DRAGONS. Okay, with that out of the way, this was an interesting adventure with a great enemies to lovers romance.

A Fate Forged in Fire is an epic fantasy with rich world-building and a gripping plot. McBride’s vivid writing and complex characters make this a must-read for fantasy lovers.

I was disappointed in this book and I had to DNF it. At first I was intrigued and excited about it but the more I read the more uncomfortable I became. It felt very anti Christian to me and felt very offensive. I know there are people who will like this book but not me. I did give it a fair try!

Aemyra has been waiting her whole life to take a throne that is rightfully hers. Living as a blacksmith in the very place she wishes to rule, she waits for the king to die so she can claim his dragon and take the throne. Except nothing goes according to plan following the king’s death. Aemyra must survive through the court and it’s corruption all while battling her unbidden feelings for the cold, dragon riding prince Fiorean.

The cover is very pretty and suits the story well! I enjoyed the dragons in this story as I love dragons. It just didn’t fully click with me. Aemyra is an interesting character, both powerful but definitely needs to learn more and mature for the goals she strives for in the book.

It’s definitely a cool book, filled with fire and royal corruption, I hope the second book clicks better, since I will still read it so I can see more of the dragons.

Definitely give it a try if you like fantasy, romance, dragons and fiery heroines.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the chance to read an arc of this book.

First of all, thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just know this book will divide people, and so will its FMC, Amyra.

The world we are in is depicted in a map you'll find at the beginning of the book. There is also a pronunciation guide at the end that can help with names of characters and places (I only found out after finishing the book, sadly).

The worldbuilding is not super detailed but enough to make it believable, and the story is set in continent divided in lands where a particular element rules, and Tir Teine, our reign, is associated with fire. Those who possess magic live with those who don't and can bind themselves to animals or magical cretures, such as dragons.
Amyra, the FMC is the secret first female descendant of the mythical queens who ruled Tir Teine, on which throne now sits a line of male heirs. The book centers around her quest to take said throne back, but more then that I'd say the focus is on the fight between the traditions of Old, inlcuding magic and the bonds to beasts, and what I see as a representation of the advent of Christianism. Safe to say, the first victims of this new religion are women and while the conflict grows between different branches of the royal line the real enemy is much more ordinary (Athair Alfred your days are numbered).

Amyra is one of those protagonists readers either love or hate. Strangely, I am neither here nor there because while sometimes her recklessness and arrogance really unnerved me, her determination and inner desire for justice won me over. I still think she has a long way to go, but I definitely want her to triumph. When it comes to Fiorean, that's a whole different matter. He is quite inscrutable and shows opposite sides of himself so that you're never really sure if you're seeing his real face or another facade. The ending left me dumbfounded when it comes to him because, once again, I don't understand if we're really seeing him or a result of something that happened to him.
My favorite characters are the dragons. No, really, they are, and it fascinated me how despite being bonded to people on opposite sides they are able to forge their own alliances and realize who deserves their respect. Terrea, Geleach, Aervor, stay strong please.

Now, I wouldn't say I didn't struggle sometimes, especially in the first part of the book, but there is potential, and after that cliffhanger (which was bad, but not as bad as I thought it would be) yes, I do want to know what happens next and I will read the second installment. Futhermore, this book got me out of one of my longest reading slumps and that kind of morally obliges me to recommend it (I still would!).

I was immediately sucked into this world, and somehow still managed to be further invested the deeper into the story we fell. I adore the fact that the FMC is a strong badass but also fallible. It was refreshing to see her fail but not give up. The MMC is also a flawed character, in the best and worst ways and I love him more for it. I need book 2 expeditiously!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC to read and review! A Fate Forged in Fire delivers a gripping enemies-to-lovers romance that feels truly earned, not rushed or forced, making it one of the standout aspects of the novel. The tension between the main characters is palpable, evolving naturally from deep-seated animosity into something more complex and compelling.

The protagonist starts off somewhat naïve, but her journey is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Her character development is gradual and satisfying, shaped by both personal struggles and the intricate political maneuvering that weaves through the plot. The political intrigue is another highlight—full of twists, betrayals, and strategic alliances that keep the stakes high and the pages turning.

That said, I did find myself wishing for a bit more world-building. While the characters and plot are strong, the setting felt somewhat vague. I often imagined the events happening in a vacuum, as there weren’t enough descriptions to fully ground me in the world. A clearer sense of place would have made the story even more immersive.

Despite that, this book is absolutely worth reading. The compelling romance, well-crafted character growth, and intense political dynamics make it a standout in the genre. If you love a true enemies-to-lovers story with high stakes and emotional depth, this one should be on your list!

This is my first Hazel McBride and I requested it knowing next to nothing about the book and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a slow start getting going, especially figuring out the pronunciation of names and places (the pronunciation guide was in the back of the edition I was given and I had no idea until I was already done). Once the story picked up I binged the entire thing.

Someone said that the love interest was inspired by Aemond Targaryen and honestly... accurate. Haha. I'm here for it.

I found the world building, magic system, and politics very interesting. The tension had me in a state. I eagerly wait for the second book.

Tropes & What to Expect
~ Stabby Bi FMC x Broody MMC
~ Slow Burn
~ Enemies to Lovers
~ Forbidden Romance
~ Arranged Marriage
~ Dragons
~ Betrayal
~ Touch Her & Die

Read/Watch-Alikes
~ Throne of Glass
~ A Fate Inked in Blood
~ Game of Thrones
~ House of the Dragon

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really good fantasy read but it does require a lot of attention to understand the names and world building. It was not something to passively read but it was definitely a good time and would recommend it to those who like fantasy.

Okay so normally I write my reviews while I read but this had me so engrossed I would forget my phone even existed. The world-building was a little confusing at first but once I got the hang of it, pieces of the puzzle started to make sense. This enemies to lovers to enemies was so deliciously written. The witty and short tempered FMC made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. There are definitely some parts that can be considered triggering such as child death, religious cults, extreme misogyny, and gore. Full of lies and deceit, this book was an absolute page turner. The lore behind the dragons and the bonding process interested me deeply and hope to learn more about them in the next book.

Actual rating 3.75/5 Stars

A Celtic inspired and action packed story filled with dragons and court politics. Aemyra bides her time and fights for her rightful place on the throne in Tìr Teine. This goddess-blessed Queen finds her opportunity to cement her power to the throne she knows is hers, but finds herself backed into a corner at every turn. Lots of the plot twists felt a bit predictable and Aemyra felt childish at times for an older protagonist, yet I still found the story enjoyable.

This book is for fans of hate-to-love/enemies-to-lovers, political intrigue, fantasy and House of the Dragon. Highly recommend to check trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a chance to read an advanced copy and give an honest review of this book!

If you’re looking for a *true* enemies-to-lovers romance packed with magic, political intrigue, and dragons, *A Fate Forged in Fire* delivers on every level. Hazel McBride crafts a gripping fantasy world with a powerful, assertive heroine at its center.

Aemyra is everything I love in a protagonist—strong-willed, determined, and unapologetically fierce. As the rightful ruler of her clan, she’s forced into hiding, waiting for the perfect moment to reclaim her destiny by bonding with the king’s dragon. Her story is one of resilience and strategy, woven into a world brimming with political tension, powerful magic, and deeply entrenched patriarchy. Every twist in her journey had me hooked, and the layers of magic and territorial dynamics made the world feel alive and immersive.

And the romance? Perfection. This is what enemies to lovers *should* be—intense, well-earned, and full of undeniable chemistry. The balance between romance, action, and world-building was masterfully done, keeping me hooked from start to finish.

This book had everything I wanted and more. Dragons. Romance. Feminine rage. Political intrigue. I’m already counting down the days until book two!

This was a fun start to a series overall - and thank you to Random House for the eArc!

Pro(s):
It was well written, and loved seeing Scottish Gaelic even though I likely butchered pronunciations even with the guide.

I could see where this was intended to go, it had a clear 'path'.

The dragons and other magical creatures are always an immediate yes to me, can never have enough.

I think I will continue this series into book two because I want to see its growth.

Con(s):

This did not feel fully fleshed out, or as fleshed out as it could have been. There were times where it felt even the chapter just kind of abruptly ended or switched, not feeling finished. It almost felt like I was reading an idea forming and then not know where it was going so it just...stopped.

I think there was way way more that could have been added in detail to the world building and the magic/creatures. The premise and outline is there, it wasn't confusing, it just felt not full if that makes sense.

The plot twists were a bit if not entirely predictable, and I liked the banter/enemy aspect until it just took a single chapter to switch to lovers and he was insta possessed - this later is part of the plot twist but none of it felt fully convincing.

I say these cons as cons but all of them were just ALMOST there, which is why I want to continue the series. I think this being a debut will help It grow and I think book 2 and on will only improve and make great strides.

It may be 3 stars now, but I'm really hopeful that investing in this series will pay off.

A Fiery Quest for Power, Magic, and Love That Will Keep You Hooked!

This story follows Aemyra, a fiery blacksmith blessed with magic who must battle corruption, claim her throne, and resist her growing feelings for her enemy in this sizzling Celtic-inspired romantasy. And let me tell you, I LOVED every second of it!

Right from the start, the book sets a clear goal. Aemyra knows her destiny and is actively working toward it, which was such a refreshing change from the usual “stumbling into fate” trope. Plus, she’s in her late 20s—a rarity in fantasy—and that maturity shines through in her choices, making her journey even more compelling.

If you love matriarchal magic, mythical creature bonding, slow-burn enemies to lovers, and unexpected twists, this book delivers all of that and more. It had me feeling everything from giddy to excited, nervous, mad, ALL OF THE FEELS! And best of all? The story felt easy to track while still keeping me on my toes.

Highly recommend if you want a romantasy that burns in all the best ways!

This book is filled to the brim with absolutely satisfying sheer feminine rage against the oppressive patriarchy, non-stop action, morally gray characters, true enemies to lovers, delicious heat and spice, political intrigue, elemental magic, heartbreak, DRAGONS, all delivered in a perfect combination that left my heart racing throughout the book and well beyond the last page. The pacing is impeccable. The FMC is 100% bad ass, determined, unapologetic, and proudly bisexual. The book is written in 3rd person POV and we still clearly learn all about what makes her and breaks her. The MMC is perfect here. I needed to look up some of the Celtic terms throughout and there is a pronunciation guide in the book. I had a tiny bit of confusion regarding the family tree up until around 25% when it was clarified, and then I was fine. There are some moments that could be triggering and I hope TWs are included when it’s published. This is the first of a duology (note: cliffhanger) and I cannot wait for the sequel.

Firstly - WE ALL KNOW I LOVE DRAGONS. The Celtic culture in this book was amazing, plus the fantasy elements that were added *chefs kiss*. This was a fun, action packed, dragon filled story!

This was ok but not one I really enjoyed. Just didn't hold my interest like I had hoped. I might read more by this author but probably not.

Unfortunately, I did DNF this book. I think the idea of the storyline is intriguing, but the writing style and certain plot points weren’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I did end up Dnfing. The MC made it a little hard for me to get through the book. This book just wasn’t meant for me

This is a story you read for the vibes, not because you love immaculate world building and solid character development and relationships. I feel like this book is going to get a lot of attention. But unfortunately, I didn't like it as much as I was hoping. The FMC is 26 but she is absolutely insufferable. She is extremely immature and impulsive and just super annoying. BUT. There are dragons, romance, magic... a lot of the things I like in a book. I think GoT and Fourth Wing readers might like this one. It does end on a cliffhanger and I will probably pick up the second book to see if things continue to develop and if we get more information, but like... I' don't know. I liked it but I just didn't love it.