just as incredible in audio as it was when I first read it. The story still delivers all the heart, heat, and high-stakes magic I loved—only this time, with the added richness of voice. Safiyya Omgar’s narration brings the characters to life in vivid new ways, adding emotional depth and clarity to key moments and making the world of phoenix-racing feel more immersive than ever.
That said, the listening experience did take a bit of adjustment. The narrator's accent and vocal tone were quite different from how I had originally imagined the characters in my head, which slightly shifted how I connected with them at first. Additionally, since I’m used to internally assigning distinct voices when I read, hearing all the characters delivered by a single voice—however skilled—was a notable shift for me.
Still, Omgar's performance is strong, especially in scenes heavy with emotional or romantic tension. Once I adjusted, I was able to appreciate the care and consistency she brought to the performance.
Final Verdict (Audio Edition):
A powerful, beautifully written fantasy that still shines in audio. While the narration took a little getting used to, it ultimately enriched the experience and deepened my connection to the story. A great listen for fans of emotional, character-driven fantasy with magical creatures and fierce romance.

Of Flame and Fury was a high octane, fast-paced YA fantasy where phoenix racing is the lifeblood of Cendor. The races were intense, dangerous, and absolutely thrilling; they had me completely captivated.

The found family aspect of this book was so good. The Howlers are a ragtag bunch of misfits who all have secrets and hidden pasts, but they find acceptance with each other. I loved the rivalry between Kel and Coup. She initially loathes him and his cocky, overconfident, and flirty attitude. But after they were forced to become teammates and work together to race Savita, they slowly became friends. My favorite parts were when they had to pretend to go on dates for publicity, and Coup loved it and it drove Kel crazy. Behind the scenes, there is a huge conspiracy going on that threatens Kel, the phoenixes, and all of Cendor, and that added another element of danger and intrigue to the story.

While I loved the phoenix racing, I needed a lot more world building, context, history, and explanation of Cendor, the gods and religion, why they race phoenixes in the first place, and what the deadly disease of AB is and what its symptoms look like. The characters needed more depth, and I would’ve liked more buildup to Kel and Coup’s relationship as well.

In the end, I really enjoyed the phoenix racing, the found family, and the overall plot of the book and will read the next one to find out what happens. It was narrated by Safiyya Ingar and she did a great job giving each character a distinct voice, which brought them and their story to life.

Thank you to Fierce Reads, Macmillan Audio, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, Macmillan, Mikayla Bridge, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.

📔Of Flame and Fury
✏️ Mikayla Bridge
📆 July 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🐦‍🔥 deadly phoenix racing
🐦‍🔥 magical creatures
🐦‍🔥 rivals to reluctant teammates
🐦‍🔥 sketchy billionaire
🐦‍🔥 conspiracies and intrigue
🐦‍🔥 found family
🐦‍🔥 unhinged cult

i literally couldn't stop listening to this, I finished it in less than 24 hours. it was fast-paced, somehow felt equally exhilarating and distressing. I lived for Kel & Coup's dynamics!!!! loathed rivals to reluctant team mates to lovers that was nicely executed. not too much, just enough to balance the intense plot. the Howler's found family, though they teased each other a lot, was wholesome. though the only phoenix that constantly appeared was only Savita, the depiction of her was thorough and the other phoenixes also seem fascinating enough.

at this point, it all sounds good! why's the distress? well i did mention "shady" tech company, that's the main source of my (and the characters's) distress. my adrenaline was legit pumping, heart-pounding, until i finished the book, and i thought, wow. what a book. only after my adrenaline wore off i could notice the minor things that could be improved: the ending felt a bit rushed and not concluded neatly. i wished at least the epilogue were longer just so there's more room to tie all the loose ends.

I'm familiar with this book's narrator, to the point that when I heard "read for you by Safiyya Ingar" I immediately smiled because I just know this would be amazing. and I was right! enjoyed her performance soo much.

overall this is an amazing debut. can't even believe that this is a DEBUT. reminded me a lot of The Phoenix Keeper by S.A MacLean, even the taglines are similar ("love burns bright" vs falling in love never burned so bright"). loved them both!

This was a really promising debut!
Our main character Kel races phoenixes. While she doesn't necessarily enjoy pushing these creatures to their limit, she and her team need the money and they are good. After a horrible accident, Kel is forced to team up with her rival Coup. They accept an offer from Cristo Industries to race with them and start to learn some dark secrets.
I really liked Kel. She was passionate about phoenixes and very smart. She had a great bond with her original teammates. Her and Coup had a fun rivalry that turned into something more. There wasn't a ton of steamy chemistry, but there also wasn't steamy romance. There was the perfect amount of the romance subplot since most of the book revolved around what was going on with the phoenixes and at Cristo Industries.
The plot really hooked me at the beginning. I know there are books about phoenix riders, but I hadn't read any (yet). It's a really cool concept and the races were described really well. The middle got a little bit slow, but I was fully invested at the end. So many exciting things happened - both good and bad and I was totally hooked back in. The ending was such a whirlwind and really set up the second book well.
The audiobook narrator was great. She had an accent, but it was not hard to understand and I was able to easily follow along at my regular 2x speed. She made it easy to imagine exactly what was going on.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), and NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy and kindle copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm always a sucker for a new fantasy. And a new fantasy that has Phoneix's as it's main magical creature? Sign me up! I went in with a lot of hope I would love this book and, while I wasn't blown away by this book, I really enjoyed it.
Safiyya Ingar is a new narrator for me. I always worry with new narrators that I will be turned off and not enjoy the book as much as I would have had I read it in print, but Ingar surprised me. I liked her voice and I think she captured the main character very well. She also did the various supporting characters very well.
I was shocked to find out this was a debut book for Bridge. It was written really well. The plot was easy to follow and the pacing was just the right amount of push I needed to tear through it. Bridge infused lots of action along with important scenes where the characters find themselves and learn about trusting others. The suthor took everything you may love about racing and infused it with magic and magical creatures. Not only are Phoenix's the main magical creatures in this book but you also see some sprites!
I saw in the blurb this book was compared to Fourth Wing but I didn't really get that vibe. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, but it's not centered around academics in any way and that is a huge part of FW. I can see where there is some sameness when it comes to creatures racing and the powers they have but that's about where the comparison stops for me.
This is a true YA fantasy. The voices of the characters are every bit their 17 years. They form a found family with each other as a team. I love books about found families so this was nice for me to see. I loved the bonds they formed and the love you could feel between them all. A bunch of misfits who found each other just when they needed someone.
The book certainly ends with not so much a cliffhanger but open enough that you know another book is on its way so you can see the story wrapped up well.
So why didn't I give this 5 stars? I just needed a bit more world building to happen. Did I understand the world? Yes, enough to know what was going on. But I felt like there was something missing. I needed more background on the phoenix's and their magic. Since it plays a significant part especially towards the end of the book, I would have liked to have understood it just a bit better. I also didn't feel the chemistry for the romance. I loved the idea of enemies to lovers but the slow build up was not what I needed to have it make sense to me.
This book is filled with many moral dilemmas: choosing right over wrong, showing animals are worth protecting, and trusting your gut instinct when you feel someting is not as it should be.
Overall, I'll definitely continue on with this series as I need to know how things get resolved. A very solid debut for Mikayla Bridge.

Of Flame and Fury is a fun, accessible fantasy that’s perfect for readers who want a taste of magic, high-stakes racing, and a fiery enemies-to-lovers romance. The story follows Kel, a determined phoenix tamer fighting to protect her beloved phoenix, Savita, while juggling debts and dangerous races. When she’s forced to team up with Coup — her arrogant rival — sparks fly both on and off the track.

If you’re not quite ready for the intensity of Fourth Wing but crave a fantasy with found family vibes, magical creatures, and a swoony slow-burn romance, this is a great pick!

The narrator for this book was great! I loved her pacing and her voices. I listened to this book at 1.0 or 1.25x speed for the most part. The idea of this book - F1 racing but with Phoenixes and some science - is top tier, but it seemed a little too plot-heavy (everything happens to Kel until the very end when she actually makes a choice). I found the antagonist to be cartoonish, and the plot twist to fall flat. I loved the rivals-to-reluctant-coworkers-to-lovers.

Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio, for a free ALC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book! From the moment you pick it up, you are transported into a fantasy world with so much action that you'll miss sleep to keep reading it!

The story follows Kel, who is a part of a Phenoix racing team called the Crimson Hawkes. Her team is the underdogs, and they have their eyes on placing this year so that they can finally win some of the prize money that comes with racing. Soon, Kel’s team is on the lookout for a new rider for their team, which leads her team to Warren “Coup” Coupers, who also happens to be Kel’s nemesis. There is tension having Coup on the team, but soon, Kel’s home is burned down, which leads her to team up with a tech mogul and Coup. Soon, the team starts to find secrets and learn why this tech mogul is so interested in the Phenoix and studying them.

I loved Kel; she is so strong-willed and passionate. I love the bond that she shares with Savita. Kel loves Savita and will do anything to make sure that she’s okay. When Kel loves someone she cares about them a whole lot, and will put them before herself. We see this with her enemies-to-lovers love interest, Coup. I thought that Mikayla Bridge did a nice job of blending the fantasy aspects of this book with romance as well. You will get a slow-burning romance, with the best banter that will have you kicking your feet screaming.

I liked the moral dilemmas that come along with the book as well, it makes you think about the animals as more than just animals that people’s race. Kel is forced into racing to stay alive, so she tries to help keep Savita as comfortable as possible. Savita doesn’t really love the collar that she has to wear when they race, but she sure does love winning. So I think it’s a fair trade for her.

I liked the pacing of this book and all the action during the Phoenix racing! Every race will have to gripping the edge of your seat, wondering if someone is going to get hurt or die. It is common for people who race to die, even though they are all young. This book also felt like such a breath of fresh air. The idea behind having Phoenix races is so unique!! The ending will leave you on your toes and have you flipping pages faster than you can read. There are betrayals and lots of twists and turns at the end.

Also, can we talk about the ending and Epilogue!!!! I need the next book asap so I know what happens next.

Overall, I really liked this book and highly recommend it! It is a 5/5 stars!

So good that I devoured this book. Think Fourth Wing but instead of dragons phoenix’s (going to make this review as spoilers just in case that wasn’t in the synopsis) I highly recommend this book to everyone. Also the author has some explaining to do. How could you leave me on a cliff hanger like that. 😭

DNF at 41%

I can see why others would like this. The idea of Phoenix racing sounds enthralling and exciting!

I usually love enemies to lovers kinda plot.

I didn't stop reading this because it was poorly written. I just couldn't find it in myself to care for the characters and what was going on. I found Kel irritating at times which didn't help me at all especially as she was our main character.

I think the book moved just a bit too slow. For me to be at 41% and nothing bigger had happened yet wasn't a good indicator for me to continue.

The narrator was alright. I listened at mostly a 1.25x and it was enjoyable.

Intensity-tension- chaos- NAILED IT. This book is absolutely amazing and even though chaos reigns my life every down moment I had this book took it over! This is a must read for sure!
Thank you net tally for the ARC copy.

I’ve never read a book that revolves around Phoenix racing until this one! What an adventurous storyline. It was action-packed, suspenseful, and the ending was my favorite part of the whole story. While this wasn’t the best YA fantasy I’ve ever read, I’d still recommend it, especially if you love the enemies to lovers trope!

Wow! It's been awhile since a fantasy novel captured me and this one had me hooked!

The world building was fantastic. The idea of Phoenix racing was unique and during the races I was on the edge of my seat. Also, the plot was really good. Outside of the Phoenix racing there's magic and also an incurable disease. I honestly didn't see the twist at the end.

The narration was really good. I could tell which character was which, def recommend!

I really wanted to love Of Flame and Fury — the concept of phoenix racing, a scrappy underdog team, and a reluctant partnership between rivals had so much promise. But, despite an exciting premise and solid narration, I struggled to fully connect with the story.

Kel Varra is a strong FMC with a lot on the line, and her dynamic with the MMC and rival Coup (Warren Coupers) follows a familiar rivals-to-lovers and fake dating formula. While their angsty 17 year old banter had its moments, the pacing and world-building made it hard for me to stay invested. There are a LOT of moving parts — tech, magical creatures, a spreading disease, a shady corporation — but many of them felt under-explored. I kept waiting for the plot to really bring me in, but it never quite did. That said, the racing scenes are well done and the phoenixes are portrayed as truly wild and dangerous, which was majestical. There’s also a strong found-family element and an emotional undercurrent that I did enjoy.

The audiobook narration by Safiyya Ingar was fabulous, and definitely the main reason I stuck with it. Her performance was expressive and clear, and she brought a lot of personality to the characters. I'm a sucker for an accent.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is good if you like the YA genre. I really enjoyed the message overall. I just felt the world needed more. I appreciate a fast paced book but this sacrificed world building at times. I also was unsure about the technology use as it kind of took me out of the story. Overall the action and characters were interesting enough that it is a good YA book.

The audio was quite interesting. I likes the narrator but she sounded a bit old for the character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

have mixed feelings about Of Flame and Fury. To start off, I absolutely love the cover! I’ve also never read any books about phoenixes before, so that was fun! I really loved the trials and the phoenix racing and I also enjoyed some of the tropes:
•forced proximity
•fake dating
•enemies to lovers
•phoenix
That being said, there were parts that seemed to drag a little bit and a couple of predictable moments. I thought the narrator did great and the female characters, but the male characters kind of sounded like Draco Malfoy a bit. I feel like for the most part, everything came together cohesively and I’ll definitely end up reading book two. I give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this Arc

WOW. What an action-packed, fast-paced, ride of a debut novel. This was such a fantastic reading experience. This book had me at the edge of my seat, begging for more every time I sat down to listen.

From the moment I started this book, I was hooked. Bridge keeps her readers on their toes from the very first chapter and will have them crying by the last.

This is a phenomenal reading experience for anyone who loves magical creatures and a taste for adrenaline.

Phoenix racing enemies to lovers romantasy? Yes, please! The author did a wonderful job writing a unique story with familiar tropes. The book takes place in a dystopian world where magic is dying and so are the humans from an incurable disease. Kel, our heroine, is trying to keep her family Phoenix farm running by racing her Phoenix but things aren’t going well. After several incidents that make her financial situation worse she accepts a deal to work for a billionaire Phoenix expert. From there things start to fall apart as her Phoenix keeps having racing accidents and people she loves are getting hurt. The twists and turns are wild and the ending… whew, so good.
The narrator did a great job. The voice acting was really good and her voice fit the characters well.

Who needs dragon riders when you’ve got phoenix riders? I’ve always been partial to Phoenix’s in general, there’s something about animal that rises up from the ashes. This book was so good it tore my heart apart in the best way and then put it back together. Kel is everything you want in an FMC brave, selfless, and the epitome of strength. Her love for Savita is inspiring and I truly believe Savita loves her just as much. There were surprises and a twist I didn’t see coming and the whole book was so exciting.

Coup reminded me of that guy who can’t help but rile up the girl he has a crush on. You knew they would end up loving each other but that didn’t make the journey from enemies to lovers any less fun and sweet. Kel may have tried to fight it but it was inevitable and they are perfect for each other. The Howlers were all great side characters and each really added so much to the story. This is the perfect example of found family they have such a strong relationship and there’s so much love between them.

I read this book immersively and also listened to the audiobook version. The audiobook was narrated by Safiyya Ingar. I enjoyed the audiobook sometimes I have a hard time with single narrator books but Safiyya did a really good job of making each voice different enough that it didn’t bother me. The audiobook was really well done and I highly recommend it.