Member Reviews
This started off so well! High stakes, a trial/race to the death, and then it ended by like 25% in. At that point I was lost. I couldn't figure out what the new characters significance to the story were or what the romance was for.
How can so much but so little happen at the same time? The best parts were the beginning and the ending though slightly predictable. The middle was hard to get through. Like I said, so much happened but also nothing happened.
I liked this but didn't love it. I will read the next book to see what happens.
A Tribute of Fire is my first book by Sariah Wilson and it delivered!
Lia is the princess of Locris and competes in a deadly ritual to save her land. She has to survive along with her sister while she is also navigating her attraction to Jason, a sailor from an enemy nation.
The world building is easy to follow and get swept up in. The author does a great job of weaving Greek mythology throughout the book. While the pacing slowed down a bit in the middle, the beginning pulls the reader right in and the ending? What a cliffhanger!
The characters are strong and if you enjoy girlhood, this book will definitely appeal to you. That is probably why I enjoyed this book so much!
I would recommend this book if you enjoy romantsy, suspense, and found family.
Thank you so much to Sariah Wilson for this ARC! Now about that second book?
4.5/5 ⭐️
wow, what a book!! I honestly could not stop reading it. This is nothing like I’ve read before, I really enjoyed it. The world building and characters were great. It was Full of action. Lia, a fierce female main character who doesn’t give up. She’s strong, determined, and witty. Now Jason, ugh… he is funny, intense and has this sexy mysterious vibes about him. Definitely questioned his character quite a few times. But their connection, is undeniable. It hit off right from the start, and no matter how much Lia denies her attraction to him, it’s only going to make it deeper. Hoping to see more of these two! But the plot twist at the end of the book, and the cliffhanger. Like what?? I need book 2 like now, I need to know what happens!!
From the books description to the last page - this book was so good! The story was engaging, the characters were well rounded and it was such an immersive setting. The chemistry between Lia and Jason was so good I was basically giggling the whole time. The twists left me wanting to pick up the second book right away! Definitely a recommend! 4.5 stars!
Dive into this captivating fantasy romance infused with Greek mythology! Follow Lia, a fierce heroine determined to save her cursed nation, Locris, from the repercussions of Ajax's actions. The chemistry between her and Jason sparks a slow-burn romance, while a vibrant cast of supporting characters adds depth to the tale. With twists that will leave you breathless—especially that jaw-dropping ending—you'll be left eagerly anticipating the next installment!
Perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, death trials, and sisterhood!
Lia is left with a task of trying to save her home by making it through a terrifying sacrificial trial and searching for the eye that will restore her nation. All while keeping her vows and navigating feelings for a man she never wanted to fall for.
Lia felt real. She was strong, but felt her emotions. She held her own, and embraced others. She honored her values, and embraced change when needed.
Lia was a refreshing character in the fact that she felt like a real person. She had flaws and strengths and reacted like I would imagine someone would during all her struggles. The emotions were there and the independent fantasy main character energy was there.
The story was unique and the first I have read with Greek mythology but it was amazing. I LOVED the found family. It really was so important to the story and I was so glad that Lia found that in the most unexpected way. And of course, the slow burn, the enemies to lovers, it was fun and it kept me hooked. And the ending was enough to keep you desperately waiting for the next book.
For a fantasy debut I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I’ve loved Sariah Wilson’s romance books and now I love her fantasy.
I was so excited to read this book. Now I'm just disappointed.
Thank you for the opportunity to arc-read this book. I wish I could have loved it more.
The book is about Lia, the princess of Locris, who is chosen in a deadly sacrifice, where two maidens need to race to a temple, while every man around tries to kill them. But Lia is trained, and ready for the race. Same cannot be said about her sister, who is also chosen. Before departing Lia also meets this arrogant handsome man, who she instantly has chemistry with, and who somehow is always there.
The rest of this might contain slight spoilers, so please don't read if you don't want to know anything.
I wrote four things down while reading this book, which now seems very little, as the book was so long, but these four things were my main thoughts.
1) starting with the positive: The world building and myths. I love greek mythology, and this book wa full of stories and mythology, everything one might hope. Interesting places, gods and goddesses, stories of dragons and tetrawolves (? if I remember this spelling correctly).
2) ... but the story was so boring. while it was full of myths, the actual plot was slow and boring for the most parts. There were parts when nothing really happened for so long, because we were talking about yet another myth. The book was so long, and it had potential, but every time I felt something was bound to happen, it yet again slowed down. It took me 4 days to read this book, while I usually manage to read books like this in a day.
3) every character seemed to be there only to tell more about the world to the main character as well as the reader. I get it the main character was supposed to be really curious about everything, but i still felt that most of the questions were only asked so the reader would also know the answers. The sister squad (ade-something) was especially doing this so much.
4) this story was (for the romantic parts of it) very very very insta love. They are kissing and feeling a pull to each other just minutes after meeting. And the chemistry between them seems very non-believable (although the book tries to play it off saying the goddess wants them to be together). I really can't stand instalove, and I almost dnf:ed the second they kissed at the start.
I guessed the secret identitys and the ending almost straight away, and after reading almost 600 pages of this, I really hated the cliffhanger at the end. There was no satisfying story arc in this book, stuff just happened, and that was it. I didn't like Lia one bit and there was little to no growth trough out the story in her.
I'm sad that this book wasn't as good as I was hoping. I wish I could say, it's not you it's me, but I really think for this book, it was the book. Not me. 2,5 stars. Again, thank you for the arc.
The Goods✨
•Demaratus
•enemies to lovers
•”one for many”
•slow burn
•death trial
•found family
•Greek mythology vibes
•”stupid girl”
•forbidden love
•hidden magic
•goose punching
•a little bit of dragons
•Hunger Games vibes
I absolutely love Sariah Wilson and I was so excited when she announced that she was releasing a romantasy this fall. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I enjoyed this book so much! The world building was just the right amount — enough to be able to vividly imagine Lia’s world, but not too much that it bogged down the story.
The pacing was perfect and kept me on my toes. I loved the balance of action and romance and the ROMANCE…ugghhhh my heart. Lia and Jason, the chemistry was chemistrying, y’all. 🥵😮💨 The push and pull was insane. These two…Iike what?!
Lia’s growth throughout the story was my favorite. She goes through so much in such a short amount of time and shows so much determination and resilience. I really liked the relationships she formed along the way and I’m so excited to see how they further develop in the next book. It’s so hard to truly convey how much I loved certain parts without spoiling anything. I will say that the end of this book rushed at me way too fast and that cliff hanger…are you kidding me?! I can’t wait for more!!
Content: So. Many. Kisses 💋
Thank you to Literary Media Tours and the author for the gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
Wow, this book was an absolute nail-biter from start to finish! The tension was off the charts, and I found myself glued to every page. From the cursed desert nation of Locris, to the deadly ritual games, and the rich world of gods and goddesses, I had an incredible time with this story. 💫 The stakes were so high—survival wasn’t just a goal, it was a near-impossible feat, especially for Lia, the brave princess at the heart of this tale.
Lia’s journey was heart-pounding. Imagine being forced into a death race, knowing no one from your homeland has ever survived. 😳 The way Sariah Wilson wrote these trials, the life-and-death decisions Lia had to make, left me on edge the entire time. And if that wasn’t enough, her sister Quynh being dragged into the games added an extra layer of tension that made my heart ache. 💔 I loved the bond between the two sisters—Lia would do anything to protect Quynh, even if it means risking everything.
The world-building was fantastic. The cursed nation of Locris and the labyrinthine streets of Ilion were so vivid in my mind. The mythology—particularly the goddess who curses one nation and blesses another—felt unique and powerful. 🌍✨ And the romance? Swoon! Jason, the Ilionian sailor, was such an interesting character. I expected him to be more than he appeared, and though I had my suspicions, I was still genuinely surprised by the twist at the end! 😱 Their banter and chemistry were everything—tense, fiery, and full of conflict. You could feel the pull between them, even when they didn’t want to trust each other.
The story had so many twists and treachery. The political intrigue with the arranged marriages and the competing nations was a great addition, making everything even more complex. I loved watching Lia navigate a world where everyone had an agenda. She was smart, determined, and willing to sacrifice everything for her people. 👑💪
Tropes in A Tribute of Fire 🔥
👑 Strong heroine
🏹 Survival competition
😍 Enemies to lovers
🌍 Epic world-building
💔 Sister bond
⚔️ Political intrigue
🔄 Unexpected twists
🏛️ Mythology and gods
💫 Fate of a nation
🔥 Tension-filled romance
If you’re a fan of high-stakes survival games, fierce heroines, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and epic worlds full of mythology, A Tribute of Fire is a must-read! It was an unforgettable journey. 🙌
Thank you so much to Sariah Wilson for the ARC opportunity. I’m counting the days until the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake Publishing and Sariah Wilson for the eARC!!!
LEGIT 5 STAR READ!!
This is my first Sariah Wilson book, and it will not be my last! I enjoyed this book SO DANG MUCH!!!
If you enjoy stories with Greek Mythology woven into it, you will eat this up. Two rival lands, one cursed to compete in the trails started by an earth goddess their rival land still worship. Lia and her sister are thrust into this land with a plan to, first survive, and then save their own people.
Lia meets a man at her home right before she is taken over seas, who ends up on the same ship as her. They have this instant connection that neither one can fight.
Holy moly that cliff hanger.... WHATTTTTT??? My heart was in my throat the last few minutes of the book
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HIGHLIGHTS:
"The code says that there is no honor in a man who rushes to war because he doesn't care if he dies. There is valor in battle for those who desire to live. Courage can only exist in the same space that fear does."
"I would hate to kiss you and ruin you for any other man's kisses."
"I've always admired women willing to deal a little death when crossed." "I would be happy to cut your throat open," I offered.
"Are we sparring again?" He almost purred the words. "Is it my turn to lunge?"
"I pledge to you my whole heart. My entire soul. Every part of my being already belongs to you. Ask for anything and it is yours."
"I pledge you my sword, my body, my blood. I will protect you and keep you safe."
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I was SO impressed with the writing and the way the story flowed. I looked forward to picking it up every night until it was done
Not looking forward to the year its gonna take to get more answers! lol
This cliffhanger! Holy Smokes! So well written! The story going forward I'm looking for more worldbuilding and how these nations relate to each other. I'm excited to see where things go with the Goddess. Jason is such an interesting character and I'm so curious to see how their relationship develops moving forward. It is giving me fated mates vibes and that is my all time favorite trope. I'm so curious about the red dirt and the pirates. So many questions to be answered! I loved this read and I can't wait to see what Lia does!
As a lover of the Bronze Age and all things Reylo, I absolutely devoured this book! The plotting and pacing kept up nicely, loved the found family aspect in the temple, and I actually did not see some of those twists coming (although the big twist was pretty obvious, not that it diminished my enjoyment of the ending at all). The only thing lacking for me was the spice — I’m a little confused because it’s marketed as low spice, but it felt more like edging the reader. I’d say either do fade to black or euphemistic, but the tension never actually broke either way which was pretty unsatisfying. I look forward to reading the sequel however!
4.5 stars
A Tribute of Fire is a truly gripping story about female empowerment which yanks at your heartstrings. The world-building was phenomenal and I absolutely loved the Mythology throughout. As a fan of Greek Mythology it was such a fresh take with magic weaving through it all.
I really liked Lia as our main character. She was strong-willed, determined but also incredibly human with flaws and her own worries. She's committed to those she loves and her own beliefs, even if it puts her in danger. I liked her relationship with Jason who was so mysterious but had me swooning! I loved their banter and while I'm not usually a fan of insta-connection/love I feel like it was done really well in this one and I feel like there is a deeper meaning behind it all.
I'm still not over that ending and I'm absolutely desperate for the next book! I need to know what happens next immediately as I have not stopped thinking about it.
Full of action, mystery and intrigue, this book had me on the edge of my seat! Be prepared to not want to put this one down as it will have you eagerly turning the page wanting more!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to @sariahwilsonauthor for my copy for honest review
Fantasy Romance
4⭐️
Read if you like
⭐️deadly games
⭐️sisterhood
⭐️light magic
⭐️pirates and romance.
I had a lot of fun reading this! Once we got a little in, I was so attached to Lia, with her fierce love, and willingness to be what she needs to. I loved the idea of the sisters and the bonds and troubles it creates. The last like 150 I races through with that sense of urgency to piece it all together. Then angst and anticipation was great, while needed to find answers but also finding something for her self. The way end happens 😮 I Freaken loved it. I’m so ready for book 2 and the first just came out!
es war richtig richtig cool! nur leider ist mein englisch nicht gut genug gewesen um alles zu verstehen
I decided to DNF this book. Overall, the world building was decent and the character development was fine as well. Lia's character felt pretty typical of most romantasy novels, but didn't bring much new to the genre. Where I struggled was the writing itself. This book would have benefited from more editing and refining of prose, elevating the vocabulary and varying sentence structure. I got too distracted thinking about how I would edit this book while I was reading it to fully enjoy the story.
A Tribute of Fire - Sariah Wilson
Holy forking shirt balls. This was FANTASTIC. I literally don’t think there is one single aspect of this book that I disliked. I was enthralled INSTANTLY. I could hardly put the dang book down. What did I love? Every dang thing about this book. However, I’ll list a few a few for you. The healthy female relationships, the strong women, the politics, the belief systems/Gods, the lore, the mother freaking romantic tension that you could cut with a bloody knife, and the list goes on. This book, mark my words, will be one of the best books in the coming years. I love everything about it, and I have already pre-ordered book two. Sariah Wilson, you just became an auto buy author for me. One of the top reads of the year, hands down.
What you can find in this book:
- Strong & Stabby FMC
- Broody MMC
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forbidden Love
- “Who did this to you?”
- Hidden Identities
- Deadly Games/Competitions
- Goddesses & Curses
- Found Family
- Strong Feminine Relationships
- Greek Mythology
- Epic Romantasy
**More Social Links will be added once I post about the book once I receive a physical copy to take photos of for my socials**
⭐️ 3/5
Good debut for an established author who is stepping into romantasy.
This however was only "okay" for me.
I felt like there was a lack of deeper character connection. I'm also a mood reader and wasn't really pulled here, nor there, with my moods... as though nothing impactful or meaning was happening. Which is a shame.
The FMC... I have thoughts. I'm going to leave them there. She wasn't too enjoyable, but hey, one of my book bestie loves her. Me, not so much.
If you want a fantasy with mythological mix, then this is it.
If you're a fan of greek mythology and romantasy books that are fast paced, action packed, and hard to put down, then you're going to love this book! The story follows Lia, a princess of her country Locris, and her country has been suffering from famine for a thousand years after being cursed by a goddess. In order to try and break the curse, Lia has to enter a deadly trial. Lia is a strong FMC and a fighter, but she's also naive in other areas - so there's a nice balance to her personality. The world building is easy to follow, and the magic system is intriguing. I love that there's a beautiful focus on female friendship and sisterhood in this book as well. And of course there's Jason :) They have great tension and banter, and a slow burn push pull, with enemies to lovers to ? We'll have to see in book 2! I had so much fun reading this book, and I NEED to know what happens next, especially after that cliffhanger. I can't wait for book 2!!
This book brought out a bit of mixed reactions within me. On the one hand I loved the plot of the maidens running for their lives to survive and the whole sisterhood/found family trope that follows after the brutal chase. It was great to see the bond between the girls and them finally finding a home within each other.
On the other hand, the romance bit could've been done better I think. Instant attraction and then just lusting after each other without actually knowing one another seems a bit far fetched. It would've been good to see some depth to the relationship albeit they were never really given the time to get to know one another in the first place.