⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 4/5
Third person POV, single narrative
Romantasy
MF Open Door Romance
FMC: Aemyra, a blacksmith blessed with fire magic who is waiting to bond with the last dragon and claim her throne

Wow! This book blew me away! From the very first page, I was hooked. The story is packed with emotion, twists, sex, and characters you can’t help but care about. I loved how the plot kept me on my toes—just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, McBride threw in a curveball that totally surprised me.

The main character, Aemyra, is so well-written, with a perfect mix of strength and vulnerability. You really start rooting for her and get invested in her journey. And the relationships she builds along the way? So well done. I couldn’t put the book down because I was so invested in what happened next.

The world McBride creates is incredible—it’s detailed, immersive, and you can tell a lot of thought went into it. The themes of fate and transformation are explored in a way that sticks with you even after you finish the book.

There is a quite bit of spice and while the main focus of the story is on the protagonist’s journey and the challenges she faces, there are definitely moments of romantic tension and chemistry. The relationship develops slowly, with a mix of emotional depth and sexy passion that adds another layer to the story.

The romance is intense but balanced, fitting well into the plot without overshadowing the main storyline.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and Delacorte Press for providing me this ARC of the book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Overall, I LOVED this book.

The FMC, Aemyra, is the LITERAL definition of feminine rage. Strong, powerful, out for revenge. She is a QUEEN ready to take back what is rightfully hers.

That being said, for all of the talk about feminine power and strong women, Aemyra SURE did lose.. OFTEN. I really feel like the only win she claimed was when she bonded Terrea.

I understand that it's probably a set-up for the next book, but she lost SO much and I really wish she could've won at least one battle.

I am hoping Aemyra comes back STRONG in the next book, so I will DEFINITELY be reading any later books (please give our girl a win!!)

3.5 most likely. The beginning was a bit slow but it really picked up once she found herself within the caisteal. There were points where the True Religion seemed not enough of a made up system and was actually a bit uncomfortable in how direct of a tie the author was making it to actual religions. While I get the extremism aspect, and the topics she was exploring it could have been handled a bit better in a way that was closer to a social commentary and not towing the line of an attack. I loved the progression of her relationship with Fiorian, I think I wish there was more time for that to develop. Similarly it would've been nice to see a bit more development with Maggie, they seemed so close to the cusp of friendship and I wish we could've at least gotten one scene for that. I think the bonding aspect of everyone's magic was a really unique part of the book and would love to see more of that with different creatures in the next book.

3.5 stars

I thought the book was very well written and the plot was very well written and did seem like every other book out there and the slow burn was quite the slow burn. I really liked how the book had some darker elements to it and had more of a realistic plot line of how it would most likely look in the real world instead of what you see in most fantasy books. I also like most of the character (you know which character once you read). I love how the FMC is so realistic about things and how strong she is about everything and what she's been though it really makes you feel how strong she is and why she is the way she is. The MMC is okay I have my thoughts about him which I can’t say cause spoiler. I also like the world building as well, I felt like I could really imagine what the world looks like and see what the countries people go though. I will say that I wish the guide on how you say everything was at the front, I wasn't pronouncing anything right and ended up kinda making my own names for everything and I also though the first 50 pages or so were really slow which could of just been me and not really being in the mood for reading Fantasy but after those first 50 pages I was really hocked.

This was unfortunately a flop for me. While the overall plot was intriguing, it just fell flat for me overall. I disliked the main character, the pacing of the book was off, and the world building felt confusing and also just nonexistent. I struggled to get through this one and the ending fell flat for me as well. I do not plan to continue the series

This book has a definite romantasy vibe with a feel that it could be part of an epic series. The main female character undergoes some trials and tribulations, and it's starting the process of learning who she truly is and what she is willing to do for those she loves. There's some swoon worthy parts between the FMC and MMC involving an arranged marriage. The setting is in a sort of Scottish based fantasy land with magical creatures and dragons. There is a lot of Gaelic language used throughout with little explanation of what the words mean, making it a bit confusing. There is a pronunciation guide but a glossary would definitely have been helpful. Also maybe some family trees? Sometimes the writing felt a little forced or didn't seem to flow well. That being said, once I was about 1/3 of the way in, I couldn't put the book down cause I need led to know what happened and the tension was TENSE.

Tir Teine used to be a matriarchy, but it's been generations since the royal line had a daughter. Until Aemyra. She may be the illegitimate offspring of a lesser noble, but her fire magic is powerful and will become more so once she bonds with a dragon. She spends ten years undercover as a blacksmith, waiting for the king to die, but her attempt to claim the throne goes disastrously awry. Then, her hotheadedness keeps getting her into trouble. Despite her father's supposed tutelage in weaponry and statecraft, Aemyra accomplishes very little but falling in love with a man she should despise and distrust. Needs more dragons and more chemistry. Thanks, Netgalley.

4.75 stars. The betrayal at the end hurt SOOOO baddddd. I need book two right now. I loved everything about “Forged in Fire”. Aemyra is the rightful heir to Tir Teine. The matriarchal land has suffered under male rule and the oppressive True Religion, which condemns magic. As Aemry rises to claim her throne we are taken on an epic adventure of magic, dragons, political intrigue, enemies-to-lovers, betrayal, and heartbreak. It is Aemyra’s resilience at the end that has me chopping at the bit for book two!! I cannot wait to see what happens!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Fate Forged in Fire follows the Aemyra, the first true queen of Tir Teine in over a century, as she is set on overtaking the throne.

Starting off with that I liked - the dragon fight scenes were well done and exciting. I enjoyed how the author included the part about the bonds between the dragon and their rider. The added layer of "can we trust him?" regarding her father. He had so many sus moments that I thought was an interesting plot point.

My biggest complaint about this book was Aemyra, the FMC. I found her insufferable. She was cocky and arrogant starting right away on page 1 and I just couldn't connect with her. She's supposed to be a strong, capable character but I felt like it was the opposite. She continuously finds herself in situations where she's being attacked or her plans were thwarted and she's just so surprised and cries out for help. Instead of handling herself like how she tries to convince Fiorean, the MMC, several times. I also found it disappointing that she is pro-women but she constantly belittles women throughout the story.

This book was also listed as "enemies to lovers" which I do agree to an extent. But it felt like the "lover" part was super random and didn't seem logical within the context of the story. I found Fiorean to be one-dimensional and I thought the sudden switch in his behavior at the end left me confused as if I had missed something right before Aemyra escaped with Sorcha.

The second biggest complain I had with this book was the world building was clunky. The constant name dropping and words from their language randomly thrown in with no context, backstory, or other contextual clues behind their meaning was very difficult. I only noticed there was a glossary at the end of the book after I finished it. It made me constantly frustrated and I didn't feel as though I could really be immersed in the story because I literally didn't know what they were saying, country/territory being referenced, etc,

Ultimately, I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. The synopsis really intrigued me as it mentioned a lot of fantasy elements that I typically enjoy. There were many times in the book where I felt like I was reading a mix of Game of Thrones and other popular fantasy series. However, I found this book hard to stay engaged with and "cheer on" Aemyra and her cause.

A Fate Forged in Fire by @hazelmcbrideauthor
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Release date: May 25, 2025

🐉 Guys I am SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK RELEASE!! Thank you so much @netgalley and @atrandombooks (and Hazel McBride!) for the ARC copy of this book. No spoilers (maybe a mild one?) ahead!

Aemyra is the heir to Tir Teine but has been living in hiding with her twin brother for years, waiting to reclaim her throne and claim her dragon. When the plans to overthrow the patriarchal ruling family go awry, Aemyra ends up fighting for her life not with her sword or fire magic, but learning strategy and political games of a court she hopes to claim.

As if trying to stay alive isn’t enough, Prince Fiorean becomes another unnecessary (totally necessary) complication 😏

Aemyra is fun, witty, clever, and headstrong, all things I love to see in a FMC. Fiorean is charming and brooding and there’s definitely a “hands off my wife!” moment👀

Plus - dragons!!! Always a huge plus in my book.

I see big things for this book, I won’t claim to be psychic but it’s engaging, clever, and so worth learning to pronounce the Gaelic in my head.

This may very well be a book I buy despite having it on my kindle - and I stand by that choice❤️

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC.

4.5 stars!

This book kept my attention the whole time. The story and the characters were both well fleshed out. Is hidden/lost princess completely overdone in romantasy right now? Yes, but this overcame that feeling of it being too common just from the sheer complexity of the FMC.

I also enjoyed how the battle between theologies drove the story…and it showed just how deep rooted some people can use religion to justify horrible things. It’s crazy from the outside having to ponder why someone would choose a fairytale someone told them over real life breathing people. It’s crazy how they then use it to justify thier dominance over an entire subset of people.

Additionally, dynamics of the dragons was also well done in my opinion. They didn’t just simply exist, but had thier own story lines that impacted the story.

It is also a true enemies to lovers, for an added bonus. The main romance storyline and how it ended is the biggest driving factor for me needing book two now.

My feelings about A FATE FORGED IN FIRE are incredibly mixed. On one hand, the romance was fun and fiery, most characters were interesting, and the action scenes were fast and breathless. On the other hand - the worldbuilding, pacing, and writing was terrible. Nothing was described; I could not picture any scenes, or landscapes, or emotion - which is saying something, as I have an extremely vivid imagination. I found myself frustrated with the political and cultural dynamics - they were never fully fleshed out, and the lackluster writing style did not make up for it. I also was considering DNF-ing the book because the first half was *so* slow. I truly had no interest in reading Aemrya's story until the halfway point.

Speaking of Aemrya - she is one of the most annoying characters I've read in a while. Her blatant stupidity, entitlement, and obnoxiousness really grated me at times. She's all bark, no bite. She seethes and longs for revenge and yet never seizes the obvious opportunities lying in front of her to do so. It is also confusing to me that, for the entire book, she rages against the terrible sexism she faces and rants about how wrong it is for her to be treated in a certain way because of her sex - yet, the main reason stated for Aemrya becoming a queen is *because* she is a woman and therefore she has more of a right to the throne than a man. Is that not also sexism? Make it make sense.

Finally, this is pitched as an adult fantasy, and yet reads *very* YA. Aemrya might be in her mid-twenties, but again, she acts like a bratty teenager. And if we look past these irritating faults, it still feels like a coming of age story - not a typical theme in adult literature.

In conclusion - despite my overall disappointment, A FATE FORGED IN FIRE will likely appeal to many fantasy readers. Just don't go into this book expecting anything deep or moving; at best, you will be entertained, which is good enough most of the time, anyways.

A Fate Forged in Fire
3.5⭐️

I have soooo many thoughts on this one! First of all I was pretty close to dnf-ing at the start because the Scottish Gaelic was bugging me because I couldn’t figure out how to pronounce anything and Aemrya was a very difficult to like character. The pronunciation thing is totally on me because I didn’t think to check the end of the book for a glossary/pronunciation guide which is where I found it. Anywayssss once I hit the 30% mark, I could not put it down. There’s a lot that I liked and a lot that I wasn’t a fan of. I am interested in book 2 but I definitely feel like there’s so much potential here.

This was definitely a true enemies to lovers which I really appreciate but I cannot forgive F for standing by while Aemyra literally gets beat up in front of him multiple times. Like I get he still feels nothing for her at this point but later on he says he was always attracted to her and yet he allows so much to happen?

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this gifted arc!

There were parts of this story where I was absolutely sucked in, and I was so invested. Then there were parts where it felt off, and it caused me to lose interest in the story. With that being said, I felt lost or didn’t understand the world building or some of the situations I wanted to. I kept going back and forth like that throughout the whole reading. I wanted to see more from the FMC. I couldn’t connect with her like I wanted. There was one part of the book that made me feel incredibly icky. However, the ending of the story has me wanting more. I will definitely be continuing this series, but I feel like it’s going to get crazy. All in all, it was good. I liked this story, but it didn’t hook me in like I was hoping it would.

🖤Hidden Heir
🖤Slow Burn
🖤Dragons
🖤Stabby FMC
🖤Political/Religious Intrigue

I was so excited about this book - dragons, bonds, and excitement. But then it all seemed to fall flat. I felt that the book started out confusing with the complicated world building and I did not connect with the FMC. I felt that the book was a bit juvenile but not disgustingly so. I just don't think this one is for me unfortunately. But I do want to see more of Hazel McBride.

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This was a crazy read! I loved the concept, characterization and the overall vibe of the book. The relationships and the betrayal of everything really made the book soar over some Romantasy I have read in the past.

The last 50 pages felt like a whirlwind so I would advise you to REALLY slow your reading down.

Aemyra, a fire-wielding blacksmith born to rule, has waited her whole life to reclaim her kingdom from a long line of corrupt kings. But when the current king dies, her plan is thrown off course, and she's forced into a dangerous political game. Her biggest obstacle? A powerful dragon-riding prince who stands in her way-but might also become something more. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, Aemyra must decide how far she's willing to go to claim the throne and protect her people.
This book had everything I usually love. The beginning jumped straight into the world-building, which I appreciated in theory-but the fast pace actually made it harder for me to fully settle into the story. I struggled to connect with the characters early on, and the quick info-dumps affected the overall flow.
Aemyra is bold, prideful, and determined-not a character everyone will love, but I enjoyed watching her get challenged and humbled as the story progressed. She's deeply committed to her people, even when her decisions aren't always the wisest. Fiorean, on the other hand, felt a bit underdeveloped. While we got glimpses of depth, his loyalty to a corrupt family and lack of clarity in his motives made it hard to fully root for him.
The dialogue between characters felt awkward at times, and surprisingly modern given the era and tone of the world. It pulled me out of the story more than once.
The ending was a major cliffhanger!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this arc!

Aemyra is the only female born to Clan
Daercathian in the last two centuries, which makes her the one true Queen of Tir Teine. She has been in hiding while the mad king rules, but once he dies, she makes her claim for the throne and to bond with his dragon. Unfortunately for Aemyra, nothing is going as planned.

I will start by saying I was fairly obsessed with this book. I don’t know that I can fully articulate why, but it had me hooked. There were a crazy ton of similarities to GoT and House of Dragon: mad king, dragons, one true queen in hiding, intense religious organization, dowager queen fiercely protective of her family to the detriment of everyone else. I could go on. There were some parts where I was like hmm don’t think I love that, but overall I really liked it. At about 50% I was questioning if it was going to be strictly fantasy vs romantasy, but the spice came through. The ending left me needing the second book in the duology like yesterday.

In "A Fate Forged in Fire," readers are transported to Tìr Teine, a land that once thrived under matriarchal rule but has since succumbed to the influence of oppressive forces. The story follows Aemyra, a powerfully blessed blacksmith who dreams of becoming queen and restoring her kingdom to its former glory. Equipped with fire magic and a fierce determination, Aemyra waits for the opportune moment to claim her throne after the king's death. However, her path to power is fraught with obstacles, including the cold and arrogant Prince Fiorean, a dragon-rider who stands in her way. As political intrigue and corruption threaten the kingdom, Aemyra and Fiorean find themselves reluctantly allied, and their relationship takes unexpected turns amid the chaos.

My initial experience with the book was a bit rocky due to a slow start and heavy world-building, which sometimes felt like it leaned more on telling than showing. However, I was drawn to Aemyra's character—a strong and determined protagonist who kept me rooting for her despite her plans often going awry. The enemies-to-lovers trope between Aemyra and Fiorean added an intriguing layer to the narrative, though at times it felt predictable. The inclusion of dragons was a highlight, adding excitement to the story, though it’s a trope that’s becoming quite familiar in fantasy literature. Overall, while the book had its challenges, it eventually captured my interest, and I found myself invested in Aemyra's journey. I'm curious to see how the duology will continue to unfold.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press and Hazel McBride for the gifted eARC of A Fate Forged in Fire!

I don’t even know what to say.

Sure, you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers… until the actual enemies part rips you into pieces, chews you up, and spits you out.

Hazel McBride’s A Fate Forged in Fire is a masterclass in creating a plot so gripping and intense it hurts. There were moments I was so stressed my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. The depth of emotions, both good and bad, will leave you absolutely wrecked. The story broke my heart, made me hope for a better world, and made me irrationally angry - all that to say that it was phenomenal and I could not put it down.

Ameyra is an incredible heroine. She might be rough around the edges, but she has a good heart and an unshakable belief that good will triumph. Meanwhile, she continues to prove that she is incredibly green where politics are concerned because everyone else is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Unsure who to trust but determined to set everything right, she’ll have to learn that justice might be its own reward, but the cost could be everything she ever dreamt of.

This book is everything you could ever want in a fantasy novel—if you’re willing to endure the emotional damage. (Think The War of Lost Hearts by Carissa Broadbent) It’s a brutal exploration of how power corrupts and what it truly costs to fight back and truly is the story of how Ameyra’s fate was forged in fire.

I am both dreading and desperately craving the next book. I don’t know if my heart can take it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review was posted to Goodreads on 3/26/25.
My Instagram review will be posted on 4/1/25.