Maddileh is one of few women who are knights, and as such is used to putting up with the sexist remarks of her peers. But when she lets her temper get the better of her, she finds herself sent on a quest to restore her honor by retrieving the Fireborne Blade from its guardian dragon. There’s a prophecy telling of the impossibility of slaying the dragon, but Maddileh thinks she might just be the one to break it – only time will tell if this is a heroic mission or a fool’s errand.

This novella packs quite a punch for such a short work. While the initial plot seems relatively standard, there are many things introduced that create a more complex one. There is a primary plot/timeline that is interspersed with flashbacks or background information that is relevant to the plot or setting. This was done well without slowing the pace and added much to the development of the world.

The characters are quite strong. There wasn’t much development beyond that required for the plot, which is generally expected from shorter books. However, the characters still felt alive with strong motivations and voices, making for an excellent experience.

While things are resolved in this book, it certainly sets up for an intriguing sequel. The narrator of this audiobook is quite talented, using a full range of voices which added much to the experience. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is an excellent read for someone who loves the classic "old man fantasy" or high fantasy vibe and also want to see a badass woman attack a dragon. I couldn't believe how quickly I flew through the audio arc of The Fireborne Blade because the pacing was absolutely phenomenal. This story has all your classic high fantasy components - knights, mages, magic, and dragons - and a really compelling and engrossing exploration of the characters. I also loooooved how the dragon magic worked, it felt so clever!

I am so grateful to NetGalley and Tordotcom for access to this advanced reader copy - I can't wait for more in the series!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I finished this like a week ago and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I almost feel like the first 30% of the book focused on unnecessary stuff when it could have been world building.

This is a very short fantasy so I had concerns about how well developed the world and characters could be. I think the world needed some more focus and time but the characters felt well rounded!

I struggled giving this a rating because the first half was very slow with a lot of side stories that didnt appear to add up. But the second half was down right shocking with a complete plot twist and pretty good!

Ultimately I gave this 3 ⭐️. I think the world needed more attention as I found myself confused how certain things were possible in this world.

I reviewed the audio version of this book and it was a good experience! I could tell when the characters we r speaking aloud vs when they were in their own heads. This narrator has a very soothing voice and I found it kind of comforting? 😂

I’m not sure I’ll read the second one but it’s a quick book that involves dragons so you can’t go wrong here!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

- This was such a perfect length, and it have everything I look for in a high fantasy dragons and knights story!
- Between the non-chronological narrative, the winding journey, and the interludes with records/stories about other knights, this book reminded me a lot of what I love in the Singing Hills cycle.
- For a book this short, I was shocked by how incredible of a twist there is! It's a little slow in the beginning, but it really snuck up on me!
- I loved the narrator, and her pronunciations of some of the more fantastical names and places was really helpful (I wouldn't have guessed the correct pronunciation of Maddileh otherwise).
- I loved the worldbuilding around the dragons, and I'd love to read more in this world!

This is a fresh take on the classic dragon vs. knight fantasy tropes. While I loved the narration and some of the ideas were really cool, there were some plot twists at the end that didn't quite work for me.

Maddileh is determined to win back the fireborne blade from the lair of the infamous dragon dubbed the White Lady. However, her quest is beset by problems, including an irritating squire and recurring nightmares. She doesn't trust mages or magic but must do so to win her prize, but at what cost?

Just finished reading Charlotte Bond's latest fantasy novella, "The Fireborne Blade," and I am absolutely thrilled! This captivating story revolves around Maddileh, a knight who embarks on a quest to kill a dragon and reclaim her honor.

The protagonist, Maddileh, must find the Fireborne Blade, a weapon of great power and significance. Bond's storytelling prowess shines as she takes readers on Maddileh's journey, a roller-coaster ride filled with unexpected twists and turns.

What struck me most about "The Fireborne Blade" is its humor. Despite dealing with themes of honor, duty, and courage, the book doesn't take itself too seriously. The light-hearted moments provide a nice contrast to the book's more intense scenes, keeping you engaged from start to finish.

But don't be fooled by its size. Though "The Fireborne Blade" is a short novella, it packs a punch. It's brimming with rich details that make the characters and world come alive. The plot moves at a brisk pace, but there's still plenty of depth to the story and its characters.

Adding to the overall experience is the brilliant narration by Helen McAlpine. Her expressive voice adds another layer of excitement and intrigue to the story, making it even more enjoyable.

On a closing note, I want to express my gratitude to Charlotte Bond, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for providing me with this advanced reader's copy (ARC). It was an absolute pleasure to dive into this fantastic world, and I can't wait for others to experience Maddileh's thrilling journey!

In conclusion, "The Fireborne Blade" is an impressive fantasy novella that will leave you asking what will happen next. It's a must-read for any fans of the genre!

❤️ Happy Reading!!! ❤️

3.5/5 Stars
I think this was a great set-up book and introduced interesting characters and magic system. I’m curious to see where the next book takes it.
Maddileh was an interesting character that kept me engaged. She is prickly, but with reason. The magic system is what stuck out to me the most. I thought that the dragon magic was unique and quite fascinating. The non-linear timeline added a lot to the story and helped to give context and backstory to Maddileh, as well as add to the world building. At times, it felt like too much info-dumping, but it is understandable since it is such a short book that is trying to set up the plot and series. I am happy that is is a start to a series because I definitely want more world-building and character development. I am excited to see where the author takes the story. Overall, I enjoyed this.

I wasn't aware this was such a short book but It was really good for how short it was. I felt like it being so short actually added to the anxiety and fear the book builds throughout the story. I definitely really liked this and I can't wait to see where this goes.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

The Fireborne Blade is a simple and straightforward fantasy that is a quick read. Its incorporation of dragons and a quest brought back many fond memories of older fantasy novels. While I listened to this book on audio, I would have found more appreciation for the story if I had read it physically. However, for me, this book lacked world-building. I will admit I struggled to create a bond with the characters. Yet, those searching for a high fantasy book or those who adore older fantasy books will enjoy this short book.

3.5 stars. First off thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the audioARC of this book. It was quite entertaining. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. There were Dragons, dragon Slaying, mages, magical objects, swordship, knights, some familial betrayal, murder and more. It was a short but sweet fantasy. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys the above mentioned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC.

I loved the narrator of this audio book. She did such a good job making the story come to life.

I liked the story but was disappointed we didn’t get to learn more about the dragons, especially after some of the big reveals. The main character was interesting and the mysteries kept me guessing until the end

This is a short and straight-forward novella. I did struggle to get into it for the first 30% as every other chapter is the main plot line where the main character is off to slay a dragon and find the Firebourne sword to reclaim her tarnished honour. The chapters in-between are either excerpts from a dragon book that exists in the story that provides background and side information, or flashbacks to between 3 and 6 months before the main story. The jumping around did initially make it hard to get really into the book as I found it interrupted the flow for me, but I am so glad I pushed through! Things started to pick up after 30% in and then it continues to pick up faster and faster once some horror elements start to become involved. Oh man, the twists and turns with the characters and plot at the end! Nothing is what you think it is and I could never have guessed what was going to happen. I listened to the audiobook version and absolutely couldn't stop from 60% onward. The narrator, Helen McAlpine, did a great job of giving a distinctive voice and feel to each of the characters, conveying tone and emotion (including a great deal of suspense!) effectively.

If you like a bit of horror mixed in with your fantasy, dragons, kick-ass female knights with complicated emotions, a story that gets darker as it goes, and big twists at the end, then this book is for you!

"You can't kill a magical beast without consequences."

Madilleh is one of the only lady knights and, while disgraced due to the attitudes of mediocre men, she's determined to redeem herself by retrieving The Fireborne Blade from an ancient dragon known as The White Lady. & I loved every twist and turn of this story!

This novella packs a lot in. Not only is there Madilleh's story, but a collection of dragon tales are interwoven throughout so by the end. you feel as though you've learned much of the kingdom's lore, just as it reaches a twist that for once I didn't see coming.

I loved the characters and the world in this. I prefer dragon tales with intelligent dragons vs. beasts to be slain, but keeping it spoiler-free I have a feeling things may go that direction in future installments. This novella is an excellent reminder to trust your own instincts over mediocre men.

Helen McAlpine is wonderful as the narrator. Her voice is lovely and soothing & shifts effortlessly between the characters.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audio ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! It is short but the story doesn’t feel small at all. This book had everything I had hoped it would have from the dragons and magic to some huge surprises that left me questioning everything. The characters grew on me over the course of the story and I could not wait to see how things would work out for them in the end. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this entertaining story.

Maddileh is a knight on a quest to retrieve the fireborne blade from a dragon known as the White Lady. This is an impossible task, but she will do her best with the help of her squire, who she doesn’t completely trust. The story jumps back to the past a few times and we get to learn Maddileh’s backstory and a glimpse of how dangerous dragons are. She not only needs to worry about dragons on her quest but the ghosts of others who have died often prove to be just as deadly.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Helen McAlpine did a fantastic job with the narration. The voices she used for both the male and female characters were incredibly well done and helped bring this story to life. This is the first time I have listened to her work as a narrator and must say that I was quite impressed. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. It is not often that a twist completely surprises me so I was thrilled that this book did exactly that. I found the story to be very exciting with plenty of action (and dragons) to keep me entertained. I am thrilled to see that there will be more books in this series and hope to read those just as soon as I can get my hands on it.

I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tordotcom.

I had such a great time reading these books! The audiobook of the first book just sucked me in, and I was just lucky enough to already have gotten the 2nd book (though I didn't know they were connected when I requested them, funnily enough) and I just had to dive in, and they were both so good!

I loved the way that these were told, with these two characters, but then also having some tales and recounting, the first of knights killing various dragons, and the second, various legends It really helped build out this world, and were so interesting to read!

The twists and turns of Fireborne Blade, oh, they were so delightful to read! That we had the different timelines, and when they came together with that reveal, that was so shocking to read! I utterly loved how that all played out, it was just so clever!

But that ending of Bloodless Princes? That was so good and unexpected! Though did they leave the sword behind or bring it with them? Either way, their future afterlife prospects don't look good as is right now! Honestly, here's hoping that the Allfather and Allmother find someone new to rule over the underworld, or I'm pretty sure they're going to be in trouble!

I'm not sure if there's going to be more in this series. I mean, I would love for there to be, and so far each story has wrapped up pretty nicely. But I want to spend more time in this world, so I really hope we get more stories!

Loved reading these stories and I would love to have more!

This short fantasy adventure is a girl-power dream in the end.
This story is all about the characters - no world building. It's all about overcoming traditional gender roles, and being strong and moral - despite being different. At less than 5 hours long, this audiobook was a quick listen, with several twists, turns, and flashbacks. No spice, but hints at attraction.
I enjoyed it!

It took me a little bit to get into, but once it got going I really enjoyed it. I think it was the jumping back and forth in time and insertion of a textbook that made the beginning a bit jarring. Also, the narration wasn't my favorite initially. However, it easily grew on me as I kept listening. Despite the short length the characters and world are well developed. If you like dragons and women fighting for the ability to tell their own story this one is for you! It turns out theres another novella coming out later this year and I will definitely be reading it!

This felt like the condensed version of a full 400+ page fantasy book. All of the suspenseful, good parts got to stay and the fluff was banished. This was a great novella. I did not see the main twist coming at all and loved it. The one aspect I had a large problem with (no spoilers) was sorted out by the end leaving me content.

The narration of the audiobook was solid with great character differentiation, The narrators voice was easy to listen to and I enjoyed their accent.

Thank you NetGalley, Charlotte Bond, and Macmillan audio for the audiobook ARC.

What a fresh take on dragons, magic and greed. The flow and ebb of this tale keeps you hooked til the twisted end.

**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒅

@Macmillan.Audio

Release Date: May 28, 2024

3⭐️0🌶

This book reminded me a lot of the Witcher. If the Witcher were female, and needed to re-instill her honor by acquiring a magic sword to slay a dragon. I found this book entertaining with ancient tales of dragons and knights and glorious deeds. However, I usually love the snarky dragon characters, and I didn't find any of that here. This story was also rather short, and didn't seem to go anywhere. There was a minor revenge plot that was fulfilled, but it just didn't engage me. I don't think this book was for me. I just didn't find what I expected.

Towards the end of the book, I couldn't find that any of the characters developed or that there were any obvious lessons learned. Other than, do not trust people that only have their own interests at heart.

A big thank you to @netgalley approving me for this ARC!