Locris was cursed by an earth goddess centuries ago and is now a dying nation. Lia, a princess of Locris, vows to save her nation by winning a life-and-death race to the goddess's temple in Ilion, finding the eye of the goddess, and restoring life back to her nation. But when her untrained sister is drawn as the second maiden to race, Lia has to decide between protecting her sister or trying to save the nation she loves.

The beginning of this book felt a bit like Hunger Games meets Maze Runner meets the Trojan War. I loved the premise of the book, and I honestly wish we'd gotten to spend more time with Lia while she was training for the race and participating in the race.

While I was rooting for Lia and Jason's relationship, I did feel like it was a bit forced at times. I completely understand being physically drawn to someone while feeling like you shouldn't be (especially since she considered everyone from Ilion an enemy), but the physical draw felt overplayed and didn't make sense in some of the moments where she acted on her desire.

One of my favorite aspects of this book, though, was the incredible sisterhood that Lia found at the temple. They took vows to protect each other, and despite their differences in background and personality, they grew to love each other. I honestly think they would have protected each other with their lives even without the vows.

Overall, this was an interesting start to the series and I'll be interested to see how the next book plays out.

Read if you like:
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn romance
Death trial
Found family
Greek mythology adjacent
Hidden magic

Thank you to the author and Literary Media Tours for the review copy. My opinions are my own.

I was intrigued by this story especially since there was real historical precedence for the concept of the tributes of maidens from one region to another for the sins of their ancestors - Got to love the Greeks for some really messed up stories.

I read this slowly over the period of 9 days, but never lost interest. This is a long book, with a lot of characters, especially once the main character gets going. Lia puts herself in a position to become a tribute to help save her dying country but there's distractions and feelings that she needs to deal with, and a found family of women that she bonds with even with all her lies.

I saw a lot of the twists coming, but that didn't disappoint me because the over all plot was well done. I really enjoyed Lia's situationship with Jason, but I really look forward to seeing what happens next.

Tropes that I enjoyed:
-hidden royalty
-found family
-dragons (minor appearances but I think this will be a bigger part going forward)
-women with magic
-women learning to fight

Recommend to those who enjoyed Five Broken Blades (everyone lies), The Wren In The Holly Library (special skills), and those who like stories based on Greek myths/stories but done in a new way.

Where to start with a review that doesn’t have spoilers???

🏛️ I really enjoyed this tale, drawing on what happens to Locrian maidens who are sent as tributes to pay for Ajax the Lesser’s 🍇 of Cassandra after the Trojan War - why is it women who have to suffer and pay for a man’s crime?? It was a creative reimagining of how the Locrians make it to the temple, and I enjoyed the Easter eggs along the way to other myths.

🐍 I knew someone was a traitor from the start based on the name 😂 it made me think of… #nospoilers but a revenge tragedy that I love, and the major twist relating to this character wasn’t that surprising imho - although I was gasping throughout the last quarter or so of the book. This is why I don’t (or shouldn’t!) read when out in public 🤣

⛰️ Book 1 ends on a cliffhanger 😩 I can’t wait for Book 2!! 🥹

I ATE THIS UP! I loved the FMC (somewhat naive but confident and strong and looking to trust others) and and MMC (playboy vibes but seemingly ready to give up his ways for the FMC). The supporting characters were also phenomenally written and though I feel like I know them - there’s still so much more that I’m questioning and just know there’s more to uncover. And hello, cliffhangers! When I realized I was nearing the end of the book I was so mad because everything was just ramping up! I cannot wait to read the next book to get some dang answers!

Thank you, Montlake for the full eARC. My opinion is my own.

Book Review
A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson

What Its Got
✅ Greek mythology, Gods and Goddesses
✅ Magic, Curses, prophecy
✅High born royalty vs acolytes and Priestesses vs lower born
✅ Search for The Eye of the Goddess
✅ City built into a labyrinth
✅ Women sent to laughter in the name of sacrifice
✅ lost history, creatures of myth and legend
✅ arranged marriage
✅ found family
✅ female empowerment

Characters
Jason- pirate, saucy sailor with swagger , he keeps popping up when you least expect him
Lia- heroine in training, a determined princess who is willing to sacrifice herself in hopes of saving her people from a centuries old curse
Sisters - these women of the temple become like family, but not all are what they seem

Overall
This is my first from this author. I love a good Romantasy and this one checks all the boxes. I cant wait for the next instalment… Wilson has left readers on the edge of their seats!

Thanks to the author, @netgalley and the publisher for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are
My own.

Unfortunately, for me ,this story broke the cardinal rule of show not tell. I couldn't get past the writing which fell extremely flat for me and gave me none of the excitement or engagement that I need to want to continue with a story.

I LOVED this book!!!!! It would have been 5 stars but I couldn’t get over the name of “Jason.” It’s honestly my only criticism. If you read this book you’ll probably understand why.

HOWEVER, strong female lead, romance, fated mate vibes, women’s rights and empowerment, sisterhood. CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!

(3.75/5⭐️) 📚 Thank you Sariah Wilson and Netgalley for the ARC copy! I really loved the concept and was intrigued as soon as I started. The first 25% was exceptionally fast-paced. At first I was a bit concerned why the labyrinth was over so quickly, until I realised the plot hadn’t really begun until Lia had reached the temple. The synopsis didn’t spoil much so I had 0 expectations. I really enjoyed the characters introduced. It was quite warming to discover she had support and a new found family to rely on for her mission. It became clear that she would be the saviour of the prophecy but there was an element of surprise. I was very shocked to uncover who Jason truly is. I did wonder his significance and why there was an instant love between them. It’s a trope I’m not crazy about but I am glad Lia is not foolish, and didn’t give in easily. I’m really curious if any of it was real between them, and how this play into her mission? So many questions left unanswered! 1 thing I felt wasn’t developed enough is the significance of the dragons, the sea dragon specifically! To summarise, I liked this book and look forward to the next one!

A princess is determined to save her nation! Lia is one mighty young lady and she definitely has a battle on her hands. While at the same time trying not to fall in love with the enemy Jason. Wow! I am not a big fantasy reader but I have fallen in love with this romance / fantasy tale. I love the female friendships and the fact that they call themselves sisters just makes it even better. There is plenty of action and a tiny bit of humour. The narrative between the characters has me speechless and dare I say that this book is just as good if not better than Fourth Wing. Now don't get me started on the cliffhanger ending but I will say that I desperately NEED the next book!

Thank you so much to Sariah Wilson and NetGalley for the ARC! This is a wonderful, action packed book with a strong main character. Wilson is fantastic at writing engaging dialogue and witty banter as well! This book also has a strong beginning that will immediately pull the reader in ( It was hard for me to put this down since the first page). Without giving anything away, readers will absolutely fall in love with this book, I know I did.

Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon! Full review coming soon!

4.5⭐️
Princess Thalia. Taking it upon herself to save her nation,Locris, and swooning over a sailor. This book is my newest obsession and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Constantly on the move never slowing as we follow Thalia in her journey to lift a curse and save Locris.

Thalia is idea of female empowerment and strength growing within herself. She is committed to her goal constantly thinking of others in the matter. I adored her inquisitive nature asking all the right questions I needed to know.

Thalias innocence in her relationship with Jason, an Ilionian sailor, who is intense. Their chemistry is off the charts in a sense they were meant to be despite there being instant love. The intensity. The banter. The plot twist.

There is a small magic system being built upon in this world that will take off in Book 2. I crave more as it is hinted and teased within the book. The aspect of Greek mythology Sariah builds upon was complex but understandable. It really tied into why the world was the way it is and why Thalia is doing what she is doing.

The plot twist in the end and cliffhanger is diabolical. I need more. This is my first read from Sariah and I can’t wait for where she takes this series.

Thank you for providing this arc Sariah Wilson and Netgalley💜

As a lover of mythology, I was very very excited to read this book - and it delivered. So often the stories of mythology are around men, because heroes of that time were male. So the fact that the author delivered a female hero, who is determined to set her own destiny, despite the attempts to make her a piece in a male’s story, was a huge selling point of this book for me.

I loved the story of Lia, I loved her tenacity, bravery, and loyalty. I loved the importance placed on family- both blood and found - and how that drives the majority of the story.

I also appreciated that there was the romance side of it, but it wasn’t overpowering of the female main character. It was almost as a side part to the main story, and for someone who isn’t a huge romance fan, and instead here for the fantasy part, thank you!

The part that I struggled with was how much happened in the book. I honestly feel like it could just have been cut in half and made two separate books. It was a little overwhelming, and I do feel like the first part was rushed. I struggled with parts of that.

But other than that - this is a solid four star read, and I will definitely be in line for the second!

This book blew me away.

Let me first start by saying that the cliffhanger at the end has me just sitting here staring blankly at a wall, wondering how I'm going to survive waiting until the next book comes out! I mean, the ending was brilliant and infuriating all in one!

Lia is an amazing FMC! I love her strength, determination, loyalty, and love for her family. I found the book to be very fast-paced but easy to keep up with. All of the characters are well thought out, the plot makes sense, and it hooks you from the start and keeps you entertained throughout!

I can't wait to find out more about Jason (IYKYK). He seems to be a complex character that I can't wait to get more information on! I also am really excited to see how this plays out with the Goddess and how everything comes together! I absolutely love her adelphia and I hope we get to see more from them in the next book as well because their found family vibe is amazing!

This book has:

✨️Found Family
✨️Death trials
✨️Goddesses, priestesses, acolytes
✨️Slow burn
✨️Betrayal
✨️Secrets and plot twists

10/10 would recommend!!

Thank you to Sariah Wilson and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I saw the cover for A TRIBUTE OF FIRE and a quick blurb on Instagram and immediately went to request the arc.

thanking my past self for that decision because I loved this! I am a huge fan of Greek mythology and love when fantasy books take influence from it.

It had everything I love in a romantasy: entertaining cast of characters that banter well together, strong chemistry between the two romantic leads, great world building that felt magical but not too complicated, and a plot I could easily fall into.

book two now please?

thank you netgalley and Sariah for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you, @literarymediatours, @sariahwilsonauthor and Montlake Publishing for #gifted book and being part of the book tour.

I couldn't put it down from page one. The characters drew me in, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The story's foundation in Greek mythology was brilliantly executed. Lia's unwavering strength and determination as she fought to save her nation were truly captivating. The dynamic between Lia and Jason, the sailor, was enchanting and the romance swoon-worthy. The writing was seamless, and the attention to detail was extraordinary. I admired Lia's reliance on her sisters in the temple, finding strength in their bond.

The shocking twists and betrayals at the end of the book left me reeling and yearning for the sequel. How will these betrayals impact Lia, Jason, and her sisters?

If you're a fan of fantasy with a touch of romance and Greek mythology, mark your calendar for November 1st. This book is a must-read!

Thank you to Literary Media Tours and Sariah Wilson for the opportunity to read an advanced copy before release in November.
WOW. I enjoyed this one. Lia as a character is humanly flawed and so relatable. She is such a loyal friend, sister, and member of the court. She goes through so much during this book, not to mention she is secretly training with the best (of course being the only woman to do so). I found her so intriguing and the author made me feel so much for both her and Jason. I couldn’t help but root for them and their relationship.

As anyone who reads my reviews knows, I love enemies to lovers and this one is no exception. This is my favorite type of romantasy: equal parts fantasy and romance. I didn’t feel that either of these elements outweighed the other. The family found in this book warmed my heart because Lia really went through it. The women in Lia’s Adelphia really balanced each other and I enjoyed hearing about all of their personalities.

The ending though! All in all, I highly recommend it. A Tribute in Fire will be available on November 1, 2024 (on KU!) and is the first in a series: the second novel, A Vow of Embers, is released on October 28, 2025. I’m going to need book two injected into my veins immediately lol.

Ilion offers the earth goddess a sacrifice every year: two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-and-death race to reach her temple where no maiden has ever made it out alive. This year, Lia, the princess of Locris is the one who's hunted. The stakes have never been higher, and the last thing she needs is a distraction from Ilionian sailor, Jason....

Author Sariah Wilson is no stranger when it comes to writing romance novels, but A Tribute of Fire is her first time writing romantasy. A Tribute of Fire is a well-written and intriguing tale that at times gave me Hunger Games vibes. The plot is fast-paced with a lot of moving pieces. When I say this is a big book, I mean a big book. There is a lot of ground to cover, a world to build, and characters to introduce.

Overall, I think this series is off to a solid start. It has a little something for everyone and would be a great read for anyone looking to dip their toes into the romantasy genre.

Wow! I was hooked from the start. This book gives Greek mythology x Hunger Games and I loved it!

Lia takes on the role of tribute to try to lift the curse that is killing her kingdom and save her people. The goal? Make it to the Goddess temple alive. She has trained for this. She accepted her fate. She believes that she can accomplish her task. But she forgets that the enemy takes 2 tributes each time... and, she didn't anticipate that a fleeting, yet powerful, evening encounter would have such a dramatic impact on her future.

This book is beautifully written. The pace is a consistent ebb and flow of intensity with a teeny bit of breathing room after to absorb what just happened, before you are thrown into the next thing. I loved the fast pace. I loved Lia's passion and drive and focus. I loved that she just blatantly refused to be deterred from her goal. She is feisty and oddly endearing and I am a huge fan.

I adored the side characters and the relationships between them all. Even when I didn't like a character, I did, because they were so well written and they played a really important part in either Lia's development or the overall story.

One of the things I loved most about the way this book was written was that I was constantly second guessing myself. Do I actually know what's going to happen? Is that character actually who they say they are? The writing is so clever that just when I think I've figured something out, I'm thrown off track and sent into a spiral of uncertainty. And the cliffhanger?!?! I'll leave it at that.

In case you couldn't tell, yes I recommend this book. Yes you absolutely need to read it. And yes to a strong FMC who isn't annoying but owns both her fierceness and her fragility.

*very gratefully received this book as an ARC*

6th book for the month of September finished!

First of all I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read it in advance!

Second of all WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT ENDING, I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!! That ending was such a cliffhanger! Now I need to wait a WHOLE-ASS YEAR for the next book 😭

I really devoured this Ancient Greek fantasy and love story, I had a really hard time during the first few chapters but after that hump every chapter got me on the edge of my seat!
Lia and Jason's chemistry are over the top! I can't count how many times I giggled over their witty banters AND TENSION (spoiler alert: there are a LOT). I can't wait to see how they flourish on the second book!

This one is definitely a must read for romantasy lovers! Out on Nov. 1! 💙🔥✨️