**I was provided an electronic ARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Rosaria Munda presents to us in Fireborne a world that is still recovering from revolution. The oligarchy of the dragonborn has been overthrown in favor of a merit-based class system determined by testing. We join the narrative where the new dragonriders, or Guardians as they're known, are composed of both low born and high born students that are being ranked in a tournament. We follow Lee, one of the few surviving dragonborn who has adopted a new name to hide his true identity, and Annie, daughter of a highland serf. Both Annie and Lee are dragon riders and their loyalty to their families, society, and each other are explored in Fireborne.

I felt completely validated in learning that Munda was inspired by Virgil and Plato in writing Fireborne; the parallels are both apparent and well-executed. Munda managed to build a well-developed world with distinct culture while also developing her characters to the point that readers are attached to both Lee and Annie. There is no clear "winner" and the amount of grey space in which Munda operated regarding the old and new regimes was beautifully and tactically done.

This book, while definitely entertaining in the dragon riding aspects and the interpersonal relationships front, has an inherent amount of political intrigue which may be offputting for some readers. I happened to really like the political portions and they worked for me.

I am so grateful that Munda allowed the romance, which was apparent, to develop at the pace and in the manner she did. It was very appropriate that the romance take a backseat, and refreshing that it was allowed to do so. Munda also allowed Annie to be a fully realized character without the romantic relationship being key to her person, despite how very integral Lee is to her development.

Overall, this book was a refreshing take on classic dragonriding within the fantasy genre, and I would be happy to see where the rest of the series goes.

Lee and Annie are orphans, surviving victims of the Revolution, when powerful families and dragonlords were killed during a coup to return power to the commoners and put an end to the famine. Lee is a dragonlord who is posing as a peasant, while Annie saw her family burned to death by a dragonlord’s dragon.

At only eight years old, Lee and Annie meet at an orphanage and forge an unlikely bond. They grow up together and share the same dreams. Ten years later, they participate in a tournament to be part of the Fourth Order. This is their chance to make a name for themselves, a chance to become a Firstrider, a commander of the dragon fleet, ready to fight all enemies to the new regime. As they near their goals, their pasts resurface, putting them at odds. A threat from another city is going to test both their characters and their bond, especially when the threats come from other survivors of the Revolution, Lee’s family.

This book has a wonderful premise. This plot is original, and I adored the unique use of dragons and how the riders communicate with the dragons. The backstory is detailed and well thought through, making it easy for readers to project themselves into the fantasy world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the conflicts, including the internal conflicts, that both characters faced, which kept me on my toes.

I am not much into political intrigues and strictly political talk, but this book treated these well. The flashbacks provide insights into how the two characters became so close; however, while these were interesting, they slowed down the story at times. I loved the complexity of the relationship between Lee and Annie and the fact that Annie is not portrayed as a typical hero. She has her own demons and her own fights to win, and she is both strong and vulnerable at the same time. Lee also faces many challenges, and I started to root for him early in the book. Both characters are relatable yet flawed.

The only thing I did not enjoy about the story was the romance. The second love interests each character has were too much. I loved the relationship between the two main characters, which is complex, intense, and genuine. I guess it depends on whether you enjoy love triangles. This was not for me, but romance and pacing issues aside, this book was a fun read. I believe that the next book will be even stronger in action and with the romance, but that’s only a guess. I recommend that you read it. If you have not already, you will fall in love with dragons.

This is an intense emotional story told from the perspective of two children who survived the downfall of the previous government down fall. One is the son of a dragonlord who entire family was destroyed and he only survived because someone chose not to end his life when he was ordered to. The other is the daughter of a serf whose entire family was destroyed by dragon fire and she was forced to watch. They are both raised as orphans and dream of a time when they can escape the horrible destruction of their families.

When they are given the chance to be come dragon riders in the new order, they are both determined to be better then the ones who came before them. Those who destroyed their families and those that were part of the destruction. The complex relationship between these two characters is so intense, you can feel it on every page of the book.

The other characters that are part of this story share a bit of those who can be loved and those you want to see destroyed. When you come to the end of this first book your heart will probably be in your chest as you read and feel for Lee as he forced to make some very tough decisions. Your also left wondering what choice he actually made and what will come next in this series. I have questions and i have theories and i am on the edge of my seat wondering what is to come.

Annie and Lee both are raised in an orphanage after they are parentless in the midst of the consequences the the overthrow of a regime. They are both accepted into a school for future dragonriders. While Annie and Lee are friends, they are ultimately pitted against each other in competition for leadership of the dragonriders. This excellent book keenly portrays the tensions between loyalty to to friends, family, and a better way of life.

"Fireborne" is a captivating, heartbreaking, and exciting high fantasy novel that grips you with deep character development and world building and won't let go. It pained me to have to put this book down JUST TO GO TO WORK. Annie and Lee are breathtakingly human with flaws and merits so real it feels as though you could pull them out of the pages and have meaningful relationships with them.
The high fantasy plot of dragon empires and deep political intrigue may not be new, but Rosaria Munda weaves and intricate and expertly fashioned variation that will leave readers flipping madly through the pages and aching for a sequel. My library will definitely purchase.

This is everything I wanted. From the characters to the world building to the fact that there are dragons, it's everything I could have asked for and then some! Munda's writing is captivating and vivid. It gives breath to the world and the characters to the point it feels realistic. The plot is very engaging as well! Fireborne is a fantastic debut novel, and I can't wait to read more from this author! I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book!

The plot seems pretty straightforward at first, with a child of a murdered family seeking revenge, but it is so much more than that! The characters have situations they must really think through, as they are steeped in morality and have far-reaching consequences. I liked the growth in their complex relationships.

There are a lot of political machinations mixed in with the action of dragon riding, so although it's not non-stop action, the pace moves the story along nicely.

I ended up staying awake until past 2am reading the last 3/4 of this book because I couldn't wait to see what happened next!

This has been one of my BEST readings of the year by far! I’m telling you: I have absolutely loved every single page and word of Fireborne. Dragon riders, a world that is on the verge of breaking due to the tension between the old regime and the new one, two incredible main characters that you will adore, two childhood friends that need each other but at the same time long to be independent and fend for themselves… Can this get any better? No, that is my answer.

This story is three-dimensional. This one will stay in your heart for a long time because it’s fascinating, demanding, and poignant. The author has created a world that is overflowed with feelings, cruelty from the past and some blinding brushstrokes of hope. Sometimes all the information can be a bit stifling, but I guarantee you don’t want to miss this book. I could not put it down and when I finished it I had goose bumps. You suffer a lot with these characters, I warn you. Oh boy. I need to read the sequel right now!

Annie and Lee are intelligent, mature, compassionate, and brave young adults. They want to build a better world, but their own doubts and fears are starting to surface. They feel lost and confused, since she belongs to the lower class, while he was born with a surname that assured him a life full of luxuries and glory. Both are aware that their friendship could end if they discover that the other does not share his/her political ideas. Deep down, Annie has always suspected who Lee is. Because he is the boy who took care of her at the orphanage, he is the boy who supports her in silence and is always keeping an eye on her when they are training with their dragons. But Lee, like it or not, is also the embodiment of all the pain and crimes his family committed. What world will prevail: the old or the new one?

Fantasy, romance, and dragons. What more could you possibly want from a book? Rosaria Munda weaves an amazing tale!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. I enjoyed this fantasy style novel and thought the world building/plot was well crafted. The storyline flowed nicely once I got past the beginning chapters. Nice YA fantasy overall.

Fireborne is a story about family and the future. Taking place nine years after a bloody revolution that turned society on its head, Fireborne is about the world the ashes left behind. Fireborne is about who is born from the ashes of revolution. In the moments of anger, heat, and pain what will we become and how much of us will remain? Told from dual perspectives, Anne and Lee, Munda asks the characters if we are where we've come from or if we have the ability to transcend our prejudices. There are questions of privilege, merit, and ethics. It is fiercely political, asking questions about propaganda and censorship implicitly. Our characters are all asked whether the world they know is better than before, or just the same system with a different name.

There are so many forces coming against Annie. She lives in this new society where we are supposed to only be judged for our merits, but Annie shows us how we can't change society overnight. The prejudices and discrimination don't just evaporate with new titles. Annie is looked down upon because of her background. Fireborne is as much her story as Lee's as as she struggles to see her own worth, to come to terms with the new government (and her role in it), and to find her own voice.

What a stunning debut! This YA novel-so excited it is the first of a series-ticks all the boxes! A regime is taken down allowing the lower class citizens to reach up, children are given the change to better themselves and the characters are completely realistic and appropriately depicted for the reading level indicated. I can’t tell you how many nights I stayed up too late to ‘read just a little longer’ as this story got into my heart and mind. I can’t wait for the next installment! Thanks to #netgalley for allowing me to read #fireborne ahead of publication.

A solid dragon fantasy, fit to share the shelves of classic fantasy and dragon stories. I found the characters' struggles to be compelling and real, and I honestly wasn't sure what choices they would make. A great read.

Have you been looking for a young adult version of the Temeraire books with marginally less talk of tactics as slightly more angst? Do I have the new series for you...

Lee and Annie would have never met, had it not been for their tragic backgrounds. One noble-born, the other penniless, they are forced together when they are orphaned and live through the same revolution. Lee knows he must hide his history if he wants to survive, which becomes even more complicated when he must compete with Annie to see who will have the honor of leading their dragons in the inevitable war. Some dragonlords survived the revolution, and now they want revenge.

I got an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fireborne is a YA fantasy novel by Rosaria Munda. It’s her debut novel, and it’s quite an adventure with one of my favorite magical creatures ever: dragons!

I think I initially fell in love with dragons while reading Eragon. And, while the book had its flaws, one thing stood out: the deep connection between Saphira and Eragon. It did get me dreaming about dragons first, though, and so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Fireborne.

The novel is narrated in one of my least favorite styles ever: alternating first-person POV, and in the present tense. I think I’ve mentioned this in a few other reviews. I will admit that sometimes the author surprises me by managing to pull it off, or at least makes me understand why they decided to write the book in that way. In this case, however, I definitely didn’t understand the reasoning behind this specific style. I didn’t often see a difference between the ways the narration went, but at least we were very clearly told who was narrating at the beginning of every section.

And while the narration wasn’t my favorite, I will say that a lot of work went into the characters. Lee and Annie are clearly the main characters, and I particularly loved seeing how they came from practically opposing backgrounds and yet ended up being such good friends. Not only that, but Munda made sure to keep them distinctly flawed, even as they battle it out for the highest positions at the top of their new government. They are people, after all, and while they may be better than a lot of people, they still felt very human to me. They can be competitive and overprotective. They can be overly competitive and occasionally underestimate each other. And they both want to win.

The fact that they both wanted to win, and gave such good reasons for it, kept me confused about who I wanted to support. First Lee, then Annie, then Lee, then Annie. I swear I read about their competitions with baited breath, cheering inwardly at every one of their victories. It was just so exciting! I won’t say who won, but I will say that it felt appropriate to the story the way it ended up, and set up the rest of the plot quite well.

Lee and Annie shine through the story, but a novel isn’t only made up of two characters. Duck, Crissa, Power, Cor, and Rock definitely stand out. Munda made sure to give them all distinct backgrounds and personalities, and they’re often affected by different situations in different ways. One character I struggled to understand was Power, though. He’s made out to be the bully from the very beginning, and yet even though we got to learn more about him, he kept making me like and dislike him in different scenes, making it so that I could not make up my mind about him. I still can’t make up my mind about him, honestly.

And something I also appreciated about the novel was that while from the very beginning it’s obvious that Lee and Annie share more than just friendship, the novel mostly focuses on friendship over any other relationship that exists. Too frequently I see fantasy novels completely discard friendship as the main character falls in love, but Munda decided to keep the scales tilted in favor of other sorts of relationships and for that I was grateful.

I seem to be talking so much about scales, see-sawing, or changing my mind so far in this review! This novel, despite being a fantasy novel, really made me think. Lee and Annie are, after all, somewhat involved in their government, a government that is reshaping itself after a massive revolution. The reader, along with the characters, is forced to examine the choices made throughout the story, whether they’re right or not, or whether they’re just the choice that leads to the best outcome. The end or the means? What sort of government really is better? Is it all right to hurt some to save countless others? Fireborne made me consider all these questions even as it kept me flipping through the pages (can I still say that if I read an e-book?) of the book, wanting to know what was going to happen.

The politics and government more than anything helped shape the world of this book, and Munda pulled it off! Using them as a lens to frame the new country, the world and all within it came alive. I loved this particular aspect of the book, and think that Munda was brilliant in her depiction of what running a country really takes (not that I would know).

Fireborne was a fun fantasy novel to read, and I loved the thought process it put me through. I’d recommend this to fantasy fans, especially those who are also interested in the politics of fantasy worlds.

Fireborne will be released October 15. You can pre-order it from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers at this link.

Dragons!
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A world where dragons are feared and loved, controlled and ridden by the people they bond with.
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Fireborne by Rosaria Munda is also about two star-crossed orphans from completely different backgrounds. Annie used to be a peasant and Lee was the youngest son of the previous ruthless ruler. They live among the elites of a new regime, and are some of the first warriors who have bonded with dragons since the violent overthrow of the previous government. They are each very unique in how they think and act – one being more of an underdog and the other favored - but I like how devoted they are to each other. There is political intrigue and lives at stake that kept me reading far to late at night.
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So in summary. Love the characters, love the dragons (I mean look at that cover), and love the plot.
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Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group #Fireborne #Netgalley
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Publication Date: 10/15/19

fter hearing some of the buzz surrounding Fireborne I knew that I had to pick it up (hello, dragons). I was expecting your run of the mill fantasy romance for teens. To a certain extent that is a true description; however, there was so much more to Fireborne than an angst-filled teen romance. Really, this is about people who have survived a war and years later they are grappling with the world post-revolution and the realization that the changes that their families died for did not really live up to the promises of the revolution.

Annie and Lee both survived watching their families die as children and that trauma has shaped them both into the young adults that they now are. Unspoken between the two of them is the fact that they were both on opposite sides of the revolution, which has increasingly complicated their relationship as they got older.

While there's some really awesome world building going on in this book (Annie and Lee are dragon riders), for me, it was the characterization that stands out as the strongest element in Fireborne. Munda just gets the whole complicated relationships between people, whether they be friendly or romantic. The struggle that both Annie and Lee feel in their relationship with each other and others in their circle was palpable and it was that push-pull that kept me engrossed. Considering the end and its impact on Annie and Lee individually, I am very interested to see where the author takes their friendship and possible romance next.

Fans of Leigh Bardugo will love the lush and complicated world that Munda creates.

A fabulous story that is jam-packed with detail and world building. It is also dark and full of sorrow. I struggled to wade through the grit because there are few happy spots to keep you going, but it was worth it.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Action packed. Full of excitement, dragon riders and intrigue. I loved it and could only read a
Little at a time . I wanted to prolong the action .

Fireborne is an impressive YA debut. I'm always sceptical when YA novels are described as "like Game of Thrones" because they never are, but Fireborne definitely has the moral shades of grey and not clear-cut good vs. bad, if not the large scope of GoT.
In the years after a revolution the two protagonists struggle with the new society, and at times feel they're hardly better than the tyranny that came before. I really loved the bits about how the rulers use censorship and propaganda to control public opinion. The plots fast-paced and has a good balance between action and politics. Romance isn't in the main focus. And I was on the edge of my seat the last half of the book.
Refreshing and everything I love in a YA fantasy. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!