Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I think I prefer Sariah's romance books over fantasy. I struggled with this one and I wanted to like it, but it just fell short for me.

This was amazing!!! I was so entranced by the mythical creatures and temple. I cannot wait to learn more about the Goddess and Thalia’s connection with her!

To start with all I can say is wow! The cliffhanger at the end just has me ready to read more!
This book was absolutely amazing!
I may have stayed up late a couple nights just to finish it!
Watching the journey that Lia takes to try and save her country is a journey worth following! You have left me wanting to know whether she finds the eye of the goddess!
And how you made Jason to be who he was! I never would have guessed in a million years!

This book follows the journey of princess Lia and Quynh and their journey to save their country. They have been selected as the ones to run the race to the ilionian temple to try and save Locris! Lia makes it to the temple and finds out so many things on the way and while there. So many secrets to find out!

Enthralling and super engaging!
If you love fantasy with romance and a strong heroine, the you will live this! I lived Lia!

Oh my goodness this was fun! I’m still getting into adult fantasy and adult romantacy more and more and trying to figure out what I love and don’t love, however this is going into the category or really enjoying. I think it was fun and it made me feel so many things.

In *A Tribute of Fire*, USA Today bestselling author Sariah Wilson delivers a captivating blend of adventure, romance, and high stakes in a thrilling fantasy that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Set in the cursed desert nation of Locris, the story follows Princess Lia, a fierce and determined young woman who must navigate a deadly ritual designed to sacrifice Locrian maidens to an earth goddess worshipped by their rival nation, Ilion.

The premise of the novel is riveting, with the fate of an entire nation hanging in the balance. Lia’s journey begins with the devastating realization that she has been selected to participate in the annual tribute game—a brutal race through the deadly streets of Ilion, where no maiden has survived in over a millennium. The stakes are high, and the dangers she faces are relentless, both from external threats and the treacherous challenges within Ilion itself. Wilson does an excellent job of creating an atmosphere of constant tension, where each turn and decision could mean life or death for Lia and her people.

What sets *A Tribute of Fire* apart is the rich world-building. The rivalry between the desert nation of Locris and the powerful Ilion, the cursed ritual, and the goddess at the center of it all are explored in detail, drawing readers into the story’s complex politics and cultural dynamics. The labyrinthine city of Ilion becomes a character in its own right—an ever-shifting, dangerous maze that mirrors the physical and emotional battles Lia faces. Wilson’s ability to craft a vivid setting helps immerse readers in the high-stakes environment and keeps them invested in the narrative.

Lia is an incredibly strong protagonist, driven by love for her people and an unyielding sense of duty. She’s a well-rounded character—brave, intelligent, and deeply empathetic, but also conflicted, especially when it comes to her relationship with her sister, Quynh, who is also in danger. Their bond adds an emotional depth to the story, as Lia faces the impossible task of protecting her untrained sister while navigating the life-or-death race ahead.

The romance in *A Tribute of Fire* is a slow burn, adding another layer of complexity to the plot. Lia’s attraction to Jason, a sailor from Ilion who both challenges and attracts her, creates an engaging tension. Their relationship develops against the backdrop of their countries’ animosity, making their connection all the more forbidden and fraught with emotional conflict. Wilson masterfully balances romance with action, keeping the pace brisk and the stakes high.

The action sequences are intense and well-paced, with every challenge in the race feeling more harrowing than the last. The tension between survival and loyalty, personal sacrifice, and the greater good creates a compelling narrative that doesn’t let up until the final pages. The trials Lia faces are harrowing and death-defying, making her journey all the more gripping.

The ending of this one left me with all the feels!
There were so many twists in this one, and I am proud to say I guessed two of the big ones! 🤪 But I wasn’t sure until that ending!

This book has a beautiful forbidden romance with a SLOW burn 🥵
There are challenges, curses, fighting, and even some magic and a dragon encounter that I feel whole heartedly will not be the only one!

If you enjoy mythology and romantasy that also leans into the action, and political intrigue, this one is a must read!

All the Yes’s!!

OH MY GOD!!! first of all thank you so much to Sariah and the team of Tales & Teacups for this digital ARC copy I received through Netgalley.

First of Sariah, you can’t leave it on that ending and then apologise in the authors note. GIRLLLL I NEED MORE ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I loved this book so much, it had themes of found family, enemies to lovers, fantasy, strong female characters and the setting I could picture so so clearly and it gave me a similar vibe to game of thrones.

I have literally stayed up until 3:30am to finish this book. It has become my obsession. I truly truly loved it omg and I can’t wait for the next one!!

Bad ass Princess FMC.
Flirty MMC that .. also kicks ass.
Fated vibes, though not specifically mentioned but parts of their interactions certainly gives that impression.
Forbidden romance, but also marriage of convenience. A little confusing but I'm not complaining.

The story is set in a brutal world for a female, specifically Ilian ladies, the FMC is "picked" as a tribute from Locria, to the Goddess of Ilia, in which she and one other must race to the temple, through a maze of city foreign city, while being hunted to the death by men like some kind of Hunger games.

I saw the"who Jason is really" plot twist from the first meeting. I didn't see his complete 180 in personality though, expecting that will be explained in book two.

I loved the found family vibes with her sister acolytes, and the forbidden romance. The chemistry between Lia and Jason was great, as was the banter.
That cliff hanger at the end is going to haunt me until the next book is out !

“It only takes one person to change the world, one person to save a life.”

What you can expect:
🏹inspiration from Greek mythology
🏹curses
🏹magic
🏹dragons
🏹gods
🏹hidden identity
🏹prophecy
🏹found family

Lia is a princess from a cursed nation. She needs to survive a life-and-death race to the temple of the Ilion goddess to save have people from her curse and also protect her sister.

During this race she is helped (and distracted) by a handsome man named Jason. The tension and banter is so good. And there is a connection between them that I want to know more about that.

The book is full of action and twists that keeps you hooked. I like that the group of women from the temple helped her without any questions. They are strong and have a lot of courage.
We only have Lia’s POV, so Jason is a mysterious character with many secrets.

Even if I figured out part of the twist at the end, that was very interesting and I hope the next book will be at least as good as this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

✔️ Strangers to Lovers
✔️ Forbidden Romance
✔️ Fated Mates

What. A. Freaking. Ending. 🤯

As someone who avoids posting spoiler reviews I am having such a hard time telling you guys how I feel about this book. Wow, just wow. This book is fast paced and while it is long there is SO much going on that it doesn’t feel that way. The storytelling and world building were both amazing and were so incredibly believable. No details were missed and it truly felt like watching a show.

The freaking characters in this though were what dreams are made of. 😉 Lia was such a badass FMC and I loved how smart, funny, and caring she was. I felt myself rooting so fiercely for her that I could feel her adrenaline rush and emotional roller coaster through the pages. I also absolutely fell for Jason’s swoonworthy bad boy character. I was penciling in his name for Book Boyfriend goals after their very first meeting. 🤣🤣 Not to mention chapter 43 which was better than any storyline I could have ever imagined. 😍 And finally….can we talk about the banter and chemistry between these two?!?!? Holy smokes this was PERFECT. I wish I could bottle this and put it in every book. 🤣 Needless to say this was an amazing read and I am so thankful I got to experience it. Now….please tell me the second book comes out next week? 🤣🙏🏻

“This sparking energy between us, like lightning was flashing and filling the entire room with heat and light? Overwhelming and terrifying all at the same time?“

“It’s like we’re two flames, drawn to each other, meant to burn brightly together.”

I adored this story! Sariah Wilson’s writing is easy to read and engaging. I really liked the character of Lia - her determination and how she thinks about things. I think the romance with Jason was done well and I really enjoyed their time together. The plot twist at the end! Amazing! Loved it! It makes me wonder how book 2 will progress and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

“𝐼 𝒹𝑒𝒸𝒾𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓃 𝐼𝓁𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒶 𝒷𝑜𝓃𝒻𝒾𝓇𝑒.”

A Tribute of Fire is Sariah Wilson’s first romantasy novel and it absolutely did not disappoint! Lia, the princess of the cursed nation of Locris, will do whatever it takes to restore her homeland and put an end to the annual sacrifice of two Locrian maidens by the nation of Ilion. This year, Lia is one of the maidens who has to compete in a life and death race to the temple of the goddess and if she has any hope of lifting the curse, failure is not an option.

I absolutely loved every single second of this book! The world building was excellent and I love that it’s based on a Greek mythology story that, at least to me, is relatively unknown. At first, I thought it was going to be difficult to follow due to the number of characters, but each of them had a distinct voice and personality which stopped them from blending together. I don’t think I can even speak about Jason’s shenanigans, but I adored the connection between him and Lia, and can’t wait to see where their relationship goes! The banter between them made me laugh quite a few times and the writing in general was just stunning!

My one note is that I had expected more of the story to involve the race through Ilion. It wouldn’t have added anything to the story to have more happen, but from the synopsis, I had assumed that the race was the main focus of the story, so I just wanted to point out that it’s not, in case others are thinking the same!

I may be just a little bit obsessed with this story. I was able to predict some of the plot points, but I was still on the edge of my seat as they happened and I think there will be a lot more to uncover about the characters and what’s happening in the world as a whole in book 2. I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

Thank you to Sariah Wilson, Tales and Teacups PR & NetGalley for the ARC!

As a fan of Greek mythology, I really like how the author did a deep dive into the story of Cassandra - I wasn't aware of the Locrian maidens and this was an interesting introduction to the topic.
The overall plot was a bit predictable and the romance was not enjoyable. I wish that more time had been spent developing Lia's character and the dynamic between her and the temple priestesses, and less time on Lia's romantic dreams about Jason. I am excited to read the sequel, though! The worldbuilding is interesting and I want to learn more about this ancient-Greece inspired fantasy world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC!

If I'm honest, it took me a little bit to get into this book but when I did, I didn't want to put it down. The cliff hanger left me impatient for the next book. I liked the concept of it, the twists and turns as well as the library security guards.

The book does contain a bit of lust which is not my favourite part to be honest but interested to see the purpose of it in the storyline. The characters were interesting and fully formed. Worth reading for sure.

I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.

In A Tribute of Fire, we follow Lia, a fierce princess of Locris, a kingdom cursed to endure an annual sacrifice where young women must run a deadly race across enemy land. Set in a rich, arid landscape of intrigue and peril, this story stands out with its unique blend of myth-inspired trials, fierce sisterly bonds, and a reluctant romance that feels as combustible as its setting.

The world-building is immersive, placing readers in a land baked by a curse yet brimming with hope. Lia’s character is both fierce and deeply sympathetic; her battle-honed skills lend her an edge in this deadly game, but the race’s stakes hit home when her untrained sister, Quynh, joins her on this dangerous path. The bonds of sisterhood feel especially moving here, giving Lia’s struggle an added emotional depth.

The story also introduces Jason, an Ilionian sailor who becomes a complicated romantic interest. He’s equally intriguing and frustrating for Lia, embodying the enemy yet sparking a reluctant attraction. Their chemistry adds an extra layer of tension to the story, balancing Lia’s internal struggles with the external threats she faces.

While the plot is exhilarating, with twists at every turn, some scenes in the labyrinth of Ilion could have benefitted from tighter pacing. However, this minor flaw doesn’t detract much from the book’s overall impact, as Lia’s quest to break the curse is filled with stakes that only build with each chapter.

A Tribute of Fire is a solid read for those who love mythological-inspired high-stakes quests with layered, complex characters. Lia’s journey is about more than survival; it’s a fierce push for freedom and change, making this story as impactful as it is suspenseful.

This story gripped me from start to finish with its fierce, determined heroine and the high stakes of her journey. Lia, a princess fighting for her starving nation, has a singular mission: recover a long-lost relic of the goddess who once abandoned her people, casting them into centuries of famine. The relic lies deep in enemy territory, where those who try to retrieve it often don’t return. To reach it, Lia must survive a deadly ritual run, where enemy soldiers hunt maidens on sacred ground—a tribute to the goddess who once ran for her own freedom. But Lia’s determination is matched only by her resourcefulness, and she soon finds herself both aided and distracted by an infuriatingly charming sailor, Jason, who appears at the most unexpected (and inconvenient) moments.

This story pulses with female empowerment, determination, and found family. Lia’s journey is full of growth, grit, and grit. She’s complex, strong, and exactly the kind of heroine you root for with every page. Jason? A total swoon, with just the right blend of cocky and caring. And then there’s the world itself, steeped in mythology, with ancient temples, goddess lore, and a library guarded by geese that had me laughing out loud.

The writing style stands out too, with a modern touch that makes it digestible without breaking the epic feel. It’s a tricky balance, but this author nails it, blending the timeless with the accessible in a way that completely worked for me.

And that ending? I’m absolutely reeling! Just when I thought I had it figured out, the twists hit, leaving me speechless. This cliffhanger promises an intense Lovers-back-to-Enemies storyline in the next book, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. With dragons, goddesses, temple training, and a dangerously charming sailor on the horizon, book two can’t come soon enough—I’m counting down the days!

“It only takes one person to change the world, one person to save a life.”

A Tribute of Fire is the first book in The Eye of the Goddess series by Sariah Wilson and can we just say we are in absolute book love and counting down the days to the second instalment A Vow of Embers.

Wow, it was SO good, we’re obsessed! There was drama, battles, twists, magic, mythology, and characters that stole our hearts. The world-building was immense and it had enough intrigue to keep us absolutely compelled as the story moved along in the most exciting of ways.

The characters were all so well developed and written we became completely immersed in their stories! We are loving all the amazing fantasy books we’re coming across right now from new to us Authors. If you love enemies to lovers and slow burn romantic fantasy then this is another series to fall in book love with!

Just beware of an OMG! - That cliffhanger!

‘And as soon as I saw his face, my heart whispered, Oh, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you.’

“It only takes one person to change the world, one person to save a life.”

A Tribute of Fire is the first book in The Eye of the Goddess series by Sariah Wilson and can we just say we are in absolute book love and counting down the days to the second instalment A Vow of Embers. Wow, it was SO good, we’re obsessed! There was drama, battles, twists, magic, mythology, and characters that stole our hearts. The worldbuilding was immense and it had enough intrigue to keep us absolutely compelled as the story moved along in the most exciting of ways. The characters were all so well developed and written we became completely immersed in their stories! We are loving all the amazing fantasy books we’re coming across right now from new to us Authors. If you love enemies to lovers and slow burn romantasy then this is another series to fall in book love with! Just beware of an OMG cliffhanger!

‘And as soon as I saw his face, my heart whispered, Oh, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you.’

First I want to say thank you Sariah Wilson for gifting me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝
Did I read this ARC a little late? Yes. Sadly. However, I read it exactly when I needed some feminine rage, and IT DELIVERED! 🤬

A Tribute of Fire follows Lia as she sacrifices herself for the chance to free her nation from a curse. She must compete in a life-and-death race to reach the Temple in Illion, only if she reaches the Temple can she have any hope of saving her dying country.

This was action-packed and emotional! It was easy to get into, and just a good intro into the world of romantsay. I did find it a little slow at points, but that’s to be expected given the fact that it’s also setting the scene for the series. And to top it off Sariah has left us with SO many questions (which is half the fun of fantasy series).

I really love the found family aspect of this book. Her Adelphia and the Priestesses kinda reminded me of Fourth Wing and their sections. 🗡️ It was an instant dedication to each other, and I loved watching all of the girls grow their connections.
I seriously can’t wait to see what happens in book 2! I need to know what’ll happen with Jason AND what’s going on with all the vague shit the goddess keeps telling her!!! I NEED TO KNOW!
♡︎ Ancient Prophecies
♡︎ Found Family
♡︎ Trials & Secrets
♡︎ Feminine Rage
♡︎ Forbbiden Romance

For those wondering about spice levels, I have no idea where this series is going to go, but this book was a lot of kissing. Aggressive kissing and maybe some medium petting, but minimally descriptive.